cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The contributions of oral language to English reading outcomes among young bilingual students in the United States

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:The current study examined the language-reading relationship for bilingual students in two grade levels (grades 1 and 3) and for two reading outcomes ...
L'Approccio Delle Corti Statunitensi Alla Scelta Della Legge Applicabile

In this article, the author describes traditional conflict of laws in the experience of the United States. After analyzing the traditional American theory of conflict of laws, the author explains how the "revolution" happened in this matter and the reactions of the courts with their new approach. In the last part of the article, the author makes a comparison between the United States law and the European law in the area of conflict of laws.
Predictors of Teachers’ Turnover and Transfer Intentions: A Multiple Mediation Model of Teacher Engagement

The purpose of this research was to examine how teachers’ level of engagement might predict their likelihood of leaving their current positions. This study used cross-sectional survey data gathered...
A Screening-Level Human Health Risk Assessment for Microplastics and Organic Contaminants in Near-Shore Marine Environments in American Samoa

Solid waste disposal is a growing concern among Pacific Island nations. With severe limitations in land area, in combination with the lack of reuse or recycling options, many near-shore marine ecosystems across Oceania are highly impacted by locally derived marine debris, including plastics, microplastics and associated chemical contaminants. In order to catalyze improved solid waste management and plastic use policies, the potential ecological and public health risks must be clearly identified and communicated. Using an ecological risk assessment framework, potential risks to marine ecosystems and human health are explored by quantifying microplastics and organic contaminants in 4 study sites located in Tutuila, American Samoa. Results of sampled near-shore marine waters, marine sediments and molluscs indicate that microplastics are unevenly distributed in the marine environment, with the highest concentrations detected in marine molluscs. These invertebrates also have the highest environmental concentrations of organic contaminants, including phthalates, pesticides and PCBs. However, based on estimated invertebrate consumption rates, the risk of adverse impacts to human health is likely to be low. Regardless, future studies are recommended to better understand the environmental partitioning of microplastics in dynamic near-shore marine environments, as well as the specific pathways and consequences of the physical and chemical impacts of microplastics on marine species populations and overall marine ecosystem health.
Quantifying ambient concentrations of primary and secondary organic aerosol in central Los Angeles using an integrated approach coupling source apportionment with regression analysis

Abstract The main objective of this study was to explore the correlations between carbonaceous PM2.5 species (i.e., primary and secondary organic aerosols (POAs and SOAs) and elemental carbon (EC)) with various criteria gaseous pollutants over the 2015–2019 period in order to devise a simple way of estimating the 24-hr concentration of these PM species in central Los Angeles. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was used to determine the contribution of various sources to organic carbon (OC) and its volatility fractions (OC1-OC3) in the atmosphere in years of 2015, 2017, and 2019. A 5-factor solution that includes vehicular exhaust emissions (traced by EC and OC1), non-tailpipe emissions (characterized by Ti, Cu, and Zn), SOAs (identified by sulfate and ozone), biomass burning (associated with high loadings of K+/K), and local industrial activities (traced by Cr) was identified as the most physically interpretable solution for each of the investigated years. The SOA concentrations determined using the PMF model output and the POA concentrations, calculated by subtracting the SOA concentrations from the total OC mass, were employed in our regression analysis with criteria gaseous pollutants, the concentrations of which are routinely reported by the air quality agencies. The result of the regression analysis revealed high correlation between the concentrations of SOA and ozone (R2 > 0.74) in different years, probably because they are originated from synchronized photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. The SOA/O3 ratios were between ∼ 47-56 μg/m3/ppm in the time period of 2015–2019. A strong correlation between POA and CO was also observed (R2 > 0.70); the POA/CO ratios decreased from about 6.5 to 5 μg/m3/ppm from 2015 to 2019, which is consistent with the trend of tailpipe emission contributions to total OC concentrations in our monitoring site. EC was also strongly correlated with NO2 (R2 > 0.73) and CO (R2 > 0.70) because they are emitted from the same combustion sources (e.g., vehicular emissions in central Los Angeles). Our results show persistent and significant correlations between the concentrations of criteria gaseous pollutants and carbonaceous PM2.5 species (i.e., POA, SOA, and EC) in different years, offering a straightforward approach to estimate the 24-h average concentration of these PM species in central Los Angeles.
Active Matched Field Processing for Clutter Rejection

Traditionally, matched field processing schemes have been used passively. However, in this paper we outline an approach to extending such schemes for active use. We use the aperture of a vertical array to take advantage of the inherent modal character of the echo and bottom reverberation. When the matched field beamformer assumes a knowledge of the correct target position, significant rejection of the unwanted clutter (reverberation) is obtained, as demonstrated by a numerical computation of array gain of the echo against reverberation.
IS/IT Architecture: An Integrated View and Typology

