cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating and Enhancing the Robustness of Dialogue Systems: A Case Study on a Negotiation Agent

Recent research has demonstrated that goal-oriented dialogue agents trained on large datasets can achieve striking performance when interacting with human users. In real world applications, however, it is important to ensure that the agent performs smoothly interacting with not only regular users but also those malicious ones who would attack the system through interactions in order to achieve goals for their own advantage. In this paper, we develop algorithms to evaluate the robustness of a dialogue agent by carefully designed attacks using adversarial agents. Those attacks are performed in both black-box and white-box settings. Furthermore, we demonstrate that adversarial training using our attacks can significantly improve the robustness of a goal-oriented dialogue system. On a case-study of the negotiation agent developed by (Lewis et al., 2017), our attacks reduced the average advantage of rewards between the attacker and the trained RL-based agent from 2.68 to -5.76 on a scale from -10 to 10 for randomized goals. Moreover, we show that with the adversarial training, we are able to improve the robustness of negotiation agents by 1.5 points on average against all our attacks.
Access and Equity through Technology in the Online Classroom

As higher education institutions continue to expand their distance education (DE) offerings and address the advancing technological demands of the online classroom, they are experiencing significant challenges in ensuring equivalent access to students and faculty with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, DE courses provide significant advantages that may not otherwise be available in the face-to-face classroom. The flexibility of studying according to oneA¢â¬â¢s own schedule, limiting travel to another physical location, and controlling the type of interaction that one has with his or her instructor and classmates are motivations for any student to participate in an online class. However, in many cases, these kinds of accommodations are essential for increasing opportunities for students with mobility impairments and learning/cognitive impairments to have a postsecondary education. To ensure equivalent access for students with disabilities, it is imperative that DE faculty make their online courses accessible. DE instructors use popular DE tools such as Blackboard, MS PowerPoint, and YouTube for the delivery of course content. However, these tools can pose significant barriers to course content for individuals with disabilities if not used properly. Through guided disability simulations, this session will seek to provide DE faculty with the support and skills they need to make their online courses accessible. From a disabled studentA¢â¬â¢s perspective, faculty will experience course content that is not accessible to them, learn how it denies access to some learners, and then learn how to fix it. Additionally, we will review synchronous and asynchronous learning tools, compare their advantages and disadvantages, breakdown the accessibility of these tools (or lack thereof), and identify the barriers that the different learning environments may present. At the end of this session, it is our hope that they will have a more in-depth understanding of what it means to make a course accessible.
Intraoperative Bradycardia and Asystole

The case of a 71-year-old man undergoing a transhiatal esophagectomy due to Barrett’s esophagus is presented. The surgery began as a laparoscopic procedure which was converted to an open procedure due to the patient’s body habitus. Initial surgical attempts to free the esophagus resulted in transient bradycardic episodes, with spontaneous restoration of vital signs after cessation of the offending stimulus. However, on the last attempt, the patient developed profound bradycardia and ensuing asystole requiring pharmacologic resuscitation and chest compressions. Vagal and other physiologic reflexes that can lead to bradycardia and their management strategies are presented. In particular, vagus nerve traction, oculocardiac, Bezold-Jarisch, and baroreceptor reflex are discussed. Possible mechanisms leading to rhythm disturbances during this type of surgery are also discussed, including pericardial stimulation, vagal stimulation due to viscus traction, and direct atrial compression and other maneuvers that can cause hypotension and impaired cardiac filling. The differential diagnosis and treatment of intraoperative bradycardia, pulseless electrical activity (PEA), and cardiovascular collapse are reviewed. Finally, the importance of proper anesthesiologist’s vigilance, anticipation and planning, and OR team communication and dynamics in facilitating a good outcome are discussed.
Leading cities: a global review of city leadership: by Elizabeth Rapoport, Michele Acuto and Leonora Grcheva, London, UCL Press, 2019, 140 pp., £15 (paperback), ISBN 9781787355453

In his classic article on urban politics, Molotch (1976, p. 317) portrays American city leaders in an unflattering light. They ‘tend to be businessmen [sic], and, among businessmen the more parochi...
Intranasal delivery of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells restores lung alveolarization and vascularization in experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a devastating lung condition that develops in premature newborns exposed to prolonged mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen. Significant morbidity and mortality are associated with this costly disease and effective therapies are limited. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can repair injured tissue by secreting paracrine factors known to restore the function and integrity of injured lung epithelium and endothelium. Most preclinical studies showing therapeutic efficacy of MSCs for BPD are administered either intratracheally or intravenously. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of human cord tissue-derived MSC administration given via the intranasal route. Human umbilical cord tissue MSCs were isolated, characterized, and given intranasally (500 000 cells per 20 μL) to a hyperoxia-induced rat model of BPD. Lung alveolarization, vascularization, and pulmonary vascular remodeling were restored in animals receiving MSC treatment. Gene and protein analysis suggest the beneficial effects of MSCs were attributed, in part, to a concerted effort targeting angiogenesis, immunomodulation, wound healing, and cell survival. These findings are clinically significant, as neonates who develop BPD have altered alveolar development, decreased pulmonary vascularization and chronic inflammation, all resulting in impaired tissue healing. Our study is the first to report the intranasal delivery of umbilical cord Wharton's jelly MSCs in experimental BPD is feasible, noninvasive, and an effective route that may bear clinical applicability.
The Pelvic Vertebra, the Cephalic Vertebra and the Concept of the Chain of Balance

