cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Melt electrospinning of biodegradable polyurethane scaffolds

Electrospinning from a melt, in contrast to from a solution, is an attractive tissue engineering scaffold manufacturing process as it allows for the formation of small diameter fibers while eliminating potentially cytotoxic solvents. Despite this, there is a dearth of literature on scaffold formation via melt electrospinning. This is likely due to the technical challenges related to the need for a well-controlled high-temperature setup and the difficulty in developing an appropriate polymer. In this paper, a biodegradable and thermally stable polyurethane (PU) is described specifically for use in melt electrospinning. Polymer formulations of aliphatic PUs based on (CH(2))(4)-content diisocyanates, polycaprolactone (PCL), 1,4-butanediamine and 1,4-butanediol (BD) were evaluated for utility in the melt electrospinning process. The final polymer formulation, a catalyst-purified PU based on 1,4-butane diisocyanate, PCL and BD in a 4/1/3M ratio with a weight-average molecular weight of about 40kDa, yielded a nontoxic polymer that could be readily electrospun from the melt. Scaffolds electrospun from this polymer contained point bonds between fibers and mechanical properties analogous to many in vivo soft tissues.
Quality of life after lung volume reduction surgery

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease manifested by airflow obstruction and hyperinflation. Patients with emphysema compose a subset of COPD patients in which loss of elastic retraction on the terminal bronchioles results in abnormal permanent enlargement of the airspaces and destruction of the alveolar walls. The resulting airflow obstruction and hyperinflation result in increased work of breathing and inefficient use of respiratory muscles. There is a simultaneous loss of the alveolar capillary membrane, decreasing the area of gas exchange. These physiologic changes all can be quantified by various measures of pulmonary function. Patients typically have a marked decrease in expiratory flow volumes and diffusing capacity, combined with overinflation of the lung volumes measured by plethysmography. These physiologic changes are reflected in a diminishing functional capacity of the emphysema patient, most commonly measured by the 6-minute walk test or exercise studies. These commonly measured variables of pulmonary function and exercise capacity act only as easily measurable surrogates for quality of life (QOL), however. In general, patients remain asymptomatic until fairly profound decreases occur in pulmonary function. Despite medical therapy, in patients with advanced disease, function deteriorates episodically but relentlessly. The increased work of breathing leads to progressive dyspnea, which subsequently leads to progressive inactivity and physical deconditioning. A vicious cycle ensues with patients disabled by breathlessness, fatigue, irritability, and depression. It is this spectrum of symptoms that are the target of palliative therapies for emphysema, the most recent of which
Intraneuronal cylindrical particles in Alzheimer's disease

In this report we describe an unusual form of intraneuronal cylindrical particles (CP) in the brain of a 69-year-old man with typical Alzheimer's disease (AD). A large number of CP were seen in cortical neurons in the frontal and parietal lobes. The CP were always seen within the cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, had a 25-to 30-nm0thick trilaminar wall and measured 80–95 nm in cross-sectional diameter. In an occasional neuron, the CP were seen next to filamentous constituents of neurofibrillary tangles. The remaining neurons containing CP appeared normal. A similar finding has been reported in another case of AD and also in two cases with other conditions, thus indicating that the presence of CP is not limited to AD. Morphologically similar intracisternal CP have been observed in the macrophages in certain strain of mice following implantation of dibenzanthracene. The CP in human brains and experimental animals show a remarkable resemblance to rhabdovirus and certain murine endogenous virus particles. The nature of these intraneuronal CP in human brains and their significance, if any, remain undetermined.
A mitogenic action for fibrinogen mediated through intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

Abstract Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a cell surface ligand for αLβ2 and αMβ2 integrins and has a key role in leukocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium. The plasma protein fibrinogen has also been shown to interact with ICAM-1. We have investigated the effect of fibrinogen binding to ICAM-1-expressing cells on cell proliferation. The inclusion of 200–800 nmfibrinogen but not fibronectin to the culture medium of Raji induced a 2–4-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation after 8 h. Cell proliferation in cultures containing fibrinogen was also confirmed by direct cell counting. The proliferative response in Raji was abrogated by an anti-ICAM-1 mAb 84H10 which maps to the first Ig domain of ICAM-1. A purified truncated form of ICAM-1 containing the first two Ig-like domains and a peptide with amino acid sequence corresponding to ICAM-1 (8–22) was also able to block the proliferative action of fibrinogen on Raji. 200 nmfibrinogen induced a 3-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation by 293 cells transfected with ICAM-1 cDNA but not control non-transfected 293 cells. Comparable mitogenic effects were achieved with fibrinogen fragments X and D100, and with a synthetic peptide with an amino acid sequence matching fibrinogen γ chain (117–133). These results indicate that interaction between discrete sequences within ICAM-1 and fibrinogen result in cellular proliferation.
A Low-Overpotential Potassium–Oxygen Battery Based on Potassium Superoxide

