cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Traditions Of Optical Fabrication

The history of optical fabrication is traced from Roman times to the 1900's to indicate the level of the art. This background serves as a reference for discussing the particular optical fabrication problems associated with grazing incidence optics. It is suggested that "bend and polish" techniques may be particularly applicable to the fabrication of vacuum ultraviolet and x-ray collimator optics.
A Failure in Marketing Technology Transfer: The Case of Rice Distribution in the Ivory Coast

This article analyzes the experience and the development of a government controlled vertical marketing system for rice in the Ivory Coast, a small African country. It presents the government ration...
Closed Is the Word: Creating a Closed Urinary Catheter System in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

ISSUE: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) account for 40% of all healthcare-associated infections. Studies show that a closed catheter system has a direct effect on the prevention of CAUTIs. However, this system is not available for the pediatric population. Evaluation of our 12-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in June 2003 revealed a CAUTI rate of 9.7 per 1000 catheter days for the previous 15 months and a catheter utilization ratio of 35%. PROJECT: An initiative was started in July 2003 to reduce our catheter days with the goal of decreasing CAUTIs. Despite a 37% reduction in our catheter utilization ratio, there was no change in the incidence of our CAUTIs (for the 15 months post-intervention there were 10.81 infections per 1000 catheter days). Since our outcome was not one we anticipated, a root cause analysis was done. We investigated nursing practices, procedures and products. These analyses lead us to focus on catheter insertion, maintenance practices and product. A survey that included questions about these specific practices was developed and given to all nursing staff in the PICU. RESULTS: The survey on urinary catheter maintenance did not reveal any reported breaches in infection control practices. However, when nurses were questioned about the steps in catheter insertion, 76% answered that connecting the catheter to the collection bag was the final step in the procedure. Based on this information, we developed a plan to change practice in inserting urinary catheters. Our practice was changed to include the connection of the catheter to the collection bag prior to insertion, thus creating a “closed system” from the start. A multi-faceted educational program was provided to all nursing staff to alert them of this change. LESSONS LEARNED: As Infection Control Professionals, we are challenged to seek out methods/technology to improve patient outcomes. We must remember that not all technological advances aimed for improvement in clinical outcomes target every population at risk. Therefore, there will be times we may need to improvise to obtain our outcome. “Necessity is the mother of all invention.”
Mutation of hydrophobic residues in the factor Va C1 and C2 domains blocks membrane-dependent prothrombin activation.

Summary. The binding of factor (FVa) to phosphatidylserine (PS) membranes regulates assembly of the prothrombinase complex. Two pairs of solvent-exposed amino acids, Tyr1956/Leu1957 in the C1 domain and Trp2063/Trp2064 in the C2 domain, each make significant contributions to the affinity of FVa for PS membranes, but individually neither pair of amino acids is required for prothrombinase assembly on 25% PS membranes. In this study we characterize a FVa mutant with alanine substitutions in both the C1 and C2 domains: (Y1956,L1957,W2063,W2064)A. We conclude that: (i) prothrombinase assembly on PS membranes requires Trp2063/Trp2064 and/or Tyr1956/Leu1957; (ii) combined mutation of Trp2063/Trp2064 and Tyr1956/Leu1957 results in only a modest 4-fold decrease in the rate of thrombin generation in the absence of membranes; (iii) the present data provide experimental support for the joint participation of the C1 and C2 domains in the binding of FVa to phospholipid membranes as suggested by the recently solved structure for FVai (A1/A3-C1-C2).
Transient Repetitive Exposure to Low Level Light Therapy Enhances Collateral Blood Vessel Growth in The Ischemic Hindlimb of The Tight Skin Mouse

The tight skin mouse (Tsk(-/+)) is a model of scleroderma characterized by impaired vasoreactivity, increased oxidative stress, attenuated angiogenic response to VEGF and production of the angiogenesis inhibitor angiostatin. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) stimulates angiogenesis in myocardial infarction and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. We hypothesize that repetitive LLLT restores vessel growth in the ischemic hindlimb of Tsk(-/+) mice by attenuating angiostatin and enhancing angiomotin effects in vivo. C57Bl/6J and Tsk(-/+) mice underwent ligation of the femoral artery. Relative blood flow to the foot was measured using a laser Doppler imager. Tsk(-/+) mice received LLLT (670 nm, 50 mW cm(-2), 30 J cm(-2)) for 10 min per day for 14 days. Vascular density was determined using lycopersicom lectin staining. Immunofluorescent labeling, Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation were used to determine angiostatin and angiomotin expression. Recovery of blood flow to the ischemic limb was reduced in Tsk(-/+) compared with C57Bl/6 mice 2 weeks after surgery. LLLT treatment of Tsk(-/+) mice restored blood flow to levels observed in C57Bl/6 mice. Vascular density was decreased, angiostatin expression was enhanced and angiomotin depressed in the ischemic hindlimb of Tsk(-/+) mice. LLLT treatment reversed these abnormalities. LLLT stimulates angiogenesis by increasing angiomotin and decreasing angiostatin expression in the ischemic hindlimb of Tsk(-/+) mice.
A systematic comparison of current kinetic theories for polymer melt rheology

