cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revisiting the Correct Information Unit: Measuring Informativeness in Unstructured Conversations in People With Aphasia.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether the correct information unit (CIU) can be reliably applied to unstructured conversational discourse in people with aphasia (PWA). The CIU ...
Visual Servoing for Multirotor Precision Landing in Daylight and After-Dark Conditions

The problem of precision landing for autonomous multirotor UAVs operating during the day and at night is studied. A vision-based approach is proposed and consists of varying-degree-of-freedom image-based visual servoing (VDOF IBVS), and a specialized landing marker. The proposed approach is validated through extensive flight testing outdoors in both daylight and after-dark conditions, and is done using a standard off-the-shelf autopilot system.
A coupled pelagic-benthic-sympagic biogeochemical model for the Bering Sea: documentation and validation of the BESTNPZ model (v2019.08.23) within a high-resolution regional ocean model

Abstract. The Bering Sea is a highly productive ecosystem, supporting a variety of fish, seabird, and marine mammal populations, as well as large commercial fisheries. Due to its unique shelf geometry and the presence of seasonal sea ice, the processes controlling productivity in the Bering Sea ecosystem span the pelagic water column, the benthic sea floor, and the sympagic sea ice environments. The Bering Ecosystem Study Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton (BESTNPZ) model has been developed to simulate the lower-trophic-level processes throughout this region. Here, we present a version of this lower-trophic-level model coupled to a three-dimensional regional ocean model for the Bering Sea. We quantify the model's ability to reproduce key physical features of biological importance as well as its skill in capturing the seasonal and interannual variations in primary and secondary productivity over the past several decades. We find that the ocean model demonstrates considerable skill in replicating observed horizontal and vertical patterns of water movement, mixing, and stratification, as well as the temperature and salinity signatures of various water masses throughout the Bering Sea. Along the data-rich central portions of the southeastern Bering Sea shelf, it is also able to capture the mean seasonal cycle of primary production. However, its ability to replicate domain-wide patterns in nutrient cycling, primary production, and zooplankton community composition, particularly with respect to the interannual variations that are important when linking variation in productivity to changes in longer-lived upper-trophic-level species, remains limited. We therefore suggest that near-term application of this model should focus on the physical model outputs, while model development continues to elucidate potential mechanisms controlling nutrient cycling, bloom processes, and trophic dynamics.
Shared Storybook Reading in Head Start: Impact of Questioning Styles on the Vocabulary of Hispanic Dual Language Learners.

This study examined various ways of asking questions about target vocabulary words during shared storybook reading with young Hispanic dual language learners enrolled in Head Start. The study examined the demand level and placement of adults’ questions during shared storybook reading. The research design incorporated five conditions; namely, adults’ (a) low demand and interrupting questions, (b) high demand and interrupting questions, (c) low demand and non-interrupting questions, (d) high demand and non-interrupting questions, and (e) a control. Participants were 57 children with Spanish as the primary language spoken to children in the home with most of their parents identifying as having been born in a Latin American country. The present study suggests that demand level rather than interrupting status accounts for more differences in children’s novel vocabulary expressive scores, with children in the high demand group scoring higher than those in the low demand group.
Antenatal Magnesium Sulfate Exposure and Hemodynamically Significant Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants.

Objective The use of antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has been associated with neuroprotective effects. One of its' proposed mechanisms of action includes antagonism of calcium channels. Calcium influx is important for closure of ductus arteriosus. We hypothesized that antenatal MgSO4 exposure may be associated with an increased risk of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (HsPDA) in premature infants (PI). Study Design A prospective cohort study conducted in two parts. PI ( 1.5 mm and BNP levels > 40 pg/mL or NTproBNP > 10,200 pg/mL. Infants were divided into two groups based on antenatal MgSO4 exposure. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23. Difference in baseline characteristics and antenatal steroid use in the two groups was analyzed. A matched group analysis was performed to adjust for the difference in the numbers between the two groups. A p-value Results There was no significant difference seen in baseline characteristics or use of antenatal steroids in exposed versus unexposed (n = 95 vs. n = 10). There was a significant negative correlation between antenatal MgSO4 exposure and HsPDA in PI (p ≤ 0.05). However, this association was not significant after matched group analysis. Conclusion Antenatal MgSO4 exposure is not associated with an increased risk of HsPDA. It may be associated with a decreased likelihood of HsPDA.
Listening to Fragments, Ongoing Conversation: Reply to Aronson

In this reply, I continue a conversation with Aronson (this issue) around the rupturing effect of trauma on attachment across multiple generations of mothers and daughters. Aborted mourning as well...
Non-invasive estimation of cerebral perfusion pressure using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in children with severe traumatic brain injury

