cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crowdsourcing New Product Ideas over Time: An Analysis of the Dell IdeaStorm Community

Several organizations have developed ongoing crowdsourcing communities that repeatedly collect ideas for new products and services from a large, dispersed “crowd” of nonexperts consumers over time. Despite its promises, little is known about the nature of an individual's ideation efforts in such an online community. Studying Dell's IdeaStorm community, serial ideators are found to be more likely than consumers with only one idea to generate an idea the organization finds valuable enough to implement, but they are unlikely to repeat their early success once their ideas are implemented. As ideators with past success attempt to again come up with ideas that will excite the organization, they instead end up proposing ideas similar to their ideas that were already implemented i.e., they generate less diverse ideas. The negative effects of past success are somewhat mitigated for ideators with diverse commenting activity on others' ideas. These findings highlight some of the challenges in maintaining an ongoing supply of quality ideas from the crowd over time. This paper was accepted by Kamalini Ramdas, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Physical properties of covid-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) sputum

Introduction: COVID-19 respiratory infections are associated with copious, adherent respiratory secretions that prolong chronic ventilation and contribute to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease. To target thinning these secretions requires understanding the physical properties that contribute to these tenacious secretions. Methods: We received surrogate consent from 11 patients with COVID-19 ARDS to collect an undiluted tracheal aspirate obtained as part of routine care. All samples were frozen at-80C immediately after collection and heat inactivated at 65C for 30 minutes to render them noninfectious prior to further analyses. These were compared with sputum collected from 4 patients with Cystic Fibrosis and 15 healthy controls. Clinical phenotypes of COVID patients included ARDS severity, treatments related to sputum clearance, and patient outcomes including length of mechanical ventilation and mortality. Sputum was characterized for percent solids, double strand DNA, and hyaluronin content. Results: Sputum samples were collected from 11 patients intubated with COVID-19 ARDS, with aspirates sampled between 2-18 days into their course. 63% of patients had thick secretions described by respiratory therapy, 81% had moderate or severe ARDS, and 90% had prolonged mechanical ventilation > 14 days. We found that the physical characteristics of COVID-19 sputum are similar to CF sputum, with markedly higher percent solid, hyaluronin, and double strand DNA content than that seen in sputum from healthy controls (Figure 1). Conclusion: In this proof of concept study, we show the feasibility of measuring numerous physical characteristics of COVID-19 sputum. As expected, we found that percent solids, DNA content and hyaluronin were similar to the known thick secretions of CF, and markedly increased in comparison to sputum of healthy controls. We were unable to identify differences in outcomes in this small cohort, with collection of additional samples ongoing to improve power. Figure 1. Physical characteristics of COVID sputum are much more similar to CF than normal sputum.
Advancing bipartisan decarbonization policies: Lessons from state-level successes and failures

U.S. political polarization is at a high point since the Civil War, and is a significant barrier to coordinated national action addressing climate change. Studies of intergroup conflict suggest that collaborations pursuing shared goals can reduce polarization (while advancing the goals). In this spirit, we comprehensively review and characterize successes and failures of recent state-level decarbonization legislation, focusing on opportunities for bipartisanship. We analyze 381 major state-government-enacted bills and 374 failed bills from 2015-2020, as well as the political contexts in which they were passed or defeated. We use bivariate analyses and regressions to explore correlations and partial correlations between the policy characteristics and political contexts of bills, and: their passage or failure, their bipartisanship, and vote shares they received. Key results include: (i) Nearly one third of these state-level decarbonization bills were passed by Republican-controlled governments. (ii) Bipartisan or Republican co-sponsors disproportionately passed voluntary Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, financial incentives for renewable energy, and legislation that expands consumer or business choices in context of decarbonization goals; Democrat-only sponsors disproportionately passed mandatory Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standards (REEPS) and emissions standards. (iii) Bills proposed in ‘purple’ states, and those lacking environmental justice components framed using academic social-justice jargon or non-neutrally with respect to immutable characteristics such as race, were disproportionately enacted and bipartisan. Bills that expand consumer or business choice were also enacted more often than those that restrict choice. Though climate change is a polarized issue, our results provide tangible insights for future bipartisan successes.
Child Health and Public Policy

At one time in our history, children were very important. Were it not for the labor they contributed, many families would not have risen above penury. To a considerable extent, we owe the success of our national growth over the first century of our nation to the children. We “rewarded“ them with a system of public education that, with all of its problems, is still a model for most of the world [4].
Regulation of the mitochondrial Na+Ca2+ antiport by matrix pH

