cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A paper microfluidic fuel cell powered by urea

Abstract A paper microfluidic fuel cell was developed that is powered by urea and compares favorably to recent literature reports of paper microfluidic fuel cells. During fuel cell testing, we found the maximum power density to be as high as 0.91 mW cm−2 and the maximum current density to be as high as 4.3 mA cm-2 at room temperature using 0.3 M urea as fuel. Under continuous reactant flow, the fuel cell voltage is stable for at least 1 h. Under stopped flow conditions, the voltage was stable for up to 20 min. When 3 fuel cells (using Ni anode) were connected in series, sufficient energy was produced to power the LCD screen of a paper-based, over-the-counter pregnancy test for at least 30 min. Since this fuel cell is constructed on paper, it does not require continuous flow of reactants as a micro-channeled microfluidic fuel cell would. Hence, it could be possible with this chemistry to integrate energy production with urinalysis on paper since human urine contains both urea (fuel) and hormones (analyte) to provide power and analyte simultaneously.
Comparison of Kinetic Energy Distributions of C2+ Ionic Fragments Induced by Multiphoton Ionization and Fast Ion Impact from CO2

The comparison of the kinetic energy distribution of C2+ ionic fragments produced from CO2 by subpicosecond multiquantum ionization at an intensity of ~ 2 × 1017 W/cm2 with the corresponding distributions arising from ion/molecule collisions and Auger processes reveals an important common feature of the collisional, Auger, and multiphoton interactions. The principal finding is a marked similarity in the production of anomalously energetic C2+ ions arising from high-lying CO2+ precursors having a substantial charge-transfer character, an outcome that echoes related results observed in N2. These results suggest that charge-transfer states may play a generally significant role in multiphoton couplings for broad classes of molecular materials.
Cultural and Transnational Influences on the Use of Information Communication Technologies in Adult Long-Distance Family Relationships: An Extension of Media Multiplexity Theory

Geographically dispersed family members utilize frequent and diverse modes of communication to maintain their relationships. In transnational families separated by national boarders, family members...
Expectativas dos alunos do primeiro semestre dos cursos de engenharia

O tema deste artigo esta relacionado as expectativas apresentadas pelos alunos que iniciam sua jornada academica numa Instituicao de Ensino Superior Comunitaria (IESC) no sul do Brasil. Este estudo tem por objetivo identificar as expectativas dos alunos ingressantes nos diferentes cursos de Engenharia oferecidos por Instituicao de Ensino Superior Comunitaria (IESC). A metodologia adotada e do tipo qualitativa descritiva, pois trata-se de um estudo de caso, onde participam do levantamento alunos das Engenharias. Foi feito um levantamento estatistico com os dados demograficos a fim de caracterizar o grupo de interesse da pesquisa, usando o programa aplicado a Estatistica - SPSS. A seguir fez-se uma categorizacao das respostas associadas ao questionario aberto sobre suas expectativas, que foi aplicado aos alunos matriculados em uma disciplina de primeiro semestre. Os resultados apontam que os alunos tem expectativas voltadas a atividade profissional futura e, principalmente, a qualidade em sua formacao academica, que se mostrou como sendo a expectativa de maior enfase. Sepulveda (2013, p.1) chama atencao de que tal situacao ocorre tambem no contexto da educacao superior no Chile, onde ele menciona tem-se ” una generacion ambiciosa que tiende a postergar el ingreso al mundo laboral y que reconoce en las credenciales educativas un requisito fundamental para su insercion en el mundo adulto”. Conclui-se que a expectativas dos alunos, apesar de incertas e muitas vezes inconstantes, devem ser objeto de interesse da instituicao, a fim de que, ao atender estas expectativas estimule a permanencia do aluno ate a sua conclusao na graduacao da Engenharia.
Substituted N‐{3‐[(1,1‐Dioxido‐1,2‐benzothiazol‐3‐yl)(phenyl)amino]propyl}benzamide Analogues as Potent Kv1.3 Ion Channel Blockers. Part 2.

A series of substituted 3-amino-1,2-benzothiazole dioxides (I) is designed and synthesized.
Considerations for studying transmission of antimicrobial resistant enteric bacteria between wild birds and the environment on intensive dairy and beef cattle operations

