cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A tool for electronic brainstorming research: A software note

WinEBTis a group support tool designed specifically for electronic brainstorming researchers. It is designed to be simple to use, install, and administer in a typical university computer lab environment, without sacrificing the functionality required by researchers. It is also made available on the Internet via ftp at no cost. Typically an electronic brainstorming tool is a component of a larger suite of tools in a group support system (GSS). This comprehensive set of support tools is needed if a wide range of meeting activities must be supported by the system. However, if the researcher is interested solely in exploring electronic brainstorming, these additional tools add complexity and can represent more of a burden than a blessing. This was avoided with WinEBT by developing it as a stand-alone tool, rather than as a part ofa GSS suite of tools. Although this design choice means that WinEBTcannot offer the comprehensive set of group support tools of a GSS, it enables the design of a more narrowly focused tool which can provide the functionality needed by researchers, while reducing the time required to install and administer the system.
Writing and conceptual knowledge in statics: Does learning approach matter?

Learning of threshold concepts in courses such as statics has traditionally been a difficult and critical juncture for students in engineering. Research and other systematic efforts to improve the teaching of statics in recent years range widely, from development of courseware and assessment tools to experiential and other "hands-on" learning techniques. This paper reports a portion of the findings emerging from a multi-year, multi-institution study investigating possible links between short writing assignments and conceptual knowledge development in statics courses. The theoretical framework of the study combines elements from cognitive learning theory that have largely been studied in different disciplinary contexts: expertise (cognitive science), procedural/conceptual knowledge development (mathematics education), and conceptual change (physics education). Interview data are analyzed using predetermined codes and open coding, then explored for common themes. The results build on our previous findings that students approach learning in statics with varying emphasis placed on procedural and conceptual knowledge development and that a student's learning approach influences their perception of the written problems and the ways that they utilize them in learning. Thus, we provide evidence that the learning approach of students may be an important factor in the success of interventions designed to improve conceptual knowledge in statics.
Electromagnetic and gravitational responses of two-dimensional noninteracting electrons in a background magnetic field

We compute electromagnetic, gravitational, and mixed linear response functions of two-dimensional free fermions in an external quantizing magnetic field at an integer filling factor. The results are presented in the form of the effective action and as an expansion of currents and stresses in wave vectors and frequencies of the probing electromagnetic and metric fields. In addition to the well-studied $U(1)$ Chern-Simons and Wen-Zee terms we find a gravitational Chern-Simons term that controls the correction to the Hall viscosity due to the background curvature. We relate the coefficient in front of the term with the chiral central charge.
Measurement of carpal bone geometry by computer analysis of three-dimensional CT images

The aim of this project was noninvasively to analyze and quantitate the geometry, load transfer characteristics, and spatial relationships of the carpal bones by using a new three-dimensional CT scan reconstruction technique. The determination of mechanical parameters such as distances between centroids and between bone surfaces, carpal alignment, volumes, surface areas, and contact areas can provide the basis for comparison between normal wrists and wrists with a variety of progressive instability patterns, types of fracture, pathologic and posttraumatic states, and different simulated surgical procedures. This new technology has demonstrated a volumetric accuracy of 94% and a linear accuracy of 97%. Simultaneous analysis of all articulating surfaces of multiple joints can be performed in cadavers and in patients because of the noninvasive nature of the imaging reconstruction technique. This new research offers much more information than has previously been available. It also promises direct application to the clinical setting and eliminates several limitations and questions that were inescapable with previous technology.
Molecular beam studies of HCl dissolution and dissociation in cold salty water.

Gas-liquid scattering experiments are used to explore collisions and reactions of HCl and DCl with 12 mol% LiBr solutions of H2O and D2O at 208–218 K. These ∼6 M aqueous salt solutions have vapor pressures just below 0.01 Torr, requiring special consideration of the effects of gas-vapor collisions. We find that impinging HCl molecules readily equilibrate on the surface of the solution even at incident energies of 90 kJ mol−1. Approximately 90% of the thermalized HCl molecules dissolve and dissociate for long times in the cold salty solution, while the remaining 10% desorb from the surface intact. There is no evidence for rapid, interfacial conversion of HCl into DCl, in striking contrast to previous observations of distinct submicrosecond DCl→HCl exchange in collisions of DCl with salty glycerol at 292 K. These results indicate that cold salty water efficiently captures impinging HCl molecules and suppresses interfacial proton exchange, most likely because of the long interaction times of the HCl molecules in contact with the cold surface and because of facile transport of H+ and Cl− from the interfacial region into the bulk solution.
32 Phytopia: an educational cd‐rom to explore the bottom of the food web