The concept of “Pelvic vertebra” came from the observation of a patient presenting a paralytic pelvic obliquity secondary to poliomyelitis, where it appears evident that the vision of the pelvis oblique on the X-ray projection was only partial because its proper location in the sagittal and horizontal plane was missing when comparing the clinical aspect of the patient and the X-ray projection. The three dimensions and the concept of the entire pelvis considered as a unique vertebra because the very poor motion of the sacroiliac joint were from that point developed. The most evident signs appeared when its situation changed from ante to retroversion when the lumbar spine was in kyphosis or lordosis, playing the role of an intercalary bone between spine and lower limbs of skeleton. This concept drives immediately to the concept of the chain of balance in the erect posture standing or sitting especially when at the other end of the spine we consider the entire head with its volume and weight as the “cephalic vertebra”. So this chain starts from the polygon of support and through the successive joints of the lower limbs, pelvis and spine reach the heavy head acting as a reverse pendulum. As a consequence of this concept, it was easy to describe the concept of the “cone of economy”, where the muscles used for the maintenance of the erect posture work a minimum when the posture is located within the gravity line and much more when away, with their relevant consequences.
Misbehavior Detection in Ephemeral Networks: A Local Voting Game in Presence of Uncertainty

Emerging short-lived (ephemeral) connections between wireless mobile devices have raised concerns over the security of ephemeral networks. An important security challenge in these networks is to identify misbehaving nodes, especially in places where a centrally managed station is absent. To tackle this problem, a local voting-based scheme (game) in which neighboring nodes quickly decide whether to discredit an accused (target) node in mobile networks has been introduced in the literature. However, nodes’ beliefs and reactions significantly affect the outcome of target node identification in the collaboration. In this paper, a plain Bayesian game between a benign node and a target node in one stage of a local voting-based scheme is proposed in order to capture uncertainties of nodes for target node identification. In this context, the expected utilities (payoffs) of players in the game are defined according to uncertainties of nodes regarding their monitoring systems, the type of target node and participants, and the outcome of the cooperation. Meanwhile, incentives are offered in payoffs in order to promote cooperation in the network. To discourage nodes from abusing incentives, a variable-benefit approach that rewards each player according to the value of their contribution to the game is introduced. Then, possible equilibrium points between a benign node and a malicious node are derived using a pure-strategy Bayesian Nash equilibrium (BNE) and a mixed-strategy BNE, ensuring that no node is able to improve its payoffs by changing its strategy. Finally, the behavior of malicious and benign nodes is studied via simulations. Specifically, it is shown how the aforementioned uncertainties and the designed incentives impact the strategies of the players and, consequently, the correct target-node identification.
Parsing the effects of comorbid adult ADHD and substance misuse on affective lability in bipolar disorder.

Abstract Introduction Attentional deficits, substance misuse, and affective lability are all common features among adults with bipolar disorder, but little research has attempted to parse their inter-relationships. Methods Using standardized scales and semi-structured interviews, we evaluated adult ADHD features and affective lability in 113 dually-diagnosed mood/substance use disorder inpatients (mean age 32.6 years, 63% female) drawn from one private suburban academically affiliated inpatient treatment program. Results 24% of bipolar subjects had above-threshold ADHD screens. Affective Lability Scale (ALS) total and subscores were significantly associated with ADHD scores (univariate r's ranging from 0.38–0.63). ALS total and most subscale scores were significantly higher among bipolar subjects having above- (versus below-) threshold ADHD ratings. Linear regressions to predict affective lability revealed significant partial correlations between bipolar diagnoses and ALS total, depression, elation, and anger subscores, while controlling for significant effects from ADHD comorbidity. Inclusion of current substances of abuse did not change goodness-of-fit. Limitations Subjects were drawn from a single private institution, potentially limiting generalizability. Conclusions Comorbid ADHD appears to moderate multiple domains of affective lability in bipolar disorder inpatients, independent of current substance misuse.
FlapAI Bird: Training an Agent to Play Flappy Bird Using Reinforcement Learning Techniques.

