cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface Micromachined Polysilicon Components Containing Continuous Hinges and Microrivets Used to Realize Three-Dimensional MEMS Structures

A new polysilicon surface micromachining technique for fabricating and assembling three-dimensional structures has been developed. Single-layer polysilicon elements and laminated polysilicon panels incorporating trapped-glass reinforcement ribs have been successfully fabricated on a silicon substrate with robust and continuous hinges that facilitate out-of-plane rotation and assembly. To realize a stable three-dimensional structure, one of the device’s elevatable panel components is terminated with an array of open windows, and the mating rotatable element has a matched set of protruding arrowheads/microrivets with flexible barbs that readily flex to facilitate their joining and assembly. Because the arrowhead/microrivet barb tip-to-barb tip separation is larger than the opening in the mating window, the barbs flex inward as they pass through the open window and then expand to their original shape upon exiting the window, resulting in a permanently latched joint and a three-dimensional structure. Three novel arrow-head/microrivet designs have been micromachined to facilitate the latching process, including a simple arrowhead, a high-aspect ratio arrowhead, and a rivet-like structure with a hemispherical shaped cap and a flexible split shank.
Rubber Chemicals from Cyclic Amines. VI. 2-(4-Morpholinodithio)Benzothiazole and Related Compounds as Curing Agents

Abstract Unlike the case of the thiazolesulfenamides, the electronic effect of substitution in the thiazole moiety on the curing properties of these compounds is not consistent. The unsubstituted 2-(4-morpholinodithio)benzothiazole 1 is superior to the 6-ethoxy, 5-chloro, or 6-nitro substituted derivatives in curing properties. The 5-ethoxycarbonyl-2-(morpholinodithio)-4-methylthiazole is comparable to 1 in scorch delay and curing activities. It is superior to the 5-acetyl and the unsubstituted 4-methyl thiazole derivatives. Both the benzoxazole and benzimidazole derivatives are inferior to the benzothiazole and 4-methyl thiazole analogs.
Directionality of ambient noise on the Juan de Fuca plate: implications for source locations of the primary and secondary microseisms

SUMMARY Based on cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise computed using 61 ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) within the Juan de Fuca (JdF) plate from the Cascadia Initiative experiment and 42 continental stations near the coast of the western United States, we investigate the locations of generation of the primary (11–20s period) and secondary (5–10s period) microseisms in the northern Pacific Ocean by analysing the directionality and seasonality of the microseism (Rayleigh wave) signals received in this region. We conclude that (1) the ambient noise observed across the array is much different in the primary and secondary microseism bands, both initsazimuthalcontentandseasonalvariation.(2)Theprincipalsecondarymicroseismsignals propagate towards the east, consistent with their generation in deep waters of the North Pacific, perhaps coincident both with the region of observed body wave excitation and the predicted wave–waveinteractionregionfromrecentstudies.(3)Theprimarymicroseism,asindicatedby observations of the azimuthal dependence of the fundamental mode Rayleigh wave as well as observations of precursory arrivals, derives significantly from the shallow waters of the eastern Pacific near to the JdF plate but also has a component generated at greater distance of unknown origin. (4) These observations suggest different physical mechanisms for generating the two microseisms: the secondary microseisms are likely to be generated by non-linear wave–wave interaction over the deep Pacific Ocean, while the primary microseism may couple directly into the solid earth locally in shallow waters from ocean gravity waves. (5) Above 5s period, high quality empirical Green’s functions are observed from cross-correlations between deep water OBSs and continental stations, which illustrates that microseisms propagate efficiently from either deep or shallow water source regions onto the continent and are well recorded by continental seismic stations.
Effect of Lifengling and Isolane on Lodging Resistance of Direct Seeding Rice

The objective of this experiment was to study the influence of Lifengling and Isolane sprayed separately or in mixture on lodging resistance of direct seeding rice.The rice variety of Y liangyou 1 was used as testing material.The results showed that spray of Lifengling and/or Isolane lengthened the distance of the second internode,but reduced that of the third and the fourth internode below ear.In addition,it could also increase the stalk diameter and wall thickness,especially the internode between the third and the fourth node.Therefore,the breaking resistance and the lodging resistance of rice were strengthened and the lodging index of rice was reduced significantly(P0.01).The application of these regulators increased the plant height,leaf width,and the angular separation between leaves and stalk.At the same time,the application of these regulators reduced the length of flag,the second and the third leaf.Spray of these regulators improved the plant morphology and increased the ripening rate,single ear yield,and rice yield.Both the theoretical and the actual yield increased significantly(P0.01) owing to spray of these regulators.Spray of Lifengling brought the best outcome followed by combination of Lifengling and Isolane,and then Isolane.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of barbiturate-phospholipid interactions.

