cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth kinetics of bismuth nickel intermetallics

Bismuth (Bi)-based systems are of great interest as it is considered to potentially replace high lead (Pb)-content solders used in high temperature electronics. In particular, molten Bi strongly reacts with Ni to form higher melting point intermetallic compounds (IMCs) via transient liquid phase (TLP), which can offer a joining method alternative to the traditional solder approach. A fundamental understanding of nucleation and growth of intermetallic phases is crucial to create a reliable joint. Two intermetallic phases form between Bi and Ni (Bi3Ni, BiNi). In this study, growth kinetics for Bi3Ni and BiNi was investigated, both of which show a parabolic growth behavior. Bi3Ni exhibits rapid growth and apparent activation energy of 65.5 kJ/mol at lower temperatures (from 160 to 240 °C) and of 132.9 kJ/mol at higher temperatures (> 240 °C), where the transition is likely due to a viscous-flow nature near melting temperature of Bi. On the other hand, BiNi grows at a later stage with a slower rate with the apparent activation energy of 125.6 kJ/mol (from 260 to 340 °C). In addition, based on the formation sequence and growth direction of these IMCs, interdiffusion coefficients for each of these IMCs were determined. Micro-hardness tests show that Bi3Ni is softer and more brittle than BiNi.
The role of Sargassum macroalgal wrack in reducing coastal erosion

Abstract Sea level rise and increased frequency of high-energy storms are contributing to the retreat of coastlines, impacting both natural features and coastal communities. “Soft solutions”, or natural alternatives to engineered structures, have gained popularity in beach erosion mitigation; however, wrack as a method of erosion prevention remains an understudied option. The objective of our study was to test if a globally-distributed macroalgae, Sargassum spp., could act as a natural solution to moderate coastal erosion. We used a flume and increasing volumes of sargassum to consider three erosional processes at specific locations of the cross-shore profile: wave formation offshore, scouring velocity in the swash zone, and erosion on embryonic dunes. As the quantity of sargassum increased, the measureable attributes of these processes were reduced in a strongly significant manner, with large amounts of sargassum linked to 12% wave attenuation, 46% scouring velocity reduction, and 103% dune erosion reduction. Even with the lightest covering of sargassum tested, embryonic dune erosion was reduced 6% when compared to the control. These results indicate sargassum, and likely many other types of wrack, are a viable resource to help mitigate daily beach erosion.
Amine involvement in the self-association of planar complexes of the type, cis-Ir(CO)2Cl(primary amine)

Abstract Examination of crystals of cis-Ir(CO)2X(p-toluidine) (X = Cl, Br, I), by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the individual monomers self-associate to form extended columns with Ir⋯Ir separations ranging from 3.33 A for the chloro complex to 3.68 A in the iodo complex. The columnar structure is reinforced by hydrogen bonding between the halide ligand in one molecule with an N-H group in an adjacent molecule. This hydrogen bonding causes adjacent molecules to adopt nearly eclipsed orientations. In contrast, the positions of the methyl groups in cis-Ir(CO)2Cl(o-toluidine) and cis-Ir(CO)2Cl(2,6-dimethylaniline) limit intermolecular interactions to the formation of dimers connected by Ir⋯Ir interactions, and hydrogen bonding again occurs between the halide ligand in one molecule and the N-H group in an adjacent molecule. The UV/vis spectrum of cis-Ir(CO)2Cl(p-toluidine) provides evidence that the self-association also occurs in solution. The positive ion mass spectrum of laser ablated crystals of cis-Ir(CO)2Br(p-toluidine) reveals the presence of monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric cations.
Proceedings of the first ACM SIGCOMM workshop on Green networking

The energy consumption and environmental impact of networking and communications equipment is of increasing importance to researchers, commercial entities and society at large. The First ACM SIGCOMM Workshop on Green Networking is aimed at creating a dynamic forum discussing green networking issues, and presenting promising research ideas toward the goal of designing green infrastructures in both the computing and non-computing domains. This year's call for papers attracted 29 submissions on a range of topics from energy conservation in data centers to energy efficient protocols to characterization studies on energy consumption. The 15 member Technical Program Committee along with a selected group of external experts carefully considered all of the submissions. The TPC meeting to select the final program was held via teleconference in early May, 2010. At the conclusion of the meeting, the committee had assembled a strong program composed of 12 that will be presented during the workshop.
Application of Broadband RF Metrology to Integrated Circuit Interconnect Reliability Analyses: Monitoring Copper Interconnect Corrosion in 3D-ICs

