cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use the 3 Rs to Guide Effective Teaching

Relationships, relevance, and rigor, when fully addressed together, can frame best practices that will help to create an active online classroom environment where students may unleash their learning potential. In this article, we offer practical and easy ways to leverage technology to develop positive relationships, demonstrate relevance, and increase rigor in order to create an active online classroom where students are motivated to learn and understand the benefits of working hard and submitting high-quality work.
Searching Deep and Wide: Advances in the Molecular Understanding of Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease:

During the past decades, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding of the molecular basis of the 2 most common oral diseases, dental caries and periodontal disease. Improvements in our...
Wernicke encephalopathy associated with hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract Emergency physicians frequently treat hyperemesis gravidarum and should be aware of possible complications. Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to thiamine deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute encephalopathy in pregnant women. A seventeen-week pregnant 27-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with nausea, emesis, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Ultrasound diagnosed gallbladder sludge. Surgical consultant offered cholecystectomy versus expectant management. She improved with IV hydration, ondansetron, and was discharged on hospital day 3 with a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum and gallbladder sludge. Three days later she presented with continued emesis and altered mental status. She and family members denied alcohol or illicit drug use. Vital signs were pulse 99/minute, blood pressure 115/70, temperature 36.4°C, respiratory rate 18, and oxygen saturation 99%. Neurological examination was delirium, variable mentation, and inability to follow commands. She had internuclear opthalmoplegia with bilateral nystagmus. CT scan of brain was negative. MRI found abnormal T2-weighted signal in the central pons and medial thalami. Radiographic differential included central pontine myelinolysis, dysmyelinating conditions from malnutrition, toxic encephalopathy, and Wernicke encephalopathy. Thiamine level was below the limits of detection. Alcohol and urine drug screen were negative. Diagnosis was thiamine deficiency secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum with Wernicke encephalopathy. Emergency physicians frequently treat hyperemesis gravidarum. Nutritional status should be evaluated in patients who are unable to take neonatal vitamins. Awareness should exist of possible complications, including Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to thiamine deficiency.
Simone Weil and a Critical Will to Serve

This chapter sets the ethical philosophy of Simone Weil (1909–43) alongside her political activism and decision to work in the Renault automobile factories in order to arrive at a critical ethics of the will to serve. The union of thought and action, word and deed, became for Weil an enacted will of service. This chapter extends two aspects of her wider ethical philosophy in order to think about the questions of this volume. The first is her contrast between two forms of service offered to two differing gods. In service to the false god—and here she means servile action to societies of domination and authoritarianism—evil is purified (sterilized), thereby eliminating the horror of its presence. Nothing appears as evil to those servile to the beast except failure to the beast’s service. By contrast, service to the true god is marked by the very remainder and intensification of evil. Service to the true god allows for evil to horrify us. Second, her understanding of god, which, it must be stressed, is an eclectic mystical concept informed by varying strands of Platonism, Jewish Kabbalah, eastern religions, and the Christian mystical tradition, is significant. God, for Weil, is conceived as utter fullness. Nothing, therefore, could exist where god was owing to god’s perfection. Creation was thus an act of self-delimitation—or god’s withdrawing. And yet, as Weil contends, we are god in our ethical becoming. All error, suffering, and unhappiness stem from forgetting this. Weil refers to the process of ethical becoming as “creative attention.” Creative attention is an individual’s just and loving gaze directed toward specific situations in need of love and transformation. “Love needs a reality.” In so doing, we become god where god is not, thereby uniting creation to god. The essay concludes with a programmatic sketch of a critical will to serve referred to here as ethical awareness.
Electrical Properties 3

Traps in ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors (UWBG) are problematic for devices due to the very wide range of performance degradation phenomena they can cause, from high leakage currents, dynamic resistance and voltage dispersion in transistors, to high dark currents, low quantum efficiencies and low responsivities in various optoelectronic devices. For β-Ga2O3, the early stage of development for this promising UWBG semiconductor and associated lack of knowledge of many basic materials properties add more challenges as many of the trap states are unknown and their physical sources are poorly understood at present. This chapter summarizes the state of knowledge concerning deep level defects in β-Ga2O3 materials and early stage transistors. Deep level transient and optical spectroscopies (DLTS/DLOS) are the primary characterization methods being focused on here. DLTS/DLOS measurements made on β-Ga2O3 materials prepared by several growth methods and irradiated by high energy particles are discussed. Defect spectroscopy measurements made directly on β-Ga2O3 transistors are also described. Several traps that are in common across the range of materials and devices are revealed, several unique traps are identified, and by comparing with theory and other physical characterization results, the potential physical sources for several traps are considered. Finally, this chapter attempts to correlate defect levels found in β-Ga2O3 transistors with the fundamental materials studies, leading toward possible identification of specific defects as primary sources for transistor instabilities such as threshold voltage shifts.
Rural risk environments, opioid-related overdose, and infectious diseases: A multidimensional, spatial perspective.

