cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insights into Gas-Phase Structural Conformers of Hydrated Rubidium and Cesium Cations, M+(H2O)nAr (M = Rb, Cs; n = 3–5), Using Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy

Infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra of M+(H2O)nAr (M = Rb, Cs; n = 3–5) with simultaneous monitoring of [Ar] and [Ar+H2O] fragmentation channels are reported. The comparison between the spectral features in the two channels and corresponding energy analysis provide spectral assignments of the stable structural conformers and insight into the competition between ion–water electrostatic and water–water hydrogen bonding interactions. Results show that as the level of hydration increases, the water–water interaction exhibits the tendency to dominate over the ion–water interaction. Cyclic water tetramer and water pentamer substructures appear in Cs+(H2O)4Ar and Cs+(H2O)5Ar systems, respectively. However, cyclic water tetramer and pentamer structures were not observed for Rb+(H2O)4Ar and Rb+(H2O)5Ar systems, respectively, due to the stronger influence of the rubidium ion–water electrostatic interaction. The energy analysis, including the available internal energy and the IR photon energy, helped provide a...
Factoring Integers Whose Digits Are All Ones

Let b be a positive integer greater than one. For each positive integer k, define Ik= b k-I + bk-2 + . + b + 1. Thus Ik is the integer whose base b representation consists of k ones. If (n, b) = 1, i.e., if n and b are relatively prime, we define c(n) to be the smallest positive integer k such that n I Ik (n divides Ik). In our first proposition, we will show that if (n, b) = 1, then c(n) exists and furthermore c (n) ' n. Clearly if n and b are not relatively prime, then n t Ik for any positive integer k. In this paper, we characterize those n for which c(n) = n and those for which c(n) = n 1. We prove that if b A 3 (mod 4), then c(n) = n if and only if each prime factor of n is also a divisor of b 1. In particular, if b = 10, then c(n) = n if and only if n is a power of 3 a fact conjectured by Sobczyk [1]. If b 3 (mod 4), then the condition 4 t n must be added. Finally we prove c (n) = n-i if and only if n is a prime which does not divide b 1, and b is a primitive root of n. If n is a prime, it is easy to determine c(n) (Propositions 2 and 6). Hence, we show (Proposition 5) that it suffices to know c(n) whenever n is a power of a prime. Then we prove (Propositions 7 and 9) that c(pi) j 3, can be determined inductively from the values of c(p) and C(p2). The value of C(p2) is given by Proposition 8. Our main results are stated as Propositions 11 and 12. An interesting question which we leave unanswered is, "For which primes p is I, prime?" That this is indeed a difficult question is clear because when b = 2, this is exactly the problem of determining the Mersenne primes.
Biology, Linguistics, and the Semiotic Perspective on Language

This paper explores the relationship between biology and linguistics by tracing the corresponding parallel developments of phylogenetic thinking in the nineteenth century. The conception of languages and species as historical entities developed from a philosophical current that originated with philosophies of nature deriving predominantly from Kant, Goethe and Schelling. Following the epistemological and metaphysical trajectory of German Naturphilosophie, this paper explains how J. von Uexkull carried this biosemiotic approach to biology and language into the twentieth century while linguistics aligned its methods with psychology and other social sciences. Sebeok’s contributions to linguistics and semiotics throughout the twentieth century were characterized by his commitment to biosemiotics, maintaining a close connection to biology and the anti-psychologism associated with the semiotic perspective on language. In several key aspects, Sebeok’s views are shown to be compatible with Chomsky’s biolinguistics.
FINITE-FREQUENCY NON-LINEAR EFFECTS IN THE DYNAMICS OF SUPERFLUID HE-4 FILMS

A theoretical scheme is proposed to study the nonlinear effects of a finite-frequency external driving field on the vortex pairs in helium films on the basis of the Kosterlitz-Thouless theory. The screening effect due to free vortices is considered self-consistently in the Debye-H\"uckel approximation. The finite-amplitude phenomena observed in Bishop and Reppy's torsional oscillator experiments [Phys. Rev. B 22, 5171 (1980)] are interpreted in terms of the extra dissipation due to free vortices generated in the external field of finite frequency.
Electrostatic Contributions to Protein Quinary Structure.

