cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of β-stabilizer elements on stacking faults energies and ductility of α-titanium using first-principles calculations

The effect of W, Mo, V, Ta, and Nb, five common β-stabilizing substitutional elements, on α-Ti stacking fault energy has been studied using first principle calculations. The generalized stacking fault energy (GSFE) curves have been determined for different concentrations of β-stabilizers at the fault plane using supercells with up to 360 atoms. Both basal and prismatic slip systems with the stable (γSF) and unstable (γUSF) stacking faults and twinning fault energies were determined. All the alloying elements reduce the stacking fault energy for Ti for both basal and prismatic slip. At higher concentration of 25 at. % of V, Ta, and Nb at the slip plane, the basal slip becomes more favorable than the prismatic slip in Ti. Ti-Mo and Ti-W systems also show a significant shift in the GSFE curve towards a higher shear deformation strain along 〈 011¯0〉 due to the change in bond character between Ti and those two elements. Using Rice criterion, which employs γS/γUSF ratio to estimate ductility, we show that all t...
Hemoglobin H Hydrops Fetalis Associated with Homozygous Hemoglobin Constant Spring. Case Report.

Abstract While Barts hydrops is predicted when all 4 α globin genes are absent or non functional, hydrops has rarely been described with a hemoglobin H (Hb H) genotype. Hb H disease has a varied hematologic phenotype ranging from asymptomatic to transfusion dependant. The severest clinical expression is non immune hydrops and may result in fetal demise. The commonest form of Hb H disease is deletional-type. This occurs when there is deletion of α2 and α1 genes in cis and deletion of either α2 or α1 in trans. The less frequent type, but clinically more severe, is non-deletional. This is usually due to a mutation in either α2 or α1 in cis and a deletion of both α2 and α1 in trans. There are rare reports of non-deletional Hb H due to homozygous α2 mutations without any α1 deletions or mutations. Heretofore, there have been no reports of hydrops with homozygous hemoglobin Constant Spring (Hb CS). A 31-year-old Laotian woman presented at 22 weeks with polyhydramnios. Besides this, the pregnancy was uneventful for the mother. On ultrasound the fetus had a pericardial effusion and signs of congestive heart failure. The hematological and genotypic parameters of the parents and fetus are outlined in table 1. Intrauterine transfusions were performed at 22 and 29 weeks. A male infant was born vaginally at 36 weeks gestation weighing 2.3 kg. The hemoglobin was 15.9 g/dL and bilirubin was 8.4mg/dL. There was no evidence of maternofetal alloimmunization. G6PD screen was negative. By 4 weeks post-partum, the bilirubin had decreased to 0.9 mg/dL but the hemoglobin had progressively fallen to 6.9 g/dL, requiring transfusion. He had two additional transfusions at 6 and 8 weeks of life but has subsequently maintained a hemoglobin above 10 g/dL and has steadily gained weight. As in this patient, the genotypes of the other reported cases of Hb H hydrops are usually associated with a thalassemia intermedia phenotype. Thus the α globin genotypes alone do not explain why hydrops occurs. This suggests that there may be unknown genetic and/or acquired modifiers contributing to the severity of Hb H disease that results in hydrops as in this fetus with homozygous Hb CS. [Table 1] . Mother Father Fetus at 22 weeks Hemoglobin g/dL 10.0 12.5 5.2 MCV fL 86.3 81.8 143.8 MCH pg 26.5 25.6.8 46.4 RDW % 16.7 13.6 21.4 Reticulocyte % 9.9 ND 19.0 NRBC/100WBC 1 0 4756 Hemoglobin Fractions by HPLC Hb A 73.3% 97.8% 3.4% Hb F 0.8% 0.0% 77.7% Hb A2 0.9% 2.1% 0.0% Barts 0.0% 0.0% 17.7% Hb Constant Spring 2.8% 0.1% 1.2% Hb E 22.2% 0.0% 0.0% αGlobin Gene Dosage Assay by Linear PCR 4 4 4 αGlobin Gene Deletions by PCR - 3.7, - 4.2, _SEA, - 20.5, _MED,_FIL,_THAI None detected None detected None detected α2 Globin Gene Sequencing α-2CS/α-2CS α-2CS/WTα-2CS/α-2CS α1 Globin Gene Sequencing WT/WT WT/WT WT/WT βGlobin Gene Sequencing Heterozygous Hb E WT/WTWT/WT E
Profiling of heroin and assignment of provenance by 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio analysis

