cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The indusium griseum in the mouse: architecture, Timm's histochemistry and some afferent connections.

The Indusium griseum (IG) is an enigmatic cortical field classically felt to be a part of the hippocampus (HC). In the mouse, IG lies just dorsal to the corpus callosum at the base of the anterior half of cingulate cortex. In coronal sections the field is small but constitutes a fairly long rostro-caudal strip. The connections of the IG are poorly understood. The Timm's staining pattern of the IG is reminiscent of a mini-dentate gyrus (DG) comprising a layer of granule cells with two bands of staining in the molecular layer. In the DG there are three bands which correspond to inputs from the lateral and medial entorhinal area (LEA and MEA) and the ipsiand contralateral association systems. Using anterograde transport of HRP we have found that the LEA and MEA also terminate in the moecular layer of the IG. This suggests that the IG is a displaced portion of the DG. The olfactory system is known to have a strong indirect influence on the HC via primary and secondary bulbar projections to the LEA. Wheat germ agglutinin-HRP injections confined to the main olfactory bulb (MOB) show a direct projection from the MOB to IG. Both the olfactory bulb itself and retrobulbar structures such as the piriform cortex (PC) convey olfactory information to the LEA; the LEA supplies a major input to the DG. Our results suggest that there is a more direct pathway whereby olfactory information may influence a cortical region, IG, whose histochemistry and direct afferents from the entorhinal cortex suggest that it is part of or closely related to the DG. Thus, IG may represent a phylogenetically old olfacto-recipient outpost of the hippocampus.
Sintering of CoO: I, Initial Stage

The initial-sintering kinetics of compacts of uniform spheres of CoO were investigated at various temperatures and O2 partial pressures. Volume-diffusion kinetics were exhibited initially, followed by retardation of sintering and deviation from the sintering model as a result of faceting of the spheres. The calculated volume diffusivities lie between those measured for Co and O in CoO.
Contentious terminology and complicated cartography of anti-aging medicine.

Serving as an introduction to the cultural significance of the contemporary emergence of anti-aging medicine, this article outlines some of the distinctions and controversies regarding the usage of the term “anti-aging medicine.” By sketching out the complex field of researchers, practitioners, organizations, companies it is clear that “anti-aging medicine” is a highly contentious term that means different things to different groups. Thus, analysis demands a keen attention to contextualizing its usage. However, despite the critically important distinctions in how “anti-aging medicine” is used and what it connotes both to the user and the audience, the core principle of anti-aging is the notion that aging can be targeted for biomedical intervention. It is the orientation toward this explicit goal that marks anti-aging medicine. While neither advocating for/against anti-aging medicine nor excavating the large body of biological literature, this ethnographically researched article explicates the cultural use of “anti-aging medicine” and maps out its main varieties, controversies, stakes, and challenges.
The PD...(D/E)XK motif in restriction enzymes: a link between function and conformation.

The active sites of Mg(II)-dependent nucleases feature a cluster of conserved charged residues which includes both acidic (Asp and Glu) and basic (Lys) side chains. In restriction enzymes, these side chains are part of the conserved PD...(D/E)XK functional sequence motif which has been implicated as being important in metal ion binding and catalytic steps. Recent work revealing the unusual behavior of the active site variant D58A of the representative PvuII endonuclease prompted speculation that the array of charged groups in the nuclease active site may also be linked to conformational behavior [Dupureur, C. M., and Conlan, L. H. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 10921−10927]. To address this issue, we analyzed the conformational behavior of active site variants of PvuII endonuclease using both NMR spectroscopic and thermodynamic methods. NMR spectroscopic analysis via 19F and 1H−15N HSQC experiments indicates that a number of side chain and backbone amide groups are perturbed upon Ala substitution at conserved ac...
Predation, sex ratios, and male competition in equids (Mammalia: Perissodactyla)

Existing data indicate that a greater preponderance of adult females rather than adult males occurs in most species of mammals. The hypothesis that such differences arise as a result of intermale reproductive competition for females (and not predation) was examined in the Equidae by comparing populations of horses (Equus caballus), asses (E. asinus), and two species of zebras (E. zebra and E. burchelli) in predator-free, predator-rich and insular ecosystems. Evidence is presented that: (1) sex differences in adult mortality occur; (2) they relate to the type and intensity of natural predation; and (3) asymmetries in sex ratios are most often explicable in terms of intermale reproductive competition. Exceptions are discussed and they are complicated by numerous proximate factors.
Teneurins instruct synaptic partner matching in an olfactory map

Neurons are interconnected with extraordinary precision to assemble a functional nervous system. Compared to axon guidance, far less is understood about how individual pre- and postsynaptic partners are matched. To ensure the proper relay of olfactory information in the fruitfly Drosophila, axons of ∼50 classes of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) form one-to-one connections with dendrites of ∼50 classes of projection neurons (PNs). Here, using genetic screens, we identified two evolutionarily conserved, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-repeat containing transmembrane Teneurin proteins, Ten-m and Ten-a, as synaptic-partner-matching molecules between PN dendrites and ORN axons. Ten-m and Ten-a are highly expressed in select PN-ORN matching pairs. Teneurin loss- and gain-of-function cause specific mismatching of select ORNs and PNs. Finally, Teneurins promote homophilic interactions in vitro, and Ten-m co-expression in non-partner PNs and ORNs promotes their ectopic connections in vivo. We propose that Teneurins instruct matching specificity between synaptic partners through homophilic attraction.
The bacterial weaponry: lessons from Shigella.