To identify if cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) can be non-invasively estimated by either of two methods calculated using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) parameters. Retrospective review of previously prospectively gathered data. Pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care referral hospital. Twenty-three children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in place. TCD evaluation of the middle cerebral arteries was performed daily. CPP at the time of the TCD examination was recorded. For method 1, estimated cerebral perfusion pressure (CPPe) was calculated as: CPPe = MAP × (diastolic flow (Vd)/mean flow (Vm)) + 14. For method 2, critical closing pressure (CrCP) was identified as the intercept point on the x-axis of the linear regression line of blood pressure and flow velocity parameters. CrCP/CPPe was then calculated as MAP-CrCP. One hundred eight paired measurements were available. Using patient averaged data, correlation between CPP and CPPe was significant (r = 0.78, p = < 0.001). However, on Bland-Altman plots, bias was 3.7 mmHg with 95% limits of agreement of − 17 to + 25 for CPPe. Using patient averaged data, correlation between CPP and CrCP/CPPe was significant (r = 0.59, p = < 0.001), but again bias was high at 11 mmHg with wide 95% limits of agreement of − 15 to + 38 mmHg. CPPe and CrCP/CPPe do not have clinical value to estimate the absolute CPP in pediatric patients with TBI.
Are Fund Alphas Robust Proxies for Funds Managers' Managerial Skill?

This study provides formal theoretical evidence that constructions of fund alpha that are implemented using robust specifications of asset pricing models generate alpha estimates that are well defined. Regardless, the formal theoretical model shows fund alphas that are constructed with the market portfolio as benchmark (`global alphas') cannot be construed to be robust metrics for either of stability of fund performance, or expected aggregate future fund performance. Suppose benchmarks for distinct realizations (echelons) of risk tolerance are substituted for the market portfolio. Formal predictions show alphas constructed in relation to such benchmarks (`echelon-specific alphas') have exactly the same functional form as global alphas, as such while they are well defined, they are not robust metrics for global forecasts of funds' expected future performance. This is evident in the formally derived theoretical prediction that long positions in all zero alpha funds have feasibility of superior performance in relation to long positions in all positive alpha funds. Suppose, however, that investors restrict their sample of funds to a specific echelon of risk tolerance. In presence of managerial capacity for taking advantage of stock market imperfections, echelon-specific fund alphas either vary stochastically and asymptotically around zero, or are positive. In presence stated restriction and caveat, echelon-specific alphas are robust metrics for expected future performance of managed funds.
Photo Quiz: Sudden Death

The patient was a 70-year-old African-American man from Boston, MA, who presented in April 2020 with a 10-day history of cough and progressive shortness of breath, with fevers over the last 3 days. He had had no recent travel but resided with two family members who had exhibited similar symptoms.
Probing the large and massive circumgalactic medium of a galaxy at z ∼ 0.2 using a pair of quasars

We present an analysis of two O VI absorbers at redshift z {sub abs} = 0.227, which were detected in the spectra of two closely spaced QSO sightlines (Q 0107–025A and B) and observed with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. At the same redshift, the presence of a single bright (∼1.2L {sub *}) galaxy at an impact parameter of ∼200 kpc (proper) from both the sightlines was reported by Crighton et al. Using detailed photoionization models, we show that the high ionization phases of both the O VI absorbers have similar ionization conditions (e.g., log U ∼ –1.1 to –0.9), chemical enrichment (e.g., log Z ∼ –1.4 to –1.0), total hydrogen column density (e.g., log N {sub H}(cm{sup –2}) ∼ 19.6 – 19.7), and line of sight thickness (e.g., l {sub los} ∼ 600-800 kpc). Therefore we speculate that the O VI absorbers are tracing different parts of same large-scale structure, presumably the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of the identified galaxy. Using sizes along and transverse to the line of sight, we estimate the size of the CGM to be R ∼ 330 kpc. The baryonic mass associated with this large CGM as traced by O VImore » absorption is ∼1.2 × 10{sup 11} M {sub ☉}. A low ionization phase is detected in one of the O VI systems with near-solar metallicity (log Z = 0.20 ± 0.20) and parsec scale size (l {sub los} ∼ 6 pc), possibly tracing the neutral phase of a high-velocity cloud embedded within the CGM.« less
2.3-kV, 5-A 4H-SiC Ti and Ni JBS Rectifiers manufactured in Commercial Foundry: Impact of Implant Lateral Straggle