There are four well-known levels of protein structure: primary (amino acid sequence), secondary (helices, sheets and turns), tertiary (three-dimensional structure) and quaternary (specific protein–protein interactions). The fifth level remains largely undefined because characterization of quinary structure, the transient but essential macromolecular interactions that organize the crowded cellular interior, requires the measurement of equilibrium thermodynamic parameters in living cells. We have overcome this challenge by quantifying the pH-dependence of quinary interactions in living Escherichia coli cells using the B1 domain of protein G (GB1, 6.2 kDa). To accomplish this goal, we buffered the cellular interior and used NMR-detected amide proton exchange to quantify the free energy of unfolding in cells. At neutral pH, the unfolding free energy in cells is comparable to that in buffered solution. As the pH decreases, the increased number of attractive interactions between E. coli proteins and GB1 destabi...
Spanish War Dogs in Navajo Rock Art at Canyon De Chelly, Arizona

ABSTRACTA Navajo pictograph at Canyon de Chelly, which portrays Spanish dragoons, a priest and large dogs, supports the tentative identification of “Spanish greyhound” bones excavated from Awatovi Pueblo ruins. The pictograph and dog bones suggest the use of war dogs by conquistadors on the northern frontier of Mexico. Part of the mural is interpreted to represent a walking dog master, carrying a long baton, in charge of a part of two greyhounds and four smaller dogs.
Input Attribution for Statistical Model Checking Using Logistic Regression

We describe an approach to Statistical Model Checking (SMC) that produces not only an estimate of the probability that specified properties (a.k.a. predicates) are satisfied, but also an “input attribution” for those predicates. We use logistic regression to generate the input attribution as a set of linear and non-linear functions of the inputs that explain conditions under which a predicate is satisfied. These functions provide quantitative insight into factors that influence the predicate outcome. We have implemented our approach on a distributed SMC infrastructure, demeter, that uses Linux Docker containers to isolate simulations (a.k.a. trials) from each other. Currently, demeter is deployed on six 20-core blade servers, and can perform tens of thousands of trials in a few hours. We demonstrate our approach on examples involving robotic agents interacting in a simulated physical environment. Our approach synthesizes input attributions that are both meaningful to the investigator and have predictive value on the predicate outcomes.
Shifting boundaries on a Wisconsin landscape: Can GIS help historians tell a complicated story?

This paper considers the promise that geographic information systems (GIS) hold for addressing complex historical questions. Using my experience as an environmental historian who has used GIS in a case study of the Kickapoo Valley in Wisconsin, I examine social and ecological processes of rural transformation during the twentieth century, and how these processes have shaped modern property rights debates. The multiscale range of GIS brings out the crucial issue of scale in the Kickapoo Valley's environmental history. Spatial analysis offers an important picture of landscape dynamics and land ownership in the Valley since the 1930s. Together with historical methods, GIS maps help explore the ways in which residents have constructed their own stories about property and the environment. These cultural narratives include the economic inevitability of land concentration and fragmentation, ethnic differences in land use, local places vs. the federal government, and local communities vs. newer outsiders. Results from the GIS illustrate my argument that change on the ground over many decades—rather than any inherent ideological resistance to federal policies—might better explain contemporary debates over private and public property. Finally, I use this research to outline the dilemmas faced by scholars in the humanities and social sciences who want to incorporate GIS into their own interdisciplinary studies.
Endoscopic Management of Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension is a major complication of cirrhosis, with myriad complications. The most deadly complication is portal hypertensive bleeding. The intent of this particular chapter in contrast to the endoscopy chapter in this book is to focus on questions that a provider or a learner encounters in the management of portal hypertensive bleeding and to offer some pearls on the diagnosis and management of patients with esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding. In particular, this chapter not only covers areas of consensus regarding the management of portal hypertensive bleeding, but also gives the reader a glimpse of the areas of controversy and provides recommendations for management based on expert opinion.
Feedback in Medical Education: A Critical Appraisal.

Objective The objective was to review and critically appraise the medical education literature pertaining to feedback and highlight influential papers that inform our current understanding of the role of feedback in medical education. Methods A search of the English language literature in querying Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), PsychINFO, PubMed, and Scopus identified 327 feedback-related papers using either quantitative (hypothesis-testing or observational investigations of educational interventions), qualitative methods (exploring important phenomena in emergency medicine [EM] education), or review methods.Two reviewers independently screened each category of publications using previously established exclusion criteria. Six reviewers then independently scored the remaining 54 publications using a qualitative, quantitative, or review paper scoring system. Each scoring system consisted of nine criteria and used parallel scoring metrics that have been previously used in critical appraisals of education research. Results Fifty-four feedback papers (25 quantitative studies, 24 qualitative studies, five review papers) met the a priori criteria for inclusion and were reviewed. Eight quantitative studies, nine qualitative studies, and three review papers were ranked highly by the reviewers and are summarized in this article. Conclusions This inaugural Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors Academy critical appraisal highlights 20 feedback in medical education papers that describe the current state of the feedback literature. A summary of current factors that influence feedback effectiveness is discussed, along with practical implications for EM educators and the next steps for research.
CMIDS: collaborative MANET intrusion detection system