“Phytopia: Discovery of the Marine Ecosystem” is an educational CD-ROM that features a wealth of new images, animations, microscope- and satellite-derived data sets, and multimedia discovery tools. It has received support from NASA and the National Science Foundation and can ordered on-line through http://www.bigelow.org/phytopia. A pre-release version of the “Phytopia” was tested by students, educators, and scientists at 34 institutions in Britain, Germany, Russia, and throughout the U.S. This product is designed for use in undergraduate classes; however, our testing has shown that it provides an exciting and interactive learning experience appropriate for Grades 7 and higher. The virtual microscope tool allows the user to view prepared assemblages of plankton at various magnifications, under different epifluorescence conditions, or by scanning electron microscopy. For several species, the user can view movies showing the organism's motility. Some species are featured as three-dimensional models that can be viewed from any perspective. “Phytopia” also helps users connect ocean primary productivity patterns with environmental factors in several geographic areas. Innovative tools allow investigation of co-registered temperature, wind, current, nutrient, and ocean color data. This tool is aligned with research efforts to better understand plankton ecology using remotely sensed data.
Effects of Manifest and Induced Anxiety and Experimenter Variability on Simple Reaction Time

36 female introductory psychology students were placed in low, medium, or high anxiety groups based on their scores on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale. Ss were then randomly assigned to either stress or no-stress groups (Ns = 18) and to one of two Es. Simple reaction times were recorded for all Ss for 10 trials. The mean RT was determined for each of 12 conditions and the data fed into a pre-programmed computer. Results lead to the following conclusions: (1) under stress simple RT is slower than under no stress; (2) there is no interaction in RT data among levels of manifest anxiety and the presence or absence of stress; (3) simple RT is not affected by level of manifest anxiety; and (4) significant performance differences are observed when Es alternately administer the experimental treatment, presumably owing to an unconscious experimenter bias.
Studies of Interfacial Roughness of GaAs/AlAs Superlattices by Grazing Incidence X-Ray Scattering

A series of type-II GaAs/AlAs superlattices epitaxially grown with different interrupts have been investigated using the techniques of grazing incidence X-ray scattering and diffraction. The interrupts are specifically designed to alter the interfacial roughness in the superlattices for the present study. Various structural parameters including the layer thickness, interfacial roughness, and intra-layer correlation lengths of fluctuations in the quantum-well widths have been determined. These results are compared with measurements made on the same set of samples using photoluminescence and optical imaging techniques.
Improved assay-dependent searching of nucleic acid sequence databases

Nucleic acid-based biochemical assays are crucial to modern biology. Key applications, such as detection of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens, require detailed knowledge of assay sensitivity and specificity to obtain reliable results. Improved methods to predict assay performance are needed for exploiting the exponentially growing amount of DNA sequence data and for reducing the experimental effort required to develop robust detection assays. Toward this goal, we present an algorithm for the calculation of sequence similarity based on DNA thermodynamics. In our approach, search queries consist of one to three oligonucleotide sequences representing either a hybridization probe, a pair of Padlock probes or a pair of PCR primers with an optional TaqMan TM probe (i.e. in silico or ‘virtual’ PCR). Matches are reported if the query and target satisfy both the thermodynamics of the assay (binding at a specified hybridization temperature and/or change in free energy) and the relevant biological constraints (assay sequences binding to the correct target duplex strands in the required orientations). The sensitivity and specificity of our method is evaluated by comparing predicted to known sequence tagged sites in the human genome. Free energy is shown to be a more sensitive and specific match criterion than hybridization temperature.
Hirschprung's disease and imperforate anus in Pallister-Hall syndrome: a new association

Hirschprung's disease and imperforate anus are described concurrently in a newborn with Pallister-Hall syndrome as well as the difficulties in making this diagnosis. Awareness of this new association should prompt the exclusion of Hirschprung's disease before repair of imperforate anus in infants with Pallister-Hall syndrome. The known genetic parallels between these conditions is discussed briefly in terms of etiology.
Principles and tools of chemical regulation: a comment on ‘the substitution principle in chemical regulation: a constructive critique’

In this short comment, we make three points. First, replacing one chemical with another should be seen as only one of a portfolio of tools to manage the risks of existing chemicals. Substitution is preferable when it offers attractive benefits (relative to costs and risks) compared to the next-best alternative measure. Depending on the nature of the market failure and the cost-effectiveness of alternative measures, chemical replacement may or may not be the preferred remedy. Second, the principle of substitution, like its close cousin precaution, is a guideline for consideration by decision-makers rather than a policy tool. Confusion can arise when the principle of substitution is treated as if it is an operational tool. Finally, the most difficult challenge in chemicals risk management is how to create proper incentives for continuous safety improvements through a variety of risk management measures, including substitution. Chemicals already on the market have a commercial advantage over chemical innovat...
Work life in the robotic age

Technological change results in changes in expectations, in this case affecting the workplace.
John Spurr, Anthony Ashley Cooper, First Earl of Shaftesbury, 1621–1683

