cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel antiviral activity of dialdehyde starch

A significant effort worldwide is being directed toward development of novel biocides against drug-resistant bacterial and viruses because of the significant potential human infection risks in the general population. We report here the discovery of a strong antiviral biocide, dialdheyde starch (DAS). Antiviral tests were carried out against three non-envelop viruses, including two bacterial viruses MS2 and PRD1, and one human virus Poliovirus. Dialdehyde starch aqueous suspensions were effective biocides against these three test viruses in a 1 hr exposure test. The antiviral activity was significantly enhanced in a four-hour exposure test, with maximum seven orders of magnitude reductions against MS2 and PRD1, and four-order reduction against Poliovirus. The antiviral activity of dialdehyde starch was found to be pH dependent, being more active in alkaline and acidic conditions than in neutral conditions. Dialdehyde starch (DAS) is a polymeric dialdehyde prepared from selective oxidation of starch by periodate ions which cleaves the C2-C3 bond of the anhydroglucose units of the starch polysaccharide chain to form the
Temporality and Terrorism in International Humanitarian Law

It is widely agreed that the United States’ armed conflict against al Qaida and its allies—if it is legally an armed conflict at all—does not fit neatly within contemporary jus as bellum and jus in bello (international humanitarian law, or IHL) regimes. The thinking goes that transnational conflicts with non-state terrorist groups and tactics do not correspond well to the categories comprising those regimes, and wide debate then proceeds about whether and how it is appropriate nevertheless to apply them.
Social Construction of Rational Self-Interest: The Case of Business Improvement Districts

Everybody – or at least every policy analyst – knows that the logic of collective action is such that individuals' self-interested rationality inevitably leads to collective irrationality: Dominant individual strategies in collective-action settings lead typically self-interested individuals to defect rather than cooperate. As Elinor Ostrom has pointed out, however, "The fact that something is widely believed does not make it correct . . ." (2000b, p. 33). In fact, her own empirical work of the past two decades (Ostrom, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000a; Ostrom, Gardner, & Walker, 1994) identifies a puzzle: individuals frequently cooperate voluntarily, in both laboratory and field settings, when the rules of individual rationality apparently dictate that they should not. Self-governance appears to be highly effective as an instrument for achieving collective rationality, to a degree that appears to be at odds with the accepted wisdom about rationality, institutions, and collective action. This paper uses evidence from a comparative analysis of two self-governing and two externally governed business improvement districts (BIDs) in the U.S. to propose at least a partial solution to Ostrom's puzzle: that self-interested, economic rationality is socially constructed, and so can be reconstructed to foster cooperation rather than defection.
Kinetic analysis of human PrimPol DNA polymerase activity reveals a generally error-prone enzyme capable of accurately bypassing 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine.

Recent studies have identified human PrimPol as a new RNA/DNA primase and translesion DNA synthesis polymerase (TLS pol) that contributes to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA replication. We investigated the mechanism of PrimPol polymerase activity on both undamaged and damaged DNA substrates. With Mg2+ as a cofactor, PrimPol binds primer-template DNA with low affinity Kd,DNA values (∼200–1200 nM). DNA binding is enhanced 34-fold by Mn2+ (Kd,DNA = 27 nM). The pol activity of PrimPol is increased 400–1000-fold by Mn2+ compared to Mg2+ based on steady-state kinetic parameters. PrimPol makes a mistake copying undamaged DNA once every ∼100–2500 insertions events, which is comparable to other TLS pols, and the fidelity of PrimPol is ∼1.7-fold more accurate when Mg2+ is the cofactor compared to Mn2+. PrimPol inserts dCMP opposite 8-oxo-dG with 2- (Mn2+) to 6-fold (Mg2+) greater efficiency than dAMP misinsertion. PrimPol-catalyzed dCMP insertion opposite 8-oxo-dG proceeds at ∼25% efficiency relative to unmodified te...
Low-Loss High Index Contrast SOI Waveguides: Expecting the Unexpected

This talk reviews experimental and analytical work in our quest for low-loss, high-index-contrast silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) waveguides, yielding a number of intriguing effects that range from bizarre polarization characteristics to remarkable fundamental quantum electrodynamic phenomena.
Direct comparison of solution and gas-phase reactions of the three distonic isomers of the pyridine radical cation with methanol.