This paper reports characteristics of 2.3-kV 5-A 4H-SiC Junction Barrier controlled Schottky (JBS) rectifiers manufactured in a 6-inch commercial foundry. Two types (Ni and Ti Schottky contact metal) of JBS rectifiers were successfully fabricated. The electrical performance of the Ni and Ti JBS rectifiers is compared at temperatures up to 1500 C. The on-state voltage drop (@ 5 A) of the Ti devices increased from 1.4 to 1.8 V with increasing temperature while that for Ni devices increased from 2.0 to 2.3 V, maintaining values well below that of the SiC P-N junction as required for a JBS diode. The leakage current for the Ni JBS diodes remained below 2 nA @ 500V even up to 1500 C. In contrast, an increase in leakage current to an acceptable level of 100 nA @ 500V was observed for the Ti JBS diodes at 150°C due to its lower barrier height.Analytical modelling indicated that lateral straggle of the $P^{+}$ ion-implant plays an important role in determining the measured on-state voltage drop and reverse leakage characteristics. Simulations were performed to confirm the effect of lateral implant straggle. The simulations demonstrated that lateral implant straggle increases the on-resistance and reduces the leakage current of the JBS rectifier but has no effect on the knee voltage. The experimental results in this paper demonstrate that 4H-SiC JBS rectifiers with 2.3 kV blocking voltage can be manufactured using either Ni or Ti Schottky contacts with excellent on-state voltage drop and leakage current up to 150$^{0}C$.
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Publisher Summary The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was so named because of its isolation from the intestinal extracts and the potent vasodilator activity that guided its purification. The highest concentrations of VIP in the central nervous system are found in the cerebral cortex, suprachiasmatic nucleus, anterior olfactory nuclei, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, medial preoptic nucleus, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, striatum, hippocampus, central gray of the midbrain, and sacral spinal cord. VIP is a 28-amino-acid residue peptide that is structurally related to at least nine other peptides; together, they may be considered to belong to one of the several identifiable families of peptides. VIP-related peptides include peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), peptide histidine methionine (PHM), secretin, glucagon, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), sauvagine, urotensin I, helodermin, and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP). The structural features in common among these peptides account for some similarities that they exhibit in certain biological actions and some overlap in the binding to certain receptor sites. The structure of VIP is relatively well conserved through the animal kingdom. VIP has biological activity on a wide variety of organ systems and body functions, including central and peripheral neurons, and digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, exocrine, endocrine, neuroendocrine, immunologie, and renal functions. VIP is an important mediator or modulator of several basic physiological events, including the relaxation of vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle and the stimulation of water, electrolyte, macromolecular, and certain endocrine and neuroendocrine secretions.
Feeding Heat-Treated Colostrum to Dairy Calves

Results from this study show that heattreated colostrum can be successfully fed on commercial dairy farms to reduce pathogen exposure without harming passive transfer in newborn calves.
Disparities in First Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Difficulty between Black and White Older Adults: Findings from the Advanced Cognitive Training in Independent and Vital Elderly Study:

Objectives: Few studies have examined differences in age of onset of first self-reported instrumental activities of daily living difficulty, much less differences by race. Our objective was to dete...
The Computational Complexity of the Algorithm for Identifying the Source of Data Transmitted by Limited Length Blocks

In a number of modern automated systems, the interaction between their individual components occurs in data blocks of several tens of bytes and even of several bytes long. This happens due to the requirements for the duration of the frame transmission in time sharing systems for the duration of the frame processing, the requirements for the power consumption of transmitters, etc. In such systems, it is not possible to provide reliable identification and authentication of the stoker using traditional block cipher algorithms. Cipher Block Chaining provides higher confidence in authentication procedures. At the same time, the practical implementation generally requires performing a large number of typical operations on the received data blocks. The article describes the possible way of using Cipher Block Chaining. It also considers a mathematical model for assessing its computational complexity of the data processing algorithm and provides the recommended ranges of operating parameters of automated systems for using the algorithm.
The Alternative “Earthworm” in the Organic Wastes Recycle

The use of earthworm in organic residue management has been proposed as a practical process which could be applied on a limitate scale and under favorable conditions.
Cell Biology of Human Host Cell Entry by Campylobacter jejuni

This chapter presents an overview of the interaction of Campylobacter jejuni with intestinal host cells and focuses on bacterial adherence and invasion into the intestinal epithelium, transcytosis across the epithelial mucosa, and ensuing damage to host cells. Campylobacter invasion into the epithelial mucosa appears to be an essential process leading to colitis. Although many researchers would agree with this general summary of Campylobacter invasion events, there still remains considerable confusion regarding how Campylobacter enter and cross the intestinal mucosa. In fact, researchers concluded, after treating T-84 cells with EGTA, that CadF-dependent invasion of epithelial cells occurs preferentially at the basolateral surface, which normally interacts with fibronectin. In the above study, the number of internalized C. jejuni F38011 increased approximately threefold after EGTA treatment and was then reduced ~80% by treating with anti-fibronectin antibody. A common theme among pathogenic invasive microorganisms is their ability to usurp the eukaryotic cell signaling systems both to allow for invasion and to trigger disease pathogenesis. The current data on signal transduction events involved in C. jejuni invasion suggest that host cell ‘’invasion receptors’’ reside in filipin III-sensitive membrane microdomains (i.e., lipid rafts). Clinical infections, experimental infections in humans and animals, and in vitro analyses in cultured human cells have now clearly demonstrated that cell adherence and invasiveness are necessary steps in Campylobacter-induced inflammatory diarrhea. Much progress has been made in the past 10 years in the understanding of the cell biology of these events.
An HphI polymorphism in the E‐selectin gene is associated with premature coronary artery disease

