cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electroabsorption and Charged-Excitation Spectroscopy of II-Conjugated Polymers

Abstract Electroabsorption (EA) and photoinduced absorption excitation (PAE) spectra for charged excitations have been measured for luminescent [poly(phenylene acetylene), PPA] and nonluminescent (polydiethynyl silane, PDES) π-conjugated polymers at 80K, over the spectral range from 1.5 to 4 eV. Based on these measurements, a discussion of the locations of the singlet 1BU and Ag states is presented, as well as an analysis of the first- and second-derivative nature of the EA lineshapes. It is argued that luminescence (or lack of) in these polymers depends on the location of an Ag state in close proximity to the 1Bu state.
Relationship between Continuous Aerosol Measurements and Firn Core Chemistry over a 10‐year Period at the South Pole

Before ice core chemistry can be used to estimate past atmospheric chemistry it is necessary to establish an unambiguous link between concentrations of chemical species in the air and snow. For the first time a continuous long-term record of aerosol properties (aerosol light scattering coefficient, σ sp , and Angstrom exponent, a) at the South Pole are compared with the chemical record from a high resolution finn core (∼10 samples per year) covering the period from 1981 to 1991. Seasonal signals in a, associated with winter minima due to coarse mode seasalt and summer maxima due to accumulation mode sulfate aerosol, are reflected in the fim core SO 4 2- /Na + concentration ratio. Summertime ratios of σ sp and aerosol optical depth, τ, to corresponding firn core sulfur concentrations are determined and the 'calibrations' are applied to sulfur concentrations in snowpits from a previous study. Results show that σ sp estimates from snowpit sulfur concentrations are in agreement with atmospheric measurements while τ estimates are significantly different, which is likely due to the lack of understanding of the processes that mix surface air with air aloft.
Nonequilibrium diffusion as a Markov process

Abstract Diffusion of a labeled spherical particle of mass M in rarified gas of hard spheres of unit mass is approximated by a velocity Markov process. Velocity distribution of the particles of the ambient gas is assumed to be spatially homogeneous, but it does not need to be an equilibrium or a stationary distribution. This extends previous results, where either equilibrium or stationarity assumptions were used. Solution of the resulting linear Boltzmann equation reduces to finding a Green function - this is done using probabilistic and physical considerations, without any reference to the equation. A similar but slightly more elaborate, position-dependent formalism can be used to extend this result to a spatially nonhomogeneous situation.
Iraq Casualties and the 2006 Senate Elections

Prior scholarship on the effects of war casualties on U.S. elections has focused on large-scale conflicts. For this article, we examined whether or not the much-smaller casualty totals incurred in Iraq had a similar influence on the 2006 Senate contests. We found that the change in vote share from 2000 to 2006 for Republican Senate candidates at both the state and county level was significantly and negatively related to local casualty tallies and rates. These results provide compelling evidence for the existence of a democratic brake on military adventurism, even in small-scale wars, but one that is strongest in communities that have disproportionately shouldered a war's costs.
Learning to export: Export growth and the destination decision of firms

Abstract I find evidence that the geographic expansion of firm exports occurs slowly over time and that a large share of export growth is due to incumbent exporters entering new destinations. New exporters enter large countries and destinations with characteristics similar to their domestic market. Less similar, distant or less developed countries are entered by firms already exporting to other destinations. I formulate a dynamic general equilibrium model to test if these patterns are due to firms learning how to export (as other recent empirical findings have suggested) or other factors considered in the literature. In this model, heterogeneous firms experience learning in the form of market entry costs that depend on export history. Using Russian firm level data, I find that learning plays a significant role in explaining the observed entry patterns, which standard trade models cannot account for.
How organizations differ: Implications for multisite program evaluation

Groups and organizations, like individuals, have “personalities” that can affect program outcomes.
A 50-kW Module Power Station of Directly Solar-Pumped Iodine Laser