To directly compare the reactivity of positively charged carbon-centered aromatic σ-radicals toward methanol in solution and in the gas phase, the 2-, 3-, and 4-dehydropyridinium cations (distonic isomers of the pyridine radical cation) were generated by ultraviolet photolysis of the corresponding iodo precursors in a mixture of water and methanol at varying pH. The reaction mixtures were analyzed by using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Hydrogen atom abstraction was the only reaction observed for the 3- and 4-dehydropyridinium cations (and pyridines) in solution. This also was the major reaction observed earlier in the gas phase. Depending on the pH, the hydrogen atom can be abstracted from different molecules (i.e., methanol or water) and from different sites (in methanol) by the 3- and 4-dehydropyridinium cations/pyridines in solution. In the pH range 1–4, the methyl group of methanol is the main hydrogen atom donor site for both 3- and 4-dehydropyridinium cations (just like in the gas phase)....
Highly Conductive and Conformal Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Thin Films via Oxidative Molecular Layer Deposition

This work introduces oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD) as a chemical route to synthesize highly conductive and conformal poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films via sequential vapor exposures of molybdenum(V) chloride (MoCl5, oxidant) and ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT, monomer) precursors. The growth temperature strongly affects PEDOT’s crystalline structure and electronic conductivity. Films deposited at ∼150 °C exhibit a highly textured crystalline structure, with {010} planes aligned parallel with the substrate. Electrical conductivity of these textured films is routinely above 1000 S cm–1, with the most conductive films exceeding 3000 S cm–1. At lower temperatures (∼100 °C) the films exhibit a random polycrystalline structure and display smaller conductivities. Compared with typical electrochemical, solution-based, and chemical vapor deposition techniques, oMLD PEDOT films achieve high conductivity without the need for additives or postdeposition treatments. Moreover, the sequent...
Promoting the Reform of Training Mode of Innovative Talents in Higher Vocational Colleges with a Focus on Training Base——Taking Automation Specialty as an Example

For higher vocational training target,this paper,taking the demonstration training base for the platform,studies the teaching reform and practice of automation specialty. With scientific and technological innovation and practice ability as the core,we have made a lot of achievements in professional construction,teachers team construction,curriculum and textbook construction,teaching content,the reform of methods and means,which significantly improve the quality of the talents training of automation specialty and play an important leading and exemplary role with a broad impact on the higher vocational education.
Zinc protoporphyrin-IX blocks the effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii

The effects of the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid [(1S,3R)-ACPD] on ionic current responses produced by ionotropic glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor activation in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) were examined. Recordings were made in the dorsomedial subdivision of the NTS adjacent to the area postrema in transverse brainstem slices of the rat. (1S,3R)-ACPD produced a small inward current (IACPD) associated with a decrease in conductance in approximately 50% of recordings. Monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked by electrical stimulation in the region of the tractus solitarius in the presence of D-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid and bicuculline were reversibly reduced by (1S,3R)-ACPD in > 90% of cells. The inward current evoked by pressure application of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) (IAMPA) was potentiated in the presence of (1S,3R)-ACPD, whereas the outward current evoked by the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol (IMUSC) was inhibited. We have previously demonstrated that these effects may involve the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase. The diffusible second messengers nitric oxide and carbon monoxide are known to activate soluble guanylate cyclase. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-omega-nitroarginine failed to inhibit responses to (1S,3R)-ACPD. The selective heme oxygenase inhibitor Zn-protoporphyrin-IX, which would be expected to block the production of carbon monoxide, antagonized the effects of (1S,3R)-ACPD on EPSCs, IAMPA, and IMUSC. However, IACPD was not blocked. A relatively inactive metalloprotoporphyrin, Cu-protoporphyrin-IX was ineffective. A cell-permeant form of cGMP, 8-Br-cGMP inhibited EPSCs, IAMPA, and IMUSC in the presence of Zn-protoporphyrin-IX but did not induce an inward current. These results further support the hypothesis that multiple metabotropic glutamate receptors exist in the NTS, and they suggest that one of these may be coupled to the activation of a soluble guanylate cyclase via the liberation of an easily diffusible second messenger such as carbon monoxide.
Risk Factors and Recommendations for 230 Adult Primary Care Patients, Based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines

Abstract We used a computer program based on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines to identify recommendations for 230 adult patients who presented to an ambulatory family practice residency clinic. We entered risk factors into the computer program from sex-specific questionnaires that patients completed. On average, patients had 15.4 risk factors and 24.5 recommendations for preventive services (13.0 recommendations for screening, 10.5 for counseling, and 1.1 for immunizations). We noted a significant increase in the number of risk factors and recommendations with increasing age, except for counseling recommendations. The average patient in¬ curs a large number of recommendations, which depend on many different risk factors, making the task of complete clinician compliance with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines difficult. Many of these recommendations include counseling, which may take more time and require skills that clinicians may think they lack. Complete adherence may require several visits for the physician to address all recommendations. Measures to increase patient responsibility for health maintenance and innovations using comprehensive, interactive, and educational computer programs may help solve these problems.
Stem cells in gliomas.