In this paper we describe the application of highfrequency electromagnetic wave (in microwave frequency / radio frequency (RF in the range, i.e., 3 kHz – 300 GHz) based techniques to probe material and structural changes that occur in integrated circuits. These techniques fall under the general area of “Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy”. In this paper, we describe corrosion of the redistribution layer (RDL), required for the implementing 3-D integrated circuits (3D-ICs), during hightemperature storage. As an illustration of our techniques, we use the RF signal loss between ports 1 and 2 on a typical vector network analyzer (i.e., RF insertion loss, S21), to monitor the oxidation of the RDL copper interconnects. We compare the RF signal loss results to the direct current-resistance that was measured simultaneously with the S21. Using electrodynamic simulations, partition the RF signal loss in corroded copper interconnects, and discuss the significance of the roughness at the air-copper oxide interface.
ASXL3 bridges BRD4 to BAP1 complex and governs enhancer activity in small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a more aggressive subtype of lung cancer that often results in rapid tumor growth, early metastasis, and acquired therapeutic resistance. Consequently, such phenotypical characteristics of SCLC set limitations on viable procedural options, making it difficult to develop both screenings and effective treatments. In this study, we examine a novel mechanistic insight in SCLC cells that could potentially provide a more sensitive therapeutic alternative for SCLC patients. Biochemistry studies, including size exclusion chromatography, mass spectrometry, and western blot analysis, were conducted to determine the protein-protein interaction between additional sex combs-like protein 3 (ASXL3) and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4). Genomic studies, including chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), RNA sequencing, and genome-wide analysis, were performed in both human and mouse SCLC cells to determine the dynamic relationship between BRD4/ASXL3/BAP1 epigenetic axis in chromatin binding and its effects on transcriptional activity. We report a critical link between BAP1 complex and BRD4, which is bridged by the physical interaction between ASXL3 and BRD4 in an SCLC subtype (SCLC-A), which expresses a high level of ASCL1. We further showed that ASXL3 functions as an adaptor protein, which directly interacts with BRD4’s extra-terminal (ET) domain via a novel BRD4 binding motif (BBM), and maintains chromatin occupancy of BRD4 to active enhancers. Genetic depletion of ASXL3 results in a genome-wide reduction of histone H3K27Ac levels and BRD4-dependent gene expression in SCLC. Pharmacologically induced inhibition with BET-specific chemical degrader (dBET6) selectively inhibits cell proliferation of a subtype of SCLC that is characterized with high expression of ASXL3. Collectively, this study provides a mechanistic insight into the oncogenic function of BRD4/ASXL3/BAP1 epigenetic axis at active chromatin enhancers in SCLC-A subtype, as well as a potential new therapeutic option that could become more effective in treating SCLC patients with a biomarker of ASXL3-highly expressed SCLC cells.
Primary refractory multiple myeloma – what role for high dose melphalan?

With the increasing efficacy of induction therapy in multiple myeloma (MM), primary induction failure (i.e. less than a partial response) is an extremely rare phenomenon. Alexanian et al. was one o...
A scoping review of qualitative research in JAMIA: past contributions and opportunities for future work

Objective Qualitative methods are particularly well-suited to studying the complexities and contingencies that emerge in the development, preparation, and implementation of technological interventions in real-world clinical practice, and much remains to be done to use these methods to their full advantage. We aimed to analyze how qualitative methods have been used in health informatics research, focusing on objectives, populations studied, data collection, analysis methods, and fields of analytical origin. Methods We conducted a scoping review of original, qualitative empirical research in JAMIA from its inception in 1994 to 2019. We queried PubMed to identify relevant articles, ultimately including and extracting data from 158 articles. Results The proportion of qualitative studies increased over time, constituting 4.2% of articles published in JAMIA overall. Studies overwhelmingly used interviews, observations, grounded theory, and thematic analysis. These articles used qualitative methods to analyze health informatics systems before, after, and separate from deployment. Providers have typically been the main focus of studies, but there has been an upward trend of articles focusing on healthcare consumers. Discussion While there has been a rich tradition of qualitative inquiry in JAMIA, its scope has been limited when compared with the range of qualitative methods used in other technology-oriented fields, such as human-computer interaction, computer-supported cooperative work, and science and technology studies. Conclusion We recommend increased public funding for and adoption of a broader variety of qualitative methods by scholars, practitioners, and policy makers and an expansion of the variety of participants studied. This should lead to systems that are more responsive to practical needs, improving usability, safety, and outcomes.
Bayesian Predictions of Bark Beetle Attack and Mortality of Three Conifer Species During Epidemic and Endemic Population Stages