The conceptual design of a 50 kW Directly Solar-Pumped Iodine Laser (DSPIL) module was developed for a space-based power station which transmits its coherent-beam power to users such as the moon, Martian rovers, or other satellites with large (greater than 25 kW) electric power requirements. Integration of multiple modules would provide an amount of power that exceeds the power of a single module by combining and directing the coherent beams to the user's receiver. The model developed for the DSPIL system conservatively predicts the laser output power (50 kW) that appears much less than the laser output (93 kW) obtained from the gain volume ratio extrapolation of experimental data. The difference in laser outputs may be attributed to reflector configurations adopted in both design and experiment. Even though the photon absorption by multiple reflections in experimental cavity setup was more efficient, the maximum secondary absorption amounts to be only 24.7 percent of the primary. However, the gain volume ratio shows 86 percent more power output than theoretical estimation that is roughly 60 percent more than the contribution by the secondary absorption. Such a difference indicates that the theoretical model adopted in the study underestimates the overall performance of the DSPIL. This fact may tolerate more flexible and radical selection of design parameters than used in this design study. The design achieves an overall specific power of approximately 5 W/kg and total mass of 10 metric tons.
Hormonal regulation of Ca2+ transport in the endomembrane system of the barley aleurone

Gibberellic acid (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA) regulate α-amylase production in aleurone tissue of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain during germination. Since α-amylase is a Ca2+-containing protein that is synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), we investigated the possibility that GA3 and ABA regulate the flux of Ca2+ into the ER of aleurone cells. Membrane vesicles were isolated from GA3- and ABA-treated aleurone layers to characterize the effect of these hormones on calcium transport (CaT) activity as measured by the uptake of 45CaCl2 in vitro. We found that ABA and GA3 greatly alter the relative amounts of CaT activity in ER and tonoplast (TP) membrane fractions. Treatment with GA3 results in CaT being associated primarily with the ER, whereas treatment with ABA results in roughly equal amounts of CaT in ER and TP. Moreover, we found that ABA prevents or reverses the GA3-induced increase in CaT in the ER. The effects of ABA and GA3 on CaT in the ER require several hours to develop, and the effects of these hormones on CaT cannot be brought about by adding the hormones to membranes in vitro. In order to determine whether the in-vitro measurements of CaT reflect changes that occur in vivo we measured the Ca2+ content of isolated ER, measured Ca2+ transport into aleurone layers, and examined differences in the ability of ER proteins from GA- and ABA-treated layers to bind Ca2+. Our results indicate that GA3 increases and ABA decreases both Ca2+ flux into the ER and the amount of calcium that accumulates in the ER of barley aleurone cells in vivo.
Dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1) genetic polymorphism: pleiotropic effects on heritable renal traits

Because dopamine D1 receptors (DRD1) influence renal sodium transport and vascular hemodynamics, we examined whether genetic polymorphisms play a role in renal function. We conducted polymorphism discovery across the DRD1 open reading frame and its 5′-UTR and then performed association studies with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), plasma creatinine (pCr), and fractional excretion of uric acid (FeUA). We used a twin/family group of 428 subjects from 195 families and a replication cohort of 677 patients from the Kaiser health-care organization sampled from the lower percentiles of diastolic blood pressures. Although the coding region lacked common non-synonymous variants, we identified two polymorphisms in the DRD1 5′-UTR (G-94A, A-48G) that occurred with frequencies of 15 and 30%, respectively. In the twin/family study, renal traits were highly heritable, such that DRD1 G-94A significantly associated with eGFR, pCr, and FeUA. Homozygotes for the G-94A minor allele (A/A) exhibited lower eGFR, higher pCr, and lower FeUA. No effects were noted for DRD1 A-48G. Patients in the Kaiser group had similar effects of G-94A on eGFR and pCr. Kidney cells transfected with the -94A variant but not the wild type vectors had increased receptor density. Because the -94A allele is common and may reduce glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure, G-94A profiling may aid in predicting survival of renal function in patients with progressive renal disease.
Rethinking Occupational Structure: The Case of Web Site Production Work

This article addresses the structure of occupations in flexible work settings by examining the case of Web site production. Web work does not exhibit traditional occupations: Rather than falling within bounded task jurisdictions, Web jobs and careers involve fluid combinations of multiple task sets. Furthermore, workers identify less with particular specialties than with Web production as a whole. Fluid jobs allow workers some autonomy in production, but little control over the wider organization of work. This suggests that flexibility may generate new occupational structures and new contradictions for workers, but comparison with prior research suggests that occupations have never been entirely uniform.
Stochastic and coherence resonance in hippocampal neurons