Background Wild birds using livestock facilities for food and shelter may contribute to dissemination of enteric pathogens or antimicrobial resistant bacteria. However, drivers of microbial exchange among wildlife and livestock are not well characterized. Predisposition for acquiring and retaining environmental bacteria may vary among species because of physiologic or behavioral differences, complicating selection of a bacterial model that can accurately characterize microbial connections among hosts of interest. This study compares the prevalence and antibiotic resistance phenotypes of two potential model bacterial organisms isolated from wild birds and their environments. Methods We compared prevalence and resistance profiles of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus species isolated from environmental swabs and bird feces on a residential control site, a confinement dairy, a pasture-based beef farm, and a confinement beef farm. Results Bird feces at all sites had low-to-moderate prevalence of Escherichia coli (range: 17-47%), despite potential for exposure on farms (range: 63-97%). Few Escherichia coli were isolated from the control environment. Enterococcus faecalis was dominant in birds at both beef farms (62% and 81% of Enterococcus isolates) and low-to-moderately prevalent at the dairy and control sites (29% and 23% of isolates, respectively). Antimicrobial resistance prevalence was higher in farm samples compared to those from the residential control, but distribution of resistant isolates varied between the bacterial genera. Birds on all farms carried resistant Enterococcus at similar rates to that of the environment, but resistance was less common in bird-associated Escherichia coli despite presence of resistant isolates in the farm environment. Discussion Bacterial species studied may affect how readily bacterial exchange among populations is detected. Selection of microbial models must carefully consider both the questions being posed and how findings might influence resulting management decisions.
Effect of high-rate dynamic comminution on penetration of projectiles of various velocities and impact angles into concrete

The dynamic ‘overstress’, i.e., the apparent increase of strength of concrete at very high strain rates (10– $$10^{6}$$ /s) experienced in projectile impact and penetration, has recently been explained by a new theory with partial analogy to turbulence. The increase is attributed to comminution of concrete driven by the release of local kinetic energy of the shear strain rate field of forming fragments which, in projectile impact problems, exceeds the strain energy of the fragments by orders of magnitude. This theory gives the particle size distribution and the additional local kinetic energy density, $$\Delta K$$ , proportional to the deviatoric strain rate square. To match test results, $$\Delta K$$ must be dissipated during finite element simulations of impact. In previous simulations, $$\Delta K$$ was, at first, dissipated by an artificial equivalent viscosity (not empirical but predicted by the theory). Later it was found that dissipation by upscaling material tensile strength is equally effective. This theoretically justified upscaling is adopted here since it is more realistic when microplane constitutive model M7 for fracturing damage in concrete is used. All artificial damping is eliminated from the computer program. While previous simulations with the comminution theory were limited to orthogonal impacts, and only the cases of penetration of slabs of various thickness by projectile of one velocity and penetration depths for different velocities, the present study also analyzes further test data on oblique impacts at various impact angles up to $$35^\circ $$ , and on the exit velocities and penetration depths of projectiles of different velocities. For each test series on one and the same concrete, the material parameters are calibrated on one test and then, using the same parameters, all the other tests are predicted. All the predictions of exit velocities and penetration depths of projectiles, as well as entry and exit craters, are quite accurate.
Researchers May Need Additional Data Curation Support

A Review of: Johnston, L. R., Carlson, J., Hudson-Vitale, C., Imker, H., Kozlowski, W., Olendorf, R., & Stewart, C. (2018). How important are data curation activities to researchers? Gaps and opportunities for academic libraries. Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication, 6(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.7710/2162-3309.2198 Abstract Objective – To identify the data curation activities most valued by researchers at universities. Design – Focus group and survey instrument. Setting – Six R1: Doctoral Universities in the United States of America that are part of a Data Curation Network (DCN) project to design a shared data curation service. Subjects – 91 researchers, librarians, and support staff. Methods – The authors used focus group methodology to collect data about valued data curation activities, current practices, and satisfaction with existing services or activities. Six focus groups were conducted at participants’ places of employment. Participants reviewed a list of 35 possible data curation activities, including documentation, data visualization, and rights management. A card-swapping exercise enabled subjects to rank the most important issues on a scale of 1-5, with “most important” activities becoming the subject of a facilitated discussion. In a short paper-based survey, participants also noted whether a data curation practice is in place at their institution, and their satisfaction with the practice. Main Results – Twelve data curation activities were identified as “highly rated” services that academic institutions could focus on providing to researchers. Documentation, Secure Storage, Quality Assurance, and Persistent Identifier were the data curation activities that the majority of participants rated as “most important.” Participants identified the data curation practices in place at their institutions, including documentation (80%), secure storage (75%), chain of custody (64%), metadata (63%), file inventory or manifest (58%), data visualization (58%), versioning (56%), file format transformations (55%), and quality assurance (52%). Participants reported low levels of satisfaction with their institutions’ data curation activities. Conclusion – Academic libraries have an opportunity to develop or improve existing data curation services by focusing on the twelve data curation activities that researchers, staff, and librarians value but that could be implemented in a more satisfactory way. The authors conclude that their organization, the Data Curation Network, has an opportunity to improve data curation services or to offer new or expanded services.
Delayed Reconstruction of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Deformity