Bark beetles naturally inhabit forests and can cause large-scale tree mortality when they reach epidemic population numbers, such as the recent epidemic (1990’s-2010’s) that was a primary mortality agent in western United States forests. Predictive models of beetle populations and their impact on forests largely depend on host related parameters, such as stand age, basal area, and density. We hypothesized that bark beetle attack patterns are also dependent on inferred beetle population densities: large epidemic populations of beetles will preferentially attack large-diameter trees, and successfully kill them with overwhelming numbers. Conversely, small endemic beetle populations will opportunistically attack stressed and small trees. We tested this hypothesis using twelve years of repeated field observations of three dominant forest species (lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir) in subalpine forests of southeastern Wyoming paired with a Bayesian modeling approach. The models provide probabilistic predictions of beetle attack patterns that are free of assumptions required by frequentist models that are often violated in these data sets. Furthermore, we assessed seedling/sapling regeneration in response to overstory mortality and hypothesized that higher seedling/sapling establishment occurs in areas with highest overstory mortality because resources are freed from competing trees. Our results indicate that large-diameter trees were more likely to be attacked and killed by bark beetles than small-diameter trees during epidemic years for all species, but there was no shift towards preferentially attacking small-diameter trees in post-epidemic years. However, probabilities of bark beetle attack and mortality increased for small diameter lodgepole pine and Engelmann spruce trees in post-epidemic years compared to epidemic years. We also show an increase in overall understory growth (graminoids, forbs, shrubs) and seedling/sapling establishment in response to beetle-caused overstory mortality, especially in lodgepole pine dominated stands. Our observations provide evidence of the trajectories of attack and mortality as well as early forest regrowth of three common tree species during the transition from epidemic to post-epidemic stages of bark beetle populations in the field.
Management of a Deer Tick Bite

Lyme borreliosis is acquired following the bite of an infected Ixodes tick. Inoculation of the spirochete into a human may result in a localized rash termed erythema migrans, dissemination to distant organs through the bloodstream, or both. Because such organ involvement can be associated with severe and occasionally persistent disease, some physicians have considered the administration of an antibiotic following an I. dammini bite as a means of preventing the infection. This practice is controversial. The efficacy of such treatment is uncertain. The incidence of infection following an individual tick bite is low, even in an endemic area, and needs to be balanced against the incidence of adverse effects from an antibiotic, which can be high.1 Shapiro et al conducted a controlled trial of prophylaxis with amoxicillin versus placebo following a deer tick bite in a highly endemic area in Connecticut, and found no evidence for its efficacy given the low likelihood of infection.2 Conversely, Majid et al. used cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate the wisdom of empiric treatment of all persons bitten by a deer tick, and concluded that such a strategy was indicated in areas where the probability of infection was 3.6% or higher.3 All authorities agree that any recommendations to practitioners need to be based on the consideration of a number of variables that influence the risk of infection.
The Social Stratification of English in New York City: Distribution of the variables in apparent time

[The first eight chapters of this book concern synchronic patterns of variation in the speech community, with the linguistic variable as the working tool of analysis. There have been hints about linguistic change in progress but it is not until this chapter that sociolinguistics takes on the study of change and variation as its central problem. The concept of apparent time, and its relations in real time, had been explored in the Martha's Vineyard study, but here it is analyzed and explored in much greater detail. We now have much more information than we had at that time on the extent to which adults change their language as they grow older. It is important to note that from the outset, there was no assumption that they did not: the task is “to distinguish the effects of linguistic change from the invariant effects of aging and from the modifying effects of the present situation upon older speakers.”] The study of small differences in language behavior is concentrated upon the variable elements in linguistic structure; this procedure brings us inevitably to indications of linguistic change. Variability itself is change: but some types of variation are themselves invariant from generation to generation.We are particularly interested in gradual alterations of the linguistic habits of a population through the course of time, which will be referred to here as linguistic change . The explanation of linguistic change on a large scale is one of the primary goals of linguistics, and in the present work we hope to contribute to that end by the close examination of linguistic change in progress.
What Do We Think We Know When We Don't Know Much?

There are three kinds of decision making environments with less than perfect information about the outcome of a decision that vary in the extent to which the information available to decision makers is imperfect. A decision making setting is defined as risky when both the possible outcomes, and the probability of those outcomes, are known before a decision is made. A decision making setting is defined as ambiguous when the possible outcomes of a decision are known before the decision is made, but the probabilities of those different outcomes occurring are not known, when a decision is being made (for survey see Camerer & Weber, 1992). Finally, a decision making setting is defined as uncertain (or sample space ignorance, i.e. Michael Smithson et al, 1999) when neither the possible outcomes, nor the probabilities of those outcomes, are known when a decision is being made. Results of Fox and Tversky (1995) suggest that expert bias can influence individual perception of ambiguous environments. If people feel that they have more expertise about the environment they are more confident about their estimate of the probabilities. One possible implication of this finding is that experts might perceive ambiguous environments as risky more often. This study demonstrates that expert bias influences individuals' perception under sample space ignorance as well, but not the same way as in ambiguous environments, i.e. in such environments experts are less confident then non experts in their estimates of possible outcomes, and experts are more likely then non experts to expect that something completely unexpected might happen.
Light-truck fuel economy - Trends through 1984

Light duty truck fuel economy trends from model year 1975 through 1984 are examined, with special emphasis placed on model year 1984. Actual production volumes are given for model years 1975 through 1982. Data for 1983 and 1984 model years include EPA estimates of sales, in which projected sales data submitted by manufacturers were adjusted using the same procedure. For fuel economy trend analysis, a modified truck classification system is presented and discussed.
Enhancing Information Quality for Web Pages