Abstract The internal consistency of two recent kinetic theories is investigated. Rheologically simple experiments, such as step strain stress relaxation and small angle oscillatory shear, are used to assess model parameters in the Doi-Edwards and Curtiss-Bird reptation theories. These parameters are then used to predict the results of shear stress growth, shear stress decay and interrupted steady shear experiments. Inconsistencies are found in the cases of η*and the early stages of stress growth when nonzero values for the “link tension coefficient” are employed. Neither theory predicts stress overshoot at the shear rates where it is observed nor the extremely long recovery times required to reproduce stress overshoot.
A MULTIFUNCTIONAL FLEXURE HINGE FOR DEPLOYING OMNIDIRECTIONAL SOLAR ARRAYS

The Aerospace Corporation's DARPA-Aerospace PICOSAT project will, in the near term, deploy a thin-film solar array as a power source for its small satellite. The deployment mechanism for the array is unique because it cannot employ conventional booms, hinges, latches, or stops, due to the extremely limited room available. In order to stow thin-film solar cell arrays in the most compact manner, a flexure hinge made of an extremely flexible metal has been suggested. In this paper, the prior use of the superelastic Ti-Ni alloy for the structure, hinge and unfolding energy device, is extended to include the function of a latch that locks the deployed structure in place and the electrical bus which carries current from the cells back to the satellite. By performing all these functions with a single element, the complexity and cost of the array is reduced, the assembly process is simplified and the reliability increased.
The metabolism of the estrogens; a review.

THE isolation of the estrogens by Doisy et al. (1) and Butenandt (2) aroused considerable interest in their metabolism (origin, action and degradation). Such information is necessary as a guide for their more rational use in therapy, as well as for more academic reasons. As far as the female genital tract is concerned, the estrogens are the most potent known stimulators of growth and cellular division. For example, by means of the colchicine technique, Allen, Smith and Gardner (3) have demonstrated as many as 1585 mitotic figures in one cross section of epithelium of the mouse vagina thirty-seven hours after the administration of but a few micrograms of estrone. It has also been shown that estrogenic stimulation, either endogenous or exogenous, is necessary for the development of certain genital tumors in strains of genetically susceptible animals (Lacassagne (4), Lipshutz (5)). There has been presented some circumstantial evidence that has implicated the estrogens as possible etiologic agents in uterine ...
Fabrication of single-crystal silicon carbide MEMS/NEMS for bio-sensing and harsh environments

A conductivity-selective photoelectrochemical etching process was reported to fabrication single-crystal SiC micro/nanoelectromechanical structures. When a bias employing the different flatband potentials of n-type and p-type SiC in the KOH solution was applied, p-SiC suspended micro and nanostructures were released by undercutting the underlying n-SiC substrate. The etching of n-SiC was promoted by more upward bending of the energy band due to the applied bias, while the etching of p-SiC was suppressed by preserving downward band-bending. The Young's modulus (E 0 =530 GPa) of single-crystal SiC was extracted experimentally and the resonant frequency (ƒ 0 =11.5 MHz) of a cantilever was derived.
Optically sliced micro-PIV using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)

Optically sliced microscopic-particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) is developed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The developed PIV system shows a unique optical slicing capability allowing true depth-wise resolved micro-PIV vector field mapping. A comparative study between CLSM micro-PIV and con- ventional epi-fluorescence micro-PIV is presented. Both techniques have been applied to the creeping Poiseuille flows in two different microtubes of 99-l m( Re=0.00275) and 516-lm ID diameters (Re=0.021), which are respec- tively imaged by a 40·-0.75NA objective with an estimated 2.8-lm optical slice thickness, and by a 10·-0.30NA objective with a 26.7-lm slicing. Compared to conventional micro-PIV, CLSM micro-PIV consistently shows signifi- cantly improved particle image contrasts, definitions, and measured flow vector fields agreeing more accurately with predictions based on the Poiseuille flow fields. The data improvement due to the optical slicing of CLSM micro-PIV is more pronounced with higher magnification imaging with higher NA objectives for a smaller microtube.
Domestic sources of alliances and alignments: the case of Egypt, 1962–73

The theoretical and empirical literature on international alliances has tended to support the realist view that the pursuit or tightening of external alignments stems predominantly from external security threats. Consequently, the role of domestic factors has generally been ignored or downplayed. This article begins with the observation that leaders confronted with external threats make trade-offs between the pursuit of external alignments and the mobilization of domestic resources. It then argues that the choice of strategy depends on a combination of systemic and domestic factors, including the perceived degree of external threat to state security, the perceived degree of domestic instability and threat to the government, and the constraints that derive from the domestic political economy. The analysis of Egypt's alignment behavior during the period from 1962 to 1973 underscores the impact of domestic and economic political constraints on the choice of domestic mobilization or alliance formation and the central role of alliances in providing resources for confronting domestic as well as foreign threats.
United States v. Carmichael: Prior Restraint and the Internet

