cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient Access to Medical Devices — A Comparison of U.S. and European Review Processes

The U.S. process for approving innovative, high-risk medical devices has been criticized for taking longer than the European process. But a review of the data suggests that it takes the same amount of time or less for U.S. patients to gain access to such devices.
Use of Genetic Algorithms To Improve Partial Least Squares Fuel Property and Synthetic Fuel Modeling from Near-Infrared Spectra

Partial least-squares (PLS) regression models can be constructed from near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic data to predict critical specification properties of jet and diesel fuels for quality surveillance. This same approach has also been used to identify Fischer−Tropsch (FT) synthetic fuels and predict their quantities in blends with jet or diesel petroleum-derived fuels at concentrations as low as 15% with a sequential modeling approach. The present work expands on these previous results using genetic algorithms to select the maximally useful subset of all available training data for both fuel property modeling and FT fuel identification purposes. Prediction improvements primarily stem from the ability of the automated genetic algorithm and F-test algorithm to select larger numbers of latent variables without overfitting, which is not possible by simply modifying the F-test threshold. These improved data subsets provide significant improvements in the precision of PLS property modeling, as well as the low...
SCFT Simulations of an Order–Order Transition in Thin Films of Diblock and Triblock Copolymers

We have used self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulations to investigate the effect of film thickness and chain architecture on the temperature-dependent sphere to cylinder order–order transition in diblock and triblock copolymers. While the order–order transition temperature (OOT) for bulk phases depends only on the volume fraction for a particular block copolymer, for thin films we find a strong dependence on film thickness and the nature of chains forming the surface wetting layer (i.e., ends vs mid-monomers). Our studies show that subtle differences in the packing frustration of the spherical and cylindrical phases as well as the higher configurational entropy of free chain ends at the surface are sufficient to drive the equilibrium configuration in thin films away from the stable bulk structure. These contributions to the free energy that arise in thin films but are absent in bulk cause the thin film OOT to be shifted from the bulk OOT by ΔχN ∼ 5.
Oligomerization and autocatalysis of NH2BH2 with ammonia-borane.

The reactivity of NH2BH2 in the presence of ammonia−borane (AB) is investigated using ab initio CCSD(T) simulations to answer the following three questions: How do AB and NH2BH2 react? How do aminoborane species oligomerize apart from catalytic centers? Can the formation of experimentally observed products, especially cyclic N2B2H7−NH2BH3, be explained through the kinetics of NH2BH2 oligomerization in the presence of AB? AB is shown to react with NH2BH2 by the addition of NH3−BH3 across the N═B double bond, generating linear NH3BH2NH2BH3. This species decomposes by surmounting a reasonable barrier to produce two NH2BH2 and H2. The generation of additional NH2BH2 from NH2BH2 and AB provides a pathway for autocatalytic NH2BH2 production. The important intermediates along the oligomerization pathway include cyclic (NH2BH2)2 and linear NH3BH2NH2BH3, both of which have been observed experimentally. Calculations show cyclic N2B2H7−NH2BH3, an aminoborane analogue of ethylcyclobutane, to be the kinetically prefer...
Fulfilling Their Dreams: Marginalized Urban Youths' Perspectives on a Culturally Sensitive Social and Emotional Learning Program

ABSTRACTA growing body of research suggests educators need to focus on cultivating social and emotional competencies that youth will need to thrive in the new knowledge economy (Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor, & Schellinger, 2011). For marginalized urban youth, in particular, few have derived programs and interventions to assist with these competencies. This study illuminates the perspectives of 9 African American youth at risk for academic failure taking part in the Fulfill the Dream (FTD) program. FTD is a social and emotional learning curriculum emphasizing social justice and critical consciousness through the utilization of hip-hop culture. Information regarding the nature of the collaboration of this research project and recommendations for education professionals working with marginalized youth are discussed.
Engineering method of the interior ballistic prediction for solid rocket motor

The characteristic velocity, area of nozzle throat and other parameters are calculated by using the static test results of solid rocket motor (SRM) and introducing generalized pressure coefficient and thrust coefficient. Based on this , SRM' s pressure, thrust, mass flow rate and their integration sum are predicted with correlation parameters of random specimen and standard motor. The results show that the engineering method is simple and useful, and the prediction accuracy meets demand.
Learning mode and comparison in relational category learning