Recent years have witnessed an explosive growth of the World-Wide Web with an increasing number of images corporated in a Web page. Images was mentioned to constitue upto 70% of the Internet traffic and are currently used on the Web for various purposes such as text-related content, decoration, navigation, and advertisement. Unfortunately, not all images contain valuable information for most users. For instance, advertisements, banners, or decorative images are typically not the reason for most users to visit a particular Web site. While the information value of these images appear small, they consume network bandwidth and increase service delays. This paper discusses an application service that enhances the quality of information on a Web page. The service allows a user to specify desirable categories of images to retain in a page. The service automatically detects image purposes associated with the requested Web page and renders the page with only the desirable images.
Interactive horizon mapping

Shadows, which play an important role in perceiving the shape and texture of an object, are simulated interactively in a real time, self-shadowing of a bump mapped surface for a computer rendered object. A computer graphics textured object function defines a horizon map over an orientation in a tangent space of the object using different textures or basis functions. The implementation can be performed using commodity graphics hardware by precomputing the horizon map for limited visibility for each point on the bump mapped surface given light in each of a plurality of radial directions. The horizon map is used to produce self-shadowing of the bump mapped surface of the object.
Fabrication of in situ TiC reinforced aluminum matrix composites Part I: Microstructural characterization

In the present work traditional ingot metallurgy plus rapid solidification techniques were used to in situ produce Al-TiC composites with refined microstructures and enhanced dispersion hardening of the reinforcing phases. Microstructural characterization of the experimental materials were comprehensively done by optical, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the in situ synthesized TiC particles possess a metastable fcc crystal structure with an atomic composition of TiC08 and a lattice parameter of 0.431 nm. The typical ingot metallurgy microstructures exhibit aggregates of TiC particle phase segregated generally at the α-Al subgrain or grain boundaries and consisted of fine particles of 0.2–1.0 μm. After re-melting of the ingots and hence rapid solidification, the microstructures formed under certain thermal history conditions contained uniform fine-scale dispersion of TiC phase particles with a size range of 40–80 nm in an Al supersaturated matrix of 0.30–0.85 μm grain size. In the most case these dispersed TiC particles have a semi-coherent relationship with the α-Al matrix.
Chapter 15 The Use of Fractal Dimension to Characterize Individual Airborne Particles

Abstract The computer-controlled scanning electron microscope has the ability to characterize individual particles through the fluoresced x-ray spectrum for chemical composition data and image analysis to provide size and shape information. This capability has recently been enhanced by the addition of the capacity to capture individual particle images for subsequent digital processing. Visual texture in an image is often an important clue to the experienced microscopist as to the nature or origin of the particle being studied. The problem is then to provide a quantitative measure of the observable texture. The use of fractal dimension has been investigated to provide a single number that is directly related to observed texture. The fractal dimension of the object can easily be calculated by determining cumulative image properties of the particle such as perimeter or area as a function of magnification. Alternative methods that may be more computationally simpler have also been explored. The fractal dimension for a variety of particles of varying surface characteristics have been determined using these different computational methods. The results of these determinations and the implications for the use of fractal dimension in airborne particle characterization will be presented.
Measurement of the Relative Rate K e 2 + K μ 2 +

In an experiment at the Princeton-Pennsylvania Accelerator, the relative rate $\frac{{{K}_{e2}}^{+}}{{{K}_{\ensuremath{\mu}2}}^{+}}$ was measured to be (${1.8}_{\ensuremath{-}0.6}^{+0.8}$) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$. Combining this with previous measurements gives a world average of (${1.9}_{\ensuremath{-}0.4}^{+0.5}$) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, which agrees with the universal $V\ensuremath{-}A$ theory prediction of 2.09 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$.
(1995 Into the Future) Drinking the Kool-Aid

S,M,L,XL is a mysterious, perplexing, and heavy thing. This was reason enough, Enrique and I thought, to warrant a themed issue on this very book on its twentieth anniversary. S,M,L,XL triggers rea...
KOLIKO JE TJELOVJEŽBA UČINKOVITA U POTICANJU GUBITKA MASNOG TKIVA

Over the past quarter century obesity has reached epidemic proportions in many developed countries. Exercise is one of the behavioral approaches to curbing weight gain or losing body fat. We reviewed the data on (1) magnitude of weight and fat loss when exercise is implemented without any changes in food intake, (2) necessary volumes and intensities of exercise to accomplish and sustain weight and fat loss, (3) effects of obesity on spontaneous physical activity and other forms of energy expenditure, (4) effects of obesity and aerobic fitness on the capacity to oxidize fat, and (5) the effects of exercise on the appetite. When exercise is implemented without any changes in food intake, a daily expenditure of 400 Kcal produces a fat loss that is about one third of that expected on the basis of caloric deficit incurred by exercise. Oxidation of fat is negatively influenced by exercise intensity so that for an appreciable fat loss it would be necessary to exercise for long periods of time. Genetics and low aerobic fitness can also play a negative role. Obesity is associated with low levels of spontaneous physical activity and reduced capacity to oxidize fat. Aerobic training can enhance the capacity to oxidize fat by increasing the volume and function of mitochondria in skeletal muscles. Exercise is associated with short-term suppression of hunger and a failure to compensate for exercise energy expenditure during the hours to several days following exercise. Exercise is advisable as an approach toward fat loss, even more so when it is associated with dietary restraint, because it improves fat oxidation, saves lean body mass, and does not immediately stimulate hunger.
Establishing the role of ATP for the function of the RIG-I innate immune sensor

