cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attitudinal effects associated with an environmental hazard

There has been increasing concern over environmental hazards such as toxic waste disposal, but little research has occurred on those effects related to the stress associated with these hazards. Related research has suggested the presence of both behavioral (e.g., headaches, nausea) and attitudinal effects (demoralization, upset, perceived threat, lack of trust). Mediators to these effects were found to include distance from the stressor, frequency of stimuli, gender, age and presence of small children. Four hundred twenty-one persons were surveyed with adaptations from the Hopkins Life Checklist and instruments used in studies of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Effects for the attitudes ofperceived threat, declining qualify of life, anddistrust of authorities were significant for both distance from site and frequency of stimuli. Future anticipation, quality of information and having children significantly affected attitudes, as did age and gender. Implications for policymakers and researchers are also discussed.
Tracing increasing tropical Andean glacier melt with stable isotopes in water.

Glaciers in the tropical Andes are undergoing rapid retreat with potentially devastating consequences for populations who rely on them for water resources. We measured stable water isotope ratios in synoptically sampled streams discharging from glacierized watersheds to associate hydroisotopic variation with relative changes in glacierized area. A total of 73 water samples were collected from hydrological endmembers including streams, glacier meltwater, and groundwater during the dry seasons of 2004-2006 in the Callejon de Huaylas, a 5000 km 2 watershed that drains the western side of the Cordillera Blanca in northern Peru ´ . To differentiate the influence of elevation on isotopic values, we use samples from shallow groundwater springs and nonglacierized subcatchments to derive a local meteoric elevation effect. From published historical runoff data and satellite-mapped glacier cover, we estimate an average increase of 1.6 ((1.1)% in the specific discharge of the glacierized catchments as a function of isotopic changes from 2004 to 2006. These results confirm predicted short-term increases in discharge as glaciers melt and demonstrate the utility of stable isotopes in water for tracing relative glacier melt water contributions to watersheds.
Study of phonons in self-organized multiple Ge quantum dots

Raman scattering measurements were carried out in a self-organized multi-layered Ge quantum dot sample, which was grown using solid-source molecular-beam epitaxy, and consisted of 25 periods of 20-A-high Ge quantum dots sandwiched by 20-nm Si spacers. The Ge-Ge optical phonon mode was found at 298.2 cm−1, which was tuned by the phonon confinement and strain effects. Acoustic phonons related to Ge quantum dots have also been demonstrated.
Runoff quality evaluations of continuous and rotational over-wintering systems for beef cows

Abstract Over-wintering cattle out of doors can be detrimental to the areas that cattle occupy and cause increased runoff, sediment loss, and nutrient transport. Two systems of over-wintering cattle were evaluated for their environmental impacts over a 12-year period, November 1974–October 1986. In one system, beef cows were moved on 6–7 day intervals among four pastures during the summer growing season (May–October), rotated through hayed areas to eat fall regrowth, and rotated through these areas to feed on the hay made in those areas. In another system, cows were rotated weekly during summer and then fed hay in one winter area during the dormant season (November–April). Vegetative cover in the continuous wintering area frequently decreased to less than 50% by late winter/early spring while it remained at or near 100% in the rotational system. Monthly runoff averages were greater from the continuous wintering system than the rotational wintering system in 9 out of 12 months (annual runoff of 120.4 and 37.5 mm, respectively). Sediment loss was also greater from the continuous system than the rotational wintering system (2.68 and 0.24 Mg ha −1 annual averages, respectively). Surface runoff losses of N were greater during the dormant season (13.2 and 6.7 kg N ha −1 annual averages for the continuous and rotational wintering systems, respectively) than the growing season (4.6 and 1.3 kg N ha −1 annual averages, respectively). Runoff, sediment, and N losses were less with this rotational wintering system than with the continuous occupancy wintering system, but the animal occupancy rate was also much greater in the continuous system compared with the rotational system (1497 and 1860 cow days ha −1 compared with 528 and 576 cow days ha −1 ). Although a direct comparison cannot be made between these two systems because of differences in vegetation, stocking rate, and fertilization, the rotational wintering system that was evaluated appears to be sustainable. However, more land area per cow was necessary than with the continuous wintering system that was evaluated.
Choroid development and feasibility of choroidal imaging in the preterm and term infants utilizing SD-OCT.

