cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teen Smoking Cessation Help Via the Internet: A Survey of Search Engines

The objective of this study was to assess Web sites related to teen smoking cessation on the Internet. Seven Internet search engines were searched using the keywords teen quit smoking. The top 20 hits from each search engine were reviewed and categorized. The keywords teen quit smoking produced between 35 and 400,000 hits depending on the search engine. Of 140 potential hits, 62% were active, unique sites; 85% were listed by only one search engine; and 40% focused on cessation. Findings suggest that legitimate on-line smoking cessation help for teens is constrained by search engine choice and the amount of time teens spend looking through potential sites. Resource listings should be updated regularly. Smoking cessation Web sites need to be picked up on multiple search engine searches. Further evaluation of smoking cessation Web sites need to be conducted to identify the most effective help for teens.
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry as Applicable to the Biotransformation of Foreign Compounds

Organic chemistry plays a central role in drug discovery not only in the design and synthesis of biologically active compounds but also in the areas of drug metabolism and toxicology. Within the metabolism domain, possessing a fundamental understanding of organic chemistry principles is extremely valuable in understanding/rationalizing biotransformation fates of structurally diverse xenobiotics, including drugs. It is a valuable attribute to be able to glance at the structure of a drug and be able to predict with a degree of certainty the metabolic fate of the molecule. To make the overall contents of this book more accessible to a nonchemistry audience, we have reviewed some of the key mechanistic chemistry concepts (e.g., electronegativity, valence electrons, acidity, basicity, resonance, nucleophilicity, electrophilicity, and leaving group effects) that are required to fully appreciate the individual molecular peculiarity that usually accompanies biotransformation reactions. Using these basic principles, we have explored the mechanistic basis for several nonintuitive xenobiotic and drug biotransformation reactions that occur in nature. Keywords: electronegativity; acidity; basicity; pK a ; nucleophile; electrophile; mechanism; biotransformation; glutathione; reactive metabolite; cytochrome P450; drug
Use of progestins in open and pregnant mares

Abstract Administration of progestin to mares has become commonplace in the equine industry. Progestins can either be administered orally in the form of altrenogest, or injected intramuscularly suspended in oil or more recently in the form of microspheres. Progestins have been used for numerous clinical reasons. Early in the breeding season, progestins are administered in an attempt to control the erratic estrous periods typical of the transition period. Synchronization of estrus in normal cycling mares with progestin has been used to improve reproductive efficiency for use of cooled, transported semen and synchronization of embryo transfer recipients. Progestins can be administered either daily for 14 days or, with the addition of prostaglandins, a shorter treatment of 7–10 days can be utilized. Estradiol has been added to progesterone in an attempt to obtain greater control of follicular development during steroid treatment. Alternative uses of progestins include long-term suppression of estrus for show or race mares, and the delay of the postpartum estrus. Studies have demonstrated that fertility is not adversely affected with either of these two approaches. Administration of progestins to mares with a history of early embryonic loss has become commonplace. Both injectable progesterone and altrenogest have been shown to maintain pregnancy in ovariectomized mares.
The Accuracy of Scanned Prices

Nearly all retailers use price scanning systems to process transactions quickly, and presumably, accurately. Inaccuracies in scanned prices have important implications for retailers in that undercharges may impact retail profitability while overcharges could result in negative consumer perceptions of retailers and continued legal action. Here, we investigate the overall State of accuracy of scanned prices and develop certain empirical generalizations. To do so, we begin with a review of what is known regarding the accuracy of scanned prices and conduct a reanalysis of FTC data and compare the results with those from more recent cross-sectional data from the State of Washington. We then conduct a thorough analysis of a large longitudinal price scanner data set, with 231,760 products screened over a 15-year period. We investigate accuracy across different retailer characteristics, merchandise locations, and promotional activities. Implications of these results for retailers are discussed.
Tunnel QW-QDs InGaAs-InAs High Gain Medium for All-Epitaxial VCSELs

Structures of tunnel-coupled pairs consisting of InGaAs (In composition was varied from 29 to 36%) quantum wells (QW) grown on top of shape-engineered self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QW-on-QDs) were employed to increase the maximum saturated gain of QD-based laser active medium. Room temperature optical properties of tunnel-coupled well-on-dots structures at low excitation were found to be sensitive to energy separation between GS energies of QDs and QW. The spectra also show that QD-related photoluminescence (PL) tends to peak at discrete energy separations from the QW peak, in this case multiples of ∼ 35meV (LO phonon energy). The optimized GS energy separation between QW and QDs was found to be close to the energy of the LO phonon. This structure demonstrated narrowing of the QD PL line down to 21.6 meV at T=77K, indicating efficient resonant tunneling of carriers from QW into QD ensemble states. All-epitaxial vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) with triple-pair tunnel QW-on-QDs as active medium demonstrated continuous wave mode lasing. Tunnel QDs-QW VCSELs exhibited 1.8 mA (Jth ∼ 800 A/cm2) minimum threshold current at QD GS emission wavelength, 1135 nm, with 0.7mW optical power and 12% light-current efficiency.
Laboratory in linear integrated circuits: what should technology student learn?

