cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electric Field-Directed Patterning of Molecules on a Solid Surface

Adsorbed on a solid surface, a molecule can migrate and carry an electric dipole moment. A nonuniform electric field can direct the motion of the molecule. A collection of the same molecules may aggregate into a monolayer island on the solid surface. Place such molecules on a dielectric substrate surface, beneath which an array of electrodes is buried. By varying the voltages of the electrodes individually, it is possible to program molecular patterning, direct an island to move in a desired trajectory, or merge several islands into a larger one. This article develops a phase field model to simulate the molecular motion and patterning under the combined actions of dipole moments, intermolecular forces, entropy, and electrodes.
Transport properties of nano-silica contained self-consolidating concrete

Abstract The transport properties of various self-consolidating concretes (SCCs) containing nano-silica (NS) were investigated. Powder NS replaced a portion of the cementitious materials at different replacement levels ranging from 1.5 to 7.5% by weight. The flow, bulk, and transport properties of the studied SCCs were obtained. The investigated transport properties included water and capillary absorption, water penetration, rapid chloride permeability, rapid migration, and chloride diffusion. The transport properties of the SCCs containing NS were also compared to those of the equivalent SCCs containing micro-silica (MS), as well as those of the control SCCs. Test results showed that the transport properties of the studied SCCs improved with increases of NS replacing a portion of cementitious materials, as well as with the extension of curing age. The SCCs containing MS produced slightly better transport properties than the companion SCCs containing powder NS.
Use of oral Ofloxacin in lower respiratory tract infections

Die Daten zur oralen Therapie mit Ofloxacin bei Patienten mit Exazerbation einer chronischen Bronchitis oder mit Pneumonie wurden aus 123 Berichten (davon 122 publiziert) zusammengefast ausgewertet. In 17 Landern auserhalb der USA wurden fast 8000 Patienten mit tiefen Atemwegsinfektionen 4 bis 21 Tage lang mit Ofloxacin behandelt, wobei die klinischen und bakteriologischen Ansprechraten oft zwischen 90 und 100% lagen. Studien, die zur Zulassung bei der FDA eingereicht wurden, umfasten 229 Patienten; in den meisten Fallen erfolgte die Behandlung mit 400 mg Ofloxacin oral zweimal taglich. 97% der 271 Erreger wurden bei 97% der Patienten beseitigt. Ein Patient sprach auf die Therapie nicht an. In Vergleichsstudien mit Amoxicillin und Erythromycin oral erwies sich Ofloxacin als gleichwertig hinsichtlich klinischer und bakteriologischer Ergebnisse. In einer weiteren offenen Vergleichsstudie wurden Patienten mit akuter bakterieller Pneumonie entweder nach Randomverfahren mit Ofloxacin in einer Dosierung von 400 mg alle 12 Stunden oder — zumindest initial — mit einer parenteralen Therapie nach Wahl des behandelnden Arztes therapiert. 133 von 147 Patienten waren auswertbar; alle 69 mit Ofloxacin behandelten Patienten hatten auf die Therapie klinisch und bakteriologisch gut angesprochen, in der Vergleichsgruppe 61 von 64. In ihrer insgesamt niedrigen Nebenwirkungsrate waren die beiden Therapien vergleichbar. Bei ausgewahlten Patienten kann folglich eine orale Therapie mit Ofloxacin zur Behandlung einer Pneumonie anstelle einer parenteralen Therapie eingesetzt werden.
Necroptosis in anti-viral inflammation

The primary function of the immune system is to protect the host from invading pathogens. In response, microbial pathogens have developed various strategies to evade detection and destruction by the immune system. This tug-of-war between the host and the pathogen is a powerful force that shapes organismal evolution. Regulated cell death (RCD) is a host response that limits the reservoir for intracellular pathogens such as viruses. Since pathogen-specific T cell and B cell responses typically take several days and is therefore slow-developing, RCD of infected cells during the first few days of the infection is critical for organismal survival. This innate immune response not only restricts viral replication, but also serves to promote anti-viral inflammation through cell death-associated release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In recent years, necroptosis has been recognized as an important response against many viruses. The central adaptor for necroptosis, RIPK3, also exerts anti-viral effects through cell death-independent activities such as promoting cytokine gene expression. Here, we will discuss recent advances on how viruses counteract this host defense mechanism and the effect of necroptosis on the anti-viral inflammatory reaction.
The Paradox of Pedagogical Excellence Among Exemplary Black Women Educators