Purpose To determine whether choroidal imaging is feasible in preterm and term infants using an 840-nm portable spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system without the use of enhanced-depth imaging techniques and to assess choroidal development by comparing choroidal thickness of preterm infants, term infants, and adults. Methods SD-OCT images were obtained from 86 preterm infants, 59 term infants, and nine adults using a portable SD-OCT system plus nine adults using a tabletop system. An unprocessed image across the macula from one randomly selected eye of each participant was selected for determination of whether the choroidal-scleral junction (CSJ) could be visualized and for measurement of choroidal thickness. Results Subfoveal CSJ was visualized in 96% of young-preterm infants (imaged from 30-36 weeks postmenstrual age [PMA]); 78% of term-aged preterm infants (imaged from 37-42 weeks PMA); 49% of term infants; and 39% of adult subjects. Racial pigmentation did not affect CSJ visibility in young-preterm infants (P = 0.57). Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in young-preterm infants, term-aged preterm infants, term infants, and adults was 176 ± 53 μm, 289 ± 92 μm, 329 ± 66 μm, and 258 ± 66 μm, respectively, and these were all statistically significantly different from one another except term-aged preterms to adults. Conclusions Infant choroid can be imaged with a portable SD-OCT system without enhanced depth imaging. Melanin in the RPE and choroid does not hinder outer choroidal imaging in young-preterm infants without advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In preterm infants, choroidal thickness increased with age but was thinner when compared to term infants suggesting delayed development due to ROP.
3D exploitation of 2D video from a hand-launched aerial glider

Compact cameras and robotic platforms are growing ubiquitous as performance increases and price decreases for both of these transformational technologies. To encourage rapid experimentation with imaging sensors and robots, MIT Lincoln Laboratory held a Technology Challenge in September 2010 which involved remotely characterizing a 1 km2 rural area. In this poster, we present video exploitation results from an aerial glider system fielded as part of the Technology Challenge.The aerial system's hardware setup included a Radian sailplane glider (
Significance of isolated vasculitis in the gynecological tract: what clinicians do with the pathologic diagnosis of vasculitis? ☆

Vasculitides includes a heterogeneous group of disorders with the common histologic findings of vascular wall inflammation. Systemic or localized disease (eg, renal vasculitis) has serious consequences. The incidence of isolated gynecologic vasculitis diagnosed on pathology specimens and its significance is little known. We performed a 20 year retrospective review including 53 cases with vasculitis diagnosis affecting the female genital tract identified in pathology reports. None had prior symptoms or were diagnosed with generalized vasculitis, while one patient had prior diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Most patients presented with abnormal bleeding and were treated for conditions unrelated to vasculitis. The different types of vasculitis were: predominantly lymphocytic (nonspecific) 30 cases, necrotizing 17 cases and granulomatous 6 cases. Only 2 patients had additional serologic tests. None of the patients with isolated gynecologic vasculitis received corticosteroids or additional treatment related to the vasculitis. None of the patients developed systemic vasculitis at follow-up (2 months-19.5 years; mean, 5.5 years). Isolated gynecologic vasculitis diagnosed on pathology slides is rarely associated with systemic vasculitis. Potential isolated gynecologic vasculitis causes include: previous surgical interventions and vascular inflammation secondary to local neoplasm. In almost all cases, clinicians did not perform a thorough laboratory analysis to exclude systemic vasculitis and therapy was not required in any case, suggesting minimal clinical significance.
Education and research in adult family violence: a perspective.

There are compelling reasons to promote the education of medical students about family violence. First, such violence is a significant health problem, but one that has been hidden or ignored for too long by the medical and health communities and even by law enforcement agencies. Once physicians look for family violence among their patients, however, they will find it. Second, it is important for physicians to know about family violence because they typically are the first line of defense and will see victims of family violence who cannot, or are afraid to, call the police. A third reason for including family violence in the curriculum is that this topic is eminently teachable. Obstacles to greater emphasis on family violence in the curriculum are akin to the obstacles in physicians' practices: ignorance, denial, a feeling that the problem is a law enforcement one, and a mistaken notion about how easy it is for an abused woman to leave her abuser. Also, medical students often come from sheltered backgrounds and will have to be taught about the prevalence and importance of family violence. Curricula in family violence should be multidisiplinary, integrated into current teaching, and have an emphasis on experiential learning. Also, change must be built into the curriculum so that it can reflect the latest understanding of the problem. Faculty who have the interest and training to teach this topic are limited, so they must teach their colleagues to prevent misinformed teaching. Finally, community resource people should be involved, since they are responsible for much of the management and rehabilitation of abused persons. Language: en
The microwave processing of electric arc furnace dust

An ideal treatment for electric arc furnace (EAF) dust is to cost-effectively process the dust on site to generate high-value products. Microwave heating has the potential to be the ideal approach. In this study, testing was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of treating EAF dust under microwave radiation to produce iron metal and zinc metal instead of zinc oxides as co-products. Microwave processing time and fixed carbon addition amounts were investigated. Different carbons with high fixed carbon contents were also tested and no significant influence was observed. Products of both metallic zinc-rich particles and metallic iron-rich residuals exhibited high purities, which satisfy recycling feedstock requirements.
Empowering the “Unfit” Mother: Increasing Empathy, Redefining the Label