An important goal in the study of higher-order cognition is to understand how relational categories are acquired and applied. Previous work has explored the potential of withincategory comparison opportunities to promote relational category learning and transfer. This follows from predictions of structure mapping theory (Gentner, 1983, 2003) that alignment leads to highlighting and abstraction of common relational structure. However, a straightforward merging of traditional classification learning with comparison (i.e., trials presenting two same-category items) has not been effective. We explore the hypothesis that classification and comparison have an unforeseen incompatibility. In a 3x2 betweensubjects design we tested three presentation conditions (unconstrained item pairs, category-matched items pairs, single items) in two supervised category learning modes: classification and observation. The major finding is an interaction driven by highly accurate categorization for the observational learners with same-category pairs. The introduction of the observational mode yielded the predicted, but elusive result of an advantage for within-category pairs over twice as many single-item trials. We conclude that within-category comparison can be an effective means to promote relational category learning and discuss the apparent impediment of the guess-and-correct cycle.
Pore Structure Alteration of a Carbon Molecular Sieve for the Separation of Hydrogen Sulfide from Methane by Adsorption

The equilibrium adsorption of H2S is substantially stronger than that of CH4 on carbons, including carbon molecular sieve (CMS). A carbon molecular sieve with a proper pore structure can provide a ...
Market and Organizational Influences on Inter-Organizational Network Participation

There is a growing trend for organizations to participate in business-to-business relationships, such as inter-organizational networks, as a strategy to spur innovation and respond to market conditions. Despite significant growth in inter-organizational arrangements, limited knowledge exists on the market and organizational characteristics associated with inter-organizational network participation, particularly for emerging networks such as those in healthcare. This paper develops a framework and propositions to better understand the influence of market and organizational characteristics on inter-organizational network participation.
Parents reported reduced symptoms and improved satisfaction after fundoplication and their perceptions were an important outcome measure.

Aim Fundoplication is required for children with chronic recurrent gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to report parental perceptions of symptoms and overall satisfaction with the long-term course following fundoplication with special reference to patients with GERD risk factors. Methods We studied 34 patients, with a median age of 6.5 ± 4.9 years, who received fundoplication between 2001 and 2005. Clinical information and surgical complications were recorded. Parents were interviewed to evaluate post-operative symptoms, mode of nutrition and satisfaction. Results The median follow-up time was 7.3 years. Comorbidities were neurological impairment in 15 patients, other gastrointestinal disorders in seven patients and isolated GERD in 12 patients. The parents reported that fundoplication effectively treated initial reflux symptoms in 60% and improved symptoms in 37%. Vomiting and reflux-associated pain were treated most effectively. Pulmonary symptoms often remained unchanged in neurologically impaired children. Redo fundoplication was necessary in seven patients. Only two parents regretted consenting to surgery. Conclusion A high percentage of parents reported improved gastrointestinal reflux-related symptoms and a high level of satisfaction following fundoplication. Parental perceptions of GERD symptoms should be an important outcome measure when assessing the efficacy of antireflux surgery in children in routine clinical follow-up.
Differential Effects of Marketing Messages in Online Advertising for an MBA Program

As Business programs compete for prospective MBA students, they need to understand what messages capture the attention of these students, prompting them to seek additional information about the program. In light of new program options and the changing competitive environment, the messages that are effective today may be quite different from those that resonated just a few years ago. Since different messages may be relevant to different target markets, this study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of certain messages in reaching working professionals who are seeking a flexible MBA program. The results show that a message indicating national ranking is more effective than messages of value or convenience.
Effects of work-family conflict and job insecurity on psychological distress.

Background Work-family conflict (WFC) and job insecurity are important determinants of workers' mental health. Aims To examine the relationship between WFC and psychological distress, and the co-occurring effects of WFC and job insecurity on distress in US working adults. Methods This study used cross-sectional data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for adults aged 18-64 years. The 2010 NHIS included occupational data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sponsored Occupational Health Supplement. Logistic regression models were used to examine the independent and co-occurring effects of WFC and job insecurity on distress. Results The study group consisted of 12059 participants. In the model fully adjusted for relevant occupational, behavioural, sociodemographic and health covariates, WFC and job insecurity were independently significantly associated with increased odds of psychological distress. Relative to participants reporting WFC only, participants reporting no WFC and no job insecurity had lower odds of moderate and severe distress. Co-occurring WFC and job insecurity was associated with significantly higher odds of both moderate [odds ratio (OR) = 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-1.9] and severe (OR = 3.57; 95% CI 2.66-4.79) distress. Conclusions Rates of WFC and job insecurity were influenced by differing factors in working adults; however, both significantly increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes, particularly when experienced jointly. Future studies should explore the temporal association between co-occurring WFC and job insecurity and psychological distress.
Book Review: Modern Thai Buddhism and Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu: A Social HistoryItoTomomi, Modern Thai Buddhism and Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu: A Social History, NUS Press, Singapore, 2012, 389 + ix pp.

(2015). Book Review: Modern Thai Buddhism and Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu: A Social History. South East Asia Research: Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 584-586.
CALCINOSIS CIRCUMSCRIPTA IN A COHORT OF RELATED JUVENILE AFRICAN LIONS (PANTHERA LEO).