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon observed in nonlinear systems whereby the introduction of noise enhances the detection of subthreshold signals. Both computer simulations and experimental recordings in the hippocampal brain slice have shown that stochastic resonance could play a significant role to enhance the detection of synaptic potentials generated in distal synapses. The noise variance required to improve synaptic detection in CA1 neurons is well within the physiological range of the noise generated by endogenous sources. Intracellular recordings in CA1 pyramidal cells confirmed that subthreshold signals could be detected with the generation of small amplitude endogenous noise in single cells. Computer simulations have been applied to test the hypothesis that the effect of stochastic resonance is enhanced when the noise and subthreshold signals are applied to several neurons at the same time. Computer simulation of the coupled network of hippocampal neurons did reveal a marked improvement in signal detection when independent noise sources were applied to multiple neurons. However, the addition of noise to a coupled neuronal network also revealed the appearance of synchronized neural activity similar to epilepsy. This recently observed phenomenon, known as coherence resonance, is responsible for the appearance of spontaneous neuronal activity and decreases the signal to noise ratio of subthreshold synaptic inputs.
Hemiarch aortic replacement for acute type A dissection in a Marfan patient with twin pregnancy

Type A aortic dissection is a high risk surgical emergency. Its occurrence during pregnancy represents an extremely high risk for death and sequelae for both the mother and the fetus. Surgical treatment in the form of cesarean delivery and aortic repair using hypothermia and circulatory arrest is mandatory in most patients. We report the case of a 29-year-old Marfan female with an acute type A aortic dissection at 34 weeks of a twin pregnancy. She underwent cesarean delivery of male twins followed by repair of the ascending aorta and proximal arch using deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. The mother and twin babies survived without sequelae and are alive at two years.
Biophysical studies of a synthetic mimic of the apoptosis‐detecting protein annexin v

A Zn 2+ -dipicolylamine coordination compound is shown to sense the presence of anionic phospholipids in a membrane bilayer. The sensor contains two dipicolylamine subunits attached to an anthracene scaffold, which exhibits a maxi- mum absorbance at 380 nm, and undergoes an enhancement in fluorescence inten- sity when exposed to membranes enriched in phosphatidylserine. For these reasons, the compound is referred to as PSS-380 (Phosphatidylserine Sensor, 380 nm). The fluorescence emission of PSS-380 is enhanced up to tenfold by the presence of vesicles containing the anionic phospholipids phosphatidylserine, phosphati- dylglycerol, or phosphatidic acid. No enhancement in fluorescence is observed upon exposure to vesicles containing only zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine, or exposure to monodispersed (non-aggregated) anionic phospholipids. The sensing effect is cooperative; not only does association to the vesicles increase if the vesicles have raised levels of anionic phospholipid, but the maximum fluorescence at sensor saturation is also enhanced. It appears that sensing is triggered by the three-compo- nent self-assembly of sensor, Zn 2+ , and the anionic membrane surface, which leads to diminished photo-induced electron transfer (PET) quenching. The utility of PSS- 380 in flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy is demonstrated by using the molecule to detect the appearance of phosphatidylserine on the plasma membrane surface of various cell lines. Thus, PSS-380 can identify apoptotic cells in the same way as the commonly used protein reagent annexin V.
An efficient feature-based connectionist inheritance scheme

A connectionist model that deals with the inheritance problem in an efficient and natural way is described. Based on the connectionist architecture CONSYDERR, the author analyses the problem of property inheritance and formulates it in ways facilitating conceptual clarity and connectionist implementation. A set of benchmarks is specified for ensuring the correctness of solution mechanisms. Parameters of CONSYDERR are formally derived to satisfy these benchmark requirements. The author also discusses how chaining of is-a links and multiple inheritance can be handled in this architecture. It is shown that CONSYDERR with a two-level dual (localist and distributed) representation can handle inheritance and cancellation of inheritance correctly and extremely efficiently, in constant time instead of proportional to the length of a chain in an inheritance hierarchy. The utility of a meaning-oriented intensional approach (with features) is demonstrated for supplementing and enhancing extensional approaches. >
Computational prediction of N-linked glycosylation incorporating structural properties and patterns

