cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crowd-Based Tools for Indirect Condition Assessment and Conservation of Cultural Heritage

The enhancement of digital technologies, the diffusion of the crowdsensing paradigm envisage useful applications to cultural heritage and depict novel approaches to the condition assessment and forms of conservation and preventive conservation. A large amount of inhomogeneous data is available to the community and, therefore, effective and reliable tools able to facilitate their processing and management are needed to design proper safeguarding and valorization measures. The present paper discusses a methodology that integrates traditional approaches for the knowledge and condition assessment of cultural heritage with those based on well-known web applications available at a large scale on different devices. In other terms, it investigated the feasibility and the reliability of the crowd-sourcing paradigm applied to the acquisition of data related to the current condition of architectural and valuable assets. The methodology is applied to two relevant but different examples of the International cultural heritage, for which a flexible and scalable database has been populated. Processing of data provides encouraging results both in the area of the indirect survey and preventive conservation.
Wholesome Entertainment: Non-Profit Filmmaking in Sub-Saharan Africa

This presentation articulates the primary features of what I term the contemporary industry of non-profit, educational film production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on my corpus of narrative films and videos used as teaching tools across the region  on topics dominated by HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy  I critique the existing global hierarchy of top-down funding and production that determines what films are made, on which topics, by whom, and for whom. I engage with recent debates on the desirability of current models of international aid and the roles of NGOs in African nations. / / My research demonstrates that the normative paradigm of non-profit filmmaking is detrimental to African autonomy because it reproduces structures of dominance that belittle African agency and hamper communities efforts to provide a better, sustainable quality of life. Previous discussions of these videos, which tend to focus on individual films success, have not examined the epistemological and economic effects of the industrial structure that produces them. Instead, my analysis uniquely employs a film studies approach that examines both text and context, thereby considering the significance of cinematic specificity and its impact on development communications projects, as well as alternative models that have recently begun to alleviate some the industrys most patronizing features.
Social Data: An Underutilized Metric for Determining Participation in COVID-19 Vaccinations

Many measures have been taken since late 2019 to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. National, state, and local governments employed precautions, including mask mandates, stay-at-home orders, and social distancing policies, to alleviate the burden on healthcare workers and slow the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) virus until an efficacious vaccine was made widely available. By early spring of 2021, three effective and well-tolerated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines emerged and underwent broad distribution. Throughout the course of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, several key logistical and psychological issues surfaced. Of these, access to vaccines and vaccination hesitancy are cited as two substantial hindrances towards vaccination. Noting the demand for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and its highly sensitive storage requirements, accurate dose allocation is critical for vaccinating the population quickly and successfully. Here, we propose the use of social data as a tool to predict vaccination participation by correlating Google searches with state-level daily vaccination. We identified a temporal and regionally-ubiquitous Google search syntax that broadly captures daily vaccination trends. By correlating trends in the search syntax with daily vaccination rates, we were able to quantify the correlation and identify optimal lag periods between Google searches and daily vaccination. This work highlights the importance of analyzing social data as a metric to effectively arrange vaccination roll-outs, identify voluntary vaccination participation, and identify inflection points in vaccination participation. In addition, social data assessments can help direct dose allocation, identify geographic areas that may seek, but lack, access to the vaccines, and actively prepare for fluctuations in vaccination demands.
Making experiments dependable

In computer science and computer security we often do experiments to establish or compare the performance of one approach vs another to some problem, such as intrusion detection or biometric authentication. An experiment is a test or an assay for determining the characteristics of the item under study, and hence experimentation involves measurements. Measurements are susceptible to various kinds of error, any one of which could make an experimental outcome invalid and untrustworthy or undependable. This paper focuses on one kind of methodological error --- confounding --- that can render experimental outcomes inconclusive, but often without the investigator knowing it. Hence, valuable time and other resources can be expended for naught. We show examples from the domain of keystroke biometrics, explaining several different examples of methodological error, their consequences, and how to avoid them.
Neurovascular defects and faulty amyloid-β vascular clearance in Alzheimer's disease

The evidence that neurovascular dysfunction is an integral part of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis has continued to emerge in the last decade. Changes in the brain vasculature have been shown to contribute to the onset and progression of the pathological processes associated with AD, such as microvascular reductions, blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, and faulty clearance of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) from the brain. Herein, we review the role of the neurovascular unit and molecular mechanisms in cerebral vascular cells behind the pathogenesis of AD. In particular, we focus on molecular pathways within cerebral vascular cells and the systemic circulation that contribute to BBB dysfunction, brain hypoperfusion, and impaired clearance of Aβ from the brain. We aim to provide a summary of recent research findings implicated in neurovascular defects and faulty Aβ vascular clearance contributing to AD pathogenesis.
Conduction velocity is inversely related to action potential threshold in rat motoneuron axons

