cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A custom-built low-cost chamber for exposing rodents to e-cigarette aerosol: practical considerations

Objectives: To (1) design and build a low-cost exposure chamber system for whole-body exposure of rodents to electronic cigarette aerosol, (2) provide detailed instructions with particular focus on automated e-cigarette activation, and (3) develop a simple mathematical model for aerosol levels in the exposure chamber.Methods: We built the system with standard laboratory equipment and an open-source electronics platform (Arduino) for e-cigarette activation. Arduino is used to control a solenoid, which pushes the activation button of so-called "Mod" e-cigarettes, and a pump to move the aerosol from the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette into the chamber. For "Pods" and "Cigalikes," the solenoid is not used as they are activated by the vacuum created by the pump. Aerosol concentrations were measured with a light-scattering laser photometer.Results: The system allows varying the air exchange rate, monitoring aerosol levels, and programing arbitrary puff topography. Aerosol concentrations observed for different chamber operating conditions (puff time and period, e-cigarette power output, air exchange rate) were consistent with the mathematical model.Conclusions: Our low-cost exposure chamber can be used in animal experimental studies of the health effects of e-cigarettes. Our model allows estimating design parameters such as chamber volume, air exchange rate, and puff period.
Higher normalized concentrations of tetracycline resistance found in ballast and harbor water compared to ocean water.

Abstract Although ballast water is a known vector for the global transport of microorganisms, the Ballast Water Management Convention only sets limits for indicator organisms and does not consider antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Herein, we examined the concentration of indicator organisms and prevalence of three ARGs (sul1, tet (M), and vanA) in a total of 53 ballast, 21 harbor, and 8 ocean samples collected in Singapore, China, South Africa, and California. E. coli was found in significantly higher concentrations in ballast samples obtained in Singapore and China compared to South Africa (Singapore, p = 0.040) and California (Singapore, p
The Impacts of the Islamic State and Strategies of Control

The rise of the Islamic State (IS) had profound effects on the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (ASWJ) movement. For many, not only was the Khilafah (Caliphate) re-established, the extensive cost of human life brought on by the Syrian Civil War prompted many to leave Britain and fight for IS or live under what was perceived to be a true Islamic State ruled by the Shari’ah. Against the backdrop of domestic efforts to suppress the group, the discussion follows the immigration of a few key ASWJ followers to the Islamic State. There is also significant discussion on the threats posed by ‘foreign fighters’ and the UK Government’s attempts to manage that threat domestically and abroad, including a policy that it was better to kill them rather than allow them to return. The chapter ends with a discussion on the trial of Anjem Choudary and Mizanur Rahman.
Parenting, Temperament, and Attachment Security as Antecedents of Political Orientation: Longitudinal Evidence from Early Childhood to Age 26.

This article examines early childhood antecedents of adults' political orientation. Using longitudinal data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we investigate associations between parenting beliefs and behaviors, child temperament, and attachment security during early childhood in relation to adult political ideology and party affiliation at age 26 years (N = 1,364). Young children's fearful temperament and anxious attachment security, as well as mothers' authoritarian parenting beliefs in early childhood, predicted conservative political orientations at age 26. Children's abilities to focus attention and avoidant attachment security predicted liberal orientations. These findings provide evidence that multiple aspects of early developmental experience-temperament, parenting, and infant-mother attachment-are associated with later political orientations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Free-Form Diffractive Metagrating Design Based on Generative Adversarial Networks

A key challenge in metasurface design is the development of algorithms that can effectively and efficiently produce high-performance devices. Design methods based on iterative optimization can push the performance limits of metasurfaces, but they require extensive computational resources that limit their implementation to small numbers of microscale devices. We show that generative neural networks can train from images of periodic, topology-optimized metagratings to produce high-efficiency, topologically complex devices operating over a broad range of deflection angles and wavelengths. Further iterative optimization of these designs yields devices with enhanced robustness and efficiencies, and these devices can be utilized as additional training data for network refinement. In this manner, generative networks can be trained, with a one-time computation cost, and used as a design tool to facilitate the production of near-optimal, topologically complex device designs. We envision that such data-driven design methodologies can apply to other physical sciences domains that require the design of functional elements operating across a wide parameter space.
Care and Value-Creating Education Put Into Action in Brazil: A Narrative Inquiry

This narrative inquiry highlights the experiences of self-identified Soka educators in a PreK-12th grade school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as volunteers through a program called “Soka Education in Action.” Through their narratives, the role of care in value-creating education is explored as a critical aspect of education that supports students’ academic and personal growth and development, as well as educators’ professional identity and self-actualization. This study clarifies the essential qualities of Soka educators as understood and articulated by practitioners in the field. The narratives shared by study participants illuminate Soka education as a catalyst that fosters global citizenship by encouraging students to recognize their roles as agents of societal change and instruments of social justice.
Blood driven biopower cells: Acquiring energy from reverse electrodialysis using sodium concentrations from the flow of human blood

