cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MiRP2 Forms Potassium Channels in Skeletal Muscle with Kv3.4 and Is Associated with Periodic Paralysis

The subthreshold, voltage-gated potassium channel of skeletal muscle is shown to contain MinK-related peptide 2 (MiRP2) and the pore-forming subunit Kv3.4. MiRP2-Kv3.4 channels differ from Kv3.4 channels in unitary conductance, voltage-dependent activation, recovery from inactivation, steady-state open probability, and block by a peptide toxin. Thus, MiRP2-Kv3.4 channels set resting membrane potential (RMP) and do not produce afterhyperpolarization or cumulative inactivation to limit action potential frequency. A missense mutation is identified in the gene for MiRP2 (KCNE3) in two families with periodic paralysis and found to segregate with the disease. Mutant MiRP2-Kv3.4 complexes exhibit reduced current density and diminished capacity to set RMP. Thus, MiRP2 operates with a classical potassium channel subunit to govern skeletal muscle function and pathophysiology.
Assessment of Hyperphagia in Prader‐Willi Syndrome

Objective: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), the leading known genetic cause of obesity, is characterized by intellectual disabilities, maladaptive and compulsive behaviors, and hyperphagia. Although complications of obesity resulting from hyperphagia are the leading cause of death in PWS, quantifying this drive for food has long been an unmet research need. This study provides factor-analytic and within-syndrome analyses of a new measure of hyperphagia in PWS. Research Methods and Procedure: A 13-item informant measure, the Hyperphagia Questionnaire, was developed and administered to the parents of 153 persons with PWS, 4 to 51 years of age. The intelligence quotients, genetic subtypes of PWS, and BMIs of offspring were obtained, as were measures of their non-food problem behaviors. Results: Factor analyses with varimax rotation produced three statistically and conceptually robust factors that accounted for 59% of the variance: Hyperphagic Behaviors, Drive, and Severity. Hyperphagic Behavior increased with age, whereas Drive remained stable, and Severity dipped in older adults. Hyperphagic Drive and Severity were positively correlated with non-food behavior problems, and Hyperphagic Drive differentiated the 36% of participants with extreme obesity from those who had overweight/obese (48%) or healthy (16%) BMI classifications. Discussion: The Hyperphagia Questionnaire is a robust tool for relating breakthroughs in the neurobiology of hyperphagia to in vivo food-seeking behavior and for examining the psychological and developmental correlates of hyperphagia in PWS. The Hyperphagia Questionnaire also offers a nuanced, real-life outcome measure for future clinical trials aimed at curbing the life-threatening drive for food in PWS.
Sorting things out through endoplasmic reticulum quality control.

AbstractThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a highly organized and specialized organelle optimized for the production of proteins. It is comprised of a highly interconnected network of tubules that contain a large set of resident proteins dedicated to the maturation and processing of proteins that traverse the eukaryotic secretory pathway. As protein maturation is an imperfect process, frequently resulting in misfolding and/or the formation of aggregates, proteins are subjected to a series of evaluation processes within the ER. Proteins deemed native are sorted for anterograde trafficking, while immature or non-native proteins are initially retained in the ER in an attempt to rescue the aberrant products. Terminally misfolded substrates are eventually targeted for turnover through the ER-associated degradation or ERAD pathway to protect the cell from the release of a defective product. A clearer picture of the identity of the machinery involved in these quality control evaluation processes and their mechani...
Differential subtyping of depression

We studied a group of patients with depression divided into subtypes of non-chronic major depression, chronic major depression, and pure dysthymia. The purpose of this study was to determine if clinical and family history factors separated these types of depression. We reviewed records from semi-structured clinical interviews and abstracted data regarding factors that might differentiate these three depressive subtypes. In general we found what might be predicted from the definitions of dysthymia versus major depression, that is, ratings for severity of depression were lower for dysthymic patients as compared to patients with non-chronic or chronic major depression. We also found lower ratings for social functioning (GASF) for dysthymic patients as compared to the other depressive subtypes. Our study does not provide data to sufficiently separate these three subtypes. However, in the course of reviewing the literature on this topic, very few studies have separated patients into these distinct depressive subtypes. Further studies are needed to indicate if these subtypes can be meaningfully separated.
Regional lung function evaluation with nitrogen-13

Regional ventilation and perfusion studies are routinely performed with molecular nitrogen-13 (a short-lived positron emitter), a multicrystal positron camera, and a computer. These studies have the advantage of viewing with equal sensitivity all sections of the lung simultaneously. Nitrogen-13 is less soluble than xenon in blood and therefore allows more accurate ventilation imaging. The short half-life of the radiopharmaceutical allows simultaneous ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy of the lung. Unlike other imaging techniques in which the residual radioactivity persists in the lung for hours, nitrogen-13 is rapidly cleared allowing repetitive imaging. Ventilation and perfusion studies are part of the routine preoperative evaluation for lung cancer resection or for bullectomy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and for assessment of pulmonary emboli in the presence of chronic obstructive disease.
On the need for a process for making reliable quality comparisons with industrial data