This article presents the results of a qualitative study that examined the experiences of women who were deemed “unfit” to care for their children. The voices of these mothers call attention to the difficult process of recovery from addiction while trying to regain custody of one's children. A strengths-based empowerment approach is emphasized in work with these women, beginning with a redefinition of the label “unfit.”
Capturing shear band propagation in a Zr-based metallic glass using a high-speed camera

With the help of a high-speed camera, shear band propagation in a Zr-based metallic glass during compression was captured and images were analyzed using a digital image correlation method. The shear velocity was calculated and further compared with that measured from using strain gages. The images also showed that localized shear occurs in a simultaneous fashion, i.e. shear band operates simultaneously across the entire shear plane, rather than in a progressive manner.
Field Notes on a Feeding Swarm of Cheiroplatys clunalis

Cheiroplatys Hope is a dynastine genus containing 4 species (Arnett 1962) distributed throughout the arid mountains of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona (Casey 1915, Ritcher 1966).
Molecular determinants of altered contractility in heart failure.

Heart failure remains a leading cause of mortality in the Western world. An important hallmark of heart failure is reduced myocardial contractility. Alterations in intracellular Ca 2+ handling play...
Management of Newly Diagnosed Symptomatic Multiple Myeloma: updated Mayo Stratification of Myeloma and Risk-Adapted Therapy (mSMART) Consensus Guidelines

Multiple myeloma is a malignant plasma cell neoplasm that affects more than 20,000 people each year and is the second most common hematologic malignancy. It is part of a spectrum of monoclonal plasma cell disorders, many of which do not require active therapy. During the past decade, considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the disease process and factors that influence outcome, along with development of new drugs that are highly effective in controlling the disease and prolonging survival without compromising quality of life. Identification of well-defined and reproducible prognostic factors and introduction of new therapies with unique modes of action and impact on disease outcome have for the first time opened up the opportunity to develop risk-adapted strategies for managing this disease. Although these risk-adapted strategies have not been prospectively validated, enough evidence can be gathered from existing randomized trials, subgroup analyses, and retrospective studies to develop a working framework. This set of recommendations represents such an effort—the development of a set of consensus guidelines by a group of experts to manage patients with newly diagnosed disease based on an interpretation of the best available evidence.
Trends in Integration Attitudes on a Deep-South Campus During the First Two Decades of Desegregation

Four surveys of the attitudes of the white students on the Tuscaloosa campus of the University of Alabama, begun just before its effective desegregation in 1963 and continued at three-year intervals until 1972, indicated a rapidly increasing acceptance of black students. A fifth survey, conducted in November 1982, disclosed a continuing increase in the acceptance of blacks as students, but a reversal in acceptance as social intimates. These results were reflected at a more general level by increased acceptance of political and economic equality, while attitudes related to social aspects of desegregation remained roughly at 1972 levels. Consistent with these findings, an increased proportion of students perceived blacks as possessing negative characteristics. The University of Alabama has long served as a symbol of southern white resistance to desegregation. In 1956, the campus was the scene of riots following the federal court-ordered admission of Autherine Lucy. When she charged University complicity in the demonstrations, she was expelled by the trustees. In 1963, representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice, backed by federal marshals and federalized national guardsmen, were confronted by then-governor George C. Wallace as he "stood in the school-house door" in a nationally publicized attempt to block the enrollment of Vivian Malone and James A. Hood. Ms. Malone remained at the University for the next two years, becoming the first black student to graduate. The survey results reported below, covering a period from just *We gratefully acknowledge the assistance and cooperation of the faculty and staff of the University of Alabama Department of Sociology. Address correspondence to Donal E. Muir, Department of Sociology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486. ? 1984 The University of North Carolina Press 963 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.215 on Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:17:14 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 964 / Social Forces Volume 62:4, June 1984 before the Univesity's effective desegregation in 1963 until November 1982, document the campus atmosphere which existed during these years of intense social change.
MDA5 and autoimmune disease

A new study shows that gain-of-function mutations in IFIH1, which encodes the cytosolic double-stranded RNA sensor MDA5, lead to upregulated type I interferon responses. Individuals with these mutations exhibit phenotypes consistent with autoimmune diseases, including Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Academic effects of providing peer support in general education classrooms on students without disabilities

We studied the academic effects on peers without disabilities of serving as peer supports for students with disabilities in general education classrooms. Three peers were studied using a range of indicators, including academic engagement, coursework performance, and social validity assessments. Peers assisting a student with disabilities via curricular adaptation, assignment completion, and social facilitation constituted the multicomponent independent variable. We used withdrawal or multiple baseline designs to demonstrate positive benefits for peers for all measures used. In addition, follow-up data for 2 peers indicated that the positive changes associated with serving as a peer support were maintained for up to 2 months. Our results are discussed in relation to the possible academic and social effects of providing peer supports in general education classrooms for students with and without disabilities.
Quantum 1/f noise associated with ionized impurity scattering and electron-phonon scattering in condensed matter