Li–O2 battery is regarded as one of the most promising energy storage systems for future applications. However, its energy efficiency is greatly undermined by the large overpotentials of the discharge (formation of Li2O2) and charge (oxidation of Li2O2) reactions. The parasitic reactions of electrolyte and carbon electrode induced by the high charging potential cause the decay of capacity and limit the battery life. Here, a K–O2 battery is report that uses K+ ions to capture O2– to form the thermodynamically stable KO2 product. This allows for the battery to operate through the one-electron redox process of O2/O2–. Our studies confirm the formation and removal of KO2 in the battery cycle test. Furthermore, without the use of catalysts, the battery shows a low discharge/charge potential gap of less than 50 mV at a modest current density, which is the lowest one that has ever been reported in metal–oxygen batteries.
Observation of final state effects on macroscopic quantum transitions

We have observed macroscopic quantum transitions in a symmetric double well potential (a SQUID with Φ0/2 of external flux). The transition rate Γ α exp[-BΔU/ħω0] has been measured vs. ΔU, the barrier height, for fixed temperature. This is achieved by modulating the barrier height in situ with the use of a tunable rf SQUID whose parameters have been accurately determined. The tunneling exponent obtained from these measurements, B = 10.3 ± 0.6, is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. Γ has also been measured as a function of temperature (well below the crossover temperature to thermal activation) for fixed ΔU. A power law (T1.8) dependence has been observed as predicted for incoherent relaxation in contrast to the exponential rate en ancement observed in previous tunneling measurements.
Photovoltaic Performance of Ultrasmall PbSe Quantum Dots

We investigated the effect of PbSe quantum dot size on the performance of Schottky solar cells made in an ITO/PEDOT/PbSe/aluminum structure, varying the PbSe nanoparticle diameter from 1 to 3 nm. In this highly confined regime, we find that the larger particle bandgap can lead to higher open-circuit voltages (∼0.6 V), and thus an increase in overall efficiency compared to previously reported devices of this structure. To carry out this study, we modified existing synthesis methods to obtain ultrasmall PbSe nanocrystals with diameters as small as 1 nm, where the nanocrystal size is controlled by adjusting the growth temperature. As expected, we find that photocurrent decreases with size due to reduced absorption and increased recombination, but we also find that the open-circuit voltage begins to decrease for particles with diameters smaller than 2 nm, most likely due to reduced collection efficiency. Owing to this effect, we find peak performance for devices made with PbSe dots with a first exciton energy...
Development of nutraceutical egg products with omega-3-rich oils

Abstract Novel, nutritionally-enhanced egg products were developed by substituting saturated fat and cholesterol-containing yolk with omega-3 fatty acids-rich (ω-3 FA) flaxseed, menhaden, algae, and krill oils. The ω-3 FA-fortified eggs are typically developed through alteration of hen feed. However, the present study aimed at creating such a product via processing. Experimental egg products were developed to match composition, color, and texture of hen eggs (mixed whole egg). Experimental egg products, mixed whole egg, and liquid egg product (Egg Beaters™) were cooked, analyzed, and compared. Moisture, protein, and fat content of experimental egg products matched ( P > 0.05) whole egg. The L ∗ (lightness) for experimental egg products was generally similar to mixed whole egg except when krill oil was added. Experimental egg products had higher ( P ∗ and b ∗ than mixed whole egg and Egg Beaters™, indicating more redness and yellowness, respectively. Texture profile analysis (TPA) values (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience) revealed that experimental egg products had similar ( P > 0.05) and greater ( P P P > 0.05) of slightly firmer texture for experimental egg products than Egg Beaters™.
A unified foundation for business analytics

Synthesizing prior research, this paper designs a relatively comprehensive and holistic characterization of business analytics - one that serves as a foundation on which researchers, practitioners, and educators can base their studies of business analytics. As such, it serves as an initial ontology for business analytics as a field of study. The foundation has three main parts dealing with the whence and whither of business analytics: identification of dimensions along which business analytics possibilities can be examined, derivation of a six-class taxonomy that covers business analytics perspectives in the literature, and design of an inclusive framework for the field of business analytics. In addition to unifying the literature, a major contribution of the designed framework is that it can stimulate thinking about the nature, roles, and future of business analytics initiatives. We show how this is done by deducing a host of unresolved issues for consideration by researchers, practitioners, and educators. We find that business analytics involves issues quite aside from data management, number crunching, technology use, systematic reasoning, and so forth. Holistic foundation of business analytics introduced, as an ontology for the fieldCharacterization business analytics as evidence-based problem recognition and solvingAdvance a framework of business analytics for a cohesive unifying view of the fieldStimulates thinking about nature, role and future of business analytics initiativesDeduces unresolved issues for considerations by researchers/educators/practitioners
Development of a murine ventricular assist device transcutaneous drive-line model.

Mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSD) are a major form of therapy for congestive heart failure. However, MCSD have been associated with a high incidence of infections. The most common of these infections involves the transcutaneous driveline 1–4. Here, we describe a murine driveline model developed to study MCSD-related infections.
Periphytic food and predatory crayfish: relative roles in determining snail distribution.

In the laboratory and field, we examined how periphyton (food of snails) and predatory crayfish influenced snail distribution in Trout Lake, a permanent, northern Wisconsin lake. Laboratory experiments (with no crayfish) tested the importance of periphyton biomass in determining snail preference among rocks, and among rock, sand, and macrophyte substrates. Among rocks with four different amounts of periphyton, periphyton biomass and the number of Lymnaea emarginata, Physa spp., and Amnicola spp. were positively related. A similar, but non-significant, trend occurred for Helisoma anceps. A field experiment at a site in Trout Lake where predation risk was low confirmed the preference by snails for periphyton covered rocks; more snails colonized rocks with periphyton than rocks without. When given a choice of rock, sand, and macrophytes in the laboratory, L. emarginata preferred high periphyton biomass and rock. Laboratory and field results contrasted with the distribution of snails in Trout Lake; no snails occurred in areas with abundant periphyton-covered rocks, but snails were abundant nearby on scattered rocks with little periphyton. However, where snails were absent, crayfish were abundant (14.5 crayfish-trap−1-day−1), and where snails were abundant, crayfish were rare (3.2 crayfish-trap−1-day−1), suggesting that crayfish predation reduced snails. The hypothesis that the negative association between snail and periphyton biomass resulted from snail grazing was supported by the results of a field snail enclosure-exclosure experiment (1 m2 cages; n=3). All experiments and observations therefore suggest that: 1) crayfish predation is more important than a preference for high periphyton biomass in determining snail distribution in Trout Lake; 2) periphyton biomass is negtively related to snail grazing; and 3) crayfish had a positive indirect effect on periphyton by preying on grazing snails.
Statistical approach for detection and localization of a fluorescing mouse tumor in Intralipid

We present a method for detecting and localizing a fluorescing tumor obscured underneath several millimeters of a multiply scattering, homogeneous medium from fluorescence measurements made above the surface. Using a statistical model of the measurement system, we develop approaches for detection by use of a binary hypothesis testing approach and localization by use of maximum-likelihood estimation. We also compute the probability of tumor detection and the Cramer–Rao lower bound for the localization estimate error, which are performance metrics that could potentially be optimized in an experimental design. We validate the methods in an experimental study involving an excised mouse tumor tagged with a new folate-indocyanine dye and obscured under a tissue-simulating lipid suspension.
The New Astronomical Eldorado: The French Understanding of American Astrophysics, 1900-1920.

title ABSTRACT /title At the beginning of the twentieth century, as international competition in astronomy increased, French astronomers were having serious doubts about their international supremacy. Now challenged by the development of interdisciplinary specialties such as astrophysics or geophysics, celestial mechanics had traditionally conferred most of its prestigious status to French astronomy. Considering they were unable to make important contributions on the international scene, a marginal community of French astrophysicists publicly lamented their lack of instrumental resources or the inadequacy of existing ones, as well as poor institutional support. In this paper, I examine the way in which leading French astrophysicists looked at American astronomy. Leading expeditions to the U.S. in the first two decades of century, they wrote reports about the organization of U.S. observatories and shared a fascination for Californian ones. In particular, all believed that George Hale's Mount Wilson Observatory was the only place in the world where astrophysics could really develop: a new "astronomical Eldorado" (as Pulkovo and Greenwich had been before). Back home, they sought to import the U.S. research system to transform the French astronomical community as a whole. The invocation of American astrophysics was a pretext for local issues: a prism that coloured national claims.
The use of Monte Carlo calculations in the determination of a Ge detector efficiency curve

Abstract Precise measured data and an extensive set of Monte Carlo calculations have been combined to optimize the parameters for a 280 cm3 n-type Ge semiconductor photon detector, with the outcome that the Monte Carlo calculations now provide a very precise detector efficiency curve. The detector position and its length were determined from a set of measurements that included an axial scan. Measurements of the relative efficiencies based on radionuclides with accurately known relative photon emission rates were combined with efficiencies calculated by a Monte Carlo photon and electron transport code to adjust the detector diameter, internal deadlayer thickness, and the effective external deadlayer thickness. Our results show that, in a well-studied situation, it is possible to use Monte Carlo calculations to aid in the determination of a Ge detector's efficiency with an accuracy of about 0.2% from 50 to 1400 keV.
Temperature and ph effects on the relative sweetness of suprathreshold mixtures of dextrose fructose)