This article examines a U.S. federal court decision in which the government sought a prior restraint on publication within the context of the Internet. It is asserted that United States v. Carmichael (2004) is on the cutting edge of Internet censorship law, offering insights in innovative legal grounds and procedures being brought into the realm of communication regulation. The ways in which the investigatory tools for a criminal defendant were used to collect evidence in preparing his defense to pending felony charges are explored. The argument is made that the Carmichael case not only offers communication scholars a look at developing case law, but that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District, Northern Division of Alabama is worth watching in future cases wherein the government seeks prior restraints on publication.
Detection of Ultra-Rare Mitochondrial Mutations in Breast Stem Cells by Duplex Sequencing

Long-lived adult stem cells could accumulate non-repaired DNA damage or mutations that increase the risk of tumor formation. To date, studies on mutations in stem cells have concentrated on clonal (homoplasmic) mutations and have not focused on rarely occurring stochastic mutations that may accumulate during stem cell dormancy. A major challenge in investigating these rare mutations is that conventional next generation sequencing (NGS) methods have high error rates. We have established a new method termed Duplex Sequencing (DS), which detects mutations with unprecedented accuracy. We present a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial DNA mutations in human breast normal stem cells and non-stem cells using DS. The vast majority of mutations occur at low frequency and are not detectable by NGS. The most prevalent point mutation types are the C>T/G>A and A>G/T>C transitions. The mutations exhibit a strand bias with higher prevalence of G>A, T>C, and A>C mutations on the light strand of the mitochondrial genome. The overall rare mutation frequency is significantly lower in stem cells than in the corresponding non-stem cells. We have identified common and unique non-homoplasmic mutations between non-stem and stem cells that include new mutations which have not been reported previously. Four mutations found within the MT-ND5 gene (m.12684G>A, m.12705C>T, m.13095T>C, m.13105A>G) are present in all groups of stem and non-stem cells. Two mutations (m.8567T>C, m.10547C>G) are found only in non-stem cells. This first genome-wide analysis of mitochondrial DNA mutations may aid in characterizing human breast normal epithelial cells and serve as a reference for cancer stem cell mutation profiles.
Adaptive finite element simulation of Stokes flow in porous media

The Stokes problem describes flow of an incompressible constant-viscosity fluid when the Reynolds number is small so that inertial and transient-time effects are negligible. The numerical solution of the Stokes problem requires special care, since classical finite element discretization schemes, such as piecewise linear interpolation for both the velocity and the pressure, fail to perform. Even when an appropriate scheme is adopted, the grid must be selected so that the error is as small as possible. Much of the challenge in solving Stokes problems is how to account for complex geometry and to capture important features such as flow separation. This paper applies adaptive mesh techniques, using a posteriori error estimates, in the finite element solution of the Stokes equations that model flow at pore scales. Different selected numerical test cases associated with various porous geometrics are presented and discussed to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our methodology.
Sequence analysis of GerM and SpoVS, uncharacterized bacterial ‘sporulation’ proteins with widespread phylogenetic distribution

Sporulation in low-G+C gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes) is an important survival mechanism that involves up to 150 genes, acting in a highly regulated manner. Many sporulation genes have close homologs in non-sporulating bacteria, including cyanobacteria, proteobacteria and spirochaetes, indicating that their products play a wider biological role. Most of them have been characterized as regulatory proteins or enzymes of peptidoglycan turnover; functions of others remain unknown but they are likely to have a general role in cell division and/or development. We have compiled a list of such widely conserved sporulation and germination proteins with poorly characterized functions, ranked them by the width of their phylogenetic distribution, and performed detailed sequence analysis and, where possible, structural modeling aimed at estimating their potential functions. Here we report the results of sequence analysis of Bacillus subtilis spore germination protein GerM, suggesting that it is a widespread cell development protein, whose function might involve binding to peptidoglycan. GerM consists of two tandem copies of a new domain (designated the GERMN domain) that forms phylum-specific fusions with two other newly described domains, GERMN-associated domains 1 and 2 (GMAD1 and GMAD2). Fold recognition reveals a β-propeller fold for GMAD1, while ab initio modeling suggests that GMAD2 adopts a fibronectin type III fold. SpoVS is predicted to adopt the AlbA archaeal chromatin protein fold, which suggests that it is a DNA-binding protein, most likely a novel transcriptional regulator. Contact: drigden@liverpool.ac.uk Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/galperin/Sporulation.html
An application of artificial neural networks to experimental data approximation

As an initial step in the evaluation of networks, a feedforward architecture is trained to approximate experimental data by the backpropagation algorithm. Several drawbacks were detected and an alternative learning algorithm was then developed to partially address the drawbacks. This noniterative algorithm has a number of advantages over the backpropagation method and is easily implemented on existing hardware.
Striving to Save: Creating Policies for Financial Security of Low-Income Families, by Sherraden, M. S., & McBride, A. M., with Beverly, S. G.

