cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of Salmonella enterica and spoilage microorganisms in orange juice treated with dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC)

Abstract Salmonella enterica is the pertinent pathogen associated with orange juice products that have resulted in numerous foodborne outbreaks. Although fresh orange juice typically has a pH below 4.0, which inhibits most pathogen growth, S. enterica can survive at low pH for extended periods. Additionally, fresh juice contains spoilage microorganisms such as natural yeasts and molds, which can grow at low pH, and may cause fermentation and product spoilage if left untreated. Numerous Salmonella outbreaks linked to fresh orange juice, as well as the burden of product spoilage, have generated increased demand for alternative, non-thermal treatments that can ensure pathogen- and spoilage-free products. In this study, the effect of dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) on pathogen and spoilage microorganism inactivation in orange juice has been investigated with two experiments. First, pasteurized orange juice was inoculated with approximately 106–107 CFU/ml of five serotypes of S. enterica per ml and treated with DMDC to test the effectiveness of inactivation against Salmonella. For the fungal spoilage microorganism study, fresh orange juice was held at room temperature to increase natural yeast and mold count to roughly 105–106 CFU/ml, followed with treatment with DMDC. DMDC at two concentrations (172 and 200 ppm) was used, and the tests were carried out at ambient (21 °C ± 3 °C) and refrigeration (4 °C) temperatures. There was a >5-log reduction of Salmonella at 4 °C after 24 h at both 172 and 200 ppm of DMDC. For the treatment of fungal spoilage microorganisms, a nearly 5 and 4 log reduction of yeasts and molds was observed at ambient temperature and 4 °C, respectively. These results suggest that DMDC is most effective for use under the 4 °C holding conditions to inactivate S. enterica, and should be coupled with an additional preservative system for fungal spoilage control to produce safe orange juice that retains fresh quality.
How Can We Improve Our Capabilities

Discussion about cybersecurity often focuses on observed risk dimensions or associated control strategies devised in response to observed risks. However, optimizing enterprise cybersecurity risk reduction is a more general capability essential to minimizing cybersecurity risk. McKinsey and Company have described organizational capability as “anything an organization does well that drives meaningful business results.” Ideally, recognized strategic priorities, such as cybersecurity risk reduction, should be supported with organizational capabilities and appropriate actions taken to create and continuously develop capabilities aligned with such strategic priorities. A valuable contribution of independent observers such as McKinsey has been to notice that this alignment is sometimes lacking.1 As described in Chapter 7, such alignment can be achieved with an architectural view that describes a comprehensive, largely top-down approach intended to drive the organization toward enterprise cybersecurity decisions that are consistent with organizational goals. An architecture view strengthens communication on strategy and informs the selection of the “right” things to do, with respect to identification and execution of projects to build desired capabilities. Although successful project execution provides verification that plans for security measures have been accomplished, there is recognition of the need for more substantive validation that security architecture achieves security goals. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) characterizes this distinction as correctness versus effectiveness.2 From an architecture perspective, verification is the determination that a system is “built right,” while validation determines that the “right system was built.”3 The validation question is meant to assist in the determination that the resulting architecture does what we intended it to do. In other words, it is how we know that our capabilities actually accomplished our goals for reducing risk. It is how we can be sure they drive meaningful results in the organization. It is how we continuously monitor and develop our capabilities for continuous improvement and respond to emerging threats. In short, we need to “get real,” so to speak, in our planning as well as in our execution. Cybersecurity is not a domain that tolerates theoretical attribution based on a project plan; enterprise capabilities are only relevant when applied to real-world conditions.
Synthesis and Evaluation of pH-Sensitive Multifunctional Lipids for Efficient Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 in Gene Editing

CRISPR/Cas9 system is a promising approach for gene editing in gene therapy. Effective gene editing requires safe and efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system in target cells. Several new multifunctional pH-sensitive amino lipids were designed and synthesized with modification of the amino head groups for intracellular delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system. These multifunctional pH-sensitive amino lipids exhibited structurally dependent formulation of stable nanoparticles with the DNA plasmids of CRISPR/Cas9 system with the sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm. The amino lipid plasmid DNA nanoparticles showed pH-sensitive hemolysis with minimal hemolytic activity at pH 7.4 and increased hemolysis at acidic pH (pH = 5.5, 6.5). The nanoparticles exhibited low cytotoxicity at an N/P ratio of 10. Expression of both Cas9 and sgRNA of the CRISPR/Cas9 system was in the range from 4.4% to 33%, dependent on the lipid structure in NIH3T3-GFP cells. The amino lipids that formed stable nanoparticles with high expression of both...
TEAM BASED CARE TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

The subspecialty of Cardio-Oncology is part of our heart failure (HF) program. Early detection of chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy (CICM) may improve outcomes by initiating HF medications before symptoms develop, allowing for normalization of heart function and continued treatment of the primary
Blockchain Design for an Embedded System