Abstract Background Much remains unknown in rural risk environments, despite a growing crisis in these areas. We adapt a risk environment framework to characterize rural southern Illinois and describe the relations of risk environments, opioid-related overdose, HIV, Hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infection rates between 2015 and 2017. Methods Over two dozen risk environment variables are summarized across zip-code (n = 128) or county levels (n = 16) based on availability and theoretical relevance. We calculate data attribute associations and characterize spatial and temporal dimensions of longitudinal health outcomes and the rural risk environment. We then use a “regional typology analysis” to generate data-driven risk regions and compare health outcomes. Results Pervasive risk hotspots were identified in more populated locales with higher rates of overdose and HCV incidence, whereas emerging risk areas were isolated to more rural locales that had experienced an increase in analgesic opiate overdoses and generally lacked harm-reduction resources. At-risk areas were characterized with underlying socioeconomic vulnerability but in differing ways, reflecting a nuanced and shifting structural risk landscape. Conclusions Rural risk environment vulnerabilities and associated opioid-related health outcomes are multifaceted and spatially heterogeneous. More research is needed to better understand how refining geographies to more precisely define risk can support intervention efforts and further enrich investigations of the opioid epidemic.
Institutions That Support Commerce and Industry

Commerce requires institutions that protect property rights to enable mutually advantageous exchange. As commerce expanded, those who controlled land found it increasingly advantageous to substitute monetary transactions for in-kind transactions, so they could obtain money to engage in commerce themselves. The expansion of commerce leads to the development of financial institutions and a general increase in prosperity. The key institutional element is protection of property rights, which allows people who do not have political power to accumulate economic power. Those with political power can then tax those with economic power, in an exchange of protection for tribute. Those with political power have an incentive to protect those with economic power because they are protecting their source of income.
A Closer Look at the “Right” Format for Clinical Decision Support: Methods for Evaluating a Storyboard BestPractice Advisory

(1) Background: The five rights of clinical decision support (CDS) are a well-known framework for planning the nuances of CDS, but recent advancements have given us more options to modify the format of the alert. One-size-fits-all assessments fail to capture the nuance of different BestPractice Advisory (BPA) formats. To demonstrate a tailored evaluation methodology, we assessed a BPA after implementation of Storyboard for changes in alert fatigue, behavior influence, and task completion; (2) Methods: Data from 19 weeks before and after implementation were used to evaluate differences in each domain. Individual clinics were evaluated for task completion and compared for changes pre- and post-redesign; (3) Results: The change in format was correlated with an increase in alert fatigue, a decrease in erroneous free text answers, and worsened task completion at a system level. At a local level, however, 14% of clinics had improved task completion; (4) Conclusions: While the change in BPA format was correlated with decreased performance, the changes may have been driven primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework and metrics proposed can be used in future studies to assess the impact of new CDS formats. Although the changes in this study seemed undesirable in aggregate, some positive changes were observed at the level of individual clinics. Personalized implementations of CDS tools based on local need should be considered.
Soft Measures for Energy Market Reform in the Western Balkans

Even though EU energy priorities have shifted since the mid-90s, when early steps towards a European Energy Union were launched, integrating Balkan countries into the European energy market and infrastructure network remains fundamental to the vision for an “integrated continent-wide energy system where energy flows freely across borders, based on competition and the best possible use of resources, and with effective regulation of energy markets” (European Commission. A Framework Strategy, 2). While investors are looking into regional advantages for renewable resources in South-eastern Europe, the Energy Community Secretariat reports that Western Balkan countries are late in meeting deadlines and commitments on a set of institutional reforms known as “soft measures”. This chapter attempts to highlight the investment risks stemming from this delay.
The Time is Now to Build a Culture of Wellness in Engineering

Prior to the rapid onset of COVID-19, higher education faced a mental health crisis. The COVID-19 outbreak both created and exacerbated stressors for students, with early evidence suggesting that the pandemic has had a significant negative impact on student mental health. The response of the engineering education community to adapt instruction during the pandemic has demonstrated our ability to quickly adapt and reimagine engineering education to protect student physical health. What can we learn from the COVID-19 crisis to address mental health and prioritize student wellness? Engineering culture has been described as having ideals of toughness and hardship that may promote poor self-care. As we reimagine higher education after COVID-19, we have the opportunity to build a culture of wellness in engineering to support student mental health and wellness, shifting the narrative in engineering from one of suffering to one of thriving.
Driving Time to Trauma Centers for Children Living in Wisconsin.