Abstract Scattering of charged particles is accompanied by the emission of soft photons. Handel's theory of 1/f noise, based on the infrared quasi-divergent coupling of the system to the electromagnetic field, indicates that the current associated with a beam of scattered particles will exhibit 1/f noise. His derivation is valid in a vacuum. Here we extend his results and obtain the fluctuation spectrum for the fluctuations in cross-section and for the scattering rates w kk′ in k-space, using the Born approximation. Next we consider mobility fluctuations due to these scattering rates, employing the relaxation time solutions of the Boltzmann transport equation, valid in non-degenerate semiconductors. Explicit results are obtained for the mobility-fluctuation noise caused by ionized impurity scattering, acoustic phonon scattering, optical phonon scattering, polar optical phonon scattering, and intervalley scattering. We derive Hooge's law, and the Hooge parameters for the above-mentioned processes are obtai...
Video copy detection by fast sequence matching

Sequence matching techniques are effective for comparing two videos. However, existing approaches suffer from demanding computational costs and thus are not scalable for large-scale applications. In this paper we view video copy detection as a local alignment problem between two frame sequences and propose a two-level filtration approach which achieves significant acceleration to the matching process. First, we propose to use an adaptive vocabulary tree to index all frame descriptors extracted from the video database. In this step, each video is treated as a "bag of frames." Such an indexing structure not only provides a rich vocabulary for representing videos, but also enables efficient computation of a pyramid matching kernel between videos. This vocabulary tree filters those videos that are dissimilar to the query based on their histogram pyramid representations. Second, we propose a fast edit-distance-based sequence matching method that avoids unnecessary comparisons between dissimilar frame pairs. This step reduces the quadratic runtime to a linear time with respect to the lengths of the sequences under comparison. Experiments on the MUSCLE VCD benchmark demonstrate that our approach is effective and efficient. It is 18X faster than the original sequence matching algorithms. This technique can be applied to several other visual retrieval tasks including shape retrieval. We demonstrate that the proposed method can also achieve a significant speedup for the shape retrieval task on the MPEG-7 shape dataset.
Novel electrochemical approach to enhanced toxicity of 4-oxo-2-nonenal vs. 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (role of imine): oxidative stress and therapeutic modalities.

Summary Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress (OS) have received increasing attention in connection with illness, disease, and aging. The OS results in widespread attack of body constituents, with unsaturated lipids, leading to hydroperoxides, being a focus of research. Subsequent decomposition yields various functionalized aldehydes, including 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). OS linked to HNE is associated with various illnesses. Recently, much attention has been devoted to 4-oxo-2-nonenal (ONE), also a product from lipid hydroperoxide decomposition. ROS and OS are increasingly implicated in the mode of action of drugs and toxins. The preponderance of bioactive substances or their metabolites incorporate electron transfer (ET) functionalities, among which are imines or iminiums. Also, in this category are the less well-known α-dicarbonyls. ET moieties undergo redox cycling accompanied by generation of ROS. Electrochemistry, a neglected area, can provide valuable insight. If the reduction potential is more positive than −0.5 V, then ET reactions are a possibility in vivo. Both HNE and ONE participate in Michael addition reactions with protein nucleophiles. The process occurs at a faster rate with ONE due mainly to the high reactivity toward His and Cys. The greater toxicity of ONE vs. HNE may partly reflect this difference. Also, ONE forms Schiff base (imine) at a faster rate than HNE, which also may contribute to the difference in toxicity. Electrochemistry of α-dicarbonyls and their imine derivatives can elucidate basic mechanisms. Methylglyoxal possesses a reduction potential of −0.18 V, amenable to ET in vivo. Since ONE is a vinylog of methylglyoxal, redox cycling should be even more facile. Another model is diacetyl whose reduction potential is also favorable. In contrast, crotonaldehyde, a model for the HNE vinylog, is characterized by a quite negative reduction potential, unsuitable for ET; acrolein is included. Imines of α-dicarbonyls serve as models for Schiff bases from ONE. The diimines in acid have reduction potentials of −0.45 to −0.49 V. Diacetyl monoxime, an oximino analog of the vinylogous ONE mono Schiff base, possesses a similar value. The ONE vinylogs should exhibit even better electrochemical characteristics. Thus, these neglected electrochemical properties can help rationalize the greater toxicity of ONE vs. HNE. Toxicity of the aldehydes may be countered by various approaches: formation of non-toxic imines, carboxylic acids, and Michael adducts. Genetic methods and AO therapy are treated.
Distribution of labor among bZIP segments in the control of DNA affinity and specificity