When a virus invades a cell, it commandeers the cell's replication machinery to make copies of the virus' genetic material. Some viruses, such as those that cause influenza or measles, store their genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. When a virus is first detected inside an animal, specialized cells are activated and sent to destroy the invader. This is known as the innate immune response. Animal cells contain a sensor known as RIG-I, and when RIG-I detects and binds to viral RNA, it starts a signaling process that activates the innate immune system. RIG-I can also bind to RNA molecules made by the host cell, but this binding does not cause RIG-I to activate the immune response. Although there have been many studies into how RIG-I tells the difference between cell and virus RNA (this process is also known as ‘proofreading’), many of these have overlooked the role of a molecule called ATP. ATP stores energy for the cell, which is released in a process called hydrolysis. Binding to RNA causes the shape of RIG-I to change so that it can also bind to ATP, and RIG-I cannot signal to trigger an immune response unless it is bound to ATP. Now, Rawling, Fitzgerald and Pyle have investigated ATP's role in immune signaling in more detail, and have found that ATP plays two distinct roles. Binding to ATP is necessary for RIG-I to start signaling in response to viral RNA, as it activates or ‘springs open’ the signaling regions formed when RIG-I binds to RNA. ATP hydrolysis is not involved in signaling; instead, it helps to remove RIG-I from the cell's RNA molecules. This recycles RIG-I and prevents it from becoming activated at the wrong time. With a clear mechanistic description of RIG-I proofreading in place, it will now be possible to investigate how certain viruses take advantage of this system to evade detection. Further investigations could also look at how the dysregulation of RIG-I proofreading may be related to autoimmune disorders and cancer.
Computer graphics testbed for developing and testing laser-imaging algorithms

This paper describes the use of computer graphics modeling to simulate laser range and reflectance images. Applications of image processing techniques to computer-generated (C-G) laser images are described and advantages of this system over a physical device are discussed. An example is presented in which laser imaging algorithms are developed and applied to robotic navigation.
Application of Seismic Methods In Pavement Design And Analysis

An overview of the state-of-the-practice in the use of seismic methods in pavement design and analysis is presented herein. The primary parameter required for designing ahighway or an airfield pavement is a representative stiffness profile. This profile is used to predict the behavior and useful life of a pavement section subjected to wheel oads generated by vehicles or airplanes. Determining the stiffness profile consists of obtaining Young’s modulus and thickness of each layer in the pavement system. In terms of production testing, nondestructive methods are used for determining modulus profiles and other techniques are becoming obsolete. However, in terms of a research mode, testing methods that utilize cores, boreholes or test pits are used to verify the accuracy of the nondestructive methods. Seismic methods can be used for nondestructive t sting of pavements. Shear wave velocity of each layer is determined and used as an indicator of stiffness. Once the shear wave velocity is measured, Young’s modulus can be readily determined using the theory of elasticity. In this paper, the application of seismic methods to pavement design and analysis is discussed. The Spectral-Analysis-of-SurfaceWaves (SASW) technique is one example of a well-suited seismic technique for pavement evaluation. Seismic methods used in engineering applications (like pavement design) are based upon the same theory as conventional seismic methods. However, the conventional methods typically need extensive modification for engineering use because the maximum depth under consideration (i.e. 1 to 2 m in pavement design versus tens of kilometers in conventional geophysics). Modifications to the theory and practice of conventional geophysical prospecting are discussed. Several case studies demonstrating the use of seismic testing in pavement analysis are included. These case studies demonstrate hat, if applied properly, seismic methods are clearly supeTior to other nondestructive methods utilized for pavement evaluation in many cases.
Microprogrammed random access stored program machines

We present a typical framework for microprogramming using a well-known theoretical computer-model.
Aging-related increase to inducible atrial fibrillation in the rat model.