Research has documented that effective Black educators ignite the torch and light the path toward effectively meeting the needs of all students, particularly African American. However, descriptions...
Water desalination through rim functionalized carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising media for seawater desalination due to their high water flow rate. Currently, narrow CNT membranes cannot be mass-produced for salt rejection purposes. Hence, introducing chemical functional groups at the rims of comparatively wider CNTs is an alternative strategy to enhance the ion exclusion performance. Although the dipole moment between the CNT rim and locally anchored functional groups is expected to have an important impact on desalination performance, its specific effects have not been systematically investigated. Herein, we present a comprehensive study of the water permeability and salt rejection of CNTs with various dipole moments anchored at their rims using classic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Compared to their bare CNT counterparts, CNTs with a low dipole moment at the rim can slightly increase the water flow and salt rejection rate, and CNTs with a high dipole moment can significantly improve the salt rejection efficiency, although water passage is slowed. In general, introducing functional groups with a high dipole moment on wider CNT rims can filter more than 95% of salt ions while maintaining a high water permeability of 10.2 L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1. The calculated potential of mean force for water molecule and salt ion passage through the CNTs, oxygen and hydrogen density maps, radial distribution functions, and snapshots of water molecules and salt ions in the CNTs offer in-depth insights into the mechanism of seawater desalination by CNTs. Our study offers guidelines for an alternative design of CNTs to achieve both high salt rejection and fast water flow.
Network computing

Network computing represents a new computing paradigm in which all information, data and software applications reside on a network and are accessed on demand by users. This approach to computing offers the potential for users to access ‘everything‘ from ‘anywhere‘, removing the constraints of localised storage of information and applications, and, based on evolving standards, allowing access from a range of ‘information appliances‘. This paper introduces the basic ideas behind network computing, and examines a range of forms it could take. It describes the current status of commercial network computing approaches, with particular emphasis on the use of the Java language, and examines the associated benefits and technical issues. A prototype BT system, developed using Java client software and CORBA-based middleware, is described.
Latent trajectories of change for clients at a psychodynamic training clinic.

Objective Employing practice-based research methods, we addressed the need to examine the effectiveness of psychodynamic treatment as a supplement to the efficacy evidence offered by randomized clinical trials. Method We used person-centered analyses to generate latent subgroups of clients (N = 118; M age = 40.92; 53.4% female; 81.4% Caucasian; 80.5% heterosexual) receiving contemporary relational psychotherapy (CRP) at a psychodynamic community mental health training clinic. Results Subgroups of clients reported a change in depression, social conflict, and anxiety symptomatology, and overall life satisfaction, depicted by significant quadratic growth curves. Findings also offered exploratory support for a theoretical proposition from CRP that improved relational functioning would correspond to improved affect dysregulation and overall life satisfaction. Conclusion Clinical and training implications highlight the need to distinguish subgroups of "responders" and "nonresponders" to inform treatment.
I-Bundles and Essential Product Disks

Recall that we are trying to relate geometric and topological aspects of the knot complement \({S}^{3} \setminus K\) to quantum invariants and diagrammatic properties. So far, we have identified an essential state surface S A , and we have found a polyhedral decomposition of \({M}_{A}\,=\,{S}^{3}\setminus \setminus {S}_{A}\).
Effect of atrazine on apoptosis in cultured rat Sertoli cells

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the effects of atrazine( ATZ) on apoptosis in cultured rat Sertoli cells. METHODS The Sertoli cells isolated from male SD rats( 18-21day) were used to set up Sertoli cells primary culture model in vitro, and these cells were treated with 0, 10, 50, 100 and 200 μmol / L ATZ for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and the vimentin expression of Sertoli cells was analyzed by immunofluorescence assay, and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. Real timePCR was used to analyze the mRNA levels of Fas L, caspase-3 and caspase-8, and the protein contents of Fas L, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS The viability of Sertoli cells of 50, 100 and 200 μmol / L ATZ groups were 82. 47%, 75. 23% and 53. 76%. Compared with the control group, the viability of Sertoli cells decreased by 17. 53%( P < 0. 05), 24. 77%( P < 0. 05) and 46. 24%( P < 0. 01), respectively. The apoptosis rates of Sertoli cell of 50, 100 and 200 μmol / L ATZ groups were 8. 53%, 13. 07% and 14. 45%. Compared with the control group, the apoptosisrates of Sertoli cells were increased by 86. 86%( P < 0. 01), 186. 13%( P < 0. 01), 216. 06%( P < 0. 01), respectively. the mRNA and protein expressions of Fas L, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were significantly increased at 50, 100 and 200 μmol / L ATZ groups( P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). The Vimentin expression of Sertoli cells was inhibited in treated groups. CONCLUSION ATZ can affect the viability of Sertoli cells, and induce apoptosis of Sertoli cells through a Fas L dependent pathway.
Are We Still Overestimating Costs for Wind and Solar

In this issue of Joule, Steffen et al. tackle a challenging topic to quantify and project costs for operation and maintenance (O&M) of solar and wind power plants in Germany. They note that O&M costs can be 20%–25% of overall costs and find that such costs have decreased, resulting in common overestimates of O&M costs.
Capturing the primordial Kras mutation initiating urethane carcinogenesis