Mobile ad hoc networking may be used to accomplish different tasks at several applications fields with a variety of purposes as healthy care, defense, crisis management and others emergence situations. In common, they all require quick deployment, dynamic communication and security assurance. Although a lot of effort has been taken concerning the security aspect, it is hard to achieve information-theoretically security at such kind of network. The usual way to conceive a secure network is to adopt perfectly secure encryption algorithms, secure protocols, and intrusion detection methods. Nevertheless, the network is still susceptible to attacks due to bad-implemented software and information leakage from social engineering. Once the adversary gathers the key(s) to access the network, it is able not only to eavesdrop sensitive information but also to mislead the users or even harm the network. That is what makes so desirable to identify adversaries before they become active. The present paper addresses the security aspect on mobile ad hoc networks through the combination of different techniques. The situational awareness is increased through the design of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that enhances the mobile network security using a secondary network of sensors, multilateration, predictive location algorithm, and information sharing protocol. A military tactical scenario was selected to proof the concept of the designed IDS though the use of simulation using three distinct software tools.
Analysis of Petroleum Spillage Detection Systems Designed for use in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria- the Missing Link

This paper examines various petroleum spillage detection systems that have been designed to checkmate the activities of oil bunkering and vandalism in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Comprehending economic growth and development of the country on increased and uninterrupted transportation of petroleum products to their various destinations, this paper seeks to analyze petroleum spillage systems that have been designed over the years to monitor acts of vandalism. By way of explicit analysis, predicated on available designs, the paper posits that there exist some short comings in the existing systems which make for easy overriding. Considering the side effects of pipeline vandalism such as drastic economic loss, pipeline fire, environmental degradation and loss of lives, the paper concludes that proper petroleum spillage detection topology is key to the economic emancipation of the people of Nigeria.
Finding Meaning in the Struggle of Work

Abstract. It is suggested that work importance research has suffered from construct proliferation, and that the literature would benefit from returning to Dubin’s (1956) original notion of work importance as a general construct – representing the degree to which work plays a central role in one’s life space. Measures of three work importance constructs (i.e., work involvement, job involvement, work ethic endorsement) were administered to (n = 758) working adults from the USA to examine dimensionality using bifactor analysis. Results showed the bifactor model fit the data better than a one-factor or three-factor model. The bifactor model suggests that both general and domain-specific factors appear to exist, but that the general work importance factor predicts most work outcomes to a substantial degree.
Comparison of velocity patterns in an AComA aneurysm measured with 2D phase contrast MRI and simulated with CFD

Objective: Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) is increasingly being used for modeling hemodynamics in intracranial aneurysms. While CFD techniques are well established, need for validation of the results remains. By quantifying features in velocity patterns measured with 2D phase contrast magnetic resonance (pcMRI) in vivo and simulated with CFD, the role of pcMRI for providing reference data for the CFD simulation is explored. Methods: Unsteady CFD simulations were performed with inflow boundary conditions obtained from 2D pcMRI measurements of an aneurysm of the anterior communication artery. Intra-aneurysmal velocity profiles were recorded with 2D pcMRI and calculated with CFD. Relative areas of positive and negative velocity were calculated in these profiles for maximum and minimum inflow. Results: Areas of positive and of negative velocity similar in shape were found in the velocity profiles obtained with both methods. Relative difference in size of the relative areas for the whole cardiac cycle ranged from 1%-25% (average 12%). Conclusion: 2D pcMRI is able to record velocity profiles in an aneurysm of the anterior commuting artery in vivo. These velocity profiles can serve as reference data for validation of CFD simulations. Further studies are needed to explore the role of pcMRI in the context of CFD simulations.
Reduced Hypoxia-Related Genes in Porcine Limbs in Ex Vivo Hypothermic Perfusion Versus Cold Storage.

Abstract Background Ischemia-reperfusion injury remains the major limiting factor for limb replantation and transplantation. Static cold storage (SCS) on ice currently represents the standard mode of preservation but is limited to 6 h of duration. Ex vivo machine perfusion has evolved as a potential alternative to safely extend the duration of ex vivo preservation by providing continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients. This study aims to evaluate underlying molecular mechanisms of both preservation modalities. Methods We assessed molecular changes in amputated porcine forelimbs stored on ice at 4°C for 2 h (n = 2) and limbs perfused with Perfadex solution at 10°C for 2 h (n = 3) or 12 h (n = 3) before replantation. Muscle biopsies were examined for histological changes and gene expression levels using H&E staining and a hypoxia-related PCR gene array, respectively. Results Histology revealed only minor differences between the ice (SCS) and perfusion groups after 2 h of preservation, with decreased muscle fiber disruption in the perfusion groups compared with the ice (SCS) group. Perfused limbs demonstrated downregulation of genes coding for glycolytic pathways and glucose transporters after 2 h and 12 h when compared with SCS after 2 h. Similarly, genes that induce angiogenesis and those that are activated on DNA damage were downregulated in both perfusion groups as compared with SCS. Conclusions Perfusion of porcine limbs resulted in less activation of hypoxia-related gene families when compared with SCS. This may indicate a state more closely resembling physiological conditions during perfusion and potentially limiting ischemic injury. Our study confirms ex vivo perfusion for up to 12 h as a viable alternative for preservation of vascularized composite tissues.
SECONDARY BATTERIES – LITHIUM RECHARGEABLE SYSTEMS | Electrolytes: Overview