Interactions between phenobarbital or pentobarbital with the phospholipids phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine, and cardiolipin were indicated by the effects of added phospholipid on the 1H magnetic resonance spectra of these barbiturates. Similar studies with phosphatidylserine gave no indication of interaction between phospholipid and the barbiturates at a comparable phospholipid concentration. Of the two barbiturates studies, phenobarbital produced the greater spectral change at a given phospholipid to barbiturate ratio. The interactions of the barbiturates with the phospholipids were further characterized using 31P and 13C magnetic resonance. Addition of barbiturate to phospholipid produced marked upfield shifts in the respective 31P peaks of the phospholipids. 13C studies verified that protonation of the basic phosphate group of the phospholipids by the weakly acidic N-H proton of the barbiturate did not account for the observed spectral changes. The direction, magnitude, and temperature dependence of the observed changes in chemical shifts in the proton and phosphorus magnetic resonance spectra are consistent with hydrogen bonding as the mode of association of the barbiturates with the phospholipids. These studies specifically identified the molecular sites of interaction as an N-H moiety of the barbiturate and the phosphate group of the phospholipid, and allowed determination of the association constants for the interactions in chloroform: Kassoc for the various barbiturate-phospholipid pairs ranged from 175 to 25, the latter value corresponding to the phosphatidylethanolamine-phenobarbital interaction. The results are discussed in terms of a model for the interaction of barbiturates with membranes.
El Principio 'Competence-Competence'; Análisis Comparativo y su Aplicación en la Legislación de Arbitraje Paraguaya (The 'Competence-Competence' Principle; Comparative Analysis and Its Application in the Paraguayan Arbitration Law)

Spanish Abstract: Este ensayo se centra en el principio de arbitraje internacionalmente conocido como "Competence-Competence". El autor se refiere a varias legislaciones, asi como jurisprudencia, que tratan el principio; asimismo, se analiza como es aplicado el mismo en las diferentes jurisdicciones. El autor tambien hace mencion a la legislacion paraguaya de arbitraje y a la jurisprudencia paraguaya. Al final, teniendo en cuenta la experiencia de otros paises referidos en este trabajo, el autor ensaya unas breves conclusiones al tiempo de proponer modificaciones en la legislacion paraguaya de arbitraje. Asi tambien, el autor indica el metodo que a su criterio seria el apropiado para la implementacion de los cambios sugeridos.English Abstract:This material addresses the application of the arbitration principle known as “Competence-Competence”. In doing so, the author refers to legislation and case-law so related and how different jurisdicitions have been applying this principle. Also, the author focuses in both Paraguayan law and case-law. At the end, taking into consideration relevant prior experience in other countries here referred to, the author draws brief conclusions and proposes some changes in the Paraguayan arbitration law. Also, the author indicates what would be – in his view – the appropriate method to implement the suggested changes.
Effect of lateral, downward, and frontal gusts on flapping wing performance

Abstract The effect of lateral, downward, and frontal wind gusts on the aerodynamic characteristics of a rigid wing undergoing insect-based flapping motion is studied numerically. The turbulent flow near the flapping wing is described by the 3-D unsteady compressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence model. The governing equations are solved using a second-order node-centered finite volume scheme on a hexahedral body-fitted grid that rigidly moves along with the wing. A low-Mach-number preconditioner is used to accelerate the convergence of subiterations at each time step. Our numerical results show that the aerodynamic response of the centimeter -scale wing to various gust conditions strongly depends on the mutual orientation of the wing stroke plane and the gust velocity vector.
Conclusion: The Meaning of College and the Economics of Choice

Though the 50 mostly low-income Latino/a respondents considered in this book remained optimistic about the future, even those who completed a four-year degree graduated into uncertain futures. These 50 individuals cannot reveal the story about college pathways in the college-for-all era; still, their stories provide a lens for better understanding some of the effects of the current higher education landscape. The Great Recession and stagnant recovery have exacerbated both the importance of a college degree and the financial barriers to attaining it. Latino/a respondents’ optimistic expectations for college seldom burn out, due in part to the perception that a college degree means something more than “just” a higher paycheck. Their experiences illuminate troublesome practices in higher education that are worth targeting for reform.
Anti-β2-Microglobulin Monoclonal Antibodies Recruit MHC Class I to and Exclude Growth and Survival Cytokine Receptors from Lipid Rafts and Induce Apoptosis in Myeloma Cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy dependent on the bone marrow microenvironment, where a number of cytokines contribute to myeloma cell growth, survival, migration and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. We have recently shown that β2M-specific mAbs have remarkably strong antimyeloma activities by binding to β2M and recruiting MHC class I to the lipid rafts, in turn activating JNK and inhibiting ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, whereas, neither interleukin-6 (IL-6) nor insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) affect mAb-tumoricidal effects. This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms underlying anti-β2M mAb-induced PI3K/Akt and ERK inhibition and the inability of IL-6 and IGF-I to protect myeloma cells from mAb-induced apoptosis. In our experiments, β2M-specific mAbs were added to cultures of myeloma cells, including tumor cell lines and freshly isolated primary tumor cells from patients with MM, with or without addition of IL-6 or IGF-I. Cell apoptosis was examined 48 hours later by Annexin-V staining assay. The results confirmed that the addition of IL-6 or IGF-I significantly undermined dexamethasone-induced cell death, but did not abrogate mAb-induced apoptosis in myeloma cells. As lipid rafts are considered to function in part as a platform for signaling from the receptors, and ERK and PI3K/Akt are downstream of IL-6 and IGF-I receptor activation, we hypothesized that MHC class I relocation to lipid rafts by mAbs may disrupt IL-6 and IGF-I receptor signaling. For this purpose, myeloma cells were incubated with cytokines, with or without mAbs. After 30 minutes of treatment, lipid rafts were prepared and separated using a discontinuous sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation followed by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. The results showed that by recruiting MHC class I into lipid rafts, anti-β2M mAbs excluded IL-6 and IGF-I receptors and their substrates from the rafts. Likewise, upon immunoprecipitation, IL-6 and IGF-I receptors in cytokine-treated cells were physically associated with caveolin-1, a lipid raft-associated protein. Such an association was missing or less prominent in cytokine- and β2M-specific mAb-treated myeloma cells. Treatment with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD), an agent that disrupts the structure of lipid rafts in the cell membrane, could abrogate both IL-6-mediated protection against apoptosis induced by dexamethasone and β2M-specific mAb-induced cell death of myeloma cells. Using Western blotting assay, we further found that β2M-specific mAbs were not only redistributed the receptors in cell membrane, but also abrogated cytokine-mediated JAK/STAT3, PI3K/Akt, and Ras/Raf/ERK pathway signaling, which are otherwise constitutively activated in myeloma cells. Thus, this study further defines the tumoricidal mechanism of the β2M-specific mAbs and provides strong evidence to support the potential of these mAbs as therapeutic agents for myeloma.
Sparsity-promoting optimal control of systems with invariances and symmetries