Abstract With the growth of the healthcare industry, small scale power sources are needed to support advancements in medical implants, artificial organs, and sensors throughout the body. However, it remains a challenge to find safe, reliable, and stable power sources for these devices. In this study, a miniaturized reverse electrodialysis (RED) biopower cell design using physiological salinity concentration differences between renal bloodstreams is explored for its potential to be used as a power supply for implantable medical devices. Two small scale RED devices produced consistent power for up to three to ten days, depending on the device design. A two-fold decrease in the spacer thickness of the RED biopower cell almost doubled the average power density delivered (from 0.22 mW/m2 to 0.43 mW/m2) for a physiologically relevant salinity concentration difference. The use of an additional (ie. non-biological) salinity source to enhance the concentration difference more than doubled the average power density (from 0.43 mW/m2 to 0.90 mW/m2). In addition, the introduction of a biofouling agent, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was observed on the membrane but did not significantly affect the membrane performance.
Urban Methane Emission Estimates Based on Aircraft and Satellite Observations

Urban methane emissions from major cities are investigated using an aircraft platform equipped with a suite of high precision spectroscopic instrumentation and the latest space-based observations. Sensing details and results will be presented.
Mask Material Filtration Efficiency and Mask Fitting at the Crossroads: Implications during Pandemic Times

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the widespread use and need for respirators and face masks for the healthcare workers and public. In this study, several generally available respirators and mask designs were fit tested, and their materials were evaluated for filtration efficiency using 250 nm polystyrene latex particles. Efficiency testing was performed for 2 and 0.5 h at low (2.6 L min(-1)) and high (7.4 L min(-1)) airflows, respectively, using similar to 17.4 cm(2) material area. As expected, all N95 and KN95 respirators passed the fit test, and their materials showed efficiencies > 95% for the entire experiment at both airflows. Of the three air filters used in the 3D-printed Montana masks, only the HEPA filter had a filtration efficiency > 95% at both airflows. Regardless of the insert material, the Montana mask failed all fit tests. Homemade duckbill masks made of Halyard H600 sterilization wrap and WypAll X80 reusable wipe also failed the fit test, and both filter materials had an average filtration efficiency < 95% at high airflows. To explain the filtration efficiency results, the structure and composition of all filter materials were determined using FE-SEM, and IR and Raman spectroscopy. In conclusion, when highly efficient materials are used in masks that do not fit the users properly, the potential of these materials to protect the users from aerosols is compromised. Therefore, the mask design is as important as the filtration efficiency of the mask material.
Formulating a Scalable Approach to Patron-Requested Digitization in Archives

The novel coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has forced archives to rethink their modes of providing access to physical collections. Whereas difficult copyright questions raised by reproducing items could previously be skirted by requiring researchers to work with materials in person, the long-term closure of reading rooms and decrease in long-distance travel mean that archives need a workflow for handling user digitization requests that is scalable and requires consulting only easily identifiable information and, assuming full reproduction is off the table, reproducing items in a collection under 17 U.S.C. § 108 or through a strategy of rapid risk assessment. There is a challenge in creating a policy that will work across different formats and genres of archival materials, so this article offers some suggestions for how to think about these parameters according to US copyright law and calls for a committee of experts to work out a model policy that could serve remote users of archival collections even after the COVID-19 crisis has passed.
Capacity of the Torn Paper Channel with Lost Pieces

We study the problem of transmitting a message over a channel that randomly breaks the message block into small fragments, deletes a subset of them, and shuffles the remaining fragments. We characterize the capacity of the binary torn-paper channel under arbitrary fragment length distribution and fragment deletion probabilities. We show that, for a message with block length $n$ , discarding fragments shorter than $\log(n)$ does not affect the achievable rates, and that the capacity is given by a simple closed-form expression that can be understood as “coverage minus reordering-cost”.
Leadership in the margins

This article explores the specific consequences of the male gaze on women in cinema leadership with particular attention on African American female directors. It explores ethics and ethical stance ...
Using artificial neural network and satellite data to predict rice yield in Bangladesh