Abstract Background : The basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) family of proteins use an atypically simple motif for DNA recognition, yet family members discriminate differently between target sites that differ only in half-site spacing. Two such sites are the cAMP-response element (CRE) and the AP-1 target site. Fos/Jun prefers the AP-1 site (ATGACTCAT), while CRE-BP1 prefers CRE (ATGACGTCAT), and GCN4 binds both sites with equal affinity. We therefore asked what determines the relative specificity for CRE and AP-1 sites in bZIP proteins. Results : Here we show that CRE/AP-1 specificity in CRE-BP1 is encoded within the spacer and basic segments of the bZIP element. Of these two regions, the basic segment is the more important. This specificity is in part achieved at the expense of affinity. Conclusions : The small size and simplicity of the bZIP recognition helix was already unusual; our findings show that the information that determines the target site specificity of members of the bZIP family of proteins is even more condensed than expected. These results suggest that it may be possible to design surprisingly small proteins that bind DNA with high sequence specificity, although it may be more difficult to achieve high-affinity binding in small proteins.
Surface self-diffusion of single atoms☆

Abstract The surface transport of atoms plays an important role in the growth of crystals from the vapor. Using the field ion microscope it has been possible to establish quantitatively the diffusion parameters for rhodium atoms on different planes of their own crystal, as well as for tungsten atoms on tungsten. On rhodium, an f.c.c. metal, major variations in the diffusion barrier are simply correlated with the atomic arrangement of the surface: smooth planes have a low activation energy, rough planes a high one. On tungsten such trends are not apparent, but on both metals the dynamics of motion are normal. Quite a different behavior is found for the diffusion of doublets, which have been studied in detail on the (211) plane of tungsten. Motion occurs over a low activation barrier, but with a low frequency factor, by the advance of one atom at a time. Triplets have been found to behave in precisely the same way.
Kinetics of methaemoglobin production. (1). Kinetics of methaemoglobinaemia induced by the cyanide antidotes, p-aminopropiophenone, p-hydroxyaminopropiophenone or p-dimethylaminophenol after intravenous administration.

Methaemoglobin profiles have been studied by using ISIS, a simulation package, and NONLIN, a ion-linear least-squares analysis regression program. A simple kinetic model which satisfactorily describes methaemoglobin profiles after p-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) administration and 4-dimethylaminophenol (DMAP) administration has been developed. The two compounds differed nainly in their effective rates of elimination. The model less satisfactorily described methaemoglobin profiles after p-hydroxyaminopropiophenone (PHAPP) administration.
Patient consent in seven medical-care institutions

An exploratory study of the patient consent process was conducted in seven large medical-surgical institutions. Analysis of the most recent literature on consent and of data provided by knowledgeable persons in each facility led to the conclusions that (1) the primary intent of obtaining patient consent is to legally protect the hospital and the physician, (2) legal and educational objectives are confused and entangled in the consent process, (3) legal objectives are not adequately met in any facility, and (4) the potential for sophisticated patient education is dim given existing procedures.
Women’s Entrepreneurship: Operating within the Context of Institutional and In-Group Collectivism

Women’s entrepreneurship has positive implications for societal and economic growth. In this study we examine the effects of culture and, more specifically, collectivism on women’s entrepreneurship...
Distortion of Short Pulses in Tapered Tube Pulse Transformers. Part I—Inviscid Liquid

A tapered pipe (or “line”) is a convenient transformer for pulses of pressure or volume flux, but the pulse usually becomes distorted, depending on the geometry of the taper. The principal objective of this paper is to present and illustrate a method for determining the distortion of short pulses and to show that it is possible to construct a distortion-free line. In the model considered a pulse input of volume flux is applied to one end of a tapered line containing an inviscid liquid and the form of the output pulse is found for a termination consisting of a very long uniform line.
The Influence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection on Antibody Responses to Influenza Vaccines

Abstract Study Objective:To ascertain whether subjects infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) generally develop protective hemagglutination inhibition antibody responses to inactivated in...
Grafting of lignin onto nanostructured silica SBA-15: preparation and characterization