Amid the failures of plots and risings, and the ruin of the first Whig party, it was reported to the authorities that the Duke of Monmouth had once declared his frustration with the Earl of Shaftes...
Community detection for fluorescent lifetime microscopy image segmentation

Multiresolution community detection (CD) method has been suggested in a recent work as an efficient method for performing unsupervised segmentation of fluorescence lifetime (FLT) images of live cell images containing fluorescent molecular probes.1 In the current paper, we further explore this method in FLT images of ex vivo tissue slices. The image processing problem is framed as identifying clusters with respective average FLTs against a background or solvent" in FLT imaging microscopy (FLIM) images derived using NIR fluorescent dyes. We have identified significant multiresolution structures using replica correlations in these images, where such correlations are manifested by information theoretic overlaps of the independent solutions (replicas") attained using the multiresolution CD method from different starting points. In this paper, our method is found to be more efficient than a current state-of-the-art image segmentation method based on mixture of Gaussian distributions. It offers more than 1:25 times diversity based on Shannon index than the latter method, in selecting clusters with distinct average FLTs in NIR FLIM images.
Comparison of a plastic-viscoelastic constitutive equation with rheological measurements on a polystyrene melt reinforced with small particles

Abstract A plastic-viscoelastic constitutive equation of the type proposed by white is compared to shear viscosity and principal normal difference data on polystyrene melts reinforced with calcium carbonate, carbon black and titanium dioxide at the thirty volume percent level. Only one new experimental parameter, a yield value, is used to convert the viscoelastic Maxwellian Bogue−White constitutive equation for the homogeneous melt to that for the particle reinforced system.
Factors associated with the use of corticosteroids in the initial management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Purpose Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has not been shown to respond to corticosteroid therapy; however, many patients receive these drugs at the time of diagnosis. The factors that are associated with the decision to prescribe corticosteroids have not been examined. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1126 patients with a new diagnosis of IPF using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database from the United Kingdom. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression models to test the association of patient characteristics, co-morbid diseases, and disease characteristics with the use of corticosteroids within 30 days of IPF diagnosis. Results Bivariable analyses demonstrated an association between female sex, the presence of dyspnea, the need for oxygen, past steroid use, and the use of corticosteroids immediately prior to diagnosis with the use of corticosteroids at the time of diagnosis. After adjustment with multivariable GEE regression, only the use of oxygen at the time of diagnosis (OR 1.69, CI 1.14–2.49), the past use of corticosteroids (OR 1.50, CI 1.04–2.15), and use of corticosteroids immediately prior to diagnosis (OR 5.72, CI 3.80–8.60) remained significantly associated with the use of corticosteroids immediately following diagnosis. No association was found between prior diabetes, osteoporosis, glaucoma, hypertension, congestive heart failure, obesity, or peptic ulcer disease and use of corticosteroids at diagnosis. Conclusions The decision to prescribe corticosteroids is associated with oxygen use and past corticosteroid use but is not influenced by factors such as age, gender, or common co-morbid conditions that may pre-dispose patients to adverse events of therapy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective, versus routine, upper gastrointestinal series leads to equal morbidity and reduced hospital stay in laparoscopic gastric bypass patients

Abstract Background The use of routine upper gastrointestinal contrast radiology series (UGIS) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) can entail risk, expense, and patient discomfort. We have discontinued routine UGIS in favor of selective UGIS guided by patient symptoms and signs or elevations in the juxta-anastomotic drain amylase. We hypothesized that elimination of routine UGIS would not adversely affect morbidity or mortality. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the anastomotic leak, reoperation, and death rates and length of hospital stays for all patients who underwent LRYGB between two periods when either routine (November 2003 to December 2004) or selective (January 2005 to February 2006) postoperative UGIS were done. Results In group 1, were 267 patients who had undergone LRYGB with routine UGIS during November 2003 to December 2004. Group 2 consisted of 151 patients who had undergone LRYGB with selective UGIS during January 2005 to February 2006. The mean ± standard error of the mean hospital stay for groups 1 and 2 was 4.3 ± 0.3 and 3.3 ± 0.2 days ( P = .08), respectively. In group 1, 18 gastrojejunostomy leaks (6.7%) occurred compared with 6 (4.0%) in group 2 ( P = .28). Also, 14 patients (5.2%) in group 1 required reoperation for anastomotic leak compared with 3 (2.0%) in group 2 ( P = .13). Three patients (1.1%) in group 1 and no patients in group 2 died ( P = .56). Conclusion The elimination of routine UGIS did not adversely affect morbidity or mortality. The mean hospital stay in the group with selective UGIS decreased, although this decrease had not yet achieved statistical significance.
Cultural influences on facial expressions of emotion

Research demonstrates that facial expressions of emotion are both universal and culturally‐specific, but our theoretical understanding of how cultures influence emotions has not advanced since Friesen's (1972) conception of cultural display rules. This article offers a theoretical framework by which to understand and predict how and why cultures influence the emotions. The model combines the cultural dimensions known as individualism and power distance with the social distinctions of ingroup‐out‐group and status. Major issues in future theoretical and empirical work are also discussed.
Finite-Temperature Monte Carlo Calculations for Systems with Fermions