: Shigella, a Gram-negative bacterial species of the family Enterobacteriaceae, causes bacillary dysentery in humans, an acute rectocolitis that reflects the capacity of the microorganism to disrupt, invade, and cause the inflammatory destruction of the intestinal epithelium. Here, the pathogenesis of Shigella infection is analyzed in the context of the disruption of the homeostatic balance that protects the gut against inflammation in the presence of its commensal flora. Thus a unified view by which enteroinvasive pathogens allow identification of key signalling molecules and pathways involved in the regulation of intestinal inflammation, thereby providing keys to understand inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
The Relationship between Social Capital and Corporal Punishment in Schools: A Theoretical Inquiry

This article explores the relationship between the use of corporal punishment in the public schools and the amount of social capital (i.e., residents’ degree of involvement in community matters) in a state. Existing state-level data regarding social capital and incidents of corporal punishment were utilized. Results show a statistically significant inverse relationship between the amount of social capital and the legality and use of school corporal punishment. Social capital is also related to racial disproportionality in the use of corporal punishment in schools. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Birth Mothers' Perceptions of Their Parented Children's Knowledge of and Involvement in Adoption

ABSTRACT An examination of birth mothers' perceptions of the relationship between the children she is parenting and the children she placed for adoption offers unique insight into the life course of openness. In the present study, 94 birth mothers from the United States participated in a semi-structured interview, discussing their oldest parented children's knowledge of and experience with their siblings placed for adoption. Results show that 59 birth mothers have an oldest parented child who is aware of their adopted sibling, although 4 of these do not know their true relationship with the adopted sibling. Of these, 27 had direct contact with the adopted sibling, 4 had indirect contact through the birth mother, and 1 had previous contact that has since ceased. A majority of birth mothers indicated that their oldest parented child would like more contact, direct contact, or more information about the adopted youth. Implications for research and practice with birth mothers and their children separated by a...
Cellular telephony and the question of privacy

A private overlay may ease concerns over surveillance tools supported by cellular networks.
Experimental measurement of the impressed electric field in a multipolar electron cyclotron resonance plasma source

Summary form only given. It is well-known that microwave sources exhibit complex, nonlinear output behavior versus many independent input variables. For example, the output plasma density can vary by over an order of magnitude as the independent input variables, such as microwave power, pressure, gas flow rate and microwave reactor matching are only slightly changed. In addition, these output variations exhibit hysteresis and multiple steady-states, which are dependent in poorly-understood ways upon the many different independently controllable input variables. An understanding of this nonlinear input/output behavior is essential for optimum plasma source design and also is required for developing automatic reactor control strategies. Thus this paper will describe the detailed experimental measurement of the relationships between the input variables, the internal variables and the output variables; of a multipolar electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma source. The experimental performance of a 12.5 cm diameter, 2.45 GHz excited multipolar ECR plasma source is measured in argon gas.
Some factors affecting parasitism by mermithid nematodes in southern house mosquito larvae.

Various factors affecting the use of a nematode Romanomermis sp., as a biological control agent of mosquitoes were studied. Almost 100% parasitism was obtained when the numbers of parasites in the infective stage to the number of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say exceeded a ratio of 3: 1. The percentage decreased with an increase in the volume of water in which the mosquitoes were exposed but not so rapidly as was expected. Time also proved to be an important factor in determining the extent of parasitism. Second-instar C. p. quinquefasciatus were invaded most readily by the parasite, 3rd-instar larvae were slightly less susceptible than 1st-intar larvae, and limited parasitism occurred in 4th-instar larvae. All parasitized larvae failed to pupate. In addition, salinity may be an important limitation on the habitats of Romanomermis sp.: parasitism was not observed when the culture water had concentrations above 0.04 M NaCl, and a sharp drop was evident at concentrations between 0.015 and 0.030 M NaCI.
U doping study of U-based heavy fermions: UCu4Pd and UCu3.5Pd1.5