Increasing the temperature from 5 deg to 50 deg C did not significantly alter the relative sweetness of aqueous solutions of dextrose, fructose, and their combination, as measured by the method of magnitude estimation, with a panel of 12 experienced Ss. Reducing pH from 5.8 to 2.7 caused about a 50% reduction in relative sweetness for all stimuli tested. The slopes of these lines tended to decrease slightly, whereas the Y-intercept values showed the greatest change. In all experiments the slopes of the lines were reasonably stable, averaging 1.40 vs 1.3 reported by Stevens (1961) for sucrose. The results of these experiments are discussed in relation to previously reported data on taste interactions.
Directions in Research: Language and the Body.

(1999). Directions in Research: Language and the Body. Research on Language and Social Interaction: Vol. 32, No. 1-2, pp. 51-59.
Stability and instability of scalar fields coupled to gravity

Abstract We relate the stability criteria of Boucher for a scalar field coupled to gravity to the semi-classical tunnelling calculations of Coleman and DeLuccia. This enables us to prove that the Boucher conditions imply both stability when they are satisfied and instability when they are not. In addition, it provides physical insight into the nature of the Boucher conditions and indicates that the O(4)-invariant, thin-wall approximation used in semi-classical tunnelling computations is reliable.
Efficient repair of abasic sites in DNA by mitochondrial enzymes

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cause a variety of relatively rare human diseases and may contribute to the pathogenesis of other, more common degenerative diseases. This stimulates interest in the capacity of mitochondria to repair damage to mtDNA. Several recent studies have shown that some types of damage to mtDNA may be repaired, particularly if the lesions can be processed through a base excision mechanism that employs an abasic site as a common intermediate. In this paper, we demonstrate that a combination of enzymes purified from Xenopus laevis mitochondria efficiently repairs abasic sites in DNA. This repair pathway employs a mitochondrial class II apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease to cleave the DNA backbone on the 5' side of an abasic site. A deoxyribophosphodiesterase acts to remove the 5' sugar-phosphate residue left by AP endonuclease. mtDNA polymerase gamma fills the resulting 1-nucleotide gap. The remaining nick is sealed by an mtDNA ligase. We report the first extensive purification of mtDNA ligase as a 100-kDa enzyme that functions with an enzyme-adenylate intermediate and is capable of ligating oligo(dT) strands annealed to poly(rA). These properties together with preliminary immunological evidence suggest that mtDNA may be related to nuclear DNA ligase III.
What Drives Global E-Governance? An Exploratory Study at a Macro Level

Global e-government is being tracked using a variety of different measures, none of which have been systematically validated. Little research compares and contrasts these measures and little work has sought to frame and identify potential independent drivers of e-government at the national level. This paper systematically compares and contrasts the dependent variables and the relationships between the e-government variables and independent drivers. Using data from a variety of institutional sources, we find low correlations among e-government measures and low to moderate consistency in the relationships between established independent variables and e-government measures. Findings indicate a significant measurement validity problem and conclusions recommend consideration of a different approach.
Language, space, and the development of cognitive flexibility in humans: the case of two spatial memory tasks ☆

Abstract Prior experiments have shown that young children, like adult rats, rely mainly on information about the macroscopic shape of the environment to reorient themselves, whereas human adults rely more flexibly on combinations of spatial and non-spatial landmark information. Adult rats have also been shown to exhibit a striking limitation in another spatial memory task, movable object search, again a limitation not shown by human adults. The present experiments explored the developmental change in humans leading to more flexible, human adult-like performance on these two tasks. Experiment 1 identified the age range of 5–7 years as the time the developmental change for reorientation occurs. Experiment 2 employed a multiple regression approach to determine that among several candidate measures, only a specific language production measure, the production of phrases specifying exactly the information needed to solve the task like adults, correlated with the reorientation performance of children in this age range. Experiment 3 revealed that similar language production abilities were associated with more flexible moving object search task performance. These results, in combination with findings with human adults, suggest that language production skills play a causal role in allowing older humans to construct novel representations rapidly, which can then be used to transcend the limits of phylogenetically older cognitive processes.
Implicit Theories of Relationships: Orientations Toward Evaluation and Cultivation:

Implicit theories of relationships (ITRs) influence goals, motivations, attributions, and behavior in romantic relationships. We developed a model of ITRs that draws from social cognition, motivation, and achievement literatures, and derived conceptual parallels and hypotheses with regard to relationships. It is proposed that ITRs reflect the belief component of a larger system of motivations and goals that can influence the degree to which people are oriented toward the evaluation and cultivation of relationships. Research on ITRs is reviewed with regard to how they moderate well-documented associations between relationship perceptions and outcomes. Differences between ITRs and implicit theories in other domains are also discussed.
Effect of Sprinkler Irrigation on Bacterial Soft Rot and Yield of Broccoli