Information system (IS/IT) alignment has been an important issue facing managers for many years. One important aspect of the alignment problem is that the IS/IT function must meet the often conflicting corporate and business unit demands. Although IS/IT architecture has been widely recognized as an important organizational mechanism for optimally coordinating these demands, there are no consistent conceptualizations about what constitutes IS/IT architecture. In addition, there are no integrative frameworks that help understand the key types, dimensions and organizational design considerations of IS/IT architecture. In this paper, based on the need to meet corporate and business units demands, we conceptualize a typology of IS/IT architecture. Drawing from the literature, we conceptualize the key dimensions and characteristics of IS/IT architecture. We then propose an integrated framework that describes the organizational design considerations based on the typology and dimensions of IS/IT architecture. The paper contributes to the research literature by providing an integrative view of the concept, typology, dimension and organizational design considerations of IS/IT architecture.
ALEX an Alexical Programming Language

ALEX is an experimental language for high-level parallel programming. It is a testbed for exploring various non-traditional ways of expressing algorithmic ideas, making extensive use of high-resolution color graphics. The language itself is not a programming language in the traditional sense, since there is no lexical syntax. This paper discusses the basic design of the ALEX user interface.
Recommendations for the Curbing of Corruption, Cronyism, Nepotism, & Fraud in the European Commission

The European Commission consists of twenty appointed members including a Commission President, and serves primarily as a policy initiator and administrator for the European Union. Allegations of corruption had long surrounded the Commission and, through a series of events, an independent panel of experts was charged with the duty of investigating specific allegations of corruption. On March 16, 1999, the independent panel issued a scathing report of a "sad catalog of negligence and mismanagement" by the Commissioners. This report not only identified individual instances of mismanagement, cronyism, nepotism, and fraud but also excoriated the Commission for lacking "even the slightest sense of responsibility." As a result, in an unprecedented and sensational move, the entire Commission resigned immediately. The European Commission's inherent structure may encourage governmental abuses, inefficiency, and corruption, and the author discusses the deficiencies of this structure. In light of these deficiencies, the author reviews a variety of recommendations posited by the panel of independent experts and other critics for increasing accountability and preventing corruption. Of these, she concludes that the creation of an Independent Prosecutor's Office would be pivotal in the curbing of corruption by increasing the efficiency and accountability of the Commission.
Chapter 5 - Development of iron chelator-nanoparticle conjugates as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer disease.

Abstract Oxidative stress is known to play a key role in the initiation and promotion of the neurodegeneration that characterizes the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). An accumulation of redox active transition metals, including iron and copper, is likely a major generator of reactive oxidative species and other free radicals and is thought to induce a detrimental cycle of oxidative stress, amyloid-β aggregation, and neurodegeneration. As such, metal chelators may provide an alternative therapeutic approach to sequester redox active metals and prevent the onslaught of oxidative damage. Unfortunately, however, metal chelation approaches are currently limited in their potential, since many cannot readily pass the blood–brain barrier (BBB), due to their hydrophilicity, and many are neurotoxic at high concentrations. To circumvent such issues, here we describe the development of iron chelator–nanoparticle conjugation that allows delivery of target chelator to the brain in the absence of neurotoxicity. Such nanoparticle delivery of iron chelators will likely provide a highly advantageous mode of attack on the oxidative stress that plagues AD as well as other conditions characterized by excess metal accumulation.
Does Intravenous Hydration Before And After Lumbar Puncture Decrease The Occurrence Of Post-Lumbar Puncture Headache? (P1.260)

OBJECTIVE: To look for any change in incidence and severity of post-LP-headache with or without intravenous(IV) hydration thirty-minutes before and after the procedure. BACKGROUND: Fronto-occipital dull headache, aggravated in the upright position, is a common, at times disabling, complication occurring within hours following Lumbar-puncture(LP). CSF leakage leading to reduction in CSF volume and pressure is the most accepted mechanism. Post-LP-headache is relieved when CSF volume and pressure returns to normal. Previous studies suggest that additional (mostly oral) hydration prevents the development of post-LP-headache, but the effectiveness and basic characteristics such as amount and time of hydration have not been established. DESIGN/METHODS: Patients 18-75 years old, with no prior history of headaches, elective diagnostic LP performed in supine position, using a Quincke-22-gauge needle, in our outpatient clinic in 2013 by one neurologist, were called on the telephone. Depending on whether the ordering physician requested IV hydration, patients did or did not receive 500 ml of normal saline 30 minutes before and after LP. Patients were asked about development of a post-LP-headache (with characteristics mentioned in the background), time of onset, severity (mild, moderate, severe), and treatment for relief. For analysis, patients were divided into two groups, group 1: with-hydration, and group 2: without-hydration. RESULTS: The study included 62 patients: group-1(n-30), and group-2(n-32). There was no difference between groups in age, sex, BMI, heart rate, blood pressure, or amount of CSF removed. Post-LP-headache: 33.3% in group 1 and 50.0% in group-2, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Post-LP-headache severity: Group-1 (mild 78%, moderate 11%, severe 11%), Group-2 (mild 25%, moderate 6%, severe 69%) (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: IV-hydration (500 ml, thirty-minute) before and after LP did not reduce the incidence of developing a post-LP-headache. However, IV-hydration reduced the severity of post-LP-headache significantly. Further studies with higher numbers of patients are needed to evaluate this pattern of results. STUDY SUPPORTED BY: None. Disclosure: Dr. Gupta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kowalska has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Coyle has received personal compensation for activities with Acorda, Accordant, Bayer, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono/Pfizer, Genzyme/Sanofi Aventis, Mylan, Novartis, Genentech/Roche, and Teva Neuroscience. Dr. Coyle has received research support from Actelion, Novartis, and Opexa.
Instantiation-based invariant discovery