A laboratory experiment is presented for applying an op-amp-based integrator and level detecting circuit in waveform generation. Students construct the circuits, review the integration calculus characterizing the circuits and observe the slew rate and limitations for several different op-amps. An explanation is given of how this experiment: (a) supports the classroom-taught theory; (b) allows for critical evaluation of the measurements; (c) builds up students' confidence in accurate measurement making; (d) builds laboratory report skills; (e) provides the ability to observe the limitations of the devices from the collected data; (f) provides the ability to utilize data sheets thoroughly and not only for the pinout connections; and (g) instruction on how to use the application notes available from the manufacturer. >
Gestalt characteristics of experiences: the defining features of summarized events

In this paper we take stock of recent research on how people summarize and evaluate extended experiences. Summary assessments do not simply integrate all the components of the evaluated events, but tend to focus on only a few features (gestalt characteristics). Examples of these defining features include the rate at which the transient state components of the experience become more or less pleasant over its duration, and the intensity of the state at key instances, in particular the most intense (peak) and the final (end) moments. It is not yet suAciently clear which specific gestalt characteristics dominate summary assessments of experiences, nor how this diAers across types of experiences or measurement approaches. To address some of these issues, we describe new research in this area, discuss potential methodological diAculties, and suggest directions for future research. Copyright # 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phosphorylation of the rat Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor at T930 within the coupling domain decreases its affinity to Ins(1,4,5)P3

The Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor acts as a central hub for Ca2+ signaling by integrating multiple signaling modalities into Ca2+ release from intracellular stores downstream of G-protein and tyrosine kinase-coupled receptor stimulation. As such, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor plays fundamental roles in cellular physiology. The regulation of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor is complex and involves protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, allosteric modulation, and regulation of its sub-cellular distribution. Phosphorylation has been implicated in the sensitization of Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ release observed during oocyte maturation. Here we investigate the role of phosphorylation at T-930, a residue phosphorylated specifically during meiosis. We show that a phosphomimetic mutation at T-930 of the rat Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor results in decreased Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ release and lowers the Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding affinity of the receptor. These data, coupled to the sensitization of Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ release during meiosis, argue that phosphorylation within the coupling domain of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor acts in a combinatorial fashion to regulate Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor function.
Amphotericin B channels in phospholipid membrane-coated nanoporous silicon surfaces: Implications for photovoltaic driving of ions across membranes

The antimycotic agent amphotericin B (AmB) functions by forming complexes with sterols to form ion channels that cause membrane leakage. When AmB and cholesterol mixed at 2:1 ratio were incorporated into phospholipid bilayer membranes formed on the tip of patch pipettes, ion channel current fluctuations with characteristic open and closed states were observed. These channels were also functional in phospholipid membranes formed on nanoporous silicon surfaces. Electrophysiological studies of AmB–cholesterol mixtures that were incorporated into phospholipid membranes formed on the surface of nanoporous (6.5 nm pore diameter) silicon plates revealed large conductance ion channels (∼300 pS) with distinct open and closed states. Currents through the AmB–cholesterol channels on nanoporous silicon surfaces can be driven by voltage applied via conventional electrical circuits or by photovoltaic electrical potential entirely generated when the nanoporous silicon surface is illuminated with a narrow laser beam. Electrical recordings made during laser illumination of AmB–cholesterol containing membrane-coated nanoporous silicon surfaces revealed very large conductance ion channels with distinct open and closed states. Our findings indicate that nanoporous silicon surfaces can serve as mediums for ion-channel-based biosensors. The photovoltaic properties of nanoporous silicon surfaces show great promise for making such biosensors addressable via optical technologies.
The `Heart Attack Survival Kit' project: an intervention designed to increase seniors' intentions to respond appropriately to symptoms of acute myocardial infarction

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a 'Heart Attack Survival Kit', disseminated via two different delivery methods, designed to increase seniors' intentions to call 911 and take an aspirin in response to a cardiac emergency. Twelve-hundred seniors were randomly assigned to (1) receiving a Kit via a home visit by an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), (2) receiving a Kit via direct mail or (3) a control group. All participants were telephoned and asked how they would respond to a cardiac emergency. Results showed that respondents in the intervention group (EMT and direct mail group combined) reported a greater frequency of the recommended coping response to AMI (39%) than respondents in the control group (10%) (P < 0.000). Within intervention groups, 47% in the EMT group and 30% in the direct mail group (P < 0.000) reported intentions to take the appropriate response to AMI. The results suggest that a Heart Attack Survival Kit, especially when delivered door-to-door by EMTs, can be an effective way of educating seniors about cardiac emergencies.
Decompression of corrupt JPEG2000 codestreams

