cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doing More with Less: A Minimally Invasive, Cost-Conscious Approach to Stereoelectroencephalography.

Background Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is a commonly used technique for mapping the epileptogenic zone before epilepsy surgery. Many SEEG depth electrode implantation techniques involve the use of extensive technological equipment and shaving of the patient's entire head before electrode implantation. Our goal was to evaluate an SEEG depth electrode implantation technique that used readily available cost-effective neurosurgical equipment, was minimally invasive in nature, and required negligible hair shaving. Methods Data on demographic characteristics, operative time, hemorrhagic complications, implantation complications, infection, morbidity, and mortality among patients who underwent this procedure were reviewed retrospectively. Results Between April 2016 and March 2018, 23 patients underwent implantation of 213 depth electrodes with use of this technique. Mean (SD) operative time was 123 (32) minutes (range, 66–181 minutes). A mean (SD) of 9.3 (1.4) electrodes were placed for each patient (range, 8–13 electrodes). Two of the 213 electrodes (0.9%) were associated with postimplantation asymptomatic hemorrhage. One of the 213 electrodes (0.5%) was placed extradurally or incorrectly. None of the 213 electrodes was associated with symptomatic complications. No patients experienced infectious complications at any point in the preoperative, perioperative, or postoperative stages. Conclusions This minimally invasive, cost-effective technique for SEEG depth electrode implantation is a safe, efficient method that uses readily available basic neurosurgical equipment. This technique may be useful in neurosurgery centers with more limited resources. This study suggests that leaving the patient's hair largely intact throughout the procedure does not pose an additional infection risk.
Primary Presentation of Pulmonary Hypertension in the Peripartum: Preparing for Patients With Eisenmenger Physiology.

Abstract A Bosnian woman at 20 weeks’ gestation presented with dyspnea and hypoxia. She was diagnosed with Eisenmenger physiology with severe pulmonary hypertension, ventricular septal defect, and ...
Chapter 11 – Digital Upconversion and Downconversion

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses about the digital up conversion and down conversion that is related to signal. It helps to understand how up conversion takes place, and the concept of digital up conversion through a carrier. The concept of frequency its importance in digital down conversion, issues of IF sub sampling, and allied techniques leads to its inherent characteristics. IF sub-sampling is in use because the frequencies typically used in this technique fall somewhere between baseband and RF. The term IF refers to intermediate frequency. The major differences between analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and digital-to-analog converters (DAC) have been discussed with the emphasis on magnitude and scope parameters. While an ADC converts the signal to a digital representation, the DAC transforms the digital samples to analog form and performs a “sample and hold” function of the analog signal between clocks. The chapter then ends with the response of signals through the use of MATLAB for understanding the coefficients.
Improved operation stability of in-situ AlSiO dielectric grown on (000-1) N-polar GaN by MOCVD

The impact of post-metallization annealing of N-polar AlSiO metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitors was investigated. Annealing in air at 320 and 370 oC reduced the density of near-interface traps from 5.6x1012 to 2.8x1012 cm-2 and extended the region of flat-band voltage stability and low-leakage operation from 0-2.6 MV/cm to 0-4 MV/cm in the forward bias accumulation region. Moreover, annealing at 370oC fully suppressed the instabilities in the flat-band voltage within the test voltage range (-10 to -25V) of depletion operation. The robust dielectric results demonstrated in this paper are promising for further enhancements of gate-robustness in N-polar GaN-based MOS-based transistors.
Logistic Regression Classification of Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma vs. Uveitis by IL-6 and IL-10 Levels

ABSTRACT Objective In this study, we assess the diagnostic performance and generalizability of logistic regression in classifying primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL) vs. uveitis from intraocular cytokine levels in a single-center retrospective cohort, comparing a logistic regression model and the previously published ISOLD score against the IL-10/IL-6 ratio. Design Retrospective cohort study Participants Patient histories, pathology reports, and intraocular cytokine levels from 2339 patient entries in the NEI Histopathology Core database Methods Patient diagnoses of PVRL vs. uveitis and associated aqueous or vitreous IL-6 and IL-10 levels were retrospectively collected. From this data, cytokine levels were compared between diagnoses with the Mann-Whitney U test. A logistic regression model was trained to classify PVRL vs. uveitis from aqueous and vitreous IL-6 and IL-10 and compared with the ISOLD score and IL-10/IL-6 ratio. Main Outcome Measures Area under the curve (AUC) for each classifier; sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) at the optimal cut-off (maximal Youden index) for each classifier Results 77 lymphoma patients (10 aqueous, 67 vitreous) and 84 uveitis patients (19 aqueous, 65 vitreous) between 10/5/1999 and 9/16/2015 were included in the study. IL-6 was higher and IL-10 was lower in uveitis patients compared to lymphoma patients (p Conclusion The accuracy of the logistic regression model and generalizability of the ISOLD score to an independent patient cohort suggest that intraocular cytokine analysis by logistic regression may be a promising adjunct to cytopathology, the gold standard, for the early diagnosis of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma. Further validation studies are merited.
Some q-Exponential Formulas Involving the Double Lowering Operator ψ for a Tridiagonal Pair (Research)

