cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
La rellevància dels mitjans digitals a l'iniciativa ciutadana europea

La corrent politica i social que al mon sencer te una major participacio ciutadana a la governanca de les institucions es va materialitzar en el Dret Comunitari, entre altres, en la inclusio de la figura de la iniciativa ciutadana, en virtut del Tractat de Lisboa, com un dret mes dins del ventall de l'estatut de la ciutadania europea. Els textos normatius comunitaris han previst un important paper per als mitjans digitals, tant per facilitar la informacio com la participacio dels ciutadans. Com que han passat ja uns tres anys des del comencament de la possibilitat de presentar iniciatives ciutadanes i se n’han promogut a la practica unes cinquanta, ja tenim una perspectiva suficient per valorar si aquelles expectatives eren fundades o no. Despres de l'estudi pertinent, hem pogut corroborar com els mitjans digitals han resultat fonamentals per aconseguir els objectius per als quals es va pensar la iniciativa ciutadana, tant en el sentit de servir d'altaveu de les iniciatives promogudes, com en el de facilitar la recollida de suports a traves de pagines web. Fins i tot, sembla que la practica demostra que avui dia ja seria impossible, per falta de temps i mitjans de tot tipus, aconseguir les xifres de suport que requereixen les normes pertinents sobre la iniciativa ciutadana, en els terminis previstos, si no es amb l'ajuda dels mitjans digitals.
Not ‘taken’ for granted: Can freedom curb human trafficking?

In this study, we examine the relationship between freedom and human trafficking in non-OECD countries. Countries with high levels of economic and political freedom both do a better job of prosecuting human traffickers, protecting of victims, and preventing of the problem from occurring in the first place. Other key political, economic and social factors are not associated with reducing the incidence of human trafficking in the developing world.
Protections from Workplace Bullying and Psychological Harassment in the United States: A Problem in Search of a Cause of Action

In spite of the substantial negative effects of workplace bullying and the widespread recognition of the problem of workplace bullying, the legal status of workplace bullying and psychological harassment remains quite uncertain in the United States. Rather than receiving comprehensive legal treatment by either federal or state law, workplace bullying and psychological harassment is addressed in the United States, if at all, by a number of disparate statutes and causes of action, none of which are tailored to the particular issues raised by bullying in the workplace. Workplace bullying remains a problem in search of a cause of action.
Learning to Write by Learning the Objective

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are powerful autoregressive sequence models for learning prevalent patterns in natural language. Yet language generated by RNNs often shows several degenerate characteristics that are uncommon in human language; while fluent, RNN language production can be overly generic, repetitive, and even self-contradictory. We postulate that the objective function optimized by RNN language models, which amounts to the overall perplexity of a text, is not expressive enough to capture the abstract qualities of good generation such as Grice’s Maxims. In this paper, we introduce a general learning framework that can construct a decoding objective better suited for generation. Starting with a generatively trained RNN language model, our framework learns to construct a substantially stronger generator by combining several discriminatively trained models that can collectively address the limitations of RNN generation. Human evaluation demonstrates that text generated by the resulting generator is preferred over that of baselines by a large margin and significantly enhances the overall coherence, style, and information content of the generated text.
Components of an Artificial Pancreas System

This chapter provides an extensive review of the components of artificial pancreas (AP) systems. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors, insulin pumps and control algorithms are the three basic components of all AP systems. Information about currently available CGM sensors and insulin pumps is provided. Multivariable AP systems use information from wearable devices in addition to CGM information. Various wearable devices that can be used in an AP system are described. A brief description of control algorithms is also introduced. A more comprehensive discussion on control algorithms is provided in later chapters.
Neural model of transfer-of-binding in visual relative motion perception

Human visual systems are much more sensitive to relative motion than to absolute motion. For example, the relative motion of two dots on a blank background is more easily detected than the motion of a single dot on a blank background. If both dots are also moved relative to the background, then their motion relative to each other remains more easily detected than their motion relative to the background. Each dot thus seems to provide a reference frame for the other’s motion.
Evidence-Based Bariatric Surgery

An obesity epidemic exists throughout the developed and much of the developing world.1, 2, 3, 4 Obesity, typically measured as body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 or higher, has three subclasses: obesity 1 (30–34.9); obesity 2 (35–39.9); and extreme obesity (>40). Extreme or morbid obesity is increasing particularly rapidly in the United States and may have the potential of decreasing life expectancy.5, 6, 7 From 1986 to 2000, the prevalence of BMI of 30 or more doubled, whereas that of BMI of 40 or more quadrupled, and even extreme obesity, BMI of 50 or more, increased fivefold.2 Of particular concern is the alarming increasing prevalence of obesity among children, suggesting that the epidemic will worsen before it improves.1
RARγ is required for mesodermal gene expression prior to gastrulation in Xenopus

