cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Major hysteresis loop modeling of two-dimensional arrays of single domain particles

We have studied the effect of magnetostatic interactions on the overall shape of hysteresis loops for arrays of single domain particles. A computational model was used to calculate major hysteresis loops of arrays of particles with an easy axis along the applied field. The shear of the hysteresis loop, and consequent loss of squareness, is found to increase both with magnetostatic interaction strength and with the standard deviation of switching field for the particles. This model has been tested with several shapes of particles, including arrays with easy axes parallel and perpendicular to the plane. For cylindrical particles, we find an excellent fit between the model and data. On the contrary, for flat ellipsoidal particles and evaporated conical particles, the fit to the measured loop was poor. This is believed to be due to the spread in easy axis directions or nonuniform reversal in these particles.
Technology infusion for space-flight programs

A tremendous amount of difficulty is encountered in moving technologies from laboratory demonstration (NASA technology readiness level (TRL) 3) to prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (TRL 6). This ability to infuse technologies into NASA space flight programs is limited by a number of factors. Most research funding is for RD require clear and precise statements of work, require progress milestones (i.e. run an experiment, complete literature survey) and to perform independent risk assessments on all TRL 1-3 projects using a variety of tools. The tools could be used to rate the technologies in three categories: looks promising - continue work; ready for TRL4 and move it into an implementation phase; or, is unlikely to be useable in the next n years /sub i/scontinue funding (long-term research would fall in the first category). The residual funding from the RD independent risk assessment; rating for continuation. Additionally, NASA flight projects need to be given incentive to have a "big-picture" view. Currently, TRL 5 and 6 technologies are taken up by projects and tested to project specific criteria, where with a small amount of incremental funding, technologies could be tested to survive a much broader set of requirements that would be applicable to many different missions. The funding could easily be recovered from the programs because each would not have to redundantly fund complete testing of a particular technology. A program technology tax would be one way to cover this incremental funding. A number of examples of risk assessments are covered, emphasizing each of the above.
BiCMOS submicron compiler memories

An advanced submicron BiCMOS process and an ASIC memory compiler are discussed. The BICMOS process uses bipolar transistors to enhance the fast CMOS transistors by driving heavily loaded nodes at high speeds. The multiple layers of metal in the process significantly increase the gate density available for system-level design. >
Nanocomposite hydrogels: an emerging biomimetic platform for myocardial therapy and tissue engineering

Repairing damaged heart muscles: the challenges Recent years have seen a significant rise in patient survival rate after myocardial infarction, commonly known as heart attack. This is mainly due to improvement in hospital instrument facilities, clinical management system, surgical tools and technologies. However, many of these patients soon develop heart failure, with 50% mortality rate within 5 years of heart attack [1]. As the regeneration power of the heart muscle is very limited, negative remodeling and nonfunctional scar tissue deposition leads to gradual terminal failure of the heart. Current treatments include heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices, which are both highly invasive and risky surgical procedures with inconsistent results. Stem cell transplantation has recently shown some potential that can improve heart function through several mechanisms such as cardiac differentiation, neoangiogenesis and paracrine effects [2]. Despite promising results, stem cell therapy still remains limited because of economic, timing and logistic issues, particularly when isolating cells from elderly patients under clinical settings. Reduced cell survival and retention at the transplant site further limits their therapeutic potential [3]. Thus, we see an urgent need for new strategies to attenuate the progression of the disease postmyocardial infarction. The following sections highlight the emerging roles of biocompatible nanomaterials and hydrogels and provide insights for further development in cardiac therapy and tissue engineering applications.
SPECTRAL SENSITIVITY IN THE TURTLE.

Summary The height of the b-wave in the electroretinogram of the turtle Pseudemys was used as an index of spectral sensitivity under conditions of light and dark adaptation. A series of discontinuous wavelengths of equal energy was used as stimuli. The peak scotopic sensitivity occurred in the region of 559 μ while the maximal sensitivity under photopic conditions occurred at approximately 658 μ. Although the present methods do not allow a precise localization of the peaks of these two visual functions, the values are accurate within approximately 15 μ either side of the stated peaks.
Sign of the nuclear quadrupole interaction by observation of polarized gamma-gamma angular correlations

Abstract The sign of the nuclear quadrupole interaction cannot be determined by measurement of unpolarized γ-γ angular correlations. It can, however, be found by measuring the circular polarization of one of the radiations. Appropriate formulae are given to enable the reader to easily calculate function as a function of crystal orientation in the cases where the two radiations make angles of 90° and 180° with each other, are of multipole order L ≤ 2, and involve an intermediate state with spin I ≤ 7 2 . For the 90° case, in general, terms enter which are dependent on the sign of the interaction. The application of this technique to unpolarized β-γ correlations is also considered.
Performance modeling of distributed multi-tier enterprise systems