Let \(\mathbb {K}\) denote an algebraically closed field and let V denote a vector space over \(\mathbb {K}\) with finite positive dimension. Let A, A∗ denote a tridiagonal pair on V . We assume that A, A∗ belongs to a family of tridiagonal pairs said to have q-Racah type. Let \(\{U_i\}_{i=0}^d\) and \(\{U_i^\Downarrow \}_{i=0}^{d}\) denote the first and second split decompositions of V . In an earlier paper we introduced a double lowering operator ψ : V → V with the notable feature that both ψUi ⊆ Ui−1 and \(\psi U_i^\Downarrow \subseteq U_{i-1}^\Downarrow \) for 0 ≤ i ≤ d, where U−1 = 0 and \(U_{-1}^\Downarrow =0\). In the same paper, we showed that there exists a unique linear transformation Δ : V → V such that \(\Delta (U_i)\subseteq U_i^{\Downarrow }\) and ( Δ − I)Ui ⊆ U0 + U1 + ⋯ + Ui−1 for 0 ≤ i ≤ d. In the present paper, we show that Δ can be expressed as a product of two linear transformations; one is a q-exponential in ψ and the other is a q−1-exponential in ψ. We view Δ as a transition matrix from the first split decomposition of V to the second. Consequently, we view the q−1-exponential in ψ as a transition matrix from the first split decomposition to a decomposition of V which we interpret as a kind of halfway point. This halfway point turns out to be the eigenspace decomposition of a certain linear transformation \(\mathcal {M}\). We discuss the eigenspace decomposition of \(\mathcal {M}\) and give the actions of various operators on this decomposition.
Remating responses are consistent with male post-copulatory manipulation but not reinforcement in D. pseudoobscura

Reinforcement occurs when hybridization between closely related lineages produces low fitness offspring, prompting selection for elevated reproductive isolation specifically in areas of sympatry. Both pre-mating and post-mating prezygotic behaviors have been shown to be the target of reinforcing selection, but it remains unclear whether remating behaviors experience reinforcement, although they can also influence offspring identity and limit formation of hybrids. Here we evaluated evidence for reinforcing selection on remating behaviors in D. pseudoobscura, by comparing remating traits in females from populations historically allopatric and sympatric with D. persimilis. We found that the propensity to remate was not higher in sympatric females, compared to allopatric females, regardless of whether the first mated male was heterospecific or conspecific. Moreover, remating behavior did not contribute to interspecific reproductive isolation among any population; that is, females showed no higher propensity to remate following a heterospecific first mating than they were following a conspecific first mating. Instead, we found that females are less likely to remate after initial matings with unfamiliar males, regardless of species identity. This is consistent with one scenario of postmating sexual conflict in which females are poorly defended against post-copulatory manipulation by males with whom they have not co-evolved. Our results are generally inconsistent with reinforcement on remating traits, and suggest that this behavior might be more strongly shaped by the consequences of local antagonistic male-female interactions than interactions with heterospecifics.
On the supercritically diffusive magnetogeostrophic equations

We address the well-posedness theory for the magneto-geostrophic equation, namely an active scalar equation in which the divergence-free drift velocity is one derivative more singular than the active scalar. In the presence of supercritical fractional diffusion given by (−Δ)γ with 0 1/2 the equations are locally well-posed, while for γ < 1/2 they are ill-posed, in the sense that there is no Lipschitz solution map. The main reason for the striking loss of regularity when γ goes below 1/2 is that the constitutive law used to obtain the velocity from the active scalar is given by an unbounded Fourier multiplier which is both even and anisotropic. Lastly, we note that the anisotropy of the constitutive law for the velocity may be explored in order to obtain an improvement in the regularity of the solutions when the initial data and the force have thin Fourier support, i.e. they are supported on a plane in frequency space. In particular, for such well-prepared data one may prove the local existence and uniqueness of solutions for all values of γ ∈ (0, 1). In fact, these solutions are global in time when γ ∈ [1/2, 1).
Effects of Light and Temperature on Germination of Eggert's Sunflower (Helianthus eggertii)

Helianthus eggertii is a rare perennial sunflower of barrens and open habitats in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina in the United States (U.S.). Despite its delisting in the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2005, little is known about the germination biology of H. eggertii other than seeds require cold stratification for optimal germination. Knowledge about the germination biology of rare species can aid in the management of natural populations and inform strategies for ex situ seed conservation and propagation. We examined how cold stratification, light, and temperature interact to affect seed germination in H. eggertii, and whether germination proportions varied among populations. At the time of maturity in October, seeds have primary physiological dormancy and require cold stratification or prolonged (> 8 wk) incubation in light at cool (15/6 C) temperatures to germinate. Seeds maintained a light requirement for germination when cold stratified in darkness, but not after cold stratification in light. However, seeds germinated to lower proportions after cold stratification in light relative to darkness, and when incubated at temperatures that mimic summer (35/20 C) compared to late spring (25/15 C). Germination varied widely among populations (23-58%), with plants from more open sites exhibiting lower germination proportions than those from partially shaded sites. Our results indicate seeds most likely germinate in early- to mid-spring, and light promotes germination of H. eggertii. Our results highlight the interactive role of light and temperature in determining seed dormancy break and germination in H. eggertii.
Inattention to Search Costs in the Gasoline Retail Market: Evidence from a Choice Experiment on Consumer Willingness to Search