Motivation: N-linked glycosylation occurs predominantly at the N-X-T/S motif, where X is any amino acid except proline. Not all N-X-T/S sequons are glycosylated, and a number of web servers for predicting N-linked glycan occupancy using sequence and/or residue pattern information have been developed. None of the currently available servers, however, utilizes protein structural information for the prediction of N-glycan occupancy. Results: Here, we describe a novel classifier algorithm, NGlycPred, for the prediction of glycan occupancy at the N-X-T/S sequons. The algorithm utilizes both structural as well as residue pattern information and was trained on a set of glycosylated protein structures using the Random Forest algorithm. The best predictor achieved a balanced accuracy of 0.687 under 10-fold cross-validation on a curated dataset of 479 N-X-T/S sequons and outperformed sequence-based predictors when evaluated on the same dataset. The incorporation of structural information, including local contact order, surface accessibility/composition and secondary structure thus improves the prediction accuracy of glycan occupancy at the N-X-T/S consensus sequon. Availability and Implementation: NGlycPred is freely available to non-commercial users as a web-based server at http://exon.niaid.nih.gov/nglycpred/. Contact: ivelin.georgiev@nih.gov Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
CREATINE-CREATININE METABOLISM AND THE HORMONES VIII. THE EFFECT OF INCUBATION OF DIFFERENT TISSUES WITH AND WITHOUT PITOCIN, PITRESSIN AND THYROXIN UPON THE CREATINE-CREATININE EQUILIBRIUM IN VITRO

IT Is WELL KNOWN that during thyrotoxicosis or after administration of thyroxin there is an increase in creatine excretion followed by a retention of creatinine. Pitressin and pitocin cause a retention of the creatinine formed in the body from amino acid metabolism followed by a quantitative increase in creatine excretion. It is, therefore, possible that creatinine may be the mother substance of creatine under these conditions. The experiments performed during the present study were designed to investigate this possibility. A search for enzymes capable of acting on creatine and creatinine was also made. Creatinine, free from creatine, was dissolved in a phosphate buffer of pH 7 in physiological saline to contain 1 mg. of creatinine per cc. Fifty mg. of creatinine was used in the first four studies and 100 mg. in the last study. To these solutions different amounts of rat tissues and the hormone solutions were added in the amounts shown in the tables and chart. In one study 100 mg.
Surgical anatomy of the mandibular region for reconstructive purposes.

Surgical anatomy of the mandibular region for reconstructive purposes In the current era of contemporary reconstruction of the mandible, microvascular free tissue transfer is the method of choice for large bony and soft tissue defects. As outlined in various articles in this Atlas, there are other reconstructive modalities, such as pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and costochondral free grafts. Regardless of the method of reconstruction, the surgical anatomy of the perimandibular region remains unchanged. It is imperative that the reconstructive surgeon be familiar with this anatomy and particular areas of interest as they relate to the microvascular anastomosis. This article reviews the clinically relevant anatomy of the upper neck and the submandibular triangle, with emphasis on surgical pearls of each region. Fascia of the perimandibular region There are two basic fascias of the upper neck and the perimandibular space: superficial and deep (Fig. 1). The superficial fascia is the fibrofatty layer just deep to the dermal plexus of skin. This superficial fascia (superficial cervical fascia) overlies the platysma muscle and is continuous with the superficial fascia of the face between the inferior border of the mandible and the zygomatic arch known as the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system. The function of this fascia is to prevent propagation of superficial infections to the deeper structures. Just deep to the platysma muscle is the most superficial layer of the deep fascia of the neck. There are many names for this fascia, which only adds to the confusion for the reader. The most commonly used and appropriate names for this fascia include superficial layer of the deep cervical fascia (SDCF) and the investing fascia of the neck. This fascia is of clinical significance when performing mandibular reconstruction. This fascia completely encircles the neck and, in doing so, envelopes the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles on both sides. The SDCF also forms the capsule of the submandibular gland; as it travels onto the face, the name changes to the parotido-masseteric fascia, the deep fascia of the face that comprises the fascia (capsule) of the parotid gland. The SDCF contains the marginal mandibular and cervical branches of the facial nerve and the facial artery and vein. There is a specific anatomic relationship between these structures that is discussed later. Just deep to the SDCF exists the middle layer of the deep cervical fascia (MDCF). This fascia is also known as the pretracheal (a misnomer, because it actually encircles the trachea completely) or visceral fascia and contains the buccopharyngeal fascia as one its more cephalad components. The middle layer of the deep cervical fascia encircles the trachea, esophagus, thyroid, and parathyroid glands of the neck. This fascia is encountered during a tracheostomy as the last layer before entering the trachea.
Natural Language Annotations for the Semantic Web