Abstract The discovery of new neurons in adult mammalian brain challenged the concept of the adult vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) as a hard-wired immutable system. Following the description of neural stem cells (NSCs) in human brain during the last decade, increasing interest for their use as therapeutic agents has emerged. NSCs are semiquiescent cells, maintained in particular niches in an undifferentiated state, and capable of self-renewal and differentiation into the three main neural lineages: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Due to their multipotent capacity, a connection between NSCs and brain tumors has been suggested. Brain tumors, in particular gliomas, consist of a heterogeneous population of cells at multiple stages of differentiation. A particular subpopulation of brain tumor cells present characteristics that are similar to those of NSCs. For this reason, these cells have come to be known as brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs). BTSCs are thought to be responsible for maintaining the tumor bulk and for the recurrence of brain tumors after surgical resection. The origin of BTSCs is still largely unknown; however, a growing body of evidence suggests the malignant transformation of NSCs as a plausible hypothesis. Here we review the current findings regarding the relation between NSCs and BTSCs, from in vitro studies to clinical findings.
Predicting solvent-water partitioning of charged organic species using quantum-chemically estimated Abraham pp-LFER solute parameters

Abstract Methods for obtaining accurate predictions of solvent-water partitioning for neutral organic chemicals (e.g., Kow) are well-established. However, methods that provide comparable accuracy are not available for predicting the solvent-water partitioning of ionic species. Previous methods for addressing charge contributions to solvent-water partitioning rely on charged solute descriptors which are obtained from regressions to neutral species descriptors as well as charged descriptors which are specific to unique charge-functionalities and structural moieties. This paper presents a method for obtaining Abraham poly-parameter linear free energy relationship (pp-LFER) descriptors using quantum chemical calculations and molecular structure, only. The method utilizes a large number of solvent-water systems to overcome large errors in individual quantum chemical computations of ionic solvent-water partition coefficients. The result is a single set of quantum-chemically estimated Abraham solute parameters (QCAP) which are solvent-independent, and can be used to predict the solvent-water partitioning of ionic species. Predictions of solvent-water partition coefficients for ionic species using quantum-chemically estimated Abraham parameters (QCAPs) are shown to provide improved accuracy compared over both existing Absolv-estimated Abraham solute parameters (AAP) as well as direct a priori quantum chemical (QC) calculations for partitioning of anionic solutes in 4 organic solvent-water systems (RMS = 0.740, 2.48 and 0.426 for the Absolv, QC and QCAP methods, respectively). For quaternary amine cations in the octanol-water system the RMS errors of the solvent-water partition coefficients were larger and similar between the two Abraham models (RMSE = 0.997 and 1.16, for the AAP and QCAP methods, respectively). Both methods showed significant improvement over direct QC calculations (RMSE = 2.82).
Consumer perception, information provision, and regulation of insurance markets

Available evidence shows that consumers overinsure against modest risks. For instance, a majority of consumers tend to choose too low a level of deductible for homeowners insurance and automobile insurance, and purchase excessive warranties for electronics and other durable products such as automobiles and furniture. The analysis demonstrates that overinsurance decreases consumer welfare and increases insurers’ profits. This tendency of overinsurance stems from lack of information about the probability and magnitude of loss, and it calls for policies that require insurers or third-party organizations to provide more, albeit not perfect, information and data for consumers before they make insurance-purchase decisions. The implications of the analysis for other financial products such as stocks and deposits are discussed.
Ensemble engineering and statistical modeling for parameter calibration towards optimal design of microbial fuel cells

Abstract Mathematical modeling is an important tool to investigate the performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) towards its optimized design. To overcome the shortcoming of traditional MFC models, an ensemble model is developed through integrating both engineering model and statistical analytics for the extrapolation scenarios in this study. Such an ensemble model can reduce laboring effort in parameter calibration and require fewer measurement data to achieve comparable accuracy to traditional statistical model under both the normal and extreme operation regions. Based on different weight between current generation and organic removal efficiency, the ensemble model can give recommended input factor settings to achieve the best current generation and organic removal efficiency. The model predicts a set of optimal design factors for the present tubular MFCs including the anode flow rate of 3.47 mL min −1 , organic concentration of 0.71 g L −1 , and catholyte pumping flow rate of 14.74 mL min −1 to achieve the peak current at 39.2 mA. To maintain 100% organic removal efficiency, the anode flow rate and organic concentration should be controlled lower than 1.04 mL min −1 and 0.22 g L −1 , respectively. The developed ensemble model can be potentially modified to model other types of MFCs or bioelectrochemical systems.
Wave Forces on Piling for Narrow-Band Spectra