Abstract: We take advantage of system invariances and symmetries to gain convexity and computational advantage in regularized H 2 and H ∞ optimal control problems. For systems with symmetric dynamic matrices, the problem of minimizing the H 2 or H ∞ performance of the closed-loop system can be cast as a convex optimization problem. Although the assumption of symmetry is restrictive, studying the symmetric component of a general system’s dynamic matrices provides bounds on the H 2 and H ∞ performance of the original system. Furthermore, we show that for certain classes of systems, block-diagonalization of the system matrices can bring the regularized optimal control problems into forms amenable to efficient computation via distributed algorithms. One such class of systems is spatially-invariant systems, whose dynamic matrices are circulant and therefore block-diagonalizable by the discrete Fourier transform.
Modeling of Myocardium Compressibility and its Impact in Computational Simulations of the Healthy and Infarcted Heart

Simulation of heart function requires many components, including accurate descriptions of regional mechanical behavior of the normal and infarcted myocardium. Myocardial compressibility has been known for at least two decades, however its experimental measurement and incorporation into computational simulations has not yet been widely utilized in contemporary cardiac models. In the present work, based on novel in-vivo ovine experimental data, we developed a specialized compressible model that reproduces the peculiar unimodal compressible behavior of myocardium. Such simulations will be extremely valuable to understand etiology and pathophysiology of myocardium remodeling and its impact on tissue-level properties and organ-level cardiac function.
Impact of Drug-Rich Colloids of Itraconazole and HPMCAS on Membrane Flux in Vitro and Oral Bioavailability in Rats

Improving the oral absorption of compounds with low aqueous solubility is a common challenge that often requires an enabling technology. Frequently, oral absorption can be improved by formulating the compound as an amorphous solid dispersion (ASD). Upon dissolution, an ASD can reach a higher concentration of unbound drug than the crystalline form, and often generates a large number of sub-micrometer, rapidly dissolving drug-rich colloids. These drug-rich colloids have the potential to decrease the diffusional resistance across the unstirred water layer of the intestinal tract (UWL) by acting as rapidly diffusing shuttles for unbound drug. In a prior study utilizing a membrane flux assay, we demonstrated that, for itraconazole, increasing the concentration of drug-rich colloids increased membrane flux in vitro. In this study, we evaluate spray-dried amorphous solid dispersions (SDDs) of itraconazole with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) to study the impact of varying concentrations ...
Uveal Melanoma Nuclear BRCA1-Associated Protein-1 Immunoreactivity Is an Indicator of Metastasis

Purpose To examine the BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1) expression of primary uveal melanomas without and with metastasis, and to analyze the correlation between the BAP1 immunoreactivity of primary uveal melanoma and other clinicopathologic features. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Forty patients with uveal melanoma (mean age, 57.98±14.75 years) were included in this analysis, of whom 20 had no metastatic disease and 20 had metastasis. Methods Medical records and histology slides of patients with primary uveal melanoma treated by enucleation were reviewed. BAP1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Immunoreactivity in the nucleus and cytoplasm were graded by estimating the percentage of primary tumor cells showing a positive staining of their nucleus or cytoplasm per 1 high-power field 200× (grades 0–3). Main Outcome Measures Tumor size, histologic features, nuclear and cytoplasmic BAP1 immunoreactivity grade, and patient outcome, including development of metastasis. Results Significantly lower ( P = 0.025) nuclear BAP1 immunoreactivity was observed in the metastatic melanoma group. Greater tumor thickness, basal diameter, and more advanced TNM stage were associated with an increased odds ratio of developing metastasis ( P P = 0.042). Metastasis-free survival was significantly longer in patients with uveal melanoma with high nuclear BAP1 stain ( P = 0.004). Conclusions Time to metastasis differs in patients with primary uveal melanoma with different grades of nuclear BAP1 immunoreactivity. Nuclear BAP1 stain is the only significant independent predictor of metastatic disease in this study. Our data support the role of BAP1 immunohistochemical staining of primary uveal melanoma to evaluate metastatic risk.
The Delphian Node Revisited: An Uncommon Site of Recurrence