Abstract The effect of matrix pH (pH i ) on the activity of the mitochondrial Na + Ca 2+ antiport has been studied using the fluorescence of SNARF-1 to monitor pH i and Na + -dependent efflux of accumulated Ca 2+ to follow antiport activity. Heart mitochondria respiring in a KCl medium maintain a large ΔpH (interior alkaline) and show optimal Na + Ca 2+ antiport only when the pH of the medium (pH 0 ) is acid. Addition of nigericin to these mitochondria decreases ΔpH and increases the membrane potential (Δψ). Nigericin strongly activates Na + Ca 2+ antiport at values of pH 0 near 7.4 but inhibits antiport activity at acid pH 0 . When pH i is evaluated in these protocols, a sharp optimum in Na + Ca 2+ antiport activity is seen near pH i 7.6 in the presence or absence of nigericin. Activity falls off rapidly at more alkaline values of pH i . The effects of nigericin on Na + Ca 2+ antiport are duplicated by 20 m m acetate and by 3 m m phosphate. In each case the optimum rate of Na + Ca 2+ antiport is obtained at pH i 7.5 to 7.6 and changes in antiport activity do not correlate with changes in components of the driving force of the reaction (i.e., Δψ, ΔpH, or the steady-state Na + gradient). It is concluded that the Na + Ca 2+ antiport of heart mitochondria is very sensitive to matrix [H + ] and that changes in pH i may contribute to the regulation of matrix Ca 2+ levels.
Chemistry of Bayer Liquor Causticisation

High lime efficiencies and low alumina losses can be achieved when an unslaked slow slaking lime is charged as a causticisant to relatively high concentration green liquors.
Studying the role of spike timing in ensembles of neurons

The aim of this project is to study how ensembles of neurons in the rat somatosensory cortex integrate the temporal precision of the spikes and the spatial precision of the anatomical connections into sophisticated strategies of neural coding. This paper brings together the main results we obtained so far. We first developed a simple and efficient method - the PSTH-based classifier - to decode somatosensory information using ensembles of single neurons (Foffani and Moxon, J Neurosci Methods 2004). We then applied the new method to study the role of spike timing as a general property of the rat primary somatosensory cortex (Foffani, Tutunculer, Moxon, J Neurosci 2004). We conclude that the somatosensory system not only translates spatial information from the body into somatotopic responses in the brain, but also transforms this spatial information into spike timing precision
A FUEL INJECTION TRANSDUCER AND CONTROLLER

A fuel injection meter and controller has been developed which (1) measures the instantaneous injection rate and the total mass of fuel injected, and (2) controls the mass of fuel injected and injection pressure. The injection rate is computed from instantaneous measurements of the velocity of a pumping plunger and the pressure of fuel injection. A mathematical model of the meter and controller was developed to further the understanding of various design and operating parameters on the injection rate. Compressibility of the fuel is accounted for. Good agreement is realized between numerically computed injection pressure and rate histories with corresponding experimental results.
Effects of ventricular premature contractions on atrioventricular conduction. Studies with His bundle electrography.

The effect of ventricular premature contractions on atrioventricular (A–V) conduction of the following sinus beat was studied in 25 patients with use of His bundle electrography. Facilitation of A–V conduction (shortening of the A–H interval) in the postextrasystolic beat was observed in 17 patients. This facilitation was believed to be due to a longer recovery period of the A–V node after its premature retrograde (and frequently concealed) depolarization by the ventricular premature contraction. Slowing of A–V conduction (prolongation of the A–H interval) after interpolated or repetitive ventricular premature contractions occurred in five patients. In these instances, after retrograde depolarization by the ventricular premature contraction, the A–V node was still partially refractory and conduction of the postextrasystolic beat was delayed. Retrograde P waves without resetting of the A–V node were documented; in these cases, the interval after the retrograde P wave was fully compensatory, suggesting retrograde and antegrade sinoatrial block.
The Capital Jury and Absolution: The Intersection of Trial Strategy, Remorse and the Death Penalty

One of the primary reasons, often the major reason, that jurors give for voting for a sentence of death is the defendant's lack of remorse. Indeed, death jurors frequently comment that if the defendant had shown some sign that he was sorry they never could have voted for death. The unsurprising conclusion emerges that a defendant's remorselessness is a significant factor in the jury's decision to sentence someone to death. The surprise comes when life jurors are also included in the mix. For when they are questioned about the defendant's remorsefulness, they too by and large believe that their defendant was not sorry for what he had done. How capital jurors use the defendant's degree of remorse, therefore, presents a bit of a puzzle: why is the defendant's lack of remorse such a signficant factor for death jurors and yet appears to play a much more minor role in the decision of the life jurors. The answer appears to lie primarily in the trial strategy pursued by the defendant. In the death cases, the defendant's trial posture largely was one of a "denial defense" -- denying any responsibility for the killing, arguing, for instance, that the state had not proven him to be the killer beyond a reasonable doubt. The life cases, on the other hand, usually involved defendants who acknowledged responsibility for the killing but argued that the killing was unintentional, done in self-defense, or some other "admission defense." This difference in trial strategy at the guilt stage appeared to have a very significant impact on willing the jurors were to give credence to the defendant's mitigating evidence at the penalty phase. The findings are based on interviews with 150 California jurors that were done as part of the Capital Jury Project being funded by the National Science Foundation.
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase IV Suppresses IL-2 Production and Regulatory T Cell Activity in Lupus