Many factors influence quality data obtained from industrial case studies making comparisons difficult. In this paper, two longitudinal industrial case study experiences are shared which illustrate the complications that can arise. The first is a case study of an IBM team that transitioned to the use of test-driven development. The primary quality measure was functional verification test defects normalized by lines of code. The second case study was performed with an Extreme Programming team at Sabre Airline Solutions. Both test defects and field defects were compared. In both case studies, differences existed which made the comparisons indicative but not absolute.
Objective Job Difficulty, Behavioural Response, and Sector Characteristics in Air Route Traffic Control Centres∗

Abstract Two thousand observations on 47 radar sectors in Boston and New York were used to determine the principal behavioural stressors in the air traffic control environment. Predictor variables included peak traffic. mean airspeed, sector area, sector type, radio-communication time, and theoretically derived control load factors. Expert observers rated the degree of activity and behavioural arousal of ATCs working the 47 radar sectors at the same time the objective measures were made. These ‘pace’ ratings were significantly related to peak traffic count and duration of radio-communications. The control load factors were not related to behavioural responses. Statistical analyses indicated several refinements for the definition and measurement of the control load factors, For example, airspace control load was reliably estimated by sector type and number of transitioning planes, while co-ordination control load was most appropriately estimated by duration of radio-communications These results suggested t...
Controversies about computerization and the character of white collar worklife

Abstract The way that computerization changes white collar work is the subject of significant controversies in the research and professional communities. This paper examines some of the key controversies about the way that computerization influences patterns of coordination control in workplaces, including monitoring. It examines debates about upskilling and deskilling, and the role of organizational infrastructure in making computerized systems more usable. It also examines the ways that computerization might foster new forms of work organization.
Human Capital and Growth

Abstract This paper describes a growth model with the property that human capital accumulation can account for all observed growth. The model is shown to be consistent with evidence on individual productivities as measured by census earnings data. The central hypothesis is that we learn more when we interact with more productive people.
On the measurement and prediction of temperature fields In machining AISI 1045 steel

Abstract Infrared microscopic measurements of the temperature fields at the tool-chip interface in steady-state, orthogonal, machining of AISI 1045 steel are presented for a range of chip thicknesses The measurements are verified using an energy balance method and simple finite difference calculations (see [14]) These results are compared to the predictions of a finite element calculation using a commercial package for three different material models obtained from the literature Results are highly dependent on the material model and friction behavior, indicating that caution be used when finite element analysis is to predict rather than interpret machining temperatures.
Ballast water regulations and the move toward concentration-based numeric discharge limits

Ballast water from shipping is a principal source for the introduction of nonindigenous species. As a result, numerous government bodies have adopted various ballast water management practices and discharge standards to slow or eliminate the future introduction and dispersal of these nonindigenous species. For researchers studying ballast water issues, understanding the regulatory framework is helpful to define the scope of research needed by policy makers to develop effective regulations. However, for most scientists, this information is difficult to obtain because it is outside the standard scientific literature and often difficult to interpret. This paper provides a brief review of the regulatory framework directed toward scientists studying ballast water and aquatic invasive species issues. We describe different approaches to ballast water management in international, U.S. federal and state, and domestic ballast water regulation. Specifically, we discuss standards established by the International Mari...
The Yeast STM1 Gene Encodes a Purine Motif Triple Helical DNA-binding Protein

Abstract The formation of triple helical DNA has been evoked in several cellular processes including transcription, replication, and recombination. Using conventional and affinity chromatography, we purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiaewhole-cell extract a 35-kDa protein that avidly and specifically bound a purine motif triplex (with a K d of 61 pm) but not a pyrimidine motif triplex or duplex DNA. Peptide microsequencing identified this protein as the product of theSTM1 gene. Confirmation that Stm1p is a purine motif triplex-binding protein was obtained by electrophoretic mobility shift assays using either bacterially expressed, recombinant Stm1p or whole-cell extracts from stm1Δ yeast. Stm1p has previously been identified as G4p2, a G-quartet nucleic acid-binding protein. This suggests that some proteins actually recognize features shared by G4 DNA and purine motif triplexes, e.g. Hoogsteen hydrogen-bonded guanines. Genetically, the STM1 gene has been identified as a multicopy suppressor of mutations in several genes involved in mitosis (e.g. TOM1,MPT5, and POP2). A possible role for multiplex DNA and its binding proteins in mitosis is discussed.
Thinking beyond the Myths and Misconceptions of Talent: Creating Music Education Policy that Advances Music's Essential Contribution to Twenty-First-Century Teaching and Learning.