Abstract Heroin manufacturing and distribution by criminal and terrorist organizations produce illicit economic benefits from the opium and heroin trade and result in devastating societal problems. Heroin chemical signatures provide important information to law enforcement and the intelligence community in order to combat the national and international heroin epidemic. Authentic (known origin) heroin samples from Southeast Asia (SEA), Southwest Asia (SWA), South America (SA) and SA-like heroin manufactured in Mexico (MEX-SA), were prepared for chemical analysis by microwave-assisted acid digestion. Strontium concentration data were acquired using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The samples having sufficient [ 88 Sr] (1.25 µg/g in the solid sample) were purified by ion exchange resin and strontium isotope ratio ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) values were measured using multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). South American and MEX-SA heroin samples are presently the most challenging regions to differentiate by analysis of their organic compositions. The SA and MEX-SA heroin samples were correctly classified 82% and 77% of the time, respectively, when the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values of individual authentic samples were compared to the overall mean values from the four regions. This is the first reporting on the use of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr analysis of heroin for the profiling of samples from specific geographic regions. In addition, a value of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr for the National Institute of Standards and Testing’s standard reference material NIST SRM 1570a (spinach leaves) of 0.70905 ± 0.00002 (95% confidence interval, n = 3) is also reported for the first time.
The Germline-Specific Factor OEF-1 Facilitates Coordinated Progression Through Germ Cell Development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The purpose of germ cells is to ensure the faithful transmission of genetic material to the next generation. To develop into mature gametes, germ cells must pass through cell cycle checkpoints while maintaining totipotency and genomic integrity. How germ cells coordinate developmental events while simultaneously protecting their unique fate is not well understood. Here, we characterize a novel nuclear protein, Oocyte-Excluded Factor-1 (OEF-1), with highly specific germline expression in Caenorhabditis elegans . OEF-1 is initially detected early in embryogenesis and is expressed in the nuclei of all germ cells during larval stages. In adults, OEF-1 expression abruptly decreases just prior to oocyte differentiation. In oef-1 mutants, the developmental progression of germ cells is accelerated, resulting in subtle defects at multiple stages of germ cell development. Lastly, OEF-1 is primarily associated with the bodies of germline-expressed genes, and as such is excluded from the X chromosome. We hypothesize that OEF-1 may regulate the rate of progression through germ cell development, providing insight into how these critical maturation events are coordinated.
The First CT Scan of the Brain: Entering the Neurologic Information Age.

Computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain transitioned clinical neurology from the educated-guess world to the real computer-age world. One of the first CT scans—published by the British neuroradiologist James Ambrose—showed an intracranial hemorrhage and also suggested the use of iodine to demonstrate abnormal blood-brain barrier. In the USA, CT scans were rapidly commercialized and first placed at Mayo Clinic and Massachusetts General Hospital in the summer of 1973. CT scanning of the brain has revolutionized diagnostic acute neurology and neurosurgery and was the overture to an even larger revolution—magnetic resonance imaging. This historical vignette discusses the development of CT scanning of the brain and its connection with neurocritical care.
The Infection Returns: A Case of Pulmonary Sporotrichosis Relapse after Chemotherapy

Background. Pulmonary sporotrichosis is a rare disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. It is rarely found in association with malignancy. We present a case of pulmonary sporotrichosis recurrence after chemotherapy. Case Presentation. A 44-year-old man, treated for pulmonary sporotrichosis in the past, presented with dysphagia and was found to have squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. After undergoing chemotherapy, extensive cavitary lesions were observed on thoracic computed tomography scan. A bronchoalveolar lavage revealed the presence of Sporothrix schenckii sensu lato. Despite treatment with itraconazole, he eventually required a left pneumonectomy for progressive destructive cavitary lesions involving the left lung. Conclusion. This case highlights the importance of considering past fungal infections, albeit cured, in patients initiating immunosuppressive therapy.
Impact of Gastrostomy Feeding Tube Placement on the 1-Year Trajectory of Care in Patients After Stroke

Background Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tubes are commonly placed in acute stroke patients with a need for enteral nutrition. However, PEG tubes are associated with medical complications and a decrease in quality of life. We compared the 1-year care trajectory of stroke patients with and without PEG tube placement to enhance knowledge about the long-term impact of PEG tube placement. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of commercially insured stroke patients included in the Truven Health MarketScan Research Databases of 2011. We analyzed their index hospital stay and conducted 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year follow-ups. We compared admissions to inpatient rehabilitation facilities, acute hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient hospital visits, and home visits for stroke patients with and without PEG tube placement using unadjusted and adjusted modelling. Results Of the 8911 included stroke patients, 148 patients (1.7%) had a PEG tube placed during their index hospital stay. After controlling for age, gender, stroke severity, comorbidities, and stroke type, PEG tube placement was an independent predictor for admissions to inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities. Furthermore, PEG tube placement was an independent predictor for all-cause, unplanned hospital readmissions in a multivariable logistic model (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was .84). Conclusion Stroke patients who receive a PEG tube can expect a significantly different care trajectory after being discharged from the acute hospital. Our findings can aide in predicting recovery and planning resources and identifying gaps and points for improvement in stroke care for patients with PEG tube placement.
Social media analytics for quality surveillance and safety hazard detection in baby cribs