This paper proposes a blockchain-based mapping protocol for distributed robotic systems running on embedded hardware. This protocol was developed for a robotic system designed to locomote on lattice structures for space applications. A consensus mechanism, Proof of Validity, is introduced to allow the effort of mining blocks to correlate with the desired tasks the robotic system was designed for. These robots communicate using peer-to-peer LoRa radio. Options, trade-offs and considerations for implementing blockchain technology on an embedded system with wireless radio communication are explored and discussed.
Nonstoichiometry and Defects in Hydrothermally Synthesized ε-LiVOPO4

e-LiVOPO4 has been synthesized through the hydrothermal method by adjusting the pH of the hydrothermal solution and the reaction temperature. This phase is formed between 180 and 220 °C, as diamond...
Definitions--Consensus or Confusion?.

IN RECENT years, there has been considerable discussion and argument about the "new" or "modern" mathemat ics. A point on which everyone seems to agree, however, is that one of the charac teristics of the new math is greater preci sion in language, especially with defini tions. But, upon closer examination of the textbooks and manuals in current use, it becomes evident that there is indeed a great lack of precision and uniformity of definition. The many changes in the mathematics curriculum during the last decade were not designed by a single agency, but by a num ber of individuals and organizations who have produced new programs and text books at an increasingly rapid rate. These rapid changes have also produced some unfavorable effects. Many teachers were overwhelmed by the new math?they did not understand it and felt incompetent to teach it. To help them cope with the new programs, great investments have been made in in-service training. But imagine the frustration of one of these teachers when, after using one textbook series with the terms clearly defined, he reads another that defines the terms differently. Whose definitions should he accept? Logicians will say that it does not make any difference how a person defines his terms as long as he is consistent in their use. But elementary teachers and students are not logicians. Since these textbooks and manuals have been written by college teachers and high school teachers, it should be their concern and responsibility to bring about a uniformity of definitions. How many mathematics educators are aware of the variations in definitions? Following is a brief description of the extent to which writers disagree about some of the simple concepts.
Thinking Inside the Box: The Roles of Inhibitory Interneurons in Cerebellar Cortical Processing

The cerebellar cortex is usually offered up as the prime example of a well-worked out circuit; its basic neuronal organization consists of a well understood and conserved circuitry that is repeated throughout the entire structure. Yet mysteries still abound about the computations that are performed within its layers, and how these computations contribute to sensation and behavior. Until recently, the center piece of popular models dealing with cerebellar function has been the excitatory pathways travelling through the cerebellar cortex. For these models the remaining elements of the circuit, inhibitory interneurons, play mostly a regulatory or supporting role, secondary to that of the excitatory pathways. However, evidence is accumulating to suggest that inhibitory interneurons in the cerebellar cortex are key in cerebellar processing, carrying out many of the computations attributed to this structure. Here we review recent work on the physiology of cerebellar cortex interneurons, and the role that these interneurons play in cerebellar function.
Composition-dependent structural transition in epitaxial Bi 1 − x Sb x thin films on Si(111)

Bismuth-antimony alloys (${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$) are topological insulators between 7 and 22% Sb in bulk crystals, with an unusually high conductivity suitable for spin-orbit torque applications. Reducing the thickness of epitaxial ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$ films is expected to increase the maximum band gap through quantum confinement, which may improve isolation of topological surface-state transport. Like Bi(001) on Si(111), ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$ has been predicted to form a black phosphoruslike allotrope with unique electronic properties in nanoscale films; however, the impact of Sb alloying on both the bulklike and nanoscale crystal structures on Si(111) is currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that the allotropic transition in ultrathin epitaxial ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$ films on Si(111) is suppressed above 8--9% Sb, resulting in an unexpected (012) orientation within the topologically insulating regime. The metallic temperature-dependent conductivity associated with surface states in Bi(001) was not observed in the ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}(012)$ films, suggesting that the (012) orientation may significantly reduce surface-state transport. Growth on a Bi(001) buffer layer may prevent this orientation transition. Finally, we demonstrate that Sb alloying improves the continuity and quality of nanoscale ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}(012)$ films in the thickness regime expected for the black phosphorus allotrope, suggesting a promising route to large-area growth of puckered-layer two-dimensional ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{x}$, which will be necessary to harness its unique electronic properties in practical applications.
Longer term effects of biological control on tamarisk evapotranspiration and carbon dioxide exchange