The error resilience properties of JPEG2000 are investigated. Through a careful analysis of the structure of the JPEG2000 codestreams, the dependencies among coding passes of a codeblock are identified. In the analysis, the effects of mode variations provided by the standard for low-memory, low-complexity implementations are considered. The proposed methods are derived using the existing dependency structure of coding passes and do not require a substantial increase in computational capabilities of the decoder. Experimental results indicate that these methods can improve error resilience performance substantially.
Managing sensor deployments with geographic information systems

In this paper, we present a prototype GIS application to map, query, and task commercial and custom sensors in a network-centric environment. The approach is significant in that application developers can integrate sensors into the GIS environment without having detailed knowledge of the sensors' underlying device drivers by leveraging service-oriented computing infrastructure.
Childhood Blood Pressure as a Predictor of Arterial Stiffness in Young Adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Increased arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and mortality in middle-aged and older adults. However, limited data are available regarding the relationship of arterial stiffness in young adults with risk factors measured in childhood, adulthood, or as a cumulative burden from childhood to adulthood. This aspect was examined in a sample of 835 black and white young adults (72% whites, 44% men) aged 24 to 44 years who had at least 4 measurements of traditional risk factors over an average follow-up period of 26.5 years since childhood. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measured by a simple automatic oscillometric technique was used as an index of arterial stiffness. The cumulative burden of risk factors since childhood was measured as area under the curve divided by follow-up years. In young adults, the baPWV was higher in males versus females (P<0.001) and blacks versus whites (P<0.001). In multiple regression analyses, independent predictors of baPWV in young adults were systolic blood pressure in childhood; systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and smoking in adulthood; and cumulative burden of systolic blood pressure and triglycerides and duration of smoking years from childhood. Thus, systolic blood pressure beginning in childhood is a consistent predictor of arterial stiffness in free-living, asymptomatic young adults. These findings underscore the importance of childhood blood pressure in the evolution of arterial stiffness and the need for beginning preventive cardiology early in life.
Bifurcation theory and its application to nonlinear dynamical phenomena in an electrical power system

A tutorial introduction in bifurcation theory is given, and the applicability of this theory to study nonlinear dynamical phenomena in a power system network is explored. The predicted behavior is verified through time simulation. Systematic application of the theory revealed the existence of stable and unstable periodic solutions as well as voltage collapse. A particular response depends on the value of the parameter under consideration. It is shown that voltage collapse is a subset of the overall bifurcation phenomena that a system may experience under the influence of system parameters. A low-dimensional center manifold reduction is applied to capture the relevant dynamics involved in the voltage collapse process. The need for the consideration of nonlinearity, especially when the system is highly stressed, is emphasized. >
Post-collisional tectonics of the Turkish-Iranian plateau and a comparison with Tibet

Abstract The Turkish-Iranian Plateau (Fig. 1) is a high region with an average elevation of about 1.5 km. During the late Miocene the last piece of oceanic lithosphere between the Eurasian and Arabian continents was eliminated at the Bitlis/Zagros suture zone. Continued convergence across the collision site resulted in the shortening of the plateau across strike by thickening and by sideways motion of parts of it. Predominantly calcalkaline volcanism is present on the highest portions of the area, despite the absence of a descending slab of lithosphere. Surface geology and volcanism of the Turkish-Iranian Plateau resemble greatly those of the Tibetan Plateau, and both are underlain by a zone of seismic attenuation. From a comparison of these features and their tectonic setting we argue that the two plateaux are homologous structures, albeit at different stages of their evolution. Both areas appear to be tectonically alive and actively shortening. Available evidence lends little support to the hypothesis of large-scale underthrusting of continental lithosphere and of plastic-rigid indentation where such high plateaux, located directly in front of the “rigid indenter”, are considered to be tectonically “dead”. Their peculiar features are best explained in terms of shortening and thickening the continental crust whereby its lower levels are partially melted to give rise to calc-alkaline surface volcanism. Minor associated alkaline volcanism may be due to local longitudinal cracking of the crust to provide access to mantle.
Teaching Method and Effect on Learning Piagetian Concepts

