cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model Studies of the Interface Between Metals and Polyimides

This paper reviews recent studies of polyimide interfaces made by our group at the University of Maine. We have used three types of model studies for this work: (1) Adsorption onto single crystal substrates of model compounds that are representative of terminal groups or functional moieties of polyimides. (2) In-situ characterization of sub-monolayer and ultra-thin metal films that have been vacuum deposited onto surfaces of various polyimides including a fluorinated species. (3) Direct nanometer scale measurement of the morphology of clean and metal covered polyimide films. The major experimental tools employed are atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy.
Expression of Signaling Molecules Involved in Embryonic Development of the Insertion Site Is Inadequate for Reformation of the Native Enthesis: Evaluation in a Novel Murine ACL Reconstruction Model.

Background Since healing of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts occurs by formation of a fibrovascular scar-tissue interface rather than by reformation of the native fibrocartilage transition zone, the purpose of our study was to examine expression of various signaling molecules and transcription factors that are known to be involved in embryologic insertion-site development following ACL reconstruction. We also aimed to characterize a murine model of ACL reconstruction to allow future study of the molecular mechanisms of healing. Methods Seventy-nine mice underwent reconstruction of the ACL with autograft. Healing was assessed using histology in 12 mice and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) gene-expression analysis in 3 mice at 1 week postoperatively (Group-1 mice) and by biomechanical analysis in 7, histological analysis in 7, immunohistochemical analysis in 5, microcomputed tomography analysis in 5, and qRT-PCR analyses in 8 at 2 weeks (Group-2 mice) and 4 weeks (Group-3 mice) postoperatively. Fifteen additional mice did not undergo surgery and were used for biomechanical (7 mice), qRT-PCR (3 mice), and immunohistochemical (5 mice) analyses to obtain baseline data for the native ACL. Results Histological analysis demonstrated healing by formation of fibrovascular tissue at the tendon-bone interface. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a positive expression of proteins in the Indian hedgehog, Wnt, and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) pathways. There was minimal Sox-9 expression. Gene-expression analysis showed an initial increase in markers of tissue repair and turnover, followed by a subsequent decline. Mean failure force and stiffness of the native ACL were 5.60 N and 3.44 N/mm, respectively. Mean failure force and stiffness were 1.29 N and 2.28 N/mm, respectively, in Group 2 and were 1.79 N and 2.59 N/mm, respectively, in Group 3, with 12 of 14 failures in these study groups occurring by tunnel pull-out. Conclusions The spatial and temporal pattern of expression of signaling molecules that direct embryologic insertion-site formation was not adequate to restore the structure and composition of the native insertion site. Clinical relevance Development of a murine model to study ACL reconstruction will allow the use of transgenic animals to investigate the cellular, molecular, and biomechanical aspects of tendon-to-bone healing following ACL reconstruction, ultimately suggesting methods to improve healing in patients.
Communication Model and Capacity Limits of Covert Channels Created by Software Activities

It has been shown that digital and/or analog characteristics of electronic devices during executing programs can create a side-channel which an attacker can exploit to extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys. When the attacker modifies the software application to exfiltrate sensitive information through a channel, this channel is called a covert channel . In this paper, we model this covert channel as a communication channel and derive upper and lower capacity bounds. Because the covert channels are not designed to transmit information, they are exposed not only to the errors created by the transmission, but also by varying the execution time of computer activities, and/or by insertions from other activities such as interrupts, stalls, etc. Combining all of these effects, we propose to model the covert channel as an insertion channel where the transmitted sequence is a pulse amplitude modulated signal with random pulse positions. Utilizing this model, we derive capacity bounds of the covert channel with random insertion and substitution due to the noise and jitter errors, and propose a receiver design that can correctly detect the computer-activity-created signals. To illustrate the severity of leakages, we perform experiments with high clock speed devices at some distance. Further, the theoretical derivations are compared to empirical results, and show good agreement.
Effects of brodifacoum and diphacinone exposure on four species of reptiles: tissue residue levels and survivorship.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulant rodenticides are used worldwide to control pest rodent species. However, the risks posed to non‐target reptiles have not been well characterized. In this study, 46 giant ameivas (Ameiva ameiva), 39 boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), 33 wood turtles (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima), and 47 green iguanas (Iguana iguana) were orally dosed with one of two levels of either diphacinone or brodifacoum anticoagulant in propylene glycol solutions. Dosages were derived using daily food intake (DFI) equations, converting DFI to an equivalent anticoagulant bait amount and gavaging the solution volume needed to deliver the quantity of anticoagulant in that amount of bait. Animals were dosed on days 0 and 7 and monitored for a further 7 days for signs of anticoagulant intoxication and differences in behaviors and postures. At necropsy on day 14, animals were examined for thoracic and abdominal bleeding, and both tissue and organ samples were taken for histology. Liver and whole‐body anticoagulant residues were assessed. RESULTS: No turtles or boas died due to anticoagulant exposure. However, anticoagulant intoxication was suspected in one iguana dosed with brodifacoum. A few treated ameivas died but exhibited no hemorrhaging. Liver residue levels were higher than whole‐body remainder residue levels for all species. Unlike the other species, turtles had higher diphacinone residue levels than brodifacoum. CONCLUSION: Turtles and boas exhibited a relative insensitivity to diphacinone and brodifacoum, while the lizards appeared to be somewhat more sensitive to these compounds. This study provides data for future assessments of the risks to these species associated with anticoagulant use. Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
A new framework for simulating forced homogeneous buoyant turbulent flows