Reinforcement learning is one of the most popular approaches for automated game playing. This method allows an agent to estimate the expected utility of its state in order to make optimal actions in an unknown environment. We seek to apply reinforcement learning algorithms to the game Flappy Bird. We implement SARSA and Q-Learning with some modifications such as $\epsilon$-greedy policy, discretization and backward updates. We find that SARSA and Q-Learning outperform the baseline, regularly achieving scores of 1400+, with the highest in-game score of 2069.
How to Succeed in Astronomy without Having to Use a Telescope, or a Librarian's Guide to High Impact Papers

We have undertaken a study of High Impact Papers in astronomy from a subset of ISI’s 2001 database, covering papers published 1991–1999 and cited 1991–2000. The intent of the study was to measure the relative impact of papers based on data gathered from multiple telescopes as opposed to those from a specific telescope. The results have been somewhat surprising in that high citation rates are not as frequently tied to direct observational material as they are to theories, data compilations (either laboratory astrophysics or observational surveys), and reviews. We explore these observations, and suggest caveats in the use of citation information, based on differing counts for the same papers from ISI and the ADS.
Radiology Workload Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Staff Redeployment.

Rationale and Objectives Quantify changes in total and by-subspecialty radiology workload due to deferring nonurgent services during the initial COVID-19 pandemic, and describe operational strategies implemented due to shifts in priority. Materials and Methods This retrospective, Institutional Review Board-exempt, study was performed between February 3, 2020 and April 19, 2020 at a large academic medical center. During March 9–15 (intervention period), nonurgent outpatient service deferments began. Five-week periods pre- (baseline) and postintervention (COVID) were defined. Primary outcomes were radiology volume (reports per day) overall and in 11 subspecialty divisions. Linear regression assessed relationship between baseline vs. COVID volumes stratified by division. Secondary outcomes included changes in relative value units (RVUs), inpatient and outpatient volumes. Results There were 62,791 baseline reports vs. 23,369 during COVID; a 60% overall precipitous volume decrease (p 75% volume decrease. Total RVUs decreased 60% (71,186 baseline; 28,476 COVID). Both outpatient and inpatient report volumes decreased; 72% (41,115 baseline; 11,326 COVID) and 43% (12,626 baseline vs. 6,845 COVID), respectively. In labor pool tracking data, 21.8% (162/744) total radiology employees were reassigned to other hospital duties during the intervention period. Conclusion Precipitous radiology workload reductions impacted subspecialty divisions with marked variation. Data-driven operational decisions during COVID-19 assisted workflow and staffing assignment changes. Ongoing adjustments will be needed as healthcare systems transition operations to a “new normal.”
Biaxial Material Characterization Utilizing A Focus Beam System

With the increase in complex materials used in modern society and the ease that they can be manufactured by implementing embedded structures, the need for methods to determine properties of more complex materials is in growing demand. This paper discusses the applications of a focus beam system to extract properties of biaxial materials and compares the results with other methods.
Structure and Bonding of 1,2,4-Triazole Thiones Derived from Nitron

Abstract The molecular structures of two 1,2,4-triazole thiones derived from Nitron, namely Nitron(S) and Nitron(S)Me, have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison with the structure of Nitron indicates that the formation of the thiones is accompanied by a shortening of the C–N bond within the 5-membered ring that is opposite to the thione group, and a lengthening of the exocyclic C–N bond. Analysis of the structures of Nitron, Nitron(S) and Nitron(S)Me, together with hypothetical versions in which the phenyl substituents are replaced by hydrogen, indicates that these changes are in accord with bond order differences predicted by natural bond orbital methods. A similar evaluation of the thione groups of Nitron(S) and Nitron(S)Me indicates that the C–S bonds are composed of both covalent and ionic components and are best described by a combination of resonance structures that feature C S double and C–S single bonds.
Acceptability of an mHealth breast cancer risk-reduction intervention promoting risk assessment, education, and discussion of risk in the primary care setting

Background Breast cancer risk assessment tools and risk reduction strategies have advanced significantly over the past few decades but are underutilized in practice, due in part to limited acceptability by patients and physicians. We implemented a tablet-based Breast Cancer Risk Education Intervention (BreastCARE) tailored towards increasing patients' knowledge about their individual risk of developing breast cancer, increasing patient-physician discussion of breast cancer risk reduction practices, and increasing participation in recommended screening. Methods We surveyed patients and physicians who received the BreastCARE intervention and analyzed their satisfaction and acceptability of the intervention. We compared patient satisfaction measures by race/ethnicity and used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the effect of race/ethnicity on measures of patient satisfaction with the tablet-based risk assessment and with the breast cancer risk report. We also compared measures of physician satisfaction by resident vs. attending/NP status. Finally, we identified patients' and physicians' suggestions for implementation. Results Overall, both patients and physicians were highly satisfied with BreastCARE, with some variation by patient race/ethnicity and breast cancer risk status. The risk assessment tool and accompanying risk report helped transmit complex information in an efficient way. Conclusions Patient self-administered risk assessment with a health education component at the point of care is acceptable for both patients and physicians, and represents a novel approach to facilitating health promotion. This risk assessment tool should be made routine in primary care accompanied by results that are easy for the patient to understand and actionable for the clinician.
Ising formulations of some graph-theoretic problems in psychological research: Models and methods