Biological control of Tamarix spp. (tamarisk) with Diorhabda spp. (tamarisk beetle) was initiated in several states in the Western United States in 2001. We analysed 12 years of evapotranspiration (ET), net ecosystem production (NEP), and beetle abundance data from a tamarisk‐invaded site in Western Nevada along the Truckee River. Diorhabda carinulata (northern tamarisk beetle) appeared at the site in 2007. Large beetle outbreaks and associated defoliation of the tamarisk occurred in 2008 and 2009, then the beetle population was highly variable from year to year. Since 2016, the beetle population declined. Growing season ET noticeably declined from direct beetle herbivory in 2008, 2009, and 2010, but the decline in ET was seasonally transient as trees regrew leaves. In 2012 and 2013, total growing season ET was low, likely due to the combined effects of drought and beetle herbivory pressure. Total seasonal ET losses and NEP were primarily driven by annual precipitation with higher values in wetter years and reduced values when precipitation fell below 100 mm. In the last 2 years of the study, 2017–2018, there were few to no beetles observed at the site, and we measured increased tamarisk leaf area index, ET, and NEP. Since 2010 at the study site, no further releases of the beetles have occurred due to wildlife concerns, and subsequent declines in beetle populations where such that the “outbreak” conditions apparently required to impair tamarisk physiological function and significantly reduce ET have not occurred. ET and photosynthesis were highly correlated (r² ≥ .91) to the Landsat‐satellite normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Using a relationship between growing season ET and NDVI, we estimated ET for five additional tamarisk sites along several southwestern U.S. rivers. In the 2005 to 2018 analysis period, NDVI‐estimated ET declined at all sites after beetle arrival with three sites showing a recovery in pre‐beetle ET rates in subsequent years. At the other three sites, ET rates have not recovered to pre‐beetle levels.
DIETARY PROTEIN INTAKE AND INCIDENT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN FROM THE WOMEN's HEALTH INITIATIVE

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite well-documented associations between protein intake, coronary disease, and stroke, the relationship between protein intake and AF has not been explored. This was a
Interleaving Planning and Robot Execution for Asynchronous User Requests

ROGUE is an architecture built on a real robot which provides algorithms for the integration of high-level planning, low-level robotic execution, and learning. ROGUE addresses successfully several of the challenges of a dynamic office gopher environment. This article presents the techniques for the integration of planning and execution. ROGUE uses and extends a classical planning algorithm to create plans for multiple interacting goals introduced by asynchronous user requests. ROGUE translates the planner‘s actions to robot execution actions and monitors real world execution. ROGUE is currently implemented using the PRODIGY4.0 planner and the Xavier robot. This article describes how plans are created for multiple asynchronous goals, and how task priority and compatibility information are used to achieve appropriate efficient execution. We describe how ROGUE communicates with the planner and the robot to interleave planning with execution so that the planner can replan for failed actions, identify the actual outcome of an action with multiple possible outcomes, and take opportunities from changes in the environment. ROGUE represents a successful integration of a classical artificial intelligence planner with a real mobile robot.
Lurking in plain sight: Hypertension awareness and treatment among New York City taxi/for‐hire vehicle drivers

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers, a largely male, immigrant and medically underserved population, are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, in part due to the nature of their work. This study examined demographic and lifestyle predictors of hypertension diagnosis awareness, objectively measured blood pressure (hypertensive-range vs non-hypertensive-range readings), medication use, and hypertension control. A cross-sectional assessment was conducted with 983 male taxi/FHV drivers who attended health fairs in New York City from 2010 to 2017. Twenty-three percent self-reported a hypertension history and 46% had hypertensive-range BP readings. Approximately, half the drivers lacked health insurance (47%) and a usual care source (46%). Thirty percent did not self-report hypertension and had hypertensive-range BP readings. Medication use was reported by 69% of hypertension-aware drivers, and being older and having health care access (insurance, a usual care source, and seeing a doctor in the past year) was significantly associated with medication use. Hypertension-unaware drivers with hypertensive-range BP readings were less likely to have a usual care source. Over 60% of drivers who were hypertension-aware and on medication had hypertensive-range readings. There is a need for community-based and workplace driver and provider interventions to address BP awareness and management and to provide health care navigation for vulnerable populations such as taxi/FHV vehicle drivers.
Second language, body, and race—a poetic analysis of international doctoral students’ experiences at a university

As an international doctoral student, the author uses a poetic analysis to illustrate the academic experiences that she and five other international doctoral students have encountered at a universi...
Parents' Nonstandard Work and Children's Sleep: The Mediating Role of Bedtime Routines.