Introduction Trauma is the number 1 cause of death among children. Shorter distance to definitive trauma care has been correlated with better clinical outcomes. There are only a small number of pediatric trauma centers (PTC) designated by the American College of Surgeons, and the resources available to treat injured children at non-PTCs are limited. To guide resource allocation and advocacy efforts for pediatric trauma care in Wisconsin, we determined the precise distance to trauma centers for all children living in the state. Methods The 2010 US Census data was used to determine ZIP-centroid geolocation. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services trauma classification database was used to identify trauma facilities in Wisconsin. SAS routines invoking the Google Maps application programming interface were used to calculate the driving distance to each of the trauma facilities. We quantified the percentage of children living within 30- and 60-minute driving distances of level I-IV trauma centers. Results Just 31.3% of Wisconsin children live within a 30-minute drive of a level I PTC; 32.7% live within 30 minutes of a level II center; 81.3% within 30 minutes of a level III center; and 74.6% within 30 minutes of a level IV center. Conclusion Two-thirds of children in Wisconsin live beyond a 30-minute driving distance of a level I PTC, but most children live within 30 minutes of level III and IV trauma centers. As the closest hospitals for most children, smaller trauma centers should be adequately resourced to provide pediatric trauma care.
Systematic Design of a 100 W 6.78 MHz Wireless Charging Station Covering Multiple Devices and A Large Charging Area

This paper details the systematic design of a 100 W multi-load wireless charging station. The station provides positional flexibility for the receivers, exhibits limited cross-channel disturbance, and has high efficiency. The positional flexibility is achieved using a transmitter coil design approach which uses interleaved windings and controlled coil geometry to shape the magnetic field. The limited cross-channel disturbance is realized with an immittance network which maintains a constant transmitter coil current. A holistic system-level modeling and design method is proposed to design the entire system for maximum efficiency. The 1st step is decoupling each stages using parameterized source and/or load of adjacent stages, and optimize internally for minimum loss, which leads to a reduced design space. The 2nd step is system-wide optimization, which addresses power loss interdependency. A 100 W, 6.78 MHz experimental system with a 0.5x0.5 m2 transmitter coil is demonstrated. The measured magnetic field variation on the charging surface is 15.9 %. And the system shows no cross-channel disturbance when charging two 50 W receivers. The measured dc-to-dc efficiency is 92.8 %.
Problem Solving on the Microlevel

Human life takes place in a social context. Billson (1994:118) noted the inseparability of society and self: The cross-fire debate over the relationship between the individual (with all his or her unique qualities) and society (with its capacity for blueprinting that uniqueness) confuses our attempts to understand human behavior. Some disciplines ... claim to focus on the individual, relegating cultural and societal forces to a nebulous “background.”
Vascular Depression and the Role of Neuroimaging and Biomarkers

The relationships between cerebrovascular risk factors, executive dysfunction, and depression during late life have been well established by behavioral and neuroimaging studies. In this chapter, we begin with a description of how vascular depression is conceptualized. We then discuss evidence from structural and functional neuroimaging literature that supports the vascular depression hypothesis. We go on to review neuropsychological investigations from the field of neuropsychology that suggest cognitive features associated with late-life depression, more broadly, and vascular depression specifically. Next, potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between depression and interruption to vascular integrity are identified. In conclusion, we provide an overview of treatment strategies and prediction of treatment response in the context of vascular depression.
Climate and Health

Climate change and associated extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Mitch, can have profound public health and economic consequences. Epstein discusses in his Perspective how climate change and severe weather events are making a large impact on emerging infectious diseases. He examines how data on changes in climate can be used to better forecast disease outbreaks ( Linthicum et al.), allowing time for preventative action such as vaccination of livestock.
Near‐Field Microwave and Embedded Modulated Scattering Technique (MST) for Dielectric Characterization of Materials

Several approaches to using combined near‐field microwave NDT techniques, utilizing open‐ended rectangular waveguides, and embedded modulated scatterer technique (MST) for the determination of the dielectric properties of a material have been investigated in the past. A technique currently under investigation involves using the ratio of dynamic forward‐ and reverse‐biased reflection coefficients, measured at the aperture of the waveguide. One important aspect of this method is that the ratio of reflection coefficients is not a function of the relative location or polarization of MST probe to the waveguide. Formulation of the ratio of dynamic reflection coefficients is presented, as well as preliminary measurements showing the coherent ratio of reflection coefficients to be relatively constant as a function of location in free‐space.
The individual at high risk for endometrial carcinoma