The Delphian nodes (DNs) are frequently involved in cancers of the head and neck, including laryngeal and thyroid malignancies. Positivity in the DN has been considered a predictor of recurrence as well as an overall aggressive tumor biology. However, little has been written regarding the consequences of recurrence at the site of the DN. We present two case reports regarding recurrence in the DN and the unique challenges associated with DN metastases. In addition, we discuss our surgical approach to disease at the prelaryngeal space, including workup, imaging, and resection.
Abstract 331: Activation of the Safe Pathway Against Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Goes Beyond the Risk Pathway in the Late Pregnancy

Introduction: We have recently shown that the heart of late pregnant (LP) rodent is more prone to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury compared to non-pregnant. We also reported that post-ischemic adm...
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Efficacy of Short-Course Antibiotic Treatments for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults

The duration of therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains undefined. We sought to investigate whether short-course antibiotic treatment for CAP is associated with favorable clinical outcomes in adult patients. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies comparing the effectiveness and safety between treatment regimens administered for ≤6 days and ≥7 days. We defined treatment for ≤6 days as short-course treatment and treatment for ≥7 days as long-course treatment. Twenty-one clinical trials (4,861 clinically evaluable patients) were included, and 19 out of 21 trials were randomized. Clinical cure was similar between the compared groups (4,069 patients, risk ratio [RR] = 0.99 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.97 to 1.01]), irrespective of patient setting (RR = 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96 to 1.00] for the outpatient setting and RR = 1.00 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.09] for the inpatient setting) or severity of pneumonia (RR = 1.05 [95% CI, 0.96 to 1.14]). Also, relapses were similar between the short- and long-course treatment groups (1,923 patients, RR = 0.67 [95% CI, 0.30 to 1.46]). Short-course treatment was associated with fewer serious adverse events (1,923 patients, RR = 0.73 [95% CI, 0.55 to 0.97]) and, importantly, resulted in lower mortality than long-course treatment (2,802 patients, RR = 0.52 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.82]). In CAP, short-course antibiotic treatment (≤6 days) is as effective as and potentially superior to, in terms of mortality and serious adverse events, longer-course treatment.
Interactions within the Cytoskeleton

The complex meshwork of the cytoskeleton displays three forms of interaction: structural, biochemical, and functional. As our knowledge of each form grows, it becomes increasingly clear that the cytoskeleton often behaves as a single, integrated organelle.
Disruption of the p53-Mdm2 complex by Nutlin-3 reveals different cancer cell phenotypes.

Introduction Mdm2 inhibits p53 transactivation by forming a p53-Mdm2 complex on chromatin. Upon DNA damage-induced complex disruption, such latent p53 can be activated, but in cells overexpressing Mdm2 because of a homozygous single nucleotide polymorphism at position 309 (T --> G) of mdm2, the complex is highly stable and cannot be disrupted by DNA damage, rendering p53 inactive. Methods To determine whether the p53 response phenotype is influenced differentially in cells with variable mdm2 genotypes, we compared responses to DNA damage and targeted p53-Mdm2 complex disruption by Nutlin-3 in the following wild-type p53 human cancer cell lines: A875 and CCF-STTG-1 (G/G for mdm2 SNP309), SJSA-1 (mdm2 genomic amplification and T/T for mdm2 SNP309), MCF-7 (estrogen-induced Mdm2 overexpression and T/G for mdm2 SNP309), ML-1 and H460 (T/T for mdm2 SNP309), and K562 (p53-null and T/G for mdm2 SNP309). We also examined mdm2 gene-splicing patterns in these lines by cloning and sequencing analyses. Results While Mdm2-overexpressing G/G cells were resistant to p53 activation by DNA damage, they were sensitive to Nutlin-3. Strikingly, the p53 G1 checkpoint in G/G cells was activated by Nutlin-3 but not by etoposide, whereas in other Mdm2-overexpressing cells, both drugs activated p53 and subsequent G1 arrest or apoptosis. cDNA clones lacking exons 5-9 were generated at a high frequency in cells overexpressing Mdm2. Conclusion Nutlin-3 and DNA damage distinguish a differential phenotype in human cancer cells with G/G mdm2 SNP309 from other Mdm2 overexpressers. Categorization of the Mdm2 isoforms produced and their influence on p53 activity will help in characterization and treatment development for different cancers.
Behavioral Consultation with Parents: Using Competency-Based Training To Modify Child Noncompliance.