We use a choice experiment on gasoline consumers to investigate whether respondents exhibit limited attention to the way different costs enter their search decision. The search cost is a function of the amount of gasoline consumed while driving and the time spent searching for the lowest price. The gasoline used to drive is a disbursement the consumer has made in the past, whereas the time spent searching is a cost that is incurred at the time of search. We randomize the amount of information we provide respondents about search costs in one of 3 ways: (1) time, (2) gasoline spent driving or (3) both. The results indicate that consumers exhibit inattention, leading them to overestimate the cost of the gasoline used while driving, which in turn results in consumers not searching when the expected gains from search exceed the costs, forgoing consumer surplus. The differences in the magnitude of the effect of inattention to time costs, however, can be attributed to cognitive costs of computing the value of the amount of time it takes to drive one mile; it is stronger among consumers that were not reminded of either search cost.
Injustice for Haiti: France’s Enduring Debt to the First Black Republic

In 1804 Haiti declared its independence from France, defeating French forces in a twelve-year long slave insurrection turned revolutionary war. Two decades later, France finally agreed to recognize Haitian statehood on the condition that Haiti pay a substantial indemnity to compensate French colonists for their losses from the Haitian revolution. In a sense, France demanded “reverse reparations,” forcing formerly enslaved people to pay compensation to their former owners. The abject perversity of the indemnity has yet to garner sufficient political momentum to impel France’s voluntarily repayment of Haiti independence debt. Accordingly, this paper explores whether Haiti has a viable claim under international law to compel France to pay restitution. In doing so, it interrogates the limitations of international law as a means for redressing colonial-era harms.
Gene Expression Characteristics in Response to Abscisic Acid Under Shade

Plant stress hormone ABA (abscisic acid) is induced by unfavorable environmental conditions such as drought, salt, oxidative, and cold stresses and leads to a series of reactions that enable plants to adapt to the changing environment. To investigate the effect of ambient light quality upon the ABA response, we interrogated the gene expression change in response to ABA treatment in the background of either high or low R:FR light (red to far-red light ratio) conditions, simulating regular light or proximity shade conditions, respectively. Wild-type Arabidopsis plants were treated with or without ABA and/or supplemental far-red light, creating four different conditions. Five different microarray analyses were conducted by different combinations of gene chip data from those four conditions. Our analyses revealed high levels of overall similarity in the expression patterns between the two ABA responses, with or without the supplemental far-red light. In contrast, we also found ABA-responsive genes that are specific to high or low R:FR backgrounds. We isolated various groups of background-specific genes using clustering analysis and computing the differences in expression changes among the five experiments. These genes are concentrated among the biological processes such as pathogen defense and jasmonic acid, anthocyanin, auxin, and ribosome biogenesis. Our data suggest that plants modify specific subsets of their responses to ABA to optimize their response in different light quality backgrounds. On the other hand, our data also indicate that ABA treatment suppresses the shade avoidance responses, prioritizing the stress coping mechanism over the competition for light.
Strategic and Tactical Curriculum Assessment: A Case Study in Development

Curriculum assessment strategies made distinctions for the appropriate use of tactical operational information (course evaluations from current students), medium-range strategy information (exit interviews from graduating seniors), and long-range strategy information (alumni surveys). Each of the groups surveyed provided information for different types of strategies and objectives.
Innate Immunity and Mucus Structure and Function

Many of the proteins associated with innate immunity in the upper respiratory tract are to be found localized into mucus gels and the mucin-rich surface layers of the epithelium and the cilia. Mucus is a relatively dilute suspension of such macromolecules being around 2-4% solids in normal induced sputum. These proteins scavenge, immobilise and/or kill pathogens and at the same time immobilize them into the mucus. Mucus is moved from the lung by the mucociliary clearance mechanisms or by cough. Some 190 proteins are readily detectable in sputum by proteomics methods and about 100 in bronchial air-liquid interface culture secretions. This cell culture system mimics the surface ciliated phenotype of the large airways very well and about 85 secreted proteins are common to both culture and sputum secretions. The major single protein by weight in cell culture secretions is MUC5B and in sputum a mixture of MUC5B and MUC5AC. The three epithelial mucins MUC1, 4 and 16 are also detectable in both secretions. In this paper the roles that these molecules play in protecting and stabilising the ciliated surface and building the gel will be discussed. The role of water and ion homeostasis is particularly crucial in mucus gel formation and evidence is gathering that it is perturbation of hydration mechanisms that may play into defective mucus leading subsequently to stasis and mechanical problems.
Dose Escalation Guided by Graded Toxicities