The developing vertebrate embryo is exquisitely sensitive to retinoic acid (RA) concentration, particularly during anteroposterior patterning. In contrast to Nodal and Wnt signaling, RA was not previously considered to be an instructive signal in mesoderm formation during gastrulation. Here, we show in Xenopus that RARγ is indispensable for the expression of early mesoderm markers and is, therefore, an obligatory factor in mesodermal competence and/or maintenance. We identified several novel targets upregulated by RA receptor signaling in the early gastrula that are expressed in the circumblastoporal ring and linked to mesodermal development. Despite overlapping expression patterns of the genes encoding the RA-synthesizing enzyme Aldh1a2 and the RA-degrading enzyme Cyp26a1, RARγ1 functions as a transcriptional activator in early mesoderm development, suggesting that RA ligand is available to the embryo earlier than previously appreciated. RARγ1 is required for cellular adhesion, as revealed by spontaneous dissociation and depletion of ncam1 mRNA in animal caps harvested from RARγ1 knockdown embryos. RARγ1 knockdown obliterates somite boundaries, and causes loss of Myod protein in the presomitic mesoderm, but ectopic, persistent expression of Myod protein in the trunk. Thus, RARγ1 is required for stabilizing the mesodermal fate, myogenic commitment, somite boundary formation, and terminal skeletal muscle differentiation.
A molecular marker for lateral root initiation: The RSI-1 gene of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is activated in early lateral root primordia

The frequency of lateral root initiation in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. VFN8) seedling roots is increased over eightfold in response to 1.6 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). To identify genes that are activated during lateral root initiation, a cDNA library was made with RNA from roots treated with auxin and differentially screened with radioactive probes made from RNA isolated from treated and untreated roots. A cDNA clone, TR132, was identified that hybridized to a transcript that was induced within 4 h of auxin treatment and increased tenfold by 72 h. A gene (RSI-1) corresponding to the TR132 cDNA was cloned and characterized with regard to its nucleotide sequence, transcription start site and chromosomal map position. Approximately 1 kb of the 5′ flanking DNA was linked to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) protein coding region and tested for expression in transgenic tomato seedlings. GUS activity was observed in both lateral and adventitious root initials, including very early initials, and persisted until shortly after the lateral emerged from the parent tissue. In roots from seedlings with high activity, GUS expression was also observed in the root cap and vascular tissue. The predicted RSI-1 protein is rich in cysteine, lysine and proline, and includes an N-terminal region with characteristics of a signal peptide. The putative mature protein exhibits 79% amino acid identity to a protein encoded by a gene (GAST1) that is induced by gibberellic acid in tomato shoots.
The inner workings of intracellular heterotypic and homotypic membrane fusion mechanisms.

Intracellular trafficking is a field that has been intensively studied for years and yet there remains much to be learned. Part of the reason that there is so much obscurity remaining in this field is due to all the pathways and the stages that define cellular trafficking. One of the major steps in cellular trafficking is fusion. Fusion is defined as the terminal step that occurs when a cargo-laden vesicle arrives at the proper destination. There are two types of fusion within a cell: homotypic and heterotypic fusion. Homotypic fusion occurs when the two membranes merging together are of the same type such as vacuole to vacuole fusion. Heterotypic fusion occurs when the two membranes at play are of different types such as when an endosomal membrane fuses with a Golgi membrane. In this review, we will focus on all the protein components – Rabs, Golgins, Multisubunit tethers, GTPases, protein phosphatases and SNAREs – that have been known to function in both of these types of fusion. We hope to develop a model of how all of these constituents function together to achieve membrane fusion. Membrane fusion is a biological process absolutely necessary for proper intracellular trafficking. Due to the degree of importance multiple proteins are required for it to be properly carried through. Whether we are talking about heterotypic or homotypic fusion, any defects in the fusion machinery can result in disease states such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Although much research has significantly expanded our knowledge of fusion, there is still much more to be learned.
High temperature operation to 500 °C of AlGaN graded polarization-doped field-effect transistors

AlGaN polarization-doped field-effect transistors were characterized by DC and pulsed measurements from room temperature to 500 °C in ambient. DC current-voltage characteristics demonstrated only a 70% reduction in on-state current from 25 to 500 °C and full gate modulation, regardless of the operating temperature. Near ideal gate lag measurement was realized across the temperature range that is indicative of a high-quality substrate and sufficient surface passivation. The ability for operation at high temperature is enabled by the high Schottky barrier height from the Ni/Au gate contact, with values of 2.05 and 2.76 eV at 25 and 500 °C, respectively. The high barrier height due to the insulatorlike aluminum nitride layer leads to an ION/IOFF ratio of 1.5 × 109 and 6 × 103 at room temperature and 500 °C, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the stability of the heterostructure even after an extended high-temperature operation with only minor interdiffusion of the Ni/Au Schottky contact. The use of refractory metals in all contacts will be key to ensure a stable extended high-temperature operation.
Revealing the importance of light extraction efficiency in InGaN/GaN microLEDs via chemical treatment and dielectric passivation