Management techniques for achieving self-adaptive behavior in enterprise computing systems has been recently investigated by both academia and industry. Primarily, these techniques observe application measurements and take corrective action, based on a given model, to achieve a specified Quality of Service (QoS). Examples of such approaches include task scheduling, CPU provisioning [1], and power management [2]. Effective management of enterprise systems require finegrained decisions that balance various, often conflicting, service level agreements while adjusting to changes in the operating environment, caused by factors such as time-varying user workload and incomplete knowledge of the system operating state. Such decisions, affect how an application behaves under different workload intensities [3]. Over time, they influence system reliability, energy efficiency and customer experience. These decisions are implemented through a control system, requiring a detailed model of the system that reflects how various management choices affect the system behavior under varying environment inputs and operating conditions. An example of such a model is the layered queuing model presented in [4]. In this paper, we present the results of recent experiments aiming to model a distributed multi-tier enterprise application. Using dynamic regression and queuing modeling techniques, we have been able to obtain an approximate model structure that captures the system behavior under various operation conditions with a high degree of accuracy. In future, these models will be used to implement a distributed control structure that optimizes the system parameters for a given set of objectives [5]. This paper is organized as follows. Section 2 discusses the experimental setup. Section 3 discusses the performance management objectives, and discusses our experiments and modeling efforts. Section 4 concludes this paper.
Gender, Physical Attractiveness, and Sex Role in Occupational Treatment Discrimination: The Influence of Trait and Role Assumptions

A field experiment was designed to examine the role of gender trait assumptions in occupational treatment discrimination. Professional personnel consultants evaluated male or female employees who were physically attractive or unattractive and masculine, feminine, or androgynous. Consultants made decisions about promotion, opportunity for special training, delegation of work assignments, and a child care leave of absence request in masculine, feminine, and sex-neutral occupations. Decisions about career development were strongly influenced by gender trait information, rather than by gender or attractiveness. In contrast, females were more likely than males to be granted a child care leave without pay, regardless of sex role. The results supported the assumption that the congruence between gender traits and the occupational requirements mediates occupational sex discrimination. Only for decisions involving competing role demands stemming from faily circumstances was there evidence that beliefs about appropriate roles for the sexes mediate discrimination. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of new approaches for reducing sex discrimination in the treatment of employees.
When and how cognitive style impacts decision-making

Arguing along several lines, G.P. Huber (1983) asserted that cognitive style should not be a basis for DSS (decision-support system) designed but that it may be useful in the development of training procedures. An experiment is described that tests these assertions using a production scheduling task. Results indicate that (1) by merely providing outcome feedback, individuals of all cognitive styles (as measured by the Myers-Briggs type indicator and risk preference) learned the task equally well; (2) cognitive style was useful in explaining performance differences during task learning but not thereafter; and (3) cognitive style did not predict the heuristics used but rather the consistency of their use; that is, the impact of cognitive style manifested as erratic decisions rather than systematic bias. These results are used to discuss the role of cognitive style in both training and design and to suggest reasons for the inconsistent results in cognitive style research. >
"Zero-length" cross-linking in solid state as an approach for analysis of protein-protein interactions

We have developed a new approach for the analysis of interacting interfaces in protein complexes and protein quaternary structure based on cross-linking in the solid state. Protein complexes are freeze-dried under vacuum, and cross-links are introduced in the solid phase by dehydrating the protein in a nonaqueous solvent creating peptide bonds between amino and carboxyl groups of the interacting peptides. Cross-linked proteins are digested into peptides with trypsin in both H216O and H218O and then readily distinguished in mass spectra by characteristic 8 atomic mass unit (amu) shifts reflecting incorporation of two 18O atoms into each C terminus of proteolytic peptides. Computer analysis of mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS data is used to identify the cross-linked peptides. We demonstrated specificity and reproducibility of our method by cross-linking homo-oligomeric protein complexes of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) from Schistosoma japonicum alone or in a mixture of many other proteins. Identified cross-links were predominantly of amide origin, but six esters and thioesters were also found. The cross-linked peptides were validated against the GST monomer and dimer X-ray structures and by experimental (MS/MS) analyses. Some of the identified cross-links matched interacting peptides in the native 3D structure of GST, indicating that the structure of GST and its oligomeric complex remained primarily intact after freeze-drying. The pattern of oligomeric GST obtained in solid state was the same as that obtained in solution by Ru (II) Bpy32+ catalyzed, oxidative “zero-length” cross-linking, confirming that it is feasible to use our strategy for analyzing the molecular interfaces of interacting proteins or peptides.
Standard potential of the silver-silver chloride electrode and mean activity coefficient of hydrochloric acid in 10 wt% sucrose/water from 0 to 25°C