The statistical distribution of peak forces for irregular linear ocean waves having a narrow-band spectrum is an exponential-type function, the form of which depends on the average relative balance between the drag and the inertial forces. The distribution is a function of two parameters determined by the drag and inertial coefficients and the physical dimensions characterizing the pile and the spectrum. Formulas and tables are developed for the first through the fourth moments, the median, the mode, the upper fractile, and the average of the highest p-th fraction of the peak forces. The method of moments and the method of maximum likelihood each provide procedures for estimating the parameters from the data. In addition, a graphical method consisting of plotting one minus the empirical distribution function on semi-log paper versus the peak force data and again versus the square of the data is developed. The theory is compared with wave forces measured near Davenport, California, in 50-ft water depths.
Historical Fission Plant Availability and the Operation Goal for a Fusion DEMO

As fusion researchers look toward the future, there have been discussions on what the plant operation goals should be for a demonstration fusion power plant (DEMO). The U.S. Research Needs Workshop...
Changes in Populations of ErwiniaCarotovora in Relation to the Development of Soft Rot in Wounded Potato Tissue

Susceptibility of potato tissue to bacterial soft rot caused by Erwinia carotovora pv. carotovora (Ecc) is enhanced when inoculated tubers are incubated under conditions of low oxygen in anaerobe jars or in a mist chamber. However, Ecc populations increase and are maintained at inoculated injection and bruise sites following aerobic incubation even though soft rot does not develop. Whole tubers were inoculated with a rifampicin-resistant Ecc strain (SR 392) by injection prior to incubation in air or anaerobe jars. Additional tubers were inoculated by placing a drop of bacterial suspension at bruise sites prior to incubation in air or in the mist chamber. Populations at sites injected with low concentrations (10–500 C. F.U.) of Ecc increased when incubated aerobically and could be recovered 2 months after inoculation. After anaerobic and aerobic incubation, populations of Ecc at injection sites increased at similar rates to comparable levels. Soft rot did not develop in aerobically incubated tubers. In contrast, soft rot developed in 2–4 d at injection sites incubated in anaerobe jars. In bruise sites injected with high concentrations of Ecc (105 C.F.U.), populations of Ecc increased and high populations were recovered for more than 3 wk at 20C and for more than 2 months at 6C. Soft rot did not develop in bruise sites even after long incubation under aerobic incubation conditions.
Trials of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Operable Breast Cancer

Adjuvant systemic therapy was initially applied in the form of hormonal ablative treatment (ovarian irradiation) long before the present hypothesis of spread of the disease (presence of micrometastases at diagnosis) was even formulated [1]. At that time the observation of tumor regression after oophorectomy justified investigation of ablative therapy in patients with operable disease, following local management of the primary disease. Four decades have elapsed since the first randomized study of ovarian ablation, and we still do not know the role played by adjuvant endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients.
The Spherical Transform

In this chapter we study the spectral decomposition of the algebra C c ∞ (G//K), consisting of those C∞ functions with compact support, bi-invariant under K. We shall also determine the bounded spherical functions. We let G = SL 2(R) throughout.
Exafs Study of H2, O2, and Co Adsorption on Supported Platinum

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS) has been used to study Pt/Al 2 O 3 having average crystallite sizes of 2 and CO adsorption on the structural and electronic properties of the Pt crystallites was determined. Room temperature O 2 adsorption causes severe structural disruption of the crystallites; low-temperature O 2 adsorption with slow warming causes no disruption of the 2.6 nm crystallites but causes severe disruption of the
Exploring Trajectories of Health Care Utilization Before and After Surgery.

Background Long-term trajectories of health care utilization in the context of surgery have not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to examine health care utilization trajectories among surgical patients and identify factors associated with high utilization that could possibly be mitigated after surgical admissions. Study design Hospital medical and surgical admissions within 2 years of an index inpatient surgery in the Veterans Health Administration (October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2014) were identified. Group-based trajectory analysis identified 5 distinct trajectories of inpatient admissions around surgery. Characteristics of trajectories of utilization were compared across groups using bivariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression. Results Of 280,681 surgery inpatients, most underwent orthopaedic (29.2%), general (28.4%), or peripheral vascular procedures (12.2%). Five trajectories of health care utilization were identified, with 5.2% of patients among consistently high inpatient users accounting for 34.0% of inpatient days. Male (95.4% vs 93.5%, p Conclusions Mental health, social/behavioral, and pain-related factors are independently associated with high pre- and postoperative health care utilization in surgical patients. Connecting patients to social workers and mental health care coordinators around the time of surgery may mitigate the risk of postoperative readmissions related to these factors.
Radiation: When Can Patients Be Spared CT? Alvarado Score? Ultrasound?