Rice production in Bangladesh is a crucial part of the national economy and providing about 70 percent of an average citizen’s total calorie intake. The demand for rice is constantly rising as the new populations are added in every year in Bangladesh. Due to the increase in population, the cultivation land decreases. In addition, Bangladesh is faced with production constraints such as drought, flooding, salinity, lack of irrigation facilities and lack of modern technology. To maintain self sufficiency in rice, Bangladesh will have to continue to expand rice production by increasing yield at a rate that is at least equal to the population growth until the demand of rice has stabilized. Accurate rice yield prediction is one of the most important challenges in managing supply and demand of rice as well as decision making processes. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used to construct a model to predict Aus rice yield in Bangladesh. Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)-based remote sensing satellite data vegetation health (VH) indices (Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Temperature Condition Index (TCI) are used as input variables and official statistics of Aus rice yield is used as target variable for ANN prediction model. The result obtained with ANN method is encouraging and the error of prediction is less than 10%. Therefore, prediction can play an important role in planning and storing of sufficient rice to face in any future uncertainty.
F-15 Intelligent Flight Control System and Aeronautics Research at NASA Dryden

This viewgraph presentation reviews the F-15 Intelligent Flight Control System and Aeronautics including Autonomous Aerial Refueling Demonstrations, X-48B Blended Wing Body, F-15 Quiet Spike, and NF-15 Intelligent Flight Controls.
Pricing and Gains from Trade In Competitive Electric Power Markets

We consider retail prices and efficiency gains from wholesale trading in both regulated and competitive power markets. Wholesale power trading facilitates risk sharing, so that the minimally-required retail price decreases for all producers. A portion of the efficiency gains can be captured by use of bilateral forward contracts arranged in advance, while the remainder requires real-time trading. There is cross-sectional variation in the benefits from wholesale trading, with the largest efficiency gains accruing in regions with low power betas. Prices in competitive markets depend on system production capacity. We consider the special case where capital investment was selected to minimize expected costs in the absence of wholesale markets, and show that competition decreases prices but imposes economic losses on producers. That is, the so-called stranded investment problem can exist even with ex ante efficient capital investment.
Elevated temperature erosion studies on some materials for high temperature applications

5 INTRODUCTION 6 EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS 9 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 13 Variation of Erosion with Operating Parameters 13 Morphological Features of Eroded-Corroded Surfaces 17 Corrosion Aspects in the Erosion-Corrosion Process 27 Oxide Scale Characteristics 29 DISCUSSION 34 CONCLUSIONS 38
Traditional Korean Costume

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Lee Kyung Ja, Hong Na Young, and Chang Sook Hwan Year: 2005 Pages: 336 Publisher: Global Oriental, Ltd ISBN: 1-905246-04-8 (hard cover). Prices: $95.00 USD(hard cover).
Resource allocation based on pricing for wireless multimedia networks

As the wireless systems move to third-generation (3G) and beyond, the research on joint optimization of resource allocation for the integrated multimedia teletraffic is becoming pressing. This paper aims to set up a framework for joint resource allocation in the forward link of a multi-cell wireless multimedia system. The approach we take is based on the notion of utility. That is, each user, or each class of users, is assumed to have a utility function that describes the user's monetary satisfaction, namely utility, as a function of received quality of service (QoS). We concentrate on revenue maximization, namely, the objective is to maximize the total profit generated by selling the resource to users. In addition to their scientific merit, the results are of high value to manufacturers of cellular infrastructures and network operators alike. We characterize the optimal prices and the optimal resource partition between voice and data services for an individual cell with limited power or rate. Two-cell revenue maximization has been investigated. With limited power, not all power needs to be used when the revenue is maximized.
Nonlinear Biaxial Stress-Strain Law for Concrete

A constitutive model for plain concrete is developed to match experimental data on monotonic proportional biaxial loading. The material representation is presented in a form applicable for use with the finite curves to be duplicated from uniaxial curves. The results compare favorably with experimental curves as well as two other analytical representations of concrete under monotonic biaxial loading.
An Analysis of Injuries Among Home Health Care Workers Using the Washington State Workers' Compensation Claims Database

An examination of the Washington State workers' compensation claims for home health care workers was conducted. Some comparisons were made with nursing homes, acute care hospitals, and all other industries in the state. Between 1998 and 2007, the average claims rate for home health care workers was 1,375 claims/10,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) compared to 862 claims/10,000 FTEs for all other industries. The proportion of home health care workers' injuries resulting from interactions with another person (89.6%) was comparable to those for nursing homes and hospitals. Although this industry has important economic and social value, risks are poorly characterized. Continued research is necessary.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia. Curable with early diagnosis and treatment.

PREVIEWChronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is often diagnosed following referral by primary care physicians. Although the exact cause is unknown, early diagnosis and intervention, as well as recent treatment advances, have increased the number of patients who are enjoying long-term, disease-free survival. The authors discuss common features of CML and treatment strategies that can maximize ultimate curability.
Step and flash imprint lithography for quantum dots based room temperature single electron transistor fabrication

In this work we demonstrate the successful fabrication using step and flash imprint lithography - reverse tone (SFIL-R)(TM) coupled with a novel Focus ion beam (FIB) quantum dot (QD) deposition technique to produce of a full array of room temperature single electron transistors (RT-SET) based on tungsten quantum dot arrays. The integration of SFIL-R and FIB technology process flow has been developed in order to explore the possibility of an ultra low power, monolithically integrated nano-electronics circuits using RT-SET. We describe the parallel production of RT-SET devices using SFIL-R. The yield of the mass produced devices are examined. These QD based devices are characterized and initial results are evaluated.
Relationship between Religiosity and “Hooking Up” Behavior

Abstract Background: “Hooking up” behaviors, or sexual activities without commitment or emotional attachment, are occurring among college students. Purpose: This study examined the relationship between hooking up and two measures of religiosity. Methods: Data was obtained from students at a mid-southern university (n=459). Results: Most respondents indicated that they have hooked up. Males (64%) were more likely to report the behavior than females (47%). Religious attendance and religious belief played a significant role in distinguishing between those who have and have not participated in hooking up behaviors. Discussion: Results indicate religiosity may determine involvement in casual high-risk sexual encounters that expose college students to sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Translation to Health Education Practice: Results should be of value to college-level sexuality educators and considered by those involved in sexual health programming on college campuses.
Betamethasone cream for the treatment of pre-pubertal labial adhesions.

Purpose We evaluated the efficacy of 0.05% betamethasone cream for the treatment of pre-pubertal labial adhesions. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 19 children with labial adhesions who were treated with betamethasone cream from 6/2001 to 3/2003. Children were treated with 1 to 3 courses of twice-daily 0.05% betamethasone cream for 4 to 6 weeks. Successful lysis of adhesions was assessed by clinical exam or parental phone contact and outcomes were defined as: (1) success--complete separation of labia, (2) partial success--greater than 75% separation, (3) progression to surgical lysis, and (4) lost to follow-up. Results Nineteen patients with an average age of 58 months (range 12 to 132 months) were treated. Four of the 19 patients had never been treated previously and 1 had been treated previously with surgical lysis of adhesions only. Fourteen of the 19 patients had been previously treated with conjugated estrogen (Premarin) cream. Two of these fourteen patients had also undergone surgical lysis of adhesions. Severity of adhesions ranged from 33% to 99% labial closure. Betamethasone cream was successful in treating 13/19 (68%) pre-pubertal labial adhesions. Eleven (85%) of these 13 patients had complete resolution of labial adhesions with 1 course of treatment, 1 (7.5%) had resolution with 2 courses of treatment and 1 (7.5%) had resolution with 3 courses of treatment. One patient had a partial success with 3 courses of betamethasone cream. Two (11%) patients underwent surgical lysis of adhesion after 1 and 2 courses of betamethasone cream respectively. Three (16%) patients were lost to follow-up. Average follow-up was 7 months (range 1-24 months). No adverse outcomes or untoward effects were noted in any of the patients treated. Conclusions Betamethasone 0.05% cream appears to be a safe and effective treatment of pre-pubertal labial adhesions as primary therapy or in patients that have failed previous therapies and it may avoid the undesirable side effects of breast budding and hyperpigmentation that can be associated with Estrogen creams.
Monozygotic twins discordant for vaginal agenesis and bilateral tibial longitudinal deficiency.

Abstract Objective To report the first case of monozygotic twins with discordant congenital anomalies. Design Descriptive case report. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) A 20-year woman with complete vaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) and right renal agenesis presented for creation of a neovagina. She had a monozygous twin confirmed by DNA testing using short tandem repeat (STR) loci; the twin had normal mullerian/mesonephric development but isolated bilateral tibial longitudinal deficiency. Intervention(s) The complete history, physical, and laboratory data of both the patient and her twin. Also, operative laparoscopy with creation of a neovagina in the patient. Main outcome measure(s) Diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome and DNA testing with STR loci for monozygosity. Result(s) The surgical resection of the bilateral uterine remnants, creation of a neovagina in the patient, and the demonstration of monozygosity with her twin with bilateral tibial longitudinal deficiency. Conclusion(s) This case report suggests a link between developmental abnormalities of the genital and skeletal system.
On the vaporization behavior of water-in-oil microemulsions

Water-in-oil emulsions have been reported to exhibit certain beneficial combustion properties such as reduced NO{sub x} and soot formation, and pool fire resistance behavior. Macroemulsions or generally referred as emulsions are immiscible water/oil systems which are largely unstable. The present study concerns microemulsions which are transparent, single phase, hermodynamically stable fluids. The extreme stability of the microemulsions arises from the marked decrease in the size of the water droplet, namely 100-1000 {Angstrom} as against 0.2-50 {mu}m in macroemulsions.
Iterative solution techniques in boundary element analysis