We present a quantum Monte Carlo method which allows calculations on many-fermion systems at finite temperatures without any sign decay. This enables simulations of the grand-canonical ensemble at large system sizes and low temperatures. Both diagonal and off-diagonal expectations can be computed straightforwardly. The sign decay is eliminated by a constraint on the fermion determinant. The algorithm is approximate. Tests on the Hubbard model show that accurate results on the energy and correlation functions can be obtained.
Diplomacy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)

Abstract Recent advances in astronomy indicate that the universe is spectacularly vast. Apparently, our Sun is like billions of other stars around which planets may circle; within just a thousand light years of Earth, for example, there are more than a million stars like the Sun. Within the Milky Way (only one of 100 billion observable galaxies) are an estimated 300–400 billion stars. Scientists now think that there are probably between 1021 and 1022 stars in the universe. With so many stars, it is highly probable that we are not alone. Just how likely extraterrestrial intelligence is or in how many places and varieties it will be found is impossible now to say. Serious scientists have constructed an equation to calculate the possibility, but the range of estimates of the number of other civilizations in the universe is so wide - anywhere from 200 million to less than 10 - and our understanding of astrophysics and cosmic evolution so primitive, that we could encounter extraterrestrials (ETs) well before it can be proved on paper that they have existed or could exist [1]. In fact, the capability to search for extraterrestrial intelligence will increase over the next five years at a rate and scale greater than at any time in human history. For example, a Harvard University observatory announced in October 1985 that it had linked a radio telescope to a new computerized multichannel spectrum analyzer and created a listening post (known as Project Meta) capable of simultaneously scanning up to 8.4 million radio channels. This development replaces a system whose capacity to search simultaneously and record radio signals was a mere 180,000 radio channels. The Hubble Space Telescope, when it is operational, will extend our present vision some seven times and possibly to the edge of the universe itself. If other planetary systems exist, this new instrument might locate them. And by the end of this decade, NASA will probably have begun a search for signals across the entire microwave spectrum while other researchers will have developed the instruments to search for large planets in orbit around some 200 nearby stars. If there is someone or thing out there trying to communicate with Earth, within the next three to five years we increasingly will know where to look and listen. This essay focuses on what to do when these or other research projects indicate that extraterrestrial intelligence exists.
Driftwood dropstones in Middle Miocene Climate Optimum shallow marine strata (Calvert Cliffs, Maryland Coastal Plain): Erratic pebbles no certain proxy for cold climate

Abstract Sparse lithic erratics (pebbles to cobbles) sampled from three shallow marine strata deposited during the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO, ca. 16–14 Ma) along the western Atlantic margin (exposed in the Calvert Cliffs, Maryland) suggest transport and deposition not from ice but from the roots of trees uprooted during floods and carried out to sea. Evidence for driftwood transport includes carbonized wood in the same strata. More than half the ca. 225 erratics were quarried in the largely metamorphic Piedmont province (including a few from the Port Deposit Gneiss, still outcropping on the lower Susquehanna River). The lowest sampled bed (Parker Creek Bone Bed) is assigned to the ca. 15.7–15.5 Ma peak warmth of the MMCO, which we attribute in part to CO2 from the coevally erupted Grande Ronde flood basalts (GRFB), the peak effusiveness episode of the Columbia River Flood Basalts (CRFB) The three sampled beds predate the ca. 13.9 Ma Antarctic cryosphere expansion, which may be recorded in the Calvert Cliffs by a unique buried channel.
Development of autonomous control in a closed microbial bioreactor.

Space-based life support systems which include ecological components will rely on sophisticated hardware and software to monitor and control key system parameters. Autonomous closed artificial ecosystems are useful for research in numerous fields. We are developing a bioreactor designed to study both microbe-environment interactions and autonomous control systems. Currently we are investigating N-cycling and N-mass balance in closed microbial systems. The design features of the system involve real-time monitoring of physical parameters (e.g. temperature, light), growth solution composition (e.g. pH, NOx, CO2), cell density and the status of important hardware components. Control of key system parameters is achieved by incorporation of artificial intelligence software tools that permit autonomous decision-making by the instrument. These developments provide a valuable research tool for terrestrial microbial ecology, as well as a testbed for implementation of artificial intelligence concepts. Autonomous instrumentation will be necessary for robust operation of space-based life support systems, and for use on robotic spacecraft. Sample data acquired from the system, important features of software components, and potential applications for terrestrial and space research will be presented.
Abstract 112: An endogenous mTOR inhibitor, PRAS40, is upregulated in lung cancer and contributes to tumor cell invasion and chemoresistance

