cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parental Involvement: Model Revision through Scale Development

Abstract In 1995 and 1997 Hoover‐Dempsey and Sandler proposed a theoretical model of the parental involvement process. Taking a psychological perspective, the model explained why parents become involved in their children’s education and how their involvement makes a difference in student outcomes. In this article we describe our efforts to operationalize Hoover‐Dempsey and Sandler’s explanation and how, in turn, those efforts led to revisions in their theoretical model. Because investigations of the full model are ongoing, in this article we discuss only revisions in the original model’s first 2 levels, which focus on psychological and contextual contributors to forms of parent involvement. We conclude with a discussion of how our work exemplifies the reciprocal relation between theory and measurement and suggest how other researchers might use our scales to assess links between parents’ psychological motivations for involvement and their involvement behavior.
A Comparison of Devices Used to Measure Smoothness of Newly Constructed HMA Pavements

The construction of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) track was utilized to evaluate the possibility of using the automated walking Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) profiler, the McCracken (a California style profilograph), and the South Dakota Profiler for analyzing pavement smoothness. Results indicate that there was a poor correlation between the ARRB unit and the McCracken profilograph. The data from these two units should be evaluated independently. There was a fair correlation between the ARRB and the South Dakota profiler. Because the ARRB unit uses an inclinometer for determining the profile, us of the profiler should be limited to sections without severe superelevations.
A list analog of Vizing's Theorem for simple graphs with triangles but no other odd cycles

This paper has been withdrawn by the author. Peterson and Woodall previously proved that the list-edge-colouring conjecture holds for graphs without odd cycles of length 5 or longer. D. Peterson and D. R. Woodall, Edge-choosability in line-perfect multigraphs, Discrete Mathematics 202 (1999), 191-199. D. Peterson and D. R. Woodall, Erratum to "Edge-choosability in line-perfect multigraphs", Discrete Mathematics 260 (2003), 323-326.
Medical versus surgical methods of early abortion: protocol for a systematic review and environmental scan of patient decision aids.

Introduction Currently, we lack understanding of the content, quality and impact of patient decision aids to support decision-making between medical and surgical methods of early abortion. We plan to undertake a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature to identify, appraise and describe the impact of early abortion method decision aids evaluated quantitatively (Part I), and an environmental scan to identify and appraise other early abortion method decision aids developed in the US (Part II). Methods and analysis For the systematic review, we will search PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases for articles describing experimental and observational studies evaluating the impact of an early abortion method decision aid on women9s decision-making processes and outcomes. For the environmental scan, we will identify decision aids by supplementing the systematic review search with Internet-based searches and key informant consultation. The primary reviewer will assess all studies and decision aids for eligibility, and a second reviewer will also assess a subset of these. Both reviewers will independently assess risk of bias in the studies and abstract data using a piloted form. Finally, both reviewers will assess decision aid quality using the International Patient Decision Aid Standards criteria, ease of readability using Flesch/Flesch-Kincaid tests, and informational content using directed content analysis. Ethics and dissemination As this study does not involve human subjects, ethical approval will not be sought. We aim to disseminate the findings in a scientific journal, via academic and/or professional conferences and among the broader community to contribute knowledge about current early abortion method decision-making support. Trial registration number This protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42015016717).
Momentum management and attitude control design for a Space Station

Control moment gyro momentum management via the periodic and continuous methods is presented for a "dualkeel" space station. For the periodic method, the gains in the momentum loop are based on momentum derivatives. For the continuous method, a linear quadratic regulator approach provides a means to achieve an integrated momentum management and attitude control system that seeks a torque equilibrium attitude and bounds the system momentum profile. By selecting the momentum and the controller gains, the system can emphasize attitude control and/or minimize control moment gyro momentum to satisfy experimental and dynamic conditions. Cross-feedback gains between the roll and yaw axes are selected to handle momentum coupling. The linear-quadratic performance index includes system momentum, control torque, attitude, and attitude rate errors. The system's stability and robustness to disturbance and uncertainties are established by classical frequency response and singular-value response methods.
Membrane voltage and neurotransmitter regulation of neuronal growth cone motility

The neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine inhibit growth cone motility and neurite elongation of specific identified neurons of the pond snail Helisoma. Similarly, experimentally evoked action potentials inhibit motility of these growth cones. Here we explore the possibility that the motility- and elongation-inhibiting actions of serotonin and dopamine derive from the electrophysiological responses of the respective neurons. Evidence of three types in support of this hypothesis is presented: (1) Only those identified neurons for which motility is inhibited by serotonin or dopamine respond to the transmitter with sustained electrical excitation. (2) The magnitude of the electrical excitation response correlates with the degree of inhibition of growth cone motility. (3) The injection of hyperpolarizing current enables motility to continue as in the absence of transmitters. We conclude that membrane voltage is an important level of control of growth cone motility, at which neurotransmitters exert a regulatory influence.
Noncovalent Side-Chain Functionalization of Terpolymers