An increased expression of E-selectin has been observed in the arterial endothelium interacting with lymphocytes and macrophages in human atherosclerotic lesions. We examined whether a polymorphism in the E-selectin gene, due to a G to T mutation (G98T) in the untranslated region of exon 2, was associated with premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Other lipid and nonlipid risk factors including a Ser to Arg (S128R) substitution in the E-selectin gene were also assessed. In patients with premature CAD (men < or = 45 years old and women < or =55 years old, N = 51) who underwent an elective diagnostic coronary arteriography, the frequency of the mutation was significantly higher than in controls (N = 50, 0.22 vs. 0.10, p = 0.024). After controlling for other CAD risk factors (plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-apolipoprotein B. cigarette smoking and the S128R mutation) by multiple logistic analysis, the G98T mutation in the E-selectin gene was still a significant predictor of premature CAD [p = 0.022, odds ratio (95%, CI)= 3.58 (1.20-10.67)].
The Z-Transform

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Z-Transform Primitive Signals Z-Transform: Linear Systems Z-Transforms Properties MATLAB Z-Transform Support System Stability Inverse Z-Transform Heaviside Expansion Method Matlab Inverse Z-Tranform Support
Comparing Disproportionate Exposure to Acute and Chronic Pollution Risks: A Case Study in Houston, Texas

While environmental justice (EJ) research in the United States has focused primarily on the social distribution of chronic pollution risks, previous empirical studies have not analyzed disparities in exposure to both chronic (long-term) and acute (short-term) pollution in the same study area. Our article addresses this limitation though a case study that compares social inequities in exposure to chronic and acute pollution risks in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area, Texas. The study integrates estimates of chronic cancer risk associated with ambient exposure to hazardous air pollutants from the Environmental Protection Agency's National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (2005), hazardous chemical accidents from the National Response Center's Emergency Response Notification System (2007-2011), and sociodemographic characteristics from the American Community Survey (2007-2011). Statistical analyses are based on descriptive comparisons, bivariate correlations, and locally derived spatial regression models that account for spatial dependence in the data. Results indicate that neighborhoods with a higher percentage of Hispanic residents, lower percentage of homeowners, and higher income inequality are facing significantly greater exposure to both chronic and acute pollution risks. The non-Hispanic black percentage is significantly higher in neighborhoods with greater chronic cancer risk, but lower in areas exposed to acute pollution events. Households isolated by language--those highly likely to face evacuation problems during an actual chemical disaster--tend to reside in areas facing significantly greater exposure to high-impact acute events. Our findings emphasize the growing need to examine social inequities in exposure to both chronic and acute pollution risks in future EJ research and policy.
Time Series: ARIMA Methods

Time series data in business, economics, environment, medicine, and other scientific fields tend to exhibit patterns such as trends, seasonal fluctuations, irregular cycles, and occasional shifts in level or variability. The objectives of analyzing such series are often to extrapolate the dynamic pattern in the data for forecasting future observations, to estimate the effect of known exogenous interventions, and to detect unsuspected interventions. This article sketches some useful methods for achieving these objectives. Serial dependence in time series data can often be adequately approximated by a linear dynamic model. We focus on the development of a class of parsimonious linear models, the mixed autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models, which are widely used to represent stationary and nonstationary series. For unit root nonstationarity, this leads to the class of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. An iterative model building approach proposed by Box and Jenkins, consisting of tentative model specification, efficient estimation, and diagnostic checking, is discussed and illustrated by an actual example. The ARIMA models are extended to represent seasonal patterns in the data, and to include an additive component for the dynamic effect of interventions. The correspondence between the ARMA models and the GARCH models commonly used in analyzing financial time series data with heterogeneous variances is illustrated. Finally, some extensions to nonlinear time series models, in particular the threshold autoregressive models, are presented.
Electron spin resonance of the solvation of radiation-produced silver atoms in alcohol-water mixtures: Comparative studies of preferential solvation in methanol, ethanol and n-propanol aqueous mixtures

Abstract Frozen solutions of silver salts exposed to 60 Co γ-irradiation form silver atoms by reaction of radiation-produced electrons with the silver ion. At 4K the silver atoms are initially produced in a nonequilibrium or presolvated state and upon brief thermal excitation to 77K the first solvation shell geometry changes towards an equilibrium or solvated silver atom. This is most pronounced in water but also occurs in methanol, ethanol and n -propanol matrices. The changes in the electron spin resonance magnetic parameters upon silver atom solvation have been determined. In alcohol-water mixtures Ag 0 is preferentially solvated by polycrystalline water at low alcohol concentration. Above a particular alcohol mole percent Ag 0 suddenly changes its environment to a glassy alcohol one. This sudden change occurs at 17, 13 and 6 mol % methanol, ethanol and n -propanol, respectively. These mole percents correlate with the minimum of the excess enthalpy of mixing and with the hydrogen atom trapping ability of these alcohol-water mixtures. The results also suggest that the local environmental disorder around Ag 0 increases with alcohol chain length in alcohol-water frozen solutions.
Limbless locomotion: learning to crawl