Because the ultimate purpose of the Semantic Web is to help users locate, organize, and process information, we strongly believe that it should be grounded in the information access method humans are most comfortable with--natural language. However, the Resource Description Framework (RDF), the foundation of the Semantic Web, was designed to be easily processed by computers, not humans. To render RDF friendlier to humans, we propose to augment it with natural language annotations, or metadata written in everyday language. We argue that natural language annotations are not only intuitive and effective, but can also accelerate the pace with which the Semantic Web is being adopted. We demonstrate the use of natural language annotations from within Haystack, an end user Semantic Web platform that also serves as a testbed for our ideas. In addition to a prototype Semantic Web question answering system, we describe other opportunities for marrying natural language and Semantic Web technology.
Ovarian endometrioma: guidelines for selection of cases for surgical treatment or expectant management

Ovarian endometrioma is a benign, estrogen-dependent cyst found in women of reproductive age. Infertility is associated with ovarian endometriomas; although the exact cause is unknown, oocyte quantity and quality are thought to be affected. The present research aims to analyze current treatment options for women with ovarian endometriomas, discuss the role of fertility preservation before surgical intervention in women with ovarian endometriomas and present guidelines for the selection of cases for surgery or expectant management. This review analyzed the factors of ovarian reserve, cyst laterality, size and location, patient age and prior surgical procedures. Based on these factors, the authors recommend three distinct treatment pathways: reproductive surgery to achieve spontaneous pregnancy following treatment, reproductive surgery to enhance IVF outcomes and expectant management with IVF.
Optimising two-way joins in horizontally partitioned database systems

This paper analyses the problem of joining two horizontally partitioned relations in a distributed database system using a semi-join strategy. A mathematical model is developed and the problem is proved to be NP-complete with respect to the number of fragments. Lower bounding and heuristic procedures are proposed, and the results of computational experiments are reported. These results reveal a good performance of the heuristic procedures, and demonstrate the benefit (in terms of communication cost savings) of using semi-join operations to reduce the size of fragments prior to their transmission to the join site.
Dysregulation of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in Human Carotid Atherosclerosis

Objective— The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the principal degradation route of intracellular and oxidized proteins, thus regulating many cellular processes conceivably important for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of ubiquitin-proteasome system in human carotid artery plaques in relation to oxidative stress and clinical manifestation. Methods and Results— In carotid endarterectomy specimens from 83 asymptomatic and 94 symptomatic patients, content of ubiquitin, ubiquitin conjugates, matrix metalloproteases, and NADPH-oxidase-p67 was evaluated by immunoblotting; proteolytic proteasome activity by fluorometric assay; single and double immunostaining for ubiquitin conjugates, 3-nitrotyrosine, apoptosis, smooth muscle α-actin, and macrophage CD-68, as well as Sirius Red staining for collagen were performed. Compared with asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients showed a more unstable plaque phenotype, an increased degree of apoptosis, a significantly higher ubiquitin c...
Light-driven leaf movements*

Mature leaves of many plants re-orientate their laminae photonastically in response to non-directional light signals, and/or phototropically in response to directional light signals, by flexing of pulvini, most commonly subtending their bases. (...)
An application with variations as used in teaching a Palm programming course

Handheld devices such as the Palm are becoming common in the modern world. Since the Palm is programmed in C, and since computer science departments teach C, it is natural to set up a course in which students learn how to program for the Palm. However, even the simplest application for the Palm is far longer than a simple application for a personal computer. In this paper we introduce an application with a large number of variations, each of which illustrates a different feature of the Palm (buttons, checkboxes, push buttons, popup triggers, selector triggers, and the like). The text of all these variations is available from the author. Besides being a simple and interesting Palm application, our example is of considerable utility in the design of other applications.
Vedolizumab, a gut-specific monoclonal antibody, renews hope for an alternative to anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases

Recently, GEMINI 1 investigators examined the efficacy of vedolizumab for induction and maintenance of remission in active ulcerative colitis (Mayo score of 6-12 and unsuccessful previous treatment with azathioprine, steroids or biologic therapy) in two integrated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) [1]. In the induction phase, 521 patients received open-label IV vedolizumab 300 mg at weeks 0 and 2 while 374 patients were blinded and randomized to receive vedolizumab or placebo at weeks 0 and 2. Any of these patients who had a response (defined as a 30% and at least 3 score drop from baseline Mayo Clinic Score) to vedolizumab at week 6 were re-randomized to receive placebo or vedolizumab every 4 or 8 weeks up to week 52. At week 6, clinical remission rate was significantly higher in the vedolizumab treatment group (47.1%) compared with patients in the placebo group (25.5%; P<0.001). At week 52, 44.8% of patients who continued to receive vedolizumab every 4 weeks and 41.8% of patients who continued to receive vedolizumab every 8 weeks remained in clinical remission as compared to 15.9% of patients who transitioned to the placebo arm (P<0.001). After one year, more than half of the patients receiving vedolizumab had mucosal healing compared to 20% of patients in the placebo cohort. At week 52, adverse events were similar among all groups. In the same issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Sandborn et al [2] (GEMINI 2 study group) examined the efficacy of vedolizumab for induction and maintenance of remission in active Crohn’s disease (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 220-450 and unsuccessful previous treatment with azathioprine, methotrexate, steroids or biologic therapy) in two integrated RCTs. In the induction phase, 747 patients received open-label IV vedolizumab 300 mg at weeks 0 and 2 while 368 patients were blinded and randomized to receive vedolizumab or placebo at weeks 0 and 2. Any of these patients who had a response (a drop of 100 points in CDAI) to vedolizumab at week 6 were re-randomized to receive placebo or vedolizumab every 4 or 8 weeks up to week 52. At week 6, clinical remission rate (CDAI ≤150) was significantly higher in the vedolizumab treatment group (14.5%) compared with patients in the placebo group (6.8%; P=0.02); however, response rates were not statistically different (31.4% vs. 25.7%, P=0.23). At week 52, 36.4% of patients who continued to receive vedolizumab every 4 weeks and 39.0% of patients who continued to receive vedolizumab every 8 weeks remained in clinical remission as compared to 21.6% of patients who transitioned to the placebo arm (P<0.01). Higher rates of serious adverse events (24.4% vs. 15.3%) and infections (44.1% vs. 40.2%) were seen in patients who were treated with vedolizumab.
Generalizing Kronecker graphs in order to model searchable networks

This paper describes an extension to stochastic Kronecker graphs that provides the special structure required for searchability, by defining a “distance”-dependent Kronecker operator. We show how this extension of Kronecker graphs can generate several existing social network models, such as the Watts-Strogatz small-world model and Kleinberg's lattice-based model. We focus on a specific example of an expanding hypercube, reminiscent of recently proposed social network models based on a hidden hyperbolic metric space, and prove that a greedy forwarding algorithm can find very short paths of length O((log log n)2) for graphs with n nodes.
Towards Meso and Macro Scale Energy Harvesting of Vibration

The ambient environment is full of energy of different forms such as sun light, wind, heat, hydraulic energy, and mechanical motion including vibration. People have been seeking ways to convert the ambient energy into useful forms since ancient time. With the global concern of energy and environmental issue, energy harvesting provides one attractive solution and becomes a new research frontier. However, the majority of current research on energy harvesting from mechanical vibration obtains 10μW to 100mW energy, which has only limited applications like self-powered wireless sensors. More than ten review articles appeared in the past five years on vibration energy harvesting, whereas, the majority of which focuses on the applications in microelectronics and wireless sensors. The objective of this review is to survey the research and applications of meso and marco scale energy harvesting from vibration, and discuss the particular challenges and future research directions. Topics include piezoelectric materials and electromagnetic transducers, relevant motion and magnification mechanisms, and power electronics and control, with applications on energy harvesting from human motions, vehicle suspensions and civil structures.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
T Cell-Positive Selection Uses Self-Ligand Binding Strength to Optimize Repertoire Recognition of Foreign Antigens