We present a general scheme for automated instantiation-based invariant discovery. Given a transition system, the scheme produces k-inductive invariants from templates representing decidable predicates over the system's data types. The proposed scheme relies on efficient reasoning engines such as SAT and SMT solvers, and capitalizes on their ability to quickly generate counter-models of non-invariant conjectures. We discuss in detail two practical specializations of the general scheme in which templates represent partial orders. Our experimental results show that both specializations are able to quickly produce invariants from a variety of synchronous systems which prove quite useful in proving safety properties for these systems.
Elves in Anglo-Saxon England: Matters of Belief, Health, Gender and Identity

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Alaric Hall Year: 2007 Pages: 288 Publisher: Boydell and Brewer ISBN: 9781843832942 (hard cover). Prices: $80.00 USD(hard cover).
The Primacy of Grievance as a Structural Cause of Oppositional Political Terrorism: Comparing Al Fatah, FARC, and PIRA

Synopsis: This chapter applies the structural components of a previously devel-oped causal model to three well-known and different campaigns of opposi-tional political terrorism: Al-Fatah, FARC, and PIRA. By doing so, the reader will have a better understanding of the causal dynamics of oppositional politi-cal terrorism. After the history of each group is provided, each of 10 basic structural factors is applied to the terrorist organizations. The evidence points to the powerful and longstanding effects of grievance to sustain the longevity of the group.
Why Choosing Healthy Foods is Hard, and How to Help: Presenting the 4Ps Framework for Behavior Change

The pursuit of long-term goals is often thwarted by immediate desires--a pattern particularly common in food choices. Research in economics, psychology, and marketing has identified a rich supply of unrelated small influences or “nudges” that can help make healthy choices easier, aligning behaviors with intentions. We organize these streams of research using a novel taxonomy, the 4Ps Framework for Behavior Change, to integrate nudges within a dual-system model of consumer choice and to provide suggestions for extensions. We conclude with a discussion of some practical challenges facing researchers in this area.
Evidence for a cerebellar role in reduced exploration and stereotyped behavior in autism.

Abstract Background: Although limited environmental exploration in autism is an obvious behavioral feature and may be a manifestation of “restricted interests” as described in DSM-IV criteria, there have been no behavioral or neurobiological studies of this important aspect of the disorder. Given consistent reports of cerebellar abnormality in autism, combined with animal research showing a relationship between exploration and the cerebellum, this study aimed to test the possible link between cerebellar abnormality and exploration in autism. Methods: The relationship between visuospatial exploration, stereotyped motor movements, and magnetic resonance imaging measures of the cerebellar vermis, whole brain volume, and frontal lobes in 14 autistic and 14 normal children was investigated. Children were exposed to a large room with several exploration containers and instructed to play. Exploration behavior was videotaped and scored for percentage of time engaged in exploration, number of containers explored, as well as stereotyped movements. Results: Children with autism spent significantly less time in active exploration and explored fewer containers overall than normal children. Measures of decreased exploration were significantly correlated with the magnitude of cerebellar hypoplasia of vermal lobules VI–VII in the autistic children, but no relationship to vermis size was found with normal control children. Further, measures of rates of stereotyped behavior were significantly negatively correlated with area measures of cerebellar vermis lobules VI–VII and positively correlated with frontal lobe volume in the autism sample. Conclusions: Reduced environmental exploration and repetitive behavior may have particularly important developmental consequences for children with autism because it may lead them to miss learning opportunities that fall outside their scope of interest. Our findings represent the first documented link between the restricted range of interests and stereotyped behaviors pathognomonic of autism and particular neuroanatomic sites.
Myeloperoxidase and Horseradish Peroxidase Catalyze Tyrosine Nitration in Proteins from Nitrite and Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract Nitration of tyrosine residues in proteins occurs in a wide range of inflammatory diseases involving neutrophil and macrophage activation. We report that both myeloperoxidase (MPO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) utilize nitrite (NO 2 − ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) as substrates to catalyze tyrosine nitration in proteins. MPO was approximately 10 times more effective than HRP as a nitration catalyst of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Nitration of BSA by MPO did not require chloride as a cofactor. Physiologic levels of chloride did not significantly inhibit nitration by MPO. Oxidation of chloride to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is catalyzed by MPO but not by HRP, yet HRP also catalyzed nitration from hydrogen peroxide plus nitrite. Therefore, HOCl formation was not obligatory for tyrosine nitration. Although HOCl plus nitrite can nitrate the amino acid tyrosine in simple solutions, protein nitration by HOCl plus nitrite was not observed in heart homogenates, probably due to the presence of multiple alternative targets of both HOCl and HOCl plus nitrite. In contrast, MPO catalyzed nitration of many proteins in rat heart homogenates using NO 2 − plus H 2 O 2 , suggesting that peroxidase-catalyzed nitration of tyrosine could occur in the presence of competing substrates in vivo. HOCl could substitute for H 2 O 2 as the oxidizing substrate for nitration of either BSA or tissue homogenates catalyzed by either peroxidase. Activated neutrophils may generate nitrotyrosine by several mechanisms, including peroxynitrite, HOCl plus nitrite, and a chloride-independent mechanism involving MPO, nitrite, and hydrogen peroxide.
Phase resolved characterization of conical premixed flames near and far from blowoff