Random poly(norbornene)-based terpolymers containing sulfur−carbon−sulfur (SCS) palladated pincer complexes, dibenzo[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) rings, and diaminopyridine moieties were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Examination of the kinetics of the polymerization led to the conclusion that the polymerization of a statistical mixture of the three monomers results in the formation of random terpolymers. The terpolymers have molecular weights between 30 000 and 50 000 Da, with polydispersity indices ranging form 1.3 to 1.5, as determined by gel-permeation chromatography. Side-chain functionalization of these terpolymers was achieved by self-assembling (i) pyridines to the palladated pincer complexes, (ii) dibenzylammonium ions to the DB24C8 rings, and (iii) thymines to the diaminopyridine receptors. 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the self-assembly processes and revealed that all self-assembly steps were fast and near quantitative. Isothermal titration calorimetry was employed to d...
Euglena: The Photoreceptor System for Phototaxis*

The photoreceptor structures (eyespot-paraflagellar body-flagellum) for Euglena phototaxis were investigated by electron microscopy. The paraflagellar body--the photoreceptor--is a highly ordered crystalline lamellar structure. Optical diffraction of the electron micrographs and resulting filtered images of the paraflagellar body suggest that it is formed of rods in a helical arrangement. The action spectra for phototaxis, the in situ spectrum by microspectrophotometry of the paraflagellar body, and flavin analysis of the organism indicate that the photoreceptor molecule is a flavoprotein. The phototaxis action spectrum is similar to the spectrum for O2 evolution and implies that similar molecules participate in the photo processes. As a result, a photochemical scheme is suggested in which a photo-excited flavin and a cytochrome participate in the photoprocess. The photochemistry and photoreceptor structures for Euglena phototaxis are likened to a photoneuro sensory cell.
Data warehousing alternatives for mobile environments

With rapid advancement in technology, mobile devices are increasingly becomino the norm. These devices are charP acterized by their need to operate even when they are disconnected from the fixed non-mobile world. Since existing software technology is tuned to applications that operate in a fully connected world, this requirement of disconnected 6peration creates a need to adapt existing software technology to a partially disconnected world. Databases and filesystems have already been adapted to operate in a partially disconnected environment. However, little work has been done in the context of data warehousing in such an environment. We believe that there is a real need for adapting existing data warehousing technology for the mobile world. In this position paper, we show how techniques for hierarchical data warehouse management can be applied to data warehouses in a mobile environment. The techniques can be extended for other mobile applications. We present a variety of alternatives for systems in which some of the sources of data as well as the data warehouse itself is mobile.
Thrombopoietin protects the brain and improves sensorimotor functions: reduction of stroke-induced MMP-9 upregulation and blood-brain barrier injury

This study was conducted to determine the protective efficacy and mechanisms of thrombopoietin (TPO) intervention in experimental focal stroke. Male rats underwent 2 hours of left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by 22 hours of reperfusion. Vehicle or TPO (0.03 to 1.00 μg/kg) was administered intravenously immediately after reperfusion. Brain infarct and swelling, neurologic deficits, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), TPO and c-Mpl (TPO receptor) mRNA, MMP-9 enzyme activity and protein expression, and the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) were subsequently measured. MCAO reperfusion produced a large infarct and swelling after stroke. Thrombopoietin significantly reduced these in a dose-dependent manner. The most effective TPO dose, 0.1 μg/kg, when administrated immediately or 2 hours after reperfusion, significantly reduced infarct and swelling and ameliorated neurologic deficits after stroke. Stroke-induced increases in cortical MMP-9 mRNA, enzyme activity and protein expression, TIMP-1 mRNA, and Evans blue extravasation were reduced by TPO intervention. Thrombopoietin did not alter cortical TPO or c-Mpl mRNA expression, blood pressure, heart rate, blood hematocrit, or platelets. This is the first demonstration of TPO's efficacy in reducing ischemic brain injury and improving functional outcome, partly by inhibiting the stroke-induced increase in MMP-9 and the early, negative effects on the BBB.
Measurement of online visibility and its impact on Internet traffic

Abstract The Internet landscape is an increasingly crowded space where hundreds of thousands of companies are fighting for attention. Some of these companies are universally known (Yahoo!, Amazon) while others are more obscure (Literary Guild, Just Say Wow). Regardless of their level of Internet presence, all these companies are interested in improving their position, particularly now that managers are asked to justify their online activities. To help managers assess their online presence, and give them a way to compare their position relative to their competitors, this article aims to develop a measure of a company's online visibility . Moreover, this study seeks to understand what factors drive online visibility, and how. The visibility measure we develop captures the extent to which a user is likely to come across an online reference to a company's Web site. It is based on data collected from multiple sources that include search engine results, Web-site contents, and online directory listings. It is calibrated using a large-scale telephone survey, and is validated using data obtained from Web crawlers and Internet consumer-panel sources. In the latter part of the article, we show how managers can use the visibility measure to compare the online presence of their company to their competitors’. We also show how they can use this information to perform scenario analysis aimed at finding the best way to improve their online position.
A predictive sensor network using ant system