Abstract Defects in baby cribs and related products can cause injuries and deaths, and they cost manufacturers and distributors millions of dollars in fines and legal fees and even more in losses of sales and brand image. There has been no prior research regarding automated defect discovery from online reviews of baby cribs, and prior safety defect discovery methods designed and calibrated for other industries must be adapted. We aim to determine which words and phrases are indicators of defects in online reviews and whether sentiment analysis is sufficient for automated defect discovery in the baby crib industry. We find that sentiment analysis serves as a useful tool for automated defect discovery in the baby crib industry and create a supplementary set of “smoke terms” that are strong indicators of safety defects in online reviews of baby cribs. Using our term-based scoring method, we observe a 59% improvement in precision and a 60% improvement in recall when compared to the top-performing prior sentiment method. Our findings provide actionable insights into how analysis of online reviews and other social media can improve baby crib quality management techniques. These terms can be used with immediate effect to monitor and more rapidly identify defects and rectify them before injuries or deaths occur.
Combined Fructose 1,6-Diphosphate-Dimethyl Sulfoxide Treatment Reverses Chronic Memory Deficits in Brain Ischemic Rats

Age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) account for a significant percentage of disability among the geriatric population. AD commonly results in progressive damage and loss of cerebral neurons that integrate, among other things, learning and cognition. When these neurons are killed or damaged, memory function, language skills, reasoning and abstract thinking are compromised and eventually lost. We have reported that progressive memory dysfunction, brain metabolic disturbance and selective hippocampal neuron damage mimicking the early phase of Alzheimer pathology can be obtained in aging rats following mild but persistent cerebrovascular insufficiency (CVI) (1,2)
Sphingolipids and membrane domains: recent advances.

There is growing evidence that cell membranes can contain domains with different lipid and protein compositions and with different physical properties. Furthermore, it is increasingly appreciated that sphingolipids play a crucial role in the formation and properties of ordered lipid domains (rafts) in cell membranes. This review describes recent advances in our understanding of ordered membrane domains in both cells and model membranes. In addition, how the structure of sphingolipids influences their ability to participate in the formation of ordered domains, as well as how sphingolipid structure alters ordered domain properties, is described. The diversity of sphingolipid structure is likely to play an important role in modulating the biologically relevant properties of “rafts” in cell membranes.
Responding to Misconceptions and Objections to Servant Leadership

In addition to understanding servant leadership through research-based model building we also seek to understand servant leadership better by addressing objections and misconceptions that come from those who challenge the validity or usefulness of the concept. This chapter considers the most common misconceptions and objections that some have about servant leadership as a viable understanding and practice of leadership; misconceptions such as servant leadership has a problematic name, is opposed to the use of power, is situationally limited, is too long-term-oriented, too religious, too utopian, and is, or appears to be, a weak form of leadership. Misconceptions are met head-on with explanations that seek to address a clearer understanding of what servant leadership is while the dark side of servant leadership is honestly explored.
Morphological Awareness, Vocabulary Knowledge, Lexical Inference, and Text Comprehension in Chinese in Grade 3

This chapter details a study that examined the relationship among morphological awareness, vocabulary knowledge, lexical inference skills, and text comprehension in Chinese. The participants were a group of third grade children and were assessed with researcher designed tasks of vocabulary size and depth, lexical inference skills and comprehension of science texts in Chinese, all designed based on materials used in their Chinese curriculum. The results found that lexical inference skills mediated the contribution from compound awareness to depth of vocabulary knowledge in Chinese, and that vocabulary depth, compound awareness and lexical inference skills jointly contributed to text comprehension in Chinese. The findings highlight the importance of morphological awareness in Chinese literacy development, and also assert the need for more research on morphological awareness and academic literacy development among students in Chinese immersion programs.
Abstract 340: Cardiomyocyte-Derived Mechanical Signals Function in a Paracrine Manner to Regulate Tissue Stiffness and Myocardial Proliferation

Cells sense and transduce mechanical signals through cell-cell adhesions and cell-extracellular matrix adhesions. After birth, contractile force generation and tissue stiffness increase as cardiac ...
Clinical Management of Mucocele-Like Lesions of the Breast with Limited or no Epithelial Atypia on Core Biopsy: Experience from Two Institutions