Abstract As part of a study in which electromotive force (emf) measurements are used to determine thermodynamic properties of sucrose solutions approximating fruit juice, it was necessary to determine the standard potential of the silver-silver chloride electrode in this medium. Emf measurements of cells of the type: Pt; H 2 (g, 1 atm) | HCl (m) in 10 wt% sucrose/H 2 O | AgCl; Ag, where molality = 0·005 to 0·05 over the temperature range 0 to 25°C, allowed the calculation of the molal standard potential, E 0 m , of the Ag-AgCl electrode in the dilute sucrose mixture. Values obtained were fitted to an equation second-order in temperature, E 0 m = 0·23162 − 4·9204 × 10 −4 t − 3·0500 × 10 −6 t 2 (t = temperature (°C), sd = 0·02 mV). The mean activity coefficient of HCl, γ ± , in the sucrose-water mixture can be described within the experimental precision of the data to 0·10 m at 25°C using a simple Debye-Huckel model which incorporates an ion-size parameter of 7·8 A. The results provide a basis for precision emf measurements in dilute sucrose-water mixtures.
The Costs of Neighbors for a Territorial Dragonfly, Perithemis tenera

Past researchers have often considered neighbors to be beneficial to territorial residents, particularly compared with non-neighbor conspecific competitors. However, neighbors have the potential to be costly to residents in terms of both defensive costs and lost resources. In this study, we assessed the relative costs of defending a mating territory against neighbors and non-neighbors for the dragonfly Perithemis tenera, comparing across males with different numbers of contiguous neighbors; we also examined the possibility that the presence of contiguous neighbors might reduce the detection of potential mates. When neighbors were present, residents experienced a greater total number of intrusions by males; this increase in intrusions was due to higher numbers of intrusions by neighbors, as the number of intrusions by non-neighbor males did not differ. Residents with immediately adjacent neighbors also made more sorties toward neighbors than did residents whose nearest neighbors territories were not immediately adjacent. Interestingly, although the number of visits by females did not vary with the presence of neighbors, residents with neighbors made fewer sorties toward females than did residents without neighbors. Our results suggest that defensive costs increased when neighbors were present, that residents with neighbors may have missed opportunities to acquire mates, and thus that living with neighbors can be costly in this species.
Decompounding query keywords from compounding languages

Splitting compound words has proved to be useful in areas such as Machine Translation, Speech Recognition or Information Retrieval (IR). Furthermore, real-time IR systems (such as search engines) need to cope with noisy data, as user queries are sometimes written quickly and submitted without review. In this paper we apply a state-of-the-art procedure for German decompounding to other compounding languages, and we show that it is possible to have a single decompounding model that is applicable across languages.
Recent progress in crash pulse analysis

The deceleration of the occupant compartment of a vehicle during a crash, also known as the crash pulse, is of central importance in the analysis of vehicle safety. The crash pulse is used to assess the crashworthiness of the vehicle structure and as input to occupant injury models. This paper provides a brief historical review of crash pulse analysis based on simple polynomial and Fourier characterisations, and presents some recent developments in experimental crash pulse characterisation based on statistical wavelet analysis. A simple formalism for decomposing the crash pulse, obtained from computational models, into component contributions is discussed and analysed for a simple spring-mass model of vehicle structure. Implications for more detailed models are discussed. Finally, a possible method for connecting occupant injury to the component level crash pulse contributions is presented.
The effect of age, dietary carbohydrate source, and feed withdrawal on broiler breast fillet color

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of bird age, diet (feeds formulated with 69.5% corn, 69.7% milo, or 73.6% wheat), and feed withdrawal times (0 or 8 hours) on color (CIE L*, lightness; a*, redness; and b*, yellowness) of raw broiler breast fillets. Broilers were placed on diets at 28 d of age. Replicate groups of 24 birds (eight each from different diet and four each either full fed or feed withdrawn) were processed (slaughtered and eviscerated under simulated commercial conditions) each day from 42 to 45 and 49 to 52 d of age (n = 192). Carcasses were chilled and deboned 4 h postmortem, and triplicate color measurements taken from the medial (bone) side of the fillet. Bird age did not significantly affect fillet color values. Fillets from the birds fed the wheat diet were significantly lighter than fillets from the corn or milo fed birds (48.9 vs. 46.9 and 46.7, respectively). The milo diet resulted in significantly redder fillets than corn or wheat (3.9 vs. 3.5 and 3.3, respectively). The corn diet produced significantly more yellow fillets than milo or wheat (4.8 vs. 2.4 and 2.6, respectively). Feed withdrawal significantly increased fillet lightness from an average of 46.1 to 48.9, decreased redness from 4.1 to 3.1, and increased yellowness from 2.8 to 3.7. Raw broiler breast fillet color is significantly affected by both diet and feed withdrawal, but not by age.
Responses of a C3 and a C4 perennial grass to elevated CO2 and temperature under different water regimes