The need for a robust predictive sensor communication network inspired this research. There are many critical issues in a communication network with different data rate requirements, limited power and bandwidth. Energy consumption is one of the key issues in a sensor network as energy dissipation occurs during routing, communication and monitoring of the environment. This paper covers the routing of a sensor communication network by applying an evolutionary algorithm -- the ant system. The issues considered include optimal energy, data fusion from different sensor types and predicting changes in environment with respect to time.
El tratamiento del orden de palabras en algunas gramáticas españoles de los siglos XIX y XX

SummaryThis paper examines the treatment of word order in some of the most influential grammars of Spanish from the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, with special attention given to the interpretation they offer of displaced elements, particularly subjects and objects. Although there was not much in the grammatical tradition about this topic that these authors could build upon, a careful reading of their works reveals an awareness of the difficulties involved in explaining word order variation. Furthermore, we find very valuable suggestions regarding the topical nature of some displacements, and the emphatic or focal interpretation of others.ResumeDans cet article, on examine de quelle maniere les plus influentes grammaires espagnoles de la fin du XIXe et du debut du XXe siecle traitaient de la question de l’ordre des mots, accordant une attention particuliere a l’interpretation offerte des elements disloques, surtout les sujets et les complements d’objet. Bien qu’il n’y avait pas grand-chose dans la tradition grammaticale d’alors qui pouvait servir de base aux auteurs, une lecture attentive de leurs oeuvres montre qu’on avait conscience des difficultes liees a l’explication de la variation dans l’ordre des mots. De plus, on trouve sur ces dislocations de precieuses suggestions quant a la nature ‘topicalisee’ des unes et la nature emphatique ou ‘focalisee’ des autres.ZusammenfassungDer Beitrag untersucht die Behandlung der Wortstellung in den einflusreichsten Grammtiken des Spanischen aus dem 19. und fruhen 20. Jahrhundert, unter besonderer Berucksichtigung der Erklarungen, die sie fur sog. versetzbare Elemente anbieten, insbesondere, was Subjekt und Objekt angeht. Obgleich es kaum eine grammatische Tradition gab, auf der diese Autoren sich hatten stutzen konnen, fordert eine sorgfaltige Lekture ihrer Werke doch ein Bewustsein der Probleme zutage, die beim Erklaren der Wortstellungsvariation auftreten. Daruberhinaus finden sich in ihnen auch eine Reihe wertvoller Vorschlage bezuglich der herausstellenden Natur solcher versetzbarer Elemente sowie der emphatischen und fokussierenden Auslegung anderer.
CMOS/SOS High Soft-Error Threshold Memory Cell

The five-transistor (5T) CMOS/SOS memory cell has been widely used in RCA's radiation hardness products. The p-channel devices in the memory cell are protected from the cosmic ray hit by the buried contact diodes. However, there is no protection for the n-channel devices. A configuration referred to as seven-transistor (7T) CMOS/SOS memory cell which is modified from the 5T memory cell layout by inserting a depletion mode NMOS transistor in the feedback path of enhancement NMOS drain node has been proposed. Simulations show that this configuration increases the single event upset critical charge by a factor of 25 at Vdd=5V. The increase in silicon area is only 10%.
Protein homeostasis: live long, won’t prosper

Protein turnover is an effective way of maintaining a functional proteome, as old and potentially damaged polypeptides are destroyed and replaced by newly synthesized copies. An increasing number of intracellular proteins, however, have been identified that evade this turnover process and instead are maintained over a cell's lifetime. This diverse group of long-lived proteins might be particularly prone to accumulation of damage and thus have a crucial role in the functional deterioration of key regulatory processes during ageing.
Modeling and Nonlinear Optimal Control of Weak/Islanded Grids Using FACTS Device in a Game Theoretic Approach

A nonlinear discrete-time model along with an optimal stabilizing controller using a unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) is proposed for weak/islanded grids in this paper. An advanced stabilizing controller greatly benefits islanded medium-sized grid and microgrid due to their relatively small stored energy levels, which adversely affect their stability, as opposed to larger grids. In addition, a discrete-time grid model and controller are preferred for digital implementation. Here, the discrete-time Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs optimal control method is employed to design an optimal grid stabilizer. While UPQC is conventionally utilized for power quality improvement in distribution systems in the presence of renewable energy, here, the stabilizing control is added and applied to the UPQC series voltage in order to mitigate the grid’s oscillations besides UPQC’s power conditioning tasks. Consequently, the UPQC can be employed to stabilize a grid-tie inverter (GTI) or a synchronous generator (SG) with minimum control effort. When controlling the GTI associated with renewable energy sources, a reduced UPQC structure is proposed that only employs the series compensator. Next, a successive approximation method along with neural networks is utilized to approximate a cost function of the grid dynamical states, the UPQC control parameters, and disturbance, in a two-player zero-sum game with the players being UPQC control and grid disturbances. Subsequently, the cost function is used to obtain the nonlinear optimal controller that is applied to the UPQC. Simulation results show effective damping behavior of the proposed nonlinear controller in controlling both GTI and SG in weak and islanded grids.
Structural analysis of the Bacillus subtilis delta factor: a protein polyanion which displaces RNA from RNA polymerase.