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a common adolescent hip disorder. Its cause is not fully understood but is likely multifactorial involving biological, vascular, and biomechanical factors. The current management of SCFE is focused on stabilizing the proximal femoral epiphysis as it translates along the physis. In significant deformities the epiphysis remains in a posterior, inferior, and retroverted position after fixation. Some patients undergo osseous remodeling to resolve the deformity, but most will have residual deformity into adulthood. Residual deformity of the proximal femur frequently leads to a cam-type femoroacetabular impingement, which can expedite the process of degenerative osteoarthritis. Many approaches to surgically address post-SCFE femoroacetabular impingement have been described, including femoral neck osteoplasties to remove the impinging lesion and proximal femoral osteotomies to realign the femoral head within the acetabulum. Below, we describe a combined approach involving surgical hip dislocation with open osteoplasty followed by an intertrochanteric osteotomy. This operation addresses both aspects of the proximal femoral deformity associated with SCFE and is an optimal approach for correcting severe deformities.
Competing Protein-RNA Interaction Networks Control Multiphase Intracellular Organization

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) mediates formation of membraneless condensates such as those associated with RNA processing, but the rules that dictate their assembly, substructure, and coexistence with other liquid-like compartments remain elusive. Here, we address the biophysical mechanism of this multiphase organization using quantitative reconstitution of cytoplasmic stress granules (SGs) with attached P-bodies in human cells. Protein-interaction networks can be viewed as interconnected complexes (nodes) of RNA-binding domains (RBDs), whose integrated RNA-binding capacity determines whether LLPS occurs upon RNA influx. Surprisingly, both RBD-RNA specificity and disordered segments of key proteins are non-essential, but modulate multiphase condensation. Instead, stoichiometry-dependent competition between protein networks for connecting nodes determines SG and P-body composition and miscibility, while competitive binding of unconnected proteins disengages networks and prevents LLPS. Inspired by patchy colloid theory, we propose a general framework by which competing networks give rise to compositionally specific and tunable condensates, while relative linkage between nodes underlies multiphase organization.
Explicit Constructions of Halphen Pencils

We construct rational elliptic surfaces of index two by explicitly constructing their associated Halphen pencils in the projective plane $\mathbb{P}^2$. For each of the types of singular fibers that occur we construct at least one example having that type of fiber and in fact, for some, we construct all possible examples. We establish a precise dictionary between the fibers in a rational elliptic surface and the corresponding plane curves and, in particular, we study the singularities of the curves appearing in a Halphen pencil.
Reflections about three influential Ambio articles impacting environmental biogeochemistry research and knowledge : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Environmental contaminants.

Reflections about three influential environmental contaminants papers published in Ambio are presented. The PCB Story by Jensen in (1972) had a very important influence on environmental chemistry. This is captured by way of comments and personal anecdotes. Wania’s and MacKay’s (1993) paper highlights the physical chemistry underlying transport of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides from temperate zone ecosystems to Polar Regions. Their paper exemplifies how principles of chemistry and environmental processes informed understanding the biogeochemical cycles of chemicals of environmental concern (CEC). Mergler et al.’s (2007) paper reviews knowledge of methyl mercury exposure and impacts in humans and served as an example of how to approach exposure and human health concerns for all CECs. All great progress. Then, the question: “How we missed for two decades the importance of plastics in the environment identified in a paper published the same year as The PCB Story? Are we missing yet another important environmental contaminant now?
Linking Data on Constituent Health with Elected Officials' Opinions: Associations Between Urban Health Disparities and Mayoral Officials' Beliefs About Health Disparities in Their Cities.

Policy Points Mayoral officials' opinions about the existence and fairness of health disparities in their city are positively associated with the magnitude of income-based life expectancy disparity in their city. Associations between mayoral officials' opinions about health disparities in their city and the magnitude of life expectancy disparity in their city are not moderated by the social or fiscal ideology of mayoral officials or the ideology of their constituents. Highly visible and publicized information about mortality disparities, such as that related to COVID-19 disparities, has potential to elevate elected officials' perceptions of the severity of health disparities and influence their opinions about the issue. CONTEXT: A substantive body of research has explored what factors influence elected officials' opinions about health issues. However, no studies have assessed the potential influence of the health of an elected official's constituents. We assessed whether the magnitude of income-based life expectancy disparity within a city was associated with the opinions of that city's mayoral official (i.e., mayor or deputy mayor) about health disparities in their city. METHODS: The independent variable was the magnitude of income-based life expectancy disparity in US cities. The magnitude was determined by linking 2010-2015 estimates of life expectancy and median household income for 8,434 census tracts in 224 cities. The dependent variables were mayoral officials' opinions from a 2016 survey about the existence and fairness of health disparities in their city (n = 224, response rate 30.3%). Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for characteristics of mayoral officials (e.g., ideology) and city characteristics. FINDINGS: In cities in the highest income-based life expectancy disparity quartile, 50.0% of mayoral officials "strongly agreed" that health disparities existed and 52.7% believed health disparities were "very unfair." In comparison, among mayoral officials in cities in the lowest disparity quartile 33.9% "strongly agreed" that health disparities existed and 22.2% believed the disparities were "very unfair." A 1-year-larger income-based life expectancy disparity in a city was associated with 25% higher odds that the city's mayoral official would "strongly agree" that health disparities existed (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25; P = .04) and twice the odds that the city's mayoral official would believe that such disparities were "very unfair" (OR = 2.24; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mayoral officials' opinions about health disparities in their jurisdictions are generally aligned with, and potentially influenced by, information about the magnitude of income-based life expectancy disparities among their constituents.
How the Creation of Too Many Academic Departments Stifles Creativity, Encourages a Silo Mentality, and Increases Administrative Bloat