Aging and Atrial Fibrillation.Introduction: Aging is associated with atrial interstitial fibrosis and increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that aged rats are suitable for study of aging-related AF and that partial atrial cellular uncoupling induced with heptanol in young rats mimics aging-related AF. Methods and Results: Interatrial conduction time and atrial response to burst atrial pacing were evaluated in 11 young (2–3 months) and 12 old (22–24 months) male rats (Fisher 344) in the Langendorff-perfused setting. At baseline, sustained (>30 sec) atrial tachycardia (AT) and AF were induced in 10 of 12 and in 7 of 12 old rats, respectively. No such arrhythmias could be induced in the young rats. Old rats had significantly (P < 0.01) longer interatrial conduction time and P wave durations than the young rats. Burst pacing failed to induce AT and AF in all 11 young rats studied. The effects of heptanol 2 to 10 μM were studied in both groups. Heptanol 2 to 5 μM promoted inducible AT in all 5 young rats studied; however, when its concentration was raised to 10 μM, AT could no longer be induced in any of the 5 young rats. No AF could be induced in any of the 5 young rats at heptanol concentrations of 2 to 10 μM. In the old rats, AF could still be induced during perfusion of 2 μM heptanol. However, when its concentration was raised to 5 and 10 μM, AF could not be induced in any of the 6 old rats studied. Optical mapping using a potentiometric dye showed a periodic single wavefront of activation during AT in both groups and 2 to 4 independent wavefronts propagating in different directions during AF in the old rats. Histology revealed a significant increase in interstitial atrial fibrosis (P < 0.01), atrial cell size (P < 0.05), and heart weight in old versus young rats. Fibrosis in the old rats was highly heterogeneous. Conclusion: The rat model is suitable for study of aging-related AF. Uniform partial atrial cellular uncoupling with heptanol perfusion in the young rats, although promoting inducible AT, does not mimic aging-related AF. The results suggest that heterogeneous atrial interstitial fibrosis and atrial cell hypertrophy might contribute to the aging-related increase in atrial conduction slowing, conduction block, and inducible AF in the old rat model.
Dosing and Therapy Utilization: A Discussion of Updates on PI Treatment Guidelines

Treatment decisions made in clinical practice, based on current guidelines, often conflict with decisions by third-party payors that restrict the ability of patients with primary immunodeficiency disease (PI) to adhere to appropriate treatment. This is seen by many physicians as potentially placing the health of patients at risk. Key treatment decisions challenged by third-party payors and discussed here include dosing, product safety, and routes of administration. Data on safety issues emphasize that IgG products are not generic drugs and each of the products currently licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must be regarded as an individual therapy, given the products’ different manufacturing processes and stabilizing ingredients. The issue of switching patients to a different product needs careful consideration as evidence shows that infusion-related adverse events in many patients are frequently related to this activity. Decisions regarding the route of therapy should also be individualized to the patient, weighing such factors as side effects, adherence with therapy, and lifestyle.
A new damage testing system for detailed evaluation of damage behavior of bulk KDP and DKDP

We describe a new damage testing approach and instrumentation that provides quantitative measurements of bulk damage versus fluence for several frequencies. A major advantage of this method is that it can simultaneously provide direct information on pinpoint density and size, and beam obscuration. This allows for more accurate evaluation of material performance under operational conditions. Protocols for laser conditioning to improve damage performance can also be easily and rapidly evaluated. This damage testing approach has enabled us to perform complex experiments toward probing the fundamental mechanisms of damage initiation and conditioning.
Particle swarm-based structural optimization of laminated composite hydrokinetic turbine blades

Composite blade manufacturing for hydrokinetic turbine application is quite complex and requires extensive optimization studies in terms of material selection, number of layers, stacking sequence, ply thickness and orientation. To avoid a repetitive trial-and-error method process, hydrokinetic turbine blade structural optimization using particle swarm optimization was proposed to perform detailed composite lay-up optimization. Layer numbers, ply thickness and ply orientations were optimized using standard particle swarm optimization to minimize the weight of the composite blade while satisfying failure evaluation. To address the discrete combinatorial optimization problem of blade stacking sequence, a novel permutation discrete particle swarm optimization model was also developed to maximize the out-of-plane load-carrying capability of the composite blade. A composite blade design with significant material saving and satisfactory performance was presented. The proposed methodology offers an alternative an...
End-Tidal Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide and Acute Mountain Sickness in the First 24 Hours Upon Ascent to Cusco Peru (3326 meters)

Objective To explore the association of end-title partial pressure (Petco 2 ) and oxygen saturation (Spo 2 ) with the development of AMS in travelers rapidly ascending to Cusco, Peru (3326 m). Methods Using the 715 TIDAL WAVE Sp handheld, portable capnometer/oximeter, we measured Spo 2 and Petco 2 in 175 subjects upon ascent to Cusco, Peru (3326 m) from Lima (sea level) (a mean time of 3.9 hours.) Symptoms of AMS were recorded at the same initial time on arrival to altitude and 24 hours later using the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ). Results This study showed that no subjects with the lowest Petco 2 of 23 to 30 mm Hg had AMS ( P 2 (36–40 mm Hg) and lower Sao 2 (72%–86%) have a higher incidence of AMS. Conclusion The most important finding of this study is that Petco 2 upon ascent was found to have a more significant effect than Spo 2 on a subject's ultimate ESQ score. This study demonstrates that those individuals with a brisk ventilatory response upon ascent to moderate altitude, as measured by Petco 2 , did not develop AMS, whereas a blunted ventilatory response, as reflected in the highest Petco 2 , was related to the subsequent development of AMS.
Footloose and fossil-free no more: Evolutionary psychology needs archaeology