This study empirically examined the effects of an intervention strategy for child noncompliance, integrating the problem-solving process of behavioral case consultation with competency-based parent...
Entrepreneurial Intention: An Exploratory Study of Fashion Students

Consumers’ new shopping patterns and emerging technologies have created various opportunities, as well as challenges for fashion entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship education plays a vital role in cult...
Utility of rapid on-site evaluation for needle core biopsies and fine-needle aspiration cytology done for diagnosis of mass lesions of the liver.

Background Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy (CB) are used to diagnose liver lesions. Rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) can improve the adequacy of the procedures and help triage diagnostic material appropriately. There are very few studies evaluating the role of ROSE for CB and FNA of mass lesions of the liver. Methods Liver cases with ROSE material from 2007 to 2017 were retrieved and reviewed. The ROSE material was re-evaluated by 2 cytopathologists who were blinded to the final diagnosis. Data including age, number of lesions, number of passes, adequacy assessed at time of procedure, and diagnosis made by cytopathologist on ROSE material at time of re-review was compiled. Results A total of 82 cases were identified; 33 were primary lesions (group A) and 49 were metastatic lesions (group B). ROSE done by cytotechnologist at time of procedure showed an adequacy rate of 84%. During re-review of ROSE material by cytopathologists, the overall adequacy rates were similar, although the adequacy rates in group B increased (to 100% from 92%) and it dropped in group A (from 73% to 52%). The overall accuracy rate was 90%. Hepatocellular adenoma, regenerative nodules, well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, and angiosarcoma were not possible to diagnose on smears alone during ROSE. Conclusions ROSE for liver lesions is useful for assessing adequacy. Certain lesions cannot be accurately diagnosed on ROSE alone. ROSE material when assessed by cytopathologist can improve adequacy rate and possibly decrease number of nondiagnostic specimens in group A, though the cost effectiveness needs to be assessed.
CRRT in the Septic Patient

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is very common and has been associated with mortality in septic patients. Severe acidosis, hemodynamic instability, and fluid overload due to resuscitation fluids are often also seen in this population of patients. In this setting, reduction of renal function is often seen and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is often used as a bridge to support the patient through their septic acute kidney injury. The ultimate goal of this therapy is to allow recovery of native function. If this is not possible, then to provide renal function until stability improves sufficiently to convert to a form of renal replacement that can be managed as an outpatient. Little medical evidence exists surrounding the optimal way to provide CRRT to septic patients, much less children with sepsis. In this chapter, we will discuss the potential benefits and issues surrounding the use of CRRT during sepsis, and review the outcomes that have been seen when using this approach. We will also review CRRT’s role in using multiple extracorporeal organ support therapies for sepsis.
UNIT 1.14 Analysis of Gene-Gene Interactions

The goal of this unit is to introduce gene-gene interactions (epistasis) as a significant complicating factor in the search for disease susceptibility genes. This unit begins with an overview of gene-gene interactions and why they are likely to be common. Then, it reviews several statistical and computational methods for detecting and characterizing genes with effects that are dependent on other genes. The focus of this unit is genetic association studies of discrete and quantitative traits because most of the methods for detecting gene-gene interactions have been developed specifically for these study designs. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 59:1.14.1-1.14.10. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: epistasis; genetics; statistics; bioinformatics
Overcoming Zeno’s paradox: using long-exposure technology to capture a Deleuzo–Bergsonian perspective of movement in qualitative research:

This methodological paper considers how movement may be captured and expressed in qualitative data. Beginning with a history of movement as it has been represented in empirical studies, this paper ...
Fundamental to Achieving Fast Separations with High Efficiency ‐ A Review of Chromatography with Superficially Porous Particles

Types of particles have been fundamental to LC separation technology for many years. Originally, LC columns were packed with large-diameter (>100 μm) calcium carbonate, silica gel, or alumina particles that prohibited fast mobile-phase speeds because of the slow diffusion of sample molecules inside deep pores. During the birth of HPLC in the 1960s, superficially porous particles (SPP, ≥30 μm) were developed as the first high-speed stationary-phase support structures commercialized, which permitted faster mobile-phase flowrates due to the fast movement of sample molecules in/out of the thin shells. These initial SPPs were displaced by smaller totally porous particles (TPP) in the mid-1970s. But SPP history repeated when UHPLC emerged in the 2000s. Stationary-phase support structures made from sub-3-μm SPPs were introduced to chromatographers in 2006. The initial purpose of this modern SPP was to enable chromatographers to achieve fast separations with high efficiency using conventional HPLCs. Later, the introduction of sub-2-μm SPPs with UHPLC instruments pushed the separation speed and efficiency to a very fast zone. This review aims at providing readers a comprehensive and up-to-date view on the advantages of SPP materials over TPPs historically and theoretically from the material science angle.
Examining Psychological Capital in Nursing Students Participating in A Health Literacy Renal Simulation