Mucocele-like lesions of the breast identified on core biopsy are rare high-risk lesions associated with variable upgrade rates to carcinoma on excision. We aimed to identify the clinicoradiopathological features that can help optimize management of this lesion. We evaluated 50 mucocele-like lesions identified on core biopsies from two institutions, including 36 with no atypia and 14 with limited atypia. Outcome data from excision or clinicoradiological follow-up were reviewed with core biopsy results. Radiological targets were calcifications in 74% of cases, calcifications with associated mass or density in 16%, and mass in 10%. One of the 16 excised lesions without atypia on core biopsy, which was a mass lesion, was upgraded to mucinous carcinoma on excision. Of the 12 excised lesions with limited atypia, none were upgraded on excision. Among the lesions not excised, 20 without atypia had a median follow-up of 61 months, and 2 with limited atypia had follow-up of 97 and 109 months. None of these 22 patients had new development of their lesions on follow-up. The upgrade rate was 2% in our entire cohort, 3% for lesions without atypia, and 0% for lesions with limited atypia. Clinicoradiological surveillance can be appropriate when a mucocele-like lesion without atypia is identified on core biopsy for a non-mass lesion with pathological-radiological concordance. For mucocele-like lesions with limited atypia, a nonsurgical approach could be considered if the atypia by itself does not warrant excision. The latter recommendation requires careful clinicopathological correlation and support from additional studies.
Radio Transmitters did not Affect Apparent Survival Rates of Adult Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus)

Assessments of possible adverse effects of transmitters on marked individuals is an important component of individual-based tracking studies, particularly for species that are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The breeding and post-breeding movements of adult Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) from the federally-threatened Atlantic Coast Population were studied by gluing miniature, 1.0-g, digital VHF radio-transmitters on their interscapular region. Mark-resighting data from 2015-2018 was used to estimate apparent survival rates for 289 adult Piping Plovers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey in order to compare survival estimates between individuals with a transmitter attached and control individuals without a transmitter. Cormack–Jolly–Seber models were used for live-encounter data in a Bayesian framework to estimate apparent survival rates based on resightings of uniquely marked individuals. There was no evidence that mean apparent survival rates differed between adults with transmitters (0.756; 95% CI = 0.611 – 0.877) and without transmitters (0.673; 95% CI = 0.607 – 0.740). In addition, there was no evidence of differences in apparent survival rates between breeding location (state) or years. This study provides further evidence that radio transmitters glued temporarily to the inter-scapular region can be an effective tool to monitor local and regional movements of sensitive shorebirds, such as Piping Plovers.
A 50 year history of technologies that drove discovery in eukaryotic transcription regulation.

Transcription regulation is critical to organism development and homeostasis. Control of expression of the 20,000 genes in human cells requires many hundreds of proteins acting through sophisticated multistep mechanisms. In this Historical Perspective, I highlight the progress that has been made in elucidating eukaryotic transcriptional mechanisms through an array of disciplines and approaches, and how this concerted effort has been driven by the development of new technologies. This historical Perspective by John Lis summarizes the array of complementary biochemical, genetic, optical and genome-wide approaches that have enabled dissection of eukaryotic transcriptional mechanisms in their native, cellular environment, and considers the future insights offered by emerging technologies of ever-increasing sensitivity and resolution.
Toughness in pseudo-random graphs

Abstract A d -regular graph on n vertices with the second largest absolute eigenvalue at most λ is called an ( n , d , λ ) -graph. The celebrated expander mixing lemma for ( n , d , λ ) -graphs builds a connection between graph spectrum and edge distribution. In this paper, we present some applications of the expander mixing lemma. In particular, we make progress toward the toughness conjecture of Brouwer. The toughness t ( G ) of a connected graph G is defined as t ( G ) = min { | S | c ( G − S ) } , where c ( G − S ) denotes the number of components of G − S and the minimum is taken over all proper subsets S ⊂ V ( G ) such that c ( G − S ) > 1 . It has been shown that for any connected ( n , d , λ ) -graph G , t ( G ) > 1 3 ( d 2 d λ + λ 2 − 1 ) by Alon, and independently, t ( G ) > d λ − 2 by Brouwer. Brouwer also conjectured that a tight lower bound should be t ( G ) ≥ d λ − 1 for any ( n , d , λ ) -graph G . We show that t ( G ) > d λ − 2 . As the generalized vertex connectivity is closely related to graph toughness, we also present a lower bound on the generalized vertex connectivity of ( n , d , λ ) -graphs, which implies an improved result for classical vertex connectivity.
Coordinated Governance of Air and Climate Pollutants: Lessons from the California Experience

Cities, states, and countries around the world face a significant challenge in limiting pollution that harms local air quality and contributes to climate change. In recent years, some jurisdictions have begun to engage in coordinated governance of pollutants, planning policies that “kill two birds with one stone” to achieve climate and air quality goals at the same time. California is one of the earliest jurisdictions to grapple with coordinated governance of air and climate change, and now has extensive experience in multi-pollutant planning. This report offers a study of the coordinated governance of air and climate pollutants — with a focus on the California experience. The research initiative was carried out in collaboration with Chinese partners examining possibilities for air and climate co-control within China. Coordinated policies in China, where coal represents a large percentage of the energy mix, offer the promise of even greater traditional air pollutant and greenhouse gas co-benefits. Although the report is aimed at policymakers in China, it will be of interest to regulators and researchers in any jurisdiction looking to improve coordinated regulation. The report is authored by Alex Wang, Professor of Law, UCLA Law; David Pettit, Senior Attorney, NRDC; and Siyi Shen, Emmett Frankel Fellow in Environmental Law and Policy, UCLA Law.
Insight into mithramycin disruption of ETS transcription leads to improved understanding of more selective analogs.