This research develops a general framework for teaching a complex electromechanical robot to become mobile where sequences of body motions alone provide progression. The framework incorporates a learning technique, physical modeling, metrics for evaluation, and the transfer of results to a snake-like mobile robot. The mechanism and control of a 20 degree of freedom snake robot is described and multiple gaits are demonstrated including novel non-snake-like gaits. This research furthers the design and control of limbless robots.
Approximations for proton excitation of coronal ion fine structure

Explicit approximations that yield proton excitation cross sections and rate coefficients for fine-structure transitions in a wide variety of ions over the low and intermediate energy ranges are obtained in terms of the electric quadrupole transition probability and quadrupole radial integral of a given ion. The range of applicability of these approximations is discussed, and comparisons are made with available cross sections and rate coefficients. Values of quadrupole radial integrals are given for ground configurations of even-Z elements in higher stages of ionization. Proton excitation rate coefficients are computed for coronal transitions involving fine-structure levels in the ions Fe XIII, Fe XV, Fe XVIII, Fe XXI, and Ca XIII.
On the Feedback Transfer Effort for Rate-Adaptive Multiuser Systems

The benefits of multiuser diversity for fading chanels are well established in the literature. What is not well documented is the effort required to obtain this CSI information at the scheduler for a frequency division duplex (FDD) system. This paper investigates the practical aspects of the feedback transfer process for a discrete rate-adaptive multiuser system including multi-access, feedback delay and feedback channel imperfections due to fading and additive noise. We compute the optimal power and bandwidth allocated for channel estimation and show that tradeoffs exist between these resources and the number of users depending on the feedback delay. It is also shown that quantization and feedback errors may increase the outage region as the number of users increases. This in effect reduces the multiuser diversity gain expected in ideal feedback channels.
Genome-wide scans of genetic variants for psychophysiological endophenotypes: Introduction to this special issue of Psychophysiology

This special issue addresses the heritability and molecular genetic basis of 17 putative endophenotypes involving resting EEG power, P300 event-related potential amplitude, electrodermal orienting and habituation, antisaccade eye tracking, and affective modulation of the startle eye blink. These measures were collected from approximately 4,900 twins and parents who provided DNA samples through their participation in the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Included are papers that detail the methodology followed, genome-wide association analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms and genes, analysis of rare variants in the human exome, and a whole genome sequencing study. Also included are 11 articles by leading experts in psychophysiology and genetics that provide perspective and commentary. A final integrative report summarizes findings and addresses issues raised. This introduction provides an overview of the aims and rationale behind these studies.
Affective and Behavioral Features of Jealousy Protest: Associations with Child Temperament, Maternal Interaction Style, and Attachment

This study explored variation in affective and behavioral components of infants’ jealousy protests during an eliciting condition in which mother and an experimenter directed differential attention exclusively toward a rival. Variation was examined in relation to child temperamental emotionality, maternal interaction style, and attachment security. At 45 weeks, intensity of infants’distress and durations of mother- and stranger-directed behavioral responses, including gaze, touch, and proximity-seeking, were observed in the eliciting condition. We also assessed infants’positive emotionality (PE) and negative emotionality (NE) and maternal interaction styles of sensitivity and engagement. At 54 weeks, attachment security was measured in the Strange Situation Procedure. Findings revealed that distress differed with temperamental emotionality and maternal interaction style. Specifically, distress was greater in infants with lower PE and having mothers who displayed less sensitivity and engagement. Analyses on behavioral responses toward the experimenter revealed linkages with maternal interaction style. Specifically, experimenter-directed gaze and touch were greater among infants of mothers who demonstrated less sensitivity and engagement. Behavioral responses toward mother were found associated with quality of attachment. Specifically, mother-directed proximity and touch were highest among infants later judged insecure resistant and lowest among those later judged insecure/avoidant; with infants later judged secure displaying moderate durations of mother-directed proximal contact.
Broadband detection of signals with unknown spectra

The problem of detection of a broadband wide sense stationary Gaussian signal of unknown power spectral density in white Gaussian noise is addressed. By modeling the signal in noise as an autoregressive process a generalized likelihood ratio test is formulated for the parameters of the autoregressive process. It is shown that the proposed detector outperforms the conventional energy detector. The gain in performance is greatest when the autoregressive model order is small.
Target-specific delivery of peptide-based probes for PET imaging ☆

Positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the most rapidly growing areas of medical imaging, with many applications in the clinical management of patients with various diseases. The principal goal of PET imaging is to visualize, characterize, and measure biological processes at the cellular, subcellular, and molecular level in living subjects with non-invasive procedures. PET imaging takes advantage of the traditional diagnostic imaging techniques and introduces positron-emitting probes to determine the expression of indicative molecular targets at different stages of disease. During the last decade, advances in molecular biology have revealed an increasing number of potential molecular targets, including peptide receptors and peptide-related biomolecules. With the help of sophisticated bioconjugation and radiolabeling techniques, numerous peptide-based agents have been developed and evaluated for delivery of PET radionuclides to the specific molecular targets in preclinical and clinical studies. As compared to macromolecules, such as proteins or antibodies, low-molecular-weight peptides have their distinctive advantages and predominantly demonstrate their favorable pharmacokinetics for in vivo PET applications. This review summarizes the criteria of peptide-based PET probes design, the selection of radioisotopes, labeling methods, and provides an overview of the current status and trends in the development of target-specific peptide-based probes with respect to their unique PET imaging applications.
Properties of semiconductive glasses in the V2O5−CuO system

