cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On increased variance of coherent solids

In order to explain the experimentally observed and previously discussed in the literature increased variance of coherent solids (J.W. Cahn, F. Larche ´, Acta Metal. Mater., 32 (1984) 1915; W.C. Johnson, Metall. Trans. Ser. A 18A (1987) 1093; R.O. Williams, Metall. Trans. 11A (1980) 247; M.E. Gurtin, Thermomechanics of Evolving Phase Boundaries in the Plane. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1993; Z.-K. Liu, J. A, gren, Acta Metal. Mater., 38 (1990) 561‐572) we propose a simple qualitative model featuring the concept of a coherent interface which is characterized by residual stress (in the form of surface tension) and is capable of supporting force. The mechanical implications of this idea introduced earlier (see, e.g. M.E. Gurtin, Thermomechanics of Evolving Phase Boundaries in the Plane. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1993) have been analyzed elsewhere; here an emphasis was made on its metallurgical aspects as related to the problem of coherent phase equilibria, and also on the corresponding changes in the thermodynamic variance of such systems. The existence of such interfaces may result in the violation of the traction continuity requirement between coherent coexisting phases and automatically results in a situation when the number of degrees of freedom of a system, f, depends only on the number of components, k, and is independent of the number of phases, fk1. An interesting similarity of the phase rule for coherent solids in the form f k 1 to the one derived earlier for capillary systems, is also discussed. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
ON THE CONCEPT OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY

▪ Abstract The term industrial ecology was conceived to suggest that industrial activity can be thought of and approached in much the same way as a biological ecosystem and that in its ideal form it would strive toward integration of activities and cyclization of resources, as do natural ecosystems. Beyond this attractive but fuzzy notion, little has been done to explore the usefulness of the analogy. This paper examines the structural framework of biological ecology and the tools used for its study, and it demonstrates that many aspects of biological organisms and ecosystems (for example, food webs, engineering activities, community development) do have parallels in industrial organisms and ecosystems. Some of the tools of biological ecology appear to be applicable to industrial ecology, and vice versa. In a world in which no biological ecosystem is free of human influence and no industrial ecosystem is free of biological influence, it is appropriate to abandon the artificial division between the two fra...
Age-related differences in susceptibility to cisplatin-induced renal toxicity

Limited experimental models exist to assess drug toxicity in pediatric populations. We recently reported how a multi-age rat model could be used for pre-clinical studies of comparative drug toxicity in pediatric populations. The objective of this study was to expand the utility of this animal model, which previously demonstrated an age-dependent sensitivity to the classic nephrotoxic compound, gentamicin, to another nephrotoxicant, namely cisplatin (Cis). Sprague-Dawley rats (10, 25, 40 and 80 days old) were injected with a single dose of Cis (0, 1, 3 or 6 mg kg(-1) i.p.). Urine samples were collected prior and up to 72 h after treatment in animals that were >or= 25 days old. Several serum, urinary and 'omic' injury biomarkers as well as renal histopathology lesions were evaluated. Statistically significant changes were noted with different injury biomarkers in different age groups. The order of age-related Cis-induced nephrotoxicity was different than our previous study with gentamicin: 80 > 40 > 10 > 25 day-old vs 10 >or= 80 > 40 > 25-day-old rats, respectively. The increased levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1: urinary protein/tissue mRNA) provided evidence of early Cis-induced nephrotoxicity in the most sensitive age group (80 days old). Levels of Kim-1 tissue mRNA and urinary protein were significantly correlated to each other and to the severity of renal histopathology lesions. These data indicate that the multi-age rat model can be used to demonstrate different age-related sensitivities to renal injury using mechanistically distinct nephrotoxicants, which is reflected in measurements of a variety of metabolite, gene transcript and protein biomarkers.
New methodology for viability testing in environmental samples

Environmental samples can be complex and are comprised of microorganisms and a matrix of decaying organic matter as well as an inorganic phase such as sand or precipitated material (waste water, sludge, soils, etc.). Nucleic acid dyes have recently been developed to address the growing need for environmental analyses (cell staining, counting, viability testing and specific organism identification). However, certain dyes may not be ideally suited for testing of environmental samples, because they readily adhere to the substrate material as well as their target molecule, resulting in increased non-specific binding and background fluorescence. The aim of this study was to address the limitations of the widely used and commercially available Live/Dead BacLighte Bacterial Viability kit (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR). A new combination of nucleic acid dyes, i.e. SYTO w 13 and SYTOX w Orange (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR), was proposed as an alternative. The dyes were carefully chosen for their spectral separation and increase offluorescence quantum yield. A protocol for this combination was first designed and optimized and the two staining assays were compared against suspensions of live and dead E. coli, mixed in different proportions and it was shown that both protocols performed equally on pure cultures. However, when testing activated sludge samples, the commercial kit showed greater background fluorescence and non-specific binding than the alternate combination. Therefore, the proposed dye combination and its corresponding protocol are deemed more suitable for use on complex environmental samples than the Live/Dead BacLight e Bacterial Viability kit.
Balloon angioplasty above the aortic arch: Immediate and long-term results