In most cancer dose-finding studies, the toxicities are graded typically from 0 (the absence of any side effects) to 4 based on the presence of serious and potentially life-threatening toxicity. Usually, these grades are subsequently recoded whereby all toxicity grades between 0 and 3 are given the value 0 and are considered to be non-dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), and grade 4 (a dose-limiting toxicity) is coded as 1. We describe here how greater use can be made of this information, which potentially leads to more efficient and effective dose-finding studies. Our focus is on two-stage continual reassessment method (CRM) designs. During this design, an initial escalation stage requires no use of a model until the first toxicity is encountered, at which time the second stage, based on a model, kicks in. In this context, two possible ways can be used to make use of information on toxicity grades. We can make use of this information in either one of these two stages in different ways. In the first stage, the ideas are usually straightforward that appeal mostly to common-sense arguments. Nonetheless, it can be observed that use of graded toxicity information in the first stage alone can make an important contribution to increased efficiency. Use of graded toxicity information in the second stage requires an additional model to demonstrate the rate of toxicities. This method is described as well as the potential improvements in performance, which can be achieved by the use of such models. Keywords: clinical trial; continual reassessment method; dose escalation; dose finding studies; escalation; grades; phase 1 trial; toxicity; two-stage designs
Long distance quantum communication using quantum error correction

Currently long distance quantum communication is limited by the photon loss. We describe a quantum error correction scheme that can increase the effective absorption length of the communication channel. This device can play the role of a quantum transponder when placed in series, or a cyclic quantum memory when inserted in an optical loop.
Arithmetic of Blowup Algebras

This book provides an introduction to recent developments in the theory of blow up algebras - Rees algebras, associated graded rings, Hilbert functions, and birational morphisms. The emphasis is on deriving properties of rings from their specifications in terms of generators and relations. While this limits the generality of many results, it opens the way for the application of computational methods. A highlight of the book is the chapter on advanced computational methods in algebra using Grobner basis theory and advanced commutative algebra. The author presents the Grobner basis algorithm and shows how it can be used to resolve computational questions in algebra. This volume is intended for advanced students in commutative algebra, algebraic geometry and computational algebra, and homological algebra. It can be used as a reference for the theory of Rees algebras and related topics.
Correlation analysis of spatial time series datasets: a filter-and-refine approach

A spatial time series dataset is a collection of time series, each referencing a location in a common spatial framework. Correlation analysis is often used to identify pairs of potentially interacting elements from the cross product of two spatial time series datasets. However, the computational cost of correlation analysis is very high when the dimension of the time series and the number of locations in the spatial frameworks are large. The key contribution of this paper is the use of spatial autocorrelation among spatial neighboring time series to reduce computational cost. A filter-and-refine algorithm based on coning, i.e. grouping of locations, is proposed to reduce the cost of correlation analysis over a pair of spatial time series datasets. Cone-level correlation computation can be used to eliminate (filter out) a large number of element pairs whose correlation is clearly below (or above) a given threshold. Element pair correlation needs to be computed for remaining pairs. Using experimental studies with Earth science datasets, we show that the filter-and-refine approach can save a large fraction of the computational cost, particularly when the minimal correlation threshold is high.
Developing and Implementing a Culture of Safety in the Dentoalveolar Surgical Practice

The health care industry and delivery systems are placing greater emphasis on making their organizations safe. They do this by cultivating a culture of safety to help anticipate and prevent injuries and documenting and investigating injuries to develop prevention protocols. Many of the strategies used in the hospital industry can be applied to the dentoalveolar surgery practice of oral-maxillofacial surgeons and other dentists. This article discusses the development of a culture of safety in the dentoalveolar practice and gives ideas of how threats of injuries to patients, guests, and the surgical care team can be reduced or eliminated.
Athletic Directors' Barriers to Hiring Athletic Trainers in High Schools

Context: In its best-practices recommendation, the Inter-Association Task Force for Preventing Sudden Death in Secondary School Athletics Programs urged all high schools to have a certified athleti...
An evaluation of a clinical pharmacy-directed intervention on blood pressure control.