Abstract Background The study examined changes in psychological capital in undergraduate nursing students participating in a health literacy, renal simulation. Method A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to examine the impact of a health literacy, renal simulation on undergraduate nursing students’ psychological capital across three time periods (before simulation, immediately after the simulation, and after debriefing). Results There were statistically significant changes in psychological capital throughout the simulation experience, Wilks’ Lambda = 0.66, F (2, 38) = 9.89, p = 0.000, multivariate partial eta squared = 0.34. Conclusion The participants experienced greater levels of psychological capital when participating in an evidence-based debriefing using a trained, standardized patient. As a result, debriefing should be recognized as more than a time for learning; rather, it is a time for practicing and the development of positive psychology.
A Portable Agricultural Robot for Continuous Apparent Soil Electrical Conductivity Measurements to Improve Irrigation Practices

Near-ground sensing data, such as geospatial measurements of soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), are used in precision agriculture to improve farming practices and increase crop yield. Near-ground sensors provide valuable information, yet, the process of collecting, assessing, and interpreting measurements requires significant human labor. Automating parts of this process via the use of mobile robots can help decrease labor burden, and increase the accuracy and frequency of data collections, and overall increase the adoption and use of ECa measurement technology. This paper introduces a roboticized means to autonomously perform geospatial ECa measurements and map soil moisture content in micro-irrigated orchard systems. We retrofit a small wheeled mobile robot with a small electromagnetic induction sensor by studying and taking into consideration the effect of the robot body to the sensor's readings, and develop a software stack to enable autonomous logging of geo-referenced measurements. The proposed roboticized ECa measurement method is evaluated by mapping a $50\mathrm{m}\times 30\mathrm{m}$ field against the baseline of human-conducted measurements obtained by walking the sensor in the same field and following the same path. Experimental testing reveals that our approach yields roboticized measurements comparable to human-conducted ones, despite the robot's small form factor.
Identification of maternal haploids of Nicotiana tabacum aided by transgenic expression of green fluorescent protein: evidence for chromosome elimination in the N. tabacum × N. africana interspecific cross

The Nicotiana tabacum × N. africana cross is a semilethal cross, where greater than 99 % of progeny die in the cotyledonary stage due to an interspecific lethality reaction. The low frequencies of surviving plants are mixtures of maternal tobacco haploids and aneuploid F1 hybrids. For effective use of surviving haploids in a breeding program, an efficient method is needed to distinguish them from aneuploid hybrids during the seedling stage. The first objective of this research was to investigate the use of N. africana engineered with a green fluorescent protein (gfp) transgene for distinguishing haploids from other surviving plants derived from this cross. Results demonstrated gfp expression to be a useful phenotypic marker for separation of aneuploid hybrids at the seedling stage. Microsatellite marker genotyping, flow cytometry determinations, and chromosome counts resulted in identification of progeny that exhibited intermediate DNA amounts and variable chromosome numbers donated by the N. africana parent. Three individuals with near-haploid DNA content were identified that carried N. africana markers and n = 24 + 2 or n = 24 + 3 chromosomes. The results present evidence of genetic instability in progeny from the N. tabacum × N. africana cross and suggest that, in contrast to previous belief, chromosome elimination may play at least a partial role in the generation of haploids from this cross. Additionally, microsatellite marker genotyping demonstrated a role for a gene or genes located near the end of N. tabacum chromosome H (linkage group 11) in the interspecific lethality reaction.
Approximate Reasoning Systems: Handling Uncertainty and Imprecision in Information Systems

In this chapter we provide a personal perspective of the progress made in the field of approximate reasoning systems and their relevance and applicability to information systems. Within the scope of this chapter, the concept of information systems covers the entire range of Databases (DB), Information Retrieval (IR), and Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS).
Head and Neck

Developmental anomalies result from an erroneous organogenesis, histiogenesis or cytogenesis of the central nervous system (CNS). Etiology is multifactorial including inherited or spontaneous genetic defects, intra-uterine destructive events, ischemia, infections and environmental agents. Developmental anomalies belong to the most frequent congenital malformations (1:100 births). The spectrum of malformations is wide, ranging from tiny focal cortical dysplasias to complex cerebral syndromes. Cerebral anomalies frequently have a significant impact on child development. An early and complete identification of the kind and severity of cerebral malformation will guide therapy, can give information concerning prognosis and should be used to counsel parents for future pregnancies. Diagnosis relies on detailed neuro-imaging.
An identified histaminergic neuron modulates feeding motor circuitry in Aplysia