Intra-axonal recordings were performed in ventral roots of rats in vitro to study the conduction velocity and firing threshold properties of motoneuron axons. Mean values ± SD were 30.5±5.6 m/s for conduction velocity and 11.6±4.5 mV for the depolarization from the resting potential required to reach firing threshold (threshold depolarization). Conduction velocity varied inversely and significantly with threshold depolarization (P=0.0002 by linear regression). This relationship was evident even after accounting for variation in conduction velocity associated with action potential amplitude, injected current amplitude, or body weight. Conduction velocity also varied inversely with the time to action potential onset during just-threshold current pulse injection. These data suggest that the time course of depolarization leading to action potential initiation contributes to the speed of conduction in motoneuron axons.
PerlDSM: A Distributed Shared Memory System for Perl

A suite of Perl utilities is presented for enabling Perl language programming in a distributed shared memory (DSM) setting. The suite allows clean, simple parallelization of Perl scripts running on multiple network nodes. A programming interface like that of the page-based approach to DSM is achieved via a novel use of Perl’s tie() function.
Nonlinear Optical Properties

In the presence of a sufficiently intense light, the optical properties of a polymer may become measurably nonlinear, leading to field-dependent changes in the frequency response, the refractive index, and/or the absorption coefficient of the polymer. This article introduces nonlinear optical phenomena and the structural properties that enhance a material's nonlinear optical response. Second-and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) phenomena are discussed, with a primary emphasis on harmonic generation, intensity-dependent refractive index, and nonlinear, multiphoton, absorption. Macroscopic nonlinear phenomena are related to the molecular properties of the materials. Sum-over-states models are used to understand the fundamental molecular parameters affecting the nonlinear response, particularly π-electron conjugation, bond length alternation, and donor–acceptor substitution. Measurement techniques used to characterize a material's nonlinear response are surveyed. Keywords: nonlinear optics; anharmonic oscillator; second harmonic generation; third harmonic generation; intensity-dependent refractive index; optical Kerr effect; degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM); two-photon absorption; cascading; electric field poling; poled polymers; electric field induced second harmonic generation (EFISH); hyper-Rayleigh scattering; susceptibilities; hyperpolarizabilities; local fields; sum-over-states models; two-level model; band-gap; conjugation length; coherence length; phase-matching; anomalous dispersion; periodic poling; z-scan; optical limiters; phase conjugation; optical switching
The prevalence and predictability of depression in infertile women.

Objective To determine the prevalence, severity, and predictability of depression in infertile women compared with a control sample of healthy women. Design Subjects were assessed while waiting to see their physician: infertility patients before a visit with an infertility specialist and control subjects before seeing either a gynecologist or internist for a routine gynecological examination. Subjects completed a demographic form and two depression scales. Setting A group infertility practice affiliated with an academic medical center, a hospital-based gynecology practice, and a health maintenance organization internal medicine clinic. Participants 338 infertile women and 39 healthy women. Interventions none. Main Outcome Measures The Beck Depression Inventory and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Results The infertile women had significantly higher depression scores and twice the prevalence of depression than the controls; women with a 2-to 3-year history of infertility had significantly higher depression scores compared with women with infertility durations of 6 years; women with an identified causative factor for their infertility had significantly higher depression scores than women with unexplained or undiagnosed infertility. Conclusions Depressive symptoms are common in infertile women. Psychological interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms need to be implemented, especially for women with a definitive diagnosis and for those with durations of 2 to 3 years of infertility.
Methionine auxotroph Escherichia coli growth assay kinetics in antibiotic and antifungal amended selective media

The objective of this work was to determine if Escherichia coli methionine bioassay characteristics were influenced by selective media amended with antibiotics and the antifungal compound cycloheximide. Bacterial cells were grown in minimal media with increasing concentrations of methionine and were incubated at 37°C with vigorous agitation for 6 hours. Addition of antistatic agents to the media did not change the growth kinetic response (P>0.05) to methionine concentration (3.4 to 26.8 μM). This supports the utility of this strain as a methionine bioassay organism for feed and other environmental sources.
SPECT imaging in the emergency department for chest pain: Rest vs stress

Abstract Background: Prior work has shown that rest SPECT imaging in patients with chest pain in emergency department [ED] has a very high negative predictive value for short-term events. A normal rest study, however, can not exclude CAD. The additive value of a follow-up stress study is not well known. Materials and Methods: During a 4 year period, 1408 patients had rest Tc-99m Tetrofosmin SPECT imaging. Of those, 1237 patients had normal rest images and out of those, 599 patients had a follow-up stress study on a separate day [exercise or adenosine]. All studies were done with electrocardiographic gating and with and without attenuation correction. Results: There were 171 abnormal rest perfusion images among the entire study group (1408 patients with chest pain)[ 12%] and 105 abnormal stress studies among the 599 patients who underwent stress testing [18%] [p= 0.002 vs abnormal rest study alone]. Overall, there were 291 patients with abnormal rest or stress perfusion or abnormal left ventricular function defined as ejection fraction Conclusion: Rest gated SPECT images alone underestimated the magnitude of existing CAD in patients presenting to Emergency Department with chest pain. A stress study increases the detection rate of CAD and could be the first and only imaging test in selected patients.
A conjecture about Bäcklund transformations