The aim of Striving to Save is to inform the reader about low-income families' perspectives about saving and the challenges they face regarding long-term investments. The book explores their motiva...
Effects of Lineup Modality on Witness Credibility

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to explore the credibility of earwitness versus eyewitness testimony among American college students. Experiment 1 demonstrated that subjects were less likely to identify the perpetrator of a simulated crime in auditory lineups than in visual or auditory-visual lineups. In Experiment 2, subjects observed a videotaped witness from Experiment 1 make an identification. Contrary to actual accuracy data, subjects were as believing of the identifications made by auditory witnesses as they were of the identifications made by visual or auditory-visual witnesses. In Experiment 3, mock jurors in a simulated robbery trial believed auditory lineup identifications as much as they did visual or auditory-visual lineup identifications.
Sensor Network Assisted Collaboration for Pursuit-Evasion Problem

The pursuit-evasion problem represents many important real-world applications. In this paper, we present a new adaptive pursuer collaboration method with the support of wireless sensor networks. We focus on two different evader motions, random movement and active escaping, and develop a moving pattern recognition algorithm based on information obtained by the sensor network. We compare two pursuing strategies, greedy vs. collaboration, and derive their expected capturing times for the two evader moving patterns. By recognizing the evader moving patterns and selecting appropriate pursuing strategies, the new collaboration method is more adaptive, robust, and reduces the capturing time significantly in situations where the number of pursuers is small and the operating field is large
Influence of F-Actin on Na + /K + /2CI - Cotransport in Cultured Intestinal Epithelia

It is increasingly recognized that the microfilament-based cytoskeleton of many non-muscle cell types plays a crucial role in diverse cellular functions including locomotion and endo/exocytosis (Condeelis and Hall, 1991). The role of microfilament dynamics in specialized functions of epithelial cells (such as vectorial ion transport) has been less well-studied. The potential importance of the cytoskeleton in epithelial ion transport processes is illustrated by the gastric parietal cell, in which the onset of H+ secretion involves a microfilament-dependent fusion of subapical membrane vesicles containing H+/K+-ATPase units with the apical membrane (Mercier et al., 1989).
Next generation spindles for micromilling.

There exists a wide variety of important applications for micro- and meso-scale mechanical systems in the commercial and defense sectors, which require high-strength materials and complex geometries that cannot be produced using current MEMS fabrication technologies. Micromilling has great potential to fill this void in MEMS technology by adding the capability of free form machining of complex 3D shapes from a wide variety and combination of traditional, well-understood engineering alloys, glasses and ceramics. Inefficiencies in micromilling result from the relationships between a cutting tool's breaking strength, the applied cutting force, and the metal removal rate. Because machining times in mesofeatures scale inversely to the part size, a feature 1/10th as large will take 10 times as long to machine. Also, required chip sizes of 1 m or less are cut with tools having edge radius of 2-3 m, the cutting edge effectively has a highly negative rake angle, cutting forces are increased significantly causing chip loads to be further reduced and the machining takes even longer than predicted above. However, cutting forces do not increase with cutting speed, so faster spindles with reduced tool runout are the path to achieve efficient mesoscale milling. This research explored the development of newmore » ultra-high speed micromilling spindles. A novel air-bearing spindle design is discussed that will run at very high speeds (450,000 rpm) and provide very minimal runout allowing the best use of micromilling cutters and reducing overall machining time drastically. Two generations of this spindle design were completed; one with an air bearing supported tool shaft and one with a novel rolling element bearing supported tool shaft. Both designs utilized friction-drive systems that relied on diameter differences between the drive wheel (operating at speeds up to 90,000 rpm) and the tool shaft to achieve high rotational tool speeds. Runout, stiffness, and machining tests were conducted with the spindle designs and though they both showed promise for ultra-high speed machining, runout issues in the friction drive and in the stock tools kept the system from achieving sustained machining capability.« less
Experimental Approaches to Moral Standing

Moral patients deserve moral consideration and concern – they have moral standing. What factors drive attributions of moral standing? Understanding these factors is important because it indicates how broadly (or narrowly) individuals conceptualize the moral world, and suggests how they will treat various entities, both human and non-human. This understanding has recently been advanced by a series of studies conducted by both psychologists and philosophers, which have revealed three main drivers of moral standing: the capacity to suffer (psychological patiency), intelligence or autonomy (agency), and the nature of an entity's disposition (whether it is harmful). These studies have also revealed causal links between moral standing and other variables of interest, namely, mental state attributions and moral behavior. In this review, I consider this recent research, aiming to clarify what the balance of evidence indicates about how moral standing is judged and about its links to mind perception and behavior. I conclude by suggesting open questions for future research on this exciting topic.
Exemplary Elementary Social Studies in an Age of Accountability