An identified histaminergic neuron, C2, in the marine mollusk Aplysia is a complex mechanoafferent which appears to contribute to the maintenance of food arousal by means of its synaptic connections to the metacerebral cell (MCC). Because C2 also has extensive synaptic outputs to neurons other than the MCC, we studied its possible motor functions. We identified several synaptic followers of C2 and found that some were excitatory motor neurons for extrinsic muscles of the buccal mass, while others were modulatory motor neurons that inhibited contractions. In addition, we found that these neurons and other synaptic followers of C2 received powerful inputs during feeding motor programs. In order to determine the functional significance of the synaptic outputs of C2, we studied extrinsic buccal muscles (E4 and E5) whose motor neuron (C6) is excited by C2. Extracellular recordings from these muscles indicated that they receive input during swallowing and rejection, but not during biting movements. Lesions of these muscles, or of all extrinsic muscles, did not prevent animals from feeding, but decreased feeding efficiency, that is, the amount of seaweed an animal could ingest with each swallow. The data suggest that C2 is an integrative proprioceptive cell that functions as a premotor neuron. The non-MCC synaptic outputs of C2 may reinforce the actions of the central feeding motor program. Specifically, C2 appears to aid the functioning of muscles that produce fine adjustments of the buccal mass and contribute to the efficiency of feeding behavior, rather than in producing gross movements.
Course Syllabus: Social Science Modeling of a Complex Industrial System: Anthropology of the Former Soviet Union

Much of Soviet Studies in the past projected character traits on the peoples in the Soviet empire's sphere of influence through quotation of formal ideology (citation of Marxist Leninist doctrine) or projections that served particular interests in the United States. Since students will be unable to conduct their own observations without being in the Soviet Union itself, the goal of this course is to train students in ways of thinking and methods of observing and analyzing reality that are basic to social science research and analysis, rather than in remembering a series of recorded observations that others have made.
A model for p53-induced apoptosis

The inactivation of the p53 gene in a large proportion of human cancers has inspired an intense search for the encoded protein's physiological and biological properties. Expression of p53 induces either a stable growth arrest or programmed cell death (apoptosis). In human colorectal cancers, the growth arrest is dependent on the transcriptional induction of the protein p21WAF1/CIP1(ref. 1), but the mechanisms underlying the development of p53-dependent apoptosis are largely unknown2. As the most well documented biochemical property of p53 is its ability to activate transcription of genes, we examined in detail the transcripts induced by p53 expression before the onset of apoptosis. Of 7,202 transcripts identified, only 14 (0.19%) were found to be markedly increased in p53-expressing cells compared with control cells. Strikingly, many of these genes were predicted to encode proteins that could generate or respond to oxidative stress, including one that is implicated in apoptosis in plant meristems. These observations stimulated additional biochemical and pharmacological experiments suggesting that p53 results in apoptosis through a three-step process: (1) the transcriptional induction of redox-related genes; (2) the formation of reactive oxygen species; and (3) the oxidative degradation of mitochondrial components, culminating in cell death.
Hypomagnesemia inhibits nitric oxide release from coronary endothelium: protective role of magnesium infusion after cardiac operations.

Abstract Background . Postoperative hypomagnesemia is common in patients who have undergone cardiac operations and is associated with clinically significant morbidity resulting from atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias. Magnesium supplementation may increase the cardiac index in the early postoperative period. Methods . The action of the magnesium cation on coronary vascular reactivity was studied. Segments of canine epicardial coronary artery were suspended in organ chambers to measure isometric force (95% O 2 /5% CO 2 , 37°C). Results . In coronary segments constricted with prostaglandin F 2α (2 × 10 −6 mol/L), acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L) induced vasodilation in arteries with endothelium (n = 10, each group; p G -monomethyl-l-arginine (10 −4 mol/L) and N G -nitro-l-arginine (10 −4 mol/L), two inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis from l-arginine (n = 10, p −9 to 10 −6 mol/L), which was found to induce endothelium-dependent vasodilation independent of nitric oxide production, was unaffected by magnesium removal (n = 10). Conclusions . Hypomagnesemia selectively impaired the release of nitric oxide from the coronary endothelium. Because nitric oxide is a potent endogenous nitrovasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation and adhesion, hypomagnesemia could promote vasoconstriction and coronary thrombosis in the early postoperative period.
Professionalism in the Postmodern Age: It's Death, Attempts at Resuscitation, and Alternative Sources of Virtue

There is a new emphasis on professionalism within legal education and the organized bar. Lawyers are being called on to go beyond the incentives of the market and beyond the requirements of the professional rules - to seek justice, to be more honest and tolerant, to be less adversarial and selfish, and to give more of their time and resources to the poor. The moral basis for this call to services is lawyers' status as professionals. This focus on professionalism comes at a time when the reputation of the legal profession has fallen to new depths. This article examines whether in this postmodern world the traditional concepts of professionalism can be resuscitated or whether a new moral ground is needed. The traditional professional ideals were built on a deeply rooted moral foundation that was widely shared among the bar. In the 1960s and 70s, however, the elitist foundations of professionalism began to crumble. Increased diversity in the profession and postmodern thoughts that there was no moral truth undercut the possibility of a pervasive professional ethic. The result of these postmodern teachings have left each lawyer to create his or her own meaning of "professionalism." The modern concept of professionalism is both too weak and too dangerous to yield the responsible exercise of professional power. Instead, the key to renewed virtue in lawyers is to look within the diversity of the profession for moral insight. As the traditional idea of professionalism has failed, lawyers now need to look to their own personal traditions to define virtue. Morality is likely to take hold and to affect one's life when it is drawn not from the ethical considerations of the profession, but from the deepest source of values of that person.
Initiation of assembly and association of the structural elements of a bacterial pilus depend on two specialized tip proteins.