It has been suggested that given a constant of motion for an evolution equation which comes from a Backlund transformation one can obtain further constants of motion from the one by further use of the Backlund transformation. Our conjecture is that no new constants can be so obtained. A number of examples verifying the conjecture are given.
Elevated glucose stimulates TGF-β gene expression and bioactivity in proximal tubule

Elevated glucose stimulates TGF-β gene expression and bioactivity in proximal tubule. Our previous studies have demonstrated that raising ambient glucose from 100 to 450 mg/dl significantly inhibited the proliferation of mouse renal proximal tubule cells in culture. This effect was demonstrated after a latent period of 24 to 48 hours. Because transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) inhibits cell proliferation in most epithelial cell lines, we hypothesized that the inhibitory effect of high glucose levels on cell proliferation may be mediated by TGF-β. The present studies were performed to test the hypothesis that TGF-β is an autocrine cytokine whose activity can be modulated by ambient glucose. Exogenous TGF-β inhibited [ 3 H]-thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent fashion and with high affinity (picomolar range), but with slightly lower potency in high versus normal glucose media. Northern analysis of mRNA demonstrated that proximal tubule cells constitutively express TGF-β 1 transcripts, and that the steady state level of TGF-β 1 mRNA was, on average, 63% higher in the cells grown for 48 hours in high versus normal glucose media. Furthermore, the conditioned media of cells exposed to 450 mg/dl glucose exhibited endogenous TGF-β bioactivity as measured by inhibition of cell proliferation. The addition of a rabbit antiporcine TGF-β neutralizing antibody significantly increased basal thymidine incorporation in high glucose media to levels approaching those of cells grown in normal glucose media. In contrast, the anti-TGF-β antibody did not have a significant effect on the growth of cells in the normal glucose media. Control rabbit IgG did not stimulate growth. We conclude that TGF-β functions as an autocrine cytokine in proximal tubule cells and that expression of TGF-β is stimulated by high glucose concentration. The growth inhibitory effect of elevated glucose levels may be largely mediated by increased endogenous TGF-β production and/or activity.
Implications of the Landauer limit for quantum logic

The design of any system of quantum logic must take into account the implications of the Landauer limit for logical bits. Useful computation implies a deterministic outcome, and so any system of quantum computation must produce a final deterministic outcome, which in a quantum computer requires a quantum decision that produces a deterministic qubit. All information is physical, and any bit of information can be considered to exist in a physicality represented as a decision between the two wells of a double well potential in which the energy barrier between the two wells must be greater than kT·ln2. Any proposed system of quantum computation that does not result in such a deterministic outcome can only be considered stochastically as a probability distribution (i.e. a wave function). An example of such determinism in a quantum logic system is theorized to exist in the DNA molecule, where the decoherence of quantum decision results in an enantiomeric shift in the deoxyribose moiety that is appropriate to the Landauer limit.
Expert Panel Recommendations on Elder Mistreatment Using a Public Health Framework

ABSTRACT Elder mistreatment is a widespread and growing problem resulting in a variety of negative societal and health outcomes for a major segment of the population. A public health approach provides a framework for conceptualizing and implementing intervention efforts for the prevention of future and reduction of existing elder mistreatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a panel of experts to advise the agency on developing a comprehensive agenda for the protection of the nation's vulnerable elders in the area of elder mistreatment. This document presents an explanation of the public health approach and a summary of recommendations made by the expert panel.
Collective identity and hazardous waste management

In addition to environmental and safety concerns, hazardous facilities pose threats to collective identity. For a community, such identity issues involve processes of negotiation rather than fixed change and impact. Qualitative research enables access to complex definitions and accounts of community change in dynamic settings. Using ethnographic, interview, and content analysis data from a case study, I show how informants offered insights about the relationships between stigmatization, community reputation, and development. Although community members did not seek stigmatization due to living near perceived threats, they imputed positive and negative consequences to such a reputation. For example, many respondents who identified with the local area hoped that the stigma attached to their community would prevent additional growth. These findings suggest that immediate and more tangible concerns, such as effects on the community due to rapid residential growth, may take precedence over concerns associated with the chronic uncertainties of risks from hazardous waste management facilities.
Learning Biology by Recreating and Extending Mathematical Models