One college president remarked: "Colleges are very good at adding. They're not good at subtracting." This is not only true when it comes to creating academic departments but is also true with respect to hiring administrators. This paper demonstrates that reducing the number of departments via mergers may benefit a college or university in many ways. It can help reduce wasteful administrative bloat, eliminate the silo mentality, encourage interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary programs and research, and improve organizational agility. Moreover, merged departments have the ability to provide students with a broader outlook than those whose major departments are too narrow. Procedures for determining which departments to merge are also discussed. Colleges and universities have no choice but to become more efficient. One researcher asserts that half of the 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States will be bankrupt within the next few decades.
Pancreatic Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy With or Without Hypofractionated Elective Nodal Irradiation.

Purpose Pancreatic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is limited to gross tumor without elective coverage for subclinical disease. Given a better understanding of recurrence patterns, we hypothesized that the addition of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) to pancreatic SBRT would be tolerable and would decrease locoregional progression. Methods and Materials We conducted a retrospective 1:2 propensity-matched cohort study to compare toxicity and locoregional progression among patients treated with pancreatic SBRT with or without ENI. In the SBRT + ENI cohort, an elective target volume was delineated per Radiation Therapy Oncology Group guidelines and treated to 25 Gy in 5 fractions alongside 40 Gy in 5 fractions to gross disease. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of locoregional progression, with death as a competing risk. Results Among 135 candidate controls treated with SBRT alone, 100 were propensity-matched to 50 patients treated with SBRT + ENI. All patients completed SBRT. Median potential radiographic follow-up was 28 months. The incidence of late and serious acute toxicity was similar between matched cohorts. However, SBRT + ENI was associated with a statistically significant increase in acute grade 1 to 2 nausea (60% vs 20%, P Conclusions Pancreatic SBRT + ENI was tolerable and did not increase late or serious acute toxicity relative to a matched cohort undergoing SBRT alone, but did increase acute grade 1 to 2 nausea. The addition of ENI to SBRT was associated with decreased locoregional progression but not improved survival. Further studies are warranted to determine whether ENI offers meaningful benefit.
In the wake of disaster : religious responses to terrorism & catastrophe

In a timely book with a persuasive and powerful message, Dr. Harold G. Koenig addresses government policy leaders, urging that religious organisations be more fully integrated into the formal disaster response system and providing recommendations on how this can effectively be done. Koenig also urges faith communities and organisations to learn more about the role they can play in responding to disasters and terrorism. This book provides information on the psychological, social and spiritual responses to trauma. It addresses how the emergency response system works, and the role that religious communities can play in disaster response and recovery in terms of providing emotional and spiritual care for victims. It advocates integrating mental health into emergency response systems directed at those affected by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and terrorism. Increasing the resiliency of our communities in the face of disaster is crucial. Religious communities have tremendous potential to contribute to this. Here are guidelines on how to do that more effectively, alongside data on how to facilitate the integration of these contributions with the formal disaster-response system.
Opioid prescribing levels off, but is less really more?

A nation's opioid consumption was once seen as a sign of civility. The higher the per capita rate of morphine consumption, as calculated by the World Health Organization, the more advanced and caring a nation's health care system was seen to be—this suggested better care of the elderly, the sick, the suffering, and the dying [1]. So it is of interest that when numbers from IMS Health were released earlier this year (and reported in a feature article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) showed that opioid prescribing has experienced a slight decrease from 243 million prescriptions in 2011 to 241 million in 2012, this change was hailed as a sign of good things to come for Americans [2]. While a reduction in “pill mill” activity and inappropriate prescribing should be lauded, there is unfortunately much to be concerned about for both the majority of people with pain and the well-intentioned prescribers alike. Moreover, the sensationalization by mainstream media and by politicians has served to fuel a fire that creates negative outcomes for legitimate pain patients [3,4]. There is no question that at one time it was suggested that more opioids were better, while to some extent minimizing the risks to individual patients and to society at large. There is still some debate over the reasons for the rapid growth of opioid use. We argue that this growth was largely due to well-intentioned physicians and thought leaders who had positive experiences treating pain in the advanced cancer patient population. Expanded opioid prescribing in that arena led to dramatic improvements in quality of life, and as a result, many were hopeful that similar improvements would be seen in the much larger and more diverse chronic noncancer pain population [5–7]. When reports of OxyContin abuse first surfaced over a …
Conversion error in D/A converters employing dynamic element matching

An approach to reducing harmonic distortion in D/A converters involves a technique called dynamic element matching. The idea is not so much to reduce the power of overall conversion error but rather to give it a random, noise-like structure. This paper presents the first rigorous theoretical analysis of the conversion error introduced by an important class of D/A converters based on dynamic element matching. Specifically, the paper develops the rather surprising result that, under mild circuit performance assumptions, the only nonlinear distortion introduced by this class of D/A converters is that of additive white noise with a DC offset. >
Age and infertility in a micronesian atoll population.