The environmental carcinogen urethane exhibits a profound specificity for pulmonary tumors driven by an oncogenic Q61L/R mutation in the gene Kras. Similarly, the frequency, isoform, position, and substitution of oncogenic RAS mutations are often unique to human cancers. To elucidate the principles underlying this RAS mutation tropism of urethane, we adapted an error-corrected, high-throughput sequencing approach to detect mutations in murine Ras genes at great sensitivity. This analysis not only captured the initiating Kras mutation days after urethane exposure, but revealed that the sequence specificity of urethane mutagenesis, coupled with transcription and isoform locus, to be major influences on the extreme tropism of this carcinogen. Why the carcinogen urethane causes only lung tumours driven by a specific oncogenic mutation in just one Ras gene in mice is unclear. Here, the authors capture mutations immediately after urethane exposure and show that the sequence specificity of mutagenesis, transcriptional status, and Ras genetic loci may all contribute to this specificity.
An Analysis of Complexity of Insider Attacks to Databases

Insider attacks are one of the most dangerous threats to an organization. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to foresee, detect, and defend against due to the trust and responsibilities placed on the employees. In this article, we first define the notion of user intent and construct a model for a common scenario that poses a very high risk for sensitive data stored in the organization’s database. We show that the complexity of identifying pseudo-intents of a user in this scenario is coNP-Complete, and launching a harvester insider attack within the boundaries of the defined threat model takes linear time while a targeted threat model is an NP-Complete problem. We also discuss the general defense mechanisms against the modeled threats and show that countering the harvester insider attack takes quadratic time while countering the targeted insider attack can take linear to quadratic time, depending on the strategy chosen. We analyze the adversarial behavior and show that launching an attack with minimum risk is also an NP-Complete problem. Finally, we perform timing experiments with the defense mechanisms on SQL query workloads collected from a national bank to test the feasibility of using these systems in real time.
Therapeutic texts: anxiety, eating and substance abuse disorders as metaphors of healing in Dominican fiction

In literary analysis, discourses of degeneration and illness have often been used to “diagnose” the ills plaguing a nation. This study seeks to expand this traditional assumption, suggesting that t...
Towards a Consilience of Knowledge - Ontological Foundations for Humanistic Management

In this paper we first outline the currently dominant narrative that guides management theory: the economistic narrative driven by the answers to the ontological and teleological questions which are provided by the social sciences. We then outline a humanistic narrative which provides different ontological and teleological foundations, borrowing from the natural sciences. We then argue that a humanistic narrative can guide management theory, practice and pedagogy in ways that allow for more mindful engagement with current sustainability related challenges.
DETER: Denial of Ethereum Txpool sERvices

On an Ethereum node, txpool (a.k.a. mempool) is a buffer storing unconfirmed transactions and controls what downstream services can see, such as mining and transaction propagation. This work presents the first security study on Ethereum txpool designs. We discover flawed transaction handling in all known Ethereum clients (e.g., Geth), and by exploiting it, design a series of low-cost denial-of-service attacks named DETER. A DETER attacker can disable a remote Ethereum node's txpool and deny the critical downstream services in mining, transaction propagation, Gas station, etc. By design, DETER attacks incur zero or low Ether cost. The attack can be amplified to cause global disruption to an Ethereum network by targeting centralized network services there (e.g., mining pools and transaction relay services). By evaluating local nodes, we verify the effectiveness and low cost of DETER attacks on all known Ethereum clients and in major testnets. We design non-trivial measurement methods against blackbox mainnet nodes and conduct light probes to confirm that popular mainnet services are exploitable under DETER attacks. We propose mitigation schemes that reduce a DETER attack's success rate down to zero while preserving the miners' revenue.
Suicidal behaviors among Latina adolescents: An ecodevelopmental approach and narrative review

Abstract Introduction For the past several decades, Latina adolescents have consistently shown high rates of suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts), higher than Latino adolescents and adolescents of most other ethnic groups. Yet, progress toward establishing evidence-based intervention efforts to address this urgent public health issue has been slow. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize empirical findings on etiological factors associated with Latina adolescent suicidal behaviors using an ecodevelopmental, gender-specific framework that contextualizes Latina adolescent development. Methods To be included, peer reviewed empirical manuscripts had to focus on suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicide attempts, suicide plan, and/or suicidal ideation) of adolescents (ages 11–19 or in grades 7–12) who self-identified as either Latina or Hispanic and a girl in the United States. Results A total of 19 studies met review criteria and focused on microsystemic and intrapersonal predictors. Microsystemic predictors included family (i.e., family-adolescent discrepancies in acculturation, family functioning, family-daughter interactions), peer (i.e., victimization, friendships), and school (i.e., functioning, achievement) factors, while intrapersonal predictors were emotional vulnerability, psychosocial functioning, and substance use. Conclusions Family-related phenomena were the most widely studied. Research on school and peer microsystems was comparatively sparse, and several promising intrapersonal development factors have been underexplored. A notable limitation of existing studies is that samples consisted primarily of U.S.-born adolescents living in urban areas. Additional research is needed to characterize factors on other ecodevelopmental levels, identify resilience processes, and examine within-group diversity among Latina adolescents. Implications for intervention and future directions are discussed.
Laser Research in Cancer in Animals