The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) has recently been identified as a regulatory component of, TORC1 (a complex composed of mTOR, GβL, DEPTOR, RAPTOR and PRAS40)Phosphorylation of Thr246 on PRAS40 by PKB/Akt, and Ser183 and Ser221 by mTOR results in the dissociation of PRAS40 from TORC1, and binding of PRAS40 to 14-3-3 proteins. Negative mTOR regulators usually play anti-tumorigenesis roles (like TSC1-TSC2, LKB1 and PTEN). Unexpectedly, PRAS40 has been shown to acted as a pro-tumorigenic factor in certain types of cancer cells. To better understand the role of PRAS40 in cancer, we have carried out a series of cell culture and patient tumor tissue based studies. Here, we report that PRAS40 was upregulated in most of the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines examined when compared to normal lung epithelial cell lines. Further immonuhistochemistry (IHC) studies confirmed the overexpression of PRAS40 in tumor tissues from NSCLC patients. Significantly, nearly 60% of cancer tissues from NSCLC patients exhibited considerably higher levels of PRAS40 protein than those in paired normal lung tissue. Such high levels of PRAS40 expression appear to be required for tumor progression as silencing of PRAS40 by shRNA decreased the cell invasion ability of NSCLC cells. Subsequently, we investigated whether PRAS40 can influence the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to chemotharepitic drugs. Our data demonstrated that downregulation of PRAS40 protein increased the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to chemotherapeutic agents, such as etopside and perifosine. In summary, our results strongly support a pro-tumorigenic role for PRAS40 and suggest PRAS40 could be a potential NSCLC therapeutic target. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 112. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-112
VARIATION IN CHROMATOGRAPHIC PATTERNS IN THE TRAGOPOGON DUBIUS-PRATENSIS-PORRIFOLIUS COMPLEX (COMPOSITAE)

A B S T R A C T Natural populations of the diploid species, Tragopogon dubius, T. pratensis and T. porrifolius, the F1 hybrids of these species, and the two amphidiploids, T. mirus and T. miscellus, were obtained from the same localities used for previous morphological and cytological studies of the evolutionary relationships of this complex. Inter- and intra-populational comparisons were made utilizing 2-dimensional chromatograms of these taxa. Members of the complex shared a group of 18 flavonoid-type pattern components, no one of which was completely species specific. Therefore, species patterns were expressed for a population rather than an individual with pattern components being expressed as a frequency. Patterns for F, hybrids and amphidiploids, expressed in the same manner, were relatable to the parental species. Diploid species and F, hybrid patterns were the most variable in areas of greatest sympatry, indicating considerable genetic interchange between species. The distribution of specific components in certain populations was interpreted as chemical introgression. Evidence was presented for separate origins of T. mirus in two localities. The results confirm previous interpretations of the evolutionary relationships in this complex, and when compared to those obtained for Baptisia, they implicate the different breeding systems as important factors in establishing the kind of variation observed.
Diazomethane as the active agent in nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis and lethality

1. Two mutant strains have been derived from Escherichia coli TAU-bar; one selected for resistance to nitrosoguanidine at pH 7.5 and the other for resistance to diazomethane. The comparative study of these strains shows that diazomethane, a decomposition product of nitrosoguanidine, is the principal agent involved in both lethal and mutagenic effects of nitrosoguanidine above pH 5. Nitrosoguanidine is the lethal agent at pH 5 and it is possibly a lesser mutagen itself. 2. There are two types of chromosomal effects, lethal (susceptible to repair replication) and mutagenic (non-repairable), both due mostly to diazomethane. 3. The expression of mutations was found to be independent of DNA replication or repair. The optimal conditions for nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis are discussed.
Understanding the Taliban and Insurgency in Afghanistan

Abstract Afghanistan is in danger of capsizing in a perfect storm of insurgency that mimics operations and tactics witnessed in Iraq. This article assesses this insurgency and the re-emergent Taliban. The common view of the Taliban as simply a radical Afghan Islamist movement is overly simple, for that organization has been able to build on tribal kinship networks and a charismatic mullah phenomenon to mobilize a critical and dynamic rural base of support. This support, buttressed by Talib reinforcements from Pakistan's border areas, is enough to frustrate the U.S.-led Coalition's counterinsurgency strategy. At the operational level, the Taliban is fighting a classic “war of the flea,” while the Coalition continues to fight the war largely according to the Taliban “game plan.” This is resulting in its losing the war in Afghanistan one Pashtun village at a time.
Changing the rate and hippocampal dependence of trace eyeblink conditioning: slow learning enhances survival of new neurons.