Abstract Three juvenile, genetically related African lions (Panthera leo) were evaluated for discrete dome-shaped subcutaneous masses present over the proximal lateral metatarsal-tarsal area. The lesions measured 3–8 cm in diameter, were fluctuant to firm, nonulcerated, and attached to underlying structures. On radiographic evaluation, the lesions were characterized by well-circumscribed punctate mineralizations in the soft tissue surrounded by soft tissue swelling without evidence of adjacent bony involvement. On cut surface, the lesions were made of numerous loculi containing 2–5-mm round-to-ovoid, white-to-gray, firm structures interspersed with fibrous tissue and pockets of serosanguinous fluid. Hematology, serum biochemistry, serum thyroid screening (including total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and free triiodothyronine), and serum vitamin D panels (including parathyroid hormone, ionized calcium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D) were unremarkable. Histopathologic evaluation of the lesio...
Interprofessional Collaboration and Peer Mentors for Bowel Education in Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Consultation.

Background Evidence shows that having a bowel management program prevents rehospitalization postacute rehabilitation discharge for persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Peer mentors have been used to assist patients in managing their care. Purpose The aim of the study was to illustrate how interprofessional collaboration led to utilizing resources of the inpatient rehabilitation facility's peer mentor program and incorporating peer mentors into bowel education for persons with SCI. Methods A descriptive case review of a continuous quality improvement (CQI) project, using an eight-item Likert scale evaluation survey with three open-ended questions to assess the utility of incorporating peer mentors into bowel education. Findings and conclusions Twenty-seven of the 28 participants responded to the survey. Results showed that the education program was useful, should be continued, and include the peer mentors. Responses from open-ended questions included themes related to knowledge, adherence, and taking charge of one's own care. Interprofessional collaboration and involvement of peer mentors as copresenters in SCI bowel education were feasible.
Drone-enabled bridge inspection methodology and application

Abstract The field of Civil Engineering has lately gained increasing interest in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), commonly referred to as drones. Due to an increase of deteriorating bridges according to the report released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a more efficient and cost-effective alternative for bridge inspection is required. The goal of this paper was to analyze the effectiveness of drones as supplemental bridge inspection tools. In pursuit of this goal, the selected bridge for inspection was a three-span glued-laminated timber girder with a composite concrete deck located near the city of Keystone in the state of South Dakota (SD). A drone, a Da-Jiāng Innovations (DJI) Phantom 4, was utilized for this study. Also, an extensive literature review to gain knowledge on current bridge inspection techniques using drones was conducted. The findings from the literature review served as the basis for the development of a five-stage drone-enabled bridge inspection methodology. A field inspection utilizing the drone was performed following the stages of the methodology, and the findings were compared to current historical inspection reports provided by the SD Department of Transportation (SDDOT). Quantified data using the drone such as a spalled area of 0.18 m2, which is identical to the measurement provided by the SDDOT (0.3 m by 0.6 m), demonstrated the efficiency of the drone to inspect the bridge. This study detailed drone-enabled inspection principles and relevant considerations to obtain optimum data acquisition. The field investigation of the bridge demonstrated the image quality and damage identification capabilities of the drone to perform bridge inspection at a lower cost when compared to traditional methods.
Verbal IQ of a four-year old achieved by an AI system

Verbal tasks that have traditionally been difficult for computer systems but are easy for young children are among AI's "grand challenges". We present the results of testing the ConceptNet 4 system on the verbal part of the standard WPPSI-III IQ test, using simple test-answering algorithms. It is found that the system has the Verbal IQ of an average four-year-old child.
Accommodation in Youths’ Mental Health: Evidence and Issues:

Accommodation refers to the ways in which parents or other family members modify routines or expectations to alleviate a child’s symptoms and emotional distress. In the context of youth obsessive-c...
Psychiatric disorders among victims of a courthouse shooting spree: a three-year follow-up study.

This study examined the longitudinal course of psychiatric sequelae of a mass shooting incident at a courthouse. A sample of 80 individuals was examined 6–8 weeks after the incident and 77 of these were reassessed one and three years later using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement. Only 5% of the study sample met criteria for PTSD after this incident. Universal distress, however, was evident as 96% of the respondents reported PTSD symptoms and 75% described the incident as “very upsetting.” The need for intervention among symptomatic individuals not meeting diagnostic criteria should not be discounted as subdiagnostic distress may warrant specific intervention.
Evaluation of Eu:LiCAF for neutron detection utilizing SiPMs and portable electronics