Evolutionary theories of human cognition should refer to specific times in the primate or hominid past. Though alternative accounts of tool manufacture from Wynn's are possible (e.g., frontal lobe function), Wynn demonstrates the power of archaeology to guide cognitive theories. Many cognitive abilities evolved not in the “Pleistocene hunter-gatherer” context, but earlier, in the context of other patterns of social organization and foraging.
Top-down and bottom-up control of infauna varies across the saltmarsh landscape

Abstract Responses of infaunal saltmarsh benthic invertebrates to whole-ecosystem fertilization and predator removal were quantified in Plum Island Estuary, Massachusetts, USA. Throughout a growing season, we enriched an experimental creek on each flooding tide to 70 μM NO3− and 4 μM PO4− 3 (a 10× increase in loading above background), and we reduced Fundulus heteroclitus density by 60% in a branch of the fertilized and a reference creek. Macroinfauna and meiofauna were sampled in creek (mudflat and creek wall), marsh edge (tall-form Spartina alterniflora) and marsh platform (Spartina patens and stunted S. alterniflora) habitats before and after treatments were begun; responses were tested with BACI-design statistics. Treatment effects were most common in the mid-range of the inundation gradient. Most fertilization effects were on creek wall where ostracod abundance increased, indices of copepod reproduction increased and copepod and annelid communities were altered. These taxa may use epiphytes (that respond rapidly to fertilization) of filamentous algae as a food source. Killifish reduction effects on meiobenthic copepod abundance were detected at the marsh edge and suggest predator limitation. Fish reduction effects on annelids did not suggest top-down regulation in any habitat; however, fish reduction may have stimulated an increased predation rate on annelids by grass shrimp. Interactions between fertilization and fish reduction occurred under S. patens canopy where indirect predator reduction effects on annelids were indicated. No effects were observed in mudflat or stunted S. alterniflora habitats. Although the responses of infauna to fertilization and predator removal were largely independent and of similar mild intensity, our data suggests that the effects of ecological stressors vary across the marsh landscape.
Boosting CRISPR/Cas9 multiplex editing capability with the endogenous tRNA-processing system

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 nuclease (Cas9) system is being harnessed as a powerful tool for genome engineering in basic research, molecular therapy, and crop improvement. This system uses a small guide RNA (gRNA) to direct Cas9 endonuclease to a specific DNA site; thus, its targeting capability is largely constrained by the gRNA-expressing device. In this study, we developed a general strategy to produce numerous gRNAs from a single polycistronic gene. The endogenous tRNA-processing system, which precisely cleaves both ends of the tRNA precursor, was engineered as a simple and robust platform to boost the targeting and multiplex editing capability of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We demonstrated that synthetic genes with tandemly arrayed tRNA–gRNA architecture were efficiently and precisely processed into gRNAs with desired 5′ targeting sequences in vivo, which directed Cas9 to edit multiple chromosomal targets. Using this strategy, multiplex genome editing and chromosomal-fragment deletion were readily achieved in stable transgenic rice plants with a high efficiency (up to 100%). Because tRNA and its processing system are virtually conserved in all living organisms, this method could be broadly used to boost the targeting capability and editing efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 toolkits.
Potential of Automated Writing Evaluation Feedback

This paper presents an empirical evaluation of automated writing evaluation (AWE) feedback used for L2 academic writing teaching and learning. It introduces the Intelligent Academic Discourse Evaluator (IADE), a new web-based AWE program that analyzes the introduction section to research articles and generates immediate, individualized, and discipline-specific feedback. The purpose of the study was to investigate the potential of IADE’s feedback. A mixed-methods approach with a concurrent transformative strategy was employed. Quantitative data consisted of responses to Likert-scale, yes/no, and open-ended survey questions; automated and human scores for first and final drafts; and pre-/posttest scores. Qualitative data contained students’ first and final drafts as well as transcripts of think-aloud protocols and Camtasia computer screen recordings, observations, and semistructured interviews. The findings indicate that IADE’s colorcoded and numerical feedback possesses potential for facilitating language learning, a claim supported by evidence of focus on discourse form, noticing of negative evidence, improved rhetorical quality of writing, and increased learning gains.
Treatment of chemically dependent adolescents in an alternative high school setting

This paper describes a treatment program for adolescents in an alternative high school. The program includes he adolescent substance battery, student assistance services, and treatment modalities for adolescents who have used drugs. Assessment and diagnosis, the development of treatment tracks, and objectives of the program are described. Treatment issues such as substance misuse and abuse, chemical dependency, and defensiveness need extensive consideration when implementing programs for adolescents using drugs. This article serves as a stimulus in designing, planning, and implementing adolescent treatment programs.
The chromosomes of Leishmania

