cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Locational Choices and Consumer Behaviors on Personal Land Footprints: An Exploration Across the Urban–Rural Continuum in the United States

Land is a scarce resource. We develop consumption-based land footprints (CBLF) for urban and rural U.S. residents to evaluate new levers for reducing land-demand by combining (1) direct land-use fo...
Stochastic Resonance in Insulator-Metal-Transition Systems.

Stochastic resonance (SR) is an ingenious phenomenon observed in nature and in biological systems but has seen very few practical applications in engineering. It has been observed and analyzed in widely different natural phenomenon including in bio-organisms (e.g. Mechanoreceptor of crayfish) and in environmental sciences (e.g. the periodic occurrence of ice ages). The main idea behind SR seems quite unorthodox – it proposes that noise, that is intrinsically present in a system or is extrinsically added, can help enhance the signal power at the output, in a desired frequency range. Despite its promise and ubiquitous presence in nature, SR has not been successively harnessed in engineering applications. In this work, we demonstrate both experimentally as well as theoretically how the intrinsic threshold noise of an insulator-metal-transition (IMT) material can enable SR. We borrow inspiration from natural systems which use SR to detect and amplify low-amplitude signals, to demonstrate how a simple electrical circuit which uses an IMT device can exploit SR in engineering applications. We explore two such applications: one of them utilizes noise to correctly transmit signals corresponding to different vowel sounds akin to auditory nerves, without amplifying the amplitude of the input audio sound. This finds applications in cochlear implants where ultra-low power consumption is a primary requirement. The second application leverages the frequency response of SR, where the loss of resonance at out-of-band frequencies is used. We demonstrate how to provide frequency selectivity by tuning an extrinsically added noise to the system.
Epigenetic Evolution of ACE2 and IL-6 Genes as Non-Canonical Interferon-Stimulated Genes Correlate to COVID-19 Susceptibility in Vertebrates

Abstract Current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread globally within a matter of months. The virus establishes a success in balancing its deadliness and contagiousness, and causes substantial differences in susceptibility and disease progression in people of different ages, genders and pre-existing comorbidities. Since these host factors are subjected to epigenetic regulation, relevant analyses on some key genes underlying COVID-19 pathogenesis were performed to longitudinally decipher their epigenetic correlation to COVID-19 susceptibility. The genes of host angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2, as the major virus receptor) and interleukin (IL)-6 (a key immune-pathological factor triggering cytokine storm) were shown to evince active epigenetic evolution via histone modification and cis/trans-factors interaction across different vertebrate species. Extensive analyses revealed that ACE2 ad IL-6 genes are among a subset of non-canonical interferon-stimulated genes (non-ISGs), which have been designated recently for their unconventional responses to interferons (IFNs) and inflammatory stimuli through an epigenetic cascade. Furthermore, significantly higher positive histone modification markers and position weight matrix (PWM) scores of key cis-elements corresponding to inflammatory and IFN signaling, were discovered in both ACE2 and IL6 gene promoters across representative COVID-19-susceptible species compared to unsusceptible ones. Findings characterize ACE2 and IL-6 genes as non-ISGs that respond differently to inflammatory and IFN signaling from the canonical ISGs and their epigenetic properties may serve as biomarkers to longitudinally predict COVID-19 susceptibility in vertebrates and partially explain COVID-19 inequality in people of different subgroups.
A dynamic gradient architecture generates brain activity states

Abstract A central goal of systems neuroscience is to determine the functional-anatomical basis of brain-wide activity dynamics. While brain activity patterns appear to be low-dimensional and guided by spatial gradients, the set of gradients remains provisional and their mode of interaction is unclear. Here we applied deep learning-based dimensionality reduction to task-free fMRI images to derive an intrinsic latent space of human brain activity. Each dimension represented a discrete, dynamically fluctuating spatial activity gradient. The principal dimension was a novel unipolar sensory-association gradient underlying the global signal. A small set of gradients appeared to underlie key functional connectomics phenomena. Different task activation patterns were generated by gradients adopting task-specific configurations. Dynamical systems modelling revealed that gradients interact via state-specific coupling parameters, allowing accurate forecasts and simulations of task-specific brain activity. Together, these findings indicate that a small set of dynamic, interacting gradients create the repertoire of possible brain activity states.
The Role of Public Health Improvements in Health Advances: The Twentieth-Century United States

Mortality rates in the United States fell more rapidly during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries than in any other period in American history. This decline coincided with an epidemiological transition and the disappearance of a mortality “penalty” associated with living in urban areas. There is little empirical evidence and much unresolved debate about what caused these improvements, however. In this article, we report the causal influence of clean water technologies— filtration and chlorination—on mortality in major cities during the early twentieth century. Plausibly exogenous variation in the timing and location of technology adoption was used to identify these effects, and the validity of this identifying assumption is examined in detail. We found that clean water was responsible for nearly half the total mortality reduction in major cities, three quarters of the infant mortality reduction, and nearly two thirds of the child mortality reduction. Rough calculations suggest that the social rate of return to these technologies was greater than 23 to 1, with a cost per person-year saved by clean water of about $500 in 2003 dollars. Implications for developing countries are briefly considered.
Exploring race, family, and community variation in juvenile institutionalization through the perspective of symbolic threat