The aim of this study of infertility was to describe demographic patterns of infertility by age and their link with age-associated behavior changes such as coital activity on the Butaritari Atoll north of Tungaru in the Republic of Kiribati. The population is relatively circumscribed on this high-population-density island; there were high rates of nuptiality minimal premarital exposure to pregnancy risk low contraceptive usage and an absence of sexually transmitted diseases that cause infertility. The population in 1990 was 3800 of which almost 50% were aged < 15 years. Fertility was high at a mean of 4.5 births for ever married women (N=791) and a completed fertility of 7.14 for ever married postmenopausal women. Almost all men and women marry. Primary infertility levels were only 1.29% of ever married postmenopausal women (N=231). Data on reproductive histories were collected from 87.1% (N=203) of all women aged <15 years in the village in 1990/91 and supplemented with other archival records. A subsample of 34 women were interviewed for a detailed analysis of life course changes in reproductive and sexual behavior. Census data from 1990 were also collected and checked against vital registration records. The following measures were examined: infertility in relation to marriage duration current reproductive status of women in relation to age infertility in relation to parity infertility in relation to age pregnancy failure in relation to age and ethnographic factors. The findings indicated that infertility rarely occurred before the late 30s because of the low levels of subfecundity no age variation in breast feeding patterns no significant increase in reported fetal death rates before the 40s and sustained coital frequency with increasing marriage duration. Coital frequency declined after the age of 40 years as did fecundity. The coital patterns were found to be similar to the Micronesian region; women produce as many children at later ages as they do at earlier ages.
Andrei Borisovich Vistelius: A dominant figure in 20th century mathematical geology

Andrei Borisovich Vistelius (1915–1995), along with William Christian Krumbein (1902–1979) and John Cedric Griffiths (1912–1992), were dominant figures in the formative and development years of mathematical (or quantitative) geology as a subdiscipline of geology.
Local Finite-Amplitude Wave Activity as a Diagnostic of Anomalous Weather Events

AbstractFinite-amplitude Rossby wave activity (FAWA) proposed by Nakamura and Zhu measures the waviness of quasigeostrophic potential vorticity (PV) contours and the associated modification of the zonal-mean zonal circulation, but it does not distinguish longitudinally localized weather anomalies, such as atmospheric blocking. In this article, FAWA is generalized to local wave activity (LWA) to diagnose eddy–mean flow interaction on the regional scale. LWA quantifies longitude-by-longitude contributions to FAWA following the meridional displacement of PV from the circle of equivalent latitude. The zonal average of LWA recovers FAWA. The budget of LWA is governed by the zonal advection of LWA and the radiation stress of Rossby waves. The utility of the diagnostic is tested with a barotropic vorticity equation on a sphere and meteorological reanalysis data. Compared with the previously derived Eulerian impulse-Casimir wave activity, LWA tends to be less filamentary and emphasizes large isolated vortices inv...
Fission angular distributions for the systems 9 Be+ 232 Th, 235 U

The fission angular distributions for the systems {sup 9}Be+{sup 232}Th, {sup 235}U have been measured at {ital E}{approximately}50 and 53 MeV. The measured fission fragment anisotropy values are in good agreement with the expectations of a standard statistical model.
Overcoming drug resistance in HIV-1 chemotherapy: the binding thermodynamics of Amprenavir and TMC-126 to wild-type and drug-resistant mutants of the HIV-1 protease.

Amprenavir is one of six protease inhibitors presently approved for clinical use in the therapeutic treatment of AIDS. Biochemical and clinical studies have shown that, unlike other inhibitors, Amprenavir is severely affected by the protease mutation I50V, located in the flap region of the enzyme. TMC-126 is a second-generation inhibitor, chemically related to Amprenavir, with a reported extremely low susceptibility to existing resistant mutations including I50V. In this paper, we have studied the thermodynamic and molecular origin of the response of these two inhibitors to the I50V mutation and the double active-site mutation V82F/I84V that affects all existing clinical inhibitors. Amprenavir binds to the wild-type HIV-1 protease with high affinity (5.0 × 109 M−1 or 200 pM) in a process equally favored by enthalpic and entropic contributions. The mutations I50V and V82F/I84V lower the binding affinity of Amprenavir by a factor of 147 and 104, respectively. TMC-126, on the other hand, binds to the wild-type protease with extremely high binding affinity (2.6 × 1011 M−1 or 3.9 pM) in a process in which enthalpic contributions overpower entropic contributions by almost a factor of 4. The mutations I50V and V82F/I84V lower the binding affinity of TMC-126 by only a factor of 16 and 11, respectively, indicating that the binding affinity of TMC-126 to the drug-resistant mutants is still higher than the affinity of Amprenavir to the wild-type protease. Analysis of the data for TMC-126 and KNI-764, another second-generation inhibitor, indicates that their low susceptibility to mutations is caused by their ability to compensate for the loss of interactions with the mutated target by a more favorable entropy of binding.
An improved interface for tutorial dialogues: browsing a visual dialogue history