Libresco, A. S., Alleman, J., Field, S. L., & Passe, J., (Eds.). (2014). Exemplary Elementary Social Studies: Case Studies in Practice. Charlotte, NC: Information Age. 164 pp., $45.99, paperback, I...
Moody Diagram for Direct Pipe Diameter Calculation

The applications of fluid flow in pipes are widely distributed through engineering practice. The problems associated with the computation of steady flow through commercial pipes are not difficult and are taught at the undergraduate level. The approach generally involves solving simultaneous equations, i.e., the equation of continuity and the Darcy-Weisbach equation.
Material Selection for the Quantum Dot Intermediate Band Solar Cell

The main limitation of the conventional solar conversion device is that low energy photons cannot excite charge carriers to the conduction band and therefore do not contribute to the device’s current. Another limitation is that high energy photons are not efficiently used due to a poor match of the solar spectrum to the energy gap. However, when intermediate bands are introduced into the energy gap of a conventional device, low energy photons can be used to promote charge carriers in a stepwise manner to the conduction band and photons are better matched to the energy transitions between bands. Solar cells with intermediate bands can have conversion efficiencies that exceed thermodynamic limits of the conventional solar cells. A device based on the confined electron levels of quantum dots, called the quantum dot intermediate band solar cell, is a physical realization of the intermediate band solar cell. We discuss the design criteria for selecting materials for the quantum dot intermediate band solar cells. With the aid of the finite element method, we perform numerical simulations on two types of quantum dot geometry and identify optimal material systems that are considered candidates for the quantum dot intermediate band solar cell with efficiencies greater than 46 % for unconcentrated light and greater than 62 % for fully concentrated light. Materials considered in this work are the technologically important III–V semiconductors and their alloys.
Social Problem-Solving Interventions in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenic diagnoses implicitly reflect ineffective interpersonal behavior and its consequences (Tisdelle & St. Lawrence, 1986). Competent social functioning involves the use of “identifiable, learned behaviors that individuals use in interpersonal situations to obtain or maintain reinforcement from others in their environment” (Kelly, 1982, p. 3). These global definitions of social competence subsume qualitatively different skills such as assertion, conversational skill, and interpersonal problem-solving adequacy. Competence levels for each skill subset may not correlate within individuals or be consistent across situations (Kelly, 1982). Thus, social competency is a multidimensional construct that needs to be further subdivided into specific behavioral skill units and components. Interpersonal problem solving is one subset of social competence with emotional and behavioral relevance for schizophrenia.
Qualification Testing of a Liquid CO2 Turbopump for Carbon Capture and Sequestration Applications

In order to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, significant progress has been made in developing technology to sequester CO2 from power plants and other major producers of greenhouse gas emissions. The compression of the captured carbon dioxide stream requires a sizeable amount of power, which impacts plant availability, capital expenditures and operational cost. Preliminary analysis has estimated that the CO2 compression process reduces the plant efficiency by 8% to 12% for a typical power plant. The goal of the present research is to reduce this penalty through development of novel compression and pumping processes. The research supports the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) objectives of reducing the energy requirements for carbon capture and sequestration in electrical power production. The primary objective of this study is to boost the pressure of CO2 to pipeline pressures with the minimal amount of energy required. Previous thermodynamic analysis identified optimum processes for pressure rise in both liquid and gaseous states. At elevated pressures, CO2 assumes a liquid state at moderate temperatures. This liquefaction can be achieved through commercially available refrigeration schemes. However, liquid CO2 turbopumps of the size and pressure needed for a typical power plant were not available. This paper describes the design, construction, and qualification testing of a 150 bar cryogenic turbopump. Unique characteristics of liquid CO2 will be discussed.© 2011 ASME
Constructive Models of Set Theory

In this chapter we will present model constructions, or otherwise expressed, “concrete” realizability interpretations, for constructive set theories (sub-theories of intuitionistic ZF), patterned after the models of EM 0 and ML 1 given in preceding chapters. These models are of interest for two distinct reasons: (i) They sharpen our conception of the notion of “set” described in constructive set theory by giving specific and concrete examples of the kind of universe to which these theories can apply. (ii) They (or rather their formalized versions) provide interpretations of constructive set theory in various other theories, such as EM0, ML1, or subsystems of analysis, which help to clarify the relations between these different theories, both in terms of the notion of set described and in terms of the formal proof-theoretic strength of the theories.
Reliable Local Strain Characterization on Si/SiGe Structures in Biaxial Tension