Abstract Epidemiologic studies can help us recognize high-risk factors in endometrial carcinoma. The definition of high-risk factors, especially at the menopause, can lead to prophylactic measures that may aid in the control of this disease. This recognition of the high-risk patient in the perimenopausal years may be aided by aspiration curettage of ambulatory women, for such a strategy of surveillance is practical and efficient. Increasing acceptance of hormone sensitivity in neoplastic abnormality of the endometrium can also influence us in identifying the patient at risk.
Robust Nonlinear Control Theory with Applications to Aerospace Vehicles

Abstract This paper is a very brief outline of an invited poster session giving a first-year progress report on a research program with the above title being carried out in the Control and Dynamical Systems (CDS) department at Caltech. This 5-year grant funded by the AFOSR Partnership for Research Excellence Transition (PRET) Program has a special emphasis on transitioning new methods to industrial practice and thus involves a high level of industrial participation. The focus of our program is fundamental research in general methods of analysis and design of complex uncertain nonlinear systems, from creating new mathematical theory to working to make that theory help engineers solve a variety of real industrial problems. Caltech's Control and Dynamical Systems department was created with precisely this goal, which is shared by our industrial collaborators, led by Honeywell. Further details will be available at the poster session.
Towards a unified traffic situation estimation model — Street-dependent behaviour and motion models

For Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Autonomous Driving, estimating and predicting traffic situations becomes more and more essential. Many approaches focus on one specific application like vehicle state estimation from sensor data or road model estimation from environment perception. To integrate single approaches to one coherent system, one unified model is needed where the existing applied algorithms can be grounded to. In this paper we propose a Unified Traffic Situation Estimation Model that describes the probabilistic dependencies between road elements. While its independence from time makes it usable for offline mapping tasks, we show that online prediction capabilities can be achieved by applying the model to a longitudinal vehicle state estimation problem: Using the Markov assumption and appropriate state spaces the general unified model can be specialized to an Interacting Multiple Model Filter. Finally, experiments show an improvement in state estimation and prediction over standard models, which only consider vehicle dynamics. Additionally the unified model allows the prediction of street related routes of vehicles.
Characterization of the intergenic region which regulates the MspI restriction-modification system.

The 110-bp intergenic region between mspIM and mspIR, the genes encoding the MspI modification (M.MspI) and restriction (R.MspI) enzymes, respectively, was fused, in both orientations, with lacZ. Expression of a single-copy mspIM-lacZ fusion is more than 400-fold stronger than expression of an mspIR-lacZ fusion. M.MspI in trans represses expression of the mspIM-lacZ fusion by binding to the DNA but does not affect expression of the mspIR-lacZ fusion. Transcription start sites of the genes were identified, and a set of nonoverlapping promoters was assigned. DNase I footprinting showed that M.MspI binds to a site within the intergenic region that includes only the mspIM regulatory elements.
Understanding what personal information items make categorization difficult

This study examined personal information items that are difficult to categorize, and how people deal with these information items. For this research study, 18 participants were asked to keep a diary over a week and record diary entries whenever they decided to save or organize any electronic personal information items. Then, two post-diary semi-structured interviews were conducted to ask questions about how they organized their information items and why they made such decisions based on the diary they kept. Interviews were analyzed by using a grounded theory approach. The results show that the information items that are ambiguous or anomalous are difficult to categorize. Participants dealt with ambiguous or anomalous information items by categorizing them into one of their existing categories, placing them into a miscellaneous category or revising the existing organizational structure. Since personal information items that are difficult to categorize directly influence the time and effort needed to organize personal information, it is important to understand what kind of personal information items makes personal information organization difficult. In particular, the results of this research study have practical implications in developing interfaces and applications that help organizing personal information items effectively. This study also helps us further understand categorization, information organizing behavior, and personal information management.
Nutrient considerations in inflammatory bowel disease and short bowel syndrome.

This chapter reviews the characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease, the nature of the inflammatory process, and the potential role for nutrition interactions Also, nutrition and short bowel syndrome, one of the potential complications of Crohn's disease and other gastrointestinal maladies, are addresses in the chapter.The two primary forms of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized as chronic, inflammatory diseases of varying severity. The cause is unknown but the disease appears to involve significant interaction of the intestinal wall with intestinal microbes, ingested foods and beverages, gastrointestinal secretions, local and systemic immune components, and genetic factors. The disease may result in malabsorption of nutrients, obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, decreased oral intake, increased nutrient requirements, and adverse response to ingested foods. Malnutrition is common. Medications and other therapies employed in treating inflammatory bowel disease can further compromise nutritional status. Specific dietary factors may enhance or attenuate the underlying inflammatory processes involved in the disease, and certain dietary habits can worsen or reduce the severity of symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Surgery is common in the life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and, in some cases, may significantly affect the ability of the patient to maintain adequate nutritional status without specialized nutrition care. Consequently, dietary interventions have a significant role in the management of inflammatory bowel disease, its symptoms, and its consequences.are reviewed.
A Longitudinal Assessment of the Development of Antisocial Behavior in Boys: Rationale, Methodology, and First-Year Results