Angioplasty above the level of the aortic arch is becoming more common, and the indications for it are increasing. We report our experience with this procedure, including life-table analysis of the long-term results.We dilated 32 lesions in 29 patients. Early in our series, patients were referred primarily because of arm claudication or vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Subsequently, the indications were expanded to include inflow to left internal mammary-coronary artery bypass grafts, inflow to axillobifemoral bypass grafts, and inflow to dialysis fistulas in the upper extremity. A femoral artery approach was used in 18 patients and an axillary approach was used in 11. Clinical follow-up included evaluation of symptoms and bilateral measurements of peripheral pulses and blood pressure. Follow-up angiograms were obtained in nine patients.Eighteen of the lesions dilated were located in the left subclavian artery, eight were in the right subclavian artery, four were in the axillary or proximal brachial artery,...
The Political Economy of Improving Health Care for the Poor in Rural Africa: Institutional Solutions to the Principal–Agent Problem

Both governments and private for-profit markets have been disappointing in meeting the needs of the African poor for health care. NGO services provide a much more attractive alternative for this clientele, despite the fees they charge. They do so because they represent an institutional solution to the ‘imperfect information’ problem in health care. Through simulations based on data from Cameroon, we demonstrate that if fee-charging NGOs replace the highly subsidised but poorly managed facilities operated by African governments the poor would be better off. Those NGOs that are decentralised in their financial and personnel management are most effective. The politics of making the recommended changes are assessed.
Wide-band electromagnetic scattering from a dielectric BOR buried in a layered lossy dispersive medium

A method of moments (MoM) analysis is developed for electromagnetic scattering from a dielectric body of revolution (BOR) embedded in a layered medium (the half-space problem constituting a special case). The layered-medium parameters can be lossy and dispersive, of interest for simulating soil. To make such an analysis tractable for the wide-band (short-pulse) applications of interest here, we have employed the method of complex images to evaluate the Sommerfeld integrals characteristic of the dyadic layered-medium Green's function. Example wide-band scattering results are presented, wherein fundamental wave phenomenology is elucidated. Of particular interest, we consider wide-band scattering from a model plastic mine, buried in soil, with the soil covered by a layer of snow.
Reduction of epoxidized vegetable oils: a novel method to prepare bio-based polyols for polyurethanes.

A novel method, epoxidation/reduction of vegetable oils, is developed to prepare bio-based polyols for the manufacture of polyurethanes (PUs). These polyols are synthesized from castor oil (CO), epoxidized soybean oil, and epoxidized linseed oil and their molecular structures are characterized. They are used to prepare a variety of PUs, and their thermomechanical properties are compared to those of PU made with petroleum-based polyol (P-450). It is shown that PUs made with polyols from soybean and linseed oil exhibit higher glass transition temperatures, tensile strength, and Young's modulus and PU made with polyol from CO exhibits higher elongation at break and toughness than PU made with P-450. However, PU made with P-450 displays better thermal resistance because of tri-ester structure and terminal functional groups. The method provides a versatile way to prepare bio-polyols from vegetable oils, and it is expected to partially or completely replace petroleum-based polyols in PUs manufacture.
Mixed cortical adenoma and composite pheochromocytoma-ganglioneuroma: an unusual corticomedullary tumor of the adrenal gland

Adrenal neoplasms composed of more than one cell type and demonstrating a mixed histologic appearance are exceedingly rare. We report the clinical and pathologic features of a morphologically distinctive tumor of the adrenal gland composed of cortical, chromaffin, and neural cells. Histologically, the tumor consisted of intermixed areas of proliferating cortical cells resembling adrenal cortical adenoma, neoplastic chromaffin cells consistent with pheochromocytoma, and a ganglioneuromatous stroma. The presence of the cortical, medullary, and neural components within the tumor was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies. The present case serves to broaden the morphologic spectrum of mixed tumors that may be encountered in the adrenal gland.
Ultraviolet femtosecond fluorescence spectroscopy: techniques and applications

Because of important improvements made to the UV-region femtosecond emission apparatus at the University of Minnesota, it is now possible to record the UV fluorescence of organic molecules with an effective resolution reaching ~50 fsec and a useful signal-to-noise ratio. Applications of this technology to two fundamental processes in chemistry (solvation and electron transfer) are briefly described. Molecular examples include (i) the solvation probes Coumarin 152 and Coumarin 343 and (ii) the electron-transfer molecules 9,9′-bianthryl and 4-(9-anthryl)-N,N′-dimethylaniline.
Bagnold's barchan: A 57-yr record of dune movement in the eastern Sahara and implications for dune origin and paleoclimate since Neolithic times