Abstract A harmonically excited conical bluff body stabilized flame was studied to determine its behavior under strong burning and near blowoff conditions. Chemiluminescence imaging was employed using a high speed camera to characterize the phase resolved flame characteristics for a range of excitation frequencies from 50 to 400 Hz. Phase-resolved measurements of strain rate along the flame front were utilized to provide important insights for understanding of flame behavior particularly near blowoff. Phase resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) was utilized to map the different phases of the velocity field for the harmonically modulated flames. PIV data along the flame front identified from seed density change were utilized to determine the strain rate variations at different phases of the flame oscillation. Oscillations of recirculation zone length were also characterized at all harmonic excitation frequencies accompanied by a cyclically varying strain rate along the flame front. At certain phases of the cycle, the strain rate reaches a maximum just before the phase when the recirculation zone length is a minimum. At this point, flame pinching and vortex breakdown phenomena were observed. This vortex breakdown phenomenon accompanies flame blowoff when the ratio of the minimum recirculation zone length to the convective length scale is in the range between 0.35 and 0.5. Based on these results, a description of flame blowoff phenomenon under externally forced flow is proposed.
Recent field campaigns with CERES instruments

Abstract  Clouds and the Earths Radiant Energy Sy stem instruments (scanners) on board the Terra and Aqua satellites have been used to meet variety of science data collection goals since their launch. Using a special programmable azimuth plan scan (PAPS) mode, a scanner collects radiation measurements of specified Earth targets or of a prescribed spatial orientation. Ongoing investigation of instruments consistency has put some restrictions on scanning directions, partially alleviated by introducing a new elevation profile. Main objective of th is paper is to explain scanning ca pabilities of the instruments under new conditions, and illustrate them with five different field campaigns of 2006. I. INTRODUCTION A Clouds and the Earths Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument is a scanning thermistor bolometer designed to measure reflected solar radiation and outgoing longwave radiation from the Earth for radiation budget studies [1]. CERES instruments have played an important role in the Earth observing mission on board the TRMM, Terra and Aqua satellites. Their science data have been an invaluable addition to the two-decade long Earths radiation budget data set [2]. Remaining CERES instruments, FM1, FM2, and FM3, have been operating on board the Terra and Aqua satellites for six years, and for 4 years, respectively. Terra and Aqua satellites are in sun-synchronous, polar orbits with equatorial crossings at 10:30AM (descending) and 1:30PM (ascending), respectively. This constellation offers a rare opportunity to provide almost simultaneous ob servations of Earth targets near the orbital nodes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. CERES instruments have been used in various field campaigns to provide increased coverage of selected areas to meet research goals [3, 4]. In all thes e campaigns, scanners were put in a pr ogrammable azimuth plan scan (PAPS) mode to observe targeted areas from any direction. However, an ongoing investigation of instruments degradation and inconsistency has put restrictions on scanning directions, and effectively eliminated any forward sweep of a scanner. This paper explains CERES operations under new restrictions, and presents field campaigns with CERES participation in 2006. The included are: (a) FM1-FM3 validation campaign, (b) FM2-GERB1 validation campaign, (c) AMMA or African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis campaign, (d) SCALES, or a GERB ground validation campaign at the Valencia Anchor Station, and also (e) true along-track scan mode. II. CERES OPERATIONS A CERES scanner has three channels: total (0.3-100 P m), shortwave (0.3-5 P m), and a longwave window (8-12 P m) which measure different parts of the spectrum. A full sweep lasts 6.6 sec., and with a sampling rate of 100sec
Early quantification of experimental myocardial infarction with technetium-99m glucoheptonate: Scintigraphic and anatomic studies