This work proposes a new simulation methodology to study variable density turbulent buoyant flows. The mathematical framework, referred to as homogeneous buoyant turbulence, relies on a triply periodic domain and incorporates numerical forcing methods commonly used in simulation studies of homogeneous, isotropic flows. In order to separate the effects due to buoyancy from those due to large-scale gradients, the linear scalar forcing technique is used to maintain the scalar variance at a constant value. Two sources of kinetic energy production are considered in the momentum equation, namely shear via an isotropic forcing term and buoyancy via the gravity term. The simulation framework is designed such that the four dimensionless parameters of importance in buoyant mixing, namely the Reynolds, Richardson, Atwood, and Schmidt numbers, can be independently varied and controlled. The framework is used to interrogate fully non-buoyant, fully buoyant, and partially buoyant turbulent flows. The results show that the statistics of the scalar fields (mixture fraction and density) are not influenced by the energy production mechanism (shear vs. buoyancy). On the other hand, the velocity field exhibits anisotropy, namely a larger variance in the direction of gravity which is associated with a statistical dependence of the velocity component on the local fluid density.
Sleep Loss Immediately After Fear Memory Reactivation Attenuates Fear Memory Reconsolidation

Abstract Permanently stored memories become labile through a process called reactivation. Once reactivated, these memories need reconsolidation to become permanent. Sleep is critical for memory consolidation. Is sleep necessary for memory reconsolidation? We hypothesized that sleep loss immediately after fear reactivation (FR) will prevent memory reconsolidation. To test our hypothesis, two experiments were performed in adult male C57BL/6J mice exposed to contextual fear conditioning paradigm with inescapable foot shock as unconditional stimulus (US) and contextual cage as conditional stimulus (CS). Sleep loss was achieved either by 5 h of sleep deprivation (SD; Experiment 1) or by systemic infusion of modafinil (200 mg/Kg, ip), an FDA approved wake-promoting agent (Experiment 2). One hour after light-onset, fear memory acquisition (FMA) was performed on Day 1. Mice were allowed to explore CS for 5 min followed by presentation of US (7 foot-shocks; 0.5 mA, 2.0 s duration) at pseudorandom intervals. Controls were exposed to similar CS but no shocks were delivered. On Day 2, mice were exposed to CS for 2 min (without US; for FR) followed by either sleep loss or no sleep loss. On Day 3, fear memory recall (FMR) was performed by exposing mice to CS (without US) for 12 min. Percent time spent in freezing was monitored during FC, FR and FMR. Our results suggested that as compared to sleeping controls, mice with sleep loss immediately after FR displayed a significant reduction in percent time freezing during FMR. These results suggest that sleep loss may prevent memory reconsolidation.
Coated powders for uniform microstructure and fabrication easiness of composites

ABSTRACT A new, inexpensive and simple method for agglutinating fine powder on bare particles or cores has been developed. This process allows to coat various kinds of cores with different types of coatings (metal, ceramic, cermet, polymer, etc.). In this work, the advantages of the technique are exemplified by a specific application: the fabrication of wear-resistant composites. Thick iron powder coatings were agglutinated on WC-Co particles. These coated particles were compacted by powder metallurgy techniques and thereafter the compact was infiltrated with copper in order to make them wear-resistant composite parts. The use of coated particles leads to major improvements in the WC-Co particle dispersion. It also provides a material suitable for feeding commercial compacting presses and thus greatiy facilitates the production of composites on an industrial scale.
College Student Reactions to Holocaust Education from the Perspective of the Theme of Complicity and Collaboration.