Abstract With the increasing cost and decreasing availability of 3He, there have been many efforts to find alternative neutron detection materials. Lithium calcium aluminum fluoride (LiCAF) enriched to 95% 6 Li doped with europium was evaluated here as a replacement material for 3 He. Wafers 0.5 cm thick, consisting of LiCAF crystals in a rubberized matrix, were embedded with wavelength shifting fibers (WSF) and mated to silicon photo-multipliers (SiPMs) to measure the photon response in a flux of neutrons from a DD neutron generator. Excellent discrimination was realized between neutrons and gammas, and both pulse-height discrimination and pulse-shape analysis were explored. A Figure of Merit (FoM) of 1.03 was achieved. By applying pulse-shape analysis, a simple neutron count output was generated by utilizing a low-pass filter to suppress fast pulses from the SiPM output and subsequently applying a threshold to the remaining signal. Custom electronics were built to bias the SiPMs, then amplify, filter, discriminate, and digitize the LiCAF/WSF scintillation photons, resulting in a digital pulse that can easily be counted with any microcontroller or field programmable gate array. A significant advantage of LiCAF is that it can be fabricated into any shape/size (when embedded in a rubberized matrix), and the light output and transparency is sufficient to allow for thicker scintillators which enable detection of both thermal and epithermal neutrons. This work demonstrated that Eu:LiCAF is capable of discriminating gammas from neutrons and is a potential replacement material for 3 He, especially for nuclear security applications and neutron spectroscopy .
Effects of tow-to-tow gaps in composite laminates fabricated via automated fiber placement

Abstract Automated fiber placement (AFP) is a commonly used manufacturing technique for large-scale polymer matrix composite (PMC) components. Given their nature, AFP systems are typically used to lay up large-scale components in production environments. As such, AFP-induced defects tend to arise over the course of any given build. The often-inconspicuous nature of these defects, coupled with an incomplete understanding of their consequences, represents cause for concern for AFP users. This study examines the effects of one of the most common AFP-induced defects: tow-to-tow gaps. Results show that mechanical performance can be affected by the presence of systematic tow-to-tow gaps, while the presence of incidental gapping is largely inconsequential. In cases where declines in mechanical performance are observed, the primary culprit is shown to be fiber waviness. As such, results also show that where tow-to-tow gaps have an influence on the mechanical properties of composite laminates, performance varies with loading mode.
NFIA is a gliogenic switch enabling rapid derivation of functional human astrocytes from pluripotent stem cells.

The mechanistic basis of gliogenesis, which occurs late in human development, is poorly understood. Here we identify nuclear factor IA (NFIA) as a molecular switch inducing human glial competency. Transient expression of NFIA is sufficient to trigger glial competency of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells within 5 days and to convert these cells into astrocytes in the presence of glial-promoting factors, as compared to 3–6 months using current protocols. NFIA-induced astrocytes promote synaptogenesis, exhibit neuroprotective properties, display calcium transients in response to appropriate stimuli and engraft in the adult mouse brain. Differentiation involves rapid but reversible chromatin remodeling, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter demethylation and a striking lengthening of the G1 cell cycle phase. Genetic or pharmacological manipulation of G1 length partially mimics NFIA function. We used the approach to generate astrocytes with region-specific or reactive features. Our study defines key mechanisms of the gliogenic switch and enables the rapid production of human astrocytes for disease modeling and regenerative medicine. A new method generates astrocytes from human pluripotent stem cells in 5 days.
The effect of deviations from trends in national income on mortality: The Danish and USA data revisited

The issue of whether deviations from trends in national income predict mortality in Denmark is revisited. Earlier research has yielded mixed results. The hypothesis that increases, but not decreases, in inflation-adjusted per capita income are related to decreases in age standardized mortality is tested using methods responsive to criticisms of earlier work. Results support the hypothesis. The implications of the findings for research and policy are briefly discussed.
SECTION 529 PREPAID COLLEGE TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS: HELP IN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES

The economy is wretched. The United States’ economic recovery is dependent, in part, on the country’s position in a global economy. If we as a nation wish to remain competitive in a knowledge-based economy that requires a higher level of education, we must facilitate greater access to post-secondary education. Unfortunately, in the last two decades, the United States has fallen from first to tenth place in the world in the proportion of its population that has obtained that all important post-secondary education. President Obama has set a goal of restoring the United States to first place by 2020.The United States faces a number of problems when it comes to facilitating access to higher education. For many years, children in a large segment of our society, the economically disadvantaged, have not even dreamed of graduating from high school and going to college.If we are to make any serious inroads into the proportion of our population that has attained post-secondary education, we must prepare children within this group for post-secondary education and provide access for them. Now we have a new problem hampering students from families whose children have traditionally attended college. Their families’ college savings have been decimated just as these children are about to attend college. We, as a nation, cannot afford to lose these children from the proportion of our population that has attained higher education.While there is no single silver bullet for the nation’s educational woes, this Article proposes a model that will prove effective for both cohorts of students. It is based on Florida’s highly successful, cost-effective prepaid college tuition scholarship program, a jewel that has gone largely unnoticed. This Article evaluates and recommends the existing program for economically disadvantaged children, and suggests how it can be adapted to assist students whose college savings have recently evaporated, especially in those states that already have prepaid tuition plans.
Newton, entanglement, and the graviton

Many experiments have recently been proposed to test whether non-relativistic gravitational interactions can generate entanglement. In this note, I consider the extent to which these experiments can test if the graviton exists. Assuming unitarity and Lorentz invariance of the $S$-matrix, I demonstrate that this "Newtonian entanglement" requires the existence of massless bosons, universally coupled to mass, in the Hilbert space of low-energy scattering states. These bosons could be the usual spin-2 gravitons, but in principle there are other possibilities like spin-0 scalar gravitons. I suggest a concept for a more refined experiment to rule these out. The special role of $d=3+1$ spacetime dimensions and the possibility that unitarity is violated by gravity are highlighted.
Trends in Cannabis Involvement and Risk of Alcohol Involvement in Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities in the United States, 2000‒2018.