Abstract Discovery in 1980 of Camp 18 of the 1930 Bagnold expedition in northwestern Sudan has resulted in an exceptionally long record of barchan movement from which an average rate of 7.5 m/yr has been calculated. Measurements of the rate of dune advance since 1980 have not varied significantly, indicating a state of quasiequilibrium exists. The dune field is moving over an undulating sand sheet exhibiting various stages of Holocene pedogenesis and containing Neolithic sites. The sand sheet overlies Pleistocene alluvium with stronger stages of pedogenesis. All of these deposits may be a significant source of dune sand. Wind-blown grass fragments trapped by advancing slipfaces mark former slipface positions and indicate late Holocene rainfall events, which can be radiocarbon dated. Parabolic forms (revealed by SPOT images) at the windward ends of the dune fields are transitional to barchans, suggesting sand accumulation in vegetation germinated during a Holocene wet period. In addition, sand streaks from sand-sheet undulations suggest that active eolian erosion of sand sheets contributes to the sand supply of dune fields. Pedogenesis during pluvial periods contributes to silt and clay fractions of bimodal sand sheet sediments. From wind streaks on LANDSAT images and an estimated average rate of dune advance, positions of dune fields during past hyperarid periods can be estimated.
A proportional hazards model for incidence and induced remission of disease.

Pour demontrer l'effet protecteur d'une covariable dependante du temps, nous avons developpe un modele stochastique base sur la biologie des tumeurs. Le modele suppose que chaque sujet a un nombre de clones initiaux distribue selon une loi de Poisson qui passent dans des etats indetectable, mortel detectable et immortel detectable. Le nombre attendu de clones est modelise par des covariables independantes du temps dans un modelise log-lineaire a hasards proportionnels pour le risque de maladie. En introduisant des covariables dependantes du temps indicatrices du deces d'un clone, avec des risques dependants de l'etat du clone, le modele est suffisamment flexible pour tenir compte des delais d'apparition de la maladie et des delais de remission ou de guerison de la maladie si celle-ci est deja presente. Les inferences utilisent des methodes bayesiennes via des chaines de Markov. Les proprietes theoriques sont deduites et cette approche est utilisee dans l'analyse de l'effet des accouchements sur le leiomyome uterin.
Quantifying human well-being for sustainability research and policy

To address human dependence on natural resources and anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem health, understanding and management of the linkages between nature and human well‐being (HWB) are urgently n...
The Effects of Children’s Criminality on Mothers of Offenders:

This exploratory study sought to understand the effects of criminality on mothers of offenders. Semistructured in-depth interviews were used to gather data from 27 mothers. Respondents reported that their children’s criminality leads to a series of complications and stressors in mothers’ lives, including physical, psychological, relational, social, and economic effects. Mothers also reported on offenders’ relationships with their fathers and the stigma of criminality. The destructive impact of a child’s criminality, and the need for support for offenders’ families, particularly their mothers, is evident. Peer support, social service networking, and improved criminal justice response are suggested as means to assist mothers.
Sorting on Partially Connected Mesh Networks

We consider sorting problems based on compare-and- exchange operations on partially connected mesh networks, where n node are organized in sequence and each connects to its k nearest neighbors on both sides. Each node holds a distinct key and these keys need to be sorted in certain order. We present a sequential algorithm with 3/8kn2 + O(nlogn) time complexity and a parallel algorithm with 3/2kn + O(logn) time complexity.
CHROMOSOME-DESIGNATED MUTATION SELECTION IN TETRAHYMENA THERMOPHILA

ABSTRACT Two protocols are presented that allow the selection of mutations mapping to micronuclear chromosome 5 in Tetrahymena thermophilia . One protocol involves crossing mutagenized diploid cells directly to a strain nullisomic for chromosome 5 and screening the monosomic progeny for a mutant phenotype. The second protocol first takes the mutagenized diploid cells through round I of genomic exclusion to create useful and reusable mutant heterokaryons, which are then assayed for the presence of mutations on chromosome 5 by crossing to the nullisomic 5 strain. Of 14 putative chromosome 5 mutations obtained by these two methods, seven are shown by genetic analysis to be recessive mutations on chromosome 5 ; one mapped elsewhere in the genome; six were infertile or failed to yield progeny in some of the diagnostic crosses and, thus, their genetic nature could not be determined with certainty.
Preparation of water soluble carbon nanotubes and assessment of their biological activity in embryonic zebrafish.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are currently one of the most important classes of nanomaterials with unique properties sparking off numerous applications in many fields, including electronics, material science and medicine. However, applications of CNTs in medicine and other biological fields are hampered by their insolubility in aqueous media and concerns regarding toxicity. In this study, seven types of CNTs, including two single-walled, one double-walled, and four multi-walled, were evaluated for possible toxicological effects. Soluble CNTs were prepared by treatment with a mixture of acids (D2SO4 and DNO3), washed with Milli-Q water and oven dried. Transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and other techniques were used to characterise the prepared CNTs. CNT toxicity was assessed using the embryonic zebrafish. Results showed that none of the CNTs studied caused significant adverse developmental effects. These results support the potential safe use of CNTs as components of indwelling medical devices and drug delivery tools.
Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of the Oxidation of Nuclear-Grade Graphites