At present, there is growing scientific evidence of music's powerful, positive influence on the neurological, cognitive, and social-emotional development of all children. At the same time, a flurry of new studies now show that extensive, deliberate, and deep practice supported by an ability growth mindset—and not a fixed degree of talent—is the primary predictor of future expertise in music, as it is in other disciplines. This article argues that parents and educators today must therefore shed the outdated myths and misconceptions of predetermined talent in order to embrace substantial development of “acquired expertise” in music as an agent for engaging and optimizing every child's capacity to learn across many areas of a school's academic and social curriculum. Thus, music education policy stakeholders need to support innovative teaching practices that are free of lingering explicit, implicit, or unconscious assumptions of “innate talent” in order to craft and implement public education policies that wi...
Calculation of bulk modulus for highly anisotropic materials

Abstract Bulk modulus is usually obtained from fitting experimental or theoretical energy–volume data to an empirical functional form of the equation of state. Most theoretical studies generate the energy–volume data by uniformly changing the unit cells in total-energy calculations. This approach works well for isotropic systems such as structures with cubic symmetries; but for noncubic systems with high anisotropy, full structural relaxation has to be carried out at each volume to ensure correct extraction of bulk modulus. In this Letter, we present an approach that uses uniaxial compression and the volume derivative (of energy) definition of bulk modulus. First principles pseudopotential calculations are carried out with the generalized gradient approximation applied to more localized core electrons while the local density approximation applied to valence electrons to improve the accuracy of calculated structural data. We have applied this approach to elemental hexagonal graphite and binary hexagonal boron nitride and have obtained results in excellent agreement with experiment. We also have used this approach to predict the value of bulk modulus for a graphitic phase of a ternary BC 2 N structure.
El'gygtgyn: Probably world's largest meteorite crater

LANDSAT imagery indicates that El'gygytgyn in northern Siberia is probably a giant meteorite crater, the largest Quaternary impact structure on Earth, and not a tectonic depression. This probability is supported by the remarkable circularity of the crater, as outlined by the ring-mountain rim, remoteness from modern volcanic sites, and lack of collapse scalloping of the margin.
Investigating Endogenous Peptides and Peptidases using Peptidomics

Rather than simply being protein degradation products, peptides have proven to be important bioactive molecules. Bioactive peptides act as hormones, neurotransmitters, and antimicrobial agents in vivo. The dysregulation of bioactive peptide signaling is also known to be involved in disease, and targeting peptide hormone pathways has been a successful strategy in the development of novel therapeutics. The importance of bioactive peptides in biology has spurred research to elucidate the function and regulation of these molecules. Classical methods for peptide analysis have relied on targeted immunoassays, but certain scientific questions necessitated a broader and more detailed view of the peptidome—all the peptides in a cell, tissue, or organism. In this review we discuss how peptidomics has emerged to fill this need through the application of advanced liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods that provide unique insights into peptide activity and regulation.
What You See Is What You Get: Drawing Inferences From Campaign Imagery

Can images in campaign ads change voter perceptions of candidates? I use a series of controlled experiments to demonstrate that viewers make inferences about a candidate based on the types of people depicted in campaign ads. Viewers were more likely to believe that the candidate supported political benefits for certain demographic or professional groups when images of group members were included in campaign ads. They were also more likely to characterize the candidate as liberal or conservative, depending on the ideological reputation of the group pictured. [Supplementary material is available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Political Communication for the following free supplemental resource(s): Storyboards for campaign ad stimuli]
Spectra of Coals and Coal Extracts: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectra of Carbon Disulfide Extracts

The study of solvent extracts of coals is one of the most commonly used methods for investigating coal structure. Such studies are particularly important in certain spectroscopic investigations, such as those involving ultraviolet—visible spectrophotometry and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, which are either extremely difficult or impossible to apply to solid samples, or, when applied, lead to questionable results. The Spectrometry Project at the Pittsburgh Coal Research Center is presently engaged in a comprehensive spectral study of the structure of coals and coal extracts. Among the spectroscopic techniques being utilized are infrared, Raman, ultraviolet—visible, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, and mass spectrometry. The present work is concerned with the ultraviolet—visible spectra of carbon disulfide extracts of selected coals.
Fatness as a disability: questions of personal and group identity