Prior research has established that family status, race, and community characteristics have a significant impact independently on the various stages of the juvenile justice process, particularly as...
A Review of: “Engaging Technology in Theological Education: All that We Can't Leave Behind”

One might suspect from the title that this is a “how-to” book for the educator contemplating an expanded use of technology, but in reality this text is more concerned with issues potentially catego...
Comparisons and Uncertainty in Fat and Adipose Tissue Estimation Techniques: The Northern Elephant Seal as a Case Study

Fat mass and body condition are important metrics in bioenergetics and physiological studies. They can also link foraging success with demographic rates, making them key components of models that predict population-level outcomes of environmental change. Therefore, it is important to incorporate uncertainty in physiological indicators if results will lead to species management decisions. Maternal fat mass in elephant seals (Mirounga spp) can predict reproductive rate and pup survival, but no one has quantified or identified the sources of uncertainty for the two fat mass estimation techniques (labeled-water and truncated cones). The current cones method can provide estimates of proportion adipose tissue in adult females and proportion fat of juveniles in northern elephant seals (M. angustirostris) comparable to labeled-water methods, but it does not work for all cases or species. We reviewed components and assumptions of the technique via measurements of seven early-molt and seven late-molt adult females. We show that seals are elliptical on land, rather than the assumed circular shape, and skin may account for a high proportion of what is often defined as blubber. Also, blubber extends past the neck-to-pelvis region, and comparisons of new and old ultrasound instrumentation indicate previous measurements of sculp thickness may be biased low. Accounting for such differences, and incorporating new measurements of blubber density and proportion of fat in blubber, we propose a modified cones method that can isolate blubber from non-blubber adipose tissue and separate fat into skin, blubber, and core compartments. Lastly, we found that adipose tissue and fat estimates using tritiated water may be biased high during the early molt. Both the tritiated water and modified cones methods had high, but reducible, uncertainty. The improved cones method for estimating body condition allows for more accurate quantification of the various tissue masses and may also be transferrable to other species.
Arbitration Clauses in CEO Employment Contracts: An Empirical and Theoretical Analysis

A bill currently pending in Congress would render unenforceable mandatory arbitration clauses in all employment contracts. Some perceive these provisions as employer efforts to deprive employees of important legal rights. Company CEOs are firm employees, and, unlike most other firm employees, they can actually negotiate their employment contracts, very often with attorney assistance. Moreover, many CEO employment contracts are publicly available, so they can be examined empirically. In this paper, we ask whether CEOs bargain to include binding arbitration provisions in their employment contracts. After exploring the theoretical arguments for and against including such provisions in these agreements, we use a large sample of CEO employment contracts to test the several different hypotheses for including such provisions. We find that only about one half of CEO employment contracts in our sample include such provisions. What factors might determine whether CEOs agree to arbitrate their employment disputes with their companies? We find that CEOs that receive a higher percentage of long-term incentive pay as a fraction of their total pay, that work in industry sectors that are undergoing greater amounts of change, and that have lower long-term profitability are statistically significantly more likely to have arbitration provisions in their employment contracts. The importance of contextual factors for arbitration clauses in CEO contracts indicates that regulation of arbitration clauses in employment contracts should be more nuanced than that found in pending legislation.
The frequency of the equine cerebellar abiotrophy mutation in non‐Arabian horse breeds

Summary Reasons for performing study: A putative mutation causative of cerebellar abiotrophy (CA), a genetic defect found almost exclusively in Arabian horses, was recently identified. Objectives and hypothesis: To investigate the presence of the CA mutation in breeds other than Arabian and ascertain whether the mutation had been introduced into these breeds by Arabian ancestry. The CA mutation is present in breeds of horses with Arabian ancestry. Methods: Allele-specific PCR was used to genotype 1845 non-Arabian horses for the CA mutation. For those breeds in which at least one carrier was identified, an additional 266 horses were genotyped to determine the frequency of the CA allele. Cerebellar abiotrophy carriers were further genotyped for a haplotype segregating with CA in Arabians. Results: At least one CA carrier was identified in 3 breeds and the frequency of the CA allele calculated: Bashkir Curly Horses (2.8%), Trakehners (0.68%) and Welsh ponies (0.33%). Based on pedigree and haplotype analysis, CA was introduced into these breeds by Arabian ancestry. The Trakehner and Welsh pony carriers were at least half-Arabian, while the Bashkir Curly horses appeared to have had the CA allele introduced by a single Arabian stallion used for developing the breed in the 1960s. Conclusions: The CA mutation is present in breeds of horses that allow crossbreeding with Arabian horses and in breeds that have used Arabians as foundation stock during their development. Potential relevance: Breeds that allow registration of horses with Arabian ancestry should have any Arabian breeding stock tested for the mutation and breeds descended from Arabian ancestry should pursue genetic testing of breeding stock to prevent the occurrence of affected foals.
Contribution of tumor necrosis factor alpha to endotoxin-induced mucosal dysfunction in the feline jejunum