The slow decline in oil reserves with mounting oil prices is pushing industry to find more sustainable sources for industrial manufacturing. Lignin is the second most abundant natural renewable biopolymer that is underutilized and has many functional groups (–OH, phenolics) that make the biopolymer a convenient substrate for materials manufacturing by the industry. The present study thus describes grafting of lignin onto nanostructured silica SBA-15 (Santa Barbara amorphous 15) by first silylating lignin with triethoxychlorosilane followed by treatment of silylated lignin with SBA-15. The resulting nanocomposite denoted as LIG–SBA-15-G was then characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, infra-red (FTIR), 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR), N2 adsorption (BET), scanning and transmission electron micrographs (SEM and TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). X-ray data showed that LIG–SBA-15-G exhibited hexagonal structure closely similar to that observed for the SBA-15 host. FTIR of LIG–SBA-15-G showed characteristic absorption bands from lignin and attenuated Si–OH band due to its conversion to Si–O–Si ether bonds. Whereas, 31P NMR revealed that the majority of hydroxyl groups in lignin were replaced by Si–O–LIG ether bonds in LIG–SBA-15-G. SEM images of LIG–SBA-15-G displayed little changes in the macroscopic structure as compared to SBA-15. TEM images showed some disordered area in LIG–SBA-15-G and the grafted lignin appeared as black film on the silica surface. Using BET analysis the surface area of LIG–SBA-15-G was found to be 560 m2 g−1. Finally, TGA showed that LIG–SBA-15-G was more thermally stable than lignin and contained 13 % w/w lignin. Understanding the physicochemical and structural properties of the resulting lignin-nanosilica hybrid material should help engineer a robust and sustainable biomaterial suitable for various application, e.g. removal of contaminants from contaminated water.
Application of a selective HSQC experiment to measure interglycosidic heteronuclear long-range coupling constants in cyclodextrins

A selective one-dimensional HSQC experiment was used to obtain heteronuclear long-range coupling constants for native and chemically modified cyclodextrins (3,6-anhydro-β-cyclodextrin) and a non-covalent complex of α-cyclodextrin with p-nitrophenol. Selective excitation was performed on C-4 in the α-glucose units using DANTE hard pulse trains. The measured heteronuclear long-range coupling constants have similar values for all natural cyclodextrins. The high value of these coupling constants indicates that the low dihedral angle between H-1 and C-4 found in the solid state is retained in solution. Chemical modification or complex formation, however, decreases the coupling constant by increasing the dihedral angle between these nuclei. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Breaking symmetry: mutations engineered into R67 dihydrofolate reductase, a D2 symmetric homotetramer possessing a single active site pore.

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an enzyme, encoded by an R-plasmid, that confers resistance to the antibacterial agent trimethoprim. This homotetramer possesses a single active site pore and exact 222 symmetry. The symmetry imposes constraints on the ability of the enzyme to optimize binding of the substrate, dihydrofolate (DHF), and the cofactor, NADPH, resulting in a “one site fits both ligands” approach. This approach allows formation of either a NADPH·NADPH, dihydrofolate·dihydrofolate, or NADPH·dihydrofolate complex. The first two complexes are nonproductive, while the third is the productive catalytic species. To break the symmetry of the active site, a tandem array of four R67 DHFR genes has been linked in frame, allowing individual manipulation of each gene copy. Various numbers and combinations of asymmetric Q67H mutations have been engineered into the tandem gene array. The Q67H mutation was chosen for investigation as it was previously found to tighten binding to both dihydrofolate and NA...
Group Quizzes: An Extension of the Collaborative Learning Process

Research has documented that collaborative learning groups improve student learning and increase the likelihood that students will have positive attitudes about both the subject matter and their peers. However, researchers know much less about how collaborative learning groups may influence student behavior and the extent to which their utility extends to testing as well as projects and papers. In an effort to address these gaps, we used quasi-experimental and survey data to examine the effects of collaborative testing on Introduction to Sociology students' learning, behavior, and attitudes. Findings indicate that collaborative testing improved students' behavior and attitudes. In comparison to a control group, students who participated in collaborative testing reported completing more of their assigned readings and had improved attitudes toward their learning, the testing process, and sociology.
Advancements in PMR thin-film media

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to review advancements in the design, characterization, and optimization of PMR thin film media for magnetic recording output, resolution, signal-to-noise, and thermal stability at ultra-high densities from 100 to 1000 Gbpsi. In particular, the single and double-layer PMR thin-film media to be discussed include HCP CoCr-alloys, HCP CGC CoPt/CoCrPt, FCC Co/Pd multilayers, HCP CoCrPt–SiO 2 granular oxides, FCT FePt, and tilted media. This paper reviews the materials processing techniques used to optimize physical microstructures with seed layers and intermediate layers to decrease grain size, narrow size distribution, dope with elements to inhibit grain growth, segregate elements to grain boundaries to enhance magnetic isolation, and increase coercivity, magnetization squareness, negative nucleation field, narrow easy-axis orientation, switching field distribution, and reduce hysteresis loop slope at coercivity, magnetic cluster domain size, DC reversed domain noise, and recording transition jitter noise.
Experimental Characterization of Aerosol Flow Through a Micro-Capillary