Abstract It has been established in the fields of computer science and physics that many NP-hard and NP-complete graph-theoretic problems can be formulated and solved as Ising spin models. We discuss several problems that have a history in mathematical psychology, most notably max-cut clustering, graph coloring, a linear ordering problem related to paired comparison ranking and directed acyclic graphs, and the problem of finding a minimum subset of points necessary to contain another point within a convex hull. New Ising spin models are presented for the latter two problems. Additionally, we provide MATLAB software programs for obtaining solutions via enumeration of all spin ensembles (when computationally feasible) and simulated annealing. We are not claiming that the Ising spin model should be the preferred approach for formulating and solving graph-theoretic problems on conventional digital computers but it does provide a unifying framework for these problems, which may lead to future computational improvements. Recent progress in the development of quantum computing architecture has shown that Ising spin models can afford enormous improvements in algorithm efficiency when implemented on these platforms, potentially leading to widespread use of the methodology in the future.
Landscape-scale hydrologic response of plant invasion relative to native vegetation in urban forests.

Abstract Large-scale invasion modifies watershed hydrology by changing surface runoff and lowering the seasonal availability of water to native plants. Due to costly field-based evapotranspiration (ET) measurements, which are highly localized and occasionally subject to instrument failure, landscape-scale water use assessments of invasive plants are infrequent. Therefore, the extent to which plant invaders alter water allocation between native and non-native vegetation in a given landscape is rarely assessed. We used a remote sensing-based ET modeling approach to measure the hydrologic response of an invasive shrub, Ligustrum sinense, across forests of the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, North Carolina. We hypothesized that this invader's widespread occurrence and dominant plant physiology significantly competes with native forests for water resources. We tested this hypothesis by comparing inter- and intra-annual variations in ET from invaded and uninvaded sites estimated using the surface-energy-balance system (SEBS) model and cloud-free Landsat images for the wettest (2003), driest (2007), and normal (2005 and 2011) water years. Our findings suggest that the water demand of L. sinense is higher than native forests (deciduous and evergreen) for most of the year except during the early spring and after high precipitation events. The daily ET flux of L. sinense was significantly different than evergreen vegetation during the driest year (2007) that, five years later (2011 - normal water year), was significantly different than both deciduous and evergreen vegetation types. This suggests that L. sinense consumes more water than native forest types, particularly during dry and normal precipitation years with increasing canopy cover over time making it a strong competitor with native vegetation for water resources in urban forests. Therefore, accounting for the hydrologic response of invasive plants and potential water savings from their removal from forests, particularly in water-scarce regions, may enable land managers and decision-makers to prioritize areas for monitoring and control efforts.
Ballistic quantum transport study of Al contacting silicane using empirical pseudopotentials

We use a plane-wave based quantum transport approach to model the properties of metal contacts to two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors. Using the example of Al contacted to silicane, we show that our model is capable of obtaining the carrier density, potential distribution and current flow at the atomistic level. We self-consistently calculate the current density in an Al-silicane contact and show that the current mainly flows through the edge of the contact as opposed to being distributed along the entire length of the contact region. We find a contact resistance of $3.8\cdot 10^{4} \Omega \mu \mathrm{m}$; a high value which we attribute to the large difference between the Al work function and the silicane electron affinity.
Phosphorous depletion and vitamin D metabolism.

In man, phosphate deprivation (or depletion) is reportedly attended by decreased renal tubular reabsorption of sodium, magnesium, bicarbonate, uric acid and glucose, red cell dysfunction with decreased concentrations of 2,3-DPG and ATP, platelet abnormalities with thrombocytopenia, impairment of clot retraction, shortened survival time and decreased ATP levels, decreased leucocytic ATP concentrations with suppressed phagocytic, chemotactic and bacterocidal activities, central nervous system dysfunction characterized by varying degrees of numbness, dysarthria, paresthesiaes, convulsive diatheses, and coma, rhabdomyolysis and myalgia, abnormal hepatic cellular function, hypercalciuria, occasional hypercalcemia, augmentation of the intestinal absorption of calcium, hypophosphatemia and elevations in circulating 1,25(OH)2D in women (1–5). These latter alterations in calcium metabolism when documented in phosphate deprived laboratory animals (predominantly rats), have been attended by increased bone resorption (6,7) and stimulated renal 1-hydroxylase activity with more rapid conversion of 25OHD3 to 1,25(OH)2D3 (8–10). Stimulated 1-hydroxy-lase activity has also been documented in vitro using renal tubular mitochondrial preparations from hypophosphatemic chicks (11).
DnaK, hsp73, and their molten globules. Two different ways heat shock proteins respond to heat.