Developing T cells express diverse antigen receptors whose specificities are not prematched to the foreign antigens they eventually encounter. Past experiments have revealed that thymocytes must productively signal in response to self antigens to mature and enter the peripheral T cell pool (positive selection), but how this process enhances effective mature T cell responses to foreign antigen is not fully understood. Here we have documented an unsuspected connection between thymic recognition events and foreign antigen-driven T cell responses. We find that the strength of self-reactivity is a clone-specific property unexpectedly directly related to the strength of T cell receptor (TCR) binding to presented foreign antigen. T cells with receptors showing stronger interaction with self dominate in responses to infections and accumulate in aging individuals, revealing that positive selection contributes to effective immunity by skewing the mature TCR repertoire toward highly effective recognition of pathogens that pose a danger to the host.
Evaluative research study of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) honors program

This research includes a comprehensive evaluation of a full scholarship program at Norfolk State University (NSU), which serves principally African American students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. African Americans are currently underrepresented in STEM areas. The emphasis of this program, which was initiated in 1985, was developed to encourage African American students to pursue graduate degrees in STEM fields. The demonstrated success of this program seems to indicate that both current and former scholarships recipients have enjoyed considerably higher graduation rates as well as the ability to earn graduate and professional degrees at much higher rates than their peers. Factors that have contributed to this apparent success are discussed and strategies are documented in order that this program can be replicated for other students at NSU as well as at other universities.
‘Impiety’ and ‘Atheism’ in Euripides' Dramas

In the surviving plays of Aeschylus and Sophocles the gods appear to men only rarely. In the Eumenides Apollo and Athena intervene to bring acquittal to Orestes. In Sophocles' Philoctetes Heracles appears ex machina to ensure that the hero returns to Troy, and we learn from a messenger how the gods have summoned the aged Oedipus to a hero's tomb. In Sophocles' Ajax Athena drives Ajax mad and taunts him cruelly. Prometheus Bound (assuming that it is by Aeschylus) might seem to be an exception, since all but one of its characters are gods. But nonetheless the intervention of the gods in the life of the one human character, Io, brings pain and trouble as well as promise of benefit. Io has been driven mad because she has refused to obey the dreams that tell her to go to the meadow where Zeus wants to have intercourse with her. The god does not make his request in person, and it is only in the course of her wanderings that Io learns how Zeus will bring a gentle end to her sufferings. Her informant is another god, Zeus' adversary Prometheus, who answers her questions, at times grudgingly (778), and in ways that are not immediately clear to her (775).
From the Local to the International in Mathematics Education

This chapter is devoted to a historical overview of the process of ­internationalization in mathematics education. The development of mathematics education is analyzed as a part of social history, and therefore the discussion ­inevitably touches on history and even politics. The concepts “international,” “internationalization,” and “globalization” themselves may be understood in different ways, and this is also discussed in the chapter. The chapter sequentially, albeit very briefly, analyzes various stages of the development of international collaboration, wherever possible identifying similar processes in the development of mathematics education in different regions that have facilitated such collaboration. The problem of the growth of scholarly articles from different regions is examined, as is the appearance and development of various international conferences and organizations of mathematics educators. The chapter also considers criticisms of internationalization as well as its limits.
Radionuclide Imaging of Infection

Although our understanding of microorganisms has advanced significantly and antimicrobial therapy has become increasingly available, infection remains a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. The role of radionuclide imaging in the evaluation of the patient suspected of harboring an infection varies with the situation. For example, in the postoperative patient, radionuclide imaging is complementary to CT and is used to help differentiate postoperative changes from infection. In the case of the painful joint replacement, in contrast, radionuclide studies are the primary diagnostic imaging modality for differentiating infection from other causes of prosthetic failure. Several tracers are available for imaging infection: (99m)Tc-diphosphonates, (67)Ga-citrate, and (111)In- and (99m)Tc-labeled leukocytes. At the moment, in immunocompetent patients, labeled leukocyte imaging is the radionuclide procedure of choice for detecting most infections. There are, unfortunately, significant limitations to the use of labeled leukocytes. The in vitro labeling process is labor intensive, is not always available, and involves direct handling of blood products. For musculoskeletal infection, the need to frequently perform complementary marrow or bone imaging adds complexity and expense to the procedure and is an inconvenience to patients. Considerable effort has therefore been devoted to the search for alternatives to this procedure, including in vivo methods of labeling leukocytes, (18)F-FDG PET, and radiolabeled antibiotics. This article reviews the current status of nuclear medicine infection imaging and the potential of a murine monoclonal antigranulocyte antibody, fanolesomab, that is currently under investigation. Upon completion of this article, the reader will be familiar with the physical characteristics and uptake mechanisms of tracers currently approved for infection imaging, the indications for the uses of these tracers, and the characteristics and potential indications for a murine monoclonal antigranulocyte antibody under investigation.
The Use of Temperature as a Proxy for Nutrient Reduction: a Low-Cost Inspection Tool for Stormwater Control Measures