The effect of amount of applied water under two irrigation frequencies (once versus three times per week) on the incidence of bacterial soft rot, caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, and yield of broccoli was investigated in field studies conducted in 1987 and 1988. At head initiation, the amount of applied water was varied by utilizing a line source irrigation system. Incidence of soft rot was higher in the OSU breeding line 86-3 plots, followed by cv. Citation and then cv. Gem. Soft rot was not consistently affected by amount of applied water. Differences in amount of disease were apparent, however, between the separate irrigation frequency studies in 1988; disease incidence more than doubled under the high- compared with the low-frequency irrigation. Further studies on the effects of frequency and timing of sprinkler irrigation on soft rot and yield of Gem broccoli were undertaken in 1993 and 1994. Six sprinkler irrigation regimes, a factorial combination of frequency (irrigation every 2, 4, or 8 days) and timing (morning or evening), were established. Total water applied did not differ by treatment. Incidence of soft rot was negligible at the first harvest in both years. At the last harvest, the incidence of soft rot was significantly reduced, from 22 to 10% in 1993 and from 30 to 15% in 1994, by the change in frequency of irrigation from 2 to 8 days. In contrast, timing of irrigation had no effect on disease incidence. Yield of broccoli was not affected by either frequency or timing of irrigation.
CMOF-model semantics and language mapping for MOF 2.0 implementations

Meta-modelling programming frameworks enable engineers to deal with models, defined through object-oriented meta-models, in the environment of programming languages. Existing frameworks use redefinition relationships between meta-model classes to encourage reusable meta-model design. In contrast to existing platforms the upcoming MOF 2.0 OMG recommendation proposes the meta-modelling language CMOF that also includes the possibility to define redefinition, and sub-setting constraints between the properties of meta-model classes. In this paper we extend existing implementation strategies and language mappings to realize these new features in a MOF 2.0 implementation. We propose a Java language mapping for the CMOF-model, based on method overwriting with changing return types and generic collection types that allow reasonable static type safety. Furthermore, we describe the semantics that are needed to implement functionality for adding and removing property values that automatically yields sub-setting constraints.
High tibial osteotomies in the young active patient

Unicompartmental changes in the knee of a young athlete remains a difficult and controversial problem in orthopaedics. Excessive premature loading of articular cartilage, most often the result of a knee injury, has been shown to result in increased degenerative changes and pain in the younger patient. Instability may also contribute to the degeneration of cartilage and must therefore be considered in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the young adult. High tibial osteotomy has been described as a treatment option for malalignment in the older, less active adult and has shown promising results in a younger, more active population. Osteotomies for instability are more controversial and should be considered in more complex injury patterns.
Shared Experiences of Technology and Trust: An Experimental Study of Physiological Compliance Between Active and Passive Users in Technology-Mediated Collaborative Encounters

Abstract —The aim of this study is to examine the utility of phys-iological compliance (PC) to understand shared experience in amultiuser technological environment involving active and passiveusers. Common ground is critical for effective collaboration andimportant for multiuser technological systems that include passiveusers since this kind of user typically does not have control overthe technology being used. An experiment was conducted with 48participants who worked in two-person groups in a multitask envi-ronment under varied task and technology conditions. Indicatorsof PC were measured from participants’ cardiovascular and elec-trodermal activities. The relationship between these PC indicatorsand collaboration outcomes, such as performance and subjectiveperception of the system, was explored. Results indicate that PC isrelated to group performance after controlling for task/technologyconditions. PC is also correlated with shared perceptions of trustin technology among group members. PC is a useful tool for moni-toring group processes and, thus, can be valuable for the design ofcollaborative systems. This study has implications for understand-ing effective collaboration.
The Prevention Research Centers' Managing Epilepsy Well Network

The Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network was created in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Prevention Research Centers and Epilepsy Program to promote epilepsy self-management research and to improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy. MEW Network membership comprises four collaborating centers (Emory University, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Michigan, and University of Washington), representatives from CDC, affiliate members, and community stakeholders. This article describes the MEW Network's background, mission statement, research agenda, and structure. Exploratory and intervention studies conducted by individual collaborating centers are described, as are Network collaborative projects, including a multisite depression prevention intervention and the development of a standard measure of epilepsy self-management. Communication strategies and examples of research translation programs are discussed. The conclusion outlines the Network's role in the future development and dissemination of evidence-based epilepsy self-management programs.
Cells Are Plausible Targets for High-Level Spatial Languages