The thermal stability of bovine brain hsp73, Escherichia coli DnaK, and its mutant T199A was studied by a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. DnaK undergoes a temperature-induced conformational change that leads to the formation of a molten globule at physiologically relevant temperatures (midpoint of the transition, tm, 41 degrees C). Native DnaK binds to a denatured form of alpha-lactalbumin in a temperature-dependent manner with maximum rate at about 40 degrees C. The molten globule of DnaK is unable to bind denatured alpha-lactalbumin but recovers native structure and activity upon cooling. The half-life of the refolding process is 10 min at 35 degrees C. Mg/ATP and Mg/ADP increase the thermal stability of DnaK; in the presence of these nucleotides the tm is shifted to 59 degrees C. Binding of Mg/ATP (but not Mg/ADP or Mg/adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate) causes a conformational change in DnaK as determined by the emission fluorescence spectrum. The DnaK mutant T199A which lacks the threonine residue that is essential for ATP hydrolysis and autophosphorylation activity (McCarty, J. S., and Walker, G. C. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 88, 9513-9517) shows nearly identical properties to the wild type in the presence or absence of nucleotides. Hsp73 undergoes similar temperature-induced transitions as determined by spectroscopic methods (Palleros, D.R., Welch, W.J., and Fink, A.L. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 5719-5723); however, contrary to DnaK, the molten globule of hsp73 irreversibly aggregates at temperatures higher than its tm (42 degrees C).
Material Effects on the 4 Kelvin AC Efficiency of Moving Coil Linear Actuators

We describe our measurements of the power dissipation of moving coil linear actuators operating at 4 K. The “voice coil” assembly is approximately 25 mm in diameter and 25 mm long and is fabricated from 28 MGOe energy product samarium cobalt and 48 percent nickel steel. The effects of using different wire materials for the coil are described. A set of six nominally identical coils were wound with either copper wire formed from raw material varying in purity from 0.9995 to 0.999999 or with solid core NbTi (copper clad) wire or with twisted multifilamentary NbTi (copper-nickel alloy matrix) wire. For the copper wire we have correlated the Residual Resistance Ratio (RRR) with purity and annealed state. The coils are operated in the magnet assembly’s 0.5 T DC field yielding a force constant of about 6 N/A. At room temperature the resistive losses in the coil are the major source of actuator power dissipation, but at 4 K non-resistive losses predominate. For 50 Hz operation both superconducting wire voice coils exhibited higher power dissipation than the high purity copper voice coil.
Greater and Lesser Evils in the War on Terrorism and Beyond

Counter-Terrorism, Aid, and Civil Society: Before and After the War on Terror. By Jude Howell, Jeremy Lind . Houndsville, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. 242 pp., $95.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-230-22949-5). Debating the War of Ideas. Edited by Eric D. Patterson, John Gallagher . New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. 264 pp., $100.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-230-61936-4). Exceptionalism and the Politics of Counter-Terrorism: Liberty, Security and the War on Terror. By Andrew W. Neal . London and New York: Routledge, 2010. 186 pp., $130.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-415-45675-3). In dealing with the problem of terrorism, Paul Wilkinson warns, a liberal democracy must never resort to “methods which are incompatible with liberal values of humanity, liberty, and justice. It is a dangerous illusion to believe one can ‘protect’ liberal democracy by suspending liberal rights and forms of government.” Moreover, Wilkinson (2001:115) cautions that repressive responses “play into the hands of terrorists and, if prolonged, become totally counterproductive.” The books under review here contribute to the perennial debate about the nature, consequences, and pros and cons of Western responses to domestic and international terrorism. Following the attacks of 9/11, similar strikes thereafter, and the continuing threat of further terrorism, this debate has become more urgent and divisive. While focusing on different aspects of the post-9/11 “war on terrorism” and utilizing different methodologies, the three texts under review here deal in distinctive ways with the fundamental rights and values of liberal democracies and how those liberties and ideals figure, rightly or wrongly, into post-9/11 perceptions and justifications of formal and informal measures taken in the name of anti- and counterterrorism. Either fully or partially, each book addresses issues and problems involving Muslims in the Western diaspora and their brethren in the Muslim world. The studies by Andrew W. Neal, Jude Howell, and Jeremy Lind, as well as several chapter authors in the edited volume by Eric D. Patterson and John Gallagher underscore Wilkinson's concerns about the consequences of illiberal responses to terrorism; however, several contributors to Patterson/Gallagher are preoccupied with exposing Islam and the Koran as roots of Islamist terrorism. Debating the War of Ideas , edited by Patterson and Gallagher, is devoted to a far-ranging discussion of and comparisons between secular and religious principles of the West and the Muslim world. Counter-Terrorism, Aid, and Civil Society by Howell and Lind …
Chronopotentiometry with current programmed as a function of time. I. Constant power functions of time

Current programming in chronopotcntiometry has been extended to the use of current functions which vary with a power of time, i = βtr. Equations have been derived for single and multicomponent mixtures. The equation for the transition time has the general form: τr÷12 = kr-rA where K(r) is a constant whose value depends on r and A° is the concentration of electroactivc species. Chronoamperometry is found to be a special case arising when r = −12. Potential-time relationships for reversible and irreversible processes as a function of r are given. The effect of concentration range and double layer capacitance is also discussed.
How the Trophic Status of a Community Can Alter the Bioavailability and Toxic Effects of Contaminants