Etude du systeme (1-x)V 2 O 5 -xCuO ayant subi une trempe rapide. On s'interesse a la cristallisation, a l'absorption IR et a la conductivite electrique en fonction de la temperature et de la composition
The role of CD95 and CD95 ligand in cancer

CD95 (Fas/APO-1) and its ligand, CD95L, have long been viewed as a death receptor/death ligand system that mediates apoptosis induction to maintain immune homeostasis. In addition, these molecules are important in the immune elimination of virus-infected cells and cancer cells. CD95L was, therefore, considered to be useful for cancer therapy. However, major side effects have precluded its systemic use. During the last 10 years, it has been recognized that CD95 and CD95L have multiple cancer-relevant nonapoptotic and tumor-promoting activities. CD95 and CD95L were discovered to be critical survival factors for cancer cells, and were found to protect and promote cancer stem cells. We now discuss five different ways in which inhibiting or eliminating CD95L, rather than augmenting, may be beneficial for cancer therapy alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy or immune therapy.
Calix[4]arene-dithiacrown ethers: synthesis and potentiometric membrane sensing of Hg2+

Abstract A series of calix[4]arene-dithiacrown-5 and -dithiacrown-6 compounds in cone and 1,3-alternate conformations has been synthesized. Responses of these ionophores to Hg2+ and competing metal ions were determined in solvent polymeric membrane electrodes. High potentiometric selectivity for Hg2+ over Na+ and a variety of transition and heavy metal ions was obtained.
On the role of heating rate in rapid coal devolatilization

We have measured time-resolved weight loss from two bituminous coals during heatup at heating rates varied from 10 2 to 10 4 K/s independently of reaction temperatures (to 1300 K). The results indicate that both ultimate yields and evolution rates increase with faster heating, particularly for condensed liquid products. Increasing the pressure from vacuum to 0.19 MPa diminished the sensitivity to heating rate and suppressed the reactive volatiles. A non-isothermal kintic analysis of a single reaction model describes yield suppression during heatup and predicts the faster generation rates with faster heating. When coupled into a competitive rate scheme, this model could account for the enhanced yield.
Myosin synthesis by fusion-arrested chick embryo myoblasts in cell culture.

Abstract The synthesis and accumulation of myosin was studied in subcultures of fusion-blocked, postmitotic embryonic chicken myogenic cells. Electron micrographs and fluorescent microscopy with antimyosin revealed that most, if not all, of these cells contain myosin. It was also found that these cells are capable of accumulating myosin at rates comparable to fused cells. Incipient T-tubule formation was also present in some of the blocked cells. It is concluded that cell fusion is not a prerequisite for myosin synthesis and accumulation or T-tubule formation during myogenesis in vitro .
On the validity of the preception hypothesis.

The preception hypothesis holds that when an aversive stimulus is made predictable in time, S may be able to inhibit his arousal response to that stimulus and thus reduce its aversiveness or impact. In response to a paper by Furedy and Klajner, which questions the validity of the preception hypothesis, it is argued that considerable behavioral and autonomic response data seem to support this hypothesis. The present authors, in particular, do not share Furedy and Klajner's view that OR theory developed to explain habituation should also be adopted to account for the findings attributed to preception. On the contrary, preception is proposed to be a distinct process playing a role complementary to that of habituation, more labile and also more effortful in the sense that it requires the involvement of the “second signal system,” while habituation can apparently proceed as a non-cognitive, automatic process. However, Furedy and Klajner's discussion suggests the fruitfulness of additional investigations to test more decisively differential predictions based on an habituation vs a preception position. Even if accepted the preception mechanism could ultimately be incorporated in an elaborated version of OR theory.
Summer and Autumn Growth of Rhizomatous Birdsfoot Trefoil

A new population of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) with rhizomes (RBFT) has been developed for greater persistence. No study has compared RBFT with a standard, non-rhizomatous cultivar of birdsfoot trefoil (BFT). Objectives were to: (i) compare RBFT with BFT for differences in shoot and root mass and total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration of taproots in both clipped and non-clipped situations and (ii) describe rhizome production of clipped and non-clipped RBFT. Norcen' BFT and RBFT were grown in field plots near Columbia, MO, in 1994 and 1995. The study had four treatments: non-clipped RBFT, clipped RBFT, non-clipped BFT, and clipped BFT. Each treatment was replicated four times in a randomized complete block. Plots were sampled biweekly for shoot and root mass and taproot TNC from early-July until the first killing frost in October. In addition, length, mass, TNC, and number of rhizomes per plant were recorded for RBFT. From mid-September until the final sampling, the shoot mass for RBFT was about half that of BFT; however, RBFT's shoot mass was less affected by clipping than was BFT's. Taproot TNC was 20 to 40 g kg -1 greater for RBFT than BFT throughout both growing seasons. Nearly all RBFT plants exhibited rhizomes by mid-October both years. Clipping RBFT plants did not affect rhizome growth. Rhizome TNC concentration increased steadily during autumn, with a final concentration of approximately 220 g kg 1 . The failure of clipping to decrease rhizome production, combined with higher levels of below-ground TNC, may give RBFT the ability to withstand frequent defoliation.
Performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack

This work reports on the performance of a 3 kWe proton exchange membrane fuel cell under a range of loads as well as a thermodynamic analysis of the results. A test bench was constructed and used to evaluate the performance of fuel cells. It was found that gross first law efficiencies of over 48 percent and second law efficiencies of over 55 percent were achieved. The gross work calculated from a first law analysis using measured parameters averaged within 3 percent of the directly measured gross electrical output for the four power levels tested.
A tethering system for intravenous and intragastric drug administration in the baboon.

Abstract A system for minimally restraining adult baboons with chronic intravenous (IV) or intragastric (IG) catheters for long term pharmacological and behavioral studies is described. The system consists of an adjustable foampadded backplate and harness which is custom-fitted to each animal. A flexible stainless-steel cable connects the backplate to a liquid swivel through which the drugs are administered. Methods for the preparation and surgical implantation of IV and IG catheters are also described. Intravenous catheters were sequentially implanted in the internal jugular, femoral, axillary and external jugular veins. Catheters have remained patent for as long as 45 months, and catheter life appears to be conjointly determined by both site and number of successive implantations. The advantages of the harness/tether system over previously used chair-restraint procedures include greater freedom of movement, fewer restraint-related health problems, and longer experimental life of the animals.
Food intake inhibition and reduction in body weight gain in lean and obese rodents treated with GW438014A, a potent and selective NPY-Y5 receptor antagonist.

Abstract Numerous reports have implicated theY5 receptor as the ‘feeding’ receptor mediating the orexigenic action of neuropeptide Y (NPY). This notion is supported by the correlation between the in vitro functional and binding activities of different peptide agonists and their potent stimulation of food intake in rodents. We have discovered a series of small molecule heterocycles with high affinity, selectivity, and functional antagonism for Y5 receptors. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of GW438014A into rodents, resulted in a potent reduction of NPY-induced and normal overnight food intake. Brain levels of GW438014A were detected well in excess of its binding IC 50 for up to 3 h post-dosing. Daily (i.p., BID, 10 mg/kg) administration of this compound to Zucker Fatty rats for a period of 4 days resulted in a marked decrease in the rate of weight gain and a reduction in fat mass. No effect on food intake was observed following oral administration of GW438014A (25–100 mg/kg), consistent with the poor oral bioavailability (
MUTANT STRAINS OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDI WITH LESIONS ON THE OXIDIZING SIDE OF PHOTOSYSTEM II

Abstract 1. Two mutant strains of the unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardi , having lesions on the oxidizing side of photosystem II, have been obtained using a selection and screening technique that facilitates the isolation of photosynthetic mutant strains having lesions either on the oxidizing or reducing side of photosystem II. 2. Chloroplast fragments obtained from the two strains lack Hill activity. However, they exhibit normal rates of NADP + photoreduction with an artificial electron donor to photosystem I. Fluorescence yield changes are absent in the chloroplast fragments obtained from both strains. 3. In the presence of electron donor systems to photosystem II, the mutant strains exhibit fluorescence yield changes and a 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl-urea-sensitive photoreduction of NADP + that are characteristic of the wild-type strain. 4. Based on what is generally regarded to be the nature of photosystem II, mutant strains having lesions on the oxidizing side of photosystem II should exhibit an invariant high fluorescence yield. The abnormally low fluorescence yield exhibited by the mutant strains can be explained if it is assumed that there is a back reaction between a component on the reducing side of photosystem II and one on the oxidizing side.
Adaptive video streaming over HTTP

A new video streaming scheme is proposed and its prototype is implemented in this paper. The scheme is designed for providing an enhanced QoS for a client using a mobile device. With the scheme, the client considers various important network factors to decide its bit rate. It then sends feedback whenever its current bit rate must be changed. Based upon these requests, the server side adaptively adjusts its video bit rate in order to increase accessibility of the service. The scheme is implemented through a HTTP-based web server.
New Adventures in Screencasting