Objective The present study examined if caregivers' long work hours or shift work are related to children's sleep duration through the disruption of bedtime routines. Method Work hours and schedules, bedtime routines and sleep (actigraph assessments) were examined in a sample of 250 caregivers and their preschool children. Results Results revealed that consistent bedtime routines mediated the relationship between caregiver's work and children's sleep, such that longer hours and shift work predicted fewer routines that, in turn, predicted less child sleep. Conclusion These results point to the crucial role of bedtime routines as a promising point of intervention for working parents. While caregivers may not be able to change their work hours or schedules, they can create more stable and consistent bedtime routines to mitigate the negative effects of their work on children's sleep.
Modeling presentations: toward an assessment of emerging classroom cultures of modeling

Though there is an extensive research literature on understanding and assessing individual modeling competencies, less attention has been given to characterizing the social context of the classroom in which modeling occurs. Yet a classroom’s culture of modeling—its negotiated system of beliefs and values about the nature of modeling and what constitutes a complete, satisfactory solution to a modeling problem—has a shaping influence on its members’ participation in modeling activities. Devising a means of assessing classroom modeling cultures is thus a crucial task for both research and praxis. In this article, we present an approach to operationally defining and assessing classroom modeling cultures, which is (a) based in quantitative analyses of discourse during whole-class presentations of modeling solutions, and (b) grounded in research in individual modeling competencies. We show how our assessment distinguishes the classroom modeling cultures of different classrooms and how it captures shifts over time in the modeling culture of a given classroom. Finally, we accompany our quantitative results with interpretive analyses of presentation discourse, to triangulate and to attribute meaning to the patterns our assessment detects. Our primary data sources include video recorded presentation and Q&A sessions for three modeling activities in each of two US middle school (Grades 5–8) classrooms. Our assessment approach is a significant contribution because it operationalizes the construct of a classroom’s modeling culture, in terms that highlight potential connections with the research literature of individual modeling competencies. It therefore invites modeling research that coordinates learning and development across individual and social levels.
A Qualitative Study of School Counseling in Barbados: A Focused Ethnography

This qualitative study examines the roles, practices, challenges and demands of school counselors (known as guidance counsellors) in Barbados. A focused ethnographic approach is used to provide a comprehensive and nuanced view of five school counselors’ experiences. Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to code and analyze the data from the interviews led to three overarching themes: the 3Rs (Roles, Responsibilities and Requirements); Problematizing the Policies, Politics and Culture; and School Family Community Contexts. This study’s findings have implications for school counselor practice, policy, and training in Barbados and other small states, especially those with a colonial history, as they develop and implement school counseling programs.
Exogenous calcium protects postweanling rats from salicylate-induced changes in auditory conditioning

During Days 26–32 (postnatal), 18 rats drank more of a 0.05-M calcium-enriched solution when it was given to them ad lib or 1 h daily, but not when it was given 15 min daily, compared with 18 pups with similar access to plain water only. In a second experiment, acquisition and extinction of auditory conditioned suppression were observed in thirty-six 25-day-old pups, half of them reared with the calcium supplement throughout gestation and preweanling, and the other half reared with tap water. Twenty-two hours before training, the subjects were fluid deprived and exposed to continuous noise of 60 dB (SPL). Two hours prior to each session, the subjects received either injections of sodium salicylate before both sessions (n = 6 for each fluid type), saline before acquisition and salicylate before the extinction session (n= 6), or saline before both sessions (n = 6). Suppression of the approach to drink at the end of an alleyway paired the offset of the 60-dB noise and footshock. Calcium afforded subjects protection from salicylate-induced changes in auditory behavior during both acquisition and extinction.
SU-E-T-307: Dosimetric Comparison of Prone Versus Supine Positioning for Adjuvant Breast Radiation Therapy

Purpose: The prone treatment position has been used to reduce ipsilateral lung and heart dose in left breast radiation. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the difference in the dosimetry between prone and supine treatment positions. Methods: Eight left breast cancer patients were simulated in both the supine and prone positions as a pretreatment evaluation for the optimal treatment position. Treatment plans were created for all patients in both the supine and prone positions using a field in field three dimensional planning technique. Prescribed dose was 45 Gy delivered by two tangential photon fields. Irradiated volume (IV) was evaluated by V50, V100, and dose to lung and heart by V5, V10, V20, and the mean dose were evaluated. Results: All dosimetry metrics for both the supine and prone plans met our internal normal structure guidelines which are based on Quantec data. The average IVs (50% and 100%) were 2223cc and 1361cc prone, 2315cc and 1315cc supine. The average ipsilateral lung Mean dose (0.83Gy prone vs 5.8Gy supine), V5 (1.6% prone vs 20.9% supine), V10 (0.78% prone vs 15% supine) and V20 (0.36% prone vs 11% supine) were significantly lower in prone position. Heart Mean dose (1.4Gy prone vs 2.9Gy supine), V10 (1.4% prone vs 5.0% supine) and V20 (0.4% prone vs 3.5% supine) were found improved for all patients except one where the mean dose was the same and all other values were improved. Conclusion: The prone position offer preferable dosimetry for all patients planned in our study. These patients were chosen based on the physician’s belief that they would benefit from prone treatment either because they had large pendulous breasts or due to the amount of heart seen in the field on CT simulation.
Ion Transport and Short-Circuit Technique