Nuclear-grade graphites were characterized with the use of laser Raman spectra collected between 1100 and 2800 cm−1. Significant band broadening and wavenumber shifts were observed for the D band (1317 cm−1), the G band (1578 cm−1), and the D' band (1612 cm−1) for samples treated at 1100°C in helium- or nitrogen-enriched atmospheres. Significant decreases in the domain sizes were calculated on the basis of these data. Very intense, broad bands located between 1700 and 2500 cm−1 were observed for samples treated at high temperature in a nitrogen-enriched atmosphere. These bands have been assigned to oxidation products adsorbed on the graphite surface, and their appearance has been correlated with trace element analysis for all investigated graphites. It is proposed that silicon atoms inhibit metal-catalyzed oxidation of the graphites studied in this work.
The April distribution of murres and prey patches in the southeastern Bering Sea1

Murres were abundant over the continental shelf and scarce over deep oceanic water in the southeastern Bering Sea during April 1978 and 1979. They occurred in scattered flocks and in patches averaging 26 birds.km-’ within a 300- x 450-km area. Thick-billed murres (Uris lomvia), the most common species, concentrated between shelfbreak and a middle front at the 100-m isobath, where a trophically rich pelagic system supports shallow patches of fish and zooplankton. There were fewer murres inshore of the middle front, and these were mostly common murres (Uris aalge). The densest patches of fish and zooplankton in the study area were as long as 50 and 35 km. The distribution of murres was not closely tied to that of fish in either year and corresponded to zooplankton distribution in the second year only. Murres may be feeding where prey concentrations are low or minimal, and frequent storms interfere with feeding.
Acoustic Correlates of Breathy Vocal Quality: Dysphonic Voices and Continuous Speech

In an earlier study, we evaluated the effectiveness of several acoustic measures in predicting breathiness ratings for sustained vowels spoken by nonpathological talkers who were asked to produce nonbreathy, moderately breathy, and very breathy phonation (Hillenbrand, Cleveland, & Erickson, 1994). The purpose of the present study was to extend these results to speakers with laryngeal pathologies and to conduct tests using connected speech in addition to sustained vowels. Breathiness ratings were obtained from a sustained vowel and a 12-word sentence spoken by 20 pathological and 5 nonpathological talkers. Acoustic measures were made of (a) signal periodicity, (b) first harmonic amplitude, and (c) spectral tilt. For the sustained vowels, a frequency domain measure of periodicity provided the most accurate predictions of perceived breathiness, accounting for 92% of the variance in breathiness ratings. The relative amplitude of the first harmonic and two measures of spectral tilt correlated moderately with breathiness ratings. For the sentences, both signal periodicity and spectral tilt provided accurate predictions of breathiness ratings, accounting for 70%-85% of the variance.
What We Know about Effective Instructional Practices for English-Language Learners

This research synthesis, using a qualitative multivocal method (Ogawa & Malen, 1991), investigates the knowledge base of effective instruction for English-language learners in elementary and middle school grades. Interviews with professional educators and researchers around the country in a series of five work groups were conducted. Findings from the work groups were enhanced by a review of the literature consisting of 9 intervention studies (8 group studies and 1 single-subject study) and 15 descriptive studies. Major themes and implications for conducting future research and improving current practice are discussed.
AAV serotype 2 vectors preferentially integrate into active genes in mice

Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) is a promising vector for gene therapy because it can achieve long-term stable transgene expression in animals and human subjects after direct administration of vectors into various target tissues. In the liver, although stable transgene expression primarily results from extrachromosomal vector genomes, a series of experiments has shown that vector genomes integrate into host chromosomes in hepatocytes at a low frequency. Despite the low integration efficiency, recent reports of retroviral insertional mutagenesis in mice and two human subjects have raised concerns about the potential for rAAV2-mediated insertional mutagenesis. Here we characterize rAAV2-targeted chromosomal integration sites isolated from selected or non-selected hepatocytes in vector-injected mouse livers. We document frequent chromosomal deletions of up to 2 kb at integration sites (14 of 14 integrations, 100%; most of the deletions were <0.3 kb) and preferred integration into genes (21 of 29 integrations, 72%). In addition, all of the targeted genes analyzed (20 of 20 targeted genes, 100%) were expressed in the liver. This is the first report to our knowledge on host chromosomal effects of rAAV2 integration in animals, and it provides insights into the nature of rAAV2 vector integration into chromosomes in quiescent somatic cells in animals and human subjects.
The Resilience Dividend: Being Strong in a World Where Things Go Wrong, by Judith Rodin; and The Social Roots of Risk: Producing Disasters, Promoting Resilience, by Kathleen Tierney

Billy Fleming is a doctoral candidate in the Department of City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is researching the modes of climate adaptation available to and exercised by Gul...
Development of Tolerance to Self in B Lymphocytes