Electrochemistry is the science of controlled redox reactions proceeding at various electrolyte–electrode interfaces. In electrochemical power sources, these interfaces are responsible for the sustainable operation of the devices not only by preventing parasitic reactions between the electrolyte components and the strongly oxidative or reductive electrodes but also by exerting critical controls on the reaction kinetics, especially at high rates or low temperatures. Focusing on the cell chemistries based on lithium, this article describes how the selection of electrolyte components (salts, solvents, and additives) dictates the formation chemistry, and consequently affects the physicochemical properties of these interfaces on both negative and positive electrode materials. Approaches to tailor the surface chemistries are also summarized.
Adolescent Gaze-Directed Attention During Parent–Child conflict: The Effects of Depressive Symptoms and Parent–Child Relationship Quality

Although dysfunctions in attention have been implicated in the development and maintenance of depression in adults, findings from studies of depressed adolescents have been inconsistent. While some research has shown that youth with depressive symptoms exhibit increased attention to negative stimuli, other findings demonstrated attentional avoidance. Additionally, given the increase in parent–child conflict during adolescence, parent–child relationship quality may be an important moderating factor in the association between depressive symptoms and attention. To examine how depressive symptoms and parent–child relationship quality during adolescence influence attention, 25 mother–daughter pairs (girls ages 11–16) completed a conflict discussion task while wearing mobile eye-tracking glasses. Results suggest that girls with low positive parent–child relationship quality and greater depressive symptoms may have difficulty disengaging from their mother during negative interactions, which may exacerbate depressive symptoms. Therefore, the parent–child relationship should be further considered in treatments that target maladaptive attention patterns in youth with depressive symptoms.
Local religious beliefs and municipal bond market outcomes

This study investigates whether religion‐induced risk aversion affects municipal bond market outcomes from 1990 to 2017. The results indicate that local government bonds issued from U.S. counties with a high Catholic‐to‐Protestant population ratio have lower credit risk ratings and lower yield spreads, and are less likely to have credit enhancement. The results stand up to additional tests. I control for issuer's county political party affiliation and state term limits, and continue to find significant effects. The effects are not driven by the issuer's county fiscal policies. Furthermore, the effects persist when I use an alternate specification that controls for omitted factors that are time invariant. Overall, my evidence suggests that a bond issuer's religion‐induced risk aversion plays a significant role in the pricing of local government bonds.
Abandonment trajectories of conventionally fractionated adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer care.

531Background: Hypofractionated radiotherapy is the recommended approach for adjuvant breast cancer care. Yet physicians have been slow to abandon conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT). W...
Evaluation of cardiomyopathy in acute myeloid leukemia patients treated with anthracyclines

BackgroundAcute myeloid leukemia patients receive anthracycline-containing induction chemotherapy. Anthracyclines cause cardiotoxicity; however, there is a paucity of data reflecting the risk of ca...
Repairing Reed-Solomon Codes Over $GF(2^\ell)$

We provide a detailed algorithm to repair a single node failure in an $(n,k)$ Reed-Solomon code over $ {\textit{GF}}(2^\ell)$ with repair bandwidth $\frac {\ell }{\textit {a}}(\textit {n}-1)( {\textit a-s})$ , for any integers $a,s$ such that $ {a}|\ell, 2^{ {a}} \ge {n}+1, 2^{ {s}}\leq {\textit n-k}$ . We present the constructions of necessary lookup tables for the repair. The storage overhead and the repair complexity of our algorithm are also analyzed. The algorithm can be applied to the $(14,10)$ Reed-Solomon codes over ${\textit{GF}}(2^{8})$ , which is a modification of the code in Facebook’s f4 system, and reaches the lowest repair bandwidth among the existing schemes to the best of our knowledge. The algorithm can be generalized to other codes, including the ones based on Yahoo Object Store and Baidu’s Atlas.
Data-Driven Enhancement of Fracture Paths in Random Composites

Abstract A data-driven framework for the enhancement of fracture paths in random heterogeneous microstructures is presented. The approach relies on the combination of manifold learning, introduced to explore the geometrical structure exhibited by crack patterns and achieve efficient dimensionality reduction, and a posteriori crack path reconstruction, defined through a Markovianization. The proposed methodology enables the generation of new crack patterns, the underlying structure and dynamical properties of which are consistent, by construction, with those obtained from high-fidelity computations. These sampled cracks can subsequently be used to enrich datasets and perform uncertainty quantification at multiple scales, at a fraction of the computational cost associated with full-scale simulations. A numerical example where the initial dataset is obtained from a recently developed gradient damage formulation is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. While the methodology is presently applied to digital data, it can also be deployed on experimental measurements.
Colloidal Synthesis of Well-Defined Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Nonoxidative Alkane Dehydrogenation