A colloquium series funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities explored complicity and collaboration during the Holocaust at a community college in New York. Student reactions to this them...
Six decades of inflation and money demand

The present estimates of dollar demand treat inflation as a separate variable in a money market model with annual data covering nearly six decades from 1960 to 2017. The difference stationary series lead to robust error correction estimates in double log differences. Structural breaks for money supply targeting in 1980 and bank bailout policy in 2009 improve the estimates. Inflation has an elastic effect on store of value and transactions demands. Rising income incompletely offsets declining dollar demand. Transactions demand appears to be especially sensitive to a decrease in inflation.
Implementation of Artificial Intelligence-Based Clinical Decision Support to Reduce Hospital Readmissions at a Regional Hospital

Background Hospital readmissions are a key quality metric, which has been tied to reimbursement. One strategy to reduce readmissions is to direct resources to patients at the highest risk of readmission. This strategy necessitates a robust predictive model coupled with effective, patient-centered interventions. Objective The aim of this study was to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions through the use of artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support. Methods A commercially vended artificial intelligence tool was implemented at a regional hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin between November 2018 and April 2019. The tool assessed all patients admitted to general care units for risk of readmission and generated recommendations for interventions intended to decrease readmission risk. Similar hospitals were used as controls. Change in readmission rate was assessed by comparing the 6-month intervention period to the same months of the previous calendar year in exposure and control hospitals. Results Among 2,460 hospitalizations assessed using the tool, 611 were designated by the tool as high risk. Sensitivity and specificity for risk assignment were 65% and 89%, respectively. Over 6 months following implementation, readmission rates decreased from 11.4% during the comparison period to 8.1% (p Conclusion We observed a decrease in hospital readmission after implementing artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support. Our experience suggests that use of artificial intelligence to identify patients at the highest risk for readmission can reduce quality gaps when coupled with patient-centered interventions.
Addition reactions of a phosphorus triamide to nitrosoarenes and acylpyridines

Tricoordinate phosphorus compounds react with a wide variety of double bonds through addition reactions. The dipolar and cyclic products formed are important intermediates in organophosphorus chemi...
Determining the effects of computer science education at the secondary level on STEM major choices in postsecondary institutions in the United States

Concerning the marginalization of computer science education in K-12 STEM education in the United States, this study examined the extent to which taking more credits in computer science courses at the secondary level predicts students' STEM major choices in postsecondary institutions in the U.S., by comparison to the well-documented predictors of students' STEM major choices after controlling for student demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, SES, and racial background). These predictors include credits earned in math and science courses as well as ACT math scores. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults who were 12th graders in 2004 and disclosed their college majors by 2006, logistic regression analyses revealed that students who took more units in computer science courses were significantly more likely to choose STEM majors in both 4-year and 2-year postsecondary institutions. Moreover, regardless of the type of postsecondary institutions that students attended, taking more units in computer science courses played a significant role in choosing STEM majors. In addition, the effects of computer science education on student STEM major selection were equally as strong as the effects of math and science education. The results suggest that promoting the quality of computer science education is just as important in motivating students to pursue STEM education and career choices at the secondary level as are math and science education. This study investigated the effects of computer science education on student STEM major choices using logistic regression.This study used a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults who chose college majors by 2006.Computer science education was a strong predictor for student STEM major choices similar to math and science education.
Applications of Machine Learning to the Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance: an Emerging Model for Translational Research

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the most challenging phenomena of modern medicine. Machine learning (ML) is a subfield of artificial intelligence that focuses on the development of algorithms that learn how to accurately predict outcome variables using large sets of predictor variables that are typically not hand selected and are minimally curated. Models are parameterized using a training dataset and then applied to a test dataset on which predictive performance is evaluated. The application of ML algorithms to the problem of AMR has garnered increasing interest in the past 5 years due to the exponential growth of experimental and clinical data, heavy investment in computational capacity, improvements in algorithm performance and increasing urgency for innovative approaches to reducing the burden of disease. Here, we review the current state of research at the intersection of ML and AMR with an emphasis on three domains of work. The first is the prediction of AMR using genomic data. The second is the use of ML to gain insight into the cellular functions disrupted by antibiotics, which forms the basis for understanding mechanisms of action and developing novel anti-infectives. The third focuses on the application of ML for antimicrobial stewardship using data extracted from the electronic health record. Though the use of ML for understanding, diagnosing, treating and preventing AMR is still in its infancy, the continued growth of data and interest ensures it will become an important tool for future translational research programs.
CNS Autoimmune Responses in BCMA-Deficient Mice Provide Insight for the Failure of Atacicept in MS.