Abstract Recent advances in understanding of the pathophyslology of myocardial necrosis indicate the need for a noninvaslve method that will allow detection and quantification of infarcts in the first few hours after the onset of infarction. Myocardial infarct scintigraphy using technetium-99m glucoheptonate is capable of detecting infarction in dogs and man within 4 to 6 hours of onset. Studies were performed in 45 dogs with acute myocardial iniarction: 28 with an anterior infarct, 5 with an inferior infarct, 6 with an anterior infarct studied after infusion of mannttol and 6 with II-gatlon of the left anterior descending coronary artery and repertuslon of the ischemic area. The dogs were given 20 mCI of technetium-99m glucoheptonate 1 hour after coronary occlusion, subjected to imaging 5 to 9 hours later and then killed. The experiments revealed that (1) scintigraphic infarct size correlated with infarct weight for anterior (r = 0.85) and inferior (r = 0.88) infarcts; (2) technetium-99m glucoheptonate also concentrated in a rim of myocardium around the infarct that probably represented the ischemie zone; and (3) technetium-99m glucoheptonate uptake by infarcted myocardium could be greatly increased with mannltol and reperfusion.
Multisensory task action strategies affect arm placement

Proprioceptive precision for elbow matching in the dark is typically within ±2°. Mechanical loading (exercise) or tendon vibration can alter this precision by impacting peripheral mechanisms. Are accuracy and precision also impacted by multisensory task action strategies giving us a clue as to which central resources are involved in arm placement? In three experiments, subjects had their forearms affixed to lightweight paddles hinged sagittally at the elbow joint. Subjects positioned their arms sequentially while trying to keep the first arm still. Subjects used three strategies to place their arms: (1) guided by an indirect visual signal (traffic lights), (2) bisecting two visually guided angles, and (3) unimodal proprioceptive matching to the first arm’s position. Subjects had more difficulty positioning the second arm when matching without light cues (>2.6° from the target) and were most precise when bisecting two light-guided angles (<2.2° from target). Surprisingly, the indirect light cue did not improve accuracy, but only improved the precision of arm placement. We conclude that interaction between visual and proprioceptive guidance strategies result in superior performance even when the visually presented information is indirect in nature.
The effect of feedback regulation and in situ product removal on the conversion of sugar to cycloheximide by Streptomyces griseus

An addition of cycloheximide to cycloheximide-producing Streptomyces griseus cultures resulted in reductions in the production rate and in the conversion of sugar into cycloheximide. In situ cycloheximide adsorption was observed to enhance: total cycloheximide titers; productivities; and the conversion of sugar to cycloheximide. During the secondary metabolite-producing phase, sugar consumption was observed to be linearly dependent on cycloheximide productivity. From this analysis a true product yield and maintenance coefficient were estimated to be 0.08 g cycloheximide/g glucose and 0.028 g glucose/g cell-h, respectively. The sixfold difference between this true product yield and a theoretical value obtained from knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway is discussed. Since the maintenance sugar requirement for cycloheximide production is large, stimulation of biosynthesis through in situ adsorption significantly increases the overall efficiency of sugar conversion to this secondary metabolite.
Longitudinal dispersion due to the boundary layer in an oscillatory current: Theoretical analysis in the case of an instantaneous line source

The longitudinal dispersion effect due to the boundary layer formed by a tidal oscillatory current is examined theoretically. This analysis reveals the process whereby the dispersion coefficient becomes steady after the release of the diffusing substance. Though the dispersion due to an oscillatory current has so far been investigated mostly in the case of a linear velocity profile, the following result was found by taking account of the boundary layer in the oscillatory current. The depth-averaged dispersion coefficient for the case of a current having a boundary layer can be a few times larger than in the case of a linear velocity profile when the characteristic mixing time is long; the phase lead in the boundary layer induces nearly 20 percent of the longitudinal dispersion effect.
Session 4: The Way of the Way: ROGERIO DEPAULA, Curator: The Ethnographic Arts

There is longevity to the ethnographic arts: a report referred back to over years, an image that captures a resiliently fresh insight. In crude words, ethnographic analysis has a longer shelf life than traditional market research. The latter requires tending to keep its categories replete with a fresh cast of characters. The former is distinguished by a methodological practice that keeps it fresh and truthful without the necessity of being, for the moment, a truth. There is a mastery of the ethnographic arts. For twenty years, I have practiced as an academic ethnographer, private sector consultant and now corporate practitioner. I now hire ethnographers. (I have become an armchair anthropologist.) To do so, I must discern what makes some ethnographic practitioners better than others. I compare along three practices: documentary finesse, journeying and discipline (the latter more yogic than Foucaultian). I hire for the longevity and truthfulness of their work.
The utility of aprindine blood levels in the management of ventricular arrhythmias