Aerosol flow through a long and tapered micro-capillary (MC) for direct write (DW) technology is typically used with small particles of sizes ranging from 0.2 μm to 10 μm at velocities up to 100 m/s. Earlier research showed that the particles coming through a long MC experience Saffman force that moves the particles towards the center of the beam other than the geometric convergence (due to Stokes drag); thus creating a collimated aerosol beam. It was also established that the additional Saffman force becomes more effective with certain particle diameters and velocities. Therefore, for experimental validation, it is important to accurately measure the particle size distribution and velocities coming out of the long MC. However, the current sizing methods are incapable of measuring particles less than 5 μm due to optical limitations. The current paper presents results using a micro-shadowgraphy system from LaVision Inc. to characterize the flow field. A modification of the particle-sizing algorithm is proposed to measure particles of sub-micron sizes. The modified algorithm can be used to accurately size particles of 1μm diameter.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The esophageal electrocardiogram in arrhythmias and tachycardias.

Abstract 1. 1. Several electrocardiograms are reproduced, illustrating the value of the esophageal electrocardiogram in accurately diagnosing certain types of arrhythmia and tachycardia. 2. 2. A plea has been made for more frequent use of the esophageal electrocardiogram in selected cases.
A pictorial format function for patterning decorated numeric displays

An extension to the APL dyadic format function is proposed, using a character vector left argument. This argument is a literal pattern having the exact length of the last dimension of the resultant array. No special markers are required to separate adjacent numeric fields, arbitrary decorations may appear within or outside of fields, negative or positive numbers can be distinguished by symbols of choice, and there is provision for accommodating the number representation practices of different countries. The extension completely covers the present functional capability of dyadic format with one minor exception (and possible improvement) in a detail of exponential presentation.In the proposed extension, format information is carried in three ways: in the structure of the pattern, in the choice of digits to denote number fields, and in a system variable. Common requirements, such as the use of commas, floating negative signs on either or both sides of a number, and optional suppression of zero values, are achieved very simply.This paper will describe the evolution of this proposal, which was first discussed at APL/73, give a rigorous formulation of the rules, and show examples of its use.
Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 16 and an unexpected Duffy blood group phenotype reveal a possible autosomal linkage.

CHROMOSOME deletions are ideal material for identifying gene loci, by the correlation of the absence of part of a chromosome with a particular phenotype. We have recently studied a child who demonstrates this cytogenetic principle. A 26 month old mildly retarded Caucasian female was found to be heterozygous for a deletion of the long arm of chromosome 16. Analysis of autosomal marker systems in the propositus and her family suggests that the location of the genes determining the Duffy blood system might be on the chromosome 16.
ON SURFACE REPRESENTATION USING TRACES OF PARALLEL INCLINED PLANES

(1969). ON SURFACE REPRESENTATION USING TRACES OF PARALLEL INCLINED PLANES. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 59, No. 3, pp. 600-603.
High Dynamic Range Image Display Using Level Set Framework.

This paper presents a novel solution to the High Dynamic Range (HDR) image compression problem using level set framework. Using level set framework, this method separates the HDR image into detail and profile. Then it uses a global tone mapping function to compress the profile. Finally it produces a low dynamic range version of the image for display by adding the details to the compressed profile. This method is capable of compressing the dynamic range while retaining the detail in the final image of various HDR images in a short time.
Optic Neuropathy Following Retrobulbar Injection: A Review

A retrobulbar block is a regional anesthetic nerve block in the retrobulbar space. Optic neuropathy following retrobulbar injection is a well-recognized and rare complication of the procedure with an unknown incidence. This article reviews the relevant literature regarding vision loss following this procedure. Mechanisms of injury to the optic nerve as well as methods that can be employed to minimize the risk of optic neuropathy will be explored, including alternatives to retrobulbar anesthesia.
Molecular mechanism of interleukin-2-induced mucosal homeostasis.

Sustained damage to the mucosal lining in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) facilitates translocation of intestinal microbes to submucosal immune cells leading to chronic inflammation....
EigenSpokes: Surprising Patterns and Scalable Community Chipping in Large Graphs

We report a surprising, persistent pattern in an important class of large sparse social graphs, which we term EigenSpokes. We focus on large Mobile Call graphs, spanning hundreds of thousands of nodes and edges, and find that the singular vectors of these graphs exhibit a striking EigenSpokes pattern wherein, when plotted against each other, they have clear, separate lines that often neatly align along specific axes (hence the term "spokes"). We show this phenomenon to be persistent across both temporal and geographic samples of Mobile Call graphs. Through experiments on synthetic graphs, EigenSpokes are shown to be associated with the presence of community structure in these social networks. This is further verified by analysing the eigenvectors of the Mobile Call graph, which yield nodes that form tightly-knit communities. The presence of such patterns in the singular spectra has useful applications, and could potentially be used to design simple, efficient community extraction algorithms.
Pharmacokinetics of Metformin during Pregnancy