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal emergencies requiring surgical intervention that is seen in the emergency department. Computerized tomography (CT) with oral and intravenous contrast has the highest sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. However, risks from radiation and contrast with CT must be considered. We review the Alvarado score and ultrasound as potential means for avoiding CT.
Same as it never was: John Duns Scotus’ Paris Reportatio account of identity and distinction

ABSTRACTIn his Paris Reportatio John Duns Scotus challenges ordinary views of identity and distinction. I argue that Scotus affirms that there is more than one type of identity: some forms of ident...
Evaluating Individual Level Responses to Exercise for Health Outcomes in Overweight or Obese Adults.

Background Understanding group responses to a given exercise exposure is becoming better developed; however, understanding of individual responses to specific exercise exposures is significantly underdeveloped and must advance before personalized exercise medicine can become a functional reality. Herein, utilizing data from the STRRIDE studies, we address some of the key issues surrounding our efforts to develop better understanding of individual exercise responsiveness. Methods We assessed individual cardiometabolic and cardiorespiratory fitness responses in subjects successfully completing STRRIDE I (n = 227) and STRRIDE II (n = 155). Subjects were previously sedentary, overweight or obese men and women with mild-to-moderate dyslipidemia. Subjects were randomized to either an inactive control group or to an exercise training program. Training groups varied to test the differential effects of exercise amount, intensity, and mode on cardiometabolic health outcomes. Measures included fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and lipids; blood pressure, minimal waist circumference, visceral adipose tissue, and peak VO2. Absolute change scores were calculated for each subject as post-intervention minus pre-intervention values in order to evaluate the heterogeneity of health factor responsiveness to exercise training. Results For subjects completing one of the aerobic training programs, change in peak VO2 ranged from a loss of 37% to a gain of 77%. When ranked by magnitude of change, we observed discordant responses among changes in peak VO2 with changes in visceral adipose tissue, HDL-C, triglycerides, and fasting plasma insulin. There was also not a clear, direct relationship observed between magnitudes of individual response in the aforementioned variables with aerobic training adherence levels. This same pattern of highly variable and discordant responses was displayed even when considering subjects with adherence levels greater than 70%. Conclusion Our findings illustrate the unclear relationship between magnitude of individual response for a given outcome with training adherence and specific exercise exposure. These discordant and heterogeneous responses highlight the difficult nature of developing understanding for how individuals will respond to any given exposure. Further investigation into the biological, physiological, and genetics factors affecting individual responsiveness is vital to making personalized exercise medicine a reality.
Sound-symbolic signaling of online retailer sizes: The moderating effect of shopping goals

Abstract Sound symbolism – the ability of certain phonemes to evoke automatic, implicit associations or meanings – has been documented for a variety of consonants and vowels. However, to date, the literature has not documented shopping-related moderators of sound symbolism, and the role of sound symbolism in online retailing remains understudied. Thus, the present investigation extends the sound symbolism literature into the online retailing domain by investigating size-sound symbolism of online retailers' names and introduces a consumer's given shopping goal (searching versus browsing) as a key moderator of size-sound symbolic effects. The findings of four studies indicate that for names of online retailers, back vowels and voiced consonants lead to greater size perceptions of those retailers than front vowels and voiceless consonants. Further, the findings reveal that, compared to browsers, searchers utilize size-sound symbolism as a filtering heuristic, but the effect does not hold for browsers. Additionally, the findings show that size-sound symbolic effects can influence downstream consumer responses by linking size perceptions as a mediator to patronage intentions. Several implications for theory and practice emerge from the findings.
Environment dependence of rhizobial relative fitness in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis

Spatial and temporal variation in resource availability, population density, and composition likely affect the ecology and evolution of symbiotic interactions. We examined how host genotype, Nitrogen addition, rhizobial density, and community complexity affected a legume-rhizobia (Medicago truncatula - Ensifer meliloti) mutualism. Host genotype had the strongest effect on the size, number, and rhizobial composition of root nodules (the symbiotic organ). By contrast, the effect of small changes in N-availability and the complexity of the inoculum community (2, 3, 8, or 68 strains) were minor. Higher inoculum density resulted in a nodule community that was less diverse and more beneficial but only in the more selective host. With the less selective host, higher density resulted in more diverse and less beneficial nodule communities. Density effects on strain composition deserve additional scrutiny as they can create eco-evolutionary feedback and have translational relevance for overcoming establishment barriers in bio-inoculants. Short AbstractThe environmental context of the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between leguminous plants and rhizobial bacteria varies over space and time. The understudied environmental variable of rhizobial density had a larger effect on the relative fitness of 68 rhizobia (Ensifer meliloti) strains in nodules than the addition of low-levels of nitrogen or community complexity.
Prospective Exploration of Cognitive-Communication Changes With Woodcock–Johnson IV Before and After Sport-Related Concussion

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in cognitive-communication performance using Woodcock–Johnson IV Tests (WJIV) from pre-injury baseline to post sport-related concussion. It...
Reward influences the allocation but not the availability of resources in visual working memory