Abstract Uropathogenic Escherichia coli produce heteropolymeric surface fibers called P pili, which present an adhesin at their tip that specifically recognizes globoside receptors on the host uroepithelium. The initial attachment step is thought to be essential for pathogenesis. P pili are composite fibers consisting of a thin tip fibrillum joined end to end to a rigid helical rod. Here we show that the ordered assembly of these structures requires the activity of two proteins that are minor components of the tip fibrillum, PapF and PapK. PapF is required for the correct presentation of the adhesin at the distal end of the tip fibrillum. PapK regulates the length of the tip fibrillum and joins it to the pilus rod. We propose that these subunits function as adaptors, by providing complementary surfaces to different substructures of the pilus and promoting their proper associations. In addition, the conversion of chaperone-subunit complexes into pili depends on PapF and PapK since a papF- papK- double mutation abolishes piliation. We suggest that in addition to the adaptor functions of PapF and PapK, they are also required to initiate the formation of tip fibrillae and pilus rods.
Integrated Second Language Writing Assessment: Why? What? How?

Integrated writing assessment has appeared in large-scale language tests as well as in classrooms focused on building academic language skills in a second language. Their increasing use is accompanied by research to explore the validity and usefulness of these tasks. This article reviews literature on integrated assessment via three questions asked in the assessment process: Why use integrated assessment? What does it tell us about writing? and How should we design such tasks?
Possible enzymatic bases of bacteriolysis by bdellovibrios

Bdellovibrio sp. strain 6-5-S grows on and lyses autoclaved cells of Spirillum serpens strain VHL. The dissolution of the S. serpens cells is accompanied by a decrease in optical density and by a release of reducing substances, amino sugars, amino groups, and muramic acid into the culture supernatant. S. serpens cells are degraded by Bdellovibrio sp. strain 6-5-S into fragments of various sizes of which 9% is dialyzable. Fractions of the clear lysate precipitated by ammonium sulfate or cold acetone show lytic activity against autoclaved cells of Micrococcus lysodeikticus or S. serpens and are capable of releasing reducing sugars or 14C-labeled materials from isolated unlabeled or 14C-labeled S. serpens peptidoglycan, respectively. The lysozyme-like enzyme has been partially purified from the ammonium sulfate-precipitated fractions by DEAE cellulose chromatography. The molecular weight of the lysozyme-like enzyme is about 12500 as determined by Sephadex G-100. Like Bdellovibrio sp. strain 6-5-S, Bdellovibrio spp. strains 100, 109 (Davis), and A 3.12 also produce proteolytic enzymes not only in living cells but also in autoclaved cells and in cell-free extracts of S. serpens. The multiplicity of infection affects the rate of proteolytic enzyme production. In all cases, lysis of S. serpens cells occurs before production of proteolytic enzyme is evident. Mutants of Bdellovibrio sp. strain 6-5-S, which no longer produce certain proteolytic enzymes, were obtained by nitrosoguanidine treatment and selected by inability to clear casein agar; these mutants grow more slowly and form smaller plaques on S. serpens lawns than the wild type. Enzymatic analysis shows that some mutants lack the capacity to hydrolyze Azocoll brand of collagen (Azocollase-negative) and casein (exopeptidase-negative) but, like the wild type, they possess carboxypeptidase (endopeptidase-positive). A sixty-two-fold purification of the Azocollase was achieved by passage of the acetone-precipitated fraction of a lysate through a DEAE cellulose column. The Azocollase liberated amino groups also from hemoglobin, bovine serum albumin, and gelatin. The Michaelis constant (K m) for the Azocollase acting on N,N-dimethylcasein is 5.1×10-5 M and the molecular weight of the enzyme is about 11000. A lipase, which hydrolyzes tributyrin incorporated into an agar medium, has been detected in the acetone-precipitated fraction and in a double-layer lawn containing non-lipolytic S. serpens and Bdellovibrio sp. strain 6-5-S. The lysozyme-like enzyme, Azocollase, peptidases, and lipase probably are all involved in the bacteriolysis caused by the bdellovibrios.
A method for determining the 2π-counting efficiency of betaparticle sources

Abstract This paper is concerned with the efficiency of large-area beta-particle sources. Attention is focussed on sources in which the radioactivity is distributed in a surface layer of an anodized aluminum foil. The efficiency takes into account the reflection and absorption of particles in the aluminum foil, and is defined as the ratio of the number of particles emerging from the foil to the number of particles emitted. A method of estimating the efficiency is proposed which combines measurements and transport calculations. The experimental part of the method consists of measuring the thickness of the layer of mylar which, when inserted between source and detector, cuts the counting rate in half. The theoretical part consists of calculations of beta-particle transport in a two-layer aluminum-mylar medium, which relate the efficiency of the source to the thickness of the measured half-value layer.