Abstract Effects of substituting La, Y, and Th for U (up to 20%) in UCu 4 Pd and UCu 3.5 Pd 1.5 have been studied via magnetic susceptibility, low temperature specific heat, and electrical resistivity. These two heavy fermion compounds, identified previously as candidates for non-Fermi-liquid ground states, have markedly different response to alloying. A partial replacement of U by an element M in UCu 4 Pd results in a decrease in the low temperature specific heat, normalized to a mole of U, independently of the size and chemical nature of M. The alloying-caused changes in the specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of UCu 3.5 Pd 1.5 can be correlated with hybridization strength as measured by UCu or UPd distance.
Nanoscale Surface-Emitting Semiconductor Plasmon Lasers

AbstractWe discuss a family of nanoscale cavities for electrically-pumped surface-emitting semiconductor lasers that usesurface plasmons to provide optical mode conÞnement in cavities which have dimensions in the 100-300 nm range.The proposed laser cavities are in many ways nanoscale optical versions of micropatch antennas that are commonlyused at micro wave/RF frequencies. Surface plasmons are not only used for mode conÞnement but also for outputbeam shaping to realize single-lobe far-Þeld radiation patterns with narrow beam waists from sub wavelength sizecavities. We identify the cavity modes with the largest quality factors and modal gain, and show that in the near-IRwavelength range (1.0-1.6 µ m) cavity losses (including surface plasmon losses) can be compensated by the strongmode conÞnement in the gain region provided by the surface plasmons themselves and the required material thresholdgain values can be smaller than 700 cm  1 . I. I NTRODUCTION Electrically pumpedsemiconductorlasers with nanometerscale optical cavities could be importantfor applicationsthat beneÞt from ultrasmall coherent light sources, such as on-chip optical interconnects, dense photonic VLSIcircuits, and biological or chemical sensors for micro- and nano-systems. Two questions that are interesting inthis context are: (a) what are the smallest achievable dimensions of an electrically pumped semiconductor laserconsistent with the current material and fabrication constrains, and (b) what is the quality of output beams shapesobtainable from subwavelength laser cavities. In this paper, we discuss a family of nanoscale optical cavities forelectrically-pumped surface-emitting near-IR semiconductor lasers - semiconductor nanopatch lasers (or SNLs) -that have dimensions in the few hundred nanometer range and cavity volumes (not just modal volumes) approaching(/ 2n )
Soil displacement beneath an agricultural tractor drive tire

Abstract Soil strain transducers were used to determine strain in an initially loose sandy loam soil in a soil bin beneath the centerline of an 18.4R38 radial-ply tractor drive tire operating at 10% travel reduction. The initial depth of the midpoints of the strain transducers beneath the undisturbed soil surface was 220 mm. Strain was determined in the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral directions. Initial lengths of strain transducers were approximately 118 mm for the longitudinal and lateral transducers and 136 mm for the vertical transducer. The tire dynamic load was 25 kN and the inflation pressure was 110 kPa, which was a recommended pressure corresponding to the load. In each of four replications, as the tire approached and passed over the strain transducers, the soil first compressed in the longitudinal direction, then elongated, and then compressed again. The soil was compressed in the vertical direction and elongated in the lateral direction. Mean natural strains of the soil following the tire pass were −0.200 in the vertical direction, +0.127 in the lateral direction, and −0.027 in the longitudinal direction. The mean final volumetric natural strain from the strain transducer data was −0.099, which was only 35% of the mean change in natural volumetric strain calculated from soil core samples, −0.286. This difference likely resulted from the greater length of the lateral strain transducer relative to the 69 mm lateral dimension of the soil cores. The strain transducer data indicated the occurrence of plastic flow in the soil during one of the four replications. These results indicate the complex nature of soil movement beneath a tire during traffic and emphasize a shortcoming of soil bulk density data because soil deformation can occur during plastic flow while soil bulk density remains constant.
Synthesis of phenanthridines via palladium-catalyzed picolinamide-directed sequential C–H functionalization

We report a new synthesis of phenanthridines based on palladium-catalyzed picolinamide-directed sequential C–H functionalization reactions starting from readily available benzylamine and aryl iodide precursors. Under the catalysis of Pd(OAc)2, the ortho-C–H bond of benzylpicolinamides is first arylated with an aryl iodide. The resulting biaryl compound is then subjected to palladium-catalyzed picolinamide-directed intramolecular dehydrogenative C–H amination with PhI(OAc)2 oxidant to form the corresponding cyclized dihydrophenanthridines. The benzylic position of these dihydrophenanthridines could be further oxidized with Cu(OAc)2, removing the picolinamide group and providing phenathridine products. The cyclization and oxidation could be carried out in a single step and afford phenathridines in moderate to good yields.
Communication and Energy Conservation

Abstract Surveys of homeowners in two Wisconsin communities examined the relationship of media use to a set of cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral components of energy conservation. The perceived importance of the energy issue was associated with media use in both communities. In addition, this relationship was stronger the more energy related the communication variable. Communicaton did not, however, relate consistently to energy behavior. Utility pamphlets had opposite relationships with energy conservation across communities. It is suggested that conservation campaigns must take into account the communication and energy use environment of specific groups of consumers, and that research into the impact of mass media on energy issue salience is particularly important in times of energy “gluts.”
Differentiated predictive fair service for TCP flows