Visual working memory possesses strict capacity constraints which place limits on the availability of resources for encoding and maintaining information. Studies have shown that prospective rewards improve performance on visual working memory tasks, but it remains unclear whether rewards increase total resource availability or rather influence the allocation of resources without affecting availability. Participants performed a continuous report visual working memory task with oriented grating stimuli. On each trial, participants were presented with a priority cue, which signaled the item most likely to be probed, and a reward cue, which signaled the magnitude of a performance-contingent reward. We showed that rewards decreased recall error for cued items and increased recall error for non-cued items. We further demonstrated that rewards produced a tradeoff in the probability of successfully encoding a cued versus a non-cued item rather than a tradeoff in recall precision or the probability of binding errors. Lastly, we showed that rewards only affected resource allocation when participants were given the opportunity to engage proactive control prior to encoding. These findings indicate that rewards influence the flexible allocation of resources during selection and encoding in visual working memory, but do not augment total capacity.
Global, Low Amplitude Cortical State Predicts Response Outcomes in a Selective Detection Task

Abstract Spontaneous neuronal activity strongly impacts stimulus encoding and behavioral responses. We sought to determine the effects of neocortical prestimulus activity on stimulus detection. We trained mice in a selective whisker detection task, in which they learned to respond (lick) to target stimuli in one whisker field and ignore distractor stimuli in the contralateral whisker field. During expert task performance, we used widefield Ca2+ imaging to assess prestimulus and post-stimulus neuronal activity broadly across frontal and parietal cortices. We found that lower prestimulus activity correlated with enhanced stimulus detection: lower prestimulus activity predicted response versus no response outcomes and faster reaction times. The activity predictive of trial outcome was distributed through dorsal neocortex, rather than being restricted to whisker or licking regions. Using principal component analysis, we demonstrate that response trials are associated with a distinct and less variable prestimulus neuronal subspace. For single units, prestimulus choice probability was weak yet distributed broadly, with lower than chance choice probability correlating with stronger sensory and motor encoding. These findings support a low amplitude, low variability, optimal prestimulus cortical state for stimulus detection that presents globally and predicts response outcomes for both target and distractor stimuli.
The Sustained Scientist in the Classroom Partnership: A Model for Innovative STEM Graduate Training Programs

The Scientist in the Classroom Partnership (SCP) is a program of the Vanderbilt Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (CSEO) that partners scientists-in-training (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) with classroom teachers to co-teach one day per week in elementary and middle schools. The program was initially funded through an NSF GK-12 award, and has been sustained since 2007 through a collaboration between the Vanderbilt CSEO and Metro Nashville Public Schools. Over the 20 years of the program, more than 180 STEM graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have participated. In the current study, the impact of the program on the 83 participants from 2000-2009 was examined using Likert-scale and open-ended surveys. Results indicated that participants gained skills not often found in traditional research training programs, including teaching, communication, teamwork, and leadership. These results strongly suggest that the SCP represents a program that provides STEM PhDs with skills beyond the usual graduate training programs that they will need as they enter traditional and non-traditional STEM careers.
SU-E-I-09: The Impact of X-Ray Scattering On Image Noise for Dedicated Breast CT

Purpose: To quantify the impact of detected x-ray scatter on image noise in flat panel based dedicated breast CT systems and to determine the optimal scanning geometry given practical trade-offs between radiation dose and scatter reduction. Methods: Four different uniform polyethylene cylinders (104, 131, 156, and 184 mm in diameter) were scanned as the phantoms on a dedicated breast CT scanner developed in our laboratory. Both stationary projection imaging and rotational cone-beam CT imaging was performed. For each acquisition type, three different x-ray beam collimations were used (12, 24, and 109 mm measured at isocenter). The aim was to quantify image noise properties (pixel variance, SNR, and image NPS) under different levels of x-ray scatter, in order to optimize the scanning geometry. For both projection images and reconstructed CT images, individual pixel variance and NPS were determined and compared. Noise measurement from the CT images were also performed with different detector binning modes and reconstruction matrix sizes. Noise propagation was also tracked throughout the intermediate steps of cone-beam CT reconstruction, including the inverse-logarithmic process, Fourier-filtering before backprojection. Results: Image noise was lower in the presence of higher scatter levels. For the 184 mm polyethylene phantom, the image noise (measured inmore » pixel variance) was ∼30% lower with full cone-beam acquisition compared to a narrow (12 mm) fan-beam acquisition. This trend is consistent across all phantom sizes and throughout all steps of CT image reconstruction. Conclusion: From purely a noise perspective, the cone-beam geometry (i.e. the full cone-angle acquisition) produces lower image noise compared to the lower-scatter fan-beam acquisition for breast CT. While these results are relevant in homogeneous phantoms, the full impact of scatter on noise in bCT should involve contrast-to-noise-ratio measurements in heterogeneous phantoms if the goal is to optimize the scanning geometry for dedicated breast CT. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01 EB002138)« less
Sports Marketing and Interactive Media: A Match Made in Heaven