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of the well known short-circuit technique for studying active and passive ion transport. This technique has been used primarily for deciding between passive and active ion transport and for the determination of the effect of agents and procedures on the rate of active ion transport of the type, in which the net active transport can be equated to the net transport of charge. Many workers seem to assume that, during short-circuiting, the membrane possessing the active transport mechanism is short-circuited. Most of the workers in this field use the simple Ussing-Zerahn equivalent circuit and imply that, it is adequate to represent complex tissues. It is generally accepted that if the transport of an ion is essentially zero under short-circuit conditions, then the conclusion is warranted that the ion in question is passive. There is also considerable misunderstanding among workers using the simple Ussing-Zerahn circuit concerning the relationship between the conductance of this circuit and that of the actual tissue. The chapter describes that (1) if all the ion transports are exclusively via conductive pathways, the criteria for passive ion transport of the Ussing are valid for both single- and double-membrane models, but (2) if there are nonconductive pathways for ions that cannot be represented by an equivalent-circuit conductive pathway, then the accepted criteria for passive transport are not valid. The chapter discusses conductive pathways for all the ions involved, and the fallacy of using the criteria for systems in which there are nonconductive pathways.
Intelligent Push Notification for Converged Mobile Computing and Internet of Things

Push notification is an important approach to distribute interesting information to users timely. With the fast development of mobile devices and mobile applications, push notification is getting more and more popular. The convergence of mobile and IoT also bring new challenges on how the system can handle the mixed push channels designed for M2M communication and human interaction, and enable the effective interaction with both human and IoT devices involved. IoT devices may push notifications of sensor data in a high frequency. To enable push notification for both of mobile devices and IoT devices, the push notification system is required to achieve high throughput to handle the frequent notifications, and support content matching to filter out the undesired notifications. To enable effective push notification with both human and IoT devices involved, the system is required to understand the users' interests for notifications with the IoT devices providing the users' contexts. That is to say users need an intelligent push notification system. In this paper we propose a high performance context-aware push notification system for the converged mobile and IoT messaging. We designed high performance content matching engine as the core to enable efficient message dispatching for push notification according to highly personalized interest to ensure IoT messages to be involved in push notification. A user's interest of notifications is highly related with his context. Therefore, based on the content-matching engine, a framework for efficient context information fusion is built to support various types of context-aware push notification, towards intelligent push notification. Also we designed shared connection scheme to reduce the resource cost. Based on the content-match engine and context-aware features, the proposed push notification service can support both of group push notification and bi-directional push notification. Tests are conducted for performance evaluation.
Behavioral Features of 'Sociality'

Recent experimental evidence brought to light that the assumptions of the Prospect Theory by Kahneman and Tversky do not hold in the proposed substantive domain of "sociality". In particular, the desire to be a part of the social environment, i.e. the environment where individuals make decisions among their peers, is not contingent on the framing. Evolutionary psychologists suggest that humans are "social animals" for adaptive reasons. However, entering a social relationship is inherently risky. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how much people value "sociality", when the social outcomes are valued more than material outcomes and what kinds of adaptations people use. We develop a new theory and propose the general utility function that features "sociality" component. We test the theory in the laboratory experiments, carried out in several countries. Our results suggest that when stakes are low the theory of "sociality" is successful in predicting individual decisions: on average people do value "sociality" and it surpasses the monetary loss.
Online communication on circuit-switched fixed routing meshes

The paper addresses routing on the circuit-switched fixed routing n*n mesh M/sub n/ where paths follow the row-column rule. It first presents a self-routing algorithm that schedules any BPC permutation in L(logN) time (N=n/sup 2/) to run in n routing steps on M/sub n/, and another self-routing algorithm that schedules in constant time any Omega - or omega /sup 1/-realizable permutation to run in 2n routing steps on M/sub n/. Finally, it is shown that broadcasting and fan-in communication self-route in log N routing steps, that parallel prefix requires log/sup 2/N routing steps and that FFT requires O(n) routing steps. In all but the FFT case, the circuit-switched mesh delivers better performance than its packet-switched counterpart. >
Multiscale thermomechanical analysis of sliding rings from short-time transients to steady-state

In order to better understand the performance of clutches, brakes and seals, there is a need to study the multiscale thermomechanical interactions that occur across rough interfacial sliding contacts. While the full three-dimensional problem is at present somewhat beyond reach from a computational standpoint, we can gain some insight into the problem by examining the more idealized axisymmetric case. Here we develop a transient coupled thermomechanical boundary element method to investigate the behaviour of sliding rings with axisymmetric roughness. By incorporating our recently developed fast convolution algorithm, we are able to consider the spatially and temporally localized response at asperity-level contacts, along with the evolution toward a global component-level steady state. In particular, we investigate behaviour for the sliding ring problem by considering surface profiles that incorporate axisymmetric roughness over several orders-of-magnitude. One of the most interesting findings that emerge from these simulations is the development of roughness-dependent steady-state shapes. Details of the short-time transient interactions are found to significantly affect the long-term component level response. This suggests that one may be able to control overall component deformations through the careful specification of surface profiles.
Understanding Qualitative Calculus: A Structural Synthesis of Learning Research