The majority of the traffic (bytes) flowing over the Internet today have been attributed to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). This strong presence of TCP has spurred further investigations into its congestion control mechanism and its effect on the performance of short and long data transfers. We investigate the interaction among short and long TCP flows, and how TCP service can be improved by employing a low-cost service differentiation scheme. Through control-theoretic arguments and extensive simulations, we show the utility, of isolating TCP flows into two classes based on their life-time/size, time/size one class of short flows and another of long flows. With such class-based isolation, short and long TCP flows have separate service queues at routers. This protects each class of flows from the other as they possess different characteristics, such as burstiness of arrivals/departures and congestion/sending window dynamics. We show the benefits of isolation, in terms of better predictability and fairness, over traditional shared queueing systems with both tail-drop and random-early-drop (RED) packet dropping policies.
The effects of a problem solving strategy on the achievement of earth science students

A review of the stated goals for education reveals a consistent emphasis on problem solving. Problem solving is compatible with the investigative nature of science and with higher order thinking. Consequently, a problem solving strategy was developed to improve the achievement of eighth grade students enrolled in earth science. The sample consisted of 287 eighth grade students randomly assigned to fourteen sections taught by four teachers. This resulted in seven control sections and seven experimental sections. The students in the treatment groups received approximately six weeks of instruction with the experimental groups receiving a variety of problem solving activities. A forty item posttest consisting of four subtests was administered to all students. The results indicate that the problem solving approach was useful in improving the overall achievement of students. It was particular effective in facilitating application of earth science subject matter. This problem solving approach appears to be a feasible strategy to use in most secondary science classrooms.
The efficacy of salvage logging in reducing subsequent fire severity in conifer-dominated forests of Minnesota, USA

Although primarily used to mitigate economic losses following disturbance, salvage logging has also been justified on the basis of reducing fire risk and fire severity; however, its ability to achieve these secondary objectives remains unclear. The patchiness resulting from a sequence of recent disturbances - blowdown, salvage logging, and wildfire - provided an excellent opportunity to assess the impacts of blowdown and salvage logging on wildfire severity. We used two fire-severity assessments (tree-crown and forest-floor characteristics) to compare post-wildfire conditions among three treatment combinations (Blowdown-Salvage-Fire, Blowdown-Fire, and Fire only). Our results suggest that salvage logging reduced the intensity (heat released) of the subsequent fire. However, its effect on severity (impact to the system) differed between the tree crowns and forest floor: tree-crown indices suggest that salvage logging decreased fire severity (albeit with modest statistical support), while forest-floor indices suggest that salvage logging increased fire severity. We attribute the latter finding to the greater exposure of mineral soil caused by logging operations; once exposed, soils are more likely to register the damaging effects of fire, even if fire intensity is not extreme. These results highlight the important distinction between fire intensity and severity when formulating post-disturbance management prescriptions.
DYNAMICS OF FLAME PROPAGATION FROM LOCALIZED IGNITION IN RICH HYDROGEN/AIR MIXTURES: EFFECTS OF ELEVATED PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE

ABSTRACT A computational study was conducted on expanding spherical premixed flames to investigate the dynamics of the stretch-affected, one-dimensional, pulsating instability at elevated pressures and temperatures. Rich H2/air mixtures were investigated using a time-dependent, spherically symmetric code with detailed chemistry, transport, and radiation submodels. The study shows that the region of instability in the pressure versus equivalence ratio domain for outwardly propagating flames is significantly narrowed when compared with that for planar flames due to the presence of the local ignition limit despite stretch-induced pulsation modifying the other boundary. Moreover, a region of one oscillation ending in extinction (even under adiabatic conditions which are not present in planar flames) has been discovered. However, similar to planar flames, radiative loss in outwardly propagating spherical flames reduces the region of instability due to transient extinction. Interestingly, this limit lies next t...
A hydrogen economy.

The history of the “hydrogen economy” may be broken down into three parts. Firstly, there is the history of the founding of the Hydrogen Energy Society which took place in Miami, Florida, in 1974 under the chairmanship of Nejat Veziroglu. Earlier, a Hindenberg society was founded by William Escher. The beginning of the official society in Miami in 1974 has been followed by several international meetings, each attended by about 1000 persons.
Trait Stability as a Noncontingent Truth A Pre-Empirical Critique of McCrae and Costa's Stability Thesis

Numerous studies have yielded data consistent with the hypothesis that the `Big Five' personality traits are highly stable in adulthood. For McCrae and Costa, such findings suggest a need to signif...
Optical coherence microscopy of Brownian motion as a tool for studying the effect of multiple scattering on depth penetration in turbid media