Chemical etching and Al2O3 dielectric passivation were used to minimize nonradiative sidewall defects in InGaN/GaN microLEDs (mesa diameter = 2–100 μm), resulting in an increase in external quantum efficiency (EQE) as the LED size was decreased. Peak EQEs increased from 8%–10% to 12%–13.5% for mesa diameters from 100 μm to 2 μm, respectively, and no measurable leakage currents were seen in current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics. The position and shape of EQE curves for all devices were essentially identical, indicating size-independent ABC model (Shockley–Read–Hall, radiative, and Auger recombination) coefficients-behavior that is not typical of microLEDs as the size decreases. These trends can be explained by enhancement in light extraction efficiency (LEE), which is only observable when sidewall defects are minimized, for the smallest LED sizes. Detailed ray-tracing simulations substantiate the LEE enhancements.
The Nuss Procedure Versus the Modified Ravitch Repair for Pectus Excavatum in Adults

Repair of pectus excavatum in the adult population remains a relatively rare surgical procedure. The Modified Ravitch and the Nuss procedures are the two most common surgical techniques to repair pectus excavatum. Unfortunately, the paucity of comparative trials, especially randomized trials, makes it impossible to determine if either technique is superior. It is imperative that surgeons who are counseling adult patients on treatment of pectus excavatum be familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of both techniques.
Application Level Quality Measurement of Heterogeneous Device-to-Device Links

Device-to-device (D2D) links enable direct communication between mobile devices without using the cellular network or the Internet. This type of communication can be helpful in situations when there is a partial or complete failure of the network infrastructure. However, effective use of D2D links for a multi-hop D2D communication system requires quick and practical quantification of their quality from user space of devices. We developed an Android application to search and measure the quality of available D2D links nearby. This application can search for heterogeneous (i.e., Bluetooth and WiFi Direct) D2D links simultaneously and measure the link quality from the user space. We run indoor and outdoor experiments to examine how line-of-sight or non-line-of-sight D2D links perform.
Open access and author rights: questioning Harvard’s open access policy

Harvard’s open access (OA) policy, which has become a template for many institutional OA policies, intrinsically undermines the rights of scholars, researchers, authors and university staff, and it adulterates a principal tenet of open access, namely, that authors should control the intellectual property rights to their material. Assessing the implications of Harvard’s open access policy in the light of Peter Suber’s landmark book, Open Access, as well as resources from the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) and Title 17 of the United States Code (USC), this article uncovers an intellectual ‘landgrab’ by universities that may at times not work in the interest of the author or creator of research and weakens the appeal of open access.
Why the most long-lived oceanic vortices are found in the subtropical westward flows

Abstract This paper examines factors contributing to the remarkable longevity of coherent vortices in the subtropical westward flows. Baroclinic vortices embedded in large-scale vertical shears generate Rossby waves which form an opposite sign eddy associated with inertial Taylor columns on the beta-plane. The combination of the vortex and lee Rossby wave can be viewed as a hetonic dipole that induces meridional drift and heat flux leading to self-amplification of vortices in baroclinically unstable flows. The analytical tractability is achieved by considering the marginally stable flow, where the beta-effect is nearly compensated by the potential vorticity gradient (PVG) associated with the meridional slope of the density interface. In the two-layer model such compensation can occur in the upper layer with the westward flow or in the lower layer with the eastward flow on top. In baroclinically unstable mean flows, vortices are shown to intensify due to the Lagrangian conservation of potential vorticity inside their cores, drifting meridionally in the layer with negative PVG and supporting baroclinic turbulence. The theory is confirmed by numerical simulations indicating that for westward flows in subtropical oceans, reduced PVG in the upper layer provides favorable conditions for eddy longevity and pathways.
Environmental Impacts of Power Flow Control with Variable-Impedance FACTS

Growing environmental concerns as well as the decline in renewable energy project costs have led to drastic changes in the generation mix, and increasing penetration from renewable energy resources. However, the intermittency of renewable energy resources in contrast to legacy design of transmission system remains as one main obstacle against renewable energy integration. Several solutions, including energy storage, demand response and transmission system expansion have been proposed in response to this problem. Flexible ac transmission system (FACTS) devices are also shown as to offer a cost-effective solution for congestion problem in transmission system. This paper studies the environmental impacts of power flow control through FACTS devices as well as the economic benefits. Results show that implementing power flow control can effectively reduce dispatch cost and carbon emissions. However, the location of FACTS devices and renewable energy sites can critically affect carbon emission and renewable energy curtailment.
Face validation of the Virtual Electrosurgery Skill Trainer (VEST