Trace eyeblink conditioning in which a conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus are separated by a gap, is hippocampal dependent and can rescue new neurons in the adult dentate gyrus from death (e.g., Beylin et al., 2001; Gould et al., 1999). Tasks requiring more training trials for reliable expression of the conditioned response are most effective in enhancing survival of neurons (Waddell & Shors, 2008). To dissociate hippocampal dependence from acquisition rate, we facilitated hippocampal-dependent trace eyeblink conditioning in two ways: a shorter trace interval and signaling the intertrial interval with a post-US cue. Trace conditioning with a shorter trace interval (250 ms) requires an intact hippocampus, and acquisition is faster relative to rats trained with a 500 ms trace interval (e.g., Weiss et al., 1999). Using excitotoxic hippocampal lesions, we confirmed that eyeblink conditioning with the 250 or 500 ms trace interval is hippocampal dependent. However, training with the post-US cue was not hippocampal dependent. The majority of lesion rats in this condition reached criterion of conditioned responding. To determine whether hippocampal dependence is sufficient to rescue adult-generated neurons in the dentate gyrus, rats were injected with BrdU and trained in one of the three trace eyeblink arrangements one week later. Of these training procedures, only the 500 ms trace interval enhanced survival of new cells; acquisition of this task proceeded slowly relative to the 250 ms and post-US cue conditions. These data demonstrate that rate of acquisition and not hippocampal dependence determines the impact of learning on adult neurogenesis.
Elasto-plastic large deformation analysis of PR steel frames for LRFD

Abstract An efficient second-order finite element-based method is presented here considering geometric and material nonlinear behavior of steel frames with nonlinear flexible connections and local plasticity effects. The assumed stress method is used to derive the governing equations which satisfy joint equilibrium and displacement compatibility conditions. An explicit form of the tangent stiffness matrix of the structure is obtained that makes the proposed method extremely efficient in nonlinear analysis. In deriving governing equations for large deformation, each element is characterized as a beam-column which undergoes arbitrary large rigid displacement but small relative displacement. The behavior of flexible connections is represented by an exponential function. In solving the nonlinear equations, the Newton-Raphson method with arc-length control is used in tracing the post-buckling behavior. Several numerical examples are given to demonstrate the robustness, accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Kinetic model for the pyrolysis of polysiloxane polymers to ceramic composites

A model describing the pyrolysis of an organo-silicate polymer (Blackglas polymer) to form a silicon oxycarbide glass was developed based on the known chemistry and architecture of the polysiloxane precursor. The objectives were to develop a plausible reaction pathway to explain the pyrolysis process, rate, and product spectrum, and to study the effect of various heating protocols on the pyrolysis process. The model successfully predicted the evolution rates of the major gases as a function of process temperature and the overall pressures reached during the process. The effects of various heating protocols on the outgassing kinetics were studied to develop an optimum protocol for a rapid pyrolysis process that gives a composite with desirable mechanical properties. Overall, the model appears to capture the essential characteristics of the process and is in good agreement with experimental results.
New 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines : evaluation of photostability and phototoxic potential

Abstract The photostability and phototoxic potential of two new 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines (PCA-4230 and PCA-4248) were investigated. When these 4-alkyl-1,4-dihydropyridines were irradiated with a multilamp photoreactor (band centred at 350 nm), both exhibited a slow photodegradation showing first-order kinetics. The photodegradation rate constants were 0.37 h−1 for PCA-4248 and 0.39 h−1 for PCA-4230 in oxygenated conditions. The photodecomposition was slower for both drugs in the absence of oxygen. In order to evaluate the phototoxicity induced by these drugs, red blood cells and Hep-2 (human laringo carcinoma cell line) were irradiated using a minisolarium, which emits UVA radiation (350–390 nm). The results showed that PCA-4248 and PCA-4230 did not exhibit a phototoxic effect in the two models tested.
Noxious family environments in relation to adult and childhood caries.

ABSTRACT Background The authors tested hypotheses that more noxious family environments are associated with poorer adult and child oral health. Methods A community sample of married or cohabiting couples (N = 135) and their elementary school–aged children participated. Dental hygienists determined the number of decayed, missing and filled surfaces via oral examination. Subjective oral health impacts were measured by means of questionnaires completed by the parents and children. The parents completed questionnaires about interparental and parent-to-child physical aggression (for example, pushing) and emotional aggression (for example, derision), as well as harsh discipline. Observers rated the couples’ hostile behavior in laboratory interactions. Results The extent of women's and men's caries experience was associated positively with their partners’ levels of overall noxious behavior toward them. The extent of children's caries experience was associated positively with the level of their mothers’ emotional aggression toward their partners. Conclusions Noxious family environments may be implicated in compromised oral health. Future research that replicates and extends these findings can provide the foundation to translate them into preventive interventions. Practical Implications Noxious family environments may help explain the limitations of routine oral health preventive strategies. Interprofessional strategies that also address the family environment ultimately may prove to be more effective than are single modality approaches.
Intensities of transitions of carbon-13 spectra as influenced by off-resonance proton spin decoupling