Iterative techniques for the solution of the algebraic equations associated with the direct boundary element analysis (BEA) method are discussed. Continuum structural response analysis problems are considered, employing single- and multizone boundary element models with and without zone condensation. The impact on convergence rate and computer resource requirements associated with the sparse and blocked matrices, resulting in multizone BEA, is studied. Both conjugate gradient and generalized minimum residual preconditioned iterative solvers are applied for these problems and the performance of these algorithms is reported. Included is a quantification of the impact of the preconditioning utilized to render the boundary element matrices solvable by the respective iterative methods in a time competitive with direct methods.
A computer program for the evaluation of ELISA data obtained using an automated microtiter plate absorbance reader

A new computer program is described which calculates titers and antibody concentrations from ELISA data. Optical densities are measured in 96-well microtiter plates using an automated colorimeter and simultaneously fed into a microcomputer. The data can then be arranged and printed in an 8 X 12 format corresponding to the format of a 96-well microtiter plate. The computer program can also compute the titers of samples if the samples are arranged and titrated in one of the suggested formats. In addition, the titers of unknown samples can be automatically compared with the titer of a standard to obtain concentrations. An ELISA designed to measure the concentration of murine antibodies to the cell wall polysaccharide (PnC) extracted from Streptococcus pneumoniae was performed to document the use of the program.
Incompetency to stand trial: As status, as label, and as potential source of sentencing disparity

Criminal defendants are considered to be incompetent to stand trial if they are unable to understand the proceedings against them and unable to cooperate adequately with their attorneys. The purpose of this study was to compare the sentencing patterns of a group of defendants who had raised this issue and been returned to court as competent, with those of a group of defendants who had not raised the issue. Results showed that raising the issue of incompetency seemed to be a significant factor in the consumption of court resources, and lessened a defendant's likelihood of having his or her case dismissed. It did not make a significant contribution to the explanation of the variance associated with sentence length or with the granting of probation.
Tsallis ensemble as an exact orthode

We show that Tsallis ensemble of power-law distributions provides a mechanical model of equilibrium thermodynamics for possibly low dimensional interacting Hamiltonian systems, i.e., using Boltzmann's original nomenclature, we prove that it is an exact orthode. This means that the heat differential admits the inverse average kinetic energy as an integrating factor. One immediate consequence is that the logarithm of the normalization function can be identified with the entropy, instead of the q-deformed logarithm. It has been noted that such entropy coincides with Renyi entropy rather than Tsallis entropy, it is mechanically nonadditive, tends to the standard canonical entropy as the power index tends to infinity and is consistent with the free energy formula proposed in [S. Abe, et al., Phys. Lett. A 281 (2001) 126]. It is also shown that the heat differential admits the Lagrange multiplier used in nonextensive thermodynamics as an integrating factor too, and that the associated entropy is given by ordinary nonextensive entropy. The mechanical approach proposed in this work is fully consistent with an information-theoretic approach based on the maximization of Renyi entropy.
Room Temperature Luminescence of Silicate Sol−Gel Materials Containing Trisodium Tris(dipicolinato)neodymate(III)

Room temperature luminescence from a neodymium ion complex encapsulated in silicate sol−gel materials is observed. The organic ligand partially protects the ion and reduces radiationless deactivation. Concentration quenching is not very important in this system, but water quenching is more significant.
The recruiter and the sceptic: a critical feminist approach to military studies

To be a critical military analyst is to be a sceptically curious military analyst. Using a critical feminist approach to studying the military can help to generate more reliable explanations and mo...
Dietary Folate in a Changing Environment: Bioavailability, Fortification, and Requirements

: The US and several other countries have instituted mandatory inclusion of folic acid in many enriched cereal grain products, and certain other countries allow optional addition. Nutritional surveys in the US now indicate that folate deficiency is infrequent, and vitamin B12 status is often a primary determinant of plasma homocysteine concentration. Thus, the current situation in the US is markedly different from that of the pre-fortification era and from countries that do not allow the addition of folic acid to foods. Recent analytical studies have indicated that food composition databases may underestimate naturally occurring folate, although folate intakes calculated from database values have allowed accurate ranking of intakes among population groups in many epidemiological studies. Published analyses of cereal grain foods in the US indicate that added folic acid exceeds intended ranges. Studies comparing folate nutritional status in the US before and after fortification indicate that the fortification program has contributed about 200 micrograms of folic acid to the average person per day. This increment is twice that predicted due, in part, to a greater than anticipated intake as well as the higher bioavailability of folic acid than most naturally occurring forms of food folate. More precise information is needed regarding the actual difference in bioavailability between natural folate and added folic acid.
Characterization of N1- and N6-Adenosine Adducts and N1-Inosine Adducts Formed by the Reaction of Butadiene Monoxide with Adenosine: Evidence for the N1-Adenosine Adducts as Major Initial Products