Electrosurgery is a modality that is widely used in surgery, whose use has resulted in injuries, OR fires and even death. The SAGES has established the FUSE program to address the knowledge gap in the proper and safe usage of electrosurgical devices. Complementing it, we have developed the Virtual Electrosurgery Skill Trainer (VEST©), which is designed to train subjects in both cognitive and motor skills necessary to safely operate electrosurgical devices. The objective of this study is to asses the face validity of the VEST© simulator. Sixty-three subjects were recruited at the 2014 SAGES Learning Center. They all completed the monopolar electrosurgery module on the VEST© simulator. At the end of the study, subjects assessed the face validity with questions that were scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The subjects were divided into two groups; FUSE experience (n = 15) and no FUSE experience (n = 48). The median score for both the groups was 4 or higher on all questions and 5 on questions on effectiveness of VEST© in aiding learning electrosurgery fundamentals. Questions on using the simulator in their own skills lab and recommending it to their peers also scored at 5. Mann–Whitney U test showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) indicating a general agreement. 46 % of the respondents preferred VEST compared with 52 % who preferred animal model and 2 % preferred both for training in electrosurgery. This study demonstrated the face validity of the VEST© simulator. High scores showed that the simulator was visually realistic and reproduced lifelike tissue effects and the features were adequate enough to provide high realism. The self-learning instructional material was also found to be very useful in learning the fundamentals of electrosurgery. Adding more modules would increase the applicability of the VEST© simulator.
Speaker identification and verification via singular value decomposition of speech parameters

A method of matching a set of speech parameters for identifying and verifying speakers using singular value decomposition is presented. The set of stored reference parameters yielding the largest ratio of singular values when mapped with the parameters of the utterance of an unknown speaker is considered closest to the unknown. An average identification score of 80% was observed on a small set of test utterances using short-time energy and zero-crossing rate with a fixed number of segments. >
Surveillance impediments: Recognizing obduracy with the deployment of hospital information systems

Although the field of Surveillance Studies privileges detailed accounts of how and when surveillance occurs, it is also important to remain open to instances of aborted or failed surveillance and manifold impediments to surveillance. It is vital for researchers to document and theorize absence in order to better understand and perhaps mitigate the presence of egregious forms of surveillance. To this end, in this paper we discuss some of the many forms of obduracy that confront surveillance-capable information systems in hospitals. We draw upon primary data from three years of field research on the implementation and use of tracking and identification systems in U.S. hospitals to show that many of the control functions of hospital information systems are attenuated by individual resistance but also by a host of technical , material , financial , and cultural constraints.
Light Elements and Li Isotopes Across the Northern Portion of the Central American Subduction Zone

[1] Quaternary mafic rocks have been erupted from volcanoes both on and behind the volcanic front in southeastern Guatemala and western El Salvador. Behind-the-front volcanism extends almost continuously some 110 km from the front. B and Li contents, as well as B/Nb and Li/Yb ratios, are generally higher in the mafic volcanic rocks of the volcanic front and lower in those behind the front. Beryllium concentrations show the opposite relationships, with generally higher values behind the front. In addition, many behind-the-front samples have lower δ7Li (2–3‰ versus 4–6‰ for the volcanic front). Guatemalan volcanic rocks, in general, have lower δ7Li than those found along the remainder of the Central American margin. The light element variations across northern Central America clearly indicate that the volcanic front receives a much more pronounced fluid contribution from dehydrating, subducting Cocos lithosphere than the behind-the-front region. This dehydration pulse occurs at slab depths between 85 and 105 km, and selective enrichments of B, Cs, and Cl in volcanic rocks of the volcanic front suggest that the source of this pulse is dehydrating serpentinite. In addition, the dehydration pulse from subducted serpentinite is likely superimposed on a continuous dehydration signal provided by subducting oceanic crust which continues behind the volcanic front to slab depths >200 km. The enhanced fluid contributions at the front produce higher degrees of wedge melting, thus explaining the lower Be contents of front samples. There are two possible explanations of the lower δ7Li of many behind-the-front volcanic rocks from southeastern Guatemala/western El Salvador: selective loss of 7Li during progressive dehydration of subducting Cocos lithosphere or diffusive fractionation accompanying late stage, selective crustal contamination. Since the slightly lower δ7Li of Guatemalan volcanic rocks in general is consistent with a minor crustal overprint, the second explanation is favored and could be relevant to the few subduction zones where lower Li isotopic values characterize back-arc regions. Light element variation across southeastern Guatemala and western El Salvador is consistent with the operation of decompression melting behind the volcanic front. Be/Zr ratios across the northern portion of the Central American subduction zone may indicate some mobility of Be.
Defining Knowledge Layers for Textual Case-Based Reasoning