It is a well-established fact that multiply scattered light degrades image contrast and resolution in confocal and optical coherence microscopes. The effects of various system parameters (e.g., pinhole diameter, NA of focusing optics) and sample optical properties on image quality were extensively studied elsewhere, but in all cases information was obtained from the light extinction in the media. Unfortunately, the exponential intensity decay obscures fine but important details about the transition from single to multiply scattered light. An experimental method that would allow detailed quantitative analysis of the few scattering events regime could provide significant insight about the degradation of image quality in highly scattering media. Our work demonstrates that imaging Brownian motion in turbid media with optical coherence microscopy is very sensitive to multiply scattered light and proves to be an excellent tool for studying the transition between the single scattering and diffusive light regimes.
A QSAR study of the acute toxicity of some industrial organic chemicals to goldfish. Narcosis, electrophile and proelectrophile mechanisms.

1. A baseline toxicity QSAR model was derived for the 24-h LC50 to the goldfish, Carassius auratus.2. The QSAR-predicted LC50 values for six epoxide derivatives were 2.8–985 times greater than measured. The excess toxicity of these epoxides and other compounds was ascribed to an electrophile molecular mechanism involving SN2 reaction with sulphydryl and other neucleophile groups present in enzymes and other biological macromolecules.3. The excess toxicities of allyl alcohol and pentaerythritol triallyl ether were interpreted in terms of proelectrophile mechanisms. For the latter compound, this involves a monooxygenase-mediated free radical proton abstraction to a stable allyl radical. The allylfree radical can undergo enzymic free radical hydroxylation to afford the corresponding acetal, which on decomposition yields the Michael cceptor electrophile acrolein.
Dexmedetomidine sedation for awake fiberoptic intubation

The awake fiberoptic intubation (AFI) is an important part of the anesthesiologist’s armamentarium. As well as being technically challenging, it is also uncomfortable and stressful for all involved. We discuss the use of an alpha-2 agonist, dexmedetomidine, to help the clinician and patient through this procedure. The advantages of dexmedetomidine are that it produces a unique “Cooperative Sedation,” which reduces discomfort in the patient and assists in the topicalization of the airway. Most importantly, dexmedetomidine does not produce significant respiratory depression, so the airway may be secured in the safest manner possible. We discuss the history of sedation for AFI, other medications, as well as guidelines and pitfalls in the use of dexmedetomidine.
Automatic cell placement for quantum-dot cellular automata

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is a novel computing mechanism that can represent binary information based on spatial distribution of electron charge configuration in chemical molecules. It has the potential to allow for circuits and systems with functional densities that are better than end of the roadmap CMOS, but also imposes new constraints on system designers. In this paper we develop the first cell-level placement of QCA circuits, where the given circuit is assumed to be partitioned into 4-phase asynchronous QCA timing zones. We formulate the QCA cell placement in each timing zone as a unidirectional geometric embedding of k-layered bipartite graphs. We then present an analytical and a stochastic solution for minimizing the wire crossings and wire length in these placement solutions.
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: exploring the role of inflammation in arterial disease.

Vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is an autosomal dominant disease that affects the arteries, bowels, uterus, and skin. Affected individuals can have spontaneous rupture of hollow organs, such as the bowels or gravid uterus, along with arterial dissections and ruptures that lead to premature death. The arterial disease seen in individuals with vEDS is diffuse, involving small to medium arteries and the aorta.1,2 The median lifespan of patients with vEDS is only 48 years with the majority of deaths attributed to vascular complications.3,4 Surgical treatment of vascular disease in patients with vEDS have been limited because of friable and fragile tissues. However, a human treatment trial using celiprolol, a cardioselective β-adenergic blocking agent with β2 agonist properties, was shown to reduce the number of vascular events in patients with vEDS.5 Although there were limitations to the treatment trial, this study provided the first possible medical therapy for vEDS. While much of the morbidity and mortality of this condition is still due to spontaneous rupture of nondilated arteries, progressively enlarging arterial aneurysms have been reported, suggesting that there is a greater role for noninvasive imaging, elective surgery, and medical therapy than previously thought.6,7 Article see p 80 Type III collagen is composed of 3 α1(III) polypeptide chains coiled into a triple helix structure. Each polypeptide chain in the triple helix portion of the protein contains a domain of approximately 330 Gly-X-Y repeats. Disruption of this triple helical structure leads to abnormal protein folding, thereby resulting in pathogenicity.8 Missense mutations altering the glycine codons in the triple helical domain account for the majority of disease-causing mutations and lead to misfolding of type III collagen in the endoplasmic reticulum and retention of seven eighths of misfolded procollagen trimers in the cell.9 This …
Structure of the wild-type TEM-1 β-lactamase at 1.55 Å and the mutant enzyme Ser70Ala at 2.1 Å suggest the mode of noncovalent catalysis for the mutant enzyme