Abstract RNA polymerase fromBacillus subtilisis a complex mixture comprising a common core (ββ′α2), the 20.4 kDa delta (δ) protein, and one of several sigma (σ) specificity factors. The δ protein, together with several truncated variants, has been overproduced and purified fromEscherichia coli. It is highly acidic (pI=3.6) and contains two distinct regions, a 13 kDa amino-terminal domain with fairly uniform charge distribution and a glutamate and aspartate residue-rich carboxyl-terminal region. The purified amino-terminal domain (δN) contains 32% alpha-helix and 16% beta-sheet, as judged by circular dichroism analysis. In contrast, an 85 kDa tryptic fragment containing the carboxyl-terminal region (δC) is largely unstructured and highly charged (net charge of −47). RNA polymerase purified from aB. subtilismutant with an insertion in the δ gene (rpoE::cat) contain a truncated δ protein, indicating that the amino-terminal domain is stablein vivoand contains a core-binding function. Addition of δ, but not σAof δN, displaces RNA bound to RNA polymerase in a binary complex. The ability of δ to displace RNA efficiently requires the activities of both the amino-terminal core-binding domain and the polyanionic carboxyl-terminal region. Although δC can also displace nucleic acid from RNA polymerase, this activity requires the addition of a large molar excess of protein and is relatively non specific in that both DNA and RNA are displaced. This suggests that the function of the amino-terminal domain is to bind and orient the carboxyl-terminal region on the surface of RNA polymerase.
A useful synthesis of peptides

Abstract Carboxylates react rapidly and smoothly with 3-unsubstituted isoxazolium salts under very mild conditions to yield enol esters. In this paper we report the application of this reaction as the carboxyl-activating step in a simple and practical synthesis of peptides. The utility of the specific peptide forming reagent, N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulfonate, is described in some detail.
The role of calcium in macrophage chemotaxis to the phorbol ester tumor promoter TPA.

Abstract The significance of the macrophage in the inflammatory response that occurs concurrently with phorbol ester induced tumor promotion has not yet been determined. Biologically active phorbol ester tumor promoters modify several functional responses of macrophages including chemotaxis, cytotoxicity, secretion and prostaglandin synthesis and release. The present study examines calcium metabolism as a possible underlying biochemical mechanism through which 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) exerts its effects on macrophage chemotaxis. The chemotaxis of mouse resident peritoneal macrophages was evaluated in the presence of pharmacological agents known to alter cellular calcium metabolism. The calcium ionophore A23187 in uM concentrations enhanced macrophage chemotaxis to TPA by approximately 41%. This enhancement was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. TPA-induced chemotaxis was also enhanced by the histological dye ruthenium red (RR), an agent known to modify mitochondrial calcium fluxes and calcium-dependent neuronal transmission. Ruthenium red (0.1 and 1.0 uM) produced a maximal stimulation of macrophage chemotaxis to TPA of approximately 62%. An intracellular calcium antagonist, 8-(N,N-diethylamino) octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) inhibited macrophage chemotaxis to TPA in a dose related fashion (1.0 to 100 uM). Varying extracellular calcium concentrations (0–3.6 mM) had no effect on macrophage chemotaxis in response to TPA. In drug combination studies neither A23187 nor RR was able to overcome the inhibitory effects of TMB-8 on macrophage chemotaxis to TPA. These results indicate that intracellular calcium metabolism may be playing a significant role in modulating TPA's effect on macrophage chemotaxis, while extracellular calcium may be of little import. A possible mode of TPA's effect on the macrophage via mobilization of calcium from cellular storage sites is discussed.
Female-to-male transgender quality of life.

Objectives: We evaluated health-related quality of life in female-to-male (FTM) transgender individuals, using the Short-Form 36-Question Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2).
Continuous camera-based monitoring for assistive environments

Camera-based monitoring is a valuable tool for assistive environments to meet the important needs of those who may have physical or cognitive impairment. It is, however, particularly difficult to continuously monitor a moving subject in a large facility where many cameras are deployed. In this paper, we propose Sensor-Integrated Camera Surveillance (SICS) to address this problem. SICS uses wearable wireless sensors to locate moving subjects and automatically selects the camera covering the subject, allowing human operators to focus only on one screen to monitor an individual.To improve flexibility and reduce cost, SICS connects distributed cameras through a self-organizing wireless mesh network. To reduce bandwidth consumption, SICS leverages onboard image processing on the camera for selective transmission. To enable automated reasoning, SICS uses a knowledge base for efficient rule specification and execution. Through empirical evaluation, we found that the automatic camera handoff enabled by SICS was effective for continuous camera-based monitoring. We provide quantitative performance evaluation results in this paper and discuss potential extension to the SICS infrastructure.
Epigenetic regulation of Myc on retinoic acid receptor beta and PDLIM4 in RWPE1 cells