In the investigation of the effect of the laser in cancer, research has proceeded in orderly stages. First there was basic research on laser radiation of tissue cultures and then the research on cancer in animals, and then the treatment of cancer in man. It must be remembered that unlike cancer research with gamma radiation, laser frequencies of lasers are in the visable and near-visable light ranges. Therefore, the reactions depend upon the optical systems in tissues which accept the laser beam. Studies on impact of the laser on cancers, not only in superficial tissues but also in the subcutaneous or deeper tissues of animals may offer different problems of light reflection, absorption, and transmission than in similar areas of man. The effect of coagulation necrosis induced by the laser may also have a different systemic response in animals than in man. Research with tumors transplanted into animals may also have a different immunologic response from those tumors which arise spontaneously in animals. These are but some of the restriction or limitations which must be considered in analysis of the results of laser treatment of tumors in animals.
Assessment of ADCIRC's wetting and drying algorithm

The ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) model is a finite-element hydrodynamic model based on the generalized wave continuity equation (GWCE). The model assumed fixed land boundaries until a wetting and drying algorithm was implemented by 1. , 2. . The algorithm uses an element-based approach, effectively turning elements on and off based on water depths and a water level gradient. While robust in some simulations, the algorithm can be subject to instabilities in the solution during highly nonlinear events. Thus, a rigorous assessment of the algorithm's stability, accuracy, mass balance properties, and parameter sensitivity under a variety of conditions is needed. Herein, we examine these issues using a one-dimensional implementation of the wetting and drying algorithm for basins with a linear slope; future studies will examine a wider variety of real and idealized basins. We believe the results of this work will benefit similar studies in two- or three-dimensions, for users and developers of both ADCIRC and other finite element models.
A Machine Translation System from English to American Sign Language

Research in computational linguistics, computer graphics and autonomous agents has led to the development of increasingly sophisticated communicative agents over the past few years, bringing new perspective to machine translation research. The engineering of language-based smooth, expressive, natural-looking human gestures can give us useful insights into the design principles that have evolved in natural communication between people. In this paper we prototype a machine translation system from English to American Sign Language (ASL), taking into account not only linguistic but also visual and spatial information associated with ASL signs.
ISOZYMES: BIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

A RECENT and rather surprising discovery in biochemistry was the finding that a single enzyme can exist in several different forms within a single tissue. This discovery not only led to the development of new information concerning the nature of enzymes and enzyme action, but also has contributed to our knowledge of enzyme changes in disease. The purpose of this brief review is to describe the methodology used to recognize the different forms of an enzyme; to indicate the general biological significance of the phenomenon, and in particular, to focus on those areas which have broadened our understanding of the metabolic changes accompanying growth and development; and finally, to present data obtained from the clinical application of enzyme heterogeneity to medical diagnosis. DEFINITION OF ISOZYMES Over the years a major objective of the enzymologists has been to prepare enzymes in pure crystalline form. Once this had been accomplished, it was assumed that all of the molecules in the preparation were alike in regards to size, shape, amino acid composition, and the substances (substrates) on which they acted. Enzymes are proteins, and when newer techniques for separating proteins were applied to some of the crystalline enzyme preparations, a heterogeneous population of molecules with the same substrate specificity was discovered. This and other observations suggested to Markert and Moller that the classification of enzymes based on substrate specificity alone would have to be extended. For this reason they proposed the term isozyme to describe the different molecular forms in which proteins with the same enzymatic specificity may exist" within single organism. The most extensively studied enzyme from the point of view of molecular heterogeneity is lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
Extensional Properties of Sets of Time Bounded Complexity (Extended Abstract)

We analyze the fine structure of time complexity classes for RAM's, in particular the equivalence relation A= C B (“A and B have the same time complexity”) ⇔ (for all time constructible f : A∈DTIME RAM (f) ⇔ B∈DTIME RAM (f)). The =C-equivalence class of A is called its complexity type. We prove that every set X can be partitioned into two sets A and B such that X=t C A= C B, and that the partial order of sets in an arbitrary complexity type under \( \subseteq *\) (inclusion modulo finite sets) is dense. The proofs employ a new strategy for finite injury priority arguments.
Color and Color Stability of Structural and Monumental Stone

The color of structural and monumental stone challenges the engineer and architect to achieve with it the most effective and harmonious appearance in structural or architectural design. The utilization of different color shades of stone has given new life to many existing structures. Rock — or “stone” — is composed of one or more minerals. Stone colors are, therefore, influenced by the color of the predominant mineral itself, by the adjacent minerals, and by grain size.
Concept Learning and Feature Selection Based on Square-Error Clustering