Binding of hydrophobic organic and metal contaminants to particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM and DOM) in aquatic systems affects the availability of contaminants and their subsequent dose to biota. Eutrophic systems that contain high levels of organic sorbents will have lower concentrations of freely dissolved, readily available toxicant, thus reducing the exposure of the biota. In more oligotrophic systems with lower levels of sorbents, toxic exposure may be greater. These interactions suggest a relationship between the trophic state of an ecosystem and its susceptibility to toxic effects. Studies on the binding of organic contaminants to POM and DOM and its effects on toxicant accumulation are reviewed. The role of system productivity on adverse effects is explored by computer simulations, using a combined fate and effects model to evaluate the impacts of naphthalene on the production dynamics and contaminant body burden in different model populations when the concentration of POM varied from 0 to 10 mg C/L. Higher levels of POM decreased body burdens and moderated the reduction in productivity resulting from the exposure to naphthalene. Any interpretation of functional tests used to evaluate hazardous substances should consider the interaction between the trophic state of the system and the potentialmore » dose of toxicant available to biota.« less
Cognitive neuroscience: Colour my i's blue.

Studies of people who perceive colours when they see particular letters or digits are providing help with an old problem — that of whether awareness is needed to 'bind' visual features of an object together.
Identification of a Glycoprotein Produced by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain H10407 is capable of invading epithelial cell lines derived from the human ileocecum and colon in vitro. Two separate chromosomally encoded invasion loci (tia and tib) have been cloned from this strain. These loci direct nonadherent and noninvasive laboratory strains of E. coli to adhere to and invade cultured human intestinal epithelial cells. The tib locus directs the synthesis of TibA, a 104-kDa outer membrane protein that is directly correlated with the adherence and invasion phenotypes. TibA is synthesized as a 100-kDa precursor (preTibA) that must be modified for biological activity. Outer membranes of recombinant E. coli expressing TibA or preTibA were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted to nitrocellulose. The presence of glycoproteins was detected by oxidization of carbohydrates with periodate and labeling with hydrazide-conjugated digoxigenin. Only TibA could be detected as a glycoprotein. Complementation experiments with tib deletion mutants of ETEC strain H10407 demonstrate that the TibA glycoprotein is expressed in H10407, that the entire tib locus is required for TibA synthesis, and that TibA is the only glycoprotein produced by H10407. Protease treatment of intact H10407 cells removes the carbohydrates on TibA, suggesting that they are surface exposed. TibA shows homology with AIDA-I from diffuse-adhering E. coli and with pertactin precursor from Bordetella pertussis. Both pertactin and AIDA-I are members of the autotransporter family of outer membrane proteins and are afimbrial adhesins that play an important role in the virulence of these organisms. Analysis of the predicted TibA amino acid sequence indicates that TibA is also an autotransporter. Analysis of the tib locus DNA sequence revealed an open reading frame with similarity to RfaQ, a glycosyltransferase. The product of this tib locus open reading frame is proposed to be responsible for TibA modification. These results suggest that TibA glycoprotein acts as an adhesin that may participate in the disease process.
Science, technology, and regional economic development: Review and prospects

Abstract This paper reviews the literature on the location and regional effects of science and technology (ST these pools of mobile workers are most attracted to large urban areas. In only some of these areas, however, does the spin-off process result in the generation of new technology-based firms. The availability of local venture capital appears to be the principal influence on this variation. Government policy regarding science and technology has impacts on regions by contributing to the agglomeration of R&D. Government policy also often fails to recognize that S&T policy and industrial policy have regional effects that may be long-term in nature and most detrimental to those regions whose economies are least competitive. Finally, some priorities for future research on innovation in a regional setting are identified.
The magma plumbing system of Bezymianny Volcano: Insights from a 54 year time series of trace element whole-rock geochemistry and amphibole compositions

Abstract Samples from 33 individual eruptions of Bezymianny volcano between 1956 and 2010 provide an opportunity to study in detail the temporal evolution of an arc volcano. Major element and ICP-MS trace element analyses show that the eruptive products shifted progressively from relatively silicic magma in 1956 (~ 60.4% SiO2) to more mafic compositions (e.g. 56.8% SiO2 in 2010). Amphibole compositions changed concurrently from low-Al2O3 to high-Al2O3. Whole rock element-element variation diagrams show tight compositional arrays, some with a distinct kink in the late 1970s, which cannot be reproduced by fractionation of a single magma along a liquid line of descent. Amphibole thermobarometry indicates amphibole crystallization in two separate reservoirs, one between 200 and 300 MPa, and another between 500 and 750 MPa. Liquid compositions calculated from the amphibole analyses show that liquids stored in each reservoir become increasingly mafic from 1956 to 2010, suggesting that each reservoir received magma inputs from more mafic sources throughout the eruptive cycle. End member mixing analysis of the dataset allows calculation of three end member compositions that can be combined in varying proportions to reproduce major and trace element whole rock compositions. The end-member mixing proportions vary systematically between 1956 and 2010, with maxima for end-members A, B and C during 1956, 1977, and 2010, respectively. Major element compositions of phenocrysts, combined with published trace element partition coefficients, show that each end member may have evolved from a common parental magma by fractionation of three different mineral assemblages, possibly due to different pressures of crystallization and volatile contents. The petrologic data are consistent with three magma reservoirs at different depths. Magmas from the shallowest reservoir erupted first, with increasing proportions of deeper reservoirs over time. Past studies have demonstrated similarities in eruptive style between Bezymianny and both Mount St. Helens and Soufriere Hills volcanoes. Contrasting time series data show that the magma plumbing systems of Mount St. Helens and Bezymianny have little in common, while Soufriere Hills may be a better analog. Similar eruptive styles at the surface do not necessarily reflect similar systems of magma supply and evolution at depth.
Breton’s Wall, Carrington’s Kitchen: Surrealism and the Archive