Textual CBR applications deal with problems that have traditionally been addressed by the Information Retrieval community, namely the handling of textual documents. Since CBR is an AI technique, the questions arise as to what kind of knowledge may enhance the system, where this knowledge comes from, and how it contributes to the performance of such a system. We will address these questions in this paper by showing how the various pieces of knowledge available in a specific domain can be utilized.
Cutaneous Lipogenesis IV. Role of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway During Lipogenesis in Guinea Pig Ear Skin

Inhibition studies with hydroxycitrate and other substances have demonstrated that, in skin, translocation of acetyl-CoA from the mitochondria to the cytosol is mediated as citrate. Studies with specifically labelled aspartates and glutamates confirm this and demonstrate that the oxaloacetate produced on citrate cleavage is recycled through pyruvate. Hence, the skin is able to generate NADPH 2 by means of isocitrate dehydrogenase and by the malate cycle. In an attempt to assess the magnitude of these pathways, the incorporation of acetate, pyruvate, and L-Iactate in the absence of glucose was studied. All three substances could be incorporated into lipid in the absence of glucose; the rate was lowest for acetate and highest for L-lactate. The incorporation of 14-lactate was unusual, the reaction was concentration dependent and product stimulated, and the rate was almost as high as that for glucose. The skin is thus able to support an active rate at lipogenesis during glucose deprivation when the HMP-shunt is believed to he inactive. In view of this and the high activity of the elongation mechanisms in skin, it is concluded that the HMP-shunt is unable to play a regulatory role in skin. In addition. discrepancy in the measurement of HMP-shunt activity in holocrine tissues has been noted.
A Multiattribute Utility Approach to Target Assignment

This paper introduces the multiattribute utility theory to the control Lyapunov function design framework. As an illustration we focus on the problem of multi-target assignment. With this formulation, we use a global multiattribute utility function as a multivariate objective function that should be minimized for the agents to achieve their objectives. The objectives represent deviations of each agent from specified targets. We provide closed form feedback control laws, based on the multiattribute utility function, for general nonlinear multi-agent system models affine in control. Finally, we present simulation results and conduct sensitivity analysis for two different models that are affine in control; basic kinematic model and nonlinear nonholonomic unicycle model.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Analysis of structural changes on grape grower's return per ton: A case study of developing American Viticultural Areas

As of 2012 the United States has become the world's leading consumer of wine (Wine Institute, 2011). In Illinois alone this industry has created an economic impact around $320 million (MKF, 2009). The presence of a distinguishing terroir is one of the prerequisites for the establishment of a federally recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA). Wineries in the U.S. are using these geographic designations and labels to differentiate their wines and increase the consumers' confidence (Love, 1997). The TTB granted the Shawnee Hills, located in southern Illinois, this designation at their request in 2006. The goal of this research is to determine the economic impact of a regional designation on a wine-producing region. The next step in the discovery of this goal is to examine less recognized wine-producing regions with an established AVA designation and a wine culture in place. We have chosen two California AVAs, Lodi and the Central Coast AVAs. Using a regression model we have attempted to discover the source of these regions' growth in grower return. Our results show the significance of achieving an AVA status, and the formation of regional quality wine standards program for that AVA.
Comparing quantum and classical correlations in a quantum eraser

We have demonstrated the operation of a quantum eraser based on a polarization interferometer. Which-path information is erased not by modifying the interferometer apparatus, but instead by modifying the information obtained from measurements performed on a second beam, whose polarization is correlated with that of the interferometer beam. We compare the results obtained when the two beams are in an entangled state (quantum correlations) and in a mixed state (classical correlations). We find that classical correlations can mimic most, but not all, of the quantum-mechanical behavior.
Colloid release and transport processes in natural and model porous media

Abstract Colloid release was observed from packed columns for two natural porous media (sands) and one model system (glass beads with deposited latex colloids). Colloid release was found to occur in all cases when the ionic strength was reduced in columns that were in equilibrium with Na + ions. Most of the released colloids from the natural porous media were smaller than 1 μm in size, and comprised pure and impure forms of silica (60–70% by mass) and clay minerals (20–30% by mass). For greater reductions in ionic strength, the total mass of released colloids increased, although the shape of the effluent mass concentration profile did not change. Release rate coefficients were obtained by fitting a colloid transport model (an advection-dispersion transport model with source/sink terms for colloid release and deposition) to the column effluent data. To fit the data for different ionic strengths, the total available mass of releasable colloids had to be adjusted, and fitted release rate coefficients were not sensitive to the ionic strength. In contrast, calculations based on Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory indicate a strong dependence of release rate constants on ionic strength for homogeneous colloids. This discrepancy can be attributed to charge and size heterogeneity in the colloids, and to our inability to determine accurately interparticle forces at small separations. The trend of greater mass release for greater reductions in ionic strength could be explained qualitatively by computing interparticle interactions with a constant-charge boundary condition (albeit with a charge density much lower than that experimentally determined) which showed a decreasing energy barrier for particle detachment with decreasing ionic strength.
Power Through Institutional Work: Acquiring Academic Authority in the 1968 Third World Strike