Instructors of psychology typically use a variety of methods to teach concepts. The present double-blind experiment is intended to determine the effectiveness of popular television clips as exemplars of Piagetian concepts compared to verbal descriptions of the same exemplars among a sample of 86 undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory psychology course in a US college. Results indicated an advantage in learning the concept of conservation at follow-up stage for students exposed to the popular television exemplars, but there were no differences in overall learning at initial assessment, or on the three other Piagetian concepts.
An efficient randomized algorithm for contact-based NMR backbone resonance assignment

Motivation: Backbone resonance assignment is a critical bottleneck in studies of protein structure, dynamics and interactions by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A minimalist approach to assignment, which we call 'contact-based', seeks to dramatically reduce experimental time and expense by replacing the standard suite of through-bond experiments with the through-space (nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy, NOESY) experiment. In the contact-based approach, spectral data are represented in a graph with vertices for putative residues (of unknown relation to the primary sequence) and edges for hypothesized NOESY interactions, such that observed spectral peaks could be explained if the residues were 'close enough'. Due to experimental ambiguity, several incorrect edges can be hypothesized for each spectral peak. An assignment is derived by identifying consistent patterns of edges (e.g. for α-helices and β-sheets) within a graph and by mapping the vertices to the primary sequence. The key algorithmic challenge is to be able to uncover these patterns even when they are obscured by significant noise. Results: This paper develops, analyzes and applies a novel algorithm for the identification of polytopes representing consistent patterns of edges in a corrupted NOESY graph. Our randomized algorithm aggregates simplices into polytopes and fixes inconsistencies with simple local modifications, called rotations, that maintain most of the structure already uncovered. In characterizing the effects of experimental noise, we employ an NMR-specific random graph model in proving that our algorithm gives optimal performance in expected polynomial time, even when the input graph is significantly corrupted. We confirm this analysis in simulation studies with graphs corrupted by up to 500% noise. Finally, we demonstrate the practical application of the algorithm on several experimental β-sheet datasets. Our approach is able to eliminate a large majority of noise edges and to uncover large consistent sets of interactions. Availability: Our algorithm has been implemented in the platform-independent Python code. The software can be freely obtained for academic use by request from the authors. Contact: cbk@cs.dartmouth.edu
Effects of a verbal and visual feedback system on running technique, perceived exertion and running economy in female novice runners.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a verbal and visual feedback system on running technique, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and running economy. Twenty‐two female novice runners were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 11) and control (n = 11) groups. The experimental subjects received verbal and visual feedback concerning their running technique prior to and during each training run. Training involved 15 20‐min treadmill running sessions over a 5‐week period. The control group adhered to the same training routine but did not receive feedback concerning their running technique. High‐speed (100 Hz) photography was used to collect biomechanical data. A submaximal oxygen consumption test and Borg's RPE scale were used to collect data concerning running economy and perceived exertion, respectively. Statistical analysis using ANCOVA revealed that the proposed feedback system had a significant (P < 0.01) effect on the experimental group's running technique by affecting t...
Wellsite, Laboratory, and Mathematical Techniques for Determining Sorbed Gas Content of Coals and Gas Shales Utilizing Well Cuttings

Drill cuttings can be used for desorption analyses but with more uncertainty than desorption analyses done with cores. Drill cuttings are not recommended to take the place of core, but in some circumstances, desorption work with cuttings can provide a timely and economic supplement to that of cores. The mixed lithologic nature of drill cuttings is primarily the source of uncertainty in their analysis for gas content, for it is unclear how to apportion the gas generated from both the coal and the dark-colored shale that is mixed in usually with the coal. In the Western Interior Basin Coal Basin in eastern Kansas (Pennsylvanian-age coals), dark-colored shales with normal (∼100 API units) gamma-ray levels seem to give off minimal amounts of gas on the order of less than five standard cubic feet per ton (scf/ton). In some cuttings analyses this rule of thumb for gas content of the shale is adequate for inferring the gas content of coals, but shales with high-gamma-ray values (>150 API units) may yield several times this amount of gas. The uncertainty in desorption analysis of drill cuttings can be depicted graphically on a diagram identified as a “lithologic component sensitivity analysis diagram.” Comparison of cuttings desorption results from nearby wells on this diagram, can sometimes yield an unique solution for the gas content of both a dark shale and coal mixed in a cuttings sample. A mathematical solution, based on equating the dry, ash-free gas-contents of the admixed coal and dark-colored shale, also yields results that are correlative to data from nearby cores.
Exciton delocalization and energy transport mechanisms in R-phycoerythrin.