Biological systems are dynamic. Proteins fold into three-dimensional shapes to serve as catalysts, motors, or regulators. A fertilized egg divides exponentially, and gradients and internal cell states choreograph fetus formation. Neurons become active or are inhibited in shifting spatial and temporal patterns as an animal moves through its environment. Flocks of birds migrate together, and schools of fish form and disperse to avoid predators and forage for food. The only constant in biological systems is change.
Lithiated cyclopropanone ketals

Abstract The ketene acetal I reacted with dibromocarbene yielding the dibromocyclopropanone ketal II, which was reduced to the monobromide III by treatment with tri-n-butyltin hydride. Reaction of III with n-butyllithium at −78°C yielded the lithiated cyclopropanone ketal IV, which yielded adducts with acetone, cyclohexanone, cyclohexenone, 3,3,3-trimethoxybutan-2-one, 2-butanone, and 3-pentanone.
Protease Inhibitors and Carcinogenesis: A Review

This brief review article deals with the subject of anticarcinogenic activity of protease inhibitors (PI). Three basic premises are made: (1) Although PI are prevalent constituents of dietary staples such as soy products, which have been epidemiologically associated with reduced cancer incidences at multiple target sites, they are unlikely to be the active anticarcinogenic entities. Cooked soy products, which are devoid of PI activity, are equally as effective at reducing cancer development as raw soy products. Isoflavones are likely to represent major chemopreventive agents in soy, although other constituents may well contribute. (2) Although supplementation of diets with PI (natural or synthetic), or direct topical administration, results in lower cancer incidences in many experimental models in vivo, this effect appears to be indirect. Dietary PI are, in general, poorly absorbed from the GI tract, and never reach target organs in any measurable quantity. The most attractive hypothesis is that dietary PI could induce synthesis and distribution of endogenous PI (acute-phase reactants), which have widespread effects on cell growth and behavior. Effects of topical administration of PI also encompass prominent anti-inflammatory effects. (3) A spectrum of PI inhibit in vitro transformation induced by a variety of carcinogenic agents. Their effects can be grouped into three basic categories, affecting: (a) signal transduction pathways; (b) DNA repair processes; and (c) nuclear proteases. I suggest that the nuclear multicatalytic protease activity, in particular the chymotrypsin-like activity, represents an important cellular target for which considerable anecdotal support can be garnered.
Hybrid time- and wavelength-division multiplexed fiber Bragg grating sensor array

A nine element fiber Bragg grating sensor array is demonstrated utilizing a combination of wavelength and time division addressing techniques. This system utilized a pulsed broad-band source and a scanning Fabry-Perot element to recover sensor strain information from each of the FBG elements. By combining two multiplexing techniques, the potential number of FBG sensor elements that can be addressed is significantly increased.
Wound Drainage from Under Full-thickness Skin Grafts in Dogs Part II. Effect on Cosmetic Appearance

Four skin grafting procedures were performed on both sides of the chests of 12 dogs to evaluate the effect of wound drainage on the survival and cosmetic appearance of the grafts. The techniques evaluated were a sheet graft, (control), continuous low level suction, piecrust incisions, and nonexpanded mesh graft. Graft viability was assessed on the 10th postoperative day by visual inspection. The mean survival rate for all grafts was 90%. No significant difference between graft types was observed. Hair growth on each graft was assessed 3 months postoperatively as “normal” (resembled that on the surrounding skin), “moderate” (thickness of hair growth was less than normal but would nearly conceal the underlying skin), “sparse” (a few hairs were present and the skin below was easily visible), and “none” (no hair growth). No statistical differences in categories of hair growth were detected within types or between types of grafts. Hair growth also was assessed as “acceptable” (those areas having normal and moderate hair growth) and “nonacceptable” (hair growth sparse or none). No difference between graft types was noted. All types exhibited a significantly greater area of acceptable than nonacceptable hair growth.
The large-volume high-pressure facility at GSECARS: A 'Swiss-army-knife' approach to synchrotron-based experimental studies