An experiment was carried out to determine the effects of elevated CO2, elevated temperatures, and altered water regimes in native shortgrass steppe. Intact soil cores dominated by Bouteloua gracilis, a C4 perennial grass, or Pascopyrum smithii, a C3 perennial grass, were placed in growth chambers with 350 or 700 μL L−1 atmospheric CO2, and under either normal or elevated temperatures. The normal regime mimicked field patterns of diurnal and seasonal temperatures, and the high-temperature regime was 4 °C warmer. Water was supplied at three different levels in a seasonal pattern similar to that observed in the field. Total biomass after two growing seasons was 19% greater under elevated CO2, with no significant difference between the C3 and C4 grass. The effect of elevated CO2 on biomass was greatest at the intermediate water level. The positive effect of elevated CO2 on shoot biomass was greater at normal temperatures in B. gracilis, and greater at elevated temperatures in P. smithii. Neither root-to-shoot ratio nor production of seed heads was affected by elevated CO2. Plant tissue N and soil inorganic N concentrations were lower under elevated Co2, but no more so in the C3 than the C4 plant. Elevated CO2 appeared to increase plant N limitation, but there was no strong evidence for an increase in N limitation or a decrease in the size of the CO2 effect from the first to the second growing season. Autumn samples of large roots plus crowns, the perennial organs, had 11% greater total N under elevated CO2, in spite of greater N limitation.
Falls and Physical Activity in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Objectives. To examine the association between fall history and physical activity using an objective measure of physical activity (i.e., accelerometry) in persons with multiple sclerosis. Design. A community-based sample of 75 ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis volunteered for the investigation. Participants self-reported fall history in the last year, underwent a neurological exam to determine Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, and wore an accelerometer around the waist for 7 consecutive days to determine physical activity. Results. Overall, 37 persons (49.3% of the sample) reported falling in the last year with 28 of the 37 falling more than once. Persons who fell in the last year had a significantly lower number of steps/day than nonfallers (3510 versus 4940 steps/day; P .05). Conclusions. Collectively, the findings suggest that fall history may have little impact on current physical activity levels in persons with multiple sclerosis.
A reliability model combining representative and directed testing

Directed testing methods, such as functional or structural testing, have been criticized for a lack of quantifiable results. Representative testing permits reliability modeling, which provides the desired quantification. Over time, however, representative testing becomes inherently less effective as a means of improving the actual quality of the software under test. A model is presented which permits representative and directed testing to be used in conjunction. Representative testing can be used early, when the rate of fault revelation is high. Later results from directed testing can be used to update the reliability estimates conventionally associated with representative methods. The key to this combination is shifting the observed random variable from interfailure time to a post-mortem analysis of the debugged faults, using order statistics to combine the observed failure rates of faults no matter how those faults were detected.
The Flavonoid 7,4′-Dihydroxyflavone Inhibits MUC5AC Gene Expression, Production, and Secretion via Regulation of NF-κB, STAT6, and HDAC2

Mucus overproduction is a significant component of the pathophysiology of obstructive lung diseases. Currently, there are only a few medications available that inhibit mucus production. Previous studies showed that glycyrrhizin, a triterpenoid in Glycyrrhiza uralensis inhibits mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) mRNA and protein expression. Other potential mucus production inhibitory compounds contained within in G. uralensis have not been fully investigated. The aim of the present study was to determine if the G. uralensis flavonoid 7,4′-dihydroxyflavone (7,4′-DHF) inhibits MUC5AC gene expression, mucus production, and secretion, and if so, to elucidate the mechanism of this inhibition. 7,4′-Dihydroxyflavone significantly decreased phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated NCI-H292 human airway epithelial cell MUC5AC gene expression and mucus production, at a 28-fold lower concentration than glycyrrhizin (The half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 value of 1.4 μM vs 38 μM, respectively); 7,4′-DHF also inhibited MUC5AC mucus secretion. Inhibition was associated with the suppression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) activation, and enhanced histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) expression. In a murine model of asthma, 7,4′-DHF-treated mice exhibited a marked reduction in MUC5AC secretion in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with control mice. These findings, together with previous findings linking NF-κB, STAT6, and HDAC2 modulation to the control of MUC5AC expression, demonstrate that 7,4′-DHF is a newly identified component of G. uralensis that regulates MUC5AC expression and secretion via regulation of NF-κB, STAT6, and HDAC2. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonsurgical Considerations for Addressing Periocular Aesthetics: A Conceptual Dimensional Approach