Introducing a process model of power and institutional change, I argue that actors may seek power by creating, supporting, or modifying institutions. Lacking unilateral authority to enact new institutions, actors can leverage symbolic resources into coercive resources, which may require making concessions to multiple logics and stakeholders. The emergent organizations and institutions are then subject to adjustment to stakeholder and regulator expectations. The argument is illustrated in a case study of the 1968 Third World Strike at San Francisco State College, where the college president strove to increase his authority so he could prevail in a dispute with student activists.
Application of the Generalized Theory of Stark Broadening to Experimental Highly-Excited Balmer Lines from a Radio-Frequency Discharge

Experimental widths of high-n hydrogen Balmer lines H n (n = 6-12), emitted from a radio-frequency discharge (T = 1850 K and N e = 1.2 × 10 13 cm -3 ), are systematically lower (up to 20%) than predicted by the Kepple-Griem (KG) line broadening theory [1]. This motivated a new theoretical analysis for Stark broadening of hydrogen lines allowing for direct and indirect couplings of the electron and ion microfields, as well as developing a rigorous analytical treatment of the ion dynamics. The theory was applied in two versions: one - using conventional, statistical intensities of Stark components, and another - using dynamical intensities accounting for the lifetime of the substate. It was found that while both versions are in a better agreement with the experiment than the KG theory, the dynamical-intensity version results in the best agreement: its rms discrepancy with the experimental widths was 5%.
Confirmatory linkage of hypochondroplasia to chromosome arm 4p.

Hypochondroplasia is an inherited chondrodystrophy that is characterized by disproportionate short stature. A recent linkage study by LeMerrer et al. suggested that hypochondroplasia and achondroplasia are allelic conditions. Three groups have now mapped the achondroplasia locus to the telomeric region of chromosome 4. Recently, two mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) at nucleotide 1138, in the transmembrane domain, were identified in 169 of 170 unrelated individuals with achondroplasia. Here, we report the results of a linkage study in 4 multigenerational families with hypochondroplasia and mutational analysis of nucleotide 1138 in one individual from each of these families, two nonfamilial hypochondroplasia individuals and sequencing of the transmembrane domain of the FGFR3 in three affected unrelated individuals. 13 refs., 1 tab.
Cross-Sectional Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Applied to Complex Oxide Interfaces

Understanding interfacial science is critical to many modern technologies. It is very common in solid-state physics for electronic properties to show novel phenomena when combining various dissimilar materials at atomically abrupt interfaces. For example, semiconductor interfaces have provided the foundation of modern electronic devices for several decades. Now with advances in growth and synthesis, controllable high quality complex oxide heterojunctions can be routinely fabricated. Since complex oxide materials exhibit a wide variety of functionalities owing to their strong coupling to the electron, lattice, orbital and spin degrees of freedom, these materials display a wide spectrum of interesting functionalities. Combining dissimilar complex oxides at interfaces allows one to explore and create intriguing phenomena that are not attainable in the lone bulk constituents. However, the key challenge has been the direct characterization of these interfaces at the nanoscale in order to understand the physical properties found at complex oxide interfaces. This requires the development of new experimental approaches. In this paper, we review the utilization of cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy as a direct probe of these oxide interfaces at the nanoscale. This technique provides valuable insight to both structural and electronic properties of these unique systems and enables understanding of the detailed electronic structure (e.g., local electronic density of states (LDOS), charge transfer, band bending, etc.) at oxide interfaces, which is of key interest to both fundamental and applied science.
Downshift of Raman peak in diamond powders

Results are presented on the influence of the size of diamond powders and the laser power on the main Raman line. These results show conclusively that there is a consistent and systematic, reversible, downshift with both decrease of powder size, and increase of power. The shift can be explained by local heating of about 500 °C in the extreme case. Its significance applies to interpretation of the alleged “downshifting” of the 1332 cm−1 line in all diamond research. In the future, the grain size, the thermal contact, and the beam power must be carefully monitored in reporting and interpreting any frequency shifts.
siRNA Treatment: “A Sword-in-the-Stone” for Acute Brain Injuries

Ever since the discovery of small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) a little over a decade ago, it has been highly sought after for its potential as a therapeutic agent for many diseases. In this review, we discuss the promising possibility of siRNA to be used as a drug to treat acute brain injuries such as stroke and traumatic brain injury. First, we will give a brief and basic overview of the principle of RNA interference as an effective mechanism to decrease specific protein expression. Then, we will review recent in vivo studies describing siRNA research experiments/treatment options for acute brain diseases. Lastly, we will discuss the future of siRNA as a clinical therapeutic strategy against brain diseases and injuries, while addressing the current obstacles to effective brain delivery.
Molecular targets for PDE inhibitor-mediated improvement of cardiac dysfunction in the mdx mouse?