The use of Sports Marketing and special events has been gaining a legitimate place in the promotional activities of various organization. Substantial resources have been shifted from traditional promotional methods into sports marketing activities. Such activities include: becoming official sponsors of various sports and special events, naming rights on stadiums, in stadium signage, and the use of sports celebrities as endorsers. In 1998 $6.8 billion was spent on sponsoring sports and special events alone. Over 65% of it ($4.55 billion) was used to sponsor sports event. Sport marketers are always on the look for new media to help leverage their sport activities and reach consumers through the magic power of sport. Thus, The explosion in the popularity of the new interactive media, and the World Wide Web (WWW) didn’t go without notice by sport marketers.
Delivering Effective Education in Externship Programs (from Building on Best Practices)

The article is a section of the book "Building on Best Practices: Transforming Legal Education in a Changing World." It is part of an overall section describing the current and recommended state of experiential education in law schools today, which (among other recommendations) concludes that is a best practice for every law student to be able to enroll in at least one in-house clinic course and at least one externship course. The recommendation is based on the important distinctions between the two forms of clinical legal education, and the essential contributions that each makes to preparing law students for practice. This section takes a close look at externship courses and programs, and identifies the necessary features for excellence in externship education. These include (1) Immersion in Real Life Practice, (2) Dual Supervision (by both faculty and field supervisors), (3) Guided Reflection, and (4) Student Self-Reliance and Self-Determination.
Effects of Bond Coat Surface Roughness and Pre‐Oxidation on the Thermal Cycling Lifetime of Thermal Barrier Coatings

Effects of surface roughness and pre-oxidation heat treatment for the NiCoCrAlY bond coat (PWA276), carried out prior to the electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) of ZrO 2 -7 wt.% Y 2 O 3 (7YSZ) ceramic topcoat, on the thermal cycling lifetime of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were examined. As a function of bond coat processing and thermal cycling, TBCs were characterized by using optical profilometry, photo-stimulated luminescence spectroscopy (PSLS), optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. TBC specimens with preoxidized bond coats, in general, exhibited longer lifetime than those without pre-oxidation. The longest TBC lifetime was observed when hand-polished (i.e., smoothest) bond coats were preoxidized prior to EB-PVD of 7YSZ. However, without pre-oxidation, TBC specimen with hand-polished and barrel-finished bond coats failed prematurely due to underdeveloped thermally grown oxide (TGO) and/or failure at the YSZ/TGO interfaces. For TBCs specimens with preoxidized bond coats, a greater lifetime was observed with a higher initial compressive residual stress within the TGO.
One-dimensional diffusion of a protein along a single-stranded nucleic acid

Publisher Summary One-dimensional diffusion is used by transcription factors and restriction endonucleases to locate specific sites on double-stranded DNA. The backbone of RNA, like that of DNA, could allow for the facilitated diffusion of proteins. Yet, the facilitated diffusion of a protein along RNA (or any single-stranded nucleic acid) has not been demonstrated so far. Single-stranded DNA is an excellent substrate analog for ribonuclease A (RNase A), and this analogy is the basis for the work described in the chapter. First, this chapter reports the use of DNA oligonucleotides and fluorescence polarization to probe the binding of adenine to the B1 subsite of RNase A. Then, it describes the use of DNA/RNA chimeric oligonucleotides to distinguish between three-dimensional and one-dimensional diffusion mechanisms for catalysis by RNase A. The results provide a biophysical rationale, as well as direct evidence for the diffusion of a protein along a single-stranded nucleic acid. Bovine pancreatic RNase A is a distributive endoribonuclease that catalyzes the cleavage of the P-O 5 ′ bond of RNA on the 3′ side of pyrimidine residues. RNase A binds to polymeric substrates and can use one-dimensional diffusion along a poly(dA) tract to accelerate the location of a uridine substrate. Use of this mechanism depends on the concentration of NaCl, as expected if the enzyme is binding to the nucleic acid by nonspecific interactions with phosphoryl groups. Binding of the enzymic active site to adenosine residues is 20-fold weaker than uridine residues, which could enhance the ability of the enzyme to slide along the poly(dA) tract.
Reflective ORBs: Supporting Robust, Time-Critical Distribution