Based on a reinterpretation of the square-error criterion for classical clustering, a “separate-and-conquer” version of K-Means clustering is presented and a contribution weight is determined for each variable of every cluster. The weight is used to produce conjunctive concepts that describe clusters and to reduce or transform the variable (feature) space.
Medicare Part D and Nursing Home Residents

The objective of this study was to analyze national Part D formulary data to assess adequacy of coverage across seven drug classes commonly used by nursing home residents and older people, focusing on individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and plans in which they enroll. Focusing at the molecule level, reasonably broad coverage across drug classes and minimal prior authorization overall was found. Of nonprotected classes, 69% of plans cover at least four of five Alzheimer's medications, 76% cover at least three of four bisphosphonates, 86% cover at least three of five proton pump inhibitors, and 61% cover at least four of six 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). Nevertheless, a minority of plans are less generous, and some drug formulations important to nursing home residents are covered less well. For example, 11% of plans cover only one or two of the six statins. Of protected drug classes, plans generally cover all molecules, as expected. The majority of plans require no prior authorization for covered medications in six of seven classes reviewed (excepting bisphosphonates). A minority of plans once again are more stringent. For example, 22% and 9% of Part D Plans nationally require prior authorization for all covered Alzheimer's drugs and proton pump inhibitors, respectively. Random assignment of dually eligible patients to below-benchmark plans means that some residents initially will be enrolled in these more-restrictive plans. Part D allows nursing home residents to switch plans at any time, but there are important barriers to residents' self-advocacy. Finally, it is unclear how well nursing homes and the pharmacies they work with will work across Part D plans, and vigilance will be required as the benefit proceeds.
Measurement and identification of S-glutathiolated proteins.

Protein thiol modifications occur under both physiological and pathological conditions and can regulate protein function, redox signaling, and cell viability. The thiolation of proteins by glutathione appears to be a particularly important mode of post-translational modification that is increased under conditions of oxidative or nitrosative stress. Modification of proteins by glutathiolation has been shown to affect the structure and function of several susceptible proteins and protect them from subsequent oxidative injury. In many cases, the glutathiolated proteins are low in abundance, and de-thiolation occurs readily. Therefore, sensitive, reliable, and reproducible methods are required for measuring both the total levels of protein glutathiolation and for identifying glutathiolated proteins under given conditions. These methods necessitate the preservation or the controlled removal of the glutathione adducts during sample preparation for the accurate measurement of total S-glutathiolation and for identification of protein-glutathione adducts. In this article, we briefly review and provide protocols for chemical, mass spectrometric, immunological, and radioactive tagging techniques for measuring protein S-glutathiolation in cells and tissues.
Smart hybrid house test systems in a solid-state transformer supplied microgrid

This paper presents the design and setup, considerations, and preliminary results of an AC/DC hybrid smart house test system. Rapid growth of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) in distribution systems makes it viable to supply a residential home with both AC and DC power sources. Solid-state transformers (SST) used as energy routers for rerouting power during normal and emergency situations are being developed in the FREEDM center at North Carolina State University. To provide a load test system for studying the control and monitoring of such an SST supplied AC/DC mixed power supply system, an 1-SST AC/DC hybrid smart house test system is built. The test system consists of a solid state transformer (SST), on-site photovoltaic panels, energy storage devices and three AC/DC smart houses with a home energy management system (HEMS). A demonstration case is presented to illustrate the operation of the test system for algorithm development and validation.
"My Roomba is Rambo": intimate home appliances

Robots have entered our domestic lives, but yet, little is known about their impact on the home. This paper takes steps towards addressing this omission, by reporting results from an empirical study of iRobot's Roomba™, a vacuuming robot. Our findings suggest that, by developing intimacy to the robot, our participants were able to derive increased pleasure from cleaning, and expended effort to fit Roomba into their homes, and shared it with others. These findings lead us to propose four design implications that we argue could increase people's enthusiasm for smart home technologies.
Violation of the Wiedemann-Franz Law in Hydrodynamic Electron Liquids

The Wiedemann-Franz law, connecting the electronic thermal conductivity to the electrical conductivity of a disordered metal, is generally found to be well satisfied even when electron-electron (e-e) interactions are strong. In ultraclean conductors in the hydrodynamic regime, however, large deviations from the standard form of the law are expected, due to the fact that e-e interactions affect the two conductivities in radically different ways. Thus, the standard Wiedemann-Franz ratio between the thermal and the electric conductivity is reduced by a factor 1+τ/τ(th)(ee), where 1/τ is the momentum relaxation rate and τ(th)(ee) is the relaxation time of the thermal current due to e-e collisions. Here we study the density and temperature dependence of 1/τ(th)(ee) of two-dimensional electron liquids. We show that at low temperature 1/τ(th)(ee) is 8/5 of the quasiparticle decay rate; remarkably, the same result is found in doped graphene and in conventional electron liquids in parabolic bands.
Computed tomographic pneumocolonography in normal dogs