Precise synthesis and characterization of bimetallic nanoparticles are critical toward understanding structure–activity relationships in alkane dehydrogenation catalysis. Traditional synthetic meth...
Methadone-Induced Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Complicated by Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Malnourished Patient:

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a syndrome characterized by acute and transient regional systolic myocardial dysfunction. TC often mimics myocardial infarction without obstructive coronary disease. We present a case of a 48-year-old woman who developed TC following the onset of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in the setting of methadone intoxication.
The land bank revolution: How Ohio’s communities fought back against the foreclosure crisis, by Jim Rokakis and Gus Frangos: Cleveland, OH, Parafine Press, 2020

The Land Bank Revolution could be described as both a memoir and a detailed guidebook on the development of a high-capacity, countywide land bank. The book’s two authors are also the primary author...
A combination of mRNA features influence the efficiency of leaderless mRNA translation initiation.

Bacterial translation is thought to initiate by base pairing of the 16S rRNA and the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in the mRNA's 5' untranslated region (UTR). However, transcriptomics has revealed that leaderless mRNAs, which completely lack any 5' UTR, are broadly distributed across bacteria and can initiate translation in the absence of the Shine-Dalgarno sequence. To investigate the mechanism of leaderless mRNA translation initiation, synthetic in vivo translation reporters were designed that systematically tested the effects of start codon accessibility, leader length, and start codon identity on leaderless mRNA translation initiation. Using these data, a simple computational model was built based on the combinatorial relationship of these mRNA features that can accurately classify leaderless mRNAs and predict the translation initiation efficiency of leaderless mRNAs. Thus, start codon accessibility, leader length, and start codon identity combine to define leaderless mRNA translation initiation in bacteria.
Anterior cerebral artery thrombectomy: A case series and technical description

Abstract Background Distal medium vessel occlusions account for 25–40% of ischemic stroke. The utility of thrombectomy in these vessel territories is less frequently studied. Objective This paper describes a focused series of ACA thrombectomies performed with consistent technique, catheters, and devices. Methods A prospectively maintained single interventionalist endovascular thrombectomy database was queried from 7/2016 to 2/2021 for ACA thrombectomy cases. Demographics, comorbidities, equipment utilized, and clinical/angiographic outcomes were obtained. Cohort comparisons between primary ACA thrombectomy cases and nonprimary cases were performed using a 2-tailed t-test for numerical variables and a Fisher’s Exact test for categorical variables. Results Successful reperfusion with respect to the ACA occlusion (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in seven cases overall (78%). In all cases of primary ACA occlusion, successful reperfusion was achieved (3/3). Ninety day mRS of 0–3 was achieved in 2/3 of cases of primary ACA thrombectomy (67%) as compared to no cases of nonprimary ACA occlusion. Conclusions In this report, we describe a consistent, simple, and reproducible thrombectomy technique in the anterior cerebral artery. Though successful reperfusion was achieved in most cases for the ACA, clinical outcomes were less encouraging for patients undergoing ACA thrombectomy with either concomitant MCA occlusions or initial ICA occlusions.
Neutron spectrum kinetics in the infinite homogeneous reactor

Abstract An analysis of the behaviour of the neutron spectrum in transient condition, based on an extension of the inhour equation to the energy dimension, is presented. This approach enables to describe the spectrum evolution in time as a combination of eigenstates associated to the roots of the inhour equation. The fine description of the neutron distribution in energy during the transient is exploited to evaluate homogenization errors committed by few-energy-group models.
Noncentral t Distribution: Introduction

This is the distribution of the ratio of a normally distributed variable with unit variance to the square root of a ratio of a chi-square variable to its degrees of freedom. When the noncentrality parameter (the mean of the normal distribution) is zero, the distribution is Student's t distribution. The noncentral distribution provides the power function for a t test, and other applications concern tolerance intervals and confidence intervals. Details are given here. Keywords: student; power; t test; tolerance; confidence; quantile
A15 Superconducting Composites in the 0.1-μm Region