High level languages greatly increase the power of a programmer at the cost of programs that consume more resources than those written at a lower level of abstraction. This inefficiency is a major concern for the programming of biological systems: although advances in synthetic biology are beginning to allow bacteria to be programmed at an "assembly language'' level, metabolic and chemical constraints currently place tight limits on the computational resources available. We find, however, that the semantics of the Proto spatial computing language appear to be a good match for engineered genetic regulatory networks, and particularly for describing the spatial differentiation necessary to construct tissues or organs. In this paper, we propose a mapping between Proto programs and standardized biological parts. We then demonstrate the plausibility of this mapping by applying it to a band detection program, finding that standard code optimization techniques can transform the inefficient program produced by the initial mapping into an efficient design equivalent to the Weiss laboratory's hand-designed band detector.
gm: a tool for exploratory analysis of DNA sequence data

The gm (gene mapper) system provides a tool which automates the analysis and identification of candidate genes within an anonymous DNA sequence. Only a small, biased set of all genes are known; from this sampling it is not possible to know the composition of all genes. Consequently, it is not currently possible to develop software to detect all genes. gm is capable of detecting large regions of many genes and provides an exploratory tool for looking at anonymous DNA sequences. The first release of gm has been distributed to several dozen user sites, who have provided feedback which is being integrated into gm v.2. This paper discusses the problems encountered in gene identification software, the performance of gm v1.0, and the new features in gm v.2 that will enhance its use as an exploratory tool. >
Aorticopulmonary septal defect and interrupted aortic arch: a diagnostic challenge.

Abstract A report of a rare case of aorticopulmonary septal defect and interrupted aortic arch is presented with cardiac catheterization, cineangiocardiographic and autopsy findings. Emphasis is placed on the masking of the Interrupted arch by the presence of an aorticopulmonary septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus.
Coding of Serial Order by Neostriatal Neurons: A “Natural Action” Approach to Movement Sequence

The neostriatum controls behavioral sequencing, or action syntax, as well as simpler aspects of movement. Yet the precise nature of the neostriatums role in sequencing remains unclear. Here we used a “natural action” approach that combined electrophysiological and neuroethological techniques. We identified neostriatal neurons that code the serial order of natural movement sequences of rats. During grooming behavior, rats emit complex but highly predictable species-specific sequences of movements, termed “syntactic chains.” Neuronal activity of 41% of cells in the dorsolateral and ventromedial neostriatum coded the sequential pattern of syntactic chains. Only 14% coded simple motor properties of grooming movements. Neurons fired preferentially during syntactic chains compared with similar grooming movements made in different sequential order or to behavioral resting. Sequential coding differed between the dorsolateral and ventromedial neostriatum. Neurons in the dorsolateral site increased firing by 116% during syntactic chains, compared with only a 30% increase by neurons in the ventromedial site, and dorsolateral neurons showed strongest coding of grooming syntax by several additional criteria. These data demonstrate that neostriatal neurons code abstract properties of serial order for natural movement and support the hypothesis that the dorsolateral neostriatum plays a special role in implementing action syntax.
Research Competencies in Counseling: A Delphi Study

Research quality has become the focus of a nationwide discussion, one from which the counseling field is not exempt. One hindrance to improving counseling research is the lack of guidelines for research competence. The purpose of this study was to develop an initial list of research competencies for the counseling field using the Delphi method. An expert panel of counseling researchers reached consensus on 159 research competencies. Suggestions for implementation and future research are discussed.
Artificial intelligence research at IBM

IBM has a history of achieving seminal results in artificial intelligence, such as the first machine translation program, the first competitive game-playing computer, and the first speech recognition system that addressed the general dictation problem. This paper describes the unique characteristics of IBM that enabled researchers to continuously achieve breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.
Max-Product Algorithms for the Generalized Multiple-Fault Diagnosis Problem

In this paper, we study the application of the max-product algorithm (MPA) to the generalized multiple-fault diagnosis (GMFD) problem, which consists of components (to be diagnosed) and alarms/connections that can be unreliable. The MPA and the improved sequential MPA (SMPA) that we develop in this paper are local-message-passing algorithms that operate on the bipartite diagnosis graph (BDG) associated with the GMFD problem and converge to the maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) solution if this graph is acyclic (in addition, the MPA requires the MAP solution to be unique). Our simulations suggest that both the MPA and the SMPA perform well in more general systems that may exhibit cycles in the associated BDGs (the SMPA also appears to outperform the MPA in these more general systems). In this paper, we provide analytical results for acyclic BDGs and also assess the performance of both algorithms under particular patterns of alarm observations in general graphs; this allows us to obtain analytical bounds on the probability of making erroneous diagnosis with respect to the MAP solution. We also evaluate the performance of the MPA and the SMPA algorithms via simulations, and provide comparisons with previously developed heuristics for this type of diagnosis problems. We conclude that the MPA and the SMPA perform well under reasonable computational complexity when the underlying diagnosis graph is sparse.
Bulk flow of the medium and cutaneous sodium uptake in frogs: potential significance of sodium and oxygen boundary layers.