The long-term consequences of antisocial behavior in children are well documented. Yet little is known about the pattern of development and sequence of antisocial behaviors in home and school settings. This article describes the rationale, methodology, and measures of a 5-year longitudinal research study of the development of antisocial behaviors in a high-risk population of boys in school settings. Subjects for this longitudinal study are 80 fifth-grade boys divided into two separate cohorts. These subjects were a subset of a sample of 200 boys included in an extensive study of the role of family variables in the development of antisocial behavior. Results from the first year of the study regarding 35 boys of Cohort I are presented in this paper. Multiple assessment methods were used including direct observations of social interactions in free-play activities and academic engaged time in classroom activities, teacher ratings of social skills, and examination of student records. Results indicated that sub...
The mixed peierls phase and metallic polyacetylene

Abstract The Peierls condensate with density ϱ near 1 electron per atom is studied and an effective phase-amplitude Hamiltonian is derived. It is shown that a Hartree-Fock theory removes the ϱ → 1 singularity and the phase field exists even at ϱ = 1. The charge carriers are attracting solitons and the lock-in transition is of first order. If ϱ is fixed near 1 the condensate will separate into a commensurate phase ( ϱ = 1) and an incommensurate phase ( ϱ ≠ 1). These results can account for the unusual features of doped polyacetylene.
Structural biology of Rad50 ATPase: ATP-driven conformational control in DNA double-strand break repair and the ABC-ATPase superfamily.

Abstract To clarify the key role of Rad50 in DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR), we biochemically and structurally characterized ATP-bound and ATP-free Rad50 catalytic domain (Rad50cd) from Pyrococcus furiosus . Rad50cd displays ATPase activity plus ATP-controlled dimerization and DNA binding activities. Rad50cd crystal structures identify probable protein and DNA interfaces and reveal an ABC-ATPase fold, linking Rad50 molecular mechanisms to ABC transporters, including P glycoprotein and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Binding of ATP γ-phosphates to conserved signature motifs in two opposing Rad50cd molecules promotes dimerization that likely couples ATP hydrolysis to dimer dissociation and DNA release. These results, validated by mutations, suggest unified molecular mechanisms for ATP-driven cooperativity and allosteric control of ABC-ATPases in DSBR, membrane transport, and chromosome condensation by SMC proteins.
Studies of Solvent Dyeing Part II: Solvent Dyeing Behavior of New Disperse Dyes on Polyethylene Terephthalate Fiber:

The solubility and dyeing characteristics of a series of new disperse azo dyes containing a pyridine ring were determined in a series of solvents at 85°C and 95°C. Ring substitutents in the dyes we...
The Ivanhoe/Rob Roy Fields: Operational Innovation on a Major Subsea Development

The Ivanhoe/Rob Roy development consists of a floating production facility (FPF) serving two remote subsea production/injection manifolds and oil well clusters. These clusters, about 2 miles apart, consist of nine production and six injection wells depleting five separate hydrocarbon accumulations. The field development philosophy has centered on using state-of-the-art hardware and techniques to achieve optimum exploitation of reserves. A strong emphasis on safety is reflected in all aspects of the project from design to operation. This paper describes the development after 1 year in operation. The approach taken will be of interest to other North Sea operators contemplating marginal subsea tie-backs or stand-alone developments.
Autonomous wireless radar sensor mote integrating a Doppler radar into a sensor mote and its application in surveillance and target material classification

An autonomous wireless sensor network that consists of different types of sensor modalities is a topic of intense research due to its versatility and portability of applications. Typical autonomous sensor networks commonly include passive sensor nodes such as infrared, acoustic, seismic, and magnetic. However, fusion of another active sensor such as Doppler radar in the integrated sensor network may offer powerful capabilities for many different sensing and classification tasks. In this work, we demonstrate the design and implementation of an autonomous wireless sensor network integrating a Doppler sensor into wireless sensor node with commercial off the shelf components. Then we demonstrate two applications of the newly integrated radar mote in a wireless sensor network environment where other sensor motes are supporting the integrated radar mote for autonomous triggering and data collection. At first we use the integrated system to detect the range and velocity of a toy train effectively to demonstrate its capability as a surveillance tool. Then we classify different types of non-conducting target materials based on their reflected signal response to newly built radar mote. Different types of materials can usually affect the amount of energy reflected back to the source of an electromagnetic wave. For investigating this observation we simulate models for the reflectivity of different homogeneous non-conducting materials using a mathematical model and later classify the types of target materials using real experimental data collected through our autonomous radar-mote sensor network.
One-pot synthesis of chemically modified vegetable oils.