The activity of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMK4) is increased in T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and has been shown to reduce IL-2 production by promoting the effect of the transcriptional repressor cAMP responsive element modulator-α on the IL2 promoter. In this article, we demonstrate that T cells from MRL/lpr mice display increased levels of CaMK4 in the nucleus, and that genetic deletion of Camk4 results in improved survival. We demonstrate that absence of CaMK4 restores IL-2 production, curbs increased T cell activation, and augments the number and activity of regulatory T cells. Analogously, silencing of CaMK4 in T cells from patients with SLE increases the expression of FoxP3 on stimulation in the presence of TGF-β. Our results demonstrate the importance of the serine/threonine kinase CaMK4 in the generation and function of regulatory T cells in patients with SLE and lupus-prone mice, and its potential to serve as a therapeutic target.
Non-contact THz probes for on-chip device and IC characterization

We propose a contactless characterization approach for evaluating semiconductor devices and integrated circuits that operate in the THz regime (0.1-3 THz). The non-contact probe consists of on-chip receiving and transmitting THz antennas in a co-planar waveguide environment. Commercially available frequency extension modules with horn antennas are used in conjunction with microwave vector network analyzers to excite the proposed non-contact probe. A hemispherical lens couples the signals into device under test using the on-chip antennas. We discuss the calibration process and present the numerical evaluation of two non-contact probe schemes.
Special issue: spinal cord regeneration and repair.

…… We may thus infer from what has been said that, in man as in laboratory animals, the regenerative act commences, and may even attain a certain strength, on condition that the traumatic commotion be sufficient to stir the axons out of their lethargy……As is known, this tendency to restoration is frustrated by two negative conditions (1) the lack of substances able to sustain and invigorate the indolent and scanty growth of the sprouts; (2) the absence in the paths or systems of interrupted nerve fibres of catalytic agents capable of attracting and directing the axonic current to its destination. ……if experimental neurology is someday to supply artificially the deficiencies in question, it must accomplish these two objects: it must give to the sprouts, by means of adequate alimentation, a vigorous capacity for growth; and place in front of the disoriented nerve cones……specific orienting substances. (Cajal, 1928) What is perhaps most remarkable about this quote from Ramon y Cajal is that he recognized so early on that regenerative failure was a multifaceted problem and that, because of this, a combinatorial approach would be needed to stimulate regeneration or sprouting to a purposeful end. Some of the conditions essential for promoting regeneration, he thought, would be “almost impossible to satisfy” but the situation was not hopeless. With these thoughts, Cajal introduced and reviewed the classic experiments of his student Francisco Tello, who first documented the successful use of pre-degenerated, peripheral nerve grafts to stimulate, at least transiently, axonal regeneration of fully adult CNS axons. After nearly a century, we have come to appreciate the many particular intrinsic and extrinsic cellular and molecular limitations that occur following CNS injury to which Cajal was referring. Considering the addition of our more modern discovery that there exists a plethora of growth inhibitory molecules that actively block regeneration, and which also need to be mitigated, the question remains whether we have at hand so fundamental an understanding of the many contributors to regeneration failure that we are now in a position to devise strategies with which to move more rapidly toward a clinically efficacious therapy. The use of combinatorial tactics to promote functional regeneration has now become a major theme of modern regeneration biologists and this will be echoed throughout the various reviews and original research papers that appear within this special issue. It was my goal in choosing the various topics for discussion that they address a broad spectrum of critical, albeit sometimes controversial, issues related to regeneration, sprouting and rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. Taken in total, I hope that the readers of this compendium come to appreciate that we are, indeed, entering an era where strategies for providing functional benefit in animal models of spinal cord injury are sufficiently robust that there should be optimism for translational success.
Determination of Macromolecular Structures from Anomalous Diffraction of Synchrotron Radiation

Resonance between beams of x-ray waves and electronic transitions from bound atomic orbitals leads to a phenomenon known as anomalous scattering. This effect can be exploited in x-ray crystallographic studies on biological macromolecules by making diffraction measurements at selected wavelengths associated with a particular resonant transition. In this manner the problem of determining the three-dimensional structure of thousands of atoms is reduced to that of initially solving for a few anomalous scattering centers that can then be used as a reference for developing the entire structure. This method of multiwavelength anomalous diffraction has now been applied in a number of structure determinations. Optimal experiments require appropriate synchrotron instrumentation, careful experimental design, and sophisticated analytical procedures. There are rich opportunities for future applications.
Internal reproductive system in adult males of the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae)