Self–non-self discrimination is a hallmark of the lymphocytes of the adaptive immune response. Random gene rearrangements that produce a DNA sequence coding for the T cell receptor and the B cell receptor result in differentiation of lymphocytes that express a large number of antigen-binding specificities, some of which inevitably recognize self. Developing T lymphocytes that potentially react against self must be identified and either eliminated or silenced. In 1949, F. Macfarlane Burnet and Frank Fenner predicted in the clonal selection theory that developing lymphocytes progress through a stage during which they are particularly sensitive to elimination if they interact with self-antigens. Rupert Billingham with Peter Medawar in 1953 confirmed this prediction by demonstrating that unresponsiveness to a foreign antigen can be induced early in the life of an animal by exposing developing lymphocytes to the antigen. These results suggest that a mechanism exists to alter the reactivity of potentially self-reactive lymphocytes. Jacque Miller focused attention on the thymus when he showed in 1961 that removal of this organ in the neonatal period inhibited normal adaptive immune responses. Studies performed during the 1970s and 1980s demonstrated the existence of a two-step process that results in retention of T lymphocytes capable of recognizing antigen presented by self-HLA molecules (positive selection) and the elimination of T lymphocytes that are potentially autoreactive (negative selection).
Event-related potential correlates of processing alcohol-related pictures in young adult binge drinkers.

Background: Alcohol-dependent individuals exhibit dissociable event-related potential (ERP) responses to alcohol-related cues. Fewer studies have examined if similar effects can be found in non-dependent young adults who binge drink. Objectives: To delineate the neurocognitive correlates of inhibiting behavioral responses to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage cues in social drinkers with differing numbers of binge episodes and instances of intoxication. Methods: ERP data were acquired while 50 participants performed a Go/No-go paradigm consisting of shapes and pictures of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Behavioral and self-report data were also collected. Results: We grouped participants into those with: 0 binge episodes, 1 ≤ 5 binge episodes, and ≥ 8 episodes. Across participants, alcohol images elicited reduced N200 components and a more positive late slow-wave than non-alcoholic images. While the group with the higher number of binge episodes exhibited altered N100 amplitudes and both ...
Role of Interleukin-1 Signaling in a Mouse Model of Kawasaki Disease–Associated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Objective—Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired cardiac disease in US children. In addition to coronary artery abnormalities and aneurysms, it can be associated with systemic arterial aneurysms. We evaluated the development of systemic arterial dilatation and aneurysms, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in the Lactobacillus casei cell-wall extract (LCWE)–induced KD vasculitis mouse model. Methods and Results—We discovered that in addition to aortitis, coronary arteritis and myocarditis, the LCWE-induced KD mouse model is also associated with abdominal aorta dilatation and AAA, as well as renal and iliac artery aneurysms. AAA induced in KD mice was exclusively infrarenal, both fusiform and saccular, with intimal proliferation, myofibroblastic proliferation, break in the elastin layer, vascular smooth muscle cell loss, and inflammatory cell accumulation in the media and adventitia. Il1r−/−, Il1a−/−, and Il1b−/− mice were protected from KD associated AAA. Infiltrating CD11c+ macr...
The essential role of acetyllysine binding by the YEATS domain in transcriptional regulation

The YEATS domains of AF9 and Taf14 have recently been found to recognize the histone H3K9ac modification. In this commentary, we discuss the mechanistic and biological implications of this interaction. We compare structures of the YEATS-H3K9ac complexes the highlighting a novel mechanism for the acetyllysine recognition through the aromatic cage. We also summarize the latest findings underscoring a critical role of the acetyllysine binding function of AF9 and Taf14 in transcriptional regulation and DNA repair.
Nonlinear microrheology reveals entanglement-driven molecular-level viscoelasticity of concentrated DNA.

We optically drive a trapped microscale probe through entangled DNA at rates up to $100\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}$ the disentanglement rate ($\mathrm{Wi}\ensuremath{\approx}100$), then remove the trap and track subsequent probe recoil motion. We identify a unique crossover to the nonlinear regime at $\mathrm{Wi}\ensuremath{\approx}20$. Recoil dynamics display rate-dependent dilation and complex power-law healing of the reptation tube. The force response during strain exhibits key nonlinear features such as shear thinning and yielding with power-law rate dependence. Our results, distinctly nonclassical and in accord with recent theoretical predictions, reveal molecular dynamics governed by individual stress-dependent entanglements rather than chain stretching.
WHEN IS (XY + 1)(YZ+1)(ZX + 1) A SQUARE?

(1998). When is (xy + 1)(yz + 1)(zx + 1) a Square? Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 71, No. 1, pp. 61-63.
Global phosphoproteomics of activated B cells using complementary metal ion functionalized soluble nanopolymers.