Sixty-four patients with a history of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation refractory to conventional therapy received aprindine to abolish recurrent episodes of symptomatic ventricular tachycardia. Fifty-six patients became asymptomatic and were followed up for a mean period of 23 months. Aprindine dose was adjusted to minimize adverse reactions but still control arrhythmia. Survival analysis was performed for the group with aprindine levels greater than 1.5 μg/ml and the group with levels of 1.5 μ/ml or less. At the end of the study, 65% of the patients with a high level were alive and asymptomatic as compared with only 35% of the patients with a low level (p
Sensitive electrochemical detection of enzymatically generated thiocholine at carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode

A carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon (CNT/GC) electrode was used for enhancing the sensitivity of electrochemical measurements of enzymatically generated thiocholine. Cyclic voltammetric and amperometric characteristics of thiocholine at CNT/GC, glassy carbon, carbon paste and gold electrodes were compared. The CNT layer leads to a greatly improved anodic detection of enzymatically generated thiocholine product including lower oxidation overpotential (0.15 V) and higher sensitivity because of electrocatalytic activity of edge-plane-like graphite site at the CNT ends, fast electron transfer and big working surface area. The sensor performance was optimized with respect to the operating conditions. Under the optimal batch conditions, a detection limit of 5 × 10−6 mol/L was obtained with a good precision (RSD = 5.2%, n = 10). Furthermore, the attractive response of thiocholine on CNT/GC electrode has allowed it to be used for constant-potential flow injection analysis. The detection limit was greatly improved to 3 × 10−7 mol/L. The high sensitive electrochemical detection of enzymatically generated thiocholine with CNT sensing platform holds great promise to prepare acetylcholinesterase biosensor for monitoring organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents.
Robust Automated Concrete Damage Detection Algorithms for Field Applications

AbstractThis paper presents a computer vision framework supporting automated infrastructure damage detection, with a specific focus on surface crack detection in concrete. The approach presented is...
Fundamental sensing limit of electrochemical glucose sensors

This paper investigates the inherent sensitivity limit, deactivation of glucose oxidase, of a glucose oxidase based electrochemical glucose sensor for in vivo monitoring of blood glucose concentration. Results in this paper show that the current density sensitivity to glucose decreases from 1200nA/mm2/mM at initial implantation to 100nA/mm2/mM after an implantation time of 2 years, when degradation due to glucose oxidase deactivation only is considered. Even as the sensor signal strength decreases, if the sensing electronics are sufficiently discriminating then a useful measure of blood glucose concentration can be extracted. This work aims to determine both how the glucose oxidase based sensor's signal-to-noise ratio degrades over long time scales and the electronic circuit requirements to achieve multi-year device lifetimes. Two sensing amplifier techniques are presented which can be used to detect the signal generated by the sensor. The noise performance of each technique is compared with the noise performance of the sensor and mutli-year lifetimes are shown to be feasible.
Numerical simulation of expansion and charring of carbon-epoxy laminates in fire environments

Abstract A thermal model is developed for the response of carbon-epoxy composite laminates in fire environments. The model is based on a porous media description that includes the effects of gas transport within the laminate along with swelling. Model comparisons are conducted against the data from Quintiere et al. [34] . Verifications are conducted for both coupon level and intermediate scale one-sided heating tests. Comparisons of the heat release rate (HRR) and time-to-ignition as well as the final products (mass fractions, volume percentages, porosity, etc.) are conducted. Overall, the agreement between available the data and model is good considering the simplified approximations to account for flame heat flux. A sensitivity study using a newly developed swelling model shows the importance of accounting for laminate expansion for the prediction of burnout. Reasonable agreement is observed between the model and data of the final product composition that includes porosity, mass fractions and volume expansion ratio.
Rook theory and cycle-counting permutation statistics

A statistic is found to combinatorially generate the cycle-counting q-hit numbers, defined algebraically by Haglund [Adv. in Appl. Math. 17 (1996) 408-459]. We then define the notion of a cycle-Mahonian pair of statistics (generalizing that of a Mahonian statistic), and show that our newly discovered statistic is part of such a pair. Finally, we note a second example of a cycle-Mahonian pair of statistics which leads us to define the stronger property of being a cycle-Euler-Mahonian pair.
The interaction of ITI interpolated stimuli and ISI on classical conditioning of the nictitating membrane response of the rabbit

ITI presentations of a white noise burst had little effect on conditioning rates of Ss trained at a 350 msec ISI, while producing a considerable decrement in the conditioning rates of Ss trained at a 750 msec ISI. These results are discussed in terms of variable, ISI-determined, ITI consolidation rates.
Letting the genome out of the bottle--will we get our wish?

A patient shows up in your office with an analysis of his whole genome at multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). What should you do? Drs. David Hunter, Muin Khoury, and Jeffrey Drazen discuss the analytic and clinical validity of personal genomics testing. Dr. Muin Khoury discusses the technology behind the personal genomics testing services that are being offered directly to consumers and the limitations in the information they provide. Dr. Khoury is the director of the National Office of Public Health Genomics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Characterization of the binding and phosphorylation of cardiac calsequestrin by epsilon protein kinase C.