Objectives of this prospective study were to describe effects of varying technical components that may contribute to an optimal protocol for computed tomographic pneumocolonography (CTP) in dogs, and to develop a standardized methodology for CTP as a future potential diagnostic tool in canine clinical patients with large bowel disease. Eight purpose-bred intact male hound cross-research dogs were enrolled and randomized to groups based on variables of pressure/body position (n = 4) and insufflation time (n = 4). For each segment of large bowel (rectum, colorectal junction, descending colon, transverse colon, ascending colon), the adequacy of bowel preparation, % of bowel lumen filled with fecal material, and bowel tortuosity or folding were assessed. Measurements of bowel wall thickness (cm), cross-sectional bowel lumen diameter (cm), and cross-sectional bowel luminal area (cm(2) ) were obtained at standardized locations within the large bowel. False discovery rates (FDR) were calculated to adjust for multiple testing. Values of FDR < 0.05 were considered significant. Differences in mean cross-sectional area and diameter and bowel wall thickness under increasing pressure were not significant after adjusting for multiple testing; some had raw p values <0.05. Ascending colon diameter and ascending colon area significantly increased with insufflation time (FDR < 0.05). No other response variables showed a significant change with insufflation time. The optimal insufflation pressure for maintaining pneumocolon in this study was determined to be 20 mmHg. CTP is a feasible technique to provide consistent distension for imaging of the large bowel and further study on application of CTP in clinical patients is warranted.
The agonist binding site of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A channel is not formed by the extracellular cysteine loop

The amino-terminal extracellular domain of the subunits comprising the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor contains two cysteine residues (designated at relative positions 1 and 15) separated by 13 amino acids. These two cysteines (presumably disulfide bonded) are located approximately 150 amino acids from the amino terminus. There is significant homology in the amino acid sequence of this cysteine loop both between the different subunits of the GABA receptor and with subunits of other members of this ligand-gated ion channel superfamily (nicotinic acetylcholine- and glycine-activated ion channels). A number of highly conserved amino acids within the cysteine loop have been postulated to play a role in agonist binding. Here, using site-directed mutagenesis and oocyte expression, we have examined the effects of mutating amino acids comprising the cysteine loop on the activation of recombinant GABA channels composed of rat alpha 1, beta 2 and gamma 2 subunits. Preventing the formation of the putative cysteine-cysteine disulfide bond in any of the subunits, by mutating the cysteine at position 15 to serine, prevented the functional expression of that subunit. For example, coexpression of gamma C15S with wild-type alpha and beta subunits resulted in GABA-activated currents with properties identical to those of GABA-activated currents from coexpression of alpha and beta subunits alone. These properties included sensitivity to activation by GABA (similar EC50 values), blockade by Zn2+, and lack of modulation by the benzodiazepine diazepam. We also mutated conserved amino acids in the beta subunit that had been specifically proposed to form the GABA binding site (beta R6, beta Y8, and beta D11). These mutations (as well as several others within or adjacent to the cysteine loop) produced either a very moderate effect or no effect on GABA sensitivity, suggesting that these particular amino acids do not play a key role in activation of the GABA channel. The data presented in this study support a role for the cysteine loop in subunit assembly, rather than channel activation.
A simple class of efficient compression schemes supporting local access and editing

In this paper, we study the problem of compressing a collection of sequences of variable length that allows us to efficiently add, read, or edit an arbitrary sequence without decompressing the whole data. This problem has important applications in data servers, file-editing systems, and bioinformatics. We propose a novel and practical compression scheme, which shows that, by paying a small price in storage space (3% extra storage space in our examples), we can retrieve or edit a sequence (a few hundred bits) by accessing compressed bits close to the entropy of the sequence.
SU-FF-T-173: Dose Per Monitor Unit Determination for Proton Therapy Treatment Portals with and Without the Range Compensator

Purpose: To determine whether dose per monitor unit values (D/MU) for small‐field proton therapytreatment portals can be more reliably measured with or without the field‐specific range compensator present. Methods and Materials:Treatments of 14 geometric models representative of typical neurosurgery patients were simulated using a Monte Carlo model of the M. D. Anderson Proton Therapy Center‐Houston double scattering nozzle. Simulations of field‐specific D/MUcalibration measurements were carried out in a water phantom with and without the range compensator present. D/MU values from each calibration technique were compared to values from the patient treatment simulation. For each case, D/MU values were scored with metrics that characterized the accuracy, uncertainty, the standard deviation of accuracy and uncertainty, worst agreement, and maximum uncertainty. The metrics were combined by defining the following figures of merit (FOM), which ranged in value from 0 to 1 (0 being worst, 1 being best): total FOM (a composite of all metrics), clinical FOM (accuracy and uncertainty metrics), variability FOM (standard deviations of accuracy and uncertainty metrics), and worst‐case FOM (worst agreement and maximum uncertainty metrics). The two D/MUcalibration techniques were compared based on the FOMs. Results: the total fom when measuring without the range compensator was 0.85 and 0.49 with the compensator. The clinical, variability, and worst‐case foms were 0.85, 0.92, and 0.79, respectively, without the range compensator, compared to 0.51 (clinical), 0.48 (variability), and 0.46 (worst‐case) with the range compensator. The superiority of calibrating without the compensator was mainly attributable to the fact that the dose distributions were more similar to those in the patients. Additionally, determining d/mu values without the compensator is conceptually simpler and more convenient. Conclusion: For the 14 cases considered in this work, measuring D/MU without the range compensator provided more reliable values of D/MU than measuring with the range compensator.
An Experimental, Observational Investigation of Children's Responses to Peer Provocation: Developmental and Gender Differences in Middle Childhood