Objective: To compare short and long term blood pressure control with clinical pharmacy specialist involvement to traditional physician management.Setting: A non-profit health maintenance organization in the United States covering approximately 385,000 lives.Methods: This analysis utilized a prospective parallel design. Adult patients with a baseline Blood pressure³140/90 mmHg and receiving at least one antihypertensive medication were eligible for the study. Eligible hypertension management patients at one medical office were referred to the office’s clinical pharmacy specialist (intervention cohort) while at another comparable medical office they received usual physician-directed care (control cohort). The primary outcome measure was achievement of a goal BP (<140/90 mmHg) during a six month follow-up. Medical records were also reviewed approximately 1.5 years post enrollment to assess long-term BP control after clinical pharmacy-managed patients returned to usual care. Multivariate analyses were performed to adjust for baseline cohort differences.Results: One hundred-thirteen and 111 subjects in the intervention and control cohorts completed the study, respectively. At the end of the follow-up period, clinical pharmacy-managed subjects were more likely to have achieved goal BP (64.6%) and received a thiazide diuretic (68.1%) compared to control subjects (40.7% and 33.3%, respectively) (adjusted p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The proportion of clinical pharmacy-managed subjects with controlled BP decreased to 22.2% after returning to usual care (p<0.001).Conclusion: Clinical pharmacy involvement in hypertension management resulted in increased BP control. Loss of long-term control after discontinuation of clinical pharmacy management supports a change in care processes that prevent patients from being lost to follow-up.
Analysis of suicide attempts and completions at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System: a retrospective review

Abstract Background: Suicide continues to be a growing public health issue, and suicidal behaviors have been identified as a critical problem in the military population, with the number of soldiers...
Reduced nitrogen losses after conversion of row crop agriculture to perennial biofuel crops.

Current biofuel feedstock crops such as corn lead to large environmental losses of N through nitrate leaching and N₂O emissions; second-generation cellulosic crops have the potential to reduce these N losses. We measured N losses and cycling in establishing miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. fertilized with 56 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and mixed prairie, along with a corn (Zea mays L.)–corn–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation (corn fertilized at 168–202 kg N ha⁻¹). Nitrous oxide emissions, soil N mineralization, mid-profile nitrate leaching, and tile flow and nitrate concentrations were measured. Perennial crops quickly reduced nitrate leaching at a 50-cm soil depth as well as concentrations and loads from the tile systems (year 1 tile nitrate concentrations of 10–15 mg N L⁻¹ declined significantly by year 4 in all perennial crops to <0.6 mg N L⁻¹, with losses of <0.8 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Nitrous oxide emissions were 2.2 to 7.7 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the corn–corn–soybean rotation but were <1.0 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ by year 4 in the perennial crops. Overall N balances (atmospheric deposition + fertilization + soybean N₂ fixation – harvest, leaching losses, and N₂O emissions) were positive for corn and soybean (22 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) as well as switchgrass (9.7 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) but were −18 and −29 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for prairie and miscanthus, respectively. Our results demonstrate rapid tightening of the N cycle as perennial biofuel crops established on a rich Mollisol soil.
Two secure file servers

In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a two secure file servers which allow a trusted computer network to be built from untrusted computing bases. We begin with a brief review of recent results in the use of partial orderings for protection and administration of information networks, and introduce limited functionality, trusted computing base file servers as a means for allowing restricted information flow. We show the means by which such a server may be made provably secure. We consider the practicality of implementation and describe two prototype implementations for personal computers. We then summarizes results and point out possible extensions of this work.
Purified catalase from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides.

Abstract The catalase of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides has been purified and characterized. Its mol. wt., catalatic activity, and spectral properties are nearly identical with those of catalase from Micrococcus lysodeikticus. In its affinity for methyl hydrogen peroxide, cyanide, and alcohols, the catalase of Rps. spheroides occupies a position intermediate between M. lysodeikticus catalase and horse blood catalase.
Dianhydride architectural effects on the relaxation behaviors and thermal and optical properties of organo-soluble aromatic polyimide films

Abstract Dianhydrides of specific molecular architecture was designed and synthesized based on 2,2′-disubstituted 4,4′,5,5′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydrides (2,2′-disubstituted BPDAs). Eight dianhydrides were polymerized with two 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-disubstituted biphenyl diamines (trifluoromethyl disubstituted groups, or PFMB, and methyl disubstituted groups, or DMB) to obtain two series of PFMB- and DMB-based aromatic polyimides. As the backbone structures of these two series of polyimides are unchanged throughout each series, the effects of the 2,2′-disubstituted groups of both the dianhydride and diamine constituents on the solubility and thermal and optical properties as well as the relaxation behavior of these polyimides can be identified. It was found that the PFMB-based polyimides with 2,2′-disubstituted BPDAs show excellent solubility while the DMB-based polyimides with the same dianhydrides are less soluble. The same trends can be found for both thermal and thermo-oxidative stability and optical transparency in the ultraviolet and visible light regions. These two series of polyimides exhibit glass transition temperatures ( T g ) which show a competition between chain rigidity and linearity with regards to molecular packing. When the size of the 2,2′-disubstituted groups is small and their shape is close to spherical, the T g initially increases with the size of these 2,2′-disubstituted groups. This is because of the fact that the steric hindrance of these groups prevents the appearance of a cis -conformation of BPDA. However, once these groups possess large size and exhibit anisotropic shapes, their effect on the molecular packing becomes dominant and the T g starts to decrease. Further, this is the first time that three relaxation processes (the β 1 , β 2 , and α processes) were observed above room temperature in these aromatic polyimides. We have identified that the β 1 process is attributed to the local motion of the diamine constituents while the β 2 process is caused by the local motion of the dianhydride constituents. The α process is associated with the glass transition. The cooperativity of the molecular motion associated with the β 1 and β 2 processes are also discussed.
Experimental studies of active members in control of large space structures