BACKGROUND Hypermethylation of CpG islands is a common epigenetic alteration associated with cancer. Tumor suppressor genes retinoic acid receptor beta (RARβ) and PDLIM4 are hypermethylated and silenced in prostate cancer (PCa) tissues and PCa cell lines compared to normal prostate cells. METHODS In this study, a benign prostate epithelial cell line RWPE1 was used as a model to study the epigenetic regulation of Myc on the RARβ and PDLIM4 promoters. Forced Myc overexpression inhibited the RARβ and PDLIM4 expression. RESULTS Pyrosequencing study showed that Myc overexpression increased methylation in several CpG sites of both promoters. A DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine reversed the epigenetic alteration effect of Myc on both RARβ and PDLIM4. CONCLUSION The epigenetic regulation of Myc may be related to its up-regulation of the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3a and DNMT3b. Prostate 69: 1643–1650, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
EXTREMELY LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS PROMOTE IN VITRO NEUROGENESIS VIA UPREGULATION OF CA(V)1-CHANNEL ACTIVITY

We previously reported that exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELFEFs) increases the expression and function of voltage-gated Ca2+)channels and that Ca2+ influx through Ca(v)1 channels plays a key role in promoting the neuronal differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs). The present study was conducted to determine whether ELFEFs influence the neuronal differentiation of NSCs isolated from the brain cortices of newborn mice by modulating Ca(v)1-channel function. In cultures of differentiating NSCs exposed to ELFEFs (1 mT, 50 Hz), the percentage of cells displaying immunoreactivity for neuronal markers (beta-III-tubulin, MAP2) and for Ca(v)1.2 and Ca(v)1.3 channels was markedly increased. NSC-differentiated neurons in ELFEF-exposed cultures also exhibited significant increases in spontaneous firing, in the percentage of cells exhibiting Ca2+ transients in response to KCl stimulation, in the amplitude of these transients and of Ca2+ currents generated by the activation of Ca(v)1 channels. When the Ca(v)1-channel blocker nifedipine (5 microM) was added to the culture medium, the neuronal yield of NSC differentiation dropped significantly, and ELFEF exposure no longer produced significant increases in beta-III-tubulin- and MAP2-immunoreactivity rates. In contrast, the effects of ELFEFs were preserved when NSCs were cultured in the presence of either glutamate receptor antagonists or Ca(v)2.1- and Ca(v)2.2-channel blockers. ELFEF stimulation during the first 24 h of differentiation caused Ca(v)1-dependent increases in the number of cells displaying CREB phosphorylation. Our data suggest that ELFEF exposure promotes neuronal differentiation of NSCs by upregulating Ca(v)1-channel expression and function.
Mechanisms of malignant ascites production

The accumulation of malignant ascites is determined primarily by the obstruction of diaphragmatic lymphatics with tumor inhibiting the outflow of peritoneal fluid. An abnormal increase in peritoneal fluid production has been shown to contribute to ascites formation by a marked neovascularization of the parietal peritoneum. Cell-free malignant ascitic fluid obtained from rats with intra-abdominal Walker 256 carcinoma when infused into the peritoneal cavities of normal animals causes an increase in edema formation and an increase in the permeability of protein from normal omental vessels. Protamine sulfate, a known inhibitor of angiogenesis when infused into the peritoneal cavity along with cell free malignant ascitic fluid, significantly reduces the leak of protein from the intravascular space when compared to ascites alone. Persistent permeability changes continue to exist even after the inhibition of vessel proliferation. These results indicate that angiogenesis is responsible for a major portion of the increase in permeability caused by malignant ascitic fluids. Other tumor-induced factors may be present which alter vascular permeability by other mechanisms which remain to be elucidated.
Economic justification for incremental implementation of advanced manufacturing systems

The strategic decision to integrate Advanced Manufacturing Systems (AMS) within a traditional production system has become an attractive and sometimes necessary alternative in many industrial settings. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that focuses on this particular decision-making problem. Simplifications and approximations introduced at the operational level permit two key issues to be addressed: (1) where should AMS be implemented; and (2) when should this implementation occur. The model is shown to have good structure for a simplified analysis, thus making it particularly useful in instances where only rough estimates of costs are available and extensive 'what if' type analyses are therefore required.
Early Cambrian microbial reefs, archaeocyathan inter-reef communities, and associated facies of the Yangtze Platform