The periocular region serves to frame the eyes and provides a focal point of facial aesthetics. Periocular aesthetics can be evaluated by 2-dimensional (2-D) (x,y coordinate) frontal plane considerations or by 3-dimensional (3-D) considerations, in which the z coordinate is significantly affected by volume considerations. Millimeter differences between the right and left periocular regions, particularly when viewed in the 2-D frontal plane, can result in significant asymmetry and periocular disharmony. Nonsurgical modalities in the form of fillers and toxins provide the tools for subtle aesthetic modifications in the second and third dimension in a reversible, modifiable manner. 2-D Aesthetics Two-dimensional aesthetics are a particularly important consideration in the periocular region. Asymmetry in the 2-D frontal view plane of the eyebrow, upper eyelid, and lower eyelid positions has a significant impact on periocular aesthetics. Millimeter differences in the 2-D frontal view position of the eyebrows, upper eyelid position in the form of subtle degrees of blepharoptosis or, conversely, retraction quantitated by the margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1), and lower eyelid position in the form of retraction and scleral show affect periocular symmetry and aesthetics. More complex 2-D periocular parameters can have also have an impact on periocular aesthetics. Goldberg et al 1 and Papageorgiou et al 2 have eloquently described additional parameters in the form of tarsal platform show (TPS) and brow fat span (BFS), which convey considerable importance to the judged aesthetic quality of the periocular region. All of these parameters are judged in the 2-D plane, although they are significantly affected by 3-D considerations, particularly volume (Figure 1).
Electrical resistivity of some directionally solidified nickel-base eutectic composites

The electrical resistivity of directionallysolidified Ni-base eutectic composites is measured as a function of temperature between 77 and 300 K. These measurements are made with electric current being parallel and perpendicular to the fibers. Various theories are applied to the measured longitudinal and transverse electrical resistivities to obtain the resistivities of the components. Der elektrische Widerstand von richtungsverfestigten eutektischen Zusammensetzungen auf Ni-Basis wird als Funktion der Temperatur zwischen 77 und 300 K gemessen. Diese Messungen werden mit einem elektrischen Strom parallel und senkrecht zur Faser durchgefuhrt. Verschiedene Theorien werden fur die gemessenen longitudinalen und transversalen elektrischen Leitfahigkeiten herangezogen, um die Widerstande der Komponenten zu erhalten.
Carbon and nitrogen dynamics of pre- and post-fire chaparral exposed to varying atmospheric N deposition

Abstract Fire and atmospheric N deposition have the capacity to alter the N and C cycling and storage of semi-arid shrublands. Thus, we measured the pre- and post-fire soil and tissue C and N dynamics of three southern California chaparral stands exposed to varying levels of N deposition. Total soil N was positively correlated with N deposition exposure before and after fire, indicating that fire did little to alter patterns of soil N enrichment from atmospheric N deposition. Fire caused a significant increase in soil extractable N, and this increase was positively correlated with N deposition indicating that fire enhanced soil N availability more at sites exposed to high N deposition. Fire also caused the tissue N concentration of regenerating Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise) shrubs to be significantly correlated with N deposition; however, the correlation was negative during the first year of fire recovery ( r 2 =0.62) and positive during the second ( r 2 =0.94) indicating complex and transient dynamics in shrub growth and N concentration. Overall, our results suggest that periodic fire in chaparral may not reduce the potential for N enrichment that develops over decades of N deposition and have important implications for the propensity of these semi-arid shrublands to become “N-saturated”.
Stereospecific Radioimmunoassays for d-Pseudoephedrine in Human Plasma and Their Application to Bioequivalency Studies

Antiserum to d-pseudoephedrine was raised in New Zealand White rabbits in response to immunization with a conjugate of bovine serum albumin and d-pseudoephedrine-N-3-propionic acid. The hapten was prepared by reaction of methyl acrylate with d-pseudoephedrine, followed by ester hydrolysis. Sodium boro[3H]hydride reduction of dl-ephedrone gave [α-3H]-dl-ephedrine, and a Welsh rearrangement with acetic anhydride followed by deacetylation gave [α-3H]-dl-pseudoephedrine, which was used as a radioligand in radioimmunoassay procedures for direct plasma analyses. Three sensitive radioimmunoassay procedures were developed, two using [3H]pseudoephedrine as the radioligand and either adsorption on coated charcoal or polyethylene glycol precipitation for separation of antibody-bound from free radioligand. The third method used an [125I]tyrosine methyl ester analog of pseudo-ephedrine and charcoal separation, preceded by extraction and derivatization of pseudoephedrine with methyl acrylate. All three assays could detect 2.5 ng of pseudoephedrine/ml. The antiserum was stereospecific, showing low cross-reactivities with l-pseudoephedrine and d-and l-ephedrines. d-Norpseudoephedrine and some other related compounds also had low cross-reactivity in these radioimmunoassay procedures. Excellent agreement was found between pseudoephedrine concentrations in human plasma determined by radioimmunoassay and by a standard GLC method. The utility of radioimmunoassay was illustrated by application of one of these procedures to an assessment of the bioequivalence of immediate- and sustained-release pseudoephedrine formulations in normal volunteers. A sustained-release preparation containing 120 mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride given every 12 hr was shown by AUC comparisons to be bioequivalent to an immediate-release tablet (containing 60 mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) given every 6 hr.
Therapeutic benefit of a KATP-channel opening drug in cocaine toxicity