The primary goal of this research was to use an experimental, observational method to study the development of anger expression during middle childhood. Eight-, 10-, and 12-year-old girls and boys (N = 382) were observed during a laboratory play session that was provoking in two ways: Participants lost a computer game they were playing for a desirable prize, and their play partner was a same-age, same-gender confederate actor who taunted them. Children's responses to the provoking play sessions-facial expressions, verbalizations, and gestures-were reliably coded. Overall, children in these age groups maintained a remarkable degree of composure. Girls made fewer negative comments than boys did, and fewer negative gestures. Older children maintained more neutral facial expressions, made fewer gestures, and were more likely to remain silent when provoked. When they spoke, older children made fewer negative comments, fewer remarks about the game, and fewer positive comments about themselves or the actor.
Anger Mediates the Relation Between Violence Exposure and Violence Perpetration in Incarcerated Boys

Youth who are exposed to violence are more likely to perpetrate violence. Incarcerated youth are a special population that is at a significantly greater risk for violent offending because of their relatively greater rates of violence exposure. Two important outcomes of violence exposure that may help explain its link with violence perpetration are posttraumatic stress disorder and problematic anger. The primary aim of the current study is to examine whether these important risk factors mediate the relation between two types of violence exposure (i.e., witnessing and victimization) and various types of violence perpetration in a sample of 373 incarcerated male adolescent offenders. A second aim is to test whether another well-established correlate of violence in youth, callous-unemotional (CU) traits (lack of empathy, guilt), adds unique variance beyond violence exposure, anger, and PTSD symptomatology. Findings suggest that anger is a robust predictor of violence and appears to at least partially act as the mechanism through which violence exposure is linked with violence perpetration. CU traits also contribute unique variance, beyond the significant effect of anger, to the statistical prediction of community, but not institutional, violence.
Melt-processed Ni3Al matrix composites reinforced with TiC particles

TiC-reinforced Ni3Al metal matrix composites have been investigated. The composites were prepared by in situ precipitation of either 0.01, 0.05, or 0.1 vol fraction TiC in molten Ni3Al. These precipitates are thermodynamically stable in the Ni3Al at 1000 °C up to 50 hours. Although almost ideal precipitate distribution was achieved at low volume fraction of TiC, at higher volume fraction, there was a tendency toward agglomeration. Room and hightemperature mechanical testing showed significant improvement in modulus, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength, while still maintaining a 2.5 pct elongation at 0.1 vol. fraction TiC and 500 °C. The density of precipitates (number/m3) is strongly dependent on the fraction of TiC, on temperature, and on the holding time at that temperature. The critical nucleation temperature for these precipitates was determined to be at 1475 °C. Experimentally evaluated growth rate constants indicate a diffusion-controlled coarsening mechanism along with coalescence and multiparticle interaction at higher volume fractions of TiC. This is in accordance with either the Lifshitz Slyozov Encounter Modified (LSEM) model or with the Voorhees and Glicksman (VG) model.
Improved performance of dye solar cells using nanocarbon as support for platinum nanoparticles in counter electrode

Abstract Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) were used to support platinum nanoparticles as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Carbon nanoparticles provided larger effective surface area and better exposure of Pt nanoparticles resulting in very efficient electrocatalytic performance as counter electrode. DSCs fabricated using such counter electrode showed enhanced efficiency owing to lower series resistance and higher fill factor as a result of reduced charge transfer resistance. The overall power conversion efficiency of the DSC devices using these CNP/Pt counter electrodes reached 8.12% as compared to 7.49% for reference platinum counter electrode DSCs under 1 sun illumination.
Current Adlerian therapies.

Abstract In the past decade, Adlerian methods of psychotherapy have been used increasingly in response to the growing need for adequate mental health care. The increased awareness of disordered behavior in the individual, the family, the school, and the community requires practical, brief and efficient methods, and many Adlerian approaches seem to fulfill this need. 10 Only the most relevant Adlerian therapies will be summarized in this paper; although some may appear almost commonplace, their use can enrich the therapist's skills.
Sweating threshold during isoflurane anesthesia in humans.