Abstract A number of new techniques have been developed at the large-volume press (LVP) high-pressure facility at the GeoSoilEnviroCARS (GSECARS) sector of the advanced photon source (APS). This article describes the 10 MN (1000 T) and 2.5 MN (250 T) hydraulic presses in the insertion device (ID) and bending magnet (BM) beamlines, respectively, with several apparatus and various diffraction and imaging techniques developed since the inception of the facility. Several Kawai-type high-pressure modules, whose second-stage anvils range from 10 mm to 25.4 mm in edge lengths, are used in the hydraulic presses, with pressure ( P ) and temperature ( T ) capabilities up to 30 GPa and 3000 K. A DIA-type apparatus can be compressed in both presses for studies requiring large sample volumes. A deformation DIA (D-DIA) has been developed to allow controlled deformation studies on both crystalline and glass materials, using monochromatic diffraction and imaging, up to 20 GPa and 1800 K. A high-pressure tomography apparatus is available for conducting tomography studies at high P and T , with a typical spatial resolution of a few micrometers. Toroidal anvil modules provide large 2 θ angles for studies of non-crystalline materials, and a new large D-DIA module is under construction for double-stage megabar pressure generation as well as deformation on large samples with the capability of acoustic emission detection. The flexible design of the monochromator at the BM beamline makes it feasible to switch between monochromatic and white-beam mode during an experiment, ideal for monochromatic imaging studies (e.g., high- P tomography) with energy-dispersive diffraction for pressure measurements. A new angle-dispersive diffraction technique has been developed for high P – T crystallography studies, where a solid-state detector is step-scanned, thereby collecting a large number of angle-dispersive spectra over a wide range of photon energies recorded in the multi-channel analyzer. An ultrasonic interferometer is available and has been used in several high-pressure modules for acoustic velocity measurements. These unique features allow world-wide users to select the best experimental techniques for tackling a wide range of problems relevant to earth and planetary science, materials science, physics, and chemistry. Scientific highlights are provided and future improvements and prospects are discussed.
On gauge invariance in quantum transition amplitudes

The wavefunction of a quantum mechanical system can be evaluated in any gauge and can be expressed in terms of a complete set of eigenstates of a physical observable or of a mathematical operator. If the physical observable is expressed in the same gauge as the Hamiltonian from which the wavefunction is obtained, the expansion coefficients are gauge invariant and have definite experimental implications. This physical observable need not be the energy. If the basis set of vectors are eigenstates of a mathematical operator, the expansion coefficients are gauge dependent. This mathematical operator can be translated to a physical observable once the gauge under which the wavefunction is calculated is specified. The expansion coefficients can then be interpreted as probability amplitudes.
In vitro characterization of mesenchymal stem cell-seeded collagen scaffolds for tendon repair: effects of initial seeding density on contraction kinetics.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from bone marrow, culture-expanded, and then seeded at 1, 4, and 8 million cells/mL onto collagen gel constructs designed to augment tendon repair in vivo. To investigate the effects of seeding density on the contraction kinetics and cellular morphology, the contraction of the cell/collagen constructs was monitored over time up to 72 h in culture conditions. Constructs seeded at 4 and 8 million cells/mL showed no significant differences in their gross appearance and dimensions throughout the contraction process. By contrast, constructs seeded at 1 million cells/mL initially contracted more slowly and their diameters at 72 h were 62 to 73% larger than those seeded at higher densities. During contraction, MSCs reoriented and elongated significantly with time. Implants prepared at higher seeding densities showed more well aligned and elongated cell nuclei after 72 h of contraction. Changes in nuclear morphology of the MSCs in response to physical constraints provided by the contracted collagen fibrils may trigger differentiation pathways toward the fibroblastic lineage and influence the cell synthetic activity. Controlling the contraction and organization of the cells and matrix will be critical for successfully creating tissue engineered grafts.
Liquid chromatographic determination of permethrin esterase activity in six phytophagous and entomophagous insects

Abstract Permethrin esterase activity was measured with unlabeled trans -permethrin as substrate and the hydrolysis product, 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, was quantified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Optimum conditions for assaying this enzyme were established using the midgut soluble fraction prepared from larvae of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda , as enzyme source. The pH optimum for the permethrin esterase was 8.3. The esterase had an apparent K m value of 0.069 m M . Activity was inhibited by the esterase inhibitors paraoxon, S,S,S -tributyl phosphorotrithioate, and tri- o -cresyl phosphate showing I 50 values of 1.9 × 10 −9 M , 3.5 × 10 −6 M , and 0.9 × 10 −5 M , respectively. Among those insects studied, activity was highest in the fall armyworm, followed by the velvetbean caterpillar, cabbage looper, tobacco budworm, corn earworm, and spined soldier bug.
Inhibition of Ultraviolet-induced Carcinogenesis by All-trans Retinoic Acid

The effects of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) in 0.05%, 0.025% and 0.005% concentrations on ultraviolet (UV) induced carcinogenesis was investigated in the skin of Used strain hairless mice. A carcinogenic amount of UV energy was delivered over the 12-mo period of the study. The 0.025% and 0.005% RA solutions did not alter the development of cutaneous cancers. However, the 0.05% RA concentration significantly inhibited the tumor formation in this study.
Managerial trials of privatization: Retooling russian managers

"The pace of change is b~,ond descp~ptiolz and the only constant in our enterprise ,s continuous change. E y e . o n e zs groping to solve problems and to acquire the skdls necessao: to compete as we move to przvat,ze our mdustr3: Russians have a hlsto O, o f being able to adapt to d,ffi'cult situattons, but our move to a marketdriven economy is a dire test " -A Russmn plant manager's lament
Cyclopentadienylcobalt sulfide and selenide cluster compounds: synthesis and structural characterizations