Several different processes are presently under investigation for the preparation of multifilamentary superconducting wire having filament dimensions in the 0.1-μm region. Tsuei, Suenaga, and Sampson [1,2] pioneered work in the development of superconducting composites by controlled precipitation in the early 1970’s, but the performance characteristics at that time were not adequate for industrial development. More recently, Harbison and Bevk [3], Foner, McNiff, Schwartz, Roberge, and Fihey [4], and Verhoeven, Finnemore, Gibson, Ostenson, and Goodrich [5] have made important advances in the casting and fabrication technique and have developed composites with performance characteristics sufficiently attractive that now they may be suitable for large-scale magnets. At the same time that these precipitation processes were being developed, there also was considerable effort to develop powder metallurgy techniques for composite preparation. Work by Fliikiger, Foner, McNiff, Schwartz, Adams, Forman, Eagar, and Rose [6] and Freyhardt, Bormann, and Bergmann [7] have shown that the powder metallurgical composites have very attractive critical-current densities. In the early work for all of these processes, research centered on Nb3Sn-Cu composites, but it is clear that the same procedures can be used on V3Ga-Cu composites. Bevk, Habbal, Lobb, and Harbison [8] and Fihey, Roberge, Foner, McNiff, and Schwartz [9] have demonstrated excellent critical-current behavior above 12 T and very good mechanical properties. Each of these processes shows considerable potential, and it is important to develop those that are best suited for industrial-scale production.
Changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) amount and composition along nested headwater stream locations during baseflow and stormflow

Amount and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were evaluated for multiple, nested stream locations in a forested watershed to investigate the role of hydrologic flow paths, wetlands and drainage scale. Sampling was performed over a 4-year period (2008–2011) for five locations with drainage areas of 0.62, 3.5, 4.5, 12 and 79 ha. Hydrologic flow paths were characterized using an end-member mixing model. DOM composition was determined using a suite of spectrofluorometric indices and a site-specific parallel factor analysis model. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), humic-like DOM and fluorescence index were most sensitive to changes with drainage scale, whereas dissolved organic nitrogen, specific UV absorbance, Sr and protein-like DOM were least sensitive. DOM concentrations and humic-like DOM constituents were highest during both baseflow and stormflow for a 3.5-ha catchment with a wetland near the catchment outlet. Whereas storm-event concentrations of DOC and humic DOM constituents declined, the mass exports of DOC increased with increasing catchment scale. A pronounced dilution in storm-event DOC concentration was observed at peak stream discharge for the 12-ha drainage location, which was not as apparent at the 79-ha scale, suggesting key differences in supply and transport of DOM. Our observations indicate that hydrologic flow paths, especially during storms, and the location and extent of wetlands in the catchment are key determinants of DOM concentration and composition. This study furthers our understanding of changes in DOM with drainage scale and the controls on DOM in headwater, forested catchments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifying Identical Distributed Lag Structures by the Use of Prior Sumconstraints

This paper derives an estimation procedure which, when the same distributed lag appears twice in an equation to be estimated by least-squares regression, identifies all of the relevant coefficients and lag weights and also constrains the two sets of individual lag weights to be identical. The procedure for solving this identification-constraint problem involves prior imposition of a restriction on the lag weight sum -- i.e., it is necessary to impose the sum restriction before estimating the equation. A further useful feature of the derived procedure is that it facilitates conveniently imposing the sum restriction on all of the weights in a distributed lag even if the leading weight is independent of a polynomial restriction imposed on the others.
Using Our Current Understanding of Dyslexia to Support Early Identification and Intervention

One of the major risk factors for reading disability is difficulty learning to read words in text in an accurate and fluent manner. This is apparent when a child at risk of dyslexia first starts to attempt to read. Dyslexic children struggle to grasp and automate the alphabetic principle (ie, they cannot "sound out" words or use phonemic decoding strategies) and therefore have difficulty deciphering unfamiliar words that they have not encountered before. Even though many of these words are part of the child's oral vocabulary, the child cannot recognize them in printed form. As a result, reading can be extremely laborious and time-consuming, fraught with errors, and altogether an unrewarding, aversive experience. To be an efficient reader, one must be able to rapidly and effortlessly recognize many words by sight, and for a child to acquire this facility requires multiple exposures to these words. The difficulty that dyslexic children have in developing reliable and efficient phonemic decoding ability makes the acquisition of a lexicon of sight words a much slower process than it is for the average reader. Several other factors can affect a child's ability to read, which are reviewed herein. However, early recognition and treatment of deficient phonologic awareness are an extremely important step in the prevention of a reading problem in the child who is at risk of dyslexia.
Theory of simultaneous excitonic-superconductivity condensation II: Experimental evidence and stoichiometric interpretations

Abstract We discuss a variety of experimental observations which are consistent with theory of the excitonic-enhancement model (EEM) presented earlier. The experimental works discussed are: (1) isotope substitution; (2) fluorinated YBa2Cu3O7−x; (3) infrared optical spectra; (4) specific heat and tunneling gap; (5) Hall effect and nuclear spin relaxation; (6) positron annihilation; (7) utrasound velocity and sound attenuation; (8) Meissner effect and critical current; (9) antiferromagnetism and oxygen deficiency; (10) flux quantization; and (11) photoemission. A simple stoichiometric interpretation on the existing high temperature superconducting oxides based on the specific stacking of chemical subsystems is also presented. It is argued that according to EEM theory, a superconducting oxide must contain two stable oxides, one having excitonic levels such as Cu2O; the other having intrinsic hole population at the top of the valence band such as CuO. A systematic search for other potential high Tc compounds is also suggested.
Applying Ecosystem Management to Urban Forestry