Isoflurane anesthesia in humans markedly decreases the threshold temperature triggering peripheral thermoregulatory vasoconstriction (i.e., central temperature triggering vasoconstriction). However, it is not known whether the sweating threshold remains unchanged (e.g., near 37 degrees C), decreases along with the vasoconstriction threshold, or increases during anesthetic administration. Accordingly, the hypothesis that isoflurane anesthesia increases the thermoregulatory threshold for sweating was tested. Forehead sweating was evaluated in five healthy patients given isoflurane anesthesia. The sweating threshold was prospectively defined as the distal esophageal temperature at which significant sweating was first observed. Sweating was observed in each patient at a mean central temperature of 38.3 +/- 0.3 degrees C and an end-tidal isoflurane concentration of 1.1% +/- 0.2%. The interthreshold range (difference between vasoconstriction and sweating thresholds) without anesthesia is approximately 0.5 degrees C; isoflurane anesthesia increases this range to approximately 4 degrees C.
Mapping Complexity in the Fiction of Umberto Eco

Abstract As inhabitants of an increasingly complex multinational space that challenges us with the immense “difficulty, if not impossibility, of extracting ourselves from the dominant cultural maps within which we live” (King 182), we have seen in the last few decades a growth of “complexity consciousness” in the general population. This new consciousness has constructively transformed some of the most dominant “maps” in late-twentieth-century industrial societies. A new environmental awareness in world culture, emerging from a recognition of the complex symbiotic relationship between humanity and the earth's resources and a conviction that we must sustain “the fragile web” of our planet's diversity, has displaced the hitherto unquestioned conviction that nature exists for our exploitation (“Biodiversity”).
Sibling Visitation: Effects on Newborn Infection Rates

This study compared signs and symptoms of infection in term infants who had direct contact with their siblings with infants who had contact only with an adult visitor as part of a postpartum hospital visitation program (N = 150). Following sibling visitation, mothers assessed their infants for signs and symptoms of infection using a questionnaire designed for this study. No increase in signs and symptoms of infection associated with direct sibling visitation in this setting was identified.
Bounds and Transformations for Discounted Finite Markov Decision Chains

This paper develops new improved bounds on the optimal return function in finite state and action, infinite horizon, discounted stationary Markov decision chains. The bounds are obtained by solving a single-constraint, bounded-variable linear program. They can be used for algorithmic termination criteria and improved tests for suboptimal decisions. We show how to implement these tests so that little additional computational effort is required. We consider several transformations that can be used to convert a process into an equivalent one that may be easier to solve. We examine whether the transformations reduce the spectral radius and/or the norm maximum row sum of the process. Gauss-Seidel iteration and Jacobi iteration are shown to be special cases of the general transformations. Gauss-Seidel iteration is given additional consideration. Another special case not only preserves equality of the row sums and sparsity but, when applicable, can dramatically reduce the norm. It reduces each element in a column by that column's smallest element. Several possible computational approaches are applied to a small numerical example.
The geochemical distribution and source of copper in the metalliferous mining region of Southwest England

In order to test a hypothesis on the origin of copper in the Cornwall district, 270 samples of mafic rocks, 88 samples of sedimentary rocks and 78 samples of granitic rocks have been analysed for their copper contents. Among the mafic rocks, the intrusive microgabbro has a higher mean copper content (59±32 PPM) than the spilitic pillow lavas (43±27 PPM). The abundance of copper in the sedimentary rocks appears to be related to their lithological characters. The average copper content of the grey slates with carbonaceous material (47±16 PPM) is higher than that for the noncarbonaceous grey slates (29±20 PPM) The distribution of copper in the granitic rocks shows a marked relationship with the degree of mineralisation in the region. The average copper content of the granitic rocks from the intensely mineralized region is 73±18 PPM while the granitic rocks from the less mineralized region contain an average of 21±9 PPM copper. Further, it appears that there has been a general enrichment of copper from early granitic stage to the late pegmatites. These geochemical features can be of potential use in selecting intrusive bodies for detailed exploration. The high copper content in the country rock and in the mineralized intrusion plus a likelihood of assimilation of crust in forming granitic magmas suggest that the copper deposited as hydrothermal lodes may have been derived from the country rocks of the region.
Response of the Pacific Ocean circulation to climate change

The response of the Pacific Ocean circulation to climate change is investigated by comparing solutions from a set of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) coupled models for a present-day climate (the 20C3M experiments) and a future, warmer climate (the SRESA1B experiments). Under the warmer climate scenario, the oceanic changes in the tropical Pacific include a relatively weak warming of the western equatorial thermocline, a weakening of the surface current system and a complicated change in the structure of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) with an increased flow in its upper branch but a decreased flow in its lower branch. As the climate warms, the North Pacific Ocean features a basin-scale reduction in mixed layer depth, a weakening of the subtropical countercurrent (STCC), a northward shift of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) and an overall slowdown of the subtropical gyre. In the South Pacific, the warmer climate induces significant changes in the upper ocean of ...