Energy transport mechanisms in R-Phycoerythrin (RPE), a light harvesting protein located at the top of the phycobilisome antenna in red algae, are investigated using nonlinear optical spectroscopies and theoretical models. The RPE hexamer possesses a total of 30 bilin pigments, which can be subdivided into three classes based on their molecular structures and electronic resonance frequencies. Of particular interest to this study is the influence of exciton delocalization on the real-space paths traversed by photoexcitations as they concentrate on the lowest energy pigment sites. Transient grating measurements show that significant nuclear relaxation occurs at delay times less than 100 fs, whereas energy transport spans a wide range of time scales depending on the proximity of the initial and final states involved in the process. The fastest energy transport dynamics within the RPE complex are close to 1 ps; however, evidence for sub-100 fs exciton self-trapping is also obtained. In addition, photon echo experiments reveal vibronic interactions with overdamped and underdamped nuclear modes. To establish signatures of exciton delocalization, energy transport is simulated using both modified Redfield and Forster theories, which respectively employ delocalized and localized basis states. We conclude that exciton delocalization occurs between six pairs of phycoerythrobilin pigments (i.e., dimers) within the protein hexamer. It is interesting that these dimers are bound in locations analogous to the well-studied phycocyanobilin dimers of cyanobacterial allophycocyanin and c-phycocyanin in which wave function delocalization is also known to take hold. Strong conclusions regarding the electronic structures of the remaining pigments cannot be drawn based on the present experiments and simulations due to overlapping resonances and broad spectroscopic line widths, which prevent the resolution of dynamics at particular pigment sites.
Use of proper orthogonal decomposition and linear stochastic estimation technique to investigate real-time detailed airflows for building ventilation:

As energy efficiency concerns grow for building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, more advanced mathematical models and methods may be needed for implementing more comprehensive b...
A Molecular Orbital Calculation of the Preferred Conformation of Nicotine

Using extended Huckel theory molecular orbital calculations, two equally preferred conformations of the nicotinium ion have been predicted from total energy minimization as a function of geometry. The calculated conformations are in good agreement with reported nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-predicted conformations of several nicotine derivatives. In only one predicted nicotinium ion conformation are there found to be two atoms, including the quaternary nitrogen atom, of comparable charge and interatom distance to those found in acetylcholine. Specifically these atoms in the nicotinium ion relate very closely to the quarternary nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms of acetylcholine in its calculated preferred conformation. This observation permits time prediction that the two principal atoms necessary for nicotinic activity in the nicotinium ion are a quaternary nitrogen atom and a negatively charged atom about 4.85 A removed. As an adjunct to the study, an extended Huckel theory population analysis of acetylcholine in its calculated preferred conformation indicates a slightly negative total (σ + π) charge density on the ether oxygen atom.
Perception, Perspectivism, Falsification

Nietzsche claims that all conscious experience, whether perceptual or interoceptive, affective or cognitive, is constrained by ineliminable limits imposed by the finite reach of our sensory organs and by the nature of subconscious cortical processing that precedes conscious experience. Characterizing these limits is the topic of Section I. That all conscious experience is limited suggests to him that the contents of even basic kinds of conscious experience, such as sensory perception and interoception, are perspectival. Perspectivism is not a single thesis but a set of claims, some of them having to do with causal or genetic issues, some of them having to do with justificatory issues, some of them having to do with issues surrounding truth. In Section II, we show that the causal genetic doctrine of perspectivism is grounded in, but not exhausted by, his reflections on perception and interoception. In addition to genetic perspectivism he also offers an epistemological version of perspectivism, according to which all knowledge claims, whether about basic kinds of conscious experience, reflection, or sophisticated abstract thought, are perspectival. And on the basis of these epistemological claims he argues that the philosophical ambition of achieving unbiased, objectively true beliefs is in vain. In Section III, we argue that one of his most infamous claims, viz., that all of our conscious experience is false, is not entailed by genetic perspectivism. However, even if not entailed, the falsification view is not far away from genetic perspectivism, and only two additional premises are needed to infer falsification from it.
Tigecycline Reduces Ethanol Intake in Dependent and Nondependent Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice

BACKGROUND The chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) paradigm is valuable for screening compounds for efficacy to reduce drinking traits related to alcohol use disorder (AUD), as it measures alcohol consumption and preference under physical dependence conditions. Air control-treated animals allow simultaneous testing of similarly treated, nondependent animals. As a consequence, we used CIE to test the hypothesis that tigecycline, a semisynthetic tetracycline similar to minocycline and doxycycline, would reduce alcohol consumption regardless of dependence status. METHODS Adult C57BL/6J female and male mice were tested for tigecycline efficacy to reduce ethanol (EtOH) consumption using a standard CIE paradigm. The ability of tigecycline to decrease 2-bottle choice of 15% EtOH (15E) versus water intake in dependent (CIE vapor) and nondependent (air-treated) male and female mice was tested after 4 cycles of CIE vapor or air exposure using a within-subjects design and a dose-response. Drug doses of 0, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/kg in saline were administered intraperitoneally (0.01 ml/g body weight) and in random order, with a 1-hour pretreatment time. Baseline 15E intake was re-established prior to administration of subsequent injections, with a maximum of 2 drug injections tested per week. RESULTS Tigecycline was found to effectively reduce high alcohol consumption in both dependent and nondependent female and male mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that tigecycline may be a promising drug with novel pharmacotherapeutic characteristics for the treatment of mild-to-severe AUD in both sexes.
Soil microbial communities alter leaf chemistry and influence allelopathic potential among coexisting plant species.