Fusion products with the ETS family of transcription factors play critical roles in the etiology of several cancers. In this issue of Structure, Hou et al. (2020) provide insight into allosteric mechanisms by which mithramycin and its analogs perturb protein-DNA interactions in higher-order complexes at a DNA enhancer site.
Hatched and starved: Two chromatin compaction mechanisms join forces to silence germ cell genome

Animals evolved in environments with variable nutrient availability and one form of adaptation is the delay of reproduction in food shortage conditions. Belew et al. (2021. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202009197) report that in the nematode C. elegans, starvation-induced transcriptional quiescence in germ cells is achieved through a pathway that combines two well-known chromatin compaction mechanisms.
The Differential Effect of Privacy-Related Trust on Groupware Application Adoption and Use during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown lead to the rapid adoption and use of various groupware applications ("apps'') for remote connection with colleagues, friends, and family. Different factors such as user experiences, trust, and social influences ("user-situational motivations'') were instrumental in determining how and what apps people adopted and used, especially at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this empirical study, we examine how these factors and four predominant user-situational motivations (i.e., the mandated use of an app by an employer/institution, recommended use of an app by an employer/institution, recommended use of an app by a peer(s), and self-selection of an app) influenced the rapid adoption and use of groupware applications. Specifically, we develop an "emergency adoption model" of groupware applications using 195 valid survey responses to highlight the factors that motivated these apps' use at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. We leverage the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) and integrate it with the users' past use of the application before the COVID-19 lockdown, user-situational motivation, and their privacy-related trust in the application provider to develop a more comprehensive model. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), we find that the users who used a groupware app in the past continued to use it, and in line with TAM, users' intention to adopt and use a groupware application was largely driven by the ease-of-use and usefulness of the app. Furthermore, while not a part of the traditional TAM model, we find that privacy-related trust in the application provider plays an important role in emergency adoption. However, unlike typical adoption models, the nature of all these effects---most prominently those related to privacy-related trust---depend on the underlying situational motivation. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest ways to improve the adoption and use of groupware applications, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preserving the Families of Homeless and Housing-Insecure Parents

Every year in the United States, state child welfare agencies receive millions of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. The families involved in these reports are often first subjected to government interference in the legally protected parent-child relationship on the basis of “neglect,” a legal concept that lacks an intent standard and is often difficult to separate from a parent’s poverty and consequent inability to provide for a child’s physical needs. Children of families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity are especially vulnerable to removal to foster care due to their lack of safe housing. After removal, it becomes increasingly difficult for a homeless parent to hold onto his parental rights while his child languishes in foster care, often with a caregiver who is a complete stranger. Although federal law requires states to make reasonable efforts to prevent removal or return a child to her home, reasonable efforts rarely include housing assistance. Meanwhile, states receive uncapped federal funding for foster care services, which include room-and-board payments to foster homes. Providing uncapped funding for foster care but little meaningful assistance to a child’s parent stacks the deck in favor of termination of parental rights in cases where the primary barrier to family reunification is a lack of safe housing. Even for the small number of children in foster care for whom adoption is the best or only option, the number of adoptive families remains low despite efforts at the federal and state levels to encourage adoption. Congress continues to approach the problem by attempting to make adoption quicker and easier in order to increase the supply of available adoptive families, but there continues to be an enormous shortfall in the availability of adoptive homes for children in foster care. Furthermore, entry into foster care—even for a few days—is an adverse, disruptive, and jarring experience for children and families that should be avoided whenever possible. By reducing the number of children removed from their homes in the first place and therefore reducing the demand for adoptive families, the law can reduce the disparity between the number of children awaiting adoption and the available adoptive homes, promote racial and class justice, and breathe life back into the constitutional right of poor but otherwise fit parents to raise their children as they please. Requiring reasonable efforts to include housing assistance will prevent removals, and federal funding can be repurposed to serve the stated goals of child welfare law.
Service v. Security Focus in Training Assessments

ABSTRACT As jails have moved to professionalize their staffs the role of the correctional officer has become broader in scope and now encompasses both service and security functions. However, some research suggests that female correctional staff may have more of a “service” orientation than males. In our analysis of one dataset from exclusively women's jail facilities we investigate correctional officer preferences for training (service v. security) to see if they differ by gender. We find that both male and female correctional officers generally rank service type training over security and that they differ little in their overall assessment of initial training provided and usefulness of in-service training. We also find that minority officers may be more likely to value service training than their nonminority counterparts.
Natural language processing and knowledge representation: language for knowledge and knowledge for language