Vegetable oils are promising candidates as substitutes for petroleum base oils in lubricant applications, such as total loss lubrication, military applications, and outdoor activities. Although veg...
Numerical Simulation of Single Aluminum Particle Combustion (Review)

A two-dimensional, unsteady-state, kinetic-diffusion-vaporization-controlled numerical model for aluminum particle combustion is presented. The model solves the conservation equations, while accounting for species generation and destruction with a 15-reaction kinetic mechanism. Two of the major phenomena that differentiate aluminum combustion from hydrocarbon-droplet combustion, namely, condensation of the aluminum-oxide product and subsequent deposition of part of the condensed oxide onto the particle, are accounted for in detail with a submodel for each phenomenon. The effect of the oxide cap in the distortion of the species and temperature profiles around the particle is included into the model. The results obtained from the model, which include two-dimensional species and temperature profiles, are analyzed and compared with experimental data. The combustion process is found to approach a diffusion-controlled process for the oxidizers (O2, CO2, and H2O) and conditions treated. The flame-zone location and thickness are found to vary with the oxidizer. The result shows that the exponent of the particle-diameter dependence of the burning time is not a constant and changes from ≈1.2 for smaller-diameter particles to ≈1.9 for larger-diameter particles. Owing to deposition of the aluminum oxide onto the particle surface, the particle velocity oscillates. The effect of pressure is analyzed for a few oxidizers.
PAH 399 GTA(Val)→GTT(Val), a new silent mutation found in the Chinese

A silent mutation or sequence polymorphism, an A to T substitution at codon 399 in exon 11 of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene has been identified by DNA sequence analysis in the Chinese. The frequencies of this new mutation in normal and abnormal (phenylketonuria; PKU) genes are 0.005 and 0.09, respectively, based on the analyses of 100 apparently normal individuals and 39 PKU patients, as demonstrated by DNA amplification with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide hybridization methods. The results suggest that there is linkage disequilibrium between this polymorphism and PKU mutations in the PAH gene; approximately 10% of defect PAH alleles in the Chinese population may be identified with this sequence polymorphic marker.
Photodissociation of ClN 3 and quenching of NCl(a) at elevated temperatures

ABSTRACT Measurements of NCl(a) kinetics are being carried out in support of the effort to develop an NCl(a) driven iodine laser. Photolysis of ClN 3 has been used as a radical source in several previous kinetic studies, as this produces high yields of NCl(a). It had been assumed that NCl(a) was a primary photoproduct. Measurements made under collision-free conditions now indicate that NCl(a) is a minor product, and that Cl and N 3 are produced with a branching fraction of 0.95. In the present study we show that NCl(a) is efficiently produced by secondary photochemical reactions when ClN 3 is photolyzed at moderate pressures. The implications of this finding for kinetic studies that rely on phot olytic NCl(a) generation are considered. The effect of temperature on NCl(a) quenching rate constants is being investigated because the NCl(a)/I laser operates at elevated te mperatures (>400 K). Quenching by H 2 , HCl, Cl 2 , and O 2 in the temperature range from 295-460 K has been examined in the present study. Keywords: All gas-phase iodine laser, nitrogen chloride, chlorine azide photolysis, energy transfer kinetics.
A Bayesian Analysis of Models for the Dust Cloud around Fomalhaut

We report on the results of modeling of the dust cloud around Fomalhaut to fit the existing far-infrared and submillimeter data from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), IRAS, and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). We assumed an optically and spatially thin disk with the following free parameters: inner and outer radii, power-law surface-density gradient, and a simple-grain model that characterized the emissivity as flat shortward of a transition wavelength and decreasing linearly with wavelength beyond that. We also explored two other parameterizations of the models to try to find parameters that were better defined by the existing data. We analyzed the results of the modeling with Bayesian methods for deriving the probabilities of the model parameters. We find that we can place significant constraints on the location of the dust but, contrary to previous suggestions, not its density gradient within the distribution. We confirm previous suggestions that the dust must have an emissivity dependence that does not decrease significantly with wavelength until longward of λ ~ 80 μm. The inclination of the dust disk is moderately well constrained close to the range previously suggested, θ = 65° ± 15°. Our models also reproduce well the total submillimeter flux with the simple assumption of a λ-1 emissivity law in the submillimeter region.
Lack of an effect of melatonin on the basal and L-dopa stimulated growth hormone secretion in men.