Descriptions are provided of the histology and ultrastructure of the male internal reproductive tracts from three species of Camponotus, representing three subgenera. This study is the first to provide ultrastructural information on the testes (including spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis), seminal vesicles, and accessory glands in ants. Testes contain about ten follicles each, and each follicle is capable of producing hundreds of cysts in which spermatozoa develop. Structural evidence of meiosis in late pupal testes includes cytoplasmic bridges between spermatocytes, centriole elimination, and fusion of mitochondria. Developing spermatids are in close contact with cyst cells in the region of the acrosome. Mature spermatozoa are similar in ultrastructure to those described previously for two other subfamilies of ants (Myrmicinae and Dolichoderinae). The ultrastructure of the seminal vesicle suggests that it is not merely a passive organ for sperm storage. Large numbers of both mitochondria and membranous whorls suggest a pH-regulating and/or hormonal function. The accessory gland is made up of secretory cells that contain a diversity of secretory granules. SDS-PAGE reveals several proteins found in the accessory glands but absent in the adjacent genitalia. Preliminary analyses indicate that carbohydrate is an important component of accessory gland secretions.
Etanercept for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Etanercept is a fully human soluble recombinant p75 TNF receptor that blocks the binding of TNF to cell surface receptors, thereby neutralizing its biologic activity. Data supporting the FDA's approval of etanercept for controlling signs and symptoms and for inhibiting XRAY progression of psoriatic arthritis will be presented. Data supporting the FDA filing of etanercept for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis will also be presented. Long term safety data of etanercept in the over 231,000 adults and children with rheumatoid arthritis who have been treated worldwide will be briefly summarized.
Genetics of cardiac repolarization

Prolongation of the electrocardiographic QT interval, a measure of cardiac repolarization, is associated with arrhythmogenic disorders and is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death. Two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of variation in the QT interval in population-based cohorts now report association with variants in a subset of ion channel genes and other new associations.
Molecular Cloning and Antiserum Development of Cyclin Box in the Brown Tide Alga Aureococcus anophagefferens

Cyclins can be useful cell cycle markers for growth rate studies on harmful algal blooms. In this study, a gene fragment corresponding to cyclin box was cloned for the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens. This algal gene fragment, designated as Btcycl1, was most similar to cyclin B. Oligopeptides based on the deduced amino acid sequence were synthesized and used to raise an antiserum that reacted on Western blots with a protein of about 63 kDa, the same size as cyclin B in other organisms. The cyclin B–like protein recognized by this antiserum, and the messenger RNA amplified using the primers, were more abundant in exponential cultures and decreased markedly in stationary cultures. This protein also appeared to be cell cycle dependent. Immunofluorescence labeling showed that this antiserum specifically stained a protein in Aureococcus cells and had no cross-reaction with bacteria that were present in the algal culture. The Btcycl1 sequence and the antiserum will provide a useful tool for studies on regulation of in situ growth rate for this brown tide alga.
Reactivation of the maternally imprinted IGF2 allele in TGFα induced hepatocellular carcinomas in mice

The Insulin like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene is expressed in several types of tumors in humans and mice and has been implicated as an important growth factor in tumor progression. IGF2 expression in the TGF alpha transgenic mice was analysed in liver and tumors from animals which also contained one or two functional IGF2 alleles. In a two by two mating experiment using transgenic mice containing either a TGF alpha transgene or a IGF2 gene knockout, we have investigated whether IGF2 imprinting is reversed during hepatocarcinogenesis and the consequences of IGF2 expression for tumor growth. We observed that: (1) 100% of the hepatocellular carcinomas expressed IGF2 (2) the normally imprinted maternal allele is active in the tumors in which the paternal allele is knocked out and (3) all three of the murine IGF2 promoters upstream of the reactivated maternal alleles are transcriptionally active in tumors. We also observed that the total tumor burden of animals with two wild type IGF-2 alleles (paternal and maternal) was the same as the tumor burden in animals which contained only a single reactivated maternal allele. The 100% incidence of reactivation of the imprinted maternal allele suggests that IGF2 expression is selected during murine hepatocarcinogenesis and can substitute for the paternal allele when it is inactivated.
GoSlow: designing for slowness, reflection and solitude

We are surrounded by technologies that fuel a fast-paced, at-the-moment, connected life. In contrast, GoSlow is a mobile application designed to help users slow down, contemplate, and be alone. Through serendipWe are surrounded by technologies that fuel a fast-paced, at-the-moment, connected life. In contrast, GoSlow is a mobile application designed to help users slow down, contemplate, and be alone. Through serendipitous moments of pause and reflection, GoSlow offers simple ways for users to cut back and relax, provides an outlet for contemplation and reminiscence, and helps them disconnect and get away. Our user study reveals that GoSlow encourages introspective reflection, slowing down, and can help reduce stress with minimal intervention.itous moments of pause and reflection, GoSlow offers simple ways for users to cut back and relax, provides an outlet for contemplation and reminiscence, and helps them disconnect and get away. Our user study reveals that GoSlow encourages introspective reflection, slowing down, and can help reduce stress with minimal intervention.
Joint kinematics via three-dimensional MR imaging