Both fat people and disabled people share common barriers to full societal participation and acceptance. While there has been a substantial amount of literature relating to these two groups as separate entities, there is a lack of contemporary research that investigates the relationship between fat and disability identity formation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to engage in a dialogue with fat individuals and explore the construction of their identities – whether or not they identified with having a disability and, if so, whether or not they viewed their fatness as a disability. Interviews with a sample size of seven participants who self‐identified as ‘fat’ revealed an unwillingness to adopt a disability identity based on their fatness.
Processing of soot in an urban environment: case study from the Mexico City Metropolitan Area

Abstract. Chemical composition, size, and mixing state of atmospheric particles are critical in determining their effects on the environment. There is growing evidence that soot aerosols play a particularly important role in both climate and human health, but still relatively little is known of their physical and chemical nature. In addition, the atmospheric residence times and removal mechanisms for soot are neither well understood nor adequately represented in regional and global climate models. To investigate the effect of locality and residence time on properties of soot and mixing state in a polluted urban environment, particles of diameter 0.2–2.0 μm were collected in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) during the MCMA-2003 Field Campaign from various sites within the city. Individual particle analysis by different electron microscopy methods coupled with energy dispersed x-ray spectroscopy, and secondary ionization mass spectrometry show that freshly-emitted soot particles become rapidly processed in the MCMA. Whereas fresh particulate emissions from mixed-traffic are almost entirely carbonaceous, consisting of soot aggregates with liquid coatings suggestive of unburned lubricating oil and water, ambient soot particles which have been processed for less than a few hours are heavily internally mixed, primarily with ammonium sulfate. Single particle analysis suggests that this mixing occurs through several mechanisms that require further investigation. In light of previously published results, the internally-mixed nature of processed soot particles is expected to affect heterogeneous chemistry on the soot surface, including interaction with water during wet-removal.
Bestimmung der Hauptabmessungen

Soll ein Kolbenkompressor entworfen werden, so ist auser dem Druckverhaltnis das nutzbare Ansaugevolumen V n fur die Zeiteinheit, z. B.fur die Minute, vorgeschrieben.
Structures of Lung Cancer-Derived Egfr Mutants and Inhibitor Complexes: Mechanism of Activation and Insights Into Differential Inhibitor Sensitivity

Mutations in the EGFR kinase are a cause of non-small-cell lung cancer. To understand their mechanism of activation and effects on drug binding, we studied the kinetics of the L858R and G719S mutants and determined their crystal structures with inhibitors including gefitinib, AEE788, and a staurosporine. We find that the mutations activate the kinase by disrupting autoinhibitory interactions, and that they accelerate catalysis as much as 50-fold in vitro. Structures of inhibitors in complex with both wild-type and mutant kinases reveal similar binding modes for gefitinib and AEE788, but a marked rotation of the staurosporine in the G719S mutant. Strikingly, direct binding measurements show that gefitinib binds 20-fold more tightly to the L858R mutant than to the wild-type enzyme.
The use of instructional technology in poultry science curricula in the United States and Canada: 1. Demographics of technology and software use

This paper describes a study conducted in recognition of the increasingly widespread use of computers and the importance of exposure to instructional technologies in all aspects of poultry science curriculum. The study consisted of the distribution and analyses of two cross-sectional surveys to gather detailed information on the use of instructional technology (IT) in poultry science curricula in the US and Canada. One survey was sent to departments to obtain profiles of poultry science degree programs and the availability of IT and general support for its use. A second survey was designed to obtain individual profiles of faculty use of IT and attitudes toward the use of such technologies. Information presented in this paper includes basic demographics, estimates of survey validity, and a cross-section of instructional technologies used in poultry science education. The survey found that poultry science faculty reported higher levels of use for some instructional technologies than was expected from recent reports in the literature for higher education in general. Traditional technologies were widely used for instruction, but computers and the Internet were almost as popular. Reasons for the high levels of use may be due to an increasing user-friendliness of equipment and software applications, as well as the rapid acceptance over the past 2 yr of computers and Internet technologies among the general public. Involvement with IT projects appears to be changing from passive to active, consistent with faculty reports of high interest levels and active experimentation with technology and software.
Tips for scholarly writing in nursing

Professional nurses, and certainly those in academia and nursing service leadership positions, are experiencing an increasing need for writing skills. Among the most important skills required for scholarly writing are those relating to critical thinking. With this in mind, suggestions for scholarly writing in nursing are presented in this article, organized according to Paul's criteria for critical thinking: clarity, precision, specificity, accuracy, relevance, consistency, logicalness, depth, completeness, significance, fairness, and adequacy for purpose. Although becoming proficient in scholarly writing takes time and effort, the rewards in terms of career advancement, professional contributions, and personal satisfaction and enjoyment are considerable
A Comparison of Flat and Hierarchical Fault-Localization in Transparent Optical Networks