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) occupies a pivotal role in the development of shock and tissue injury during endotoxemia and septicemia, and may be an important trigger in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced intestinal mucosal dysfunction. This study investigated the contribution of TNFα to endotoxin-induced mucosal dysfunction and the efficacy of polyclonal anti-TNFα antibody in preventing endotoxin-induced mucosal dysfunction.To evaluate mucosal dysfunction, jejunal blood-to-lumen clearances of chromium 51-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetate ([51Cr]-EDTA) were measured in cats administered fetal calf serum (controls), endotoxin, TNFα, or polyclonal anti-TNFα antibody and endotoxin. Serum TNFα activity was determined using a modified in vitro cytotoxicity bioassay using the murine fibrosarcoma cell line, WEHI-164 clone 13.Endotoxin and TNFα induced jejunal mucosal dysfunction as indicated by increases in [51 Cr]-EDTA clearance. Mucosal dysfunction was accompanied by marked increases in serum TNFα activi...
Evolutionary cores of domain co-occurrence networks

The modeling of complex systems, as disparate as the World Wide Web and the cellular metabolism, as networks has recently uncovered a set of generic organizing principles: Most of these systems are scale-free while at the same time modular, resulting in a hierarchical architecture. The structure of the protein domain network, where individual domains correspond to nodes and their co-occurrences in a protein are interpreted as links, also falls into this category, suggesting that domains involved in the maintenance of increasingly developed, multicellular organisms accumulate links. Here, we take the next step by studying link based properties of the protein domain co-occurrence networks of the eukaryotes S. cerevisiae, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, M. musculus and H. sapiens. We construct the protein domain co-occurrence networks from the PFAM database and analyze them by applying a k-core decomposition method that isolates the globally central (highly connected domains in the central cores) from the locally central (highly connected domains in the peripheral cores) protein domains through an iterative peeling process. Furthermore, we compare the subnetworks thus obtained to the physical domain interaction network of S. cerevisiae. We find that the innermost cores of the domain co-occurrence networks gradually grow with increasing degree of evolutionary development in going from single cellular to multicellular eukaryotes. The comparison of the cores across all the organisms under consideration uncovers patterns of domain combinations that are predominately involved in protein functions such as cell-cell contacts and signal transduction. Analyzing a weighted interaction network of PFAM domains of Yeast, we find that domains having only a few partners frequently interact with these, while the converse is true for domains with a multitude of partners. Combining domain co-occurrence and interaction information, we observe that the co-occurrence of domains in the innermost cores (globally central domains) strongly coincides with physical interaction. The comparison of the multicellular eukaryotic domain co-occurrence networks with the single celled of S. cerevisiae (the overlap network) uncovers small, connected network patterns. We hypothesize that these patterns, consisting of the domains and links preserved through evolution, may constitute nucleation kernels for the evolutionary increase in proteome complexity. Combining co-occurrence and physical interaction data we argue that the driving force behind domain fusions is a collective effect caused by the number of interactions and not the individual interaction frequency.
On-satellite testing of mobile communication antennas for compliance to VMES, ESV, and other pointing accuracy requirements

Accurate pointing is a defining requirement for transmitting mobile satellite communication (“Satcom-on-the-move”) antennas. However, the nature of mobile operations presents a significant challenge to any effort to actually test and measure the pointing accuracy of these antennas. A method of testing mobile antennas in actual on-satellite operation is described. The method, which involves determining adjacent satellite interference, is simple and direct. The proposed plan is a viable method to determine antenna pointing performance for FCC Vehicle Mounted Earth Station (VMES) compliance. Background on the test is provided, and the test setup, procedure, and post-processing requirements are described. The limits on the accuracy of the test methodology are also presented. Data from a case study is provided and discussed.
Weak-Field Magnetoresistance in p -Type Silicon

Measurements of the three weak-field magnetoresistance coefficients and the Hall mobility have been made at a number of different temperatures between 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 350\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K on $p$-type silicon samples ranging in resistivity from 0.15 to 115 ohm-cm. The results indicate a marked temperature dependence of the anisotropies of the energy band structure and/or the scattering. The weak-field magnetoresistance coefficients happen to satisfy nearly the same symmetry relations above about 275\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K as those satisfied by $n$-type germanium.
Observed Characteristics of the Afternoon–Evening Boundary Layer Transition Based on Sodar and Surface Data