When participating in tutorial dialogues, human tutors freely refer to their own previous explanations. Explanation is an inherently incremental and interactive process. New information must be highlighted and related to what has already been presented. If user interfaces are to reap the benefits of natural language interaction, they must be endowed with the properties that make human natural language interaction so effective. This paper describes the design of a user interface that enables both the system and the user to refer to the past dialogue. The work is based on the notion that the dialogue history is a source of knowledge that can be manipulated like any other. In particular, we describe an interface that allows students to visualize the dialogue history on the screen, highlight its relevant parts and query and manipulate the dialogue history. We expect that these facilities will increase the effectiveness of the student learning of the task.
Modelling the dynamics of CaMKII–NMDAR complex related to memory formation in synapses: The possible roles of threonine 286 autophosphorylation of CaMKII in long term potentiation

A synaptic protein, Ca2+/Calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), has complex state transitions and facilitates the emergence of long term potentiation (LTP), which is highly correlated to memory formation. Two of the state transitions are critical for LTP: (1) threonine 286 autophosphorylation of CaMKII; and (2) binding to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the postsynaptic density (PSD) to form CaMKII–NMDAR complex. Both of these state transitions retain the activity of CaMKII when the induction signal disappears which is very important for the long-lasting characteristics of LTP. However, the possible relationships between the state transitions in the emergence of LTP are not well understood. We develop a mathematical model of the formation of CaMKII–NMDAR complex with the full state transitions of CaMKII, including the autophosphorylation, based on ordinary differential equations. In addition, we formulate a probabilistic framework for the binding between CaMKII and NMDAR. The model gives accurate predictions of the behaviours of CaMKII in comparisons to the experimental observations. Using the model, we show that: (1) the formation of CaMKII–NMDAR complex is dependent not only on the binding affinity between CaMKII and NMDAR, but also on the translocation of CaMKII into PSD; and (2) the autophosphorylation is not a requirement for the formation of CaMKII–NMDAR complex, but is important for the rapid formation of CaMKII–NMDAR complex during LTP.
Steady-state error conditions for use in the design of look-ahead digital control systems

Steady-state error conditions relating to step and ramp inputs often are used in designing control systems. The purpose of this correspondence is to develop such steady-state error conditions as they apply to the design of a class of look-ahead or preview control systems in which future knowledge of system inputs is utilized.
Attachment Security and Its Benefits in Context

We are self-identified positive psychologists, and we spend much of our time teaching and writing about what makes life most worth living. But sometimes we acknowledge that a three-word summary of ...
RELEASE OF INHIBITED TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS INFECTION BY ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION AS A FUNCTION OF TIME AND TEMPERATURE AFTER INOCULATION.

Abstract The formation of lesions by the U1 strains of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was inhibited by the presence of an excess of VM strain particles in a U1 inoculum. This inhibition was released by irradiating inoculated leaves with ultraviolet light (UV). UV rescue of U1 infection was most efficient immediately after inoculation. The efficiency was progressively reduced as the time between inoculation and irradiation was extended. The time course of loss of efficiency of UV rescue was markedly temperature dependent. The data are interpreted to signify that a VM particle enters into the early events of infection in blocked U1 infective centers.
P2X7 Receptor-Mediated Disruption of the Plasma Membrane and Endoplasmic Reticulum Morphology and Cell Survival

The cation-conducting P2X7 receptor channel (P2X7R) operates as a cytolytic and apoptotic nucleotide receptor but also controls sustained cellular responses, including cell growth and proliferation. However, it has not been clarified how the same receptor mediates such opposing effects. To address this question, in this study we combined electrophysiological recordings of rat P2X7R current using an ultrafast application system for agonist delivery and removal and confocal imaging studies using the YFP-tagged P2X7R and CFP-tagged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi markers. The rates of receptor activation and deactivation were consistent with a previously proposed hypothesis of high and low affinity ligand binding sites at P2X7Rs. Activation of high affinity sites resulted in low amplitude slowly desensitizing currents and internalization of receptors. On the other hand, activation of low affinity sites led to a secondary current growth and a sustained rise in calcium, the plasma membrane blebbing, and increase in the cell volume, resulting in cytolysis during the sustained receptor occupancy. These plasma membrane events were associated with broadening and separation of ER tubes, their fragmentation, vesiculation, and fusion of vesiculated ERs, whereas the structure of Golgi apparatus was not affected. Removal of agonist facilitated retraction of blebs and reversed the cytolytic cascade but did not stop the ongoing disruption of the ER morphology. These results suggest that the level of saturation of the ligand binding sites and duration of stimuli determines the nature of the P2X7R gating and actions. The results further indicate that the plasma membrane blebbing and cytolytic effects are independent of disruption of ER morphology and that the ER stress response is probably coupled with apoptosis.
Taxonomic significance of floral pigments in linum (Linageae)