Background Outcome of cocaine abuse is poor, warranting discovery of effective therapies. As cocaine toxicity stems from a hyperadrenergic state, we tested whether targeted manipulation of KATP channel function, a recently discovered protective mechanism against catecholamine challenge, improves outcome. Methods Cocaine (100 mg/kg ip) was administered to wildtype or KATP channel-knockout mice, and pinacidil served as the prototypic KATP channel opener. Results Repetitive cocaine abuse (once a day for 3 days) was associated with 50% lethality in wildtype, with pinacidil (1 mg/kg sc) treatment reducing mortality by 40%. After a cocaine overdose in wildtype, the incidence of seizures, a hallmark of central nervous system toxicity, was also halved by pinacidil therapy (10 mg/kg sc). In the absence of KATP channels, pinacidil was deprived of protective action against cocaine toxicity. Ablation of KATP channels reduced survival following a single cocaine overdose from 15% to 33%. Deterioration in cardiovascular function induced by chronic cocaine abuse was also precipitated with lack of KATP channels. Conclusions KATP channels are thus critical to the adaptive response to cocaine distress, with targeted modulation of channel function defining outcome. Use of KATP channel openers may prove useful as an effective therapeutic modality against cocaine toxicity. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P99–P99; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.01.008
The biochemistry of memory

Almost fifty years ago, Julius Adler initiated a program of research to gain insights into the basic biochemistry of intelligent behavior by studying the molecular mechanisms that underlie the chemotactic responses of Escherichia coli. All living organisms share elements of a common biochemistry for metabolism, growth and heredity - why not intelligence? Neurobiologists have demonstrated that this is the case for nervous systems in animals ranging from worms to man. Motile unicellular organisms such as E. coli exhibit rudimentary behaviors that can be loosely described in terms of cognitive phenomena such as memory and learning. Adler's initiative at least raised the prospect that, because of the numerous experimental advantages provided by E. coli, it would be the first organism whose behavior could be understood at molecular resolution.
Implementing Project Schedule Metrics to Identify the Impact of Delays Correlated with Contractors

Schedule management reduces schedule delays while optimizing positive opportunities to the project timeline. The built industry continues to struggle to capture project metrics that will improve supply chain management. The lack of performance metrics on construction projects filters the actual project performance of the project stakeholders. Contractors can easily be blamed for schedule delays because of the nature of construction projects. A large university capital improvement organization recognizes their lack of performance information and begins implementing a performance measurement system in 2005. The university measurements focus on project impacts to cost, schedule, and quality in hopes that additional information will improve risk management processes. This article reviews the schedule impacts that contractors create within projects. Data was collected directly from both contractor and client project managers of 254 construction projects. Actual delays from contractors were found to be a small percentage of the overall project schedule delays. More than half of the delays that contractors produced were found to be correlated to the material suppliers.
Rethinking Race, Equality and Liberty: The Unfulfilled Promise of Parents Involved

In 2007, an unprecedented event took place. Never before had the United States Supreme Court pitted two civil rights victories against each other to produce a high-profile defeat for advocates of school integration. Yet, this is precisely what happened in Parents Involved in Community Schools. v. Seattle School District when the Justices struck down voluntary desegregation plans in the public schools of Louisville, Kentucky and Seattle, Washington. To reach this result, the Court ironically turned to Brown v. Board of Education and Grutter v. Bollinger, both of which had supported integration in education. This article explores how diversity came to play a role in undoing voluntary desegregation. I argue that this seemingly paradoxical result was born of a jurisprudence of fragmentation that has manifested itself doctrinally in at least three ways. First, Brown itself has been appropriated in the service of competing agendas and so has become a decision at war with itself. The decision is invoked to support a principle of strict colorblindness on the one hand and a flexible approach to color-conscious remedies on the other. Second, whatever the interpretation of Brown, the school desegregation cases have proceeded on an entirely different logic than higher education decisions like Grutter. The diversity rationale focuses not on corrective justice but on the cosmopolitan exchange of ideas. The lines of authority in Brown and Grutter have co-existed, unreconciled and disconnected, until they collided in Parents Involved. Third, this pattern is part of a larger problem of compartmentalization in cases involving race and equality. Distinct approaches often seem to inhabit parallel universes so that affirmative action can survive in colleges and universities, even as it is struck down in government contracting. Or, race-conscious remedies can persist in voting rights jurisprudence while they come under siege in school desegregation cases. I conclude that this jurisprudence of fragmentation has left little room for a flexible and dynamic account of race, one that might prepare the Court to deal with new challenges like those presented in Parents Involved.
North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Past Failures, Present Solutions