More than a decade of research and innovation in using computer-based graphing and simulation environments has encouraged many of us in the research community to believe important dimensions of calculus-related reasoning can be successfully understood by young learners. This paper attempts to address what kinds of calculus-related insights seem to typify this early form of calculus reasoning. The phrase “qualitative calculus” is introduced to frame the analysis of this “other” calculus. The learning of qualitative calculus is the focus of the synthesis. The central claim is that qualitative calculus is a cognitive structure in its own right and that qualitative calculus develops or evolves in ways that seem to fit with important general features of Piaget's analyses of the development of operational thought. In particular, the intensification of rate and two kinds of reversibility between what are called “how much” (amount) and “how fast” (rate) quantities are what interactively, and collectively,characterize and help to define understanding qualitative calculus. Although sharing a family resemblance with traditional expectations of what it might mean to learn calculus, qualitative calculus does not build from ratio- or proportion-based ideas of slope as they are typically associated with defining rate. The paper does close, however, with a discussion of how understanding qualitative calculus can support and link to the rate-related literature of slope, ratio and proportion. Additionally, curricular connections and implications are discussed throughout to help illustrate and explore the significance of learning qualitative calculus.
The Socratic Method-Problem Method Dichotomy: The Debate over Teaching Method Continues

This article examines the positive and negative attributes of the two primary teaching methods used in law school classrooms -- namely, the Socratic Method and the Problem Method. It addresses in particular the questions of whether there is benefit to teaching law by the Problem Method rather than the time honored Socratic Method; and whether there is some combination of the two methods that would be most appropriate. The author argues that a combination of the two, with a strong emphasis on the Problem Method, will better prepare law students for the legal environment they will enter after law school. Law schools need to graduate students who not only “think like lawyers” but who are able to “perform like lawyers.” The author concludes that by implementing more of the Problem Method in first-year and other doctrinal courses -- along with an increased emphasis on skills-based and clinical courses -- law schools can create an overall curriculum that better prepares students to practice law.
Electrocardiographic Pad for Efficient Cardiac MR Gating.

Reliable, time-efficient, and comfortable electrocardiographic (ECG) gating with this reusable silicon ECG pad has the potential to improve cardiac-gated MR imaging.
Suppressor gene alterations in the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence

Tumorigenesis is thought to be a multistep process in which genetic alterations accumulate to bring about the neoplastic phenotype. Colorectal tumors appear to arise as a result of the mutational activation of oncogenes coupled with the inactivation of several tumor suppressor genes. We have found frequent allelic deletions of specific portions of chromosomes 5, 17, and 18 which presumably harbor suppressor genes. The target of allelic loss events on chromosome 17 has been shown to be the p53 gene, which is frequently mutated not only in colon cancer but in several other tumor types as well. Candidate suppressor genes have also recently been identified on chromosomes 18 and 5. The DCC gene on chromosome 18q encodes a protein with significant sequence similarity to neural cell adhesion molecules and other related cell surface glycoproteins. Alterations of this gene may interfere with normal cell growth and differentiation by disrupting cell-cell or cell-substrate interactions. Two genes (MCC and APC) on chromosome 5q have also recently been identified and partially cloned. These genes are located in a region tightly linked to familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). While MCC mutations have been found only in sporadic colon tumors, APC mutations have been identified in sporadic tumors as well as the germline of patients with FAP. Studies are currently in progress to increase our understanding of how alterations of these genes affect colorectal tumor cell growth.
Transformation of the diamond (110) surface

The diamond surface undergoes a transformation in its electronic structure by a vacuum anneal at approximately 900 C. This transformation is characterized by the appearance of a feature in the band gap region of the energy loss spectrum. The kinetics of the transformation on the (110) surface is studied by observing the growth of this feature with time and temperature. The transformation is found to be consistent with first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 4.8 eV. It is also found that the band gap feature could be removed by exposure of the transformed surface to excited hydrogen. The results are consistent with the polished diamond (110) surface being covered with hydrogen which removes the band gap states and can be thermally desorbed at approximately 900 C.
Aging leads to impaired upregulation of ICOS in response to allostimulation