Abstract Simple equations that deal with the effect of spin-spin interactions on transition intensities, and with some effects on spin populations, were combined to give an estimate of transition intensities for AX, AX2, and AX3 systems. Here A was 13C and was the observed nucleus, and X was protons continuously influenced by a suitable radio-frequency magnetic field. Calculation parameters were chosen to compare with published calculations of spin-spin interactions in the absence of Overhauser effects. Calculated results were compared to data obtained with formic acid, methylene bromide, and methyl iodide.
Quantitative phase imaging using grating-based quadrature phase interferometer

In this paper, we report the use of holographic gratings, which act as the free-space equivalent of the 3x3 fiber-optic coupler, to perform full field phase imaging. By recording two harmonically-related gratings in the same holographic plate, we are able to obtain nontrivial phase shift between different output ports of the gratings-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The phase difference can be adjusted by changing the relative phase of the recording beams when recording the hologram. We have built a Mach-Zehnder interferometer using harmonically-related holographic gratings with 600 and 1200 lines/mm spacing. Two CCD cameras at the output ports of the gratings-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer are used to record the full-field quadrature interferograms, which are subsequently processed to reconstruct the phase image. The imaging system has ~12X magnification with ~420μmx315μm field-of-view. To demonstrate the capability of our system, we have successfully performed phase imaging of a pure phase object and a paramecium caudatum.
Repeating, Not Simply Recollecting, Repetition: On Kierkegaard’s Ethical Exercises

This essay argues for a formative, and not simply abstract, aspect to the philosophy of religion by attending to the practices of writing employed in Soren Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous work Repetition. By locating this text within an ethical tradition that focuses upon the practices that form subjects, rather than simply the formulation of a theory, its seemingly literary performances can be viewed as exercises. In particular, this text deploys and transforms the Stoic practices of self writing, in the form of keeping notebooks and letter writing, so as to cultivate capabilities. This indirect ethical instruction does not, however, lead to the formation of autonomous ethical subjects, but to the cultivation of capabilities that are only possible in the relational space of vulnerability, service and dependence.
Pulmonary macrophages are involved in reperfusion injury after lung transplantation.

Abstract Background . Reperfusion injury is a perplexing cause of early graft failure after lung transplantation. Although recipient neutrophils are thought to have a role in the development of reperfusion injury, some researchers have shown that neutrophils are not involved in its earliest phase. Intrinsic donor pulmonary macrophages may be responsible for this early phase of injury. Using the macrophage inhibitor gadolinium chloride, we attempted to investigate the role of pulmonary macrophages in reperfusion injury after lung transplantation. Methods . Using our isolated, ventilated, blood-perfused rabbit lung model, all groups underwent lung harvest followed by 18-hour storage (4°C) and blood reperfusion for 30 minutes. Group I served as a control. Group II received gadolinium chloride at 7 mg/kg 24 hours before harvest. Group III received gadolinium chloride at 14 mg/kg 24 hours before harvest. Results . Group III had significantly improved arterial oxygenation and pulmonary artery pressures compared with groups I and II after 30 minutes of reperfusion. Conclusions . The earliest phase of reperfusion injury after lung transplantation involves donor pulmonary macrophages.
Effect of non-random dispersal strategies on spatial coexistence mechanisms

1. Random dispersal leads to spatial coexistence via two mechanisms (emigration-mediated and source-sink), both of which involve the movement of organisms from areas of higher to lower fitness. What is not known is whether such coexistence would occur if organisms dispersed non-randomly, using cues such as density and habitat quality to gauge fitness differences between habitats. Here, I conduct a comparative analysis of random and non-random dispersal strategies in a foodweb with a basal resource, top predator, and two intermediate consumers that exhibit a trade-off between competitive ability and predator susceptibility. 2. I find a striking contrast between density- and habitat-dependent dispersal in their effects on spatial coexistence. Dispersal in response to competitor and predator density facilitates coexistence while dispersal in response to habitat quality (resource productivity and predator pressure) inhibits it. Moreover, density-dependent dispersal changes species' distribution patterns from interspecific segregation to interspecific aggregation, while habitat-dependent dispersal preserves the interspecific segregation observed in the absence of dispersal. Under density-dependent dispersal, widespread spatial coexistence results in an overall decline in the abundance of the inferior competitor that is less susceptible to predation and an overall increase in the abundance of the superior competitor that is more susceptible to predation. Under habitat-dependent dispersal, restricted spatial coexistence results in species' abundances being essentially unchanged from those observed in the absence of dispersal. 3. A key outcome is that when the superior competitor moves in the direction of increasing fitness but the inferior competitor does not, spatial coexistence is possible in both resource-poor and resource-rich habitats. However, when the inferior competitor moves in the direction of increasing fitness but the superior competitor does not, spatial coexistence is precluded in resource-poor habitats and greatly reduced in resource-rich habitats. This suggests that species-specific differences may play an important role in driving spatial coexistence patterns. 4. The comparative framework yields predictions that can be tested with experiments that manipulate the relative mobilities of interacting species, or observational data on relative abundances and distribution patterns.
Waypoint-Based Robot Navigation Using NURBs-Based Metamodels