Objective B cells have emerged as a therapeutic target for MS. Anti-CD20 antibodies, which deplete B cells, are effective therapies for MS. However, atacicept (TACI-Fc), which blocks BAFF and APRIL and reduces B cells, unexpectedly exacerbates MS. We tested the hypothesis that B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a receptor for BAFF and APRIL, plays a role in the paradoxical effects of anti-CD20 antibody and TACI-Fc using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods EAE was induced in wild-type (BCMA+/+) and BCMA-deficient (BCMA−/−) mice with an immunization of rodent myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55 peptide. Treatment with anti-CD20 antibody, TACI-Fc, and isotype controls was administered by intraperitoneal injections. CNS infiltration was evaluated by histology; immune cell phenotypes were evaluated by flow cytometry; MOG-specific antibodies were determined by ELISA. Mixed bone marrow chimeras and cell culture assays were used to identify the specific subsets of immune cells affected by BCMA deficiency. Results First, we found that BCMA−/− mice had more severe EAE compared with BCMA+/+ mice and the increased disease was associated with elevated anti-MOG B-cell responses. Second, we found that anti-CD20 therapy attenuated EAE in BCMA−/− mice but not in BCMA+/+ mice. Third, TACI-Fc attenuated EAE in BCMA+/+ mice but not in BCMA−/− mice. Mixed bone marrow chimeric and cell culture experiments demonstrated that BCMA deficiency elevates inflammatory B-cell responses but inhibits inflammatory responses in macrophages. Conclusions BCMA has multifaceted roles during inflammation that affects therapeutic efficacies of anti-CD20 and TACI-Fc in EAE. Our results from BCMA-deficient mice provide insights into the failure of atacicept in MS.
Development of an Evaluation Procedure for Assist Wear Devices used in Daily Activities

Despite the numerous applications of assist wear devices, there are no existing procedures to evaluate their performance. We propose a unique evaluation method for assist wear devices that are used in daily activities by using electromyography. The technique demonstrates the effectiveness of the device by calculating the reduced load on the muscles and the assist performance of the device. The proposed evaluation method also allows users to determine the dimensions of the assist wear device suited to their bodies.
Learning directed acyclic graphs for ligands and receptors based on spatially resolved transcriptomic analysis of ovarian cancer

A critical bottleneck step towards understanding the immune activation and suppression mechanisms in tumor samples is to identify transcriptional signals underlying the cell-cell communication between tumor cells and immune/stromal cells in tumor microenvironments (TME). Cell-to-cell communication extensively relies on interactions between secreted ligands and cell-surface receptors, which create a highly connected signaling network through many ligand-receptor paths. The latest advance in in situ omics analyses, such as spatial transcriptomic (ST) analysis, provide unique opportunities to directly characterize ligand-receptor signaling networks that powers cell-cell communication, which has not been feasible based on either bulk or single-cell omics data. In this paper, we focus on high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), and propose a novel statistical method, DAGBagST, to characterize the ligand receptor interaction networks between adjacent tumor and stroma cells in ovarian tumors based on spatial transcriptomic data. DAGBagST utilizes a directed acyclic graph (DAG) model with a novel approach to handle the zero-inflated distribution observed in the ST data. It also leverages existing ligand-receptor regulation databases as prior information, and employs a bootstrap aggregation strategy to achieve robust network estimation. We applied DAGBagST to ST datasets of tumor samples from four HGSC patients, and identified common and distinct ligand-receptor regulations between adjacent tumor and stromal grids across multiple tumors. These results cast light on biological processes relating to the communication between tumor and TME cells in these ovarian tumors. An open-source R package for performing DAGBagST will be shared upon publication.
Neuroprotective Effect of Sovateltide (IRL 1620, PMZ 1620) in a Neonatal Rat Model of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Therapeutic hypothermia with modest results is the only treatment currently available for neonatal Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Endothelin B (ETB) receptors in the brain are shown to have neural restorative capacity. ETB receptors agonist sovateltide alone or as an adjuvant therapy may enhance neurovascular remodeling in HIE. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were grouped based on treatments into (1) Control; (2) HIE + Vehicle; (3) HIE + Hypothermia; (4) HIE + sovateltide; and (5) HIE + sovateltide + hypothermia. HIE was induced on postnatal day (PND) 7, followed by sovateltide (5 µg/kg) intracerebroventricular injection and/or hypothermia. On PND 10, brains were analyzed for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), ETB receptors, oxidative stress and cellular damage markers. Vehicle-treated animals had high oxidative stress level as indicated by an increase in lipid peroxidation factor, malondialdehyde, and decreased antioxidants, reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase, compared to control. These effects were reversed in sovateltide alone (p < 0.001) or in combination with the therapeutic hypothermia (p < 0.001), indicating that ETB receptor activation reduces oxidative stress injury following HIE. Animals receiving sovateltide demonstrated a significant (p < 0.0001) upregulation of ETB receptor, VEGF, and NGF expression in the brain compared to vehicle-treated animals. Additionally, sovateltide alone or in combination with therapeutic hypothermia significantly (p < 0.001) reduced cell death when compared to vehicle or therapeutic hypothermia alone, demonstrating that sovateltide is neuroprotective and attenuates neural damage following HIE. These findings are important and merit additional studies for development of new interventions for improving neurodevelopmental outcomes after HIE.
Performance Analysis of a DS/CDMA System Using a Successive Interference Cancellation Scheme