Abstract Chromosome size polymorphisms occur in Leishmania such that each strain of a given species has a distinctive molecular karyotype. Despite this variability, the chromosomal similarities among closely related strains of Leishmania are sufficiently characteristic to permit classification of unidentified clinical isolates. Mechanisms generating chromosome size polymorphisms are related to chromosomal evolution. In this review, Geoffrey Lighthall and Suzanne Giannini explain that the chromosomal profiles of members of different species may be diverging from a conserved ‘consensus' karyotype at different rates, and present a current understanding of the genomic organization of Leishmania with emphasis on chromosomal elements.
Field vs. Lab Alkalinity and pH: Effects on Ion Balance and Calcite Saturation Index

Ground water samples for a hydrochemical investigation were collected from 92 observation wells completed in a shallow, unconfined aquifer in southeastern North Dakota. The samples showed predominantly an increase in HCO3- (positive bias) and both a pH decrease (positive bias) and a pH increase (negative bias) from field to lab. Positive pH bias generally was associated with ground water characterized by dissolved-solids concentrations less than 400 mg/L. Negative pH bias generally was associated with ground water characterized by dissolvedsolids concentrations greater than 400 mg/L. Observed HCO3- bias from field to lab slightly distorted ion balance distribution. Excess anions greater than 2 percent generally corresponded to increased HCO3- from field to lab. Observed HCO3- and pH bias significantly distorted the distribution of calcite saturation indices. Samples with dissolved-solids concentrations less than 400 mg/L that generally showed a positive pH bias had a mean change in calcite saturation index of -0.214 (toward undersaturation). Samples with dissolved-solids concentrations greater than 400 mg/L that generally showed a negative pH bias had a mean change in calcite saturation of +0.132 (toward over saturation). Calcite saturation indices were much more sensitive to observed pH bias than to observed HCO3- bias. Linear regression analysis indicates % percent of the variability in calcite saturation index change from field to lab is attributed to change in pH from field to lab. Field pH should be used to compute calcite saturation index.
Nitrogen solubility in liquid Fe-Ta, Fe-Cr-Ta, Fe-Ni-Ta, and Fe-Cr-Ni-Ta alloys

The nitrogen solubility in liquid Fe-Ta, Fe-Cr-Ta, Fe-Ni-Ta, and Fe-18 pet Cr-8 pet Ni-Ta alloys was measured using the Sieverts’ method. The experiments covered the temperature range from 1782 to 2031 K, and tantalum contents from 2.0 to 20.0 wt pct Ta. Nitrogen solution obeyed Sieverts’ law and no nitride precipitation was observed in this concentration range. Tantalum increases the nitrogen solubility and the heat of solution of nitrogen is more negative at higher tantalum contents in these alloys. The excess enthalpy and entropy of solution of nitrogen were determined. The first and second order interaction parameters between nitrogen and tantalum were determined as a function of temperature, e N Ta = -101.7/T + 0.018 and e N TaTa = -3.27/T + 0.0022. The effects of alloying elements on the activity coefficient of nitrogen were measured and the second order cross-interaction parameters between nitrogen and Ta with Cr and Ni were determined at 1873 K as e N CrTa = 0.00052 and e N NiTa = 0.00045.
Why Science, Technology, and Society Studies?.

This article presents a brief argument for STS studies as grounded in fundamental historical transformations of the human condition, outlines seven distinct approaches to STS, and concludes with a brief for STS as the new form of a liberal education.
Family Caregiving: Autonomous and Paternalistic Decision Making

Preface - Brian Hofland PART ONE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION Autonomy and Paternalism in Long Term Care Meaning of Autonomy and Paternalism Autonomy and Paternalism in Family Decision-Making PART TWO: BELIEFS AS ANTECEDENTS OF AUTONOMY AND PATERNALISM Beliefs and Dyadic Family Caregiving Decision-Making Assessment of Beliefs in Paternalism and Respect for Autonomy PART THREE: STUDY OF AUTONOMY AND PATERNALISM BELIEFS Intergenerational Congruence of Beliefs Intergenerational Differences in Beliefs Contextual Correlates of Beliefs Personal-Social Correlates of Beliefs Relation of Autonomy and Paternalism Beliefs to Caregiving Decision-Making The Influence of Siblings on Beliefs and Decision-Making PART FOUR: CONCLUSIONS Summary and Concluding Remarks
Uniform Approximation Is More Appropriate for Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test in Gene Set Analysis

Gene set analysis is widely used to facilitate biological interpretations in the analyses of differential expression from high throughput profiling data. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum (WRS) test is one of the commonly used methods in gene set enrichment analysis. It compares the ranks of genes in a gene set against those of genes outside the gene set. This method is easy to implement and it eliminates the dichotomization of genes into significant and non-significant in a competitive hypothesis testing. Due to the large number of genes being examined, it is impractical to calculate the exact null distribution for the WRS test. Therefore, the normal distribution is commonly used as an approximation. However, as we demonstrate in this paper, the normal approximation is problematic when a gene set with relative small number of genes is tested against the large number of genes in the complementary set. In this situation, a uniform approximation is substantially more powerful, more accurate, and less intensive in computation. We demonstrate the advantage of the uniform approximations in Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis using simulations and real data sets.