1,3-Butadiene is a known human mutagen and possible human carcinogen; however, the molecular mechanisms of its activity are poorly understood. We have previously shown that the primary metabolite, butadiene monoxide (BM), reacts with guanosine to form N1-, N2-, and N7-guanosine adducts. In this study we characterize the reaction of BM with adenosine; ten adducts identified as diastereomeric pairs of N1-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl)adenosine, N1-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)adenosine, N6-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl)adenosine, N6-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)adenosine, and N1-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2-yl)inosine are characterized. The N6-adenosine and N1-inosine adducts were characterized by their UV spectra, 1H NMR, FAB/MS, and stability studies. The N6-adenosine and N1-inosine adducts were stable for up to 168 h at 37 °C in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The N1-adenosine adducts, which were unstable at pH 7.4 at 37 °C (half-life of 7 and 9.5 h for the two regioisomers), were characterized by their UV spectra and their ability to und...
Three-dimensional reconstruction of the coronary arterial tree geometry--rationale and recent progress

We are developing a method for deconvolving overlapped (by 2/3rd) sets of multiple, thick (nominally 8 mm) slices scanned by an Imatron scanner. From these data we generate a 3D image with roughly equivalent resolution in three orthogonal directions. Because this is a tomographic method, the superposition of contrast in the cardiac chambers and pulmonary veins is not a problem and the density resolution is sufficient to permit imaging of arteries opacified with dilute (i.e., 5%) contrast agent, equivalent to that achievable with a intravenous bolus injection of contrast medium. To date we have demonstrated feasibility with postmortem hearts with dilute barium sulfate injected into the coronary arteries. Application in living patients will require modification of the Imatron scanner's table advance and ECG gated scanning software.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Why is Reading Slower from CRT Displays than from Paper

Experiments, including our own (Gould et al., 1984; 1986), have shown that people read more slowly from CRT displays than from paper. A series of experiments shows that the explanation centers on the image quality of the characters. Reading speeds, equivalent to those on paper, have been found for CRT displays containing character fonts that resemble those on paper (rather than dot matrix fonts, for example), that have a polarity of dark characters on a light background, that are anti-aliased (i.e., contain grey level), and that are shown on displays with relatively high resolution (e.g., 1000 × 800).
Nanostructure surface patterning of GaN thin films and application to AlGaN/AlN multiple quantum wells: A way towards light extraction efficiency enhancement of III-nitride based light emitting diodes

Enhanced light extraction efficiency was demonstrated on nanostructure patterned GaN and AlGaN/AlN Multiple-Quantum-Well (MQW) structures using mass production techniques including natural lithography and interference lithography with feature size as small as 100 nm. Periodic nanostructures showed higher light extraction efficiency and modified emission profile compared to non-periodic structures based on integral reflection and angular-resolved transmission measurement. Light extraction mechanism of macroscopic and microscopic nanopatterning is discussed, and the advantage of using periodic nanostructure patterning is provided. An enhanced photoluminescence emission intensity was observed on nanostructure patterned AlGaN/AlN MQW compared to as-grown structure, demonstrating a large-scale and mass-producible pathway to higher light extraction efficiency in deep-ultra-violet light-emitting diodes.
Influences of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) predation on the rocky littoral invertebrate community in an arctic lake

We tested the role of the slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus), a benthic fish, in structuring the rocky littoral invertebrate community in Toolik Lake, Alaska. Comparisons of sculpin gut contents and prey community structure indicated that these fish forage selectively, eating proportionally more large and motile prey, and proportionally fewer small and sessile forms. Field experiments compared the effects of natural, reduced and elevated sculpin densities on benthic community structure. At natural levels of sculpin density, biomass of trichopteran larvae were reduced by more than 50%, and predatory chironomid larvae by 27%, in comparison to areas where sculpin were excluded. Tube-dwelling and small free living chironomid larvae were unaffected at normal sculpin densities. Under artificially high sculpin densities, there was some reduction of tube-dwelling chironomids, but the small free living ones remained unaffected. There appears to be a threshold length of about 3.5 mm, below which chironomid larvae are free form sculpin predation. Tube-dwelling chironomids may be longer than this threshold, but still avoid predation by having most of their body hidden in their tubes.
Helicity-chirality correlation and Weinberg's constraint in higher dimensions

We show a simple correspondence between massless fields transforming as representations of the higher (even) dimensional Lorentz group and highest weight states of the little group, under the assumption that the Euclidean translations of the little group act trivially. This yields the generalization to higher dimensions of Weinberg’s (1964) constraint which establishes a connection between helicity and chirality in four dimensions. As a bonus, we obtain restrictions on “gauge invariant” representations for physical particles.
Diffusional channeling in the sulfate-activating complex: combined continuum modeling and coarse-grained brownian dynamics studies.