While both plant–soil feedbacks and allelochemical interactions are key drivers of plant community dynamics, the potential for these two drivers to interact with each other remains largely unexplored. If soil microbes influence allelochemical production, this would represent a novel dimension of heterogeneity in plant–soil feedbacks. To explore the linkage between soil microbial communities and plant chemistry, we experimentally generated soil microbial communities and evaluated their impact on leaf chemical composition and allelopathic potential. Four native perennial old-field species (two each of Aster and Solidago) were grown in pairwise combination with each species’ soil microbial community as well as a sterilized inoculum. We demonstrated unequivocally that variation in soil microbial communities altered leaf chemical fingerprints for all focal plant species and also changed their allelopathic potential. Soil microbes reduced allelopathic potential in bioassays by increasing germination 25–54% relative to sterile control soils in all four species. Plants grown with their own microbial communities had the lowest allelopathic potential, suggesting that allelochemical production may be lessened when growing with microbes from conspecifics. The allelopathic potential of plants grown in congener and confamilial soils was indistinguishable from each other, indicating an equivalent response to all non-conspecific microbial communities within these closely related genera. Our results clearly demonstrated that soil microbial communities cause changes in leaf tissue chemistry that altered their allelopathic properties. These findings represent a new mechanism of plant–soil feedbacks that may structure perennial plant communities over very small spatial scales that must be explored in much more detail.
Elementarily λ-homogeneous binary functions

Let S and T be sets with S infinite, and $${*:S \times S \rightarrow T}$$ a function. Further, suppose that λ is a cardinal such that $${\aleph_0 \leq \lambda \leq |S|}$$ . Say that (S, T, *) is elementarily λ-homogeneous provided (X, T,*) is elementarily equivalent to (Y, T, *) for all subsets X and Y of S of cardinality λ. In this note, we classify the elementarily λ-homogeneous structures (S, T, *). As corollaries, we characterize certain mathematical structures $${\mathfrak{S}}$$ which are also “elementarily $${\lambda}$$ -homogeneous” in the sense that all substructures of $${\mathfrak{S}}$$ of cardinality λ are elementarily equivalent. Among our corollaries is a generalization of a theorem due to Manfred Droste.
Structural variants in genes associated with human Williams-Beuren syndrome underlie stereotypical hypersociability in domestic dogs

Although considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of morphologic traits (for example, body size and coat color) in dogs and wolves, the genetic basis of their behavioral divergence is poorly understood. An integrative approach using both behavioral and genetic data is required to understand the molecular underpinnings of the various behavioral characteristics associated with domestication. We analyze a 5-Mb genomic region on chromosome 6 previously found to be under positive selection in domestic dog breeds. Deletion of this region in humans is linked to Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), a multisystem congenital disorder characterized by hypersocial behavior. We associate quantitative data on behavioral phenotypes symptomatic of WBS in humans with structural changes in the WBS locus in dogs. We find that hypersociability, a central feature of WBS, is also a core element of domestication that distinguishes dogs from wolves. We provide evidence that structural variants in GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, genes previously implicated in the behavioral phenotype of patients with WBS and contained within the WBS locus, contribute to extreme sociability in dogs. This finding suggests that there are commonalities in the genetic architecture of WBS and canine tameness and that directional selection may have targeted a unique set of linked behavioral genes of large phenotypic effect, allowing for rapid behavioral divergence of dogs and wolves, facilitating coexistence with humans.
The effective stress law for stress-sensitive transversely isotropic rocks

Abstract This paper first presents a review of the development of the concept of effective stress, followed by major experimental and theoretical studies carried out to estimate the Biot’s coefficient. It then uses the constitutive equations for vertically transverse isotropic (VTI) reservoirs, like coal, derived using the principles of thermodynamics for estimation of the Biot’s coefficients in the vertical and horizontal directions. Laboratory data for tests conducted on two coal types retrieved from different geologic settings and geographical locations was used to carry out the modeling and validation exercise. Evidence is presented that values of Biot’s coefficient can be greater than one, proposed by Biot to be the limiting value, for sorptive rocks. To address this, the term Biot’s coefficient is replaced with “effective stress coefficient”. Finally, this paper discusses the pressure- and stress- dependent behavior of the Biot’s coefficient. The results clearly show that the estimated values of Biot’s coefficients in both vertical and horizontal directions are different, varying with pressure for methane depletion but remaining constant for helium depletion. At the same time, the nature of Biot’s coefficient, re-termed as effective stress coefficient, was found to be greater than unity for methane depletion. As a last step, a conceptual physical model is proposed to explain the pressure-dependent variation of effective stress/Biot’s coefficients in terms of the contact area between grains. Based on the findings that the effective stress coefficient decreases with pressure, it is concluded that the effective vertical stress would increase significantly with depletion which, in turn, would result in shear failure and increased permeability.
Æternus Est: Divinity as a Conceptual Necessity in the Principle of Causation