Modern applications of computers such as video-on-demand require real-time response and need distributed implementations. Object Request Brokers(ORBs) [9] provide a solution to the distribution problem by allowing method invocation on remote objects. However, mere remote method invocation is not enough in a distributed setting: application programs also require features like fault-tolerance and load-balancing. Integrating all possible functionality into an ORB would result in a complex, monolithic program, so we need a modular architecture for ORBs. In this paper, we show how reflection enables the construction of a composable ORB that can be customized to support new feature.
Endoscopic approaches to the treatment of GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux treatment aims to achieve symptom relief while preventing complications. Patients who fail to achieve control with medical therapy, have persistent severe esophagitis or become long-term dependent on anti-reflux treatments may have an anti-reflux procedure indicated [1]. The principle of surgery in gastroesophageal reflux disease is to form some kind of reconstruction of the anti-reflux barrier, although exactly how efficacy is achieved is not fully understood. Open Nissen’s fundoplication has been the treatment of choice to date, but this is invasive and associated with a degree of morbidity and mortality. In recent years laparoscopic fundoplication has become popular and, in general, has replaced the open Nissen’s procedure—equal, though not superior, efficacy and safety have been demonstrated. However, with the laparoscopic procedure, cosmesis is clearly superior and in adult studies complications appear less common, with good success rates. It could be argued therefore that there remains little or no place for open anti-reflux procedures in paediatrics.
Effect of an External Stress on Moisture Diffusion and Degradation in a Graphite-Reinforced Epoxy Laminate

The effect of external stress on moisture diffusion and mechanical properties degradation of a graphite/epoxy composite, Scotchply SP-313, has been investigated. Moisture gain as a function of time is determined for the composite subjected to four tensile stress levels in the range of 0 to 65 percent of its ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Experimental techniques to determine moisture gain in a composite subjected to external stress have been developed and discussed. In addition, the residual (after drying) and the current (wet) short-beam shear strength and the flexural strength as a function of moisture content and external stress level have been determined for the composite. The formation of environmental damage by the combined stress and humid environment conditions as well as the mode of failure in the short-beam test was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies. Results indicated that the moisture absorption process into the graphite/epoxy composite subjected to external stress, at the levels used in this study, can be predicted effectively by Fick's second law of diffusion. Increasing the external stress level produces higher effective diffusivities, and higher initial absorption rates. A significant increase was observed in laminates subjected to more than 45 percent of their UTS and containing more than 1 percent moisture. This was attributed to early formation of cracks within the 90-deg plies caused by moisture degradation of the matrix or interface strength. The current and residual short-beam shear strength was reduced with increase in moisture content. By enhancing the moisture penetration into the composite, the external stress accelerates the mechanical degradation process. The flexural strength, which is a fiber-dominated property, showed a very low sensitivity to application of external stress for the levels used in the present study.
Logic and Constraint Logic Programming for Distributed Constraint Optimization.

The field of Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOPs) has gained momentum, thanks to its suitability in capturing complex problems (e.g., multi-agent coordination and resource allocation problems) that are naturally distributed and cannot be realistically addressed in a centralized manner. The state of the art in solving DCOPs relies on the use of ad-hoc infrastructures and ad-hoc constraint solving procedures. This paper investigates an infrastructure for solving DCOPs that is completely built on logic programming technologies. In particular, the paper explores the use of a general constraint solver (a constraint logic programming system in this context) to handle the agent-level constraint solving. The preliminary experiments show that logic programming provides benefits over a state-of-the-art DCOP system, in terms of performance and scalability, opening the doors to the use of more advanced technology (e.g., search strategies and complex constraints) for solving DCOPs.
Revisiting endotracheal self-extubation in the surgical and trauma intensive care unit: Are they all fine?

Abstract Objectives Endotracheal self-extubation (ESE) is a serious health care concern. We designed this study to test our hypothesis that not all patients with ESE are successful in spontaneous breathing and reintubation has negative impact on outcomes. Methods Data on all 39 patients of ESE in our surgical and trauma intensive care unit (ICU) in 2012 were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 42 episodes of ESE in 39 of 939 intubated patients (frequency, 4.0%), with 54% of events requiring reintubation. Pre-ESE positive end-expiratory pressure was higher and Pao 2 /fraction of inspired oxygen ratio was lower, and the post-ESE respiration rate was higher in the reintubated group. On univariate analysis, weaning and spontaneous breathing trial before ESE were favorable predictors for nonreintubation. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that agitation before ESE was an independent predictor of reintubation. The need for reintubation was associated with increased risk of pulmonary infectious complications, ventilator days, the need for tracheostomy, and ICU and hospital LOS. The financial costs for ventilator days and ICU rooms were significantly higher in patients with reintubation. Conclusion Not all patients were fine after ESE. We have not decreased the frequency of ESE or improved outcomes if the patients were reintubated. The need for reintubation was not only associated with a high pulmonary complication rate but also prolonged duration on mechanical ventilation and hospital/ICU stay and increased the hospital costs.