Objectives. To assess cannabis and alcohol involvement among motor vehicle crash (MVC) fatalities in the United States. Methods. In this repeated cross-sectional analysis, we used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2000 to 2018. Fatalities were cannabis-involved if an involved driver tested positive for a cannabinoid and alcohol-involved based on the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of an involved driver. Multinomial mixed-effects logistic regression models assessed cannabis as a risk factor for alcohol by BAC level. Results. While trends in fatalities involving alcohol have remained stable, the percentage of fatalities involving cannabis and cannabis and alcohol increased from 9.0% in 2000 to 21.5% in 2018, and 4.8% in 2000 to 10.3% in 2018, respectively. In adjusted analyses, fatalities involving cannabis had 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.48, 1.65), 1.62 (95% CI = 1.52, 1.72), and 1.46 (95% CI = 1.42, 1.50) times the odds of involving BACs of 0.01% to 0.049%, 0.05% to 0.079%, and 0.08% or higher, respectively. Conclusions. The percentage of fatalities involving cannabis and coinvolving cannabis and alcohol doubled from 2000 to 2018, and cannabis was associated with alcohol coinvolvement. Further research is warranted to understand cannabis- and alcohol-involved MVC fatalities. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 28, 2021:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306466).
The Effects of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 on Defined Benefit Pension Contributions

This study examines the effect of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) on corporate defined benefit pension contributions. The TCJA decreases the corporate tax rate from 35 in 2017 to 21 percent in 2018, and thereafter. This change incentivizes firms to increase 2017 pension contributions to take advantage of tax deductions at a higher rate. Consistent with this incentive, we find firms increase defined benefit pension contributions by an average of 25 to 31 percent in 2017 compared to earlier years. We also find that taxpaying firms are the primary contributors. Further, taxpaying firms with high levels of pension-related deferred tax assets contribute over three times as much as taxpaying firms with low levels of pension-related deferred tax assets. We also find firms that increase in pension contributions in 2017 reduce 2018 contributions, consistent with intertemporal income shifting rather than a permanent change in pension funding strategy.
Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) Protein Expression is Tightly Regulated by N6-methyladenosine Modification of its mRNA.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encodes a regulatory protein termed HBx, that has been intensely studied in the past and shown to play a key role(s) in viral transcription and replication. In addition, a huge body of work exists in the literature related to signal transduction and possible mechanism(s) leading to hepatocarcinogenesis associated with infection. We have previously reported that HBV transcripts are modified by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) at the single consensus DRACH motif at 1905-1909 nucleotide (nt) in the epsilon structural element and this m6A modification affects the HBV life cycle. In this study, we present evidence that additional variants of m6A (DRACH) motifs are located within 1606 to 1809 nt correspond on the coding region of HBx mRNA and 3' untranslated region (UTR) of other viral mRNAs. Using the mutants of additional m6A site in 1606 to 1809 nt and a depletion strategy of m6A methyltransferases (METTL3/14) and reader proteins (YTHDFs), we show that m6A modification at 1616 nt, located in HBx coding region, regulates HBx protein expression. The HBx RNA and protein expressions were notably increased by the silencing of m6A reader YTHDF2 and methyltransferases as well as the mutation of m6A sites in the HBx coding region. However, other viral protein expressions were not affected by the m6A modification at 1616 nt. Thus, m6A modifications in the HBx open reading frame (ORF), downregulate HBx protein expression, commonly seen during HBV transfections, transgenic mice, and natural infections of human hepatocytes. These studies identify the functional role of m6A modification in the subtle regulation of HBx protein expression consistent with its possible role in establishing chronic hepatitis. Importance N6-methyladenosien (m6A) modifications have been recently implicated in the HBV life cycle. Previously, we observed that m6A modification occurs in the adenosine at 1907 nt of HBV genome and this modification regulates the viral life cycle. Here, we identified an additional m6A site located in 1616 nt of the HBV genome. This modification negatively affects HBx RNA and protein expression. In the absence of m6A methyltransferases (METTL3/14) and reader protein (YTHDF2), the HBx RNA and protein expression were increased. Using HBV mutants that lack m6A in the HBx coding region, we present the unique positional effects of m6A in the regulation of HBx protein expression.
Farm and Weather Summary, Ag Engineering and Agronomy Farm