Introduction: Clinical studies suggest that older transplant recipients have reduced acute allograft rejection rates, however the mechanisms why aging modifies alloimmunity remain obscure. As immunity is the result of innate APCadaptive T cell interaction we undertook the following study to investigate whether aging affects either APC or T cell responses towards an allostimulus. Methods and Results: To determine if aging modifies acute allograft rejection, aged ( 24 mths) and young (3 mths) murine CBA recipients received a young, allogeneic (C57BL/6) skin graft. Results demonstrated that aged recipients (n 7) manifest a delay in graft rejection (MST 20 days) vs. young recipients (n 5, MST 10 days, p 0.04). To assess APC function, we demonstrated equal upregulation of costimulatory molecules on DCs by FACS in the allograft draining lymph nodes in young vs. aged recipients. Additionally, bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs) from young and old recipients were equally able to induce IFN production in alloreactive T cells and produce IFN themselves when stimulated with allogeneic SPC (measured by ELISPOT analysis). However, primary MLR T cell assays revealed that aged T cells produced reduced amounts of IL-2 and IFN vs. young T cells in response to allogeneic stimulation (aged T cells: 1 spot/2x10 cells [IL-2], 34 spots/2x10cells [ IFN ] vs. young T cells, 93 IL-2 spots, p 0.01 and 155 IFN spots, p 0.001). This data was correlated in vivo by ELISPOT analysis post transplantation. Importantly, FACS analysis revealed impaired ICOS upregulation in aged in vivo and in vitro allostimulated T cells but not in other costimulatory receptors (CTLA 4, CD28, CD40L, CD134, CD137). Conclusion: Aging impairs adaptive ICOS upregulation during allotransplantation and leads to delayed graft rejection. The implications of this study are that future therapies aimed at modifying the immune response in aging should be focused on T cell function rather than innate immunity.
Mitochondrial NADH fluorescence is enhanced by complex I binding.

Mitochondrial NADH fluorescence has been a useful tool in evaluating mitochondrial energetics both in vitro and in vivo. Mitochondrial NADH fluorescence is enhanced several fold in the matrix through extended fluorescence lifetimes (EFL). However, the actual binding sites responsible for NADH EFL are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that NADH binding to Complex I is a significant source of mitochondrial NADH fluorescence enhancement. To test this hypothesis, the effect of Complex I binding on NADH fluorescence efficiency was evaluated in purified protein, and in native gels of the entire porcine heart mitochondria proteome. To avoid the oxidation of NADH in these preparations, we conducted the binding experiments under anoxic conditions in a specially designed apparatus. Purified intact Complex I enhanced NADH fluorescence in native gels approximately 10 fold. However, no enhancement was detected in denatured individual Complex I subunit proteins. In the Clear and Ghost native gels of the entire mitochondrial proteome, NADH fluorescence enhancement was localized to regions where NADH oxidation occurred in the presence of oxygen. Inhibitor and mass spectroscopy studies revealed that the fluorescence enhancement was specific to Complex I proteins. No fluorescence enhancement was detected for MDH or other dehydrogenases in this assay system, at physiological mole fractions of the matrix proteins. These data suggest that NADH associated with Complex I significantly contributes to the overall mitochondrial NADH fluorescence signal and provides an explanation for the well established close correlation of mitochondrial NADH fluorescence and the metabolic state.
Evolution of I-SceI Homing Endonucleases with Increased DNA Recognition Site Specificity.

Elucidating how homing endonucleases undergo changes in recognition site specificity will facilitate efforts to engineer proteins for gene therapy applications. I-SceI is a monomeric homing endonuclease that recognizes and cleaves within an 18-bp target. It tolerates limited degeneracy in its target sequence, including substitution of a C:G(+4) base pair for the wild-type A:T(+4) base pair. Libraries encoding randomized amino acids at I-SceI residue positions that contact or are proximal to A:T(+4) were used in conjunction with a bacterial one-hybrid system to select I-SceI derivatives that bind to recognition sites containing either the A:T(+4) or the C:G(+4) base pairs. As expected, isolates encoding wild-type residues at the randomized positions were selected using either target sequence. All I-SceI proteins isolated using the C:G(+4) recognition site included small side-chain substitutions at G100 and either contained (K86R/G100T, K86R/G100S and K86R/G100C) or lacked (G100A, G100T) a K86R substitution. Interestingly, the binding affinities of the selected variants for the wild-type A:T(+4) target are 4- to 11-fold lower than that of wild-type I-SceI, whereas those for the C:G(+4) target are similar. The increased specificity of the mutant proteins is also evident in binding experiments in vivo. These differences in binding affinities account for the observed ∼36-fold difference in target preference between the K86R/G100T and wild-type proteins in DNA cleavage assays. An X-ray crystal structure of the K86R/G100T mutant protein bound to a DNA duplex containing the C:G(+4) substitution suggests how sequence specificity of a homing enzyme can increase. This biochemical and structural analysis defines one pathway by which site specificity is augmented for a homing endonuclease.
Dendrimers as a carrier for pulmonary delivery of enoxaparin, a low-molecular weight heparin.