Abstract A sedimentological and paleoecological study of part of the northern Yangtze Platform of China was conducted. Three sections of the Early Cambrian (Atdabanian/Botomian Stage) Xiannudong Formation where studied, and reveal that stromatolite and thrombolite reefs flourished in close association with an inter-reef community of archaeocyaths and other organisms. Adjacent to the reef environment were migrating ooid shoals, oncoids, peloids, and silty/sandy lime mud. No archaeocyathan reefs were observed in any of the measured sections, but irregular archaeocyaths were found in some microbial reefs, and archaeocyaths form the bulk of the debris in float-rudstone that was deposited between microbial reefs. We interpret the archaeocyath-rich float-rudstone to represent a storm-churned inter-reef deposit. Typically, ‘regular’ type archaeocyaths dominated the float-rudstone, while ‘irregular’ type archaeocyaths were found in abundance dwelling within the microbial reefs. This trend changed upsection as ‘irregular’ type archaeocyaths dominated both the float-rudstone and in the microbial reefs. The oncolite and peloidal mudstone are interpreted as representing a quiet water, lagoonal environment created by the presence of the microbial reefs and ooid shoals. During large storms material from the ooid shoals or microbial reefs would wash into the lagoon. The silty/sandy micrite represents a quiet water setting, which could either be a deep-subtidal environment or a restricted lagoonal environment. The facies associations of these three sections, along with other published data indicate that the Yangtze Platform, at least during the Early and Middle Cambrian, was a carbonate platform and equatorially located.
The Life History of the Tick Ornithodoros coriaceus Koch (Argasidae).

The tick Ornithodoros coriaceus was described by Koch (1844) and redescribed by Nuttall, Warburton, Cooper, and Robinson (1908). Herms (1916) has given the distribution in California, where it is known as the pajaroello. It is not known to occur elsewhere in the United States. The distribution in Mexico, where it is known as the tlalaja, has been given by Hoffmann (1930). True (1932) studied the anatomy and histology of the alimentary canal in this species. Most textbooks on medical entomology refer to the severity of its bite.
The simulation and optimization of a single effect multi-stage flash desalination plant

Abstract A physical and economic model is built for a 150 million gallon per day single effect multi-stage flash desalination plant. The development of the model is reviewed from previous papers. The limitations of the model are discussed. The model is optimized using a combination of the discrete maximum principle and direct search procedures. This technique permits detailed optimization of design variables at each stage so that in the optimum plant over 100 variables are optimized. Previously, in this type of plant, typical optimization studies considered about five variables. The results of the optimization are given and a sensitivity analysis on the constraints is performed.
CFD Challenge: Computational Hemodynamics Analysis of Patient-Specific Internal Carotid Artery Aneursym Using an In-House Finite Difference Cardiovascular Flow Solver

An important focus of our cardiovascular fluid mechanics studies is the development and application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools for patient-specific evaluation of internal hemodynamics in vascular anatomies. The validated unsteady internal flow solver utilized in this study has been applied to a multitude of cardiovascular geometries, particularly Fontan surgical anastomoses, pediatric venous flow confluences 1, idealized developing embryonic chick-heart models 2, neonatal aortic arch models and several complex geometries involving jet flow behavior 3. We have also recently started to explore the capability of this solver for evaluating internal flows and wall shear stresses in abdominal aortic aneursyms. For the 2012 SBC Challenge, 3D transient CFD simulations have been performed for a patient-specific internal carotid artery aneurysm case.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Characterising the sources and fate of dissolved organic matter in Shark Bay, Australia: a preliminary study using optical properties and stable carbon isotopes

Low latitude, seagrass-dominated coastal bays, such as Shark Bay, Australia, are potential sources of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) to coastal regions. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is known to influence aquatic nutrient dynamics, microbial community structure, and depth of light penetration in estuarine systems. Shark Bay is a sub-tropical ecosystem with limited freshwater inputs and restricted tidal flushing. As such, much of the DOMisexpectedtobeseagrass-derived.However,combiningexcitation/emissionfluorescencespectroscopyandparallel factor analysis (EEM-PARFAC) with 13 C stable isotope analysis of DOM, we found evidence for DOM inputs from terrestrial (riverine and possibly groundwater), autochthonous plankton, macroalgae, and seagrass sources. Isotopic analysis of 13 C in DOM supports the idea that seagrass inputs contribute substantially to the DOM pool in Shark Bay, whereas, EEM-PARAFAC data suggests that much of this input is derived from decomposing seagrass detritus and to a lesserextentdue toexudationduringprimary production.Wealsoreport increases inDOMconcentrationsandchangesin DOM characteristics with increasing salinity in surface water samples, indicating that evaporation is an important control on DOM concentration and photo-degradation may play a critical role in transforming DOM within the system.
Solvent Effects on Homolytic Bond Dissociation Energies of Hydroxylic Acids

The homolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the O−H bonds in DMSO solution for (a) phenol and a number of its derivatives, (b) three oximes, (c) three alcohols, (d) three hydroxylamines, and (e) two hydroxamic acids have been estimated by eq 1: BDEHA = 1.37pKHA + 23.1Eox(A-) + 73.3 kcal/mol. For most of these hydroxylic acids, the BDEs of the O−H bonds estimated by eq 1 are within ±2 kcal/mol of the literature values in nonpolar solvents or in the gas phase. There is no reason to believe, therefore, that these BDEs are “seriously in error because of failure to correct for solvent effects” as has been claimed on the basis that BDEs in highly polar solvents estimated for the O−H bond in phenol by photoacoustic calorimetry must be so corrected.
IR and the false promise of philosophical foundations