Floral pigments of 30 taxa, representing five informally ranked subgeneric complexes(Linum schiedeanum, L. virginianum,L. neomexicanum, L. sulcatum, andL. rigidum) of yellow-flowered North American flaxes, were examined by paper chromatography. Earlier studies, based on comparative gross morphology, chromosomal complements, and pollen structure, led to the conclusion that members of theL. schiedeanum complex may be the most primitive and that theL. virginianum, L. neomexicanum, andL. rigidum complexes may have been derived independently, the latter via a taxon similar toL. sulcatum. Data from both carotenoids and flavonoids support this scheme. Spectral analysis reveals the exclusive presence of the Β-carotenoid, violaxanthin, in the X.schiedeanum, L. virginianum, L. neomexicanum, andL. sulcatum com-Taxa of theL. rigidum complex, with the exception ofL. subteres, possesplexes. exclusively the α-carotenoids, lutein and its 5, 6-monoepoxide.L. subteres, in its production of violaxanthin, provides a chemical link to the other complexes, though possession of several species-specific flavonoids suggests an early divergence from other members of theL. rigidum complex. Distinctions in the Chromatographic patterns of quercetin, luteolin, and other flavonoid compounds were found among the five groups. In general the loss of flavonoid pigments may be correlated with increased morphological specialization. Identical patterns in certain species of theL. schiedeanum andL. virginianum complexes support the presumed relationship between these two groups.
Ischemic colitis associated with pseudoephedrine: four cases.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: There is one previously reported case linking ischemic colitis and orally administered nasal decongestants containing pseudoephedrine (MEDLINE 1974–1998). We aimed to document an association between pseudoephedrine ingestion and ischemic colitis. METHODS: We reviewed the cases of four women (ages, 37–50 yr) who presented with the sudden onset of colicky abdominal pain followed by hematochezia. Three patients had used medicine containing pseudoephedrine daily for approximately 1 wk before admission. The fourth patient had used pseudoephedrine chronically for 6 months. Two patients had no significant past medical history. One woman had presented 6 months earlier with ischemic colitis while taking both pseudoephedrine and hormone replacement therapy. This time she presented with ischemic colitis while not taking hormone replacement therapy, but still taking decongestants. Another woman had a history of ulcerative colitis, which had been quiescent for 10 yr. One patient had been a smoker; however, like the other patients she had no evidence of systemic vascular disease. On colonoscopy, all four patients had colitis, primarily affecting the splenic flexure in the anatomical watershed area. Other causes of segmental colitis, including infectious colitides, pseudomembranous colitis, and Crohn’s disease, were not evident. Colonoscopic biopsies were consistent with ischemic injury. RESULTS: All cases responded to abstinence from pseudoephedrine and medical supportive therapy. None has had a relapse since discontinuing the pseudoephedrine (8–12 months). CONCLUSIONS: The vasoconstrictive action of pseudoephedrine may predispose susceptible patients to develop ischemic colitis in the watershed area of the splenic flexure. Perimenopausal women may be especially susceptible because of irregular ovulation. This may result in relative vasoconstriction when estrogen levels are low or a hypercoagulable state when estrogen levels are excessive.
Elektrolysen von Perchloraten. I. Elektrolysen an Ag-, Cu- und Pt-Anoden in Acetonitril†

Die Elektrolyse von AgClO4 · 2 Pyridin in CH3CN an einer Ag-Anode und von CuClO4 an einer Cu-Anode ergab 100proz. anodische und kathodische Stromausbeute fur den Vorgang Me+ + e− ⇌ Me. Die Elektrolyse von AgClO4 in CH3CN an einer Pt-Anode fuhrt zur quantitativen Bildung von HClO4. An der Kathode tritt als einzige Nebenreaktion die Abscheidung von Wasserstoff neben Silber auf. Der Gehalt an HClO4 ist aus dem Coulometerwert und der kathodischen Ag-Abscheidung zu berechnen. Fur die Bildung der HClO4 wird ein Radikalmechanismus bewiesen. On electrolyzing AgClO4 · 2 C5H5N and CuClO4 in CH3CN with an Ag- and a Cuanode, respectively, 100% anodic and cathodic current yields have been ascertained for the process Me+ + e− ⇌ Me. The electrolysis of AgClO4 in CH3CN with a Pt-anode yields quantitative amounts of HClO4. At the cathode, evolution of hydrogen occurs as the only side reaction in addition to deposition of silver. For the formation of HClO4 a radical-mechanism is demonstrated.
Nuclear spin--lattice relaxation in pure and impure indium. II. Superconducting state