ABSTRACT This study was designed to test the hypothesis that positively charged dendrimers form a complex with enoxaparin, a low‐molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and that the resulting drug–dendrimer complex is effective in preventing deep vein thrombosis after pulmonary administration. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the azure A assay were used to evaluate interactions between dendrimers and enoxaparin. The efficacy of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers in enhancing pulmonary absorption of enoxaparin was studied by administering enoxaparin–dendrimer formulations into the lungs of anesthetized rats and monitoring drug absorption by measuring plasma anti‐factor Xa activity. The optimized formulations were evaluated for their efficacy in preventing deep vein thrombosis in a rodent model. The safety of the formulations was tested by studying their effects on mucociliary transport rate (MTR) in a frog palate model and by measuring injury markers in rat bronchoalveolar fluid. The FTIR data and azure A assay revealed ionic interactions between the amino groups of cationic dendrimers and the carboxylic and sulfate groups of enoxaparin. Positively charged dendrimers increased the relative bioavailability of enoxaparin by 40%, while a negatively charged dendrimer had no effect. Formulations containing 1% G2 or 0.5% G3 PAMAM dendrimer plus enoxaparin were as efficacious in preventing deep vein thrombosis in a rat model as subcutaneously administered enoxaparin. The formulations did not adversely affect the MTR or produce extensive damage to the lungs. Positively charged dendrimers are a suitable carrier for pulmonary delivery of enoxaparin. They enhance pulmonary absorption of LMWH probably by reducing negative surface charge density of the drug molecule. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96:2090–2106, 2007
Spring Wheat Response to Seed Spreader Patterns and Deep Band Fertilizer Placement with an Air Seeder

The air seeder unit has developed rapidly as a method of applying fertilizer and seed in a one-pass operation. Research was conducted with an air seeder unit over 2-yr to determine the influence of four seed spreader patterns and deep band fertilizer placement of five fertilizer forms on hard red spring wheat (HRSW) (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and nutrient uptake. Seed spreader patterns included single row, 3-in. wide paired spread, 5-in. wide spread, and 12-in. wide spread. Fertilizer materials from various sources were combined to form liquid urea ammonium nitrate plus ammonium polyphosphate (UANAPP), liquid ammonium nitrate phosphate (UANP), dry granular urea plus diammonium phosphate (UDAP), dry granular urea nitric phosphate (UNP), and dry granular urea phosphate (UUP) [...]
High-frequency performance of lattice-strained heterojunction GaInAs/GaAs bipolar transistors

The performance of bipolar devices and circuits in the novel lattice-strained GaInAs/GaAs materials system show an improving trend with increased In composition in the base. An fT of 8 GHz has been measured using an 8 μm emitter stripe width and 8% In. A small-signal model is presented.
Design and implementation of three-phase gridconnected two-stage module integrated converter

This paper presents a high efficiency module integrated inverter (MIC) with both stages ZVS operation for three phase grid tied photovoltaic system. LLC resonant dc-dc converter is employed in the first stage to track the maximum power of PV panel. A novel and simple soft switching scheme without adding auxiliary components is proposed for three phase for the second stage. Meanwhile, modeling and control strategy of three phase four-wire DC/AC converter are also discussed. In addition, a dedicated Center Points Iteration (CPI) MPPT algorithm for LLC resonant topology is applied to quickly tracking the maximum power. In addition, the capacitance of DC-link is also investigated because DC-link capacitor plays an important role for dual-stage MIC. Finally, a 400 watts prototype has been built and tested. The peak efficiency of the whole system prototype has been measured, which is up to 96%, 98.2% in the first stage, and 98.3% in the second stage, respectively.
A distributed representation of temporal context

The principles of recency and contiguity are two cornerstones of the theoretical and empirical analysis of human memory. Recency has been alternatively explained by mechanisms of decay, displacement, and retroactive interference. Another account of recency is based on the idea of variable context (Estes, 1955; Mensink & Raaijmakers, 1989). Such notions are typically cast in terms of a randomly fluctuating population of elements reflective of subtle changes in the environment or in the subjects' mental state. This random context view has recently been incorporated into distributed and neural network memory models (Murdock, 1997; Murdock, Smith, & Bai, 2001). Here we propose an alternative model. Rather than being driven by random fluctuations, this formulation, the temporal context model (TCM), uses retrieval of prior contextual states to drive contextual drift. In TCM, retrieved context is an inherently asymmetric retrieval cue. This allows the model to provide a principled explanation of the widespread advantage for forward recalls in free and serial recall. Modeling data from single-trial free recall, we demonstrate that TCM can simultaneously explain recency and contiguity effects across time scales.