Stephen X. Flynn College of Wooster Andrews Library 1140 Beall Avenue Wooster, OH 44691 sflynn@wooster.edu Whether it’s a funny video of the Internet’s favorite cat, Maru, jumping into boxes, or the season finale of Breaking Bad, or an evening playing Wii Fit with friends, our love of video and interactive adventure is self evident. There are universal elements to great videos and games that drive large audiences: beautiful cinematography and graphics, engaging and purposeful screenplays and storylines, unforgettable soundtracks, and a brand name that makes viewers and players want to return for more. Libraries can, and should, employ these elements in their own videos to promote our services and educate our users. When Jing was first released in 2007, it catapulted screencasting onto the Library 2.0 bandwagon, adding yet another online tool to the instruction librarian toolbox. The popular free version lacked editing tools, frustrating the perfectionists who took several tries to record a two minute screencast without errors. Since the emergence of Jing screencasting has matured as a technology practice. A small industry of professionals creates beautiful promotional and training screencasts for enterprise clients. Large companies create extensive video training for customers. The Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) and its army of erudite volunteers harness the power of short video tutorials to flip the global classroom and disseminate free knowledge. For libraries, screencasts are a promising tool, and despite the apparent maturing of our practice, there is still room for innovation. Currently, library screencasts tell linear stories. A “how to submit your thesis to our institutional repository” video (Flynn, 2012) makes perfect sense when told in perfect sequence. When graduation requirements are at stake, students aren’t interested in deviating from clearly defined outcomes. At the College of Wooster, all seniors are required to complete an independent study thesis and submit a digital copy to our IR, and last year the Libraries created a screencast to visually guide them through the online submission form. Thanks to a strong policy, and perhaps to the fact that our senior class barely outnumbered the screencast YouTube view count, we had 100% compliance. While linear screencasts are best in some situations, what if screencasts gave viewers more choices? New teaching models emphasize peer-to-peer interaction and participatory technologies to accommodate multiple learning preferences. As librarians we constantly look for new ways to break out of the lecture model, and give students more control over their learning. Screencasting affords viewers autonomy over how much and how fast they want to learn, but just as new teaching models are balancing one-way lectures with peer interaction, screencasts should allow viewers to make decisions in their learning adventure.
Nutmeg as a narcotic

The seeds and arils ofM. fragmns have powerful narcotic properties. In man, they have frequently caused serious but almost never fatal intoxications. Most Westerners are ignorant of these toxic properties and know nutmeg and mace only as flavoring agents.
New oxorhenium(V) compound for catalyzed oxygen atom transfer from picoline N-oxide to triarylphosphines.

The synthesis and characterization of a new oxorhenium(V) compound is reported; it is [MeReO(edt)(bpym)], 8, where edt = 1,2-ethanedithiolate and bpym = 2,2‘-bipyrimidine. Compound 8 was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray analysis. It exists as a six-coordinate Re(V) compound comparable to the previously known [MeReO(edt)(bpy)] and [MeReO(mtp)(bpy)]. Compound 8 catalyzes the oxygen-atom-transfer reaction PicO + PZ3 → Pic + Z3PO, whereas the other two do not. The kinetics of this reaction with catalyst 8 follows the rate law −d[PicO]/dt = k[8][PicO]/(1 + c[PZ3]). With different phosphines, the rate law has the same k value, 4.17 L mol-1 s-1, but different c values. For tritolylphosphine, c = 67.5 L mol-1 in benzene at 25 °C. A mechanism has been proposed to account for these findings. The data establish that an open coordination site on rhenium is necessary for oxygen-atom-transfer reactions.
Ultraviolet absorption spectrum and cross-sections of ethynyl (C2H) radicals

Abstract This work reports the ultraviolet absorption spectrum and cross-sections of ethynyl (C 2 H) radicals in the wavelength range 235–260 nm, determined at T =298 K and at a total pressure of about 20 kPa (150 Torr). Ethynyl radicals were produced from the single photon 193 nm excimer laser photolysis of dilute mixtures of C 2 HCF 3 or C 2 H 2 in He. Gas chromatographic/mass spectroscopic analysis of the photolyzed samples showed diacetylene (C 4 H 2 ) as the major stable product. Addition of methane in the photolysis mixtures resulted in reduction of diacetylene and production of methylacetylene and ethane, products of the reaction of ethynyl radicals with methane. Survey of the ultraviolet spectral region, employing time-resolved UV-absorption spectroscopy, resulted in detection of a transient absorption centered at about 243 nm. The spectra obtained from the 193-nm photolysis of both C 2 HCF 3 /He and C 2 H 2 /He radical precursors were nearly identical, suggesting that the absorption feature can be attributed to the ethynyl radicals. The observed ultraviolet spectrum exhibits a relatively broad absorption feature with some structures and an absorption peak at about 243.5 nm. The absorption cross-sections for ethynyl radicals have been determined in this work for the first time. The C 2 H cross-section, at the maximum absorption, at 243.5 nm is (7.5±0.9)×10 −19 cm 2 molecule −1 . The stated uncertainty includes the random and systematic measurement errors. The UV absorption feature, detected in this work, can be assigned to the transitions from the ground electronic state (X 2 Σ + ) and also possibly from coupled ground X 2 Σ + and lowest electronic (A 2 Π ) states to the electronic state B (or 3 2 A ′ ) of C 2 H. This assignment is based on previously reported high level ab initio molecular orbital calculations and results of recent laser-induced fluorescence studies of the ethynyl radical.