The modern belief that mindless forces can be ultimate efficient causes of natural events is a conceptual impossibility. The logically ultimate cause of any change, the something that is ultimately making it occur in the present moment, is either a mind or not. More specifically, the cause either chooses to act or it does not. By choice here, I mean an act of free will in the libertarian sense. Where there is choosing in this sense there must be a mind. And when we say that an agent acts thus freely, we mean that it acts without being causally determined to act by anything beyond itself. However, this is conceptually indistinguishable from the idea of an ultimate efficient cause. To say that an agent is the ultimate cause in a causal chain is, by definition, to say that it acts without being caused to act by anything beyond itself. It is the head of the causal chain. It is, therefore, a matter of conceptual necessity that ultimate causes be minds, a fact that we have been blind to since the Scientific Revolution on the bad analogy of machines. Thus, every force ultimately governing the universe must be a mind corresponding either to the polytheist’s or the monotheist’s generic definition of divinity, and monotheism’s eternal mind will always be the most complete and justifiable explanation for the existence of the universe as a whole, even for the existence of the gods themselves.
Do participants with children age 18 and under have suboptimal weight loss

Abstract Objectives Parenthood is a time marked by behaviors that may promote risk for weight gain, including decreased physical activity and increased unhealthy eating. Little is known about parents in the context of behavioral weight loss, such as whether they differ in weight losses, and related barriers, or behaviors. Method We compared parents of children aged 18 and younger (n = 105) to other participants who did not have children, or whose children were in adulthood (n = 215) in a behavioral weight loss program to evaluate six-month weight losses, and weight loss barriers and behaviors. Results Parents of minor children lost less weight than other participants, and parental status interacted with gender such that men without minor children lost the most weight. Although parents of minor children identified greater stress, depression, time-related barriers to physical activity, and had less adherence to calorie goals, they did not differ from other participants in session attendance, emotional overeating, disinhibited eating, or physical activity. Discussion Parents of minor children appear to have greater weight loss barriers, greater difficulty adhering to calorie goals, and less weight loss. Additional research is needed to identify ways to better serve parents in behavioral weight loss programs.
Porosity prediction: Supervised-learning of thermal history for direct laser deposition

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the melt pool characteristics and the defect occurrence in an as-built additive manufacturing part. One of the major detrimental microstructure properties associated with additive manufacturing (AM) is porosity within final parts. State-of-the-art porosity detection methods focus primarily on post-manufacturing approaches that are susceptible to high cost of process, longer process time, and are incapable of characterizing pores during fabrication. A real-time porosity prediction method is developed using morphological characteristics of the melt pool boundary (i.e., features obtained via functional principal component analysis (FPCA)). A thermal monitoring system is used to capture the time-varying melt pool signal, which are labeled as either pores or normal melt pools by X-ray tomography. Supervised learning methods are utilized to identify the patterns of melt pool images and build a black-box model for the probability distribution of class labels (namely, porosity) based on data characteristics of predictors (e.g., melt pool characteristics). The resultant model does not depend on specific design of specimens with varying material properties; and can be effectively developed as long as thermal-porosity data can be obtained. In the current study, multiple supervised machine learning approaches are used to classify melt pools to predict porosity in a part. Two different accuracy measures are used and numerical experiments show that among the classification approaches used (i.e., Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA)), KNN results in the highest rate of accurately classifying melt pools (98.44%). However, DT results in the lowest rate for incorrectly identifying normal melt pools as pores (0.03%). A comparative study is conducted that compares the performance of supervised learning methods leveraging the proposed morphological model and simple metrics of the melt pool. Numerical experiments show that the morphological model combined with supervised learning techniques vastly outperform the simple melt pool metrics combined with supervised learning techniques (approximately 250% better performance for correctly predicting abnormal melt pools). Our approach may potentially be applied to other AM processes that share similar energy-material interactions (e.g., powder bed fusion, electron beam melting).
The Fourier Integral