The oral administration of melatonin to men has been reported to cause a rapid and significant elevation of serum GH, and to inhibit GH release after stimulation by L-Dopa. We studied the effect of melatonin i.v. on the basal and L-Dopa stimulated GH secretion in four young men. Each subject's control response to L-Dopa was first studied by an oral administration to 500 mg of L-Dopa under a placebo infusion and was followed 2 weeks later by a similar study under melatonin infusion, 2.1 mg/min (total dose of 500 mg). The infusion of melatonin was given for a 4-hour period, 2 hours before and 2 hours after the L-Dopa stimulation. Blood samples for GH were obtained at 30-min intervals. Basal values of serum GH did not rise under the melatonin infusion and peak GH values following L-Dopa stimulation during the control infusion and the melatonin infusion also did not differ (2± 0.5 to 22 ± 6 and 2 ± 0.8 to 25 ± 4 ng/ml respectively). Our data suggest that under an acute constant infusion melatonin does not stimulate GH secretion, nor does it interfere with the L-Dopa stimulated GH response in men.
Airway Smooth Muscle Cell as Therapeutic Target of Inflammation

Airway inflammation is an outcome of complex interactions of multiple cell types in an inflammatory network. In recent years, it has become clear that a single target approach is unlikely to be effective for the treatment of inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma. This recognition suggests an alternative approach of targeting multiple cell types and/or mediators. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells are unique in serving the dual function of bronchoconstriction and inflammation in the airway system. ASM cells respond to a large array of external stimuli such as acetylcholine, bradykinin, inflammatory cytokines, and cyclic stretch with the expression of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and cyclooxygenase products. Ca(2+) influx through voltage-gated and transient receptor potential channels are important mechanisms of Ca(2+)-dependent transcription in ASM cells. Calcineurin and Ca(2+), calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) are Ca(2+)-sensitive enzymes that regulate the activation of the two transcription factors, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) and cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB). Erk1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases are signaling enzymes that couple receptor activation to gene transcription by phosphorylating CREB and stabilizing mRNA against de-adenylation. CREB is a unique transcription factor that is phosphorylated by both CaMK II and Erk1/2 MAPK. Nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) appears to be a universal transcription factor that regulates the transcription of almost all inflammatory genes. Detailed understanding of the cellular components and interactions in the inflammatory network of the airway system may lead to rational targeting of multiple cells and mediators in the treatment of airway inflammation.
Are social work educators bullies? Student perceptions of political discourse in the social work classroom

Social work's professional commitment to working toward social justice for vulnerable groups is well known. However, as a profession, social work has been criticized for proposing professional perspectives that may be interpreted by some as political indoctrination. The purpose of the current study was to examine social work students' perceptions of political debate in the classroom. An additional goal was to examine whether students believed that colleagues who hold certain sociopolitical beliefs should be prohibited from receiving a social work degree. Four hundred and ninety-seven undergraduate and graduate social work students from 10 programs were surveyed. Results show that a majority of respondents were comfortable with the discussion of sociopolitical content in the classroom. Nevertheless, students who self-identified as politically conservative were more likely to report that they perceived the classroom environment as less open and hence less conducive to debate. Finally, overt racism was ident...
ARQ-Based Symmetric-Key Generation Over Correlated Erasure Channels

This paper focuses on the problem of sharing secret keys using Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) protocol. We consider cases where forward and feedback channels are erasure channels for a legitimate receiver (Bob) and an eavesdropper (Eve). In prior works, the wiretap channel is modeled as statistically independent packet erasure channels for Bob and Eve. In this paper, we go beyond the state-of-the-art by addressing correlated erasure events across the wiretap channel. The created randomness is shared between two legitimate parties through ARQ transmissions that is mapped into a destination set using a first-order digital filter with feedback. Then, we characterize Eve's information loss about this shared destination set, due to inevitable transmission errors. This set is then transformed into a highly secure key using privacy amplification in order to intensify and exploit Eve's lack of knowledge. We adopt two criteria for analysis and design of the system: secrecy outage probability as a measure of the secrecy quality, and secret key rate as a metric for efficiency. The resulting secrecy improvement is presented as a function of the correlation coefficients and the erasure probabilities for both channels. It is shown that secrecy improvement is achievable even when Eve has a better channel than legitimate receivers, and her channel conditions are unknown to legitimate users.
Expressions of Color Contrast as Equivalent Achromatic Contrast