During the 1990s, the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service shifted from commodity production management to ecosystem-based management (Overbay, 1992). Although definitions of ecosystem-based mana-gement vary by objectives, the principle had four primary elements: (1) maintaining viable populations of native species, (2) representing native ecosystems across their range of natural variability, (3) maintaining ecosystem processes, and (4) ensuring ecosystem goods and services for future human generations (Grumbine, 1994). In general, ecosystem management approach becomes a way of thinking more broadly about a system (Yaffee et al., 1996). For example, a forester must consider how management activities affect not only timber production but also ecosystem processes, biodiversity, and natural populations, all of which influence forest productivity. This way of thinking enables managers to look at the entire forest as a single entity and assess how management goals and objectives affect ecosystem integrity. During the 1990s, urban forestry in the United States began to shift from single-tree to ecosystem-based management (Zipperer et al., 1995). This new approach recognizes the importance of urban vegetation (both public and private) as part of the urban ecosystem and as a source of many ecological services and benefits (Nowak and Dwyer, 2000). These benefits include cleaning air and water, enhancing human health, and providing wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and aesthetics. By taking an ecosystem approach to management, urban foresters can maximize benefits from the forest while minimizing the cost to maintain it. Yet, an urban forester manages by altering the structure of only public trees through single-tree management. Does this mean that an ecosystem-based management is not a viable objective for urban forest management? Throughout the International Symposium on Urban Forestry and Eco-Cities held in 2002, speakers promoted the need to take a holistic approach to management and the need to better understand the social and ecological processes influ~ncing the livability of a city. This chapter provides a succinct overview of ecosystem principles as they pertain to urban landscapes, and applies the theory of vegetation dynamics as a means of clarifying for managers how they may take a holistic approach through single-tree management.
Safety verification of hybrid systems using barrier certificates

This paper presents a novel methodology for safety verification of hybrid systems. For proving that all trajectories of a hybrid system do not enter an unsafe region, the proposed method uses a function of state termed a barrier certificate. The zero level set of a barrier certificate separates the unsafe region from all possible trajectories starting from a given set of initial conditions, hence providing an exact proof of system safety. No explicit computation of reachable sets is required in the construction of barrier certificates, which makes nonlinearity, uncertainty, and constraints can be handled directly within this framework. The method is also computationally tractable, since barrier certificates can be constructed using the sum of squares decomposition and semidefinite programming. Some examples are provided to illustrate the use of the method.
Adhesion Testing of Deposit-Substrate Combinations

For quantitative measurements of adhesion in coating-substrate combinations, the means most often used at Sandia Laboratories are ring shear, conical-head tension, and I-beam tension tests. Details presented for each testinclude specimen size, shape, and preparation, and the manner in which the test is performed. The pros and cons of each test are discussed in the light of substantial practical experience, and data for the various deposit-substrate combinations are included.
A cationic gadolinium contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage

A new cationic gadolinium contrast agent is reported for delayed gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC). The agent partitions into the glycosaminoglycan rich matrix of articular cartilage, based on Donnan equilibrium theory, and its use enables imaging of the human cadaveric metacarpal phalangeal joint.
Thoracoscopic Resection of a Giant Thymolipoma in a 4-Year-Old Girl

Abstract Thymolipoma is a very rare, benign mediastinal tumor. In this paper, we report on the thoracoscopic resection of such a lesion in a 4-year-old girl.
ArcA-Regulated Glycosyltransferase Lic2B Promotes Complement Evasion and Pathogenesis of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

Signaling mechanisms used by Haemophilus influenzae to adapt to conditions it encounters during stages of infection and pathogenesis are not well understood. The ArcAB two-component signal transduction system controls gene expression in response to respiratory conditions of growth and contributes to resistance to bactericidal effects of serum and to bloodstream infection by H. influenzae. We show that ArcA of nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHI) activates expression of a glycosyltransferase gene, lic2B. Structural comparison of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of a lic2B mutant to that of the wild-type strain NT127 revealed that lic2B is required for addition of a galactose residue to the LOS outer core. The lic2B gene was crucial for optimal survival of NTHI in a mouse model of bacteremia and for evasion of serum complement. The results demonstrate that ArcA, which controls cellular metabolism in response to environmental reduction and oxidation (redox) conditions, also coordinately controls genes that are critical for immune evasion, providing evidence that NTHI integrates redox signals to regulate specific countermeasures against host defense.
Dietary flavonoids are neuroprotective through Nrf2-coordinated induction of endogenous cytoprotective proteins