Abstract In this study, we report the cloning of the rat cardiac isoform of calsequestrin on the basis of its interaction with an ɛprotein kinase C-unique sequence (ɛV1) derived from the ɛprotein kinase C regulatory domain. Calsequestrin binds activated ɛprotein kinase C holoenzyme better than the inactive enzyme and nearly three times better than other protein kinase C isozymes. The interaction between ɛprotein kinase C and calsequestrin is mediated by sequences in both the regulatory and kinase domains of the ɛprotein kinase C. Finally, we show that calsequestrin is an ɛprotein kinase C substrate in vitro and protein kinase C phosphorylation of calsequestrin leads to a decreased binding of ɛprotein kinase C to calsequestrin.
What causes noise in a convecting fluid

Abstract Several different sources of hydrodynamic noise have been found in recent experiments on convecting fluids, including long-lived complicated transients associated with pattern evolution, and noise due to secondary instabilities. In other circumstances strange attractors or stochastic models are required to explain the data.
Chlorophyll Catabolism Leading to the Skeleton of Dinoflagellate and Krill Luciferins: Hypothesis and Model Studies.

Remarkable selectivity is exhibited in the photooxidation of 20-methoxychlorin methyl ester (1) to exclusively yield the C1-C20 bond cleaved product 2. This selectivity lends strong support to the hypothesis that a hydroxy or equivalent group at C20 directs the C1-C20 bond cleavage that transforms chlorophylls into krill and dinoflagellate luciferins.
What's NOT to eat—food adulteration in the context of human biology

Food has nutritional and non-nutritional components. The latter are not well-studied despite the fact that food adulteration has been common. Food adulteration may have reached its peak in cities of Western Europe and the US in the 18th and 19th centuries when foods were often purposely contaminated with additives to increase bulk, attractiveness, disguise spoilage, and increase profit. Effective regulation of food began in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Nevertheless, today food recalls for bacterial contamination are common, while pesticides and compounds from manufacturing are detected in many foods. Foods with strong reputations for healthiness, such as salmon, may have sizable contaminant contents. The contaminant content of many foods varies by origin and season. Nearly all commercially raised salmon has higher contaminant levels than wild caught salmon. Opting out of the commercial food distribution system is an option, but the value depends on the habitat in which the food is obtained. Traditionally, the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation has depended on local fish and wildlife for their diet. Now pollution of local waterways has led to the contamination of many local foods, and levels of the contaminant polychlorinated biphenyls in the Akwesasne Mohawk people reflect current or past dietary patterns. Many other communities in nonurban settings are exposed to contaminants through long-trail distribution of contaminants in food, air, and/or water. Human biologists considering nutrition, disease, growth, reproduction, aging, to name a few areas, may consider the non-nutritional components of food as many have the ability to alter physiological functioning.
The Relationship Between Health Plan Advertising And Market Incentives: Evidence Of Risk-Selective Behavior

Medicare beneficiaries are now facing advertising from an unprecedented number of health plans that are offering prescription drug coverage. Previous Medicare managed care efforts have been undermined by risk selection, the practice of enrolling healthier and therefore less costly patients. In this study we explore how the content of health plan advertising is related to the competitiveness of the health plan market. We find that increased competition is associated with greater use of advertising that targets healthier patients.
Variation in Health Blog Features and Elements by Gender, Occupation, and Perspective

This study explores whether there are gender and occupational differences in the health blogosphere, and whether there are differences by blogger perspective. Data derive from content analysis of 951 health blogs identified between June 2007 and May 2008. Results indicate that male, physician bloggers were more likely to have blogs that feature a SiteMeter, sponsorship and advertising, which also were more prevalent among those blogging from a professional perspective. Females, those in non-health-related employment, and patient/consumer and caregiver bloggers were more likely to blog about disease and disability, males, the health employed, and professional bloggers about provider experiences, health research/news, and health policy, business, law, and technology. Since the Internet is becoming a primary source of health information, establishing normative guidelines regarding information quality, patient privacy, and conflicts of interest is essential. Future research should build on these findings using national surveys of health bloggers and textual analysis of blog content.
Authentication by Biometric Verification

Biometric systems encompass the development of capture devices to acquire biometric signals, software algorithms for effective identification, and databases that store biometric data for comparison.
Deformation of New Trident Volcano measured by ERS-1 SAR interferometry, Katmai National Park, Alaska