Engagement of the B cell receptor for antigen (BCR) leads to immune responses through a cascade of intracellular signaling events. Most studies to date have focused on the BCR and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Because spleen tyrosine kinase, Syk, is an upstream kinase in multiple BCR-regulated signaling pathways, it also affects many downstream events that are modulated through the phosphorylation of proteins on serine and threonine residues. Here, we report a novel phosphopeptide enrichment strategy and its application to a comprehensive quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis of Syk-dependent downstream signaling events in B cells, focusing on serine and threonine phosphorylation. Using a combination of the Syk inhibitor piceatannol, SILAC quantification, peptide fractionation, and complementary PolyMAC-Ti and PolyMAC-Zr enrichment techniques, we analyzed changes in BCR-stimulated protein phosphorylation that were dependent on the activity of Syk. We identified and quantified over 13 000 unique phos...
Re-evaluation of Psidium acutangulum (Myrtaceae) and a new combination in Psidium

Psidium acutangulum has been previously understood as a widespread and variable species. Here, it is proposed that populations east of the Andes should be divided into two species: P. acutangulum and P. acidum based on characters of the leaves, anthers, fruits and seeds. The new combination Psidium acidum is made here and the species is described, illustrated and contrasted with P. acutangulum and P. friedrichsthalianum. Psidium acutangulum as now understood remains variable and seems to be related to a mainly Amazonian group of species. Populations from western Ecuador, once thought to belong to P. acutangulum are now considered a new species.
Breakdown initiated by charges on imperfect dielectric films

A previous paper1 has described sparkover at low voltage gradients following a series of pulsed discharges. This type of breakdown was produced in three different situations.
Sodium Bicarbonate Douching for Improvement of the Postcoital Test

In the hope of improving sperm survival within the cervical mucus, 93 infertile patients with unfavorable postcoital tests were advised to douche with a solution of sodium bicarbonate 30 to 60 minutes prior to sexual intercourse. In most patients observed, the repeatedly poor postcoital test improved remarkably, and 31 pregnancies have been achieved. In the majority of patients, the postcoital test was repeated on 2 subsequent days (without and with the benefit of sodium bicarbonate douching) with astonishing differences in the test results. In addition to pH changes, sodium bicarbonate douching resulted in significant alteration of the cervical mucus electrolyte components (detected by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis). The possible modes of action of sodium bicarbonate douching are fully analyzed.
Conically Scanned Microwave Imager Sounder

During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in the use of satellite based-microwave products by the worldwide community of meteorological and oceanographic organizations. This greater emphasis is primarily attributed to the launch of the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) in 1987 on board the first of a series of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. SSM/I contains six channels in window regions (19, 37, 85 GHz) with dual polarization, and a seventh channel centered on the 22.23 GHz water vapor line with vertical polarization. Products such as rainfall, snow-cover, cloud liquid water, water vapor, sea surface winds and sea ice concentration are produced each day on a global basis using all of the SSM/I channel measurements. SSM/I was developed by the U.S. Navy and first launched on the F-8 DMSP satellite. As a result of a shared processing agreement, all of the SSM/I products are generated by the U.S. Navy and distributed to both the U.S. Air Force and NOAA. The three agencies utilize the products in various ways to improve the analysis and forecast of weather systems.
In-vivo mechanical property assessment of a biodegradable polyurethane tissue construct on rat abdominal repair model using ultrasound elasticity imaging

Non-invasively monitoring the mechanical property change of the engineered tissue constructs in vivo may help evaluate and feedback tissue scaffold design. In this paper, ultrasound elasticity imaging (UEI) was applied to detect mechanical property changes of the implanted polyurethane tissue constructs on a rat abdominal defect. Bi-axial mechanical measurements on the excised tissue/scaffold constructs were performed for comparison with the UEI results. An increase in overall stiffness along with tissue ingrowth was observed in 4 and 8weeks using both UEI and direct mechanical testing. While, pure scaffold embedded in 10% gelatin showed decrease in stiffness with degradation. Histopathology confirmed tissue ingrowth such as collagens.
Model-based complex shear modulus reconstruction: A Bayesian approach

A narrow-band ultrasonic shear-wave imaging technique for estimating the complex shear modulus was applied to gelatin phantoms. This Bayesian approach incorporates the spatiotemporal geometry of shear waves radiating from a vibrating needle into a method for estimating modulus parameters. Compared to the phase gradient approach, this Bayesian method provides viscoelastic reconstructions for a single shear wave frequency. Estimates compare closely to results obtained using phase gradient method but with higher spectral resolution. We validated the assumption that the Kelvin-Voigt model, commonly applied in elasticity imaging situations, is representative of gelatin dispersion within the testing bandwidth between 50 and 450 Hz.
A 12-bit 60-MS/s 36-mW SHA-less opamp-sharing pipeline ADC in 130 nm CMOS

This paper presents a 12-bit 60-MS/s SHA-less opamp-sharing pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC) implemented in a 0.13-μ m CMOS technology. A switch-embedded dual-input current-reused operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with an overlapping two-phase clocking scheme is proposed to achieve low power consumption and eliminate the non-resetting and memory effects observed in conventional opamp-sharing techniques. To further reduce the power consumption, the ADC also incorporates a SHA-less multi-bit structure. The ADC achieves a signal-to-noise and distortion ratio of 64.9 dB and a spurious-free dynamic range of 77.1 dB at 60 MS/s. It occupies 2.3 mm 2 of area and consumes 36 mW of power under a 1.2-V supply.
Oxidation of nucleic acids: Chemistry of pyrene quinone and development of dihydrodioxins as DNA photooxidizing agents.