Overcoming near/far effects and fading is imperative for satisfactory performance of DS/CDMA systems. Commercial digital cellular system based on CDMA uses stringent power control to combat nearlfar effects and fading. Another approach which has a fundamental potential in not only eliminating near/far problems but also in significantly raising capacity, is multiuser detectors and interference cancellers. Valuable fundamental investigations have demonstrated huge potential capacity and performance improvements. Most of these schemes,however, get too complex even for relatively simple systems and rely on good channel estimates.. In this work, we analyze the performance of a simple successive interference cancellation (IC) scheme applied to a simple coherent BPSK modulation scheme, where the parameter estimation is done using the output of a linear correlator.
Ritual, Change and Psychotherapy

Symptomatic behavior often appears or is initially perceived during transitional stages in the life cycle when changes in behavior and relationships are culturally appropriate. Symptomatic behavior legitimates lack of change in the relationships of the symptomatic individual and those in his or her social context. By this it provides a pseudo-solution to the universal problem of dependency and autonomy (Sluzki & Vernon, 1971), which must be solved by individuals in every society. Many non-Western societies have rites of passage (van Gennep, 1960) to ritualistically mark significant transition. The performance of these rituals helps individuals change their position in the social context while at the same time validating the context. Rites of passage are characterized by paradoxical communications. The paradoxical structure of these rituals will be described and implications for the use of ritual in family therapy will be suggested using a case example as illustration.
Chapter 5.2 Five membered ring systems: Pyrroles and benzo derivatives

Publisher Summary This chapter offers information on five membered ring systems, focusing on pyrroles and benzo derivatives. Advances have been made in the Paal–Knorr synthesis of pyrroles by the condensation of primary amines with 1,4-dicarbonyl species. A general method for the synthesis of 1-aminopyrroles has been devised by the condensation of commercially available 2,2,2-trichloroethyl- or 2-(trimethylsilyl) ethylhydrazine with 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) can be utilized as the amine component in the Paal–Knorr synthesis in the presence of alumina, and this modification has been employed in the synthesis of an azaprostacyclin analog. The propensity for reaction with electrophiles at the C-2 position is perhaps the most characteristic reaction of the pyrrole nucleus, much of the new C-2 chemistry of pyrrole published during the past year centers on the radical chemistry of this site. A novel method has been developed for the selective N-arylation of indoles with aryl electrophiles in the presence of potassium fluoride adsorbed onto basic alumina. The Pictet–Spengler (P–S) reaction involving the condensation of tryptamines or tryptophan esters with aldehydes or reactive ketones affording tetrahydro-β-carbolines has been conducted on a variety of solid supports. The most studied indole alkaloids this past year were the indolocarbazole family.
Effects of Exhaust System Components on Particulate Morphology in a Light-duty Diesel Engine

The detailed morphological properties of diesel particulate matter were analyzed along the exhaust system at various engine operating conditions (in a range of 1000 - 2500 rpm and 10 - 75 % loads of maximum torques). A 1.7-L turbocharged light-duty diesel engine was powered with California low-sulfur diesel fuel injected by a common-rail injection system, of which particulate emissions were controlled by an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and two oxidation catalysts. A unique thermophoretic sampling system first developed for internal combustion engine research, a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), and a customized image processing/data acquisition system were key instruments that were used for the collection of particulate matter, subsequent imaging of particle morphology, and detailed analysis of particle dimensions and fractal geometry, respectively. The data analysis showed that the average primary particle sizes significantly changed in a range of approximately 15 nm to 30 nm as a function of engine operating condition, while overall decreasing along the exhaust pipe. Aggregate particle sizes also significantly changed in a range of approximately 50 nm to 100 nm, in terms of radius of gyration, through the entire engine operating conditions. These particle sizes were affected mainly by the oxidation catalysts and tail pipe as well as engine operating conditions. Particle geometry was changed along the exhaust pipe, most significantly by the first catalyst, while overall becoming more spherical in shape toward the tail pipe. Fractal dimensions were measured in a range of approximately 1.4 to 1.8 through the entire engine operating conditions, which identified the change of particle geometry. A distinct increase of fractal dimension appeared after the first catalyst. The spherical particle shape, represented by the larger fractal dimension, was justified by soot morphology observed at the sample collected immediately after the catalyst.
ISOTOPE BRAYTON SPACE POWER SYSTEMS AND THEIR TECHNOLOGY.