To examine the potential impact of fluid dynamic boundary layers on cutaneous ion exchange, we investigated how bulk flow of dilute Na+ solutions ( or = 97 kPa) increased JNa(in) by 28% and had little or no effect on TEP. Hypoxia (PO2
Effects of carbon nanotubes on flame spread rate over 1-propanol

Abstract This paper discusses the potential for thermally conductive nanoparticles to reduce flame spread velocities over fuel dispersion mixtures. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were dispersed in 1-propanol at levels above the mixture's percolation limit, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4, 8, and 12 wt%, and tested in a rectangular fuel tray and a shallow pan flame spread system. The MWNTs/1-propanol mixtures had much lower flame spread rates than the original fuel itself at temperatures below 1-propanol's flash point. A 2 wt% MWNT loading reduced the flame spread rate to 9–15% of the neat fuel rate (the corresponding increase in the average flame spreading time over a 16 cm horizontal test length is approximately 6–11 times) and significantly inhibited the pulsating flame spread behavior. Flame spread rate was calculated for both the pure fuel and MWNT mixtures with a surface-tension-driven spread rate equation. The calculations favorably compare with corresponding measured values despite several assumptions made. Thermally conductive high aspect ratio nanoparticles could be effective flame spread suppressants for liquid fuels.
Review Essay: Alaskan Yup’ik Ethnography at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin

[I]n the Essai sur le don [Essay on the Gift], [Marcel] Mauss...[tells] us... how much we have lost, whatever we may have otherwise gained, by the substitution of a rational economic system for a system in which exchange of goods was not a mechanical but a moral transaction, bringing about and maintaining human, personal, relationships between individuals and groups. E. E. Evans-Pritchard, “Introduction,” The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies
Private and Public Relative Performance Information under Different Compensation Contracts

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the conditions under which providing relative performance information to employees has a positive effect on performance when compensation is not tied to peer performance. Specifically, I investigate, via an experiment, the effect of relative performance information (present or absent) on performance under two compensation contracts (flat-wage or individual performance-based). Given the presence of relative performance information, I examine the effect of the type of relative performance information (private or public) on performance. Using theory from psychology, I predict and find that relative performance information positively affects performance under the two compensation contracts and that this positive effect is greater under an individual performance-based contract than under a flat-wage contract. I also predict and find that, although both public and private relative performance information have a positive effect on performance, the effect is greater when relative...
Therapeutic levels of factor IX expression using a muscle-specific promoter and adeno-associated virus serotype 1 vector

Extensive studies in animal models of the X-linked bleeding disorder hemophilia B (deficiency in functional coagulation factor IX, F.IX) have shown that muscle-directed adeno-associated (AAV)-mediated F.IX gene transfer can be used to treat this disease. However, large vector doses of AAV-2 vector are required for therapeutic levels of expression, and the number of vector doses that can be injected per intramuscular site is limited. Several studies have shown that some of these limitations can be overcome by use of AAV serotype 1 vector. Here, we demonstrate levels of F.IX transgene expression from a synthetic muscle-specific promoter (C5-12) that were higher than from the cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early enhancer-promoter in cultured muscle cells in vitro and approximately 50% of CMV-driven expression in vivo in murine skeletal muscle after AAV-1 gene transfer. These data show for the first time that a tissue-specific promoter can be used to achieve therapeutic levels of muscle-derived F.IX expression in the context of viral gene transfer. However, use of a muscle-specific promoter did not prevent antibody formation in response to a murine F.IX transgene product in mice with F.IX gene deletion, indicating that the risk of humoral immune responses remains in the context of an immunologically unfavorable mutation.
Parameters influencing interfacial morphology in GaAs/Ge superlattices grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition

Abstract We investigated the epitaxy and morphology of GaAs/Ge superlattices grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) under a range of conditions. The surfaces of Ge layers deposited on GaAs at 650 °C and 100 Torr are observed to be rough in cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. When either the temperature is lowered to 500 °C or the pressure is increased to 250 Torr, the surface of the first deposited Ge layer is observed to be smooth. This behavior suggests that Ge roughening is a thermodynamically favorable process that can be kinetically limited with appropriate growth conditions. At 500 °C, GaAs islands on Ge do not completely coalesce into one film. This may result from poor surface coverage; the short depositions would not be sufficient to coarsen and completely coalesce the islands. At 650 °C, growth on offcut substrates did not suppress antiphase boundaries, likely due to the unique conditions for GaAs/Ge superlattice growth. A wide-range of two- and three- dimensional nanostructures are formed and should allow insight in structure-property correlations in semiconducting thermoelectric materials.
Association Between Obesity and Clinical Outcomes in Gynecologic Cancer