North Korea has recently announced that it has developed nuclear weapons and has pulled out of the six-party talks. These events do not emerge out of a vacuum, and this Article lends perspective through an interdisciplinary lens that seeks to grapple with the complexities and provide constructive approaches based on this well-researched understanding. This Article analyzes political, military, historical, legal and other angles of this international crisis. Past dealings with North Korea have been unfruitful because other nations do not recognize the ties between North Korean acts and its ideology and objectives. For a satisfactory resolution to the current crisis, South Korea and the United States must maintain sufficient deterrence, focus on multi-lateral and international avenues, and increase the negative and later positive incentives for North Korean compliance with its international obligations. From an international legal and international organizations perspective, the multilateral talks can be bolstered by inclusion of the U.N. Secretary General as a proactive mediator. The Secretary General can call for, if necessary and after the failure of other means, U.N. Security Council action and the reinstitution of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to do its duly constituted work of preventing proliferation. If these approaches succeed, the peninsula, region, and world will become better places.
High-rate and long-life of Li-ion batteries using reduced graphene oxide/Co3O4 as anode materials

Metal oxides as Li-ion battery anodes have received a great deal of attention because they offer a higher specific capacity than state-of-the-art commercial graphite. However, a large volume change and severe particle aggregation during battery operation have greatly impeded their practical application. Herein, we report a facile one-step microwave-assisted route for growing Co3O4 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide that results in a high performance anode material for Li-ion batteries. The lithium battery performances of several systems with varied reduced graphene oxide contents were studied. The optimized composites exhibit a high surface area of 222 m2 g−1, and a wide pore size distribution of 1.4 to 300 nm. More importantly, the Li-ion battery shows a high capacity of ∼1300 mA h g−1 at a high rate of 1C (1C = 890 mA g−1), long life of over 600 cycles, good capacity retention, and excellent rate capability. The synthesis process is simple, energy efficient, and time-saving, providing a new path in designing high-performance electrodes for Li-ion batteries.
Determination of 23 organophosphorus pesticides residuces in fruits and vegetables by SPE/GC

Objective:A method for the determination of 23organophosphorus pesticides residuces in fruits and vegetables by SPE/GC.Methods:The samples were extracted by acetonitrile solution,after the extract was purified through CARBON-NH3 column.The collected solution was analyzed by using GC–FPD.Results:27 organophosphorus pesticides gave a good linearity in the range of 0.05 μg/ml～2.0 μg/ml(r0.99).The detectionlimints were 0.2 μg/L～10.0 μg/L.The recovery rate and RSD were73.5%～99.5% and 1.1%～4.6% at 0.5 mg/kg respectively,and were 80.5%～102.4%,and 1.2%～5.1% at 2.0 mg/kg respectively.Conclusion:The method is simple,rapid,effective purification and high recovery.It is suitable for the sample shape full of 23organophosphorus pesticides residuces in fruits and vegetables.
Effect of Resveratrol on Antioxidant Status and Insulin Sensitivity in Rat Primary Adipocytes

The effect of resveratrol on the antioxidant status and insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant rat primary adipocytes was investigated. Rat primary adipocytes were separated and an insulin-resistant model was established using dexamethasone. Glucose consumption as well as SOD and MDA contents in medium and cells treated with resveratrol at varying concentrations was determined. In order to explore the possible mechanisms, the expression and phosphorylation levels of Sirt1, IRS-1, AKT and GLUT4 proteins were examined by western blot. The results indicated that resveratrol increased the glucose consumption and SOD content and suppressed MDA generation in insulin-resistant rat primary adipocytes. Meanwhile, resveratrol also enhanced Sirt1 expression and improved GLUT4 translocation through insulin signaling pathway. Therefore, resveratrol is able to enhance the antioxidant status and insulin resistance in rat primary insulin-resistant adipocytes by exerting its antioxidant activity through Sirt1 pathway.
Improved Motility Recovery of Human Spermatozoa after Freeze Preservation Via a New Approach

A new sperm isolation technique was studied in conjunction with the short-term freeze preservation of human spermatozoa. The isolation procedure yielded subpopulations of spermatozoa with very high percentage motility and progressive motility score, and which were virtually free of seminal debris. For 24 semen samples from 13 donors, the mean pre freeze values of percentage motility and motility score were 53% (2.8), 73% (3.1), and 88% (3.5) for the parent semen, 7.5% BSA (middle) fractions, and 17.5% BSA (bottom) fractions, respectively. These samples were used without a priori constraint on semen quality. Eleven samples were preselected on the basis of good motility in the semen. These yielded prefreeze motility values of 66% (3.2), 70% (3.4), and 87% (3.9) for the semen and two fractions, respectively. Sperm motility in the middle fractions was thus intermediate to that in the semen and in the bottom fractions, although closer to the former in these 11 cases. The sperm freeze preservation procedure involved dilution of the semen samples and separated sperm fractions with a cryoprotective semen extender, and freezing and thawing in a conventional manner. Post-thaw percentage motility, motility score, and percentage survival were substantially higher for the separated fractions than for the parent semen. For the 24 cases, the bottom fractions yielded mean values of 57% motility, 3.0 motility score, and 70% survival, in comparison with the respective values of 20%, 2.3, and 34% for the semen. In the 11 preselected cases, the bottom fractions yielded post-thaw mean values of 60% motility, 3.3 motility score, and 72% survival; the middle fractions yielded respective values of 45%, 3.1, and 64%; and the parent semen yielded respective values of 27%, 2.3, and 41%. It was concluded that the major factor in improving post-thaw motility recovery was the separation process as a whole, rather than the degree of separation.
One-dimensional systems display new depths