This paper provides quantitative performance analysis for flat and hierarchically distributed monitoring and fault-localization in all-optical networks. We present an efficient heuristic and compare achievable improvements in monitor activation and fault-localization complexity for both schemes.
STUDY OF DIFFUSION IN GLASS

An introductory study was made of diffusion into glass from salts, with silver nitrate as the chief source of diffusing particles. The optimum test conditions were a temperature of 900°C. and a test time of 108 hours. The results noted were (1) effect of time, (2) effect of temperature on the distance of diffusion, (3) variation of silver concentrations in the glass with the distance of diffusion, and (4) a check of Fick's law of diffusion. The concentration gradient of silver from a diffusing interface was determined with the use of a spectrograph and corresponding particle sizes with an ultramicroscope. In addition to the silver nitrate, a number of other salts were tested at several temperatures. The development of Liesegang rings was noted in some of the samples. The nature of diffusion in glass was deduced from the results.
Dielectric evolution of mammalian cell membranes after exposure to pulsed electric fields

We have investigated the temporal evolution of the dielectric properties of Jurkat cells, a malignant human T-cell line, after exposure to microsecond and nanosecond pulsed electric fields. Suspensions with a 10% volume fraction of Jurkat cells were exposed to either 8 consecutive 1.1 kV/cm electroporation pulses of 100 μs, or 8 consecutive 20-kV/cm pulses of 300 ns, applied with a repetition rate of about 1 Hz. The dielectric spectrum of the cell suspensions before and after exposure was determined by means of time domain reflectometry dielectric spectroscopy. After correction for electrode polarization, the conductivity and permittivity of the cell membrane was derived by fitting the suspension spectrum to a combination of Maxwell-Wagner mixture model and single-shell cell model. Both exposure regimens lead to an increase in the conductivities of suspending medium and cell membrane indicating that membrane poration had occurred. This was confirmed by membrane integrity markers. Significantly higher membrane conductivities without uptake of membrane integrity marker suggest different pore formation mechanisms. Accordingly, dielectric measurements allow us to assess conformational and possibly induced functional changes of cells after exposure on biologically relevant time scales, and in turn, evaluate and compare the efficacy of chosen pulse parameters.
N-linked oligosaccharides of vomeromodulin, a putative pheromone transporter in rat.

Vomeromodulin, a putative pheromone transporter of the rat vomeronasal organ, was isolated by lectin chromatography, purified, and subjected to a mass spectrometric (MS) system of glycan structural determination. Through a combination of exoglycosidase treatments and measurements by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS, the N-glycans of vomeromodulin were identified as mainly sialylated and fucosylated biantennary structures. The microheterogeneity of N-glycan structures was also due to the presence of galactose residues with different types of linkages.
Effects of gender and depression on oral medication adherence in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Background: In a range of chronic conditions including diabetes, it has been observed that depressive symptoms may be associated with nonadherence to medications. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the main effects, and interactive effect, of depression and gender on patients adherence to oral diabetes medications. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, in which persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus completed a questionnaire regarding medication use behaviors, depressive symptoms (measured by the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-8]), health beliefs, and demographics. A 2 x 2 factorial analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of gender and depression on medication adherence after adjusting for age, education, self efficacy, social support, and number of doses of diabetes medications. Results: Of the 391 respondents who completed the questionnaire, 73 (18.7%) were categorized as having depression (ie, PHQ-8 score >10). Overall, women (n = 196) had a mean (SD) score of 6.10 (6.19) on the PHQ-8, and men (n = 195) had a lower score of 4.62 (5.28) ( t = 2.75; P P = 0.03).Additionally, there was a significant “gender x depression” interaction effect on adherence (F = 5.93; P = 0.01). Men with depression had mean adherence scores that indicated more nonadherence than did men without depression (9.44 [3.45] vs 7.47 [2.50], respectively), but adherence varied little between women with depression and women without depression (7.83 [2.69] vs 7.55 [2.58], respectively). Conclusions: The association between depression and medication adherence appears to be stronger in men than in women. Clinicians should be cognizant of the potential effect of depression on self-care for diabetes, particularly in men with depressive symptoms.
A PHENOTYPIC TEST OF HALDANE'S RULE IN AN AVIAN HYBRID ZONE

Abstract We introduce a phenotypic method to test for excess mortality in hybrids of the heterogametic sex, as expected from Haldane's rule, and apply this method to the unusually narrow hybrid zones between Hermit Warblers (Dendroica occidentalis) and Townsend's Warblers (D. townsendi) in the Pacific Northwest. Our test requires establishing comparable hybrid indices for male and female warblers. The hybrid index that we developed for females produced age-corrected distributions for phenotypically pure reference samples that closely matched those used by Rohwer and Wood (1998) for males. The similarity in these distributions enabled us to compare the relative frequency of males and females in hybrids and parentals. We detected no deficiency of hybrid females and thus no inviability in the heterogametic sex. Our failure to find evidence of the inviability component of Haldane's rule is not unexpected given the close relationship between these taxa; nonetheless, our methods should be generally useful for s...
Treatment of skin laxity of the lower face and neck in older individuals with a broad‐spectrum infrared light device