Contemporary thinking about archives remains bound up in the vexed relationship between the political and the knowable. This essay explores the political epistemology of archives and archival practices, seeking to dislodge the contemporary scholarly discourse on archives from its tendency to instrumentalize archivation as either a repository of knowledge or an apparatus of power. In studying the collections of two members of the surrealist movement, this essay examines the extent to which archival practices instead suspend the certainties of political desire, disclosing the persistence of discontinuity within the closed systems into which such certainties always threaten to develop. It focuses on two archival collections: the studio of Andre Breton at 42, rue Fontaine in Paris, and the figural “kitchen” of Leonora Carrington's paintings and writings.
Comparison of the Water Balance of an Asphalt Cover and an Evapotranspiration Cover at Technical Area 49 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory

Two different types of waste covers, an asphalt cap and an evapotranspiration (ET) cover, have been used to contain a contaminated site at Technical Area (TA) 49 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). In 1961, a 2.5- to 20-cm-thick asphalt cap and gravel and clay cover was constructed to isolate contamination of surface soils associated with subcritical hydronuclear safety experiments conducted at TA-49 between 1959 and 1961. The asphalt cap remained in place for 37 yr until 1998 when it was replaced with an ET cover. Cracks and subsidence features in the asphalt cap were periodically filled during that time. The thickness of the ET cover is 2.1 m at its center, tapering to zero thickness at its edges. The ET cover is instrumented with three neutron logging access tubes, and four time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes, and covered by a galvanized steel mesh bio-intrusion layer. Soil moisture monitoring was conducted immediately after the removal of the asphalt cap in 1998, and continuously since 1999 within the ET cover, providing a unique comparison of the performance of these cap and cover types at a semiarid site. Soil moisture monitoring results indicate that the soils within and beneath the ET cover have been drying since its installation, and infiltration of precipitation and snowmelt has been minimized. The replacement of the asphalt cap with the ET cover has significantly decreased shallow subsurface moisture contents. With continued growth of vegetation and increased transpiration, the site should continue its return to native conditions where net infiltration and associated groundwater recharge rates are −1 .
Ototoxic reaction associated with use of nortriptyline hydrochloride: Case report

A case of ototoxic reaction during the use of nortriptyline hydrochloride is described in an 8-year-old girl. Audiologic symptoms of eighth nerve damage were alleviated following termination of the use of the drug. This reaction could relate to previously observed toxic effects of nortriptyline hydrochloride on peripheral nerves and the central nervous system. Further study and cautions about the use of the drug in enuretic children are indicated.
Learning in style: Correlation of learning styles with problem comprehension and perceptions in an introductory chemical engineering course

Learning styles are emphasized as being preferences for how an individual learns and indicators of how studying should be approached, rather than indicators of success. This has not, however, prevented researchers from exploring whether student performance can be dependent on matching question type to learning style. In a study of medical students, Cook et al. failed to establish such a correlation. However, small sample size and the inherently high inclination of the sample population to succeed were likely high contributing factors. Further, preferences are adaptable by education, and this study was conducted with advanced students. We are interested in the correlations between learning style preferences, task perception, and student performance in the context of an introductory chemical engineering material balances course. Assignments have a natural degree of learning style bias, and we are looking to see if student preferences correlate with their performance and perceptions when these biases are considered. Results will provide evidence regarding whether learning styles can affect student performance, as well as identify naturally occurring biases in chemical engineering problems that are translatable to other fields. A better understanding of student background and learning preferences is invaluable in developing improved curriculum, especially in the ever-changing modern classroom.
Neural gallops across auditory streams

We continually rely on our ability to segregate the myriad sounds in our environment--phones ringing, people talking--into separate "auditory streams," each originating from a different source. In this issue of Neuron, Micheyl et al. provide the most direct evidence to date linking single-unit spiking responses from auditory cortex to the perception of distinct auditory streams.
Differential effects of morphine and naltrexone on the antibody response in various mouse strains.