Obesity is a known risk factor for many cancers, including gynecologic malignancies. While the association between obesity and risk for endometrial cancer is well established, the association with clinical outcomes has been more controversial. Most studies demonstrate an association between obesity and worse all-cause survival in endometrial cancer; however, it is unclear whether this effect is cancer-specific or secondary to comorbid conditions. In ovarian cancer, studies have shown an association between decreased survival and pre-diagnosis obesity, but not obesity at diagnosis. There are also studies that suggest a modest negative association between obesity and survival in women with cervical cancer. Comorbid conditions, lack of screening, and suboptimal chemotherapy dosing in obese women may contribute to decreased survival. Further research is necessary to understand the role of obesity on mortality in gynecologic malignancies in order to improve cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies.
Energetic stress: The reciprocal relationship between energy availability and the stress response

The worldwide epidemic of metabolic syndromes and the recognized burden of mental health disorders have driven increased research into the relationship between the two. A maladaptive stress response is implicated in both mental health disorders and metabolic disorders, implicating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as a key mediator of this relationship. This review explores how an altered energetic state, such as hyper- or hypoglycemia, as may be manifested in obesity or diabetes, affects the stress response and the HPA axis in particular. We propose that changes in energetic state or energetic demands can result in "energetic stress" that can, if prolonged, lead to a dysfunctional stress response. In this review, we summarize the role of the hypothalamus in modulating energy homeostasis and then briefly discuss the relationship between metabolism and stress-induced activation of the HPA axis. Next, we examine seven mechanisms whereby energetic stress interacts with neuroendocrine stress response systems, including by glucocorticoid signaling both within and beyond the HPA axis; by nutrient-induced changes in glucocorticoid signaling; by impacting the sympathetic nervous system; through changes in other neuroendocrine factors; by inducing inflammatory changes; and by altering the gut-brain axis. Recognizing these effects of energetic stress can drive novel therapies and prevention strategies for mental health disorders, including dietary intervention, probiotics, and even fecal transplant.
Bubble reflections

A published version of Bubblesort is analyzed via correctness arguments and the failure of these arguments leads to the discovery of a subtle bug. A simple change produces a correct version and a not-so-trivial proof of termination completes the total correctness demonstration for the revised algorithm. Several important lessons are extracted from this experience.
Early Pentecostal Stirrings in Tasmania, 1910-1933

This article provides the first recorded account of the earliest Pentecostal stirrings in Tamania prior to the arrival of the Apostolic Church in 1934. Through careful investigation it has been discovered that the first Pentecostal efforts iin the state were those a of young Tasmanian woman in the northwest who had contact and connections with the Good News Hall in Melbourne, Victoria. Further, the article traces other Pentecostal activities in the state as well as additional connections to mainland Pentecostalism, all before 1934. Thus, this article establishes that there were early foundations laid which contributed towards the later formation of a permanent Pentecostal church in the Tasmania.
Orbits of magnetized charged particles in parabolic and inverse electrostatic potentials

Analytic solutions are presented for the orbit of a charged particle in the combination of a uniform axial magnetic field and parabolic electrostatic potential. These trajectories are shown to correspond to the sum of two individually rotating vectors with one vector rotating at a constant fast frequency and the other rotating in the same sense but with a constant slow frequency. These solutions are related to Penning trap orbits and to stochastic orbits. If the lengths of the two rotating vectors are identical, the particle has zero canonical angular momentum in which case the particle orbit will traverse the origin. If the potential has an inverse dependence on distance from the source of the potential, the particle can impact the source. Axis-encircling orbits are where the length of the vector associated with the fast frequency is longer than the vector associated with the slow frequency. Non-axis-encircling orbits are the other way around.
Funding, and Ethics, for the BRAIN Initiative

This blog post examines the goals of the newly announced federal BRAIN Initiative and urges funding for the ethical, legal, and societal implications (ELSI).
Nicotine metabolism among African American and white smokers: Group and intraindividual differences in glucuronidation

B122 Prevention of tobacco associated cancers requires effective approaches to treat nicotine addiction. Smokers adjust their level of smoking to maintain blood levels of nicotine, which are determined in part by rates of nicotine metabolism. Differences in nicotine metabolite levels have been observed between African American and white smokers, including elevated cotinine levels and decreased glucuronide conjugates. A study of adult African American and white smokers (n=95) was designed to evaluate race differences and individual variability in nicotine metabolism. Urinary and plasma metabolites were quantified at baseline and subsequently on three consecutive days while participants were confirmed abstinent and on the nicotine patch. In baseline 24-hour urine, the percent of cotinine in the glucuronide form was significantly lower among African Americans compared to whites (64% versus 83%, p=