AbstractThe early-evening boundary layer transition has been defined in the past using a variety of criteria, the most popular of which is the onset of a negative surface heat flux. According to this definition, the transition is an almost-instantaneous event that occurs when the positive daytime heat flux switches to the negative nighttime heat flux. This definition is simplistic, however, because the stable boundary layer does not form instantaneously over a deep layer. Other factors are involved, and many changes occur aloft during the transition period that this definition does not account for—for example, a more gradual reduction in turbulence and an increase in wind speed. The combined use of sodar data, as well as 915-MHz wind profiler, surface temperature, dewpoint, and wind data, provides a more-comprehensive definition of the early-evening boundary layer transition. Sodar backscatter is sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and therefore as the heat flux decreases, the sodar return power exhibi...
Gel technology in ceramics

Abstract The use of sol-gel techniques to prepare ceramic materials ranks high among those areas in ceramic science and technology which are changing most rapidly and which offer the greatest promise for outstanding improvements in both understanding and applications. This paper reviews the important theoretical considerations, processing techniques and applications related to sol-gel derived ceramics. The gelation behavior of colloidal and polymeric gels, in general, and the influence of such variables as solvent type and concentration, pH, catalyst concentration, temperature, etc. on several oxide systems including silica are considered. The importance of capillary stresses and the various techniques used to minimize them during drying are discussed as are the relevant theories which describe the sintering and firing behavior of the dried gels. To produce ceramics containing more than one oxide, appropriate chemical techniques must be employed to obtain the desired homogeneity. The addition of salts, partial hydrolysis, and alkoxide complexation are among the more widely employed techniques reviewed. A review of current and potential applications of sol-gel derived ceramics, which includes specific examples from the areas of novel glasses, fibers, abrasives, thin films and coatings, is included as well. The paper closes with recommendations and suggestions for future work especially in areas which would benefit from the expertise of physicists and chemists.
Quantum mechanical determination of rates of reactions involving hydrogen isotopes

Abstract A three-dimensional, quantum mechanical, coupled channel distorted wave approximation is used for calculating thermal rate constants for the isotopic D + H 2 , H + D 2 , Mu + H 2 , and para to ortho H + H 2 exchange reactions using the most accurate available potential surface. The calculated cross sections for the H+H 2 reaction are found to be in excellent agreement with converged close coupling results. Rate constants obtained from the cross sections are compared with the available experimental results.
Alpha-aminoisobutyric acid uptake in primary cultures of astrocytes

Homotypically pure cultures of rat brain astrocytes were used to examine some aspects of non-neuronal A-system (alanine preferring) amino acid uptake. The Asystem specific probe, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid is transported rapidly, and a steady state distribution ratio of 9–25 is reached after 30 minute incubations. Kinetic estimates derived from uptake progress curves indicated aKm of 1.35 mM and aVmax of 133 nmol/min/mg protein. Uptake is reduced in the absence of either Na+ or K+. Elevations in extracellular K+, a putative metabolic modulator of neuroglia, did not affect uptake.
Products of circulant graphs are metacirculant

The standard products-cartesian, lexicographic, tensor, and strong--all belong to a class of products introduced by W. Imrich and H. Izbicki (1975, Monatsh. Math. 80, 277-281) and later called B-products by I. Broere and J. H. Hattingh (1990, Quaest. Math. 13, 191-216) who establish that the lexicographic product of two circulant graphs is again circulant. In this paper, we establish that any B-product of two circulant graphs is always a so-called metacirculant graph with parameters that are easily described in terms of the product graphs. We also establish that any metacirculant graph with the appropriate structure is isomorphic to the B-product of a pair of circulant graphs.
Trocar cystostomy during transurethral prostatic resection

Abstract A new suprapubic trocar for constant drainage of irrigating fluid during transurethralresection of the prostate was studied in 87 patients: The irrigating fluid height was 60 cm. above the prostatic fossa in 61 patients and 40 cm. in 26 patients. The absorption of irrigating fluid during resection was measured by volumetric and radioisotopic methods and was compared with and without use of trocar in the two patient groups. In the 40-cm. group, but not in the 60-cm. group, the use of trocar cystostomy lowered the total as well as the intravascular absorption of irrigating fluid to low and clinically insignificant amounts. The low bladder pressure (average 8 cm.) explained the low absorption. The use of the trocar in this group also resulted in lower blood loss per gram resected tissue and less operating time per gram tissue removed. Use of the trocar in transurethral prostatic resection represents a technical advantage over conventional techniques, since it allows uninterrupted resection at a low bladder pressure.
Conserved Neuron Promoting Activity in Drosophila and Vertebrate Laminin α1