Enzymes required for sulfur metabolism have been suggested to gain efficiency by restricted diffusion (i.e., channeling) of an intermediate APS2– between active sites. This article describes modeling of the whole channeling process by numerical solution of the Smoluchowski diffusion equation, as well as by coarse-grained Brownian dynamics. The results suggest that electrostatics plays an essential role in the APS2– channeling. Furthermore, with coarse-grained Brownian dynamics, the substrate channeling process has been studied with reactions in multiple active sites. Our simulations provide a bridge for numerical modeling with Brownian dynamics to simulate the complicated reaction and diffusion and raise important questions relating to the electrostatically mediated substrate channeling in vitro, in situ, and in vivo.
Inverse-catalyst-effect observed for nanocrystalline-doped tin oxide sensor at lower operating temperatures

Nanocrystalline In2O3-doped SnO2 thin film sensor is synthesized via sol–gel dip-coating technique. This nanocrystalline thin film is successfully utilized to sense hydrogen (H2) gas with the concentration as low as 50 ppm at lower operating temperatures (25–100 ◦ C). For short test-duration (30 min), the H2 sensitivity of the Pt-sputtered sensor is observed to be higher than that of the non-Pt-sputtered film. An “inverse-catalyst-effect” on the H 2 gas sensitivity is, however, newly observed when the test-duration is increased to 24 h. The presence of H2O molecules, which remain adsorbed and get accumulated on the sensor surface, during the long test-duration, are primarily attributed to the reduced H2 gas sensitivity of the Pt-sputtered sensors, relative to that of non-Pt-sputtered sensors, at lower operating temperatures (25–100 ◦ C).
Study of a paramagnetic center on an SiO-treated GaAs surface

Abstract We have observed enhanced photoluminescence and an isotropic, singlet electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal from samples of SI c-GaAs as a result of a thermal annealing treatment with SiO under vacuum. The treated samples showed a tenfold increase in photoluminescence. The EPR signal was detected at room temperature and was found to have a g value of 2.0017 and a linewidth of 0.1 mT. The enhanced photoluminescence and the EPR signal were both quenched by a 10 min exposure to hydrogen plasma with the sample near room temperature. Chemical and spectroscopic evidence indicates that the resonance is due to a silicon-related center near the GaAs surface.
AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THE EQUATORIAL EASTERLIES AND SUPERSONIC GAS FLOWS

Abstract The almost complete mathematical analogy is established between incompressible flow of air under an inversion, and one- and two-dimensional flow of a compressible fluid at high speed. Some mathematical and graphical methods of determining one-dimensional flows are discussed and demonstrated. Since the tropical easterlies are often a one-dimensional current with an inversion, the techniques are theoretically applicable to them. The theory admits three types of disturbances oriented normal to the current: a rarefaction wave, a compression wave, and a jump. The mathematical theory is shown to conform with general practical and practiced tropical forecasting methods and to agree with specific examples.
Effects of self-questioning training on college students' comprehension of lectures

Abstract Previous research has shown that self-questioning is an effective strategy for improving reading comprehension. The present study extended this line of research by investigating the use of self-questioning strategies with orally presented material. The study examined the relative effectiveness of four learning strategies on college students' comprehension of lectures and on their feelings of control over their success in learning. The four strategy conditions were self-and peer-questioning in small cooperative groups, independent self-questioning, review in small cooperative groups, and independent review. Students in the self-questioning conditions were trained to use a self-questioning procedure to process information presented in lecture. Results indicated that both of the self-questioning strategies significantly improved lecture comprehension over time. Significant differences were also found among the strategies with the self/peer questioners as well as the self-questioners showing post-treatment comprehension superior to that of participants using either of the review strategies. No significant change was found for students' feelings of control. These results suggest that practice in this self-questioning information-processing procedure can effectively improve college students' comprehension of lectures.
Plasma glucose thresholds for counterregulation after an oral glucose load.