ABSTRACT The methodology reported here enables us to mathematically model and quantify the motion of each component bone, relative motion of bones, the contact surface of bones and their change during motion for complex joints, from a timesequence of MR image volumes. Additionally, since we model the bone surfaces, we are able to display in vivo joint motion. Through a variety of new rendering techniques we are able to create realistic displays of bones from MR imagesand to combine these displays with the motion parameters. 1. INTRODUCTION Study of joint motion through imaging has been traditionally done via radiographic projection imaging techniques, often using multiple planes of projection1 . These techniques cannot adequately capture the true three-dimensional motionexcept when the motion itself is planar and the plane of projection is parallel to the plane of motion. Even when the lattercondition is satisfied, if there are multiple objects, this motion cannot be determined satisfactorily due to overlap and possiblydifferent objects moving in different planes. Markers of various sorts (balls, pins, etc.) attached to bones invasively have
prdm1a Regulates sox10 and islet1 in the development of neural crest and Rohon-Beard sensory neurons

The PR domain containing 1a, with ZNF domain factor, gene (prdm1a) plays an integral role in the development of a number of different cell types during vertebrate embryogenesis, including neural crest cells, Rohon-Beard (RB) sensory neurons and the cranial neural crest-derived craniofacial skeletal elements. To better understand how Prdm1a regulates the development of various cell types in zebrafish, we performed a microarray analysis comparing wild type and prdm1a mutant embryos and identified a number of genes with altered expression in the absence of prdm1a. Rescue analysis determined that two of these, sox10 and islet1, lie downstream of Prdm1a in the development of neural crest cells and RB neurons, respectively. In addition, we identified a number of other novel downstream targets of Prdm1a that may be important for the development of diverse tissues during zebrafish embryogenesis. genesis 48:656–666, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Extraordinary Hall effect in Kondo-type systems: Contributions from anomalous velocity.

Kondo systems exhibit a relatively large extraordinary Hall effect which is due to asymmetric resonant scattering of conduction electrons. Theories based on the skew scattering mechanism account for data at high temperatures T>T/sub K/ (the Kondo temperature) but are unable to explain the very-low-temperature variation of the Hall constant observed in heavy-fermion compounds. Aside from the ordinary Hall effect, caused by the Lorentz force and skew scattering (which makes the scattering probability antisymmetric with respect to interchange of scattering vectors), there exists an additional contribution to the Hall effect known as the anomalous-velocity contribution. This contribution is due to a change in the expression for the current operator in the presence of spin-orbit forces. We derive an expression for the anomalous velocity in terms of the T matrices describing conduction-electron scattering; it is not limited to weak spin-orbit scattering as were previous results. We use the Anderson model of local moments in metals to write this scattering in terms of the mixing interaction between local and conduction electrons, and the local state's Green's function. The transverse Hall current due to anomalous velocity is determined and evaluated in two limits. At high temperature, we use the weak-coupling form of the localmore » state's Green's function; at T = 0 K a phase-shift analysis is used, and we rely on the Friedel-Langreth sum rule to give us the phase shift at the Fermi surface. At high temperatures we find that the contribution from anomalous velocity to the Hall constant is quite small compared to that from skew scattering. On the contrary, at low temperatures the anomalous velocity makes the dominant contribution to the Hall constant in Kondo systems.« less
A Descending Lot-Bekesy Screening Test for Functional Hearing Loss

This study investigated the screening efficiency of a descending version of Hattler's Lengthened Off-time (LOT) Bekesy test. The Descending LOT (DELOT) test was administered to 24 subjects who pres...
Wiskott-Aldrich protein (WASP) is important for NFAT and AP1 activation

Abstract Rationale The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a severe imunodeficiency caused by mutation in the WASP gene. T-cells from WAS patients and WASP deficient (-/-) mice are unable to proliferate or secrete IL-2 after antiCD3 stimulation. The IL-2 promoter is activated by NF-AT, AP1 and NF-kB. To investigate the role of WASP in the activation of these transcription factors, we analyzed their expression in splenocytes from WASP-/- mice and wild type (WT) controls. Methods WASP-/- and WT splenocytes were stimulated with antiCD3+antiCD28. Nuclear extracts (NE) were analyzed for the presence of transcription factors by electro-mobility shift assay (EMSA). c-fos and c-Jun mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR. Cytosolic fraction (CF) and NE were analyzed by Western Blot (WB) for NF-ATp protein. Results EMSA showed that stimulation caused an increase in AP-1 and NFAT activity in WT but not in WASP-/- NE. However, NFkB activity was increased in both WT and WASP-/- NE. PCR analysis showed a 2.5 fold induction of c-jun mRNA in WASP-/- NE following stimulation compared to 6-fold induction in WT cells. No induction of c-fos mRNA was observed in WASP-/- cells compared to 8-fold increase in WT cells. WB analysis of CF and NE of WASP-/- and WT cells showed the same level of NFATp in CF, but a markedly reduced level in the NE of WASP-/- cells Conclusions This study suggests that NFAT nuclear translocation and AP-1 induction following TCR/CD28 ligation are impaired in WASP-/- T-cells. This may explain the inability of these cells to produce IL2 after TCR-ligation.
Modular Assembly and Air-Stable Electrochemistry of Ruthenium Porphyrin Monolayers