The essays in this interdisciplinary book cover a range of implementations and designs, from formal computational models to large-scale NL processing systems.Natural language (NL) refers to human language-complex, irregular, diverse, with all its philosophical problems of meaning and context. Setting a new direction in AI research, this book explores the development of knowledge representation and reasoning (KRR) systems that simulate the role of NL in human information and knowledge processing. Traditionally, KRR systems have incorporated NL as an interface to an expert system or knowledge base that performed tasks separate from NL processing. As this book shows, however, the computational nature of representation and inference in NL makes it the ideal level for all tasks in an intelligent computer system. NL processing combines the qualitative characteristics of human knowledge processing with a computer's quantitative advantages, allowing for in-depth, systematic processing of vast amounts of information. The essays in this interdisciplinary book cover a range of implementations and designs, from formal computational models to large-scale NL processing systems.ContributorsSyed S. Ali, Bonnie J. Dorr, Karen Ehrlich, Robert Givan, Susan M. Haller, Sanda Harabagiu, Chung Hee Hwang, Lucja Iwanska, Kellyn Kruger, Naveen Mata, David A. McAllester, David D. McDonald, Susan W. McRoy, Dan Moldovan, William J. Rapaport, Lenhart Schubert, Stuart C. Shapiro, Clare R. Voss
Earthquake clusters in southern California I: Identification and stability

[1] We use recent results on statistical analysis of seismicity to present a robust method for comprehensive detection and analysis of earthquake clusters. The method is based on nearest-neighbor distances of events in space-time-energy domain. The method is applied to a 1981–2011 relocated seismicity catalog of southern California having 111,981 events with magnitudes m ≥ 2 and corresponding synthetic catalogs produced by the Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model. Analysis of the ETAS model demonstrates that the cluster detection results are accurate and stable with respect to (1) three numerical parameters of the method, (2) variations of the minimal reported magnitude, (3) catalog incompleteness, and (4) location errors. Application of the method to the observed catalog separates the 111,981 examined earthquakes into 41,393 statistically significant clusters comprised of foreshocks, mainshocks, and aftershocks. The results reproduce the essential known statistical properties of earthquake clusters, which provide overall support for the proposed technique. In addition, systematic analysis with our method allows us to detect several new features of seismicity that include (1) existence of a significant population of single-event clusters, (2) existence of foreshock activity in natural seismicity that exceeds expectation based on the ETAS model, and (3) dependence of all cluster properties, except area, on the magnitude difference of events from mainshocks but not on their absolute values. The classification of detected clusters into several major types, generally corresponding to singles, burst-like and swarm-like sequences, and correlations between different cluster types and geographic locations is addressed in a companion paper.
ChromaChord: A virtual musical instrument

ChromaChord utilizes a combination of the Oculus Rift headset and an attached Leap Motion controller to create an immersive 3D VMI environment. The Oculus Rift provides a three-paneled visual interface, through Unity, that allows the users to access different component windows of the instrument (simply by turning their head), while the Leap Motion Controller allows the user to interact with the visual interface to musical effect (processed and generated in Max/MSP).
Consumer Behavior in Electronic Banking: An Empirical Study

Introduction of technology in banking sector has enabled customers to avail the banking services at anytime and anywhere in the form of ATM, Mobile banking & Internet Banking. This has not only enhanced the banking business but also has reduced the transaction cost so now a day’s Bankers must aware about customers’ behavior towards Electronic Banking Services. The paper is based on descriptive research design & questionnaire is used to collect the primary data from banking customers. This paper highlights the Electronic Banking services most preferred by customers & their level of satisfaction towards these services. Conclusions of paper reveal the impact of customers’ demographic on their usage of Electronic Banking.
Legitimacy and Corporate Governance

Parallels between corporate governance and state governance appear to be growing. This essay focuses on the suggestion that corporate governance is becoming structured much more like public government in certain ways. This shift may well be helpful for enhancing credibility and confidence in capital markets, but it also raises important questions. Will reforms enacted in the post-Enron era limit managers' discretion to innovate, take risks, and respond quickly to changing economic circumstances? How far should society go in imposing on corporations the kinds of procedures found commonly in democratic governments?
Columbia River plume patterns in summer 2004 as revealed by a hindcast coastal ocean circulation model

[1] Model hindcasts of the Columbia River (CR) plume and coastal ocean circulation in summer 2004 are used to describe the subtidal evolution of plume patterns in response to local wind and to examine the plume influence on shelf circulation. It is found that a bi-directional plume occurs frequently on the Washington/Oregon shelf, during weak upwelling favorable wind events, during weakening of moderate upwelling favorable wind events, and during weak downwelling events. The high frequency of occurrence of the north plume branch indicates that the CR water will have a significant influence on the Washington shelf in summer.
Limbic processes and the affective dimension of pain.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the affective characteristics of pain in an attempt to bridge the knowledge gained in laboratory research to the clinical pain phenomena. Literature on the neurophysiology of emotion and the neuroendocrinology of stress, both rich sources of literature, suggest the approaches for studying the affective component of pain. Moreover, psychological research and theory in these areas also provides a valuable resource and a fresh perspective. The chapter discusses the areas, derives from them hypotheses about the affective character of pain, and calls attention to the congruity of recent data from brain imaging studies with these hypotheses. The chapter discusses various models to describe the central mechanism of the affective dimension of pain. Models are, by definition, intentional oversimplifications. The chapter also proposes that tissue trauma that excites spinoreticular, as well as spinothalamic pathways, generates concomitant affective and sensory processes that subserve complementary adaptive functions and activates predominantly noradrenergic limbic structures to produce the affective dimension of pain; and the hypothalamically-mediated stress response plays a role in pain chronicity.
Azathioprine treatment of intractable pruritus: A retrospective review