Glucose counterregulation (GCR) plays an important role in the transition between exogenous and endogenous glucose delivery after an oral glucose load. This response is initiated when plasma glucose concentrations are decreased below threshold levels, previously defined in studies of insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In this study, we tested the plasma glucose thresholds for activation of the GCR response under more physiologic circumstances, ie, after glucose ingestion. We studied 20 normal subjects for 300 minutes after 75 g of oral glucose. Between 150 and 300 minutes, blood samples and symptom scores were obtained at 10-minute intervals. After oral glucose, individual glucose nadirs were observed over a wide time range (160 to 290 minutes). Mean glucose concentrations decreased from 5.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L at 30 minutes before the nadir (−30 minutes) to 3.8 ± 0.2 mmol/L at the nadir (0 minutes). Mean plasma epinephrine concentrations increased from 210 ± 35 pmol/L, were significantly elevated at −10 minutes (P < .05), and peaked at +20 minutes (1,008 ± 184 pmol/L, P < .001). Mean plasma glucagon concentrations were significantly increased over baseline (100%) at +10 minutes (P < .001) and peaked at +30 minutes (122% ± 7%, P < .001). Seven subjects (out of 15 tested) developed symptoms. Quantitative evaluation revealed a peak in the mean symptom score at +20 minutes, an increase from 0.4 ± 0.3 to 2.6 ± 0.1 arbitrary units (P < .06). Plasma glucose thresholds for epinephrine, glucagon, and appearance of symptoms were estimated to be 4.2 ± 0.2, 3.8 ± 0.2, and between 2.9 and 3.3 mmol/L, respectively, similar to those found during studies of insulin-induced hypoglycemia. We conclude that the levels and hierarchy of plasma glucose thresholds for GCR are maintained during the late phase after an oral glucose load. Also, even in normal subjects, mild symptoms may occur and peak together with epinephrine after the gluose nadir.
High-risk diabetic patients in Medicare Part D programs: are they getting the recommended ACEI/ARB therapy?

BACKGROUND Diabetes patients with hypertension and/or renal disease are at an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Clinical evidence suggests that the use of ACEI/ARB for these patients improves patient outcomes.
Intercropping with Shrub Species That Display a ‘Steady-State’ Flowering Phenology as a Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Agroecosystems

Animal species in the Neotropics have evolved under a lower spatiotemporal patchiness of food resources compared to the other tropical regions. Although plant species with a steady-state flowering/fruiting phenology are rare, they provide predictable food resources and therefore may play a pivotal role in animal community structure and diversity. I experimentally planted a supplemental patch of a shrub species with a steady-state flowering/fruiting phenology, Hamelia patens Jacq., into coffee agroforests to evaluate the contribution of this unique phenology to the structure and diversity of the flower-visiting community. After accounting for the higher abundance of captured animals in the coffee agroforests with the supplemental floral resources, species richness was 21% higher overall in the flower-visiting community in these agroforests compared to control agroforests. Coffee agroforests with the steady-state supplemental floral patch also had 31% more butterfly species, 29% more hummingbird species, 65% more wasps and 85% more bees than control coffee agroforests. The experimental treatment, together with elevation, explained 57% of the variation in community structure of the flower-visiting community. The identification of plant species that can support a high number of animal species, including important ecosystem service providers, is becoming increasingly important for restoration and conservation applications. Throughout the Neotropics plant species with a steady-state flowering/fruiting phenology can be found in all aseasonal forests and thus could be widely tested and suitable species used throughout the tropics to manage for biodiversity and potentially ecosystem services involving beneficial arthropods.
The state of the STATs: recent developments in the study of signal transduction to the nucleus

Abstract The STATs (signal transducers and activators of transcription) are latent cytoplasmic proteins that, upon activation by cell surface bound polypeptide ligands, move to the nucleus to direct transcription. A variety of protein—protein interactions that affect the function of STATs has been recently recognized. It has become clear that the STATs are functional mosaics, or mixtures of signal transduction and transcription modules.
Chunking, sorting, and rule-learning from serial patterns of brain-stimulation reward by rats

Three studies tested the notion that rats would treat brain-stimulation reward (BSR) as a stimulus alphabet from which rules could be abstracted to learn serial patterns. In Experiment 1, rats learned to track a serial pattern of 18-10-6-3-1-0 pulses of BSR, responding fast in anticipation of large quantities of BSR and slowly or not at all in anticipation of small quantities of BSR. In Experiment 2, rats learned to track a formally simple 18-6-1-0 pattern faster than a formally complex 18-1-6-0 pattern in a within-subjects procedure, indicating that rats can learn to discriminate between simple and complex pattern structures. Finally, in Experiment 3 rats learned either a formally simple 25-18-10-3-1-0 or a formally complex 25-3-10-18-1-0 pattern whose successive elements were separated by an embedded three-element 6-6-0 subpattern. Rats learned to “chunk together” the dispersed pattern elements, and rats receiving the simple pattern learned to track their pattern, whereas rats receiving the complex pattern did not. The latter results suggest that when simple pattern structure is available, rats can simultaneously track rule structures in at least two memory locations. The results of these experiments, using a new testing procedure and, presumably, a new stimulus alphabet, generalize and extend the idea that rats can abstract relational rules to learn serial patterns.