Two approaches are presented to the modular construction of alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces selectively decorated with metalloporphyrins. In the first approach, a isonicotinate ligand is incorporated into the SAM via deposition from a two-component solution. In the second approach, a pyridine or imidazole ligand is attached to the SAM after self-assembly via carbodiimide-induced amide linkages to terminal carboxylates. Subsequent derivatization of monolayers formed in either of these ways with metalloporphyrins of the type Ru(POR)(CH 3 CN) 2 , where POR = octaethylporphyrin or mesotetratoluylporphyrin, creates apically bound metalloporphyrins that exhibit sharp, stable cyclic voltammetric features in methylene chloride or water under ambient atmosphere. The presence of hexafluorophosphate in the supporting electrolyte is critical in evincing near-ideal electrochemistry. While the identity of the distal axial ligand under ambient atmosphere is unknown, this ligand can be readily and irreversibly exchanged with pyridine or other heterocyclic nitrogen donors. These approaches can be used to create previously unavailable asymmetrically substituted metalloporphyrins which can function as templates for additional modular modification of the monolayer/solution interface.
Mutual coupling between orthogonal electrically small dipole antennas

In some applications, it may be desirable and/or necessary to closely locate (spacing <<λ) multiple electrically small antennas. In an effort to reduce mutual coupling, small antennas are often oriented such that their isolated far-electric and magnetic fields are orthogonal. In this paper, we examine the mutual coupling between co-located and closely spaced orthogonal small dipole antennas. We illustrate that if small regions of the dipoles are not orthogonal, particularly near their feedpoints, the mutual coupling can be very high and under appropriate load conditions can approach 0 dB. We illustrate how the mutual coupling between the dipoles varies as a function of the dipoles' electrical size and load impedance. Finally, we show that making the electrically small dipoles self-resonant significantly reduces or eliminates the mutual coupling between them.
Linear singularities and structures in superfluid 3 He-A

Making use of a technique developed by Hu, Kumar, and Maki, we calculate the energies associated with linear singularities, such as vortex lines and disgyrations, and linear structures, such as the Mermin-Ho (MH) and Anderson-Toulouse (AT) structures in superfluid3He-A. The results are used to analyze the most favorable textures in the spherical geometry and in a rotating system.
Effects of Sulfur on the Photosynthesis of Intact Leaves and Isolated Chloroplasts of Sugar Beets

Effects of sulfur on photosynthesis in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L. cv. F58-554H1) were studied by inducing sulfur deficiency and determining changes in the photosynthesis of whole attached leaves and of isolated chloroplasts. The rates of photosynthetic CO2 uptake by intact leaves, photoreduction of ferricyanide, cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation of isolated chloroplasts, and the rate of CO2 assimilation by ribulose diphosphate carboxylase, decreased with decrease in total leaf sulfur from 2500 to about 500 μg g−1 dry weight. Sulfur deficiency reduced photosynthesis through an effect on chlorophyll content, which decreased linearly with leaf sulfur, and by decreasing the rate of photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll. There was only a small effect of sulfur deficiency on stomatal diffusion resistance to CO2 until leaf sulfur decreased below 1000 μg g−1 when stomatal resistance became a more significant proportion of the total diffusion resistance to CO2. Light respiration rates were positively correlated with photosynthesis rates and dark respiration was unchanged as leaf sulfur concentrations declined.
Concept and Action in Adult Education.

Jurgen Habermas' theory of communicative competence suggests a rationale for the ideal of self-directed learning and for a formulation of the mission of adult education. Topics covered in this essay include the functions of an ideal dialogue, essential conditions for establishing the validity of assertions, the role of external and internal restraints on understanding, the function of reflective thought and meaning perspective in dialogic learning, and false consciousness and its relationship to learner needs and interests. Selected implications are drawn for adult education.
Superconducting transmission cables

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) in 1986-1988 rekindled interest in superconducting power transmission cables. Many projects are underway around the world to study the use of HTS power transmission cables. The siting and environmental issues facing the expansion of transmission capacity have become increasingly more difficult with time. The HTS power cable may be able to address some of these issues, especially in urban areas, where HTS retrofits of existing conventional cables can increase capacity substantially without increasing the footprint of the cable right of way. Several of the cable projects employing HTS are discussed in this article.
Efficiency of Aluminized Gratings in the Spectral Range 555 to 1600 Å