Abstract Drosophila S2 cells were transfected with constructs that code for two portions of the Drosophila laminin α chain. Construct recαL coded for domains III, I/II, and G of laminin α. Construct recαS coded for only the COOH-most 12% of the I/II domain and the G domain. The corresponding polypeptides were isolated and characterized from the culture media. The recαL chain partly formed disulfide-linked heterotrimers with the endogenously produced β and γ laminin chains. Like normal Drosophila laminin, a substrate coating of either recαL or recαS supported neuron differentiation and neurite extension of primary Drosophila embryo cell cultures. However, at the same low concentrations, only Drosophila laminin-1, but neither recαL nor recαS supported myogenesis in these cultures. Previously, an overlapping set of dodecapeptides that covered a region of the murine laminin α1 chain similar to recαS had been synthesized and tested for cell culture support properties (Nomizu, M., Kim, W. H., Yamamura, K., Utani, A., Otaka, A., Roller, P. P., Kleinman, H. K., and Yamada, Y. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 20583-20590). The Drosophila laminin α homologues of the six most active vertebrate dodecapeptides were now synthesized and tested as substrates for differentiation of primary Drosophila embryo cells. Peptides that contained either the Drosophila sequence SIKVGV or the murine homologue, SIKVAV, provided support for neurite extension.
Differential shear wave attenuation and its lateral variation in the North Atlantic Region

A digital data base of over 150 seismograms and a spectral radio technique are used to measure SS-S differential attenuation in the North Atlantic region. Differential attenuation is positively correlated with SS-S travel time residual, and both differential attentuation and travel time residual decrease with increasing seafloor age. Models are developed for seismic Q in which lateral variations include contributions from the asthenospheric low-Q zone as well as from lithospheric cooling. The Q models obtained under this assumption are in good agreement with those obtained from surface wave studies and are therefore preferred over those models with lateral variations confined to the upper 125 km. Systematic long-wavelength (1000-7000 km) variations in differential attenuation, corrected for seafloor age, are evident along the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. These variations can be qualitatively correlated with long-wavelength variations in SS-S differential travel time residuals and are attributed to along-axis differences in upper mantle temperature.
Developmental changes in condom use among urban adolescent females: influence of partner context.

Abstract Purpose National surveys have found that the percentage of female adolescents who report condom use at last sex differs by age group. Using longitudinal data, the authors examined whether there are longitudinal changes in condom use and whether these changes are due in part to developmental changes in the types of sexual relationships in which young women are involved. Method A clinic sample of 298 African American female adolescents aged 14–19 years at enrollment were interviewed every 6 months for a period of 36 months. At each interview, participants were asked to name all their recent sex partners, to classify each partner as main or casual, and to report whether a condom was used at last sex with each of these partners. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling was used to analyze repeated measures within individuals. Results On average, there was no statistically significant change in condom use over time. The odds of having a single main partner increased by 4% for each 6 months spent in the study (odds ratio: 1.04%, 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.05). Stratifying females by longitudinal relationship patterns resulted in three distinct condom use trajectories. Conclusion Data suggest that longitudinal changes in condom use are a function of developmental changes in relationships, whereby young women trend toward monogamous relationships. As condoms are abandoned within these monogamous relationships, lowering infection rates in sex partners through broader sexually transmitted infections screening or through community-level interventions aimed at sex networks might prove to be a more effective approach to reduce sexually transmitted infections risk in young women.
A new crystalline form of tropomyosin.

Abstract Crystalline aggregates of tropomyosin precipitated with divalent cations at acid pH are described. The structure appears to consist of obliquely striated sheets in which the unit cell is 400 A long and 18 A wide. A three-dimensional model is presented, made by a parallel stacking of these sheets, which in projection simulates the appearance of the electron micrographs.
Robust detection and visualization of cytoskeletal structures in fibrillar scaffolds from 3-dimensional confocal image

Polymerized actin-based cytoskeletal structures provide the cells with shape, resilience and dynamics. A mechanistic understanding of actin-based structures is crucial for finding solutions to practical problems occurring in tissue engineering constructs that require the interaction of cells with materials. In this regard, the first step is to detect and quantify actin-based structures in 3D cellular ensembles. In this work, we propose visual-analytic tools to delineate specific structures involving F-actin in cells. Concave actin bundles (CABs) often occur in hybrid cell-seeded fibrillar scaffolds and seem to envelope the fibers, as a possible mechanism of stable attachment. There is much uncertainty that accompanies the detection and the identification of fibers. Our tools rely on well-known algorithms of image analysis. We first delineate fibers by employing an adaptive min-cut-max-flow algorithm. Then, from the extremities of the segmented fibers, a template matching and a fiber tracking algorithm is applied to more precisely characterize the fibers in the image. CABs that surround the scaffold fibers transversally are located by observing their radial distribution around the nearby templates in focus. Finally, we visually examine candidate templates that possibly contain CABs and further determine if candidate CABs are indeed legitimate. It can be unequivocally stated that in the absence of the proposed visual analytic tools, the detection of CABs is intractable tasks.
Filters for the Isolation of Narrow Regions in the Visible and Near-Visible Spectrum.