Background: Non‐ablative approaches with infrared and radiofrequency energy sources have been shown to reduce skin laxity, but studies have focused on individuals with early‐stage, mild‐to‐moderate degenerative dermal changes. Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an infrared light device for the treatment of skin laxity in patients with soft tissue ptosis of the lower face and neck characteristic of the sixth decade of life and beyond. Materials and methods: Thirteen females, aged 58–83 years old (average: 64 years), were treated with a filtered 1100–1800 nm infrared light‐based device. All individuals presented with ptotic soft tissue, but varied in the extent of skin laxity from no visible laxity to having pendulous excess skin. Two treatment sessions were provided at monthly intervals. The individuals returned for follow‐up visits at 1, 3 and 6 months after the second treatment. Twelve of the individuals completed the study. Results: Changes were d...
Characterization of an F-Class Fly Ash for Use as a Road Sub-base

An F-class fly ash was tested in the laboratory for its physical and mechanical properties for use as a road sub-base in portions of a 2.1-mi (3.4-km) truck by-pass route in east-central Illinois. The testing showed that the fly ash would perform adequately and behave predictably as a road sub-base. Construction of the by-pass route started in early June 2002 and was finished in early September 2002. No unanticipated delays were encountered, and the performance of the fly ash fill exceeded expectations. Hopefully, these positive results will promote other projects around the country to use by-products of coal combustion products, especially fly ash, as suitable fill materials. This project was a co-operative development and demonstration effort among the Office of Coal Development and Marketing (OCDM) of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO), Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC), Morgan County Highway Department (MCHD), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), AmerenCIPS, and the Morgan County Regional Planning Commission. These agencies provided both funding and matching funds to carry this project to completion. The by-pass route was designed to move truck traffic around the southern and eastern sides of the small town of Meredosia, Illinois. One problem the proposed by-pass project encountered was the source of construction materials for the sub-base fill. The project needed an additional 77,000 yd.3 (59,000 m3) of fill for the sub-base. Because of the geology in the Meredosia area, one source of material for the sub-base was sand from a borrow pit. Several other possible sources were investigated, but most were too expensive for the limited budget. The alternative chosen was to use ponded F-class fly ash from the AmerenCIPS Meredosia power plant adjacent to the truck by-pass route. The first task of the project was to determine the physical and material properties …
Design and Fabrication of Spin Torque Transfer Devices with Magnetic Nano-Current-Confined Structures for Lower Switching Current Density

This paper investigates the design of a hybrid (composite) free layer in order to implement a new spin switching configuration to reduce the switching current. The hybrid free layer consists of one and two free layer and couples to a magnetic granular structured nano-current-confined (NCC) layer. The magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices were patterned into 180 nmtimes250 nm ellipse shape by using phase-shift lithography. The current-induced magnetization switching of the MTJs with and without NCC structure was measured by four-point probe method. Results show that for MTJ with NCC structure, the critical switching current decreased dramatically .
Large Homogeneous Genome Regions (Isochores) in Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merr.]

The landscape of plant genomes, while slowly being characterized and defined, is still composed primarily of regions of undefined function. Many eukaryotic genomes contain isochore regions, mosaics of homogeneous GC content that can abruptly change from one neighboring isochore to the next. Isochores are broken into families which are characterized by their GC levels. We identified 4,339 compositionally distinct domains and 331 of these were identified as Long Homogeneous Genome Regions (LHGRs). We assigned these to four families based on finite mixture models of GC content. We then characterized each family with respect to exon length, gene content, and transposeable elements. The LHGR pattern of soybeans is unique in that while the majority of the genes within LHGRs are found within a single LHGR family with a narrow GC-range (Family B), that family is not the highest in GC content as seen in vertebrates and invertebrates. Instead Family B has a mean GC content of 35%. The range of GC content for all LHGRs is 16-59% GC which is a larger range than what is typical of vertebrates. This is the first study in which LHGRs have been identified in soybeans and the functions of the genes within the LHGRs have been analyzed.
On the methods of cognitive neuropsychology