The percent of the incident radiant flux which is returned into the several orders has been measured for two aluminized gratings both as a function of wavelength and as a function of position on the grating surface. The effects of blaze angle and the reflectance of aluminum on the efficiency of the grating are discussed.
Hyperelliptic curves with reduced automorphism group A 5

We study genus g hyperelliptic curves with reduced automorphism group A 5 and give equations y 2 = f(x) for such curves in both cases where f(x) is a decomposable polynomial in x 2 or x 5. For any fixed genus the locus of such curves is a rational variety. We show that for every point in this locus the field of moduli is a field of definition. Moreover, there exists a rational model y 2 = F(x) or y 2 = x F(x) of the curve over its field of moduli where F(x) can be chosen to be decomposable in x 2 or x 5. While similar equations have been given in (Bujalance et al. in Mm. Soc. Math. Fr. No. 86, 2001) over $${\mathbb R}$$, this is the first time that these equations are given over the field of moduli of the curve.
Program Specific Reports: Friend or Foe? —The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient Program Specific Reports

Both the OPTN and CMS evaluate transplant center performance status. Since 2000, publicly available SRTR generated program specific reports (PSRs) are used to identify, or flag, programs that may be performing below expectations. The intended use of PSRs is to focus attention on centers requiring greater scrutiny to aid in the efforts to identify those programs where transplant outcomes can be improved, ultimately optimizing national transplant outcomes. However, the consequences to a transplant program of being flagged, even when the program is not found to be underperforming upon further review, are significant. Therefore the ability of PSRs to accurately identify underperforming programs is of paramount importance. Additionally, unintended consequences of the PSRs have been identified. As a result PSRs themselves have come under greater scrutiny in recent years. Below is a review of our current understanding regarding PSR use and the impact it has had on organ transplantation in the USA.
Calculation of bounds to dispersion energies

Abstract Starting from the formulation of Lindner and Lowdin, a method is derived for calculating upper and lower bounds to the dispersion energies of atoms in their ground and excited states. Applications to hydrogen atom - rare gas atom systems are presented.
High‐frequency estimation of rainfall from thunderstorms via satellite infrared and a long‐range lightning network in Europe

A rain retrieval technique called Omvrios, that combines geostationary satellite infrared (IR) observations and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning information retrieved from a long-range lightning detection network (Zeus) in Europe, is presented. Cloud systems are defined in the IR temperature array by the 255 K isotherm. Bulk parametrizations that relate cloud top IR temperature, morphological characteristics and CG lightning information (location and flash rate) are used to discriminate rainy from non-rainy cloud systems, and to evaluate the convective and stratiform rain areas and associated area-averaged rain rates of the rainy systems. The technique's parameters were calibrated using collocated and instantaneous rain fields derived from Special Sensor Micro-wave/Imager passive microwave data. Retrieved rain estimates are aggregated to 0.1° grid resolution and 6 h temporal accumulation. The technique is validated during the warm season from May to August 2002, based on independent 6 h rain accumulation measurements from a network of 700 rain-gauges located across Europe. Statistical analysis shows high correlation with gauge rainfall data (0.88) and low overall systematic difference (∼5%). Besides direct validation against rain-gauge data, Omvrios has been compared to existing passive microwave-calibrated IR rain-retrieval techniques. It is shown that lightning information can lead to a significant (25–40%) reduction in the random error of IR retrievals and to an increase of nearly 0.3 in correlation with gauges. In terms of systematic differences (retrieval bias) Omvrios is shown to be consistent, as conditional and unconditional biases are nearly equal (within 5%), while for the other IR rain retrievals the variation between conditional and unconditional biases was significant (34–75%). Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
Strength comparison of four techniques to secure implant attachment housings to complete dentures.