The objectives of the NASA Brayton Space Power Program and the advantages of achieving an isotope Brayton space power system are enumerated. The paper describes the 2-15 kWe Brayton engine, its subsystems, and major components and summarizes the status of the test program. Two areas of Brayton constituent technology are discussed-gas bearings and heat exchangers. A summary is given of a 500-2500 W isotope Brayton space power system study that showed very attractive performance, simplicity, and low cost for a system in this power range.
Tropical cyclones and the flood hydrology of Puerto Rico

[1] Some of the largest unit discharge flood peaks in the stream gaging records of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have occurred in Puerto Rico. Many of these flood peaks are associated with tropical cyclones. Hurricane Georges, which passed directly over the island on 21–22 September 1998, produced record flood peaks at numerous USGS stations in Puerto Rico. The hydrology and hydrometeorology of extreme flood response in Puerto Rico are examined through analyses of rainfall, based on Weather Surveillance Radar–1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) radar reflectivity observations and USGS rain gage observations and discharge from USGS stream gaging stations. Peak rainfall accumulations of more than 700 mm occurred in the central mountain region of the island. The largest unit discharge flood peaks, however, were located in the eastern portion of the island in areas with smaller storm total rainfall accumulations but markedly larger rainfall rates at 5–60 min timescale. Orographic precipitation mechanisms played an important role in rainfall distribution over the island of Puerto Rico. Amplification of rainfall accumulations was associated with areas of upslope motion. Elevated low-level cloud water content in regions of upslope motion played an important role in the maximum rainfall accumulations in the central mountain region of Puerto Rico. The largest unit discharge flood peaks, however, were produced by a decaying eye wall mesovortex, which resulted in a 30–45 min period of extreme rainfall rates over the eastern portion of the island. This storm element was responsible for the record flood peak of the Rio Grande de Loiza. The role of terrain in development and evolution of the eye wall mesovortex is unclear but is of fundamental importance for assessing extreme flood response from the storm. Hydrologic response is examined through analyses of rainfall and discharge from five pairs of drainage basins, extending from east to west over the island. These analyses point to the importance of short-term rainfall rates for extreme flood response. The hydrologic response of Puerto Rico is compared with two other extreme flood environments, the central Appalachians and Edwards Plateau of Texas. These analyses suggest that the high rainfall environment of Puerto Rico is linked to the development of a hydraulically efficient drainage system.
Border/Line Sex

This article foregrounds the current critical emphasis on the language of intersectionality and analogy between race and sexuality, especially with respect to the discourse of rights and discrimination. Such language uses ‘racism’ and ‘race’ as stable registers of oppression, whereby a range of discriminatory practices based on sexual orientation gather representational and judicial validity through their linkage and similarity to such registers. Buried in such ‘linkages’ is the very mathematical paradox of parallelism that forecloses any true intersection, even as it invites lines of common origin and travel. Hence, we are often left with a language of analogy and repetition where race as sex and sex as race become parallel political formations only through a constant reminder of their irreconcilable separation. Instead, I theorize the productive possibility of a Spivakian ‘transactional reading’ whereby the linking of sex and race becomes a dynamic dilation of difference, even as it speaks the language ...
Skills in the marketplace: Market efficiency, social orientation, and ability in a field-based experiment

Abstract Neoclassical economic theory predicts that markets will clear, leaving little or no marginal gains from trade. Laboratory experiments have largely confirmed this prediction, though the results of recent field experiments have been mixed, especially in developing countries. I create a multiround trading market in Uganda to explore the efficiency of trading and test whether traders’ personal traits are associated with market efficiency and individual bargaining success. To test the effects of individual traits, I utilize data on measures of the traders’ human and physical capital, risk and time preferences, and social orientation, specifically pro- and antisocial behavior and aggression. I find that the buyers’ and sellers’ relative levels of social orientation and human capital are associated with levels of market efficiency within rounds. Measures of social orientation, however, are less associated with individual success. I also find that rents obtained in the experiment are strongly associated with the wealth levels of participants two years later, but this association is limited to those who were randomly assigned to be buyers in the experiment. I present evidence that this association is driven by greater buyer bargaining ability.
Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization

Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. Jonathan Mark Kenoyer. Oxford: Oxford University Press; Karachi: American Institute of Pakistan Studies, 1998. 262 pp.
Wheat leaf lipids during heat stress: I. High day and night temperatures result in major lipid alterations