The strain in the strained Si layer on a blanket strained Si/SiGe structure could not be determined with only convergent beam electron diffraction to high order Laue zone (HOLZ) line splitting. Combined with CBED and finite element calculations, we quantified the deformation field from HOLZ line splitting and demonstrated a procedure to determine the initial strain in the strained Si layer. Our results also gave us insights in strain relaxation in a TEM sample. The CBED technique combined with FE modeling has the potential for initial strain measurements on new generation short channel CMOS technology nodes.
Determination of Oxidation-Reduction Potentials of Sterile Culture Mediums with the Graphite Electrode

It has already been demonstrated that the potentials of inorganic chemical oxidation-reduction systems and of a few organic ones can be measured without difficulty at the surface of a bright noble metal electrode with the conventional potentiometer. On the other hand, in many organic oxidation-reduction systems, it is difficult to make measurements with bright noble metal electrodes by the use of the conventional potentiometer owing to the ease with which the electrodes are polarized. It has been shown that this difficulty is increased in organic systems that are poorly poised.1 Bacteriologic culture mediums are examples of extremely poorly poised organic systems. Four general methods have been employed to overcome or to avoid polarization and its effects. They are: the use of oxidation-reduction dyes to indicate the extent of oxidation or reduction through their color changes,2 the use of a vacuum tube voltmeter, of a potentiometer with a vacuum tube arrangement or of an electrometer as the null instrument,3 the use of poising effects, such as those produced by poising substances, the passage of highly purified nitrogen or the exclusion of air4 and the use of an electrode that is not easily polarized and that permits of the use of the conventional potentiometer.5 In the light of previous studies of this nature, it appears desirable to find an electrode which will materially reduce the laborious technic
Measurement of cytosolic free calcium in perfused rat heart using TF-BAPTA.

The feasibility and usefulness of loading 1,2-bis(2-amino-5,6-difluorophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (TF-BAPTA), a new high-dissociation constant (KD) (65 microM) Ca2+ indicator, into pe...
Active surveillance for African-American men with prostate cancer: proceed with caution. Con.

Active surveillance seems to be generally safe, yet African-American men tend to have more aggressive prostate cancers. Thus, it is imperative that we learn the characteristics and outcomes of African-American men considering surveillance.
The Value of Health Insurance and Labor Supply: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Mandate

This paper examines how the value of health insurance affects labor supply, exploiting a quasi-experimental change in health insurance provision - i.e., the Affordable Care Act (ACA) dependent coverage mandate implemented in 2010. Using difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, and regression kink designs, I find no evidence of the labor market impact of the ACA dependent coverage mandate despite its substantial impact on insurance coverage for young adults. I also show that the "aging-out-at-26" condition in eligibility leads to low valuation of insurance and in turn no change in the labor supply of young adults.
Equality and Difference - The Restrained State

This article argues for the development of an approach to social justice issues that puts equality aside and brings differences into consideration. The emphasis here is placed not on an abstract and inevitably contested legal principle, such as liberty or dignity, or on an inherently comparative or relative measure, such as equality, but on the ways in which the universal subject who is to be governed by those principles has been constructed in both political and legal discourses. This approach begins with the recognition of universality or sameness among individuals (the fundamental equality position) but also considers the inevitable differences among them. The universality is found in the vulnerability that marks our existence as embodied and finite beings. The differences arise because there are different stages and manifestations of embodiment, as well as from the fact that we are differently embedded in social relationships and within societal institutions. This “vulnerability paradigm” makes forms of societally-produced differences a predominant focus because they provide the foundation for the assertion that we need a responsive state. Instead, what equality of treatment has provided is the passive toleration of inequality and complicity in the conferral of often unwarranted privilege on the few.
Recombination Times in GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs Multiple Quantum Well Structures

Time-resolved room temperature photoluminescence measurements of the n=1→1 heavy hole transition in a GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs multiple quantum well structure grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) exhibit an exponential decay with τ= 1 ns over a wide range of excitation energy densities. The same photoluminescence time is also seen at 77K.
Augmented Reality in Education: An Exploration and Analysis of Currently Available Educational Apps

This article explores the state of available educational Augmented Reality (AR) Augmented Reality technologies are becoming much more stable and reliable, and their use in commercial settings has expanded rapidly over the past few years. Educational applications of AR technology are lagging behind, however. Using a scale designed to categorize the educational purpose and function of given technologies, this article describes a process for evaluating the educational power and intent of the AR apps that have been developed. Further, this article lays out conclusions about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the educational AR offerings as they currently stand. Special emphasis is placed on discussing the barriers that commonly stand in the way of developing and deploying effective AR apps, the features of “good” educational AR apps, and the lessons that can be drawn from the relatively few AR implementations that go beyond the most rudimentary levels of educational usability.
Quantifying plasmid copy number to investigate plasmid dosage effects associated with directed protein evolution.