Our objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of metformin during pregnancy. Serial blood and urine samples were collected over one steady-state dosing interval in women treated with metformin during early to late pregnancy (n = 35) and postpartum (n = 16). Maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were obtained at delivery from 12 women. Metformin concentrations were also determined in breast milk samples obtained over one dosing interval in 6 women. Metformin renal clearance increased significantly in mid (723 +/- 243 ml/min, P < 0.01) and late pregnancy (625 +/- 130 ml/min, P < 0.01) compared with postpartum (477 +/- 132 ml/min). These changes reflected significant increases in creatinine clearance (240 +/- 70 ml/min, P < 0.01 and 207 +/- 56 ml/min, P < 0.05 versus 165 +/- 44 ml/min) and in metformin net secretion clearance (480 +/- 190 ml/min, P < 0.01 and 419 +/- 78 ml/min, P < 0.01 versus 313 +/- 98 ml/min) in mid and late pregnancy versus postpartum, respectively. Metformin concentrations at the time of delivery in umbilical cord plasma ranged between nondetectable (<5 ng/ml) and 1263 ng/ml. The daily infant intake of metformin through breast milk was 0.13 to 0.28 mg, and the relative infant dose was <0.5% of the mother's weight-adjusted dose. Our results indicate that metformin pharmacokinetics are affected by pregnancy-related changes in renal filtration and net tubular transport and can be roughly estimated by the use of creatinine clearance. At the time of delivery, the fetus is exposed to metformin concentrations from negligible to as high as maternal concentrations. In contrast, infant exposure to metformin through the breast milk is low.
The Internet in the Communication Infrastructure of Urban Residential Communities: Macro- or Mesolinkage?

The article refines the view that the Internet is increasingly incorporated in everyday life, concluding that the new medium has been partially integrated in the “communication infrastructure” of English-speaking Los Angeles neighborhoods. Here, Internet connectedness is associated with civic participation and indirectly contributes to “belonging” to a residential community. However, in predominantly Asian and Latino areas, the Internet is disengaged from communication environments that lead to belonging, being associated with mainstream media. In these communities its contribution is contradictory; although it probably contributes to the process of ethnic assimilation, it might also lead to disengagement of most educated and technologically savvy residents from their neighborhoods. A possible “magnifying glass effect” is proposed as explanation for the differential integration of new media in community life.
Perioperative effects of caudal and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for children undergoing urologic robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery

Summary Introduction Regional anesthesia is often used in combination with general anesthesia for pediatric surgery, however, it is unknown if adjunctive regional blocks are beneficial to children undergoing urologic laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic (RAL) procedures. Objective To compare perioperative outcomes in children with adjunctive caudal blocks, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, or no regional anesthesia for common RAL surgical procedures in pediatric urology. Study design Inclusion in this retrospective study was limited to children who underwent RAL renal or ureteral/bladder procedures and received a standardized regimen of scheduled intravenous ketorolac and oral acetaminophen for acute postoperative pain control, with opioids as needed (PRN). Perioperative outcomes were compared between patients with an adjunctive caudal block (n = 25), bilateral TAP blocks (n = 44), or no regional anesthesia (n = 51). Results Children with a preoperative caudal block received less intraoperative opioids than children with TAP blocks or no regional anesthesia (p Discussion Use of adjunctive caudal blocks for pediatric RAL renal or ureteral/bladder surgical procedures may reduce need for alternate analgesic and/or anesthetic agents intraoperatively, as well as decrease postoperative nausea and vomiting. These findings may be related, since nausea and vomiting are common side effects of opioids and inhalational anesthetics. Consideration of the potential impact of caudal blocks on general anesthetic requirements is timely in light of concerns regarding the risk of anesthetic neurotoxicity in young patients. There was no evidence of improved postoperative pain control or shorter LOS for children who received regional anesthesia. It is unknown if regional blocks would have a greater impact in the absence of scheduled pain medications, which all patients in our study received. Limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and moderate sample size. Future randomized controlled trials are necessary to provide a more definitive understanding of regional anesthesia's role in minimizing pediatric surgical and anesthetic morbidity. Conclusion Administration of caudal blocks should be considered for children of suitable age undergoing RAL surgery involving either the upper or lower urinary tract.
A Time-Varying System - Missile Dynamics

Most of the control theory is developed around time-invariant systems where the state matrix A consists of scalars which are not functions of time. However, many physical systems are naturally modeled with the elements of the state matrix A depending on time. One example is the dynamics of a missile. Time- varying systems also arise when non-linear systems are linearized about a trajectory. In this work, the state-transition matrix is studied for time-varying systems in order to reach a general solution. The computational effort is significantly more complicated that the time-invariant case. There are many different methods in the literature for finding the state-transition matrix and one of them is adopted. Finally, a case study of Missile Dynamics will be analyzed and simulated in MATLAB.