Understanding how wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants under high temperature (HT) regulate lipid composition is critical to developing climate-resilient varieties. We measured 165 glycerolipids and sterol derivatives under optimum and high day and night temperatures in wheat leaves using electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Levels of polar lipid fatty acyl chain unsaturation were lower in both heat-tolerant genotype Ventnor and susceptible genotype Karl 92 under HT, compared with optimum temperature. The lower unsaturation was predominantly because of lower levels of 18:3 acyl chains and higher levels of 18:1 and 16:0 acyl chains. Levels of 18:3-containing triacylglycerols increased threefold/more under HT, consistent with their possible role in sequestering fatty acids during membrane lipid remodelling. Phospholipids containing odd-numbered or oxidized acyl chains accumulated in leaves under HT. Sterol glycosides (SG) and 16:0-acylated sterol glycosides (ASG) were higher under HT than optimum temperatures. Ventnor had lower amounts of phospholipids with oxidized acyl chains under HT and higher amounts of SG and 16:0-ASG than Karl 92. Taken together, the data demonstrate that wheat leaf lipid composition is altered by HT, in which some lipids are particularly responsive to HT, and that two wheat genotypes, chosen for their differing physiological responses to HT, differ in lipid profile under HT.
Colony Morphology and Heritability of Anchorage-Independent Growth Among Spontaneously Transformed Balb/3T3 Cells

A clone of spontaneously transformed Balb/3T3 cells produced four different types of colonies in agar. Flat colonies arose at the interface between bottom and top layers of agar, two types of somewhat flattened compact colonies arose within the top layer, and mixed colonies developed when the compact colonies contacted the interface. The proportions of different colony types could be altered by varying the volume, concentration, and gelling rate of the agar. Spherical colonies only appeared in ungelled medium. None of the colony types bred true, showing that their morphologies depended on local conditions. When cells from a subpopulation with low colony-forming efficiency in agar (CFE) were cloned on plastic, all clones formed colonies in agar and did so with about the same CFE as the parental population. Colonies isolated from agar had no higher CFE than the parental population. The results indicate a great phenotypic heterogeneity in anchorage-independent growth, even in cloned populations of transformed cells.
The Killingbeck method for the one-electron two-centre problem

A simple process is proposed to solve the one-electron two-fixed-centre problem-shielded or not-when written as a pair of three-term recurrence relations, by use of a recent method from Killingbeck associated with Miller's algorithm. The method, which provides accurate eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions, is also very efficient to obtain accurate values of their derivatives with respect to the internuclear distance. As an illustrative example, detailed calculations are presented for the well known X2 Sigma g+ state of H2+ at R=2 au.
Leading edge developments in advanced safety management and applications to electrical safety

This paper discusses three evolving and leading-edge developments in advanced safety management with significant potential for accelerating further improvements in prevention of serious injuries and fatalities from electrical hazards. These topics are as follows: 1) systems safety engineering as an approach integrating application of engineering and management principles, criteria, and techniques to achieve risk as low as reasonably practicable; 2) ongoing research in human error enabling new ways of thinking about the human side of safety management; and 3) the growing movement in safety management focusing on hazards with high potential for life-changing injury and fatality. This paper discusses these three topics and suggests possibilities in their application to electrical safety.
U-commerce: introducing the new challenges for e-business

The evolving e-business systems and technologies have been astonishing. With the advances of technologies, the demand for electronic systems that provides higher computing performance, compatibilities, operational efficiencies, and superior customer services is on the rise. Currently, with the adoption of m-commerce in the e-business realm, the newer concept of e-business is to merge and integrate the physical and virtual world. This calls for the standardisation of network infrastructures, standardised wireless communication protocol, compatibility of systems software, and the issues and the complexities of the emerging systems with u-commerce capabilities.
Five 3β, 6α-dihydroxysterols in organ-pipe cactus

Abstract The sterol diol fraction from the lipids of organ-pipe cactus, Stenocereus thurberi, was separated into five compounds: macdougallin, peniocerol, cyclostenol, stenocereol and thurberol. The last three compounds have not been described before. All compounds were characterized by physical and spectroscopic properties.
Correlation of high-speed tensile strength with collagen content in control and lathyritic rat skin

Severity of lacerative skin injury depends on the applied load and the resistance of the tissue. At low (static) rates of loading there is a high degree of correlation between skin tensile strength and the degree of collagen crosslinking, with little added strength due to collagen interactions with the glycosaminoglycan matrix. We examined the effects of high (ballistic) rates of loading in order to determine the contributions to strength made by both the degree of collagen crosslinking and the collagen-matrix interaction. Tensile failure experiments were conducted using the dorsal skin of rats 1.5-6 months of age. Test specimen orientations were cut parallel and transverse to the body axis at cephalad and caudad locations on the dorsum. Tensile strength was measured at nominal strain rates of 30%/sec (low speed) and 6000%/sec (high speed) using both control and lathyrogen fed rats. Biochemical analyses were conducted to determine the amount of total and crosslinked (insoluble) collagen. In low-speed tests, there was a significant correlation (r > or = 0.900) between collagen content and skin tensile strength measured both transverse and parallel to the spine. The degree of correlation was higher with insoluble (r = 0.973) collagen content than with total (r = 0.901) collagen. The effect of a lathyrogen diet produced a significant (P or = 0.858).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparison of batch and double compartment tests for measuring voc transport parameters in geomembranes