Contemporary cognitive neuropsychology attempts to infer unobserved features of normal human cognition, or 'cognitive architecture', from experiments with normals and with brain-damaged subjects in whom certain normal cognitive capacities are altered, diminished, or absent. Fundamental methodological issues about the enterprise of cognitive neuropsychology concern the characterization of methods by which features of normal cognitive architecture can be identified from such data, the assumptions upon which the reliability of such methods are premised, and the limits of such methods even granting their assumptions in resolving uncertainties about that architecture. With some idealization, the question of the capacities of various experimental designs in cognitive neuropsychology to uncover cognitive architecture can be reduced to comparatively simple questions about the prior assumptions investigators are willing to make. This paper presents some of simplest of those reductions.
Diagnosis of an Occult Hip Fracture by Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

Abstract Background Hip fractures are common injuries, particularly among elderly patients. Although plain radiographs are the initial imaging modality of choice, approximately 10% of hip fractures are not radiographically evident. Failure to diagnose a hip fracture in the emergency department may result in delayed diagnosis and potentially devastating consequences. Case Report We report the case of an 81-year-old woman with right hip pain after a fall. Although plain radiographs of the right hip and femur were negative for fracture, point-of-care ultrasound of the right hip demonstrated a cortical disruption in the femur consistent with a fracture. Given the clinical and ultrasound findings, computed tomography of the bony pelvis and proximal femurs was performed, which confirmed an oblique complex fracture of the right femur through the greater and lesser trochanters. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Point-of-care ultrasound, in conjunction with clinical suspicion, may help identify patients who require more advanced imaging to identify occult hip fractures.
Nanomechanics of layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte complexes: a manifestation of ionic cross-links and fixed charges

This study investigates the roles of two distinct features of ionically cross-linked polyelectrolyte networks – ionic cross-links and fixed charges – in determining their nanomechanical properties. The layer-by-layer assembled poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAH/PAA) network is used as the model material. The densities of ionic cross-links and fixed charges are modulated through solution pH and ionic strength (IS), and the swelling ratio, elastic and viscoelastic properties are quantified via an array of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanomechanical tools. The roles of ionic cross-links are underscored by the distinctive elastic and viscoelastic nanomechanical characters observed here. First, as ionic cross-links are highly sensitive to solution conditions, the instantaneous modulus, E0, exhibits orders-of-magnitude changes upon pH- and IS-governed swelling, distinctive from the rubber elasticity prediction based on permanent covalent cross-links. Second, ionic cross-links can break and self-re-form, and this mechanism dominates force relaxation of PAH/PAA under a constant indentation depth. In most states, the degree of relaxation is >90%, independent of ionic cross-link density. The importance of fixed charges is highlighted by the unexpectedly more elastic nature of the network despite low ionic cross-link density at pH 2.0, IS 0.01 M. Here, the complex is a net charged, loosely cross-linked, where the degree of relaxation is attenuated to ≈50% due to increased elastic contribution arising from fixed charge-induced Donnan osmotic pressure. In addition, this study develops a new method for quantifying the thickness of highly swollen polymer hydrogel films. It also underscores important technical considerations when performing nanomechanical tests on highly rate-dependent polymer hydrogel networks. These results provide new insights into the nanomechanical characters of ionic polyelectrolyte complexes, and lay the ground for further investigation of their unique time-dependent properties.
The Meaning of Freedom of the Press: A Legal and Philosophical Approach

The fundamental right to the freedom of the press has frequently been relied upon, not only by legal professionals, but also in discourses involving any public figure. Defenders of the freedom of the press tend to construe this right as a set of obligations for the government (regulation) to stay away from certain matters. This paper presents arguments to support a slightily different interpretation, under which freedom of the press is a more complex right covering various important values, in addition to the undisturbed operation of journalists, editors, and media outlets. The paper discusses the philosophical foundations of this fundamental right.
Selectivity Studies On Tantalum Barrier Layer In Copper CMP

Copper metallization in sub-0.18 μm semiconductor devices is achieved by combining the dual damascence techniques followed by chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). Tantalum and its nitride have been identified as the diffusion barrier layer for copper metallization. However, the wide differences in properties between copper and tantalum layers result in selectivity problems during CMP process. The aim of this work is to obtain a better understanding on the slurry selectivity for copper and tantalum and to develop slurries with best selectivity performance. In this work, the effect of several chemical parameters (abrasive type, oxidizer type, concentration, pH etc.) was studied through static and dynamic tests using advanced electrochemical techniques and surface analysis techniques. The surface layers of the statically etched copper and tantalum discs were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and surface planarity was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Polishing rates results show that alumina-based slurry polished copper very well whereas tantalum removal rate was low. However, for the silica-based slurry the tantalum shows much higher removal rate than copper and better surface planarity was obtained.
Inheritance and linkage of pyrethrins resistance in the German cockroach.