Intelligent structures for precision spacecraft applications are structural systems incorporating sensors, actuators, and built-in electronic logic that facilitate self-monitoring of structure responses to disturbances. Attention is presently given to adaptive structures, in which the electronic logic need not be integral to the structure. Active members are used to replace selected passive members of truss-type structures; the sensors employed allow measurement of the elastic strain and deformation experienced by the structure. Two struss-type testbed structures are described.
The Outcomes of Curriculum Modifications Designed to Foster Critical Thinking

CRITICAL THINKING appears to be a universalI ly accepted objective of education though we are fre quently unclear as to what we mean by it and to what extent we wish to live with its consequences. As has been pointed out elsewhere (5) various defin itions of critical thinking seem to encompass some or all of the following features: 1. Use of scientific methods including emphasis on evidence and the nature of hypotheses. 2. The tendency to be inquisitive, critical and analytical with respect to issues, personal behav ior, etc. A derivative of this attribute is lack of susceptibility to propaganda. 3. Use of correct principles of logic. The emphasis is on the development of that elu sive philosophical ideal, the rational man. With respect to methods of fostering critical thinking two major approaches have been advocated. The first is "progressive education. " Critical thinking is presumed to be but one of the objectives which are fostered by a greater degree of self deter mination, flexibility of curriculum and freedom of be havior. The results of the E ight Year Study prov i d e some support for this position. Further support of an indirect type is provided by studies which indicate that questioning and critical behaviors are less like ly to occur in rigid, highly formalized situations wherein deviation is punished (2). The second approach emphasizes the tools rath er than the attitude of critical thinking while recog nizing the importance of a milieu conducive to the use of the tools. Thus emphasis is placed on ac quainting students with the principles of logic and experimentation and with their use. It is this ap proach to which this study was directed.
Sensor specific imaging of proteomic Zn2+ with zinquin and TSQ after cellular exposure to N-ethylmaleimide

The impact of the thiol binding reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on proteomic Zn2+ availability was investigated in rat glioma cells. Zinquin (ZQ) or TSQ, two related fluorescent sensors, were used to observe reactive Zn2+. Control cells contained proteomic Zn2+ but no detectable low molecular weight (LMW) Zn2+. With either sensor, basal cellular fluorescence emission centered near 470 nm, indicative of sensor-Zn-proteins. ZQ sequestered 13% of proteomic Zn2+ as Zn(ZQ)2; TSQ reacted only with the Zn-proteome. NEM (100 μM) abolished LMW thiols, including glutathione (GSH) and lowered proteomic sulfhydryl content about 30%. In ZQ-treated cells, NEM exposure enhanced fluorescent intensity and the formation of Zn(ZQ)2 (λMAX, 492 nm). Cells incubated with TSQ and NEM also displayed increased fluorescence without a spectral shift in wavelength maximum, consistent with increased formation of TSQ-Zn-protein adducts but not Zn(TSQ)2. In neither experiment was Zn2+ lost from cells. NEM altered Zn2+ accessibility to sensors in membrane-nuclear and cytosolic fractions, but Zn(ZQ)2 was only generated in the cytosol. Similar results were obtained when cell supernatant replaced cells. In contrast, when isolated proteome was reacted with ZQ and 100 μM NEM in the absence of GSH, 70% of the proteomic thiols underwent reaction. As a consequence, most of the ZQ-Zn-protein adducts were converted to Zn(ZQ)2. Substituting TSQ for ZQ, only increased TSQ-Zn-proteins were observed. Evidently, the results of imaging cells with Zn2+ sensors are dependent upon the specific chemical properties of the sensors and can only be understood after detailed chemical analysis.
The glycosyl moiety of lectin from sainfoin (Onobrychis vichfolia, scop.)

Abstract A lectin isolated from the seeds of sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia , Scop. var Eski) has been shown to be a glycoprotein containing 2.6% (w/w) neutral carbohydrate and 1.6% (w/w) glucosamine (Hapner, K.D. and Robbins, J.E. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 580, 186–197) A homogeneous glycopeptide accounting for 70% of the original glycoprotein carbohydrate was isolated from pronase digests of the lectin by gel filtration chromatography. Gas-liquid chromatographic and amino acid analyses showed the glycosyl portion to contain glucosamine, mannose, xylose and fucose in molar ratio to glycopeptide of 1.8 : 1.8 : 0.7 : 0.9. The amino acid sequence was determined as H 2 N-Ser-Asn(glycosyl)-Glu-Thr-COOH. The glycosyl moiety was attached to the peptide through N-glycosidic linkage between asparagine and glucosamine.
Uncertainty Analysis of Tool Wear and Surface Roughness in End Milling