Using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry, we detect several centimeters of uplift that accumulated during two years (1993–1995) around the vent of the New Trident volcano in Alaska's Katmai National Park. The areas of image coherence correspond to fresh, blocky lavas, while coherence is lost in ash-covered areas. From the uplift gradient we estimate the depth of a pressure source under New Trident volcano to be approximately 0.8–2.0 km. Our results show that in spite of the difficult sub-arctic environment of southern Alaska, strain build-up can be monitored over a two-year period, showing the potential for global monitoring of volcano deformation using SAR interferometry.
Functionalization Strategies for Biointerfaces between Optical Structures and Biochemical Targets – the Good, the Bad, and the Not-So-Ugly

Immobilization of biomolecules can be accomplished through a number of different approaches. While each approach has its advantages and drawbacks, some results are not easily predicted. This talk highlights some unusual and unexpected results we and others have observed.
New continent ileocolonic urinary reservoir: Charleston pouch with minimally altered in situ appendix stoma

A new continent urinary reservoir that utilizes minimally altered in situ appendix stoma is described. The reservoir was constructed from segments of terminal ileum and ascending colon which were detubularized and reorientated to provide maximum reduction in filling pressures. The in situ appendix was utilized to provide a continent catheterizable stoma. Appendicular leak pressures were measured intraoperatively to determine the need, if any, for augmentation. Minimal reinforcement of the appendiculo-colonic junction with two or three sutures was performed in most patients. Preliminary experience with 16 patients who had the Charleston pouch with an appendicular stoma as described herein is reviewed.
Virtual Experiments for Welded Structural Steel Connections

Imagine how much time and expense could be saved if virtual experiments were done prior to actual testing in order to have some confidence in the chosen parameters. Structural tension connection strength is often expressed as efficiency, the test failure load divided by the failure load for the gross area of the connected member. Experimentally this is done by testing a connection to failure and also testing a tension coupon to find ultimate strength. Finite element studies are often used to predict relative structural failure loads, but actual failure load depends upon the failure criterion. This paper presents an analytic procedure that may aid in the development and interpretation of full-scale tests. This is especially important in an experimental program for steel connections due to the cost involved in the testing of a single connection and the need to find results for varying geometries. Finite-element results are compared to experimentally found efficiencies of some welded steel connections for pl...
Development of Y‐axon innervation of cortical area 18 in the cat.

1. Geniculocortical Y-axons (n = 38) in the optic radiations of 4-5-week-old kittens (n = 20) and adult cats (n = 18) were studied both physiologically and morphologically. Axons were recorded from intracellularly and subsequently filled ionophoretically with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The HRP filled the axons' terminal arborizations in visual cortex (particularly well for those innervating area 18). Fourteen axons appeared to be completely filled with HRP (n = 8 in kitten, n = 6 in adult) and served as the basis for the quantitative analysis of the terminal arborizations reported in this study. 2. The distribution and correspondence of the axonal boutons to presynaptic elements in cortical layer 4A was analysed at both the light and electron microscope level using computerized three-dimensional analysis and serial section reconstruction, respectively. Compared to adult axons, the boutons of the kitten axons were smaller (means = 0.75 vs. 1.75 microns length, P less than 0.001) and more densely spaced both along individual axon branches (means = 6.60 vs. 11.20 microns interbouton interval, P less than 0.001) and between neighbouring branches of the same axon (means = 4.7 vs. 6.4 microns nearest-neighbour distance, P less than 0.01). 3. Most kitten boutons made a single Gray's type 1 synapse on a cortical neurone, unlike adult boutons which usually contacted two or more postsynaptic targets. Both kitten and adult axons had dendritic spines as their major target. Occasionally, HRP reaction-product was observed in cortical neurones postsynaptic to the labelled geniculocortical axon, which gave some estimate of the number of synaptic contacts between a single geniculocortical axon and target cell (about five). 4. The kitten Y-axons innervated the visual cortex in a pattern similar to that of the adult, with the richest terminal branching and bouton density in layer 4A with some additional boutons distributed in layers 3, 4B and 6. The extent of the terminal arborizations primarily in layer 4A (as measured in surface views) of kitten Y-axons in area 18 was significantly less than that of adult Y-axons in area 18 (means = 0.9 mm2 vs. means = 1.2 mm2, P = 0.04). 5. We conclude that between 4 and 5 postnatal weeks and 1 year, geniculocortical Y-axons projecting to cortical area 18 undergo four major changes. These include a reduction in synaptic bouton density (both in three-dimensional space and along individual branches), a concomitant moderate expansion in the surface area of cortex innervated, an increase in bouton size and an increase in the number of synaptic contacts made by each bouton. A general proportional growth of the individual axons' terminal arborization together with fusion and/or separation of neighbouring boutons is sufficient to explain this development.
Multiple depressive episodes and plasma postdexamethasone cortisol levels

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is dysregulated in many patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). To determine whether or not a past history of depressive episodes is associated with this dysregulation, we studied the relationships among number of past depressive episodes, number of previous hospitalizations for depression, and number of years since first depressive episode and biological markers of depression (postdexamethasone plasma cortisol levels and dexamethasone suppressor/nonsuppressor status). No significant relationships were detected.