One of the best-studied examples of a class A β-lactamase is Escherichia coli TEM-1 β-lactamase. In this class of enzymes, the active-site serine residue takes on the role of a nucleophile and carries out β-lactam hydrolysis. Here, the structures of the wild-type and the S70G enzyme determined to 1.55 and 2.1 A, respectively, are presented. In contrast to the previously reported 1.8 A structure, the active site of the wild-type enzyme (1.55 A) structure does not contain sulfate and Ser70 appears to be in the deprotonated form. The X-ray crystal structure of the S70G mutant has an altered Ser130 side-chain conformation that influences the positions of water molecules in the active site. This change allows an additional water molecule to be positioned similarly to the serine hydroxyl in the wild-type enzyme. The structure of the mutant enzyme suggests that this water molecule can assume the role of an active-site nucleophile and carry out noncovalent catalysis. The drop in activity in the mutant enzyme is comparable to the drop observed in an analogous mutation of the nucleophilic serine in alkaline phosphatase, suggesting common chemical principles in the utilization of nucleophilic serine in the active site of different enzymes.
Strategies for planning for the future

This chapter describes strategies that college leaders and faculty can use to develop international collaborations, questions that partners should consider prior to engaging in collaboration, and ways to avoid problems further into the process.
Modeling and validation of fuel cell water dynamics using neutron imaging

Using neutron imaging, the mass of liquid water within the gas diffusion layer and flow channels of an operating polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is measured under a range of operating conditions. Between anode purge events, it is demonstrated that liquid water accumulates and is periodically removed from the anode gas channels; this event is well correlated with the dynamic cell voltage response. The estimation of flooding and cell performance is achieved by a spatially distributed (through-membrane plane), temporally-resolved, and two-phase (liquid and vapor) water model. Neutron imaging techniques have never before been applied to characterize flooding with a dead-ended anode and elucidate important issues in water management as well as provide a means for calibrating and validating a dynamic lumped parameter fuel cell model.
Polynorbornenes with pendant perylene diimides for organic electronic applications

Perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimides (PDI) have been linked to norbornene through either an imide or a “bay” position. These PDI-functionalised norbornenes are readily polymerised using a ruthenium ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) initiator. In one case the polymerisation is shown to be well controlled with a linear dependence of molecular weight on the monomer/initiator ratio. For the polymers with PDI–norbornene linkages through the imide nitrogen, UV-vis spectroscopy suggests significant PDI aggregation both in dilute solution and the solid state, a powder X-ray diffraction peak attributable to π-stacking is seen, and weak n-channel field-effect transistor behavior (electron mobilities <5 × 10−5 cm2 V−1 s−1) was observed. In contrast, the “bay”-linked polymer shows essentially monomer-like UV-vis spectra in both solution and the solid state, no X-ray evidence for π-stacking, and no measurable transistor behaviour. The polymers were used as acceptors in bulk heterojunction solar cells in combination with poly(3-hexylthiophene): low power conversion efficiencies (≤0.38%) were obtained, largely due to low short-circuit currents, again with the “bay”-linked polymer giving the poorest performance.
Soil Contamination and Human Exposure: A Comprehensive Assessment Framework

Soil is the thin outer zone of the earth's crust that supports rooted plants and is the product of climate and living organisms acting on rock. Throughout the world, soils are contaminated to some extent by local, regional, and global pollution sources of both natural and human origin. Sources of soil contamination are identified and discussed. With the possible exception of agricultural applications of pesticides and fertilizers, most contaminant releases to soil are not easily quantified and, as a result, remain highly uncertain. In establishing a comprehensive framework for human exposure to soil contaminants, it is revealed that such exposure occurs through multiple transfer processes. The process for linking human exposure to soil contact is considered and it is found that the magnitude and persistence of exposure depend not only on the level of soil contamination but also on physical and chemical properties of soil, chemical properties of the contaminant, and the frequency and duration of human fact...
Thoughts on the Physics of Superconductors on the Occasion of the 90th Birthday of V. L. Ginzburg

The deep impact of the work of V. L. Ginzburg in enhancing our understanding of the phenomena of superconductivity is briefly reviewed, and some recent measurements which clearly show an initially unexpected Coulomb blockade effect in superconducting nanowires are reported.
Specifying Ada server tasks with executable formal grammars

The author shows how a class of concurrent programming problems can be specified with formal grammars. These grammars, more powerful than path expressions, translate readily into Ada server tasks using the rendezvous and select-statement, though they may also be applied to other synchronization constructs. The grammars may be used to clarify informal specifications, to compare different specifications, and to analyze the behavior of implementations of such specifications. They may also be easily converted into Prolog programs that can be executed to generate the strings of events accepted by a grammar or by the Ada task being modeled. The automated translation from Ada to such grammars, and from grammatical specifications to Ada is discussed. The former facilitates the analysis of Ada programs; the latter yields Ada code of high quality. >
Does a diagnosis of myelogenous leukemia require 20% marrow myeloblasts, and does <5% marrow myeloblasts represent a remission? The history and ambiguity of arbitrary diagnostic boundaries in the understanding of myelodysplasia.