Tool wear development is an important parameter to control in order to obtain a specific surface integrity in machining operations. Unfortunately, it is difficult to accurately predict the tool life since wear rates generally exhibit a large scattering, and in consequence a scattering in the surface roughness is also present. This paper presents an approach to evaluate uncertainty contributors for tool wear and surface roughness in end milling of superalloy Inconel 718. Multiple regression analysis was applied to develop empirical models of tool wear and surface roughness based on the experimental data. Principles of uncertainty in measurement were applied and uncertainty contributors were identified. It was shown that cutting speed is the principal contributor to the combined uncertainty of tool wear and surface roughness.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Posttranslational formation of hypusine in a single major protein occurs generally in growing cells and is associated with activation of lymphocyte growth

Growing lymphocytes perform a novel chemical modification of a single protein (Hy+: approximately 18 kd, pI approximately 5.1), resulting in the formation of the unusual amino acid, hypusine (N epsilon-[4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl]lysine). This posttranslational event occurs only following activation of lymphocyte growth. Hypusine formation increases at a rate parallel to protein synthesis during the first 24 hr of growth stimulation, beginning before 6 hr of growth. At all times, hypusine is restricted primarily to the single protein, Hy+. In resting cells, the unmodified substrate protein, Hy0, is continuously synthesized and maintained in a steady-state pool of significant size. In several other cell lines, hypusine formation was also observed in a single protein of approximately 18 kd, pI approximately 5.1, indistinguishable electrophoretically from the lymphocyte protein. Thus Hy+ is a ubiquitous protein showing significant conservation among divergent species. Maintenance by resting lymphocytes of a pool of unmodified protein and early activation during growth of the hypusine-forming enzyme system suggest that this posttranslational modification may be of importance to lymphocyte activation.
Probing the mechanism of sulfoxide-catalyzed hemiacetal activation in dehydrative glycosylation.

The concept of sulfoxide-covalent catalysis has been established in the context of a versatile hemiacetal hydroxyl activation/substitution reaction for the formation of anomeric linkages. Mechanistic studies focused on the hemiacetal activation process show that this transformation proceeds in the presence of a sulfonic anhydride and an acid scavenger through the intermediacy of a glycosyl sulfonate species (10), which serves as a resting state prior to the addition of an external nucleophile and subsequent glycosidic bond formation. Successful determination of the proportion of 18O incorporation in 10 as a function of its formation, via the technique of dynamic monitoring of 13C−16/18O isotopic chemical shift perturbations, provides strong evidence that hemiacetal activation proceeds through initial nucleophilic addition of the hemiacetal hydroxyl to the S(IV)-center of putative sulfonium sulfonate 6. Further confirmation was obtained through the independent synthesis, structure verification, and 1H NMR ...
Child and adolescent schizophrenia: pharmacological approaches.

Background: Childhood-onset schizophrenia is a serious, chronic and disabling illness that can significantly affect the quality of life of the affected individuals and their families. The affected children commonly show significant premorbid developmental impairment and social abnormalities that may provide an early clinical clue to pursue treatment. Until recent times, treatment approaches for childhood schizophrenia were derived from the adult population. However, given the unique developmental challenges in the pediatric population, this extrapolation may not hold true. Objective: This review encompasses and elaborates on the efficacy, safety and tolerability data available at present for both typical and atypical antipsychotics for treatment of childhood schizophrenia. Method: A literature search was conducted on PUBMED with special emphasis on double-blind placebo-controlled studies in childhood schizophrenia. Data from similar studies presented in recent meetings were also added to the review. Concl...
Gemier Equity and Inequity In Athletics

(1993). Gemier Equity and Inequity In Athletics. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 6-22.
Inhalation of ethylene dibromide during gestation by rats and mice.

Abstract Pregnant rats and mice inhaled ethylene dibromide (EDB) at concentrations of 20, 38, and 80 ppm for 23 hr a day. The exposures started on Day 6 of gestation and lasted for a total of 10 days. Observations were made on maternal welfare and fetal development. The results of this study indicated that: (1) EDB was more toxic to pregnant mice than pregnant rats; (2) adverse effects on maternal welfare, as measured by weight gain, feed consumption, and survival, were observed in both mice and rats; and (3) morphological changes were observed in fetuses from dams exposed to EDB. However, the latter occurred at concentrations that also affected maternal welfare. Consequently, EDB was judged to have little primary effect on development in this study.
Diffusion of sea water ions—I. Diffusion of sea water into a dilute solution

Abstract Derivations of Vinograd and McBain (1941) were applied to explain ionic diffusion out of sea water and into dilute solution. Models so constructed were found to be compatible with experimental data obtained from Cl−, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ diffusion studies. The present investigation suggests that ionic interaction—resulting from the electroneutrality requirement—may extensively modify fluxes of diffusing ions and may also affect the relative distribution of both migrating and non-migrating ions. It is suggested that a change in the ratio ion Cl in interstitial waters of marine sediments does not necessarily imply that the ion is involved in a chemical reaction or that it migrates.
Frames of reference in vision and language: where is above?