Investigations of photochemical reactions in higher plants and other biological systems frequently require the irradiation of large areas with welldefined regions in the visible and near-visible spectrum. Large glass filters or dyed gelatin filters of the Wratten type are costly. Inexpensive theatrical gelatin filters, dyed cellophane, or other dyed plastics are available, but these are limited in variety of spectral characteristics and few of them have sharp absorption bands. The laboratory preparation of large dyed gelatin films is very inexpensive. These films are particularly useful for studies in plant photochemistry because the transmission bands can be adjusted to meet the special requirements of each problem. On the basis of laboratory experience and of various reports in the literature (?, 7, 10, 11, 13), the following information is presented on the technique of preparation of dyed gelatin films and the composition and transmission data for a few typical filters. In addition, data are presented on the transmission of water and solutions of copper sulphate and ferrous ammonium sulphate, which are useful as primary filters for the removal of the infrared and certain other regions of the visible and nearultraviolet spectrum. With water or aqueous solutions as primary filters and dyed gelatin films as secondary filters, it frequently is possible to isolate single lines of the mercury arc spectrum and fairly narrow regions from incandescent lamp sources. Since the gelatin films can be prepared conveniently in sizes up to at least one square meter, relatively high irradiances can be produced over areas of a square meter or more, making it possible to grow mature plants with spectral regions that are well defined and sufficiently narrow for many physiological studies. The dyed gelatin films to be described were prepared by the general method of casting hot solutions of dye and gelatin onto plate glass. After the layer has gelled, it is allowed to dry. If the glass has been treated previously with silicone, the film can be stripped from the casting plate and mounted between panes of window glass.
Salt Bridge Stabilization of Charged Zwitterionic Arginine Aggregates in the Gas Phase

The discovery of several new unusually stable aggregates of arginine that are intermolecularly bound by salt bridges is reported. Quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry provides evidence for the stability of arginine in the zwitterionic state, where the protonated guanidinium group of one arginine interacts strongly with the carboxylate of another to form stable noncovalent complexes, coordinated to either a cation or anion. Clusters of arginine with itself, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide, and nitrate are observed. DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G** level are used to assess the structures and energetics of particularly prominent clusters. An examination of mixtures of d-arginine with isotopically labeled l-arginine indicates that the stability of these clusters does not depend on arginine enantiomeric purity. The cyclic trimers of arginine, capped with either Cl^- or NO_3^-, possess exceptional stability.
Effects of diphenylhydantoin on coronary resistance and myocardial contractile force before and after ouabain.

Abstract These studies suggest that the direct local effect of DPH is to relax coronary smooth muscle and depress myocardial muscle. Further, the results indicate that neither the vascular nor myocardial effects of DPH are mediated through a stimulating action of the drug on the cell membrane Na + , K + ATPase. In contrast, the studies support the hypothesis that the vasodilator but not the cardiac depressant action of potassium results from a stimulating action of this ion on the sarcolemmal sodium-potassium pump.
On a limited approach to mythic criticism—Rowland's rejoinder

The functional/formal approach to mythic criticism provides an appropriate definition of myth that is not overly narrow. Use of this definition should allow the critic to distinguish the genuinely mythic from other narrative forms. The various objections to the perspective can be answered by means of a close consideration of the way that the proposed definition of mythic form and function would guide critical practice.
‘Internetization Management’ The Way to Run the Strategic Alliances in the E-globalization Age

In the traditional economy, partnership forms are managed through classical styles. However, the traditional economy is successively being transferred into an IT-based economy where classical globa...
Myocardial Architecture and Ventricular Arrhythmogenesis

Conduction of the cardiac impulse is dependent on both the active membrane properties of cardiac cells (generating the action potential) and the passive properties determined by architectural features of the myocardium. The influence of tissue architecture on conduction is determined principally by the size, shape, and packing of individual myocytes and by the quantity, three-dimensional distribution, and physiological behavior of the specialized intercellular junctions responsible for impulse propagation from cell to cell, the gap junctions.1 It has long been recognized that abnormalities in conduction of the cardiac impulse are an important cause of arrhythmias2 in that they alter the relationships between conduction velocity, path length, and recovery of excitability (the determinants of reentrant excitation). However, it was not until more recently that myocardial architecture was considered important in determining patterns of activation and conduction velocity3 4 and was therefore thought to have a central role in arrhythmogenesis,5 and some of the evidence for this forms the basis of this review. ### Myocardial Syncytium: Anisotropy of Structure and Function The early observation that conduction properties in myocardium were different in different directions,6 with more rapid conduction in the direction parallel to the myocardial fiber axis than in the transverse direction (the definition of the anisotropic conduction characteristic of heart muscle [Figure 1⇓]), is attributable principally to the lower resistivity of myocardium in the longitudinal than the transverse direction. Gap-junctional channels create continuity between the cytoplasmic compartments of abutting myocytes but act as resistive discontinuities to the cytoplasmic current flow between the intracellular compartments of the cells (the “intracellular” conduction pathway). Longitudinal resistivity is lower than transverse because this intracellular pathway encounters fewer cell boundaries per unit distance in the longitudinal than the transverse direction. In normal ventricular myocardium, conduction in the direction parallel to the long axis of the myocardial fiber bundles …
Heuristics and augmented neural networks for task scheduling with non-identical machines