Recent results show that the classic PDE5 inhibitor, Viagra® (sildenafil), can ameliorate much of the cardiac pathology resulting from several different forms of cardiac damage. These results have elicited great interest in the use of this drug as a therapeutic agent, particularly for treatment of diastolic cardiac dysfunction. In fact several clinical trials are now enrolling and one published trial shows promising results. Unfortunately, it is not clear how this drug works at a molecular level to improve cardiac function and not even clear what the initial molecular target(s) are for Viagra® in any of these studies. Recent data from our group and others strongly suggest that sildenafil, a “classical” PDE5 inhibitor, ameliorates much of the diastolic dysfunction seen in older mdx mice, animals having a disruption in the dystrophin gene. However, our preliminary data suggests that tadalafil does not cause this effect. Moreover, the usual accepted target for sildenafil, PDE5, is not even expressed in adult mouse cardiomyocyes; but an alternate or additional target, PDE1C is highly expressed in this cell type. Since PDE1C, also can be substantially inhibited by sildenafil (but not by tadalafil) we feel that the most likely molecular target for Viagra® is a direct effect on PDE1C in the cardiomyocyte itself. There also may be additional effects on PDE5, but probably in another cell type. These topics will be discussed in this talk.
Diurnal rhythm of the chromatin protein Hmgb1 in rat photoreceptors is under circadian regulation.

Hmgb1 belongs to a family of structure-specific DNA binding proteins with DNA chaperone-like properties that mediate chromatin remodeling in a wide range of nuclear processes including regulation of transcription, DNA repair, genome stability, and stress response. A diurnal oscillation of Hmgb1 at the protein level occurs in rat retinal photoreceptor cells and to a lesser extent in bipolar neurons. Expression of Hmgb1 was least at night at Zeitgeber time (ZT) 18 and maximal in the middle of the lights-on period (ZT6). Since rhythmic expression of Hmgb1 protein in photoreceptors continued in complete darkness, it is likely under control of a circadian clock. Within photoreceptor nuclei, Hmgb1 colocalized with acetylated histone H3, a marker of euchromatin. Outside the nucleus a distinct smaller-sized isoform of Hmgb1 was present in photoreceptor inner segments and bound to a membrane fraction with characteristics of endoplasmic reticulum membranes. The rhythmic expression of Hmgb1 protein may underlie the circadian change in chromatin remodeling in addition to histone acetylation. J. Comp. Neurol. 501:219–230, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Eye blinking and rapid eye movement: pulsed photic stimulation of the brain.

Abstract Abnormalities of blinking observed in patients with parkinsonism and schizophrenia led to this examination of spontaneous blinking in a number of mammalian species. Spontaneous blink rate, like the duration of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, is relatively constant for each individual and species. Significantly higher blink rates were found in diurnally active animals than in nocturnal species. In contrast, REM durations are significantly longer in nocturnally active mammals. This observation led to the hypothesis that blinking during waking and REM during sleep may both serve to periodically excite the visual pathway. This hypothesis was tested by recording multipleunit activity and evoked potentials elicited by blinking and REMs in day-light and darkness from cats bearing chronically implanted electrodes in visual cortex and subcortical nuclei of the visual pathway. Both blinking and REMs evoked light-modulated potentials in the primary visual pathway and in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract, regions which have been implicated in photic regulation of biological rhythms.
Hidden Costs of Pharmacy Technology

The Director's Forum series is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This month's article focuses on an important topic for hospital pharmacy leaders – understanding the true costs of pharmacy automation and technology. While there is tremendous value in automating workflow, it is important to fully understand the benefits and drawbacks of implementing automation. As expected, vendors commonly exaggerate the benefits of their products. The true impact of automation often affects other areas of operations and productivity. It is for this reason that a careful assessment and due diligence is prudent when any technology is selected.
Tetraploid development in the mouse.