Abstract Partition and diffusion coefficients for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and geomembranes obtained using batch and double compartment (DC) tests are compared. Tests were conducted with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane and solutions containing five common VOCs ranging in hydrophobicity. Batch tests were conducted in equilibrium and kinetic modes using solutions with single or multiple solutes. The findings indicate that competitive sorption between solutes is negligible for the concentrations examined, except for the most hydrophobic compounds, and that partition coefficients obtained from equilibrium and kinetic batch tests cannot be distinguished statistically. DC tests yield larger partition coefficients, and smaller diffusion coefficients, due to losses in the DC apparatus. Kinetic batch tests are recommended to simultaneously obtain partition and diffusion coefficients for VOCs and geomembranes. The kinetic batch test method is relatively simple and expedient, the partition and diffusion coefficients are reliable, and the data can be analyzed using an analytical solution programmed in a spreadsheet application. Empirical relationships are recommended to estimate the partition coefficient, diffusion coefficient, and permeation coefficient for VOCs and HDPE geomembranes using common chemical properties.
The Nature and Influence of Comprehension Strategy Use during Peer-Led Literature Discussions: An Analysis of Intermediate Grade Students' Practice.

This article reports an analysis of fifth-graders' comprehension strategy use, as it occurred within peer-led literature discussion groups, and the influence of such strategy use on students' post-discussion gains in story comprehension. Data collection occurred across nine weeks. Data sources included transcripts of discussions, transcripts of pre- and post-discussion retellings of stories, and field notes. The analysis revealed (a) the most commonly employed strategies during discussions were questioning, evaluating, and interpreting; (b) there were no differences in the general patterns of strategy employment during discussions among students with different reading abilities; (c) the quality of students' strategic employment varied; and (d) the specific content of better reading students' strategic contributions during discussions influenced group members' post-discussion comprehension more than those of less able readers.
Design of passive power filters for a three-phase semi-controlled rectifier with typical loads

This paper presents the design and simulation of AC and DC passive power filters for a three-phase thyristor-based rectifier. On the source side, the purpose is to achieve harmonic current suppression and reactive power compensation and on the load side, to eliminate the DC voltage ripple. After a brief review of most common filtering methods, the paper emphasizes on the necessity of passive techniques for high power applications. The AC filter consists of RLC branches tuned to harmonic frequencies, while the DC filter inserted at the rectifier output includes a series inductor and shunt connected resistor and capacitor. Matlab/Simulink is the software used for building and simulating the filter models, in the two cases of DC inductive and capacitive loads. The results obtained before and after filtering demonstrate its efficiency in improving the waveforms quality on both AC and DC sides, and therefore in the optimization of power consumption.
Lifing of Turbomachinery Blades: A Process Driven Approach

Turbomachinery blades pass through several resonances during start up and shut down operations that cause cumulative damage leading to failures. It is important to estimate life of these blades at design stage so as to reduce prototype testing time. While the technologies required for lifing have been established, it is still a time consuming process to achieve the final result with calculations from different groups involved in solid and fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Here an attempt is made to reduce the design cycle time by way of combining these multifaceted technologies and develop a process driven approach to determine life using Hyper Works platform.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The antimicrobial activity of C-reactive protein.

Abstract Recent studies in transgenic mice confirmed that C-reactive protein is protective against microbial pathogens. This is consistent with its ability in vitro to bind microbes, activate the complement classical pathway, and engage FcγRI and FcγRII. However, in transgenic mice protection also requires the alternative pathway of complement, and FcγRI is dispensable.
Seismology and geodesy of the sun: Solar geodesy.

Abstract Measurements of the elliptical figure of the sun made in 1966 are analyzed on an hourly basis. This analysis yields an improved measure of the previously found solar distortion, rotating rigidly with a sidereal period of 12.38±0.10 days. It also yields a set of residuals used to search for signals due to low-frequency solar oscillations.
Structural dynamics of the Streptomyces lividans K+ channel (SKC1): secondary structure characterization from FTIR spectroscopy.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to probe the secondary structure, orientation, and the kinetics of amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HX) of the small K+ channel from Streptomyces lividans. Frequency component analysis of the amide I band showed that SKC1 is composed of 44–46% α-helix, 21–24% β-sheet, 10–12% turns and 18–20% unordered structures. The order parameter S of the helical component of SKC1 was between 0.60 and 0.69. Close to 80% of SKC1 amide protons exchange within ∼3 h of D2O exposure, suggesting that the channel is largely accessible to solvent exchange. These results are consistent with a model of SKC1 in which helices slightly tilted from the membrane normal line the water-filled vestibules that flank the K+ selectivity filter.