Abstract We propose new heuristics along with an augmented-neural-network (AugNN) formulation for solving the makespan minimization task-scheduling problem for the non-identical machine environment. We explore four task and three machine-priority rules, resulting in 12 combinations of single-pass heuristics. The task-priority rules are Highest-Level-First (HLF), Highest-Total-Remaining-Processing-Time-First (HTRPTF), Smallest-Latest-Finish-Time-First (SLFTF) and Minimum-Slack-First (MSF). For machine priority, we propose a greedy rule called Fastest-Available-Machine-First (FAMF), and two non-greedy rules: (1) Fastest-Available-Machine-First-With-Conditional-Wait-1 (FAMF-CW-1), and (2) Fastest-Available-Machine-First-With-Conditional-Wait-2 (FMF-CW-2). The AugNN approach integrates neural-network learning with domain and problem specific knowledge through heuristics, to produce good results. A single-pass heuristic is embedded in a neural network designed specifically for each problem. We give the AugNN formulation for each of the 12 heuristics and show computational results on 100 randomly generated problems of sizes ranging from 20 to 70 tasks and 2 to 5 machines. Results demonstrate that AugNN provides significant improvement over single-pass heuristics. The reduction in the gap between the obtained solution and the lower-bound due to AugNN over single-pass heuristics ranged from 24.4% to 50%. As far as heuristics, the non-greedy machine-priority rules performed significantly better than the greedy rule. The average gaps for the non-greedy rules ranged from 16.1% to 23.5% compared to 33.7% to 40.4% for greedy. For AugNN, for non-greedy rules, the gap ranged from 11.5% to 15.5% compared to 18.4% to 25.0% for greedy. The HLF and HTRPTF task priority rules performed better than the other two. The HTRPTF/FAMF-CW-1 combination gave the best results, closely followed by HLF/FAMF-CW-2 and HTRPTF/FAMF-CW-2 combinations.
Optical polarization of Nova Monocerotis 1975 /= A0620-00/

The linear polarization of the optical counterpart of the transient X-ray source A0620-00 is interstellar in magnitude, position angle, and wavelength dependence. The magnitude of the polarization is consistent with a distance greater than 1 kpc.
Development and validation of a scale to measure perceived authenticity in writing

a b s t r a c t The purpose of this study is to examine the reliability and validity of scores obtained from a scale designed to measure authenticity of writing from the writer's perspective: the Perceived Authenticity of Writing (PAW) Scale. Using the concept of funds of knowledge as a framework (Hogg, 2011), 17 items were created to represent three areas of relevance for students: community and global (6 items), personal (5 items), and academic (5 items). One item was intended as a general item to capture an overall rating of authenticity. The PAW Scale was administered to 8th grade students (N = 103), and Rasch measurement theory was used to examine the reliability and validity of the scores. The PAW Scale exhibited good reliability (Rel = .92), and good model-data fit was found for the scale. Validity evidence was also obtained from short written responses, compar- ison of the conceptual framework and authentic writing theory, and correlations between scores on the PAW Scale and (1) writing self-efficacy (r = .097, ns), (2) writing interest (r = .542, p < .001), (3) mastery goal orientation (r = .446, p < .05), and self-reported prior achievement in writing (r = .116, ns). The PAW Scale offers a promis- ing measure for future research exploring perceived authenticity, including research informing writing assessment policy.
Polyelectrolyte Properties of Ionomeric Polymers

The polyelectrolyte effect observed in a specific associating polymer, i.e. lightly sulfonated polystyrene in a polar, nonaqueous solvent, is detailed by comparing the experimental results with the theoretically derived Fuoss relationship. This analysis shows the parameters in the Fuoss equation do depend strongly on the molecular weight and charge density as predicted. These results are general and are useful in understanding the behavior of polyelectrolyte in aqueous solution.
Phase unwrapping for flaw detection : is it necessary?

The phase-stepping technique is becoming a common enhancement to digital shearography and holography systems used in NDE. Capturing a series of phase-stepped images, rather than just a pair, allows the calculation of surface deformation at every pixel; data from a equispaced, spatially dense set rather than a sparse collection of nonuniformly spaced points. Phase maps are calculated modulo 2(pi) . If surface deformations are of sufficiently high amplitude, the phase will appear 'wrapped'. The next logical step is to 'unwrap' the phase and make it continuous again. For flaw detection purposes, however, this difficult step should be questioned; it is sometimes not only unnecessary, but deleterious to the flaw detection process. Further image processing steps must sometimes be applied to the unwrapped phase in order to expose flaws once readily visible in the wrapped phase map. These steps, only applicable to an unwrapped phase map, can also serve to uncover some flaws not previously visible in the wrapped phase map. Finally, effective data visualization plays an important role in conveying information role in conveying information embedded in the wrapped phase map. Finally, effective data visualization plays an important role in conveying information embedded in the wrapped or unwrapped phase maps. This paper introduces these issues and gives several examples, wrapped and unwrapped, with varying excitation type, material, flaw type, and image processing.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The role of Li2MO2 structures (M=metal ion) in the electrochemistry of (x)LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2·(1−x)Li2TiO3 electrodes for lithium-ion batteries