Abstract The reaction of CpCo(CO)2 with elemental sulfur yielded the new sulfur-rich compound Cp4Co4(μ3-S)(μ3-S2)3 (1). The structure of 1 contains a Co4S7 core composed of three μ3-disulfido ligands and one μ3-sulfido ligand. PEt3 abstracts sulfur from 1 to yield the new compound Cp4Co4(μ3-S)3(μ3-S2) (2). Compound 2 is also a cage compound, but it contains three μ3-sulfido ligands and only one μ3-disulfido ligand. Compound 2 is converted back to 1 by reaction with elemental sulfur. The selenium homologue Cp4Co4(μ3-Se)3(μ3-Se2) (3) was obtained from the reaction of CpCo(CO)2 with elemental selenium. The structures of 1, 2 and 3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.
Direct probe of spectral inhomogeneity reveals synthetic tunability of single-nanocrystal spectral linewidths

The average single-nanocrystal spectral linewidth within an ensemble of nanocrystal emitters in solution can be directly and quantitatively measured using photon-correlation Fourier spectroscopy (S-PCFS). Variations in single-nanocrystal linewidths between batches are found to be significant and synthetically tunable, introducing new avenues for the optimization of nanocrystals for optical applications.
Compact Toeplitz operators on the Segal–Bargmann space

Abstract In this note, we show that Miao and Zheng's characterization of compact operators on the Bergman space of the unit disk that are finite sums of finite products of Toeplitz operators (with each one of the symbols belonging to BT) also holds for the Segal–Bargmann space of C n .
A Common Marking Technique Affects Tadpole Behavior and Risk of Predation

In many studies, it is necessary for researchers to mark individual animals for later identification. It is often assumed in the interpretation of these studies that marks have no effects on the biology of the animals. This assumption is insufficiently tested, and, when it is, coarse assessments of negative effects are often used, such as survival and growth under simplified laboratory conditions. We examined the consequences of a common larval amphibian marking technique (staining with methylene blue) for wood frog tadpole behavior and survival in an ecologically realistic scenario (predation). We measured a number of tadpole behavioral variables, under baseline conditions and in the presence of olfactory cues of a predator, for marked and unmarked tadpoles. We then exposed pairs of tadpoles (one marked and one unmarked) to one of two predators and tested for the effects of marking on the susceptibility of tadpoles to predation. We found that marking suppressed the increase in movement rate that typically occurred in (unmarked) tadpoles in the presence of predator cues. Marked tadpoles were significantly more likely to be captured by predators, an effect that could not be attributed to this difference in movement rate. These results raise concern about the use of this staining method and highlight the need for studies involving marked animals to thoroughly address any relevant effects the marks may have on the biology of the subjects.
Variability in the initiation of diffuse nerve-net impulses in the mangrove jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana (Coelenterate: Scyphozoa)

Abstract 1. Single electric stimuli given anywhere on the subumbrellar epiderm of the rhizostome Cassiopea xamachana cause initiation of discrete distinguishable single nerve impulses in each of two nerve-nets, the giant-fiber nerve-net (GFNN) and the diffuse nerve-net (DNN). 2. DNN pulse arrival times to remote recording sites are very variable, from trial to trial, but highly correlated when measured to separate recording sites along different pathways after a single stimulus. Less than 10% of the total variability is due to short-term random variation in conduction. 3. Evidence is presented in support of a model of long and variable time required for DNN pulse initiation by stimuli but relatively constant pulse conduction. The two nerve-nets are contrasted in these regards.
Supercritical carbon dioxide dewaxing of old corrugated containers

Wax-coated old corrugated containers (OCC) are not part of the paper recycling stream because a process to remove the wax coating is not presently available. Residual waxes influence fiber–fiber bonding, reducing the paper properties of recycled OCC as well as the paper machine operating efficiency. A procedure to dewax OCC is a major objective of the paper industry. Here we describe a novel process to quantitatively dewax OCC by using supercritical carbon dioxide to remove the wax. The results obtained for the extraction of both saturated and curtain-coated waxed containers are reported and compared with Soxhlet extraction with hexane. Quantitative removal of the waxes was obtained under a variety of operating conditions. Gas chromatographic analysis of the extracted paraffin wax shows that supercritical fluid extraction does not chemically alter the paraffin wax, indicating the recovered wax may be recycled. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1107–1114, 2001
Antihypertensive medication use and incident breast cancer in women