Designers of color displays have no simple means to relate suprathreshold color contrast to performance because few of the requisite experiments have been performed. This situation might be alleviated if there were some means to re-express color contrast in terms of an equivalent achromatic contrast, because this would make relevant the extensive literature relating the latter to performance. A pair of experiments was conducted to explore and compare the relationships between color contrast, as represented by three uniform color spaces, and achromatic contrast. The results suggest that a satisfactory transformation can be derived, although additional research will be needed to accomplish this. Language: en
Groupthink versus The Wisdom of Crowds: The Social Epistemology of Deliberation and Dissent

Trust in the practice of rational deliberation is widespread and largely unquestioned. This paper uses recent work from business contexts to challenge the view that rational deliberation in a group improves decisions. Pressure to reach consensus can, in fact, lead to phenomena such as groupthink and to suppression of relevant data. Aggregation of individual decisions, rather than deliberation to a consensus, surprisingly, can produce better decisions than those of either group deliberation or individual expert judgment. I argue that dissent is epistemically valuable, not because of the discussion it can provoke (Mill's and Longino's view about the benefit of dissent), but because dissenting positions often are associated with particular data or insights that would be lost in consensus formation. Social epistemologists can usefully pay attention to various methods of aggregation of individual opinion for their effectiveness at realizing epistemic goals.
Anaerobic aspartate metabolism and the formation of alanine in molluscan cardiac muscle: A 13C Nmr study

Carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectroscopic techniques were used to investigate the metabolism of (13C-3>)-aspartate and (13C-4>)-aspartate by in vitro preparations of the ventricle of the whelk Busycon contrarium. Under anoxic conditions, there was substantial conversion of (13C-4>)-aspartate to C-1,4 succinate with no detectable enrichment of other compounds. When (13C-3>)-aspartate was the substrate, there was substantial enrichment of C-2,3 succinate. However, there was no detectable enrichment of the C-2 or C-3 positions of alanine. This finding suggests that the direct transfer of carbon from aspartate to alanine is minimal under anoxic conditions in whelk ventricle. Thus, the malic enzyme may not be functional in the decarboxylating direction under these conditions.
Swimming with a sword: tail beat kinematics in relation to sword length in Xiphophorus

Summary Exaggerated morphological structures that evolve under sexual selection have the potential to alter functional relationships and hence affect aspects of movement. These effects may be more pronounced when the exaggerated morphological trait is coupled to the propulsive system. Many studies have examined the effects of sexually selected traits on whole-organism performance, but few have documented their effects on the kinematics of locomotion. Using four swordtail (Xiphophorus) species that vary naturally in their expression of the sexually selected sword, and an experimental manipulation for the species in our sample with the longest sword (X. alvarezi), we examined how variation in sword length affects the kinematics of swimming. Among the four species, we found few differences in tail beat kinematics, despite the large variation in sword length among species. In particular, the two species with long swords did not differ from the species lacking a sword, suggesting no locomotor ‘cost’ of having long swords. Using experimental manipulation, sword removal significantly increased tail beat amplitude, but not frequency, suggesting a potential increase in thrust production. Our comparative results suggest that swimming kinematics do not vary much with sword length, despite the variation in this sexually selected trait among the four species. This result suggests that other physiological mechanisms may be compensating for sword length, or as has been suggested recently, the sword may not impose a significant swimming cost.
Relative Probability Index Crp : An Alternative Process Capability Index

Although many industries use process capability indices (PCIs), their ability to rank processes is inconsistent when the process mean is off-target or the process distribution is non-normal. A new index is proposed to give a direct measure in terms of t..
Atrial natriuretic peptide levels during development of chronic heart failure after myocardial infarction in rats

Serum levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) are elevated in chronic heart failure presumably due to dilatation of the left atrium resulting from increases in intracardiac pressures. To define the time course of changes in serum ANP levels and to determine the relationship to left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation to produce myocardial infarction and left ventricular failure. Atrial natriuretic peptide levels were measured weekly for four weeks thereafter. In rats with myocardial infarction and elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure there was no change in ANP levels at 7 and 14 days. However, at day 21 and 28, ANP levels were elevated more than 3 fold. There was a correlation between ANP levels and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures. There was no correlation between ANP levels and right atrial pressures or serum sodium concentrations. We conclude that the chronic elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is required to produce an increase in ANP after myocardial infarction which results in chronic heart failure.
Transformation of a three-mode multidimensional scaling solution to indscal form

Relations between Tucker's three-mode multidimensional scaling and Carroll and Chang's INDSCAL are discussed. The possibility is raised that it may be profitable to attempt to transform a three-mode solution to the general form of an INDSCAL solution. Operationally, this involves transforming the three-mode core matrix so that each section is, as nearly as possible, a diagonal matrix. A technique is developed for accomplishing such a transformation, and is applied to two sets of data from the literature. Results indicate that the process is both feasible and valuable, providing useful information on the relative appropriateness of the two models.