The electrochemical reactions of lithium with layered composite electrodes ({chi})LiMn{sub 0.5}Ni{sub 0.5}O{sub 2} {center_dot} (1 - {chi})Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} were investigated at low voltages. The metal oxide 0.95LiMn{sub 0.5}Ni{sub 0.5}O{sub 2}{center_dot}0.05Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} (x=0.95) which can also be represented in layered notation as Li(Mn{sub 0.46}Ni{sub 0.46}Ti{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.02})O{sub 2}, can react with one equivalent of lithium during an initial discharge from 3.2 to 1.4 V vs. Li{sup 0}. The electrochemical reaction, which corresponds to a theoretical capacity of 286 mAh/g, is hypothesized to form Li{sub 2}(Mn{sub 0.46}Ni{sub 0.46}Ti{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.02})O{sub 2} that is isostructural with Li{sub 2}MnO{sub 2} and Li{sub 2}NiO{sub 2}. Similar low-voltage electrochemical behavior is also observed with unsubstituted, standard LiMn{sub 0.5}Ni{sub 0.5}O{sub 2} electrodes (x=1). In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data of Li(Mn{sub 0.46}Ni{sub 0.46}Ti{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.02})O{sub 2} electrodes indicate that the low-voltage (<1.8 V) reaction is associated primarily with the reduction of Mn{sup 4+} to Mn{sup 2+}. Symmetric rocking-chair cells with the configuration Li(Mn{sub 0.46}Ni{sub 0.46}Ti{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.02})O{sub 2}/Li(Mn{sub 0.46}Ni{sub 0.46}Ti{sub 0.05}Li{sub 0.02})O{sub 2} were tested. These electrodes provide a rechargeable capacity in excess of 300 mAh/g when charged and discharged over a 3.3 to -3.3 V range and show an insignificant capacity loss onmore » the initial cycle. These findings have implications for combating the capacity-loss effects at graphite, metal-alloy, or intermetallic negative electrodes against lithium metal-oxide positive electrodes of conventional lithium-ion cells.« less
The first evidence for MORB-like lavas from the outer Mariana forearc: geochemistry, petrography and tectonic implications

Abstract The Mariana forearc, the region between the active Mariana volcanic arc and the trench axis, is considered to be composed of rocks entirely of arc origin. This conclusion was based upon the lack of an accretionary wedge and recovery of arc volcanics from sites throughout the forearc (including the inner trench wall). New chemical data from dredged samples demonstrate that exposures of altered basalts similar to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and of ocean island basalt (OIB) exist in the Mariana forearc. Several forearc sites including a 2000 m scarp bounding a large graben at 19°30′N, two small scarps in the inner trench wall, and a seamount were dredged. MORB-like and OIB lavas in addition to island arc tholeiite (IAT) and boninite were recovered. All samples exhibit low-temperature seafloor alteration, and some are metamorphosed to lower greenschist facies. IAT samples have low TiO 2 ( 2 of 1–2% and Zr of 60–93 ppm. OIB samples typically have high TiO 2 (> 3%) and Zr (> 180 ppm). Several OIB samples contain modal nepheline and all have high alkali contents. The presence of OIB and MORB-like lavas in the outer forearc may suggest either that entrapment of Philippine Sea or Kula Plate or that obduction of Pacific Plate has occurred in the evolution of the Mariana forearc. However, the intimate association of MORB-like lavas with arc lavas in the fault scarp requires that either IAT magma was injected into entrapped or obducted oceanic crust or that MORB-like magma was injected into an arc crust during forearc rifting or deformation.
Factors mediating the relationships between preschool children's play patterns and peer ratings: Verbal communication styles

Abstract The effects of verbal communication styles on relationships between play patterns and peer ratings were investigated with a sample of 30 4-year-olds. Play patterns were determined in 22 spot checks made of each child during freeplay. Styles of verbal communication-including verbosity, affect tone, person/play focus, and responsivity-were ascertained from written accounts of each child's verbalizations gathered during three 5-min periods of freeplay. Peer ratings were gathered sociometrically. Multiple regression procedures were used in analyzing the data. In general, relationships between play and peer ratings reported in earlier work are supported, but in some cases differing patterns emerged when verbal communication styles were taken into account statistically. R 2 change scores indicate that when verbal communication styles are taken into account: Solitary play is not associated with low ratings from peers: solitary play is associated with the desire to play with opposite-sex peers; associative play is related to higher ratings from same-sex peers; and associative play is related to lower ratings given to opposite-sex peers. Part correlations indicate that when other independent variables in the equation are taken into account. A person-focused (as opposed to play-focused) verbal communication style is associated with higher ratings from peers; and affect tone is positively but not significantly associated with ratings received from same-sex peers.