Spontaneous duplication of the mammalian genome occurs in approximately 1% of fertilizations. Although one or more whole genome duplications are believed to have influenced vertebrate evolution, polyploidy of contemporary mammals is generally incompatible with normal development and function of all but a few tissues. The production of tetraploid (4n) embryos has become a common experimental manipulation in the mouse. Although development of tetraploid mice has generally not been observed beyond midgestation, tetraploid:diploid (4n:2n) chimeras are widely used as a method for rescuing extraembryonic defects. The tolerance of tissues to polyploidy appears to be dependent on genetic background. Indeed, the recent discovery of a naturally tetraploid rodent species suggests that, in rare genetic backgrounds, mammalian genome duplications may be compatible with the development of viable and fertile adults. Thus, the range of developmental potentials of tetraploid embryos remains in large part unexplored. Here, we review the biological consequences and experimental utility of tetraploid mammals, in particular the mouse. Developmental Dynamics 228:751–766, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A model of migration and wealth accumulation: Farmers at the antebellum southern frontier☆

Abstract Studies for portions of the 19th-century United States have shown that earlier arrivals have greater wealth than do later migrants. This paper finds that the same was true for the frontier states Texas and Arkansas in 1860 using real wealth. Within the context of a specific model it is shown that the relatively high price appreciation for improved land at the frontier, the larger initial (1850) wealth endowments of the earlier arrivals, and the cost of migration largely account for this.
Hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of tree-ring cellulose for riparian trees grown long-term under hydroponically controlled environments.

Saplings of three riparian tree species (alder, birch and cottonwood) were grown for over 5 months in a hydroponics system that maintained the isotopic composition of source water in six treatments, ranging from -120 to +180‰δD and -15 to +10‰δ18O. The trees were grown in two greenhouses maintained at 25°C and at either 40 or 75% relative humidity, creating differences in transpiration rates and leaf water isotopic evaporative enrichment. The cellulose produced in the annual growth ring was linearly related to source water with differences in both slope and offset associated with greenhouse humidity. The slope of the isotopic composition of source water versus tree-ring cellulose was less than 1 for both δD and δ18O indicating incomplete isotopic exchange of carbohydrate substrate with xylem water during cellulose synthesis. Tests using the outer portion of the tree-ring and new roots were similar and showed that the tree-ring values were representative of the cellulose laid down under the imposed environmental conditions. The fraction of H and O in carbohydrate substrate that isotopically exchange with medium water was calculated to be 0.36 and 0.42 respectively, and biochemical mechanisms for these observed fractions are discussed. A mechanistic model of the biochemical fractionation events for both δD and δ18O leading to cellulose synthesis was robust over the wide range of cellulose stable isotope ratios. The experimental results indicate that both water source and humidity information are indeed recorded in tree-ring cellulose. These results help to resolve some of the disparate observations regarding the interpretation of stable isotope ratios in tree-rings found in the literature.
Fabrication of 50-mg252Cf neutron sources for the FDA activation analysis facility

The Transuranium Processing Plant (TPP) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been requested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to furnish 200 mg of252Cf for use in their new activation analysis facility. This paper discusses the procedure to be employed in fabricating the californium into four neutron sources, each containing a nominal 50-mg of252Cf. The completed neutron sources will be assayed using a precision fast-neutron counter, decontaminated and loaded into a concreete-shielded shipping container weighing 10.7 Mg for shipment to the FDA facility located at Howard University in Washington, D. C.
Multiplying perspectives and improving practice: what can happen when undergraduate students collaborate with college faculty to explore teaching and learning

Traditional structures in higher education support a separation between faculty members’ and students’ perspectives on classroom practice. This is in part because student-faculty interactions are typically defined by a focus on content coverage and by a clear delineation between faculty and student roles in engaging that content. This paper focuses on key findings from an ongoing action research study that aims to address these basic questions: (1) What happens when faculty and students engage in structured dialogue with one another about teaching and learning outside of the regular spaces within which they interact? and (2) How can such dialogic engagement become a part of both students’ and teachers’ practice? The study takes place within the context of a program that supports undergraduate students and college faculty members in semester-long partnerships through which they explore teaching and learning. The goal of these explorations is to examine, affirm, and, where appropriate, revise pedagogical practice. Constant comparison/grounded theory was used to analyze discussions among and feedback from participants. It was found that partnership facilitates both faculty and students multiplying their perspectives in ways that have the potential to improve teaching and learning. Participants consistently describe gaining new insights produced at and by the intersections of their experiences and angles of vision. Furthermore, they discuss how these insights deepen their own self-awareness and their understanding of others’ experiences and perspectives. Finally, they indicate that, as a result of gaining these insights and deepening their awareness, they are inclined to embrace more engaged and collaborative approaches to teaching and learning.
Nuclear Fragment Emission in High-Energy p -Xe and p -Kr Collisions and a Description of Their Production Mechanism

We have studied the energy distributions of Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne, Na, Mg, Al, and Si emerging from high-energy proton-xenon and proton-krypton collisions in the $20l{p}_{\mathrm{inc}}l400$ GeV/c momentum range. Based on the fragment mass dependence of the slope characterizing these energy distributions, there is a natural division of the fragments into two groups. The production of fragments heavier than carbon can be understood in terms of a two-body disintegration of a residual nucleus possessing a single slope parameter.