Abstract Pyrene-4,5-dione (pyrene quinone, PQ 1) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), a planar group and DNA-cutting functionality that can cause cytotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic damage to DNA and can encourage cancers in humans. It is extensively accepted that PAHs require metabolic activation in order to exert their biological activities, including carcinogenicity. Upon entering the cell PAHs are either metabolized into diol epoxides, quinones, or free-radical intermediates, all of which can react with cellular DNA to produce PAH-DNA covalent adducts and cause other forms of DNA damage. We have studied the binding and photo-reaction of PQ 1 with herring sperm (HS) DNA in order to see if it binds to the DNA. PQ 1 alone does not bind to herring sperm DNA, even though it might form hydrogen bonds with bases. In addition, PQ 1 alone does not linearized super-coiled ΦX174 plasmid DNA. Therefore, PQ 1 alone does not have the capability to photochemically cleave and/or damages DNA duplexes directly. We attribute this lack of reactivity to the low solubility of PQ 1 in water, since when it is masked with a water solubilizing group (dipyridinium dihydrodioxin), DHD 2, it is very effective in causing DNA damage. Electrochemical results indicate that the reduction potential of the first electron donated to PQ 1 in acetonitrile has E0red = −0.052 V vs. NHE, and converts it to the semiquinone radical anion. Thus, the Gibbs free energy (ΔG0) of the electron transfer to the excited state of PQ 1 in DNA is roughly estimated using the Rehm–Weller equation to have ΔG0 = −33.536 kcal/mol, which indicates the electron transfer can happen spontaneously from adenine to the photoexcited PQ 1. These results strongly suggest, and are consistent with the hypothesis, that PQ 1 cleaves and/or damages DNA duplexes at Gs or As when it is intercalated between base pairs. DNA–DHD 2 interactions have previously been investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy which indicates that PQ 1 is photochemically released into the base pair stacks where it can photochemically triggers the further release of PQ 1 and cause extensive DNA damage. Thus the photochemical release of PQ 1 from DHD 2 is autocatalytic, which makes this system a very effective DNA oxidizing system. The nature of this DNA damage has been investigated by mass spectroscopy using electrospray ionization. In this work, experiments using DNA with known sequences of nucleotides such as: A7 + DHD 2, A7 + PQ 1, ds (T7A7) + DHD 2, and ds (T7A7) + PQ 1, were investigated. DHD+2 2-2BF4− photochemically damages the DNA and the generated PQ 1 and dipyridinium stilbene become attached to the DNA bases at different positions. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy of the plasmid ΦX174 photochemically damaged with DHD 2 indicates that the DNA strands become extensively crosslinked together forming aggregated DNA that would not be subject to repair.
Clustering and Coexistence in Threshold Voter Models

Threshold voter models are certain nonlinear voter models for which the constant configurations η ≡ 0 and η ≡ 1 are traps. We describe recent results which give sufficient conditions for the existence and for the nonexistence of nontrivial invariant measures.
Core Political Values? A Comparative Analysis of Left-Right Political Ideology and Cultural Orientations Among Policy Elites and the General Public

In this study, we attempt a comparative analysis of left-right political ideology vs. cultural orientations as potential core political values, primary sources of political attitudes and policy preference formation within an individual’s hierarchically structured belief system, among both policy elites and the general public in the U.S. context. In doing so, we particularly focus on evaluating Ripberger et al.’s (2012) claim that cultural orientations are “related to but different from political ideology” and “offer a robust system of worldviews that individuals of various levels of political knowledge [among the general public] might draw upon to form their opinions and make policy decisions” while relying on the Cultural Theory (CT), developed by Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky, among others, that deduces the core political values of four distinctive dispositional orientations toward desirable social relations: egalitarianism, individualism, hierarchism, and fatalism. Throughout the implementation of multivariate analysis using a unique data set established from multiple original surveys of two important conceptual segments of political actors, local policy elites and the general public, within the energy policymaking process in Arkansas and Oregon in 2015 and 2016, we found that in both groups, cultural orientations constitute more robust and coherent core political values than the traditional left-right conception of political ideology. We conclude this paper by discussing ramifications of our findings in advancing research on public opinion, CT, and public policy theories.
When the Genome Falls Short: Limitations of a Gene-Centric View of Health

This chapter reviews the major advances in the field of genetics and explains the current state of the art. From the discovery of DNA, genome-wide association studies, to deep sequencing, the field of genetics has provided exciting biomedical breakthroughs. However, there are limitations on how much information genetics can provide regarding the causation of major diseases. This chapter will provide detail on these limitations and explain how the exposome can build upon genetic studies to provide a more complete picture of health and disease.
How One Thing Leads to Another: Spillover Effects of Behavioral Mind-Sets:

Cognitions involved in a goal-directed activity may influence people’s behaviors in unrelated domains. We review evidence for such spillover effects and discuss the underlying processes in terms of...
The Football as Intellectual Property Object