Background Chronic, severe, treatment-resistant and life-altering pruritus is challenging for both clinician and patient. Pruritus in this population of patients may be immune mediated and respond to immunosuppression, but this approach to treatment has not been investigated in depth. Objective We sought to determine the efficacy and tolerability of azathioprine in the treatment of chronic pruritus responsive to systemic corticosteroids. Methods This was a retrospective review of the outcomes of treatment in 96 patients with systemic steroid-responsive pruritus treated with azathioprine. Results Mean duration of symptoms before treatment was 52.9 months (range 2-360 months, SD 64.8); pretreatment visual analog scale itch score was 9.25/10 (range 3-10, SD 1.37); posttreatment itch was 1.625/10 (range 0-8, SD 1.67) ( P Limitations Because of the uncontrolled retrospective design there were variations in azathioprine dosing. Conclusion Among patients with an extensive history of intractable and life-altering pruritus, therapy with azathioprine may provide substantial relief of symptoms.
Local and Global Accessibility Evaluation with Tool Geometry

AbstractAccessibility analysis is an important step for the automatic generation of machining planning. One aim of accessibility analysis is to find a domain in which the tool can maneuver without colliding with the workpiece. Most approaches to accessibility analysis use rays or half-line projections that do not include tool geometry considerations. In this paper we present an approach for the global accessibility analysis that includes tool geometry. The paper demonstrates how local accessibility analysis forms an upper bound for the tool radius selection and how a global accessibility approach determines point and part accessibility. The results in this paper are limited to ball-endmill tool geometry. The paper also only considers tool – workpiece interference and collisions and does not consider tool holder geometry. Experiments on sample parts are shown to validate the approach.
Elevated levels of brain-pathologies associated with neurodegenerative diseases in the methionine sulfoxide reductase A knockout mouse

One of the posttranslational modifications to proteins is methionine oxidation, which is readily reversible by the methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) system. Thus, accumulation of faulty proteins due to a compromised Msr system may lead to the development of aging-associated diseases like neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, it was interesting to monitor the consequential effects of methionine oxidation in relation to markers that are associated with Alzheimer's disease as methionine oxidation was implied to play a role in beta-amyloid toxicity. In this study, a knockout mouse strain of the methionine sulfoxide reductase A gene (MsrA ( -/- )) caused an enhanced neurodegeneration in brain hippocampus relative to its wild-type control mouse brain. Additionally, a loss of astrocytes integrity, elevated levels of beta-amyloid deposition, and tau phosphorylation were dominant in various regions of the MsrA ( -/- ) hippocampus but not in the wild-type. Also, a comparison between cultured brain slices of the hippocampal region of both mouse strains showed more sensitivity of the MsrA ( -/- ) cultured cells to H(2)O(2) treatment. It is suggested that a deficiency in MsrA activity fosters oxidative-stress that is manifested by the accumulation of faulty proteins (via methionine oxidation), deposition of aggregated proteins, and premature brain cell death.
Telling patients about the diagnosis of HIV infection

This study used a questionnaire to examine how patients in the HIV/AIDS Clinic at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital were told of their diagnosis, by whom, and to what degree they were given emotional and educational support. Nearly 17% of patients were informed by someone not in the health professions (often military personnel), and 27% of patients were notified in a nonprivate setting. Forty-seven percent indicated they received little or no educational support at the time of diagnosis, while 39% received little or no emotional support. Educational and emotional support for patients at the time of HIV diagnosis may be lacking.
Pathologic effects in rodents exposed to sodium combustion products

Three species of rodents exhibited respiratory distress when exposed to aerosols of sodium combustion products, the major constituent of which was shown to be sodium carbonate. At the higher doses, animals died during or shortly after 2 hr exposures. Lesions, primarily involving the pharynx and larynx, included accumulation of mucus, vesiculation, and mucosal edema. Other lesions included edema and vesiculation of the anterior trachea, hemorrhage in the lungs, and severe gastric tympany. Basal epithelial cells of the posterior pharynx and anterior trachea had enlarged mitochondria following exposures of 1 hr or more.
Stability of metal complexes of salicylic acid derivatives and analogs III. 3, 6-dialkyl derivatives and pyridine analogs