Our laboratory specializes in directed protein evolution, i.e. evolution of proteins under defined selective pressures in the laboratory. Our target genes are encoded in ColE1 plasmids to facilitate the generation of libraries in vivo. We have observed that when random mutations are not restricted to the coding sequence of the target genes, directed evolution results in a strong positive selection of plasmid origin of replication (ori) mutations. Surprisingly, this is true even during evolution of new biochemical activities, when the activity that is being selected was not originally present. The selected plasmid ori mutations are diverse and produce a range of plasmid copy numbers, suggesting a complex interplay between ori and coding mutations rather than a simple enhancement of level of expression of the target gene. Thus, plasmid dosage may contribute significantly to evolution by fine-tuning levels of activity. Here we present examples illustrating these observations as well as our methods for efficient quantification of plasmid copy number.
SAV742, a Novel AraC-Family Regulator from Streptomyces avermitilis, Controls Avermectin Biosynthesis, Cell Growth and Development.

Avermectins are useful anthelmintic antibiotics produced by Streptomyces avermitilis. We demonstrated that a novel AraC-family transcriptional regulator in this species, SAV742, is a global regulator that negatively controls avermectin biosynthesis and cell growth, but positively controls morphological differentiation. Deletion of its gene, sav_742, increased avermectin production and dry cell weight, but caused delayed formation of aerial hyphae and spores. SAV742 directly inhibited avermectin production by repressing transcription of ave structural genes, and also directly regulated its own gene (sav_742) and adjacent gene sig8 (sav_741). The precise SAV742-binding site on its own promoter region was determined by DNase I footprinting assay coupled with site-directed DNA mutagenesis, and 5-nt inverted repeats (GCCGA-n10/n12-TCGGC) were found to be essential for SAV742 binding. Similar 5-nt inverted repeats separated by 3, 10 or 15 nt were found in the promoter regions of target ave genes and sig8. The SAV742 regulon was predicted based on bioinformatic analysis. Twenty-six new SAV742 targets were identified and experimentally confirmed, including genes involved in primary metabolism, secondary metabolism and development. Our findings indicate that SAV742 plays crucial roles in not only avermectin biosynthesis but also coordination of complex physiological processes in S. avermitilis.
Chiral nanoscale pores created during the surface explosion of tartaric acid on Cu(111)

The autocatalytic decomposition of tartaric acid on Cu(111) exhibits unique kinetics, which are linked to a hexagonal surface structure adopted at high coverage. The chirality imposed on the surface by tartaric acid throughout the explosion process is presented, and the hexagonal structure shows promise as a chiral template for enantiospecific surface chemistry.
Inhibition of the MAPK pathway alone is insufficient to account for all of the cytotoxic effects of naringenin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Estrogen receptor (ER) antagonists such as tamoxifen (Tam) have been used successfully to treat ER+ breast cancers for more than 30 years. Unfortunately, long term use of Tam can result in resistance. Tam resistance is associated with the activation of growth factor signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and survival. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), is up-regulated in Tam resistant (Tam-R) cells. Previous studies have reported that the flavanone, naringenin (Nar) can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in ER+ breast cancer cells. Furthermore, Nar has been shown to inhibit the MAPK signaling pathways in MCF-7 cells. In this report we investigated whether inhibition of MAPK alone is mediating the effects of Nar on cell proliferation and viability. These studies will determine the mechanism of action of Nar. Tam-R MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with Nar or U0126, a MAPK kinase inhibitor. Our studies show that while both U0126 and Nar impaired cell proliferation and viability the combination of U0126 and Nar resulted in greater inhibition of cell viability than either compound alone. It has been previously reported that Nar can bind the ER. Our lab has also shown that Nar localizes ERα to a peri-nuclear region of the cell. Confocal microscopy revealed that in U0126 treated cells ERα displayed an even distribution across the cytoplasm as seen in untreated Tam-R cells. These studies suggest that MAPK is not the only target of Nar.
Postgraduate Outcomes in American Higher Education

This chapter provides a big-picture view of the postgraduate outcomes landscape. In an effort to promote understanding and to communicate the value of a higher education credential to various stakeholders, five national efforts are described, each of which provides a different perspective for defining, measuring, and collecting postgraduate outcomes.
Communicating Mobility and Technology: A Material Rhetoric for Persuasive Transportation [by Pflugfelder, E.H.; Book review]

Technical communicators, engineers, and designers in the automotive industry, as well as researchers with expertise and interest in this book. It provides provides a framework for better understanding and explaining the ecological, economic, and political stakes invested in contemporary culture’s use and valuation of automobiles. The book constructs an ANT-inspired framework for rethinking automobility. In the manner of similar projects, such as Thinking with Bruno Latour in Rhetoric and Composition that establish ANT as a primary mode of analysis, the book achieves its purpose of recovering terms from ancient rhetoric—techne, kinesis, energeia, hyle, logistikos, metis, tyche, and kairos—for the purpose of demonstrating how they always, already accommodated analysis of human and nonhuman agents involved in activities, such as transportation use and design. For this reason, the book could serve as useful reading in courses on professional communication as it pertains to transportation or ANT, and as food for thought for automobile industry professionals.
Blurring nature at its boundaries. Vague phenomena in current stem cell debate