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether antihypertensive medication use, including long-term use, is associated with increased breast cancer incidence in women. We studied 210,641 U.S. registered nurses participating in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II). Information on antihypertensive medication use was collected on biennial questionnaires in both cohorts, and breast cancer cases were ascertained during this period. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate relative risks of invasive breast cancer over follow-up (1988–2012 in NHS, 1989–2011 in NHS II) across categories of overall antihypertensive medication use and use of specific classes (diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors). During follow-up, 10,012 cases of invasive breast cancer developed (6718 cases in NHS and 3294 in the NHS II). Overall, current use of any antihypertensive medication was not associated with breast cancer risk compared with past/never use in NHS (multivariable-adjusted relative risk = 1.00, 95 % CI = 0.95–1.06) or NHS II (multivariable-adjusted relative risk = 0.94, 95 % CI = 0.86–1.03). Furthermore, no specific class of antihypertensive medication was consistently associated with breast cancer risk. Results were similar when we considered hypertensive women only, and when we evaluated consistency and duration of medication use over time. Overall, antihypertensive medication use was largely unrelated to the risk of invasive breast cancer among women in the NHS cohorts.
Investigations of single-frequency Raman fiber amplifiers operating at 1178 nm

We report on core-pumped single-stage and two-stage polarization-maintaining single-frequency Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs). For a counter-pumped single-stage RFA, commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) single-mode fiber was utilized to generate 10 W of output power at 1178 nm through the application of a two-step thermal gradient in order to suppress SBS. The relatively high output can be explained by the Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) of the COTS fiber. A pump-probe characterization of the BGS of the fiber provided a Brillouin gain coefficient of 1.2 × 10−11 m/W with a FWHM of 78 MHz for the gain bandwidth. A fiber cutback study was also conducted to investigate the signal output at SBS threshold as a function of pump power for optimal length. This study revealed a linear dependence, which is in agreement with the theoretical prediction. Furthermore, we present numerical simulations indicating that substantial power scaling can be achieved by seeding at a higher power. Consequently, we constructed a two-stage RFA in order to achieve seed powers at the 1 W level. By utilizing an acoustically tailored fiber possessing a lower Brillouin gain coefficient than the COTS fiber and by seeding at higher powers, 22 W of single-frequency 1178 nm output was obtained from a counter-pumped two-stage RFA. Finally, we show that the single-frequency spectral bandwidth could not be maintained when a similar co-pumped two-stage RFA was utilized.
Experimental observation of the intrusive effect of a contact transducer on ultrasound propagation

This paper presents experimental observations of the influence of a contact transducer on ultrasound measurements in materials. Through-transmission optical detection of the ultrasonic waves at the transducer/sample interface shows an amplitude attenuation of the order of 1.6 dB (peak-to-peak) due to the intrusive presence of the transducer. A similar result is confirmed in pulse-echo measurements. Alternatively, no significant effect of the contact transducer on the frequency content of the measured ultrasonic waves is observed. It also appears that the measured attenuation in ultrasound amplitude is primarily due to the loading of the sample by the contact transducer.
Differences in strength between the grain and corium layers of leather

The tearing resistance of the two principal strata of leather (the grain and the corium layers) has been assessed via the measurement of tearing energy and notch sensitivity. Observations of the distribution of strain around notches and the form of the tear tips are also reported. It was found that the grain layer had only 20% of the tearing energy possessed by the corium. In addition, the strength of the grain was considerably more sensitive to the presence of sharp notches. It is suggested that these differences in strength between the two strata of leather are associated with the greater ability of the corium layer's fibre structure to impede propagating tears by means of tear tip blunting and fibre pull out.
The M-cache: a message-handling mechanism for multicomputer systems

Abstract This paper presents the design and evaluation of the M-cache, a small, fast and intelligent memory for handling messages at the processing nodes of multicomputer systems. The M-cache is neither a conventional cache nor a message buffer, though it has some characteristics of both. It provides hardware support for the message search operation often performed in message-directed programming, a programming style inherent to the implementation of object-oriented paradigms on distributed computing systems. It also provides a mechanism for bandwidth matching between the interconnection network and local memory of a node. Through simulation experiments, we have studied the execution of concurrent algorithms on systems with and without M-caches to obtain relative speedup measures. The results show that a modest investment in silicon is sufficient to effect over an order of magnitude reduction in message-retrieval time. Such hardware support is needed to make the cost-effective implementation of fine-grain concurrent programs a reality.
No evidence for an open vessel effect in centrifuge-based vulnerability curves of a long-vesselled liana (Vitis vinifera)