International Relations (IR) is uneasy about its status as a ‘science’. Throughout a long history of attempts to legitimate the field as ‘scientific’, IR scholars have imported multifarious positions from the Philosophy of Science (PoS) in order to ground IR on an unshakable foundation. Alas, no such unshakable foundation exists. The PoS is itself a contested field of study, in which no consensus exists on the proper foundation for science. By importing foundational divisions into IR, the ‘science’ debate splits the discipline into contending factions and justifies the absence of dialogue between them. As all foundations require a leap of faith, imperial foundational projects are always vulnerable to challenge and therefore unable to resolve the science question in IR. In this article, we seek to dissolve rather than solve the ‘science’ debate in IR and the quest for philosophical foundations. We argue that IR scholars should adopt an ‘attitude towards’ rather than a ‘position in’ the irresolvable foundational debate. Specifically, we advocate an attitude of ‘foundational prudence’ that is open-minded about what the PoS can offer IR, while precluding imperial foundational projects, which attempt to impose a single meta-theoretical framework on the discipline. This requires knowing what PoS arguments can and cannot do. As such, foundational prudence is post-foundational rather than anti-foundational. A prudent attitude towards philosophical foundations encourages theoretical and methodological pluralism, making room for a question-driven IR while de-escalating intra-disciplinary politics.
Investigation of supersonic separated flow in a compression corner by laser doppler anemometry

A single-component, computer-operated, three dimensional traversing laser Doppler velocimetry system was designed and constructed for a supersonic wind tunnel. The model was a 10 deg compression corner, providing an example of laminar boundary layer separation. Static pressure data and color schlieren photographs were taken. The Mach number was 2.42 and the Reynolds number was 213,000. The flow was seeded with submicron sized oil droplets. The trend of decreasing upstream influence with increasing Reynolds number was confirmed. Mean velocity profiles provided experimental evidence of reversed flow. Points of separation and reattachment were consistent with those determined by schlieren and pressure scans. The flow was of the laminar type until downstream of reattachment. Individual mean velocity and turbulence profiles, as well as velocity histograms are presented.
Functionalized Metallic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as a High-Performance Single-Molecule Organic Field Effect Transistor: An ab Initio Study

We propose a novel single-molecule organic field effect transistor (FET) fabricated via covalent functionalization of an individual metallic single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). The transfer characteristic of this FET is calculated by using ab initio quantum transport calculations. Because of the significantly reduced screening effect of the quasi-one-dimensional electrode and seamless connection between the electrode and scattering region, the optimized device shows an excellent overall performance over the experimental single-molecule organic field effect transistors. This renders functionalized metallic SWCNTs a promising candidate for a high-performance single-molecule organic field effect transistor.
Characterization of β‐endorphin in human pituitary by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of trypsin‐generated fragments*

A novel mass spectrometric method possessing a high level of structural specificity is described for characterization in biological fluids and tissues of endogenous beta-endorphin of the human amino acid sequence (beta h-EP). The method is based upon purification of tissue extracts by an RP-HPLC gradient, followed by trypsinolysis of that particular HPLC fraction corresponding to the elution time of synthetic beta h-EP. The tryptic digest of that endogenous beta h-EP fraction was purified further by a second RP-HPLC gradient. A unique tryptic fragment selected from the second gradient was analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and B/E linked-field scan MS/MS techniques to provide molecular weight and amino acid sequence-determining fragment ion information, respectively, of that fragment. Collectively, these independent analytical methodologies provided unequivocal structure evidence for the presence of endogenous beta h-EP in human pituitary. The method was established first by utilizing synthetic beta h-EP to optimize experimental parameters, and then applied to the analysis of beta h-EP in post-mortem human pituitary extracts. The suitability of the present method for semi-quantitation of tissue extracts is also demonstrated. The corresponding detection limit of the synthetic beta h-EP was 90 fmol, and human pituitary contained 1.5 pmol of beta h-EP mg-1 protein. The method can be extended readily to the analysis of beta-endorphin derived from other species and tissues.
Optimal control of an elastic string with viscous damping

We study bilinear optimal control of a wave equation with one spatial dimension. The problem describes oscillations of an elastic string with viscous damping, and the damping coefficient is taken as the control. The objective functional involves driving the state solution close to a desired profile and incurring a cost on the control. The optimal control is characrerized in terms of an optimality system.
Hydrocarbon fuel concentration measurement in reacting flows using short-gated emission spectra of laser induced plasma