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Detailed investigations into the specific dietary components of these foods have revealed that many polyphenolic constituents exert anti-oxidant effects on key substrates involved in the pathogenesis and progression of ischemic injury. These data have perpetuated the belief that the protective effects of flavonoids result from direct anti-oxidant actions at the levels of the cerebral vasculature and brain parenchyma. While many in vitro studies using purified extracts support this contention, first-pass metabolism alters the bioavailability of flavonoids such that the achievable concentrations after oral consumption are not consistent with this mechanism. Importantly, oral consumption of flavonoids may promote neural protection by facilitating the expression of gene products responsible for detoxifying the ischemic microenvironment through both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory actions. In particular, the transcriptional factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 has emerged as a critical regulator of flavonoid-mediated protection through the induction of various cytoprotective genes. The pleiotropic effects associated with potent transcriptional regulation likely represent the primary mechanisms of neural protection, as the flavonoid concentrations reaching ischemic tissues in vivo are sufficient to alter intracellular signal transduction but likely preclude the one-to-one stoichiometry necessary to confer protection by direct anti-oxidation. These data reflect an exciting new direction in the study of complementary and alternative medicine that may lead to the development of novel therapies for ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological disorders.
Critical examination of therapeutic efficacy of a ph-sensitive enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme preparation in treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency secondary to cystic fibrosis

In an attempt to critically examine the therapeutic efficacy of pH-sensitive entericcoated pancreatic enzyme preparations in patients with pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis, postprandial duodenal concentration and recovery of orally administered pancreatic enzymes, duodenal pH, and coefficient of fat absorption were determined in eight cases after ingestion of equivalent dosage of enteric-coated as well as conventional enzyme preparations. Ingestion of a pH-sensitive enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme preparation was accompanied with a significant (P<0.05) reduction in steatorrhea, as well as a lower mean concentration and recovery of lipase and trypsin activity in the postprandial duodenal samples. Furthermore, the intraluminal duodenal pH was noted to be below 4.0 during the postprandial period in all patients. These data suggest that in cystic fibrosis, the greater therapeutic efficacy of pH-sensitive enteric-coated preparations over conventional preparations may be related to the protection of pancreatic enzymes from the highly acidic milieu in the duodenum, allowing for possible bioavailability in the distal small intestine.
New NIST Photomask Linewidth Standard

NIST is preparing to issue the next generation in its line of binary photomask linewidth standards. Called SRM 2059, it was developed for calibrating microscopes used to measure linewidths on photomasks, and consists of antireflecting chrome line and space patterns on a 6 inch quartz substrate ( 6 × 6 × 0.25 inches, or 15.2 × 15.2 × 0.635 cm). Certified line- and space-widths range from nominal 0.250 μm to 32 μm, and pitches from 0.5 μm to 250 μm, and are traceable to the definition of the meter. NIST's reference value, the definition of the meter, is well defined and unconditionally stable. Any replacement or duplicate NIST linewidth standard will be traceable to this same reference, and thus traceable to any other NIST length standard. Such measurement traceability can be achieved only by evaluating the measurement uncertainty (not just the repeatability) of each length comparison in the metrology chain between the definition of the meter and the NIST linewidth standard. This process results in a confidence interval about the calibration result that has a 95% probability of containing the true value. While the meter (and the μm) are well-defined, the geometrical width of a chrome line with nonrectangular cross section is not, and so the "true value" linewidth must be carefully defined to best meet users' needs. The paper and presentation will describe how these mask features are measured at NIST and how their measurement traceability is accomplished.
Recent trends in TANF caseloads and the status of TANF recipients in West Virginia and selected states outside of Appalachia

The author examines the trends in TANF caseloads in West Virginia and selected states outside of Appalachia while including national trend data for further comparisons. State administrative data on the reasons for case closures is also reviewed. The major findings indicate that caseload declines accelerated in each state, as well as nationally, after the passage of PRWORA in 1996. National declines are resulting in an increasing concentration of Hispanics and minorities among TANF recipients. Administrative data indicates that one-third or fewer of the selected states' closures were attributed to employment. While states have improved their tracking systems, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the reasons for closures. This suggests the need for further research on data reporting.
Testing Spatial Models of Elections: The Influence of Voters and Elites on Candidate Issue Positions

This research tests spatial models of electoral competition using survey data on state legislative candidates' policy positions and ideology in eight U.S. states. Our data support several hypotheses: 1) candidates' issue positions do not converge; 2) party elites have more extreme positions than do candidates; 3) candidate issue positioning is a function of party-elite issue positions and union involvement in the campaign, as well as constituency characteristics; and 4) when candidates rely heavily on elite resources during their campaign, elites become more important in shaping candidate issue positions.