Abstract Spatial terms such as “above” must be used and interpreted with respect to some frame of reference. Perceptual cues for verticality were varied in four experiments to investigate whether the comprehension and production of “above” is based on a viewer-centered (deictic) frame, an environment-centered (extrinsic) frame, or an object-centered (intrinsic) frame of reference. “Above” was usually interpreted with respect to an environment-centered reference frame, but there was a significant contribution from object-centered reference frames as well; the viewer-centered reference frame made no independent contribution to “above”. The meaning of “above” appears not to specify a particular reference frame; rather, selection of a reference frame during spatial assignment determines how spatial terms such as “above” and “below” will be used and interpreted.
Technology adoption, learning-by-doing, and economic growth

Abstract We develop a model in which firms choose which technologies to adopt as well as the timing of such adoptions. In between adoptions, a firm accumulates expertise in its technology which allows it to operate the technology more efficiently. Thus, there is firm-specific learning-by-doing. For certain parameterizations of the model and appropriate initial distributions of technologies and expertise, equilibria are characterized by positive and constant growth of per capita output and positive but nonconstant growth of each firm′s output. We find firms′ adoption decisions and output growth depend upon the efficiency of capital markets. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: O41, O33.
Influenza virus hemagglutinins differentiate between receptor determinants bearing N-acetyl-, N-glycollyl-, and N,O-diacetyineuraminic acids

Abstract This report examines the ability of three sialic acids (SA), N -acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc), N -glycollylneuraminic acid (NeuGc), and 9- O -acetyl- N -acetylneuraminic acid (9- O -Ac-NeuAc), to serve as receptor determinants for 18 human and animal influenza type A viruses. Viruses were compared by agglutination of receptor-modified erythrocytes containing either the SAα2,6Gal or the SAα2,3Gal linkages with each of the three sialic acids. Individual isolates differed markedly in their ability to agglutinate cells containing NeuAc, NeuGc, and 9- O -Ac-NeuAc. The results suggest that recognition of the various sialic acids is an important factor in analysis of the receptor specificity of influenza virus hemagglutinins.
Light-Weight Flexible Carbon Nanotube Based Organic Composites with Large Thermoelectric Power Factors

Typical organic materials have low thermal conductivities that are best suited to thermoelectrics, but their poor electrical properties with strong adverse correlations have prevented them from being feasible candidates. Our composites, containing single-wall carbon nanotubes, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) and/or polyvinyl acetate, show thermopowers weakly correlated with electrical conductivities, resulting in large thermoelectric power factors in the in-plane direction of the composites, ∼160 μW/m·K2 at room temperature, which are orders of magnitude larger than those of typical polymer composites. Furthermore, their high electrical conductivities, ∼105 S/m at room temperature, make our composites very promising for various electronic applications. The optimum nanotube concentrations for better power factors were identified to be 60 wt % with 40 wt % polymers. It was noticed that high nanotube concentrations above 60 wt % decreased the electrical conductivity of the composites ...
Peptide inhibitors of DNA cleavage by tyrosine recombinases and topoisomerases.

Molecular Biology ProgramSloan-Kettering Institute, NewYork, NY 10021, USAThe study of biochemical pathways requires the isolation and characteriz-ation of each and every intermediate in the pathway. For the site-speciﬁcrecombination reactions catalyzed by the bacteriophage l tyrosine recom-binase integrase (Int), this has been difﬁcult because of the high level ofefﬁciency of the reaction, the highly reversible nature of certain reactionsteps, and the lack of requirements for high-energy cofactors or metals.By screening synthetic peptide combinatorial libraries, we have identiﬁedtwo related hexapeptides, KWWCRW and KWWWRW, that block thestrand-cleavage activity of Int but not the assembly of higher-order inter-mediates. Although the peptides bind DNA, their inhibitory activityappears to be more speciﬁcally targeted to the Int-substrate complex,insofar as inhibition is resistant to high levels of non-speciﬁc competitorDNA and the peptides have higher levels of afﬁnity for the Int-DNA sub-strate complex than for DNA alone. The peptides inhibit the four path-ways of Int-mediated recombination with different potencies, suggestingthat the interactions of the Int enzyme with its DNA substrates differsamong pathways. The KWWCRW and KWWWRW peptides also inhibitvaccinia virus topoisomerase, a type IB enzyme, which is mechanisticallyand structurally related to Int. The peptides differentially affect the for-ward and reverse DNA transesteriﬁcation steps of the vaccinia topoi-somerase. They block formation of the covalent vaccinia topoisomerase-DNA intermediate, but have no apparent effect on DNA religation bypreformed covalent complexes. The peptides also inhibit Escherichia colitopoisomerase I, a type IA enzyme. Finally, the peptides inhibit thebacteriophage T4 type II topoisomerase and several restriction enzymeswith 2000-fold lower potency than they inhibit integrase in the bent-Lpathway.