The 2008 crop year was the first of a 3to 5-year biomass study done jointly by the USDA and ISU's Ag Engineering Department. Leaders of the project were Stuart Birrell, ISU Agricultural Engineering Department, and Doug Karlen, USDA Soil Tilth Lab. The project involved harvesting biomass from continuous corn at different levels of residue removal. Harvest is done with a modified 9750STS John Deere combine. Residue is collected in special forage wagons equipped with load cells to measure the amount of crop residue removed. Three levels of removal are being studied: 0 percent, which is grain only; 50 percent, which is the ear and everything above it; and 100 percent, which is as low as the machine can safely operate. The field consists of 24 acres, and in addition to grain and stover yields, fertility, soil erosion, and residue cover after harvest will be measured. There are also cover crop plots established in this field.
Sanguinarine, a phototoxic H2O2-producing alkaloid.

Sanguinarine chloride, a quaternary salt of a benzophenanthrene alkaloid, was phototoxic to catalase-deficient strains of Escherichia coli but not to Trichoplusia ni (cablage looper moth larvae), an insect with high levels of catalase activity. Chemical analyses confirm that sanguinarine is an efficient producer of H 2 O 2 . This differential toxicity suggest that the mode of phototoxine action involves production of H 2 O 2 which could be detoxified in many organisms by catalase
Observations of event-based streambed deformation in a gravel bed channel

[1] The streambed is the major source of bed load sediment in gravel bed channels and is necessarily deformed during floods that mobilize sediment. This study uses observations of scour and fill from Carnation Creek, Canada, to articulate at-a-point relations of the occurrence and magnitude of bed deformation and the resulting adjustments in bed configuration over a series of flood events. The likelihood of local bed deformation by scour, fill, or both depends on flow magnitude. At most locations, there is an imbalance of scour and fill that leads to adjustments in bed elevation, and these imbalances increase with flow. Persistent deformation of locations in lower portions of the bed topography tend to produce larger total exchanges between bed and mobile sediment over the flood series but locations that experience similar frequencies of bed deformation do not produce unique depth distributions. These results underscore the importance of understanding the coupling of scour and fill that produces streambed adjustment when modeling streambed evolution and managing river habitat.
Additional Remarks on the Theory of Monads

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Luxemburg's theory of monads in the setting of a distributive lattice or ring of sets and the application of this theory in further study of compactifications. Some of the basic theories of filters and ideals of a distributive lattice is developed using nonstandard models. The chapter also explains general observations about monadic topologies. It concludes with a discussion of the all Hausdorff compactifications that can be viewed by constructing the Samuel compactification, which is a topological (as opposed to uniform space) version of a precompact nonstandard hull.
Memorializing the Sacred: Kristallnacht in German National Memory

This article uses field visits (including photographs) to examine the construction of religious memory in the commemoration of Kristallnacht (Crystal Night) in contemporary German society. Over the last two decades there has been a proliferation of Kristallnacht memorials to the synagogues that were destroyed during the pogroms of November 9, 1938. Based on research at 50 of these memorial sites, I explore the way in which violence against the synagogue (and Jewish sacred objects) has become the symbol of Jewish genocide in German Holocaust remembrance. The findings strongly suggest that the missing synagogue and its destroyed relics have replaced the murdered Jewish citizenry as the predominant subject of memory in public monuments and memorials throughout the country. However, this visual trope as a representation of the sacred is complicated by other attempts at humanizing (and thus implicitly Christianizing) the suffering and sacrifice of the Holocaust.
Effect of temperature and sex on growth patterns in nymphs of the mayfly Hexagenia hilineata in the laboratory

SUMMARY. Eggs collected from Hexagenia bilineata females were successfully reared in the laboratory at temperatures of 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. Eggs did not hatch at 10°C and although hatching was successful at 35°C, all nymphs at this temperature died while in early instars. Survival of nymphs between the approximate size interval of 4–14 mm showed a significant decrease with increased temperatures. Nymphs at 15°C, however, generally did not survive transformation to the subaduit stage. The growth pattern of individual nymphs was well described by a logistic curve at most temperatures. Furthermore, growth pattern was significantly affected by both temperature and sex. Rate of development from oviposition to first emergence increased with increasing temperatures in a linear fashion between 15 and 30°C. The relationship was equally well described by a hyperbolic equation and a power-law equation. By extrapolation from the hyperbolic equation, the lower threshold temperature for development was estimated to be 10.1°C3.1°C. The degree (°C)-days required for development from oviposition to first emergence was calculated to be 2337 days with 95% confidence limits of 2045–2727 days under laboratory conditions.
Generation of monoclonal antibodies against plant cell-wall polysaccharides. I. Characterization of a monoclonal antibody to a terminal alpha-(1-->2)-linked fucosyl-containing epitope.

Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) generated against rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) purified from suspension-cultured sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) cells fall into three recognition groups. Four McAbs (group I) recognize an epitope that appears to be immunodominant and is present on RG-I from maize and sycamore maple, pectin and polygalacturonic acid from citrus, gum tragacanth, and membrane glycoproteins from suspension-cultured cells of maize, tobacco, parsley, bean, and sycamore maple. A second set of McAbs (group II) recognizes an epitope present in sycamore maple RG-I but does not bind to any of the other polysaccharides or glycoproteins recognized by group I. Lastly, one McAb, CCRC-M1 (group III), binds to RG-I and more strongly to xyloglucan (XG) from sycamore maple but not to maize RG-I, citrus polygalacturonic acid, or to the plant membrane glycoproteins recognized by group I. The epitope to which CCRC-M1 binds has been examined in detail. Ligand competition assays using a series of oligosaccharides derived from or related to sycamore maple XG demonstrated that a terminal [alpha]-(1->2)-likned fucosyl residue constitutes an essential part of the epitope recognized by CCRC-M1. Oligosaccharides containing this structural motif compete with intact sycamore maple XG for binding to the antibody, whereas structurally related oligosaccharides, which do not contain terminal fucosyl residues or in which the terminal fucosyl residue is linked [alpha]-(1->3) to the adjacent glycosyl residue, do not compete for the antibody binding site. The ligand binding assays also indicate that CCRC-M1 binds to a conformationally dependent structure of the polysaccharide. Other results of this study establish that some of the carbohydrate epitopes of the plant extracellular matrix are shared among different macromolecules.
Adrenal Gland Toxicity: Chemically Induced Dysfunction:

Among the endocrine organs, the adrenal cortex appears to be the most vulnerable to chemically induced injury. A wide variety of chemicals has been found to cause morphological or functional lesion...
The Organization of Economics

1. Two forces are present in modern economic analysis, the one integrating and the other disintegrating. Disintegrating-that is specializing-factors are predominant. 2. Specialization takes two contrary directions: (a) inward toward more stylized mathematical assumptions; and (b) outward toward the positive contents of institution and culture, with their own localizing and particularizing effects. 3. Professional associations and journals are rapidly proliferating, and specializing along the above two lines.
Genetic Taste Markers and Preferences for Vegetables and Fruit of Female Breast Care Patients

Abstract Objective To explore links between genetic responsiveness to the bitter taste of 6-7i-propylthiouracil (PROP) and self-reported preferences for vegetables and fruit of female breast care patients. Methods PROP tasting was defined by detection thresholds and by perceived bitterness and hedonic ratings for PROP solutions. Nontasters, medium tasters, and supertasters were identified by their PROP thresholds and by the ratio of perceived bitterness of PROP to the perceived saltiness of sodium chloride solutions. Subjects rated preferences for vegetables and fruit using 9-point category scales. Subjects/setting A clinical sample of 170 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and 156 cancer-free control subjects were recruited from the University of Michigan Breast Care Center. Statistical analyses Principal components factor analysis, one-way analyses of variance, and Pearson correlations and χ 2 tests were used to analyze taste and food preference data. Results Genetic responsiveness to PROP was associated with lower acceptance of cruciferous and selected green and raw vegetables ( P Applications/conclusions Women who are PROP tasters may be less likely to comply with dietary strategies for cancer prevention that emphasize consumption of cruciferous vegetables and bitter salad greens. Alternatively, PROP-sensitive women may seek to reduce bitter taste by adding fat, sugar, or salt. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000; 100:191–197.
Glycolysis and Tumor Growth

It was established by Warburg (1) that tumor tissue exhibits abnormal metabolism in that it obtains most of its energy from glycolysis rather than from the usual gaseous exchange; also that tumor cells enjoy a greater independence of adequate oxygen supply than normal cells. This work has been confirmed by Crabtree (2) and others. It occurred to the authors to study the influence of diminished available hexose intake and of anti-glycolytic agents upon tumor growth in rats. Accordingly the first series of experiments here recorded is concerned with the effect of a low available hexose diet on Walker sarcoma 319 (3); the second group deals with the effect of the anti-glycolytic agent, the fluoride ion (4), on the same neoplasm. Materials and Methods Material for implantation was obtained by mincing small pieces of tissue, Walker sarcoma 319, taken from the capsule of a well developed tumor with the animal under light surgical anesthesia. The cells were implanted subcutaneously in the anterior axillary region, aseptically, by means of a trocar. In all instances male rats were employed; their weights varied from 90 to 150 grams. Inflammatory changes in tissue owing to the trauma of inoculation disappeared in most instances within one week. In series one, a ration consisting of Castile soap 43 parts, cod-liver oil 10 parts, yeast extract 2 parts, casein 14 parts, and salt mixture 6 parts, was used as a basal diet. To the ration of the test animals was added sodium lactate 25 parts, and to the food of the control animals dextrose 25 parts. Two per cent of ethyl alcohol was added to the drinking water of the test animals to supply the additional energy.
Participating in Research on Romantic Breakups Promotes Emotional Recovery via Changes in Self-Concept Clarity:

Romantic breakups are a significant source of stress and associated with a range of poor outcomes. This report investigated whether participating in a measurement-intensive study of coping alters the course of breakup-related recovery. Recently separated young adults (N = 210) were assigned to complete either four visits involving multimethod assessments over 9 weeks (measurement-intensive condition, n = 120) or only intake and exit assessments during the same period (pre–post condition, n = 90). Participants in the measurement-intensive condition reported larger decreases in self-concept disturbance over time; no other main effects were observed based on condition. Improvement in self-concept clarity (for people in the measurement-intensive condition) explained decreases in breakup-related emotional intrusion, loneliness, and the use of first-person plural words when describing the separation. This study highlights the importance of self-concept reorganization following a breakup and suggests that resear...
Human-computer communication meets software engineering

A contemporary software engineering problem is to adapt an existing piece of software to a new interface technology.We describe the process of integrating a software engineering tool with a window-based direct manipulation interface. Four stages of this process are described - from a simple integration to a fully integrated system in which it becomes hard to separate properties of the tool from those of the interface.We take advantage of WLISP, an object-oriented, knowledge-based user interface construction kit that contains a large number of tools and intelligent support systems. The object-oriented architecture of WLISP is well suited for making use of existing interface components and tailoring them to the specific needs of the application. This is illustrated by describing the implementation of two of the four integration stages in some detail. Thereby we show benefits and problems of separating the interface from the application system.
Results from a Faculty Development Program in Teaching Economics

The Teaching Innovations Program (TIP) was a six-year project funded by the National Science Foundation that gave economics instructors the opportunity to learn interactive teaching strategies for use in undergraduate economics courses. TIP participants first attended a teaching workshop that presented various teaching strategies. They then could enroll in a follow-up program of online instruction and mentoring to learn more about one or two teaching strategies. TIP participants also had the opportunity to engage in the scholarship of teaching and learning economics to share their work. A retrospective survey was administered to the participants after attending the program to obtain a longitudinal assessment of TIP. This article presents the overall survey findings and discusses the results from each TIP phase (workshop, online instruction, and scholarship).
Home Areas and Swimways in Channel Catfish Culture Ponds

Abstract Three distinct behavior patterns were recognized in the daily routine of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in culture ponds: (1) occupancy of home areas; (2) daily trip to the feeding station; and (3) feeding. When the fish were not in home areas they were going to or from the feeding station by specific routes or swimways. The pond bottom in home areas and swimways was hard and free from silt while the remainder of the pond bottom had a layer of soft mud and silt. Ponds stocked with similar size fish had fewer and larger home areas, and fewer but wider swimways, than ponds stocked with mixed sizes. In the spring and fall, home areas and swimways were in shallows but during summer and winter they were in deeper parts of the pond.
Using a multipole expansion for startup in the DIII-D tokamak

The magnetic field null conditions for plasma startup in DIII-D are established using a multipole expansion of the flux contribution from each element of the poloidal coil set to compute the vacuum magnetic field in real time using the measured coil currents. The use of this procedure has improved the breakdown conditions, as evidenced by the formation of the current channel with a toroidal electric field as low as 0.4 V/m without RF assistance. This represents a significant improvement over previous normal operation. Improved null conditions enhance the sensitivity of the minimum loop voltage to the wall conditions of the vacuum vessel. Results relating the breakdown voltage to carbon impurities are presented. It is shown that the observed difference between the radius of the poloidal field null and the radius of plasma initiation is a manifestation of finite aspect ratio, explained by the variation of the electric potential along the field line from the breakdown region to the wall.
Convergence properties of Newton's method for the solution of the semiconductor transport equations and hybrid solution techniques for multidimensional simulation of VLSI devices

Abstract In this paper the Kantorovich theorem has been modified to evaluate the simple sufficient conditions for the quadratic convergence of Newton's method. By the modified Kantorovich theorem, convergence properties of Poisson's equation and more generally total transport equations have been investigated. It is shown that sufficient condition of quadratic convergence of Newton's method can be satisfied when the maximum magnitude norm of the correction vectors becomes less than 0.5 kT/q for the Poisson's equation, while for the total carrier transport equations this criterion becomes 0.25 kT/q. Under the light of these convergence criteria, a hybrid solution algorithm is defined which employs both the coupled and decoupled solution techniques. This method and a variable mesh concept are combined to achieve dramatic reduction in CPU time for the simulation of VLSI devices. It is demonstrated that overall CPU time is reduced by a factor of two to eight by employing these techniques.