Pyrethrins resistance in Blattella germanica (L.) has been examined with respect to its development, inheritance mechanism, and linkage association. Laboratory and field-collected strains were tested to determine the extent and Level of resistance. A maximum of 75 × resistance Le50 was found. The most resistant strain was crossed with an unmarked susceptible strain and 2 susceptible marked strains. The progeny from subsequent generations were tested for resistance to pyrethrins: piperonyl but oxide (1:10 vol/vol) using a dipping technique and were classified by markers in linkage tests. The results showed that pyrethrins resistance ( R-Pyr ) is inherited as a simple autosomal incompletely dominant trait. Link age studies proved that R-Pyr is linked with the Group VI trait pallid eye at a distance of 32.8±0.9 units.
There's more to a mushroom than meets the eye : mating studies in the Agaricales

Mating studies and related research are used in discussions of the following subjects: 1) long-dis- tance mating phenomena, including strain-specific ability to dikaryotize mates; 2) the "biological species concept;" 3) clamp connection suppression in certain long-distance dikaryotization; 4) discrepancies be? tween in vivo and in vitro mating behavior; 5) inde- pendent evolutionary rates of various characters; 6) occurrence and retention of amphithallism; and 7) the role of asexual propagule production in the mush- room life-cycle. Examples are drawn from several gen- era of Agaricales.
Ultrathin Exfoliated TiO2 Nanosheets Modified with ZrO2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

In the present work, we use chemical exfoliation to fabricate ultrathin two-dimensional anatase TiO2 nanosheets (NSs) for application as photoanode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells. For the first time, colloidal Ti0.91O2 NSs are synthesized via chemical exfoliation of a layered precursor (HxTi2–x/4□x/4O4·H2O; □: vacancy, x = 0.7) through ion exchange with tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) cations. The as-prepared Ti0.91O2 NSs are well-dispersed and ultrathin with a lateral size of up to a few micrometers. Subsequent acid treatment induces colloidal Ti0.91O2 to reassemble and precipitate into a gelation form, followed by thermal annealing to convert the Ti0.91O2 gelation into anatase TiO2 nanosheets for applications as photoanode materials in DSSCs. Because of the enhanced light absorption and dye absorption resulting from the high surface area of ultrathin TiO2 nanosheets, the DSSC consisting of 8.8 μm thick TiO2 nanosheet film delivers the highest energy conversion efficiency of 4.76% and the largest shor...
How Deformation Enhances Mobility in a Polymer Glass

Molecular dynamics simulations and energy landscape analyses are carried out for a realistic model of glassy polystyrene under shear deformation. Deformation enhances the atomic mobility, as quantified by the van Hove function. The enhanced mobility is shown to arise from two mechanisms: First, active deformation continually reduces barriers for hopping events, and the importance of this mechanism is modulated by the rate of thermally activated transitions between adjacent energy minima. Second, deformation moves the system to higher-energy regions of the energy landscape, characterized by lower barriers. Both mechanisms enhance the dynamics during deformation, and the second mechanism is also relevant after deformation has ceased. Furthermore, neither mechanism on its own could be expected to correlate all mobility data.
Electric Field Modulation of the Membrane Potential in Solid-State Ion Channels

Biological ion channels are molecular devices that allow a rapid flow of ions across the cell membrane. Normal physiological functions, such as generating action potentials for cell-to-cell communication, are highly dependent on ion channels that can open and close in response to external stimuli for regulating ion permeation. Mimicking these biological functions using synthetic structures is a rapidly progressing yet challenging area. Here we report the electric field modulation of the membrane potential phenomena in mechanically and chemically robust solid-state ion channels, an abiotic analogue to the voltage-gated ion channels in living systems. To understand the complex physicochemical processes in the electric field regulated membrane potential behavior, both quasi-static and transient characteristics of converting transmembrane ion gradients into electric potential are investigated. It is found that the transmembrane potential can be adequately tuned by an external electrical stimulation, thanks to the unique properties of the voltage-regulated selective ion transport through a nanoscale channel.
Death causes by malignant tumor in surveillance areas of Yunnan Province from 2006-2011

[Objective] To understand the mortality and disease trend of malignant tumor in surveillance areas of Yunnan Province from 2006-2011,and provide scientific evidence for prevention and treatment of malignant tumors.[Methods]Mortality and standardized mortality were used to describe the surveillance data.[Results]The reported mortality of malignant tumor in Yunnan Province was 70.80/100 000(standardized mortality was 78.17/100 000),which ranked fourth of all death causes.The mortality ratio of malignant tumor of male to female was 1.66.The top 5 death causes by malignant tumor was lung cancer,liver cancer,stomach cancer,colorectal cancer and leukemia.[Conclusion]Malignant tumor has become one of the major causes of death in surveillance areas of Yunnan Province.Mortality of malignant tumor is increasing.Comprehensive intervention measure should be taken to prevent and control the malignant tumor based on different population and different tumor characteristics.