The histories of technology and culture are filled with innovations that emerged and took root by being shared widely, only to be succeeded by eras of growth framed by intellectual property. The Internet is a modern example. The football, also known as the pelota, ballon, bola, balon, and soccer ball, is another, older, and broader one. The football lies at the core of football. Intersections between the football and intellectual property law are relatively few in number, but the football supplies a focal object through which the great themes of intellectual property have shaped the game: origins; innovation and standardization; and relationships among law and rules, on the one hand, and the organization of society, culture, and the economy, on the other.
Rate-optimal power and bandwidth allocation in an integrated Sub-6 GHz — Millimeter wave architecture

In millimeter wave (mmWave) systems, energy is a scarce resource due to the large channel losses and high energy usage by analog-to-digital converters. To mitigate this issue, we propose an integrated architecture that combines the sub-6 GHz and mmWave technologies. We investigate the power and bandwidth allocation jointly across the interfaces in order to maximize the achievable sum rate under power constraints. Our optimization formulation explicitly takes the components energy consumption into account, and our results show that despite the availability of huge mmWave bandwidth, it is optimal to utilize it partially under some circumstances.
Long-term meteorologically independent trend analysis of ozone air quality at an urban site in the greater Houston area.

ABSTRACTThe Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) area of Texas has a history of ozone exceedances and is currently classified under moderate nonattainment status for the 2008 8-hr ozone standard of 75 ppb. The HGB area is characterized by intense solar radiation, high temperature, and high humidity, which influence day-to-day variations in ozone concentrations. Long-term air quality trends independent of meteorological influence need to be constructed for ascertaining the effectiveness of air quality management in this area. The Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filter technique, used to separate different scales of motion in a time series, is applied in the current study for maximum daily 8-hr (MDA8) ozone concentrations at an urban site (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] Air Quality System [AQS] Site ID: 48-201-0024, Aldine) in the HGB area. This site, located within 10 miles of downtown Houston and the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, was selected for developing long-term meteorologically independent ...
Memories of Abuse: Interviewing Children When Sexual Victimization is Suspected

Are children accurate reporters of their own victimization? What can professionals do to obtain valid memories from abused children without creating false memories in nonabused children? In this article, recent research on children’s memory, suggestibility, and communicative competence is discussed, and suggestions for interviewing children about sexual abuse are provided.
Relationship between crown-rump length and early detection of cardiac activity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether improvements in sonographic technology would allow detection of embryonic demise at a crown-rump length (CRL) < 5 mm. STUDY DESIGN: A prospectively collected, computerized ultrasound database was queried for singleton gestations with CRL < 5 mm from January 2000 to February 2003. Embryonic viability was determined by repeat ultrasound examination after 6 weeks' gestation confirming cardiac activity or by documentation of an ongoing pregnancy. Viability rates in the presence or absence of cardiac activity were calculated for CRL of 2.0-2.9, 3.0-3.4, 3.5-3.9, 4.0-4.4, 4.5-4.9 and 5.0 mm. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for embryonic demise were calculated, with a subanalysis based on the presence of vaginal bleeding. RESULTS: Outcome was available for 179 of 195 gestations meeting inclusion criteria. The absence of cardiac activity at CRL ≥3.5 mm had 100% positive predictive value and specificity. The presence of vaginal bleeding did not affect this cutoff. CONCLUSION: Improved sonographic technology permits diagnosis of embryonic demise at a CRL ≥ 3.5 mm under ideal conditions. Vaginal bleeding increases the likelihood of demise, but does not alter test performance. Further investigation is warranted, as our data suggest a limit closer to 3 mm.
Practical Tabletop-Scale Femtosecond X-Ray Laser Light Sources for Science and Technology

Recent advances in ultrafast solid-state and fiber lasers make possible robust and practical tabletop-scale light sources in the vacuum-ultraviolet, extreme-ultraviolet, and soft xray spectral regions. These sources are being applied for a wide variety of applications.
Electrospun Nanofibers for Protein Adsorption

Abstract Large biomolecules such as proteins present a technological challenge for downstream bioseparation. Packed-bed chromatography suffers from slow internal diffusion and slow flow rates, leading to low efficiency (e.g., capacity and speed) of the separation and purification process. A promising alternative is to use adsorptive membranes or felts. Traditional adsorptive felt is made of conventional fibers (with diameters of 5–50 μm) and functions as a medium or support for chemical ligands utilized during adsorption and bioseparation. The binding capacity of proteins (with hydrodynamic diameters of 20–300 nm) on adsorptive felt is often limited by the available surface area of the fibers. In this chapter, innovative membranes, felts, and mats made of electrospun cellulose and carbon nanofibers (with diameters being hundreds of nanometers) are reported as the high-performance (i.e., high capacity, throughput, and selectivity) media and supports for protein adsorption. Upon chemical modification of the nanofiber surface, a variety of ligands (e.g., ionic, hydrophobic, or affinity) can be incorporated into electrospun membranes, felts, and mats for the adsorptive separation of proteins. Because the binding sites are at the surface of nanofibers, the adsorption is much faster than adsorption to resin beads (where slow internal diffusion is often required and rate limiting). Meantime, the porous nature of electrospun nanofiber membranes, felts, and mats allows fast flow rates for processing feed materials without the concern of creating high pressure drops.