This commentary discusses the current use of arbitrary boundaries to distinguish the continuum of incipient (clonal cytopenias), oligoblastic (subacute), and polyblastic (acute) myelogenous leukemia. The historical path that led to the application of these boundaries is discussed, and simplification of the current diagnostic classification is proposed.
Data mining in engineering design: a case study

In the paper, a prediction problem encountered in engineering design is considered. The problem is solved with a data mining approach. The first of the two algorithms presented in the paper generates a solution, while the second algorithm validates this solution. Only confirmed solutions are accepted.
Workplace Wellness Programs: A Comparison Between Best Practice Guidelines And Implementation

This paper describes a study to determine best practice guidelines for employee wellness programming amongst organizations and/or employers. A sample of convenience (n = 200) from a local human resource management association was surveyed via e-mail with an internet based questionnaire containing 19 items regarding employee wellness programming, activities, effectiveness, and measurement. The results indicated that Best Practice Guidelines can be established from empirical literature. In addition, the findings indicate employers are implementing best practice guidelines in their existing workplace wellness activities. Most employers are participating in and engaged in workplace wellness activities which utilize effective communication, continuous improvement, accessible and involve employees, and partner with existing and established business relationships to create wellness activities. One area which requires further evaluation and development is the engagement of leadership within organizations.
Contributions of Legislative, Regulatory and Institutional Infrastructures to Sustaining National Nuclear Security Regimes

This paper is a sequel to the paper delivered at the 2005 NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Countering Nuclear and Radiological Ter- rorism, held in Yerevan, Armenia. That paper addressed implementation of the physical protection provisions of the 8 July 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, including key elements of national legislative and regulatory regimes and integration of those elements into effective national regimes for the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities under national jurisdiction. The sequel addresses how national legislative, regulatory and institutional in- frastructures based on the Amendment's provisions contribute to achieving sustainability of national nuclear security regimes.
Aid Effectiveness in Working with Private Sector Health Organizations: The Smiling Sun Franchise

Bangladesh has been able to greatly reduce maternal mortality in less than one decade, from 322 down to 194 per 100,000 (NIPORT 2011), and increase life expectancy to 69 years; an achievement that took European countries not decades but centuries (http://www.gapminder.org/). Along similar lines, with an economy that has expanded more than 6 % annually in the last years, foreign aid is now hovering around 1.5–1.9 % of GDP (http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/bangladesh/bangladesh_country_brief.html), just a fraction of country’s garment exports (http://www.epb.gov.bd/bdprofiledetails.php?page=56). In spite of its amazing progress, Bangladesh has not been able to leave behind its image of impoverished and overpopulated, basket case kind of country. The reason for it is the stubborn perception that lies on the fact that Bangladesh still has almost half of its population living under $1.25 a day (UNDP 2011), and with close to 160 million inhabitants in just over 144,000 km2, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated spots in this planet. So, in the same space and time, Bangladesh conjures great hopes based on impressive results, while still facing huge challenges. This discussion no longer happens in other countries that not long ago were where Bangladesh is today, like Colombia—considered a high middle income country—or the Philippines—low middle income, but that once received much more foreign aid than they do today.
Improving Opportunity Through Better Human Capital Investments for the Labor Market

While education levels in the U.S. have risen in recent years, students from disadvantaged backgrounds have fallen behind other Americans in college attainment amid increasing college dropout rates. The causes of this growing gap include weaker academic preparation in their K-12 years (and earlier); lower wealth and liquidity that make it harder to pay tuition and other costs; worse information about and lower familiarity with higher education; and pressure to work full-time while being enrolled to help support their families. In addition, disadvantaged college students are heavily concentrated in weaker and under-resourced institutions such as community colleges, which generate fewer graduates. Even when students gain credentials like associate degrees, the degrees often do not have strong labor market value because of students’ poor labor market information and the weak incentives of public institutions to respond to the labor market by creating more classes in high-demand fields. And high-quality career and technical education opportunities in the U.S., such as “sectoral” training and work-based learning, have not been developed to the extent possible to provide students a wider range of pathways to careers from which to choose. Efforts to improve these outcomes must therefore focus on three goals: (1) improving completion rates at our public colleges by strengthening student supports; (2) expanding postsecondary options, at the bachelor’s level or below, that have labor market value; and (3) developing additional pathways to good-paying jobs through work-based learning and high-quality career and technical education, beginning in secondary schools.
SEQUESTRATION OF SERUM LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS IN THE ARTERIAL INTIMA BY COMPLEX FORMATION.