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation times ${T}_{1}(T)$ have been measured in superconducting indium and the $In\mathrm{Ga}$, $In\mathrm{Cd}$, $In\mathrm{Tl}$, $In\mathrm{Hg}$, and $In\mathrm{Pb}$ dilute-alloy systems, using a transient nuclear-quadrupole-resonance spectrometer. Local sample heating was identified and its effects minimized. No effects attributable to trapped flux were observed. For fixed $\frac{{T}_{c}}{T}$, ${T}_{1}$ decreases with increasing impurity concentration, which indicates that the anisotropy of the energy gap decreases with decreasing mean free path $l$. Although the effects of a mean-square anisotropy $〈{a}^{2}〉=0.005\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ are essentially averaged out for $l\ensuremath{\lesssim}{\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}$ (the pair dimension), the data indicate additional gap broadening in the more concentrated alloys. Lifetime effects associated with thermal-phonon scattering of the quasiparticles are insufficient to explain the data, and we tentatively attribute the additional temperature- and solute-independent broadening to a 2% rms energy-gap inhomogeneity. Similar behavior is noted in previous measurements to ${T}_{1}$ in aluminum alloys. We find $〈{a}^{2}〉=0.003\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001$ for pure aluminum and suggest that an energy-gap inhomogeneity of about 1% rms determines the density of excited states in concentrated aluminum alloys.
Mediastinal Emphysema and Left Pneumothorax

SUMMARY 1.The results of examining 98 reported cases of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema are presented. In many of them the diagnosis was based largely or entirely on the presence of Hamman's sign. In these 98 cases a small left pneumothorax was found in 48, but a right pneumothorax in only four. 2.Some personally observed cases are described in which Hamman's sign was elicited. Mediastinal emphysema was shown to be present in some of them, while others had only a small left pneumothorax. 3.It is suggested that many of the reported cases of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema may have had only uncomplicated small left pneumothorax, the auscultatory sounds produced by the two conditions being sometimes closely similar. In confirming the diagnosis of mediastinal emphysema, the importance is stressed of the presence of subcutaneous emphysema or definite radiological changes.
Variable-length limited feedback beamforming in multiple-antenna fading channels

Author(s): Koyuncu, E; Jafarkhani, H | Abstract: We study a multiple-input single-output fading channel, where we would like to minimize the channel outage probability or symbol error rate (SER) by employing beamforming via quantized channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT). We consider a variable-length limited feedback scheme where the quantized CSIT is acquired through feedback binary codewords of possibly different lengths. We design and analyze the performance of the associated variable-length quantizers (VLQs) and compare their performance with the previously studied fixed-length quantizers (FLQs). For the outage probability performance measure, we construct VLQs that can achieve the full-CSIT performance with finite rate. Moreover, as the signal-to-noise ratio P tends to infinity, we show that VLQs can achieve the full-CSIT outage probability performance with asymptotically zero feedback rate. For the SER performance measure, we show that while the SER with full-CSIT is not achievable at any finite feedback rate, the diversity and array gains with full-CSIT can be achieved using VLQs with asymptotically zero feedback rate as P → ∞ . Our results show that VLQs can significantly improve upon the traditional FLQs that require infinite feedback rate to achieve the outage probability or the diversity and array gains with full-CSIT.
Discrete wave mechanics: The hydrogen atom with angular momentum

Abstract A discrete wave mechanical treatment of the hydrogen atom is extended to deal with states involving nonzero angular momentum. Only the radial portions of the wave vectors are covered. It is predicted that there is a nonzero minimum distance between the electron and the nucleus; this threshold distance increases with increasing angular momentum. Appropriate finite difference equations are formulated. The states with angular momentum exhibit the same degeneracy as do corresponding energy levels obtained from solutions of Schrodinger's equation.
Bottom processes, morphology, and geotechnical properties of the continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon

Abstract The continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon seaward of the coasts of Delaware and Maryland has a different morphology and sedimentary structure than adjacent portions of the continental margin. Ridges of sediment 600 m thick and transverse to the slope contain many unconformities that can be traced from ridge to ridge. The age of the sediment is inferred to be late tertiary to recent with the morphology related to a major drainage system. Physical properties of a suite of sediment cores display a pattern that varies in relationship to the morphology and depositional environment. Sedimentary structures and low shear strengths indicate instability of surficial sediments present on the upper slope and can be correlated with regions where the seismic reflection profiles show slumping has occurred. A veneer of sand overlying the general silty clay of the area is present on the upper slope and on the ridges indicating sand spillover from the shelf with a recent change in deposition pattern.