Vulnerability to cavitation curves are used to estimate xylem cavitation resistance and can be constructed using multiple techniques. It was recently suggested that a technique that relies on centrifugal force to generate negative xylem pressures may be susceptible to an open vessel artifact in long-vesselled species. Here, we used custom centrifuge rotors to measure different sample lengths of 1-yr-old stems of grapevine to examine the influence of open vessels on vulnerability curves, thus testing the hypothesized open vessel artifact. These curves were compared with a dehydration-based vulnerability curve. Although samples differed significantly in the number of open vessels, there was no difference in the vulnerability to cavitation measured on 0.14- and 0.271-m-long samples of Vitis vinifera. Dehydration and centrifuge-based curves showed a similar pattern of declining xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity (K(s)) with declining water potential. The percentage loss in hydraulic conductivity (PLC) differed between dehydration and centrifuge curves and it was determined that grapevine is susceptible to errors in estimating maximum K(s) during dehydration because of the development of vessel blockages. Our results from a long-vesselled liana do not support the open vessel artifact hypothesis.
Getting Beyond the Research to Practice Gap: Researching Against the Grain

Special education researchers have used considerable financial and human resources to work with teachers to close the gap between knowledge of research-based practices and their sustained use in cl...
Estrogen synthesis in vitro and in vivo in the brain of a marine teleost (Myoxocephalus).

Conversion of radiolabeled substrate to estrone and estradiol was studied in a marine teleost, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus (longhorn sculpin), a species previously shown to have exceptionally high brain aromatase activity. In vitro aromatization of 3H-labeled androstenedione was greatest in homogenates of the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus, medial telencephalon, and lateral telencephalon, in that order, and when measured in individual fish, marked sex and seasonal differences were observed. Relatively little estrogen was produced by the inferior lobes of the hypothalamus, thalamus, optic lobes, basal midbrain, cerebellum, and medulla. Sculpin testis was aromatase negative, and at no time did ovarian activity per unit weight exceed that in the brain. Addition of 11β-hydroxy- and 11-ketotestosterone to forebrain homogenates did not alter estrogen yields. Following perfusion of a sculpin head preparation with 3H-labeled 19-hydroxyandrostenedione, estrone was isolated from the efferent perfusate and estrone and estradiol recovered from the brain and pituitary. The authenticity of formed estrogen in this experiment was verified by derivative formation and recrystallization. Estrogen concentration was highest in the preoptic area/hypothalamus, somewhat lower in the medial and lateral telencephalon, and lowest in the remaining brain regions. Pituitary estrogen per unit weight was at least 12 times higher than in any brain region and, in contrast to the brain in which estrone predominated, the greatest proportion of total estrogen was estradiol. No authentic estrogen was recovered from non-neural tissues (liver, kidney, heart, muscle, skin, and gills) after perfusion. All of the above findings show that the highest levels of aromatase activity correspond neuroanatomically to the reported distribution of estrogen-binding cells and the location of reproductive control centers in the teleost brain. In these regions, a correlation between CNS estrogen production and reproductive status (gender and season) is further evidence for a functional interrelationship. The presence of relatively large amounts of estrogen in the sculpin pituitary following perfusion with radiolabeled androgen suggests that, at this level of phylogeny, the brain may regulate pituitary function by supplying estrogen directly, or the pituitary itself is capable of aromatization. Whether or not brain-derived estrogen makes a significant contribution to the peripheral estrogen pool is still open to question.
Modification of drug-induced behavioral arousal by preinjection routines in mice

Drug-induced changes in behavioral arousal in mice can be altered by environment (home cage vs. a novel environment), injection routines, and handling. This study reveals that these factors can conceal behavioral arousal (locomotor activity, repetitive movements, and rearing) caused by administration of dextroamphetamine and apomorphine, as detected by an electromagnetic sensor. The concealment was discovered by the use of a saline preinjection of both control (a second saline injection) and experimental (drug-treated) animals one hour before the second injection. This procedure resulted in substantially less behavioral arousal in the control groups following the second saline injection. Therefore, with saline preinjection, the differences in behavioral arousal between control and experimental groups of mice were maximized, statistical variance minimized, and an orderly time-response relationship observed. By contrast, those groups receiving no saline preinjection showed relatively few statistically significant differences between control and drug-treatment, and larger statistical variations were observed. It was also found that the home-cage environment was necessary for the behavioral arousal to be detected. A novel environment, even with saline preinjection, introduced a variable that in itself caused differences in behavioral arousal induced by a low dose of dextroamphetamine (an actual reduction), but not by apomorphine (i.e., no difference among no preinjection, familiar environment and pre-injection, novel environment).
Multiplexed fluorescence detection for point-of-care

We report on the development of a portable fluorescence detection system. By combining a CMOS sensor and crosspolarization scheme, we achieved multiplexed detection with a single white emission LED excitation. We demonstrated fluorescence detection of Fluorescein and Rhodamine B in PDMS channels and achieved 1μM limit of detection (LOD). Microparticles with green and red fluorescence were detected simultaneously without changing the light sources or filters. We were able to clearly resolve microparticles, even if aggregated. The compact microfluorescence approach offers high spatial and spectral resolution, and is suitable for multiplexed detection in point-of-care applications.