SummaryExtracts of human aortic intima were made in 0.9% NaCl and in 12% NaCl. Ultracentrifugally isolated human serum beta and alpha-2 lipoproteins were placed in similar salt concentrations. These were then examined in the immunoelectrophoresis system using antiserum against serum beta lipoprotein (which is equally effective against alpha-2 lipoprotein). Extract of aorta gave 2 lipoprotein arcs with this antiserum, one in the beta and one in the pre-albumin region, when prepared with 0.9% NaCl; there was only one arc (in the alpha-2 region) in extracts with 12% NaCl. This is interpreted as suggesting that serum alpha-2 lipoprotein is bound in the aortic intima in a pair of complexes both of which can be disrupted with strong salt solution.
Determining Valid Component Analog Video Signals with a 3-D Vector Representation

The traditional vectorscope display is limited in that it does not yield any information about color saturation because the vectorscope ignores the luminance content of colors. Since the color picture can be described by three parameters — hue, saturation, and brightness — the color picture takes on a 3-D nature and the 2-D vector display is incomplete. A new vector display has been proposed which allows the relationship between luminance and the color components to be displayed. This article demonstrates the utility of a 3-D spatial representation of component color signals. The combination of this new display and the traditional display provides a complete description of the color components as orthogonal 2-D vector projections of a 3-D color vector space.
Age-Related Changes in Schwann Cells of the Internal Branch of the Rat Superior Laryngeal Nerve:

While previous studies have examined the role of neurons in age-related changes of laryngeal sensory nerve function, investigators have not focused on the significant role of Schwann cells in the aging process. This investigation used an electron microscopic morphometric technique to systematically study Schwann cells of the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve of three Wistar rat age groups: young = 3 to 5 months; old = 25 months; very old = 29 to 31 months. In Schwann cells of myelinated axons, a substantial and significant reduction (p = 0.0127) in mitochondrial volume fraction was found between the young and old groups, and also between the young and very old groups (young = 0.0034, old = 0.00175, very old = 0.0019). The volume fraction of compact myelin also showed a trend (p = 0.0683) toward decreasing with age. The volume fractions of cytoplasm, nuclei, and lipofuscin granules showed no significant age-related changes (lipofuscin in myelinating Schwann cells: young = 0.0025, old = 0.0020, very old = 0.0051; lipofuscin in non-myelinating Schwann cells: young = 0.012, old = 0.0061, very old = 0.0051). Our observations on mitochondria lead to two possible conclusions regarding energy availability in aged Schwann cells. One possibility is that aged cells have a decreased energy requirement, which is reflected in the decreased mitochondrial densities in old and very old specimens. The other possibility is the reduced mitochondrial volume fractions are independent of cellular energy requirements and are indicative of some aging or pathologic process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Solidification of Metal Matrix Composites

Composite materials are engineered materials in which two or more materials are combined to form a new material with specific properties, in order to maximize some properties (stiffness, strength-to-weight ratio, tensile strength, etc.) and minimize others (weight, cost). A metal matrix composite (MMC) is a material with at least two constituent parts, one of which is a metal. The other material may be a different metal or another material, such as a ceramic or an organic compound. The majority phase (the matrix), which in MMCs is the metal, transfers external load to the strengthening phase. The minority phase is the strengthening phase (reinforcement).
284 TUBERCULOSIS MENINGITIS AT AN ACADEMIC INNER-CITY HOSPITAL.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) in the US is primarily an inner-city disease and TB meningitis has historically been a dreaded complication of TB with a high mortality rate. Methods We examined the epidemiology of TB meningitis at Grady Memorial Hospital (GMH), a 1,000-bed inner-city academic hospital in Atlanta, GA, by performing a retrospective chart review. Cases of TB meningitis were identified in the TB database maintained by the GMH Hospital Epidemiology Department. Results During a 20.5-year period 97 patients were diagnosed with TB meningitis either by microbiological or clinical diagnosis. The median age was 36 years old, 72 (74%) were male, and 74 (76%) were of black race. Fifty-four (56%) were HIV positive and 24 (25%) were HIV status unknown. No significant differences were seen in the clinical presentation and laboratory results among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients except HIV-positive patients had a lower median CSF white blood cell count of 68/mm 3 versus 145/mm 3 in HIV-negative patients. Mortality was striking in our study that overall, 32 (33%) patients died. HIV-positive patients (n = 25) were statistically more likely to die than HIV-negative patients (p = .005). The mean CD4 count for these was 141/mm 3 and the mean CSF WBC was 1,898/mm 3 . Of the 97 patients who died, 79 (82%) were on four-drug TB therapy and 53 (59%) of 80 received steroids. Conclusions Despite the availability of appropriate chemotherapy for TB meningitis, this disease remains a devastating disease with a high mortality rate among this cohort of inner-city patients. HIV-positive patients are at an even increased risk of dying from this form of TB.