Abstract Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is used to measure hydrocarbon fuel concentration in reacting flows. Emission spectra of the plasma induced by a focused-laser beam (Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm) are correlated with hydrocarbon fuel concentration in regions upstream (reactants) and downstream (combustion products) of a flame and adjacent to the combustion reaction zone. Nitrogen (568 nm) and hydrogen (656 nm) atomic emission lines are selected to establish a correlation between the line intensities and fuel concentration. These correlations are effective in a wide range of fuel mole fraction (7–90% methane/air and 5–93% ethylene/air mixtures) and independent of flow velocity. Nevertheless, the correlation depends on gas species in the plasma. Three individual correlations for premixed methane/air, ethylene/air and combustion product gases are established. For the application of the LIBS in high-speed flows, the emission spectrum is captured employing a 10-ns time gate approximately 25 ns after initial emission of radiation (from the probe region). The 25-ns gate delay is chosen to avoid broadband thermal emission from the high-temperature plasma core and achieve high spectrum signal intensity with reasonable signal-to-noise ratio of the atomic emission lines.
Altered proteasome function and subunit composition in aged muscle.

Abstract Myofibrillar protein degradation is mediated through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. To investigate if altered proteasome activity plays a role in age-related muscle atrophy, we examined muscle size and proteasome function in young and aged F344BN rats. Significant age-related muscle atrophy was confirmed by the 38% decrease in cross-sectional area of type 1 fibers in soleus muscle. Determination of proteasome function showed hydrolysis of fluorogenic peptides was equivalent between ages. However, when accounting for the 3-fold increase in content of the 20S catalytic core in aged muscle, the lower specific activity suggests a functional loss in individual proteins with aging. Comparing the composition of the catalytic β-subunits showed an age-related 4-fold increase in the cytokine-inducible subunits, LMP2 and LMP7. Additionally, the content of the activating complexes, PA28 and PA700, relative to the 20S proteasome was reduced 50%. These results suggest significant alterations in the intrinsic activity, the percentage of immunoproteasome, and the regulation of the 20S proteasome by PA28 and PA700 in aged muscle.
Anesthetic management of the patient scheduled for head and neck cancer surgery

For the patient scheduled for head and neck cancer surgery, careful assessment of the airway demonstrates the most appropriate course of action for securing the airway before surgery begins. Often the patient may be anesthetized safely before intubation of the trachea. The patient may require an awake examination of the airway under sedation and topical analgesia or an awake fiberoptic intubation before the induction of general anesthesia. To secure the airway in some patients, a tracheostomy may be needed. After the operation, extubation of the trachea requires careful attention and may be even more of a challenge than the original intubation. Current principles and techniques for the anesthetic management of the patient undergoing head and neck cancer surgery are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on avoiding the airway problems associated with this kind of surgery.
Metabolic engineering and human disease

The study of metabolic networks could provide a new window into organ and tissue function, with great impact on many areas of medicine.
Individual Property Risk Management

This paper reviews household property risk management and estimates normatively optimal choice under theoretical assumptions. Although risk retention limits are common in the financial planning industry, estimates of optimal risk retention that include both financial and human wealth far exceed limits commonly recommended. Households appear to frame property losses differently from other wealth losses, leading to wealth-reducing excess risk transfer. Possible theoretical explanations for excess sensitivity to loss are reviewed. Differences between observed and optimal risk management imply a large potential gain from improved choice.
Otoacoustic emissions and cochlear function.

Otoacoustic emissions are sounds produced by the inner ear. In humans, and other mammal species, all normal ears produce otoacoustic emissions in response to sound stimuli. Within the inner ear, a mechanism called the cochlear amplifier utilizes metabolic energy to enhance the sound-induced vibration of the basilar membrane. The enhanced basilar-membrane vibration forms the basis of normal hearing sensitivity. The operation of the cochlear amplifier is impaired by a variety of traumas, resulting in reduced basilar-membrane vibration and, thus, hearing loss. Impaired operation of the cochlear amplifier is associated with reduced or abolished otoacoustic emissions. Otoacoustic emissions and the action of the cochlear amplifier are both characterized by sharp frequency tuning and a high degree of nonlinearity. Thus, otoacoustic-emission generation is intimately related to the normal function of the cochlea, and appears to reflect the action of the cochlear amplifier. Otoacoustic emissions are in widespread use for the assessment of cochlear function in basic-science studies, and in clinical applications. Nevertheless, the cochlear processes underlying the enhancement of basilarmembrane motion and the generation of otoacoustic emissions are not well understood.
Evaluating and Refining Expert Critiquing Systems: A Methodology*

Expert critiquing systems are a rapidly growing class of intelligent decision support systems that apply artificial intelligence techniques to criticize a user's proposed solution to a problem. Critic programs now exist in the medical, engineering, programming, knowledge acquisition, word processing, and other domains. Critic refinement is a nontrivial activity that, even when done well, consumes a sizable fraction of the complete effort to build and deploy a critiquing system. To ease that effort, it is important to adopt a rigorous approach that allows one to reproducibly measure the degree of success of the current critic version and to predict which refinements will improve the critic further. The current article presents one such approach with actual case studies that illustrate its usage and elaborate selected aspects of the refinement process.