Stability constants are reported for the complexation of a series of 3, 6-dialkylsalicylic acids and pyridine analogs of salicylic acid with Cu (II), Fe (III), and Al (III) ions. These compounds were selected in an attempt to increase the affinity of salicylates for ferric ion. The 3, 6-dialkyl substituents lowered metal complex stabilities, but the presence of a ring-nitrogen adjacent to the phenolic group increased complex stabilities considerably. The 3, 6-dialkylsalicylic acids revealed somewhat greater analgesic effects than salicylic acid, but less anti-inflammatory action.
Affective state dependence of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire

The authors administered the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) on two occasions separated by more than 1 month to 30 patients with psychotic disorders to examine hypothesized relationships between affective symptomatology and the TPQ dimension Harm Avoidance. As predicted, changes in Harm Avoidance scores demonstrated a robust correlation with changes in depression ratings and a less robust association with changes in mania ratings. The TPQ dimensions Novelty Seeking and Reward Dependence demonstrated minimal associations with symptom measures. This study supports the hypothesis that Harm Avoidance scores are strongly associated with depression.
Six years of epinephrine digital injections: absence of significant local or systemic effects.

Study objective Epinephrine autoinjectors are known to result in accidental digital injections. Treatment recommendations and adverse outcomes are based on case reports. The objective of our study is to determine the frequency of digit ischemia after epinephrine autoinjector digital injections. In addition, we describe the frequency of epinephrine digital injections, treatments used, adverse local effects, and systemic effects. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study on cases reported to 6 poison centers during 6 years, using a search of the Texas Poison Center Network database. Patients who had an epinephrine injection of the hand were reviewed, and digital injections were included. Variables collected included demographics, local and systemic effects, symptom duration, treatments used, comorbidities, and whether admission, surgery, or hand surgery consultation was used. One trained abstractor used a standard electronic data collection form. Results There were 365 epinephrine injections to the hand identified for the 6-year period. Of these, 213 were digital injections, and 127 had follow-up. All patients had complete resolution of symptoms. None of the patients were hospitalized or received hand surgery consultation or surgical care. Significant systemic effects were not reported. Pharmacologic vasodilatory treatment was used in 23% (29/127) of patients. Ischemic effects were documented for 4 patients, and 2 of these had symptom resolution within 2 hours. All 4 patients received vasodilatory therapy and were discharged home, with complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusion In our series of patients using poison center calls about digital epinephrine autoinjections, there were no cases in which clinically apparent systemic effects were recorded and few patients had ischemia. No patient was admitted or had surgery. Most clinicians did not use vasodilation medications or techniques.
Highly Solvent Dependent Luminescence from [Ru(bpy)n(dppp2)3―n]2+ (n = 0―2)

The photophysical properties of a series of ruthenium(II) complexes possessing the dppp2 (dppp2 = pyrido[2′,3′:5,6]pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline) ligand, [Ru(bpy)n(dppp2)3−n]2+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; n = 0−3), were investigated. The dppp2-containing complexes possess a remarkable solvent dependence of the luminescence maximum, lifetime, and quantum yield. For example, the emission maximum of [Ru(bpy)2(dppp2)]2+ blue shifts from 752 nm in CH3CN to 653 nm in CH2Cl2, concomitant with a 19-fold enhancement in the luminescence quantum yield. Electronic structure calculations, transient absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemistry were also used to gain insight into the photophysical properties of the dppp2 complexes. The pronounced solvent effect of the emission of these complexes is attributed to the changes in the relative stabilities of two low-lying metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states on the environment, where the lowest energy MLCT state is more sensitive to the polarity of the s...
Human serum histidine-rich glycoprotein. I. Interactions with heme, metal ions and organic ligands

Abstract The 3.8 S α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein of human serum is composed of two non-identical subunits, each of which contains carbohydrate. The far ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum of α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein indicates that the protein has little α-helix but apparently appreciable amounts of β-sheet and non-regular structures. α2-Histidine-rich glycoprotein binds heme with concomitant changes in the electrophoretic mobility of the protein, in the fluorescence of tryptophan residues, and in the absorption and optical activity of the heme chromophore. By fluorescence quenching, the stoichiometry of binding is 1 heme per α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein molecule with an apparent Kd near 1.5 μM; however, by changes in absorbance, the interaction of 9 to 10 additional heme molecules with the α protein can be detected. The absorption spectra of heme - α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein complexes resemble those of low-spin hemoproteins. The ellipticity induced in the heme chromophore on binding by α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein increases linearly up to about 10 hemes bound per mol protein. No change in the conformation of α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein was indicated by circular dichroism when one or two heme molecules are bound by the protein. α2-Histidine-rich glycoprotein does not effectively compete with human serum albumin for heme, suggesting that α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein has no major function in serum heme transport. Nonetheless, the binding of heme by α2-histidine-rich glycoprotein provides a means of studying the structure of this protein using the heme chromophore as a probe.