This paper illuminates the explanatory role of vagueness und species membership against the background of scientific developments in recent stem cell research. With the help of the Neo-Aristotelian concept of “life form naturalism” ontologically vague entities such as stem cells, all above induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), could be described as necessary constituents for the correct sorting and naming of natural processes and its bearers. Furthermore this specific assessment allows drawing some important ontological and ethical consequences.
Plasmonic resonances in nanostructured MXene: Highly broadband absorber

Localized surface plasmon type resonances have been demonstrated in nanostructured films of recently discovered 2D Ti 3 C 2 . A planar design of highly broadband plasmonic absorber is implemented as an application of this new plasmonic material.
Lefschetz theorems for torsion algebraic cycles in codimension 2

Abstract Let Y be a smooth projective variety over C , and X be a smooth hypersurface in Y . We prove that the natural restriction map on Chow groups of codimension two cycles is an isomorphism when restricted to the torsion subgroups provided dim ⁡ Y ≥ 5 . We prove an analogous statement for a very general hypersurface X ⊂ P 4 of degree ≥5. In the more general setting of a very general hypersurface X of sufficiently high degree in a fixed smooth projective four-fold Y , under some additional hypothesis, we prove that the restriction map is an isomorphism on l -primary torsion for almost all primes l . As a consequence, we obtain a weak Lefschetz theorem for torsion in the Griffiths groups of codimension 2 cycles, and prove the injectivity of the Abel–Jacobi map when restricted to torsion in this Griffiths group, thereby providing a partial answer to a question of Nori.
Allogeneic and Autologous Marrow Transplantation: Ex vivo Purging with Monoclonal Antibody or Immunotoxins to Remove Leukemic Cells or to Prevent Graft Versus Host Disease

Bone marrow transplantation is now widely used for the treatment of a variety of fonts of human leukemia. Marrow may be obtained from another individual in allogeneic transplantation or may be the patient’s own marrow in autologous marrow transplantation(1,2).In allogeneic tranplantation, immunocompetent cells capable of producing graft versus host disease (GVHD) contaminate the marrow; removal of these cells ex vivo prior to tranplantation may be effective in reducing the incidence and severity of GVHD(3). In autologous transplantation for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas, the patient’s marrow may contain not only the desired stem cells but also residual malignant cells which may be reinfused to the patient. Ex vivo removal of these cells may result in reduced risk of relapse in patients who receive their own marrow.
Effects of Habitat Structure on Perceived Risk of Predation and Anti-Predator Behavior of Vervet (Cercopithecus aethiops) and Patas (Erythrocebus patas) Monkeys

This chapter summarizes the ways in which habitat structure affects perceived risk of predation and responses to predators (i.e., anti-predator behavior) by cercopithecines (Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea), with specific reference to vervet (Cercopithecus aethiops) and patas (Erythrocebus patas) monkeys. Predation has long been thought to be an important selective pressure on primate behavior and sociality (e.g., Altmann, 1974; Busse, 1977; Struhsaker, 1981; van Schaik, 1983; Cheney & Wrangham, 1987; Cords, 1987; Isbell, 1991, 1994; Miller, 2002). Among Old World monkeys, predation has been argued to have favored traits such as large group size (e.g., van Schaik, 1983), multi-male groups (e.g., Henzi, 1988; van Schaik & Horstermann, 1994), sexual dimorphism in canine size (e.g., Harvey & Kavanagh, 1978; Plavcan & van Schaik, 1994), and polyspecific associations (e.g., Gautier-Hion et al., 1983; Cords, 1987; Struhsaker, 1981, 2000), although others maintain that these traits have been selected for by feeding competition (Wrangham, 1980, 1983; Janson & Goldsmith, 1995), sexual selection (Andelman, 1986; Ridley, 1986; Altmann, 1990; Mitani et al., 1996), or, most recently, infanticide (van Schaik & Kappeler, 1997; Isbell et al., 2002).
Predicting Recessions: What We Learn from Widening the Goalposts

In this chapter, we move our focus from economic growth to trying to predict a related target—economic recessions. We continue to use the “usual suspect” growth variables to check whether these variables are better at predicting recessions. We show how prediction performance of algorithms differs widely depending on the type of prediction criteria. We can, however, identify some of the most salient predictors of recessions. These suggest that fiscal policy may generally be better at combating recessions. Moreover, these predictors have non-linear effects on the likelihood of recessions which suggests that there may be no silver bullet for combating recessions. Last, the sorts of variables that influence economic growth also influence the likelihood of a recession. This suggest that economic growth probably should not be studied separately from recessions.