Statement of problem Implant overdentures become thinner and weaker after direct transfer of implant attachment housings. While much has been published on denture repair, these data do not directly apply to implant overdentures because the introduction of a metal housing changes the character of the repair. It is desirable to make a strong repair to avoid prosthesis fracture. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the flexural strengths of 4 different methods for chairside direct transfer of implant attachment housings. Material and methods Eighty 11.5 × 9.1 × 39 mm heat-polymerized acrylic resin blocks were processed, assessed for porosities, and polished. An 8.5 mm diameter hole was drilled to a depth of 5 mm in the center of each block. Attachment housings were set into the bases with 4 different repair materials: autopolymerized acrylic resin (APAR), light-polymerized acrylic resin (LPAR), autopolymerized acrylic resin with silanated attachment housings (APSAH), and light-polymerized acrylic resin with silanated attachment housings (LPSAH). Blocks were immersed in water for 30 days in an incubator. A 3-point bend test was done in a universal testing machine, and load to fracture was recorded (MPa). Results were compared with 2-way ANOVA (α=.05). Results APSAH had the highest mean flexural strength at fracture (863.1 ±87 MPa) as compared to APAR (678.4 ±72.4 MPa), LPAR (550.9 ±119.3 MPa), and LPSAH (543.2 ±100.8 MPa). A comparison among the 4 groups showed that there were significant differences in maximum flexural strength ( P Conclusions The flexural strength of autopolymerized acrylic resin with silanated attachment housings was significantly higher than autopolymerized acrylic resin alone, light-polymerized acrylic resin alone, or light-polymerized acrylic resin with silanated attachment housings. Autopolymerized acrylic resin produced stronger constructs than light-polymerized materials.
Blast wave impingement on a slender wedge moving at hypersonic speeds.

References 1 Harris, L. P. and Cobine, J. D., "The significance of the Hall effect in three MHD generator configurations," American Society of Mechanical Engineers 60-WA-329 (1960). 2 Hurwitz, H., Kilb, R. W., and Sutton, G. W., "Influence of tensor conductivity on current distribution in a MHD generator," J. Appl. Phys. 32, 205-216 (1961). 3 Crown, J. C., "Analysis of magnetogasdynamic generators having segmented electrodes and anisotropic conductivity,' United Aircraft Corp. Rept. R-1852-2 (1961). 4 Schultz-Grunow, F. and Denzel, D. L., "Calculation of the electric characteristics of an MHD generator with finite electrodes by conformal mapping under full consideration of tensor conductivity and a velocity profile," Second International Symposium on MHD Electrical Power Generation (European Nuclear Energy Agency and Organization for Economic Cooperation, Paris, 1964), pp. 661-676. 5 Celinski, Z. N. and Fischer, F. W., "Two-dimensional analysis of MHD generators with segmented electrodes," Institut fur Plasmaphysik, Garching, Germany, Rept. IPP 3/26 (1965). 6 Hoffman, M. A. and Gates, G. C., "Electrode current distribution in linear M. G. D. channel flows," Sixth Symposium on Engineering Aspects of Magnetohydrodynamics (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1965), p. 34. 7 Witalis, E. A., "Analysis of linear MHD power generators," Aktiebolaget Atomenergi, Stockholm, Sweden, AE-175 (1965).
Alpha1-adrenergic and muscarinic-cholinergic stimulated inositol trisphosphate production may proceed through different post-receptor signal transduction pathways in parotid acini

Maximal stimulation of inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) production by epinephrine and carbachol in rat parotid cell aggregates is additive when the two agents are employed simultaneously. The additive response proceeds through both the alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic-cholinergic signal transduction pathways. It is critical that IP3 be measured by a radioreceptor assay, since when cells are labeled with 3H-inositol and IP3 determined by ion exchange chromatography, additivity is not detectable. Reasons for the discrepancy between methods are discussed. These results, coupled with the differential sensitivity of the alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic pathways to neomycin and aging, suggest that they may be dissociated at the post-receptor level.
The Size of Research and Engineering Teams

This paper discusses the very common problem of overstaffing in a large development engineering effort. A number of the technical, organizational, and psychological problems that lead to inefficiency in the engineering effort are discussed. It is shown that because of this variation of efficiency with size, the ``usual'' man-hour estimate may be meaningless. In fact, it is asserted that an increase in staff may actually lead to an increase in total time for accomplishing a development engineering effort. Finally, it is pointed out that the usual mechanisms for estimating efforts of new assignments may automatically perpetuate or even intensify an overstaffing problem.
Determining the number of factors to retain: Q windows-based FORTRAN-IMSL program for parallel analysis

Parallel analysis (PA; Horn, 1965) is a technique for determining the number of factors to retain in exploratory factor analysis that has been shown to be superior to more widely known methods (Zwick & Velicer, 1986). Despite its merits, PA is not widely used in the psychological literature, probably because the method is unfamiliar and because modern, Windows-compatible software to perform PA is unavailable. We provide a FORTRAN-IMSL program for PA that runs on a PC under Windows; it is interactive and designed to suit the range of problems encountered in most psychological research. Furthermore, we provide sample output from the PA program in the form of tabled values that can be used to verify the program operation; or, they can be used either directly or with interpolation to meet specific needs of the researcher.
Isotropic-Nematic Phase Transition in Liquid Crystals

The molecular-field description of the isotropic-nematic phase transition in liquid crystals is investigated. It is found that the effects of fluctuations may be observable, and the first corrections due to fluctuations to the light scattering and magnetic birefringence in the isotropic phase are determined. The effects of applied fields on the phase transition are investigated. It is found that if the molecules prefer to line up transverse to an applied field there is a critical field above which the phase transition is second order.