Effective path planning techniques for mobile robots have potential uses and ramifications in a wide range of fields. As a result, the study of these techniques is highly diverse, and historically rich. In this vein we present a path planning methodology for a particular type of robot — one which flies above a terrain but must periodically land at waypoints. The approach demonstrated here is notable for drawing its inspiration and working basis from several different engineering fields. NURBs-based metamodels, a concept developed in the field of engineering design, are used to represent terrain to be navigated. Goal programming, largely used in operations research, is used to determine optimal landing waypoints. Graph theory concepts (derived from the field of computer science) are used to generate robot paths, and more broadly as data structures for information management. We demonstrate the new method on a variety of terrain maps, and present our conclusions on the effectiveness of the algorithm. We close with remarks regarding potential future developments and improvements that may be made to increase the utility of this approach.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Investigation of Radiative Transfer in Nongray Gases Using a Narrow Band Model and Monte Carlo Simulation

The Monte Carlo method (MCM) is applied to analyze radiative heat transfer in nongray gases. The nongray model employed is based on the statistical narrow band model with an exponential-tailed inverse intensity distribution. The amount and transfer of the emitted radiative energy in a finite volume element within a medium are considered in an exact manner. The spectral correlation between transmittances of two different segments of the same path in a medium makes the statistical relationship different from the conventional relationship that only provides the noncorrelated results for nongray analysis. Two features of the MCM that are different from other nongray numerical methods are discussed. The simplicity of the MCM is demonstrated by considering the case of radiative transfer between two reflecting walls. The results for the radiative dissipation distributions and the net radiative wall heat fluxes are obtained for uniform, parabolic, and boundary layer type temperature profiles, as well as for a parabolic concentration profile. They are compared with available results of other methods. Good agreements are found for all the cases considered.
Metals and the Integrity of a Biological Coating: The Cuticle of Mussel Byssus

The cuticle of mussel byssal threads is a robust natural coating that combines high extensibility with high stiffness and hardness. In this study, fluorescence microscopy and elemental analysis were exploited to show that the 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (dopa) residues of mussel foot protein-1 colocalize with Fe and Ca distributions in the cuticle of Mytilus galloprovincialis mussel byssal threads. Chelated removal of Fe and Ca from the cuticle of intact threads resulted in a 50% reduction in cuticle hardness, and thin sections subjected to the same treatment showed a disruption of cuticle integrity. Dopa-metal complexes may provide significant interactions for the integrity of composite cuticles deformed under tension.
Alternate-day fasting reduces global cell proliferation rates independently of dietary fat content in mice.

Abstract Objective Cell proliferation rates represent a central element in the promotional phase of carcinogenesis. Modified alternate-day fasting (ADF), i.e., a partial 24-h fast alternated with 24-h ad libitum feeding, reduces global cell proliferation rates on a low-fat (LF) diet. Because the majority of Americans consume a diet that is high in fat, testing the antiproliferative ability of ADF on a high-fat (HF) diet is important in terms of diet tolerability in humans. Accordingly, we examined the effects of 85% restriction on the fast day (ADF-85%) with an LF or HF background diet on proliferation rates of various tissues. Methods In a 4-wk study, male C57BL/6J mice were randomized to one of three groups: 1) ADF-85%-LF, 2) ADF-85%-HF, or 3) control. Results Body weights of the ADF mice were similar to that of controls throughout the study. A hyperphagic response ( P P P Conclusion These findings indicate that ADF has an antiproliferative effect over a wide range of fat intakes, which may enhance adherence to ADF in humans.
Inverse-photoemission observation of the shape resonance.

We present the first observation to our knowledge of the molecular shape resonance in adsorbed CO using the technique of inverse photoemission. By comparison with earlier photoionization measurements we are able to examine the role of the final-state potential in determining the binding energy of the shape resonance. We find that screening of the photohole is more effective for valence-band photoionization than for the more localized core-level photoionization.
Detailed structure of hairy mixed micelles formed by phosphatidylcholine and PEGylated phospholipids in aqueous media

Aqueous dispersions of mixed egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modified distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) were investigated with the purpose of determining ...
Clenched Jaw Jerks in Children

Masseter muscle silent periods were assessed in 24 children divided into three groups according to their stage of dental development (primary, mixed, and permanent). Surface electrode EMG data, timing code, and microphone input were recorded on magnetic tape. A visual record was obtained by playing the tape into an optical oscillograph; measurements were made from the photosensitive paper. The results indicate the latency and silent period durations of clenched jaw jerks were similar among the three groups. For the subjects in this study, the mean latency and silent period durations of the masseter muscle during clenched jaw jerks were 14.9 ms (milli-seconds) and 27.0 ms.