The electronic properties of one-dimensional (1D) compounds are very different from those observed in higher dimensional systems. For example, in one dimension electrons cannot avoid colliding with each other, and this suggests that 1D and 3D metals may have different electron transport properties. Even purely magnetic systems – compounds in which the electrons are mostly localized near atoms and move very little – have unusual properties in 1D. Physicists have been studying 1D systems experimentally and theoretically since the early days of quantum mechanics. Their study continues to produce surprises.
Dry Development of Monolayer-Based Electron-Beam Resists

The application of a dry development process to Langmuir-Blodgett films used as electron-beam resist materials is demonstrated. This dry process involves the use of high vacuum in conjunction with heat. Good results with regard to resolution and pattern definition were obtained with vinyl tetracosanoate as the resist material. The importance of tailoring the physical properties of the monolayer material to the electron-beam exposure conditions is emphasized: A deposited film of vinyl octadecanoate melts under the conditions present in the exposure chamber, with the result that the pattern lines coalesce, leading to a poorly resolved pattern, whereas the corresponding deposited film of vinyl tetracosanoate is stable under the exposure conditions, and thus gives a well-resolved pattern.
Going Fossil Free: A Lesson in Climate Activism and Collective Responsibility

Colleges and universities already contribute significantly to the fight against climate change, but the UN has recently called upon them to do even more. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that institutions of higher education play a unique role in combatting climate change and other structural injustices, not only by conducting research and disseminating knowledge, but also by fostering a form of collective political responsibility. A philosophical analysis of different forms of collective responsibility, with specific attention to the Fossil Free divestment movement, reveals how social position facilitates this contribution more so in colleges than in other institutions.
Lean On Me: Mining Internet Service Dependencies From Large-Scale DNS Data

Most websites, services, and applications have come to rely on Internet services (e.g., DNS, CDN, email, WWW, etc.) offered by third parties. Although employing such services generally improves reliability and cost-effectiveness, it also creates dependencies on service providers, which may expose websites to additional risks, such as DDoS attacks or cascading failures. As cloud services are becoming more popular, an increasing percentage of the overall Internet ecosystem relies on a decreasing number of highly popular services. In our general effort to assess the security risk for a given entity, and motivated by the effects of recent service disruptions, we perform a large-scale analysis of passive and active DNS datasets including more than 2.5 trillion queries in order to discover the dependencies between websites and Internet services. In this paper, we present the findings of our DNS dataset analysis, and attempt to expose important insights about the ecosystem of dependencies. To further understand the nature of dependencies, we perform graph-theoretic analysis on the dependency graph and propose support power, a novel power measure that can quantify the amount of dependence websites and other services have on a particular service. Our DNS analysis findings reveal that the current service ecosystem is dominated by a handful of popular service providers---with Amazon being the leader, by far---whose popularity is steadily increasing. These findings are further supported by our graph analysis results, which also reveals a set of less-popular services that many (regional) websites depend on.
Management of Raised ICP

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) may occur in patients who have cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction with associated edema, primary or metastatic brain tumors, encephalitis, global anoxic or ischemic brain injury, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Most of the information concerning raised ICP is derived from studies on TBI; it is unclear if this information can be extrapolated to other clinical situations.
Modeling Health Benefits and Harms of Public Policy Responses to the US Opioid Epidemic.

Objectives. To estimate health outcomes of policies to mitigate the opioid epidemic.Methods. We used dynamic compartmental modeling of US adults, in various pain, opioid use, and opioid addiction health states, to project addiction-related deaths, life years, and quality-adjusted life years from 2016 to 2025 for 11 policy responses to the opioid epidemic.Results. Over 5 years, increasing naloxone availability, promoting needle exchange, expanding medication-assisted addiction treatment, and increasing psychosocial treatment increased life years and quality-adjusted life years and reduced deaths. Other policies reduced opioid prescription supply and related deaths but led some addicted prescription users to switch to heroin use, which increased heroin-related deaths. Over a longer horizon, some such policies may avert enough new addiction to outweigh the harms. No single policy is likely to substantially reduce deaths over 5 to 10 years.Conclusions. Policies focused on services for addicted people improve ...