AbstractMorphine treatment has been shown to suppress several immunologic parameters. In this study, we examined the effects of morphine pellet implantation in vivo on the primary antibody response measured in vitro in various mouse strains. Effects of mouse strain and sex on morphine-induced suppression of the plaque-forming cell response, as well as spleen weight and mortality were determined. Morphine suppressed the primary antibody response in C3HeB/FeJ, C3H/HeJ and C57BI/6 mice, while Balb/cByJ and the (i-receptor-deficient strain CxBk/ByJ mice were not affected. There was no difference in the response to morphine between male and female C3HeB/FeJ mice. Naltrexone reversed the morphine-induced suppression in the C3H strains, but not in C57BI/6 mice. In addition, naltrexone caused significant mortality in Balb/cByJ mice. Spleen weight was decreased by morphine treatment in all the strains, but only the C3H strains were sensitive to the lethal effects of morphine. Thus, immune suppression did not corre...
AUTOMATION, PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTERINTEGRATED MANUFACTURING, 2ND EDITION, MIKELL P. GROOVER, PRENTICE HALL, 2000, 856 PP., ISBN 0-13-088978-4, LIST: $100

(2001). AUTOMATION, PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTERINTEGRATED MANUFACTURING, 2ND EDITION, MIKELL P. GROOVER, PRENTICE HALL, 2000, 856 PP., ISBN 0-13-088978-4, LIST: $100. Journal of Design and Manufacturing Automation: Vol. 1, No. 1-2, pp. 155-156.
Partial oxidation of ethanol over platinum and platinum–tin catalysts at millisecond contact times for hydrogen production

Abstract The catalytic partial oxidation of ethanol was carried out over three different catalysts at short contact times to identify the effects of alloying with tin and of the support. The platinum–tin catalyst on zirconia produced more hydrogen and carbon oxides than the platinum on zirconia catalyst yet both had similar conversion of ethanol and selectivity to acetaldehyde. X-ray diffraction showed the presence of an equimolar platinum–tin phase on the bimetallic catalyst. The smaller Pt–Pt bond distance in the bimetallic leads to a higher flux through the decarbonylation of acetaldehyde pathway (carbon–carbon bond breakage) compared to the dehydration of acetaldehyde route to ethylene. On alumina, the bimetallic catalyst exhibits behavior similar to the monometallic platinum on zirconia catalyst except there is more ethylene on the bimetallic. X-ray diffraction shows the presence of tin enriched platinum phases. It is likely that these phases are not active due to enrichment of the surface in tin and that the active sites are actually free platinum not taking part in the alloy. The difference in ethylene and acetaldehyde selectivity can be explained by the ability of zirconia to decompose ethylene/acetaldehyde to carbon, which is oxidized to carbon oxides in the atmosphere present during partial oxidation.
Evaluation of Columbia, USMARC-Composite, Suffolk, and Texel rams as terminal sires in an extensive rangeland production system: II. Postweaning growth and ultrasonic measures of composition for lambs fed a high-energy feedlot diet,

Over 3 yr, postweaning growth patterns and changes in ultrasonic measurements of fat depth (FD) and LM area were assessed for 1,049 crossbred ewe and wether lambs (Ovis aries) produced by mating adult Rambouillet ewes to 1 of 22 Columbia, 22 USMARC-Composite (Composite), 21 Suffolk, or 17 Texel rams and raised to weaning under extensive Western rangeland conditions. After weaning, lambs were transitioned to a high-energy finishing diet in a feedlot, weighed weekly for 13 to 16 wk, and scanned using ultrasound at 2-wk intervals to estimate FD and LM area between the 12th and 13th ribs. Lambs sired by Suffolk rams were 5 to 12% heavier (P 0.20). Columbia-sired lambs had less FD (8.9 mm) but smaller LM areas (15.6 cm(2)) at 90 d on test (both P 0.10) to that of Texel-sired lambs (16.0 cm(2)) and superior (P < 0.01) to that of Composite- (15.7 cm(2)) and Columbia-sired lambs (15.4 cm(2)). Lambs sired by Suffolk rams were thus equal or superior to lambs sired by the other 3 breeds in growth, FD, and LM area at comparable ages, fatness at 60 kg, and LM area at a FD of 9.1 mm, but inferior in LM area to Texel- and Composite-sired lambs at comparable BW.
Reflection and interference structure in diatomic Franck-Condon distributions

Abstract The Franck-Condon distributions for diatomic radiative transitions from a single vibrational level of a given electronic state to all possible levels (bound and free) of a second electronic state exhibit either “reflection” or “interference” structure. In reflection structure there is a one-to-one mapping of peaks in the initial state probability distribution into peaks in the spectrum. No such simple relationship is known for interference structure, originally termed “internal diffraction” by Condon [Phys. Rev. 32, 858–872 (1928)]. A semiclassical treatment of the quantum mechanical overlap integrals shows that the condition for reflection structure is a monotonic difference potential in the range of internuclear distance sampled by the initial wavefunction, whereas interference structure occurs when a “polytonic” difference potential is sampled. The qualitative validity of the semiclassical treatment is illustrated through quantum calculations which show that the Franck-Condon integrals accumulate near the points of stationary phase.