The Fourier integral was introduced in Sections 2 and 3 of Chapter 1, and some results were proved analogous to those already known for Fourier series. Now the Fourier integral is our subject. First the things we know will be summarized.
The Saṃbhoga-Kāya or Preternatural Manifestations

As the historical manifestation of Buddhahood through the nirmāṇa-kāya attains its summit in the collective accomplishments of Buddhist thought (the schools), the first stage of the “ontological” (i.e., entitative and cognitive) self-expression of the state of “knowledge” (shih-chueh) reaches its highest boundary in its motion of “within-this-world” expansion. At “this side” of the boundary, however, the dynamics of the nirmāṇa-body continues uninterruptedly its further deployment of “natural” (this-worldly) manifestations. Thus this boundary sets up the distinction between the “natural” (this-worldly) and “preternatural” (other-worldly) functions of the state of knowledge. It is at this point that the nirmāṇa-kāya subsumes the complementary positing of its “other,” namely the saṃbhoga-kāya. In this sense, “preternatural” or “supraterrestrial” Buddhahood seems to stand in opposition to the “natural” or “terrestrial.”
Recent Progress on the Human bcl-2 Gene Involved in Follicular Lymphoma: Characterization of the Protein Products

Chromosome translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene are common in B cell malignancies (Yunis 1983). The t(14;18) translocation has been extensively studied by us and others for the last several years because this translocation is nearly always associated with follicular lymphoma, one of the most common human B cell malignancies (Fukuhara et al. 1979; Yunis et al. 1982). By molecular cloning of the breakpoint of the t(14;18) translocation, we and others identified a gene, bcl-2, at the breakpoint region (Tsujimoto et al. 1985a; Bakshi et al. 1985; Cleary and Sklar 1985). Since the t(14;18) translocation occurs within or in the close vicinity of the bcl-2 gene (Tsujimoto et al. 1985a,b; Tsujimoto and Croce 1986; Cleary et al. 1986), and since the steady-state level of bcl-2 mRNA is elevated by the translocation (Tsujimoto et al. 1985a), the bcl-2 gene is a strong candidate for the oncogene involved in follicular lymphomagenesis, analogous to the role of the c-myc gene in Burkitt’s lymphomagenesis. The bcl-2 gene consists of two exons (Tsujimoto and Croce 1986; Cleary et al. 1986) and is transcribed into several species of mRNA by splicing and differential usage of the polyA site (Tsujimoto and Croce 1986).
Orthotropic Liver Transplantation for Acute Intrahepatic Cholestasis in Sickle Cell Disease: Clinical and Histopathologic Features of a Rare Case.

Sickle cell disease has a wide range of hepatic manifestations, with acute intrahepatic cholestasis being one of the rarest and most fatal, often resulting in acute fulminant hepatic failure. Liver...
Surgery service learning in preclinical years improves medical student attitudes toward surgery, clinical confidence, and social determinants of health screening.

Abstract Introduction Patient health literacy is paramount for optimal outcomes. The Service Learning Project (SLP) aims to merge the need for patient education with the desire of medical students for early clinical experience. Methods This pretest-posttest study examined the effect of the SLP on medical students. First-year students spent 8 h each month educating inpatients and screening for social determinants of health (SDH). Students completed a 30-question survey pre- and post-SLP, and longitudinally throughout medical school. We used t-tests to assess changes in attitudes towards surgery, clinical confidence, and SDH screening. Results Student self-perceived value on surgical teams increased significantly (2.49 vs 3.63 post-SLP, p Conclusions The SLP model improves medical students’ skills and confidence working with patients and addressing SDH.
A Dynamic Programming-Based, Path Balancing Technology Mapping Algorithm Targeting Area Minimization

Path balancing technology mapping is a method of mapping a technology-independent logical description of a circuit, such as a Boolean network, into a technology-dependent, gate-level netlist. For a gate-level netlist generated by the path balancing mapper, the difference between lengths of the longest and the shortest paths in the circuit is minimized. To achieve full path balancing, it may be necessary to add buffers on signal paths, and in such a case, the cost of buffers must be properly accounted for. This paper presents a dynamic programming-based technology mapping algorithm that generates a minimum-area mapping solution which is guaranteed to be fully path balanced. The fully path balanced mapping solution is essential to conventional superconductive single flux quantum circuits, which will fail otherwise. The balanced mapping solution is also useful in CMOS circuits to avoid (or minimize) unwanted hazard activity and the resulting wasteful dynamic power dissipation as well as to achieve the maximum throughput in a wave-pipelined circuit. Experimental results show that our path balancing technology mapping algorithm decreases total area, static power consumption, and path balancing overhead of single flux quantum circuits by large factors. For example, it reduces the circuit area by up to 111% and by an average of 26.3% compared to state-of-the-art technology mappers.