New regulations require the implementation of stormwater control measures (SCMs) in towns and cities. Often, the task of inspecting these systems is left up to the owner. However, testing SCMs for water quality performance can be onerous and expensive. In an attempt to reduce these burdens, temperature reduction through a SCM was investigated as a proxy to estimate nutrient removal in the forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Using a pervious concrete parking lot that was constructed on Villanova University’s campus as a basis for design, two polyvinyl chloride (PVC) columns were constructed to test this concept. One column consisted of a traditional pervious concrete system with an aggregate bed, while the other simulated a sand bed underneath a SCM.In general, this method offers a lower cost alternative to estimate water quality performance of a non-vegetative SCM. This procedure can be coupled with existing low-level monitoring techniques to gain an understanding of how an SCM is functioning post construction. Background Urbanization continues to place stressors on natural hydrologic systems and environments. The increase in impervious areas in urban locations often causes a disruption in the hydraulics of a watershed, leading to a decline in the health of the surrounding ecosystems. In the United States, the conversion of agricultural land to urban and suburban areas is proceeding at an unprecedented rate, with the majority of the population now living in these developed areas (NRC 2008). An estimated 41,000 water bodies are currently impaired across the country because of the urbanization of watersheds (USEPA 2012). Stormwater control measures offer a way to decrease the effect of urbanization on the surrounding watershed through physical and chemical mechanisms. A variety of SCMs have been developed to serve specific or several stormwater control functions. By using these tools as an effective means for stormwater control management, one can protect water quality, enhance water availability, and reduce flooding potential (PADEP 2006). To ensure the continued effectiveness of these control measures, post construction maintenance and inspection must be conducted. These tasks often times become the responsibility of the property owner in which the control measures reside, and may prove to be onerous and expensive. Low-level monitoring plans have been developed in the form of user-friendly visual inspection checklists. Higher level monitoring systems involve soil analysis such as infiltration testing with a greater investment in time and money (Greising
A Module-Integrated Distributed Battery Energy Storage and Management System

This paper introduces a module-integrated distributed battery energy storage and management system without the need for additional battery equalizers and centralized converter interface. This is achieved by integrating power electronics onto battery cells as an integrated module. Compared with the conventional centralized battery system, the modular design brings several advantages such as reduced power rating and voltage stress of power electronics, no extra equalizers or centralized converters, active thermal distribution control ability, enhanced safety and reliability, etc. The battery system can now be built by simply attaching integrated modules together. The integrated module is implemented by a synchronous bidirectional dc/dc converter with digital control techniques. The design considerations and control strategy of the system are discussed. A prototype is built that the power electronics are integrated onto the battery cell. Experimental results of a three-module system verified that the module-integrated distributed system provides satisfied functional performance without extra equalizers, centralized charger, or bidirectional dc/dc converter.
75 BODY COMPOSITION MEASUREMENTS BY DEXA IN PRETERM INFANTS NEARING DISCHARGE.

Aim To study the differences in body composition in preterm infants nearing discharge from the NICU and compare them with healthy term newborn infants. We hypothesized that even with optimal nutrition in the NICU, preterm infants close to discharge from the NICU will have differences in body composition measurements compared with term newborn infants. Methods One hundred infants were recruited prospectively from the NICU and term nursery at UCI Medical Center after IRB approval and parental consent. The infants were recruited in three groups according to gestational age at birth: group 1, 23 to 29 weeks; group 2, 30 to 36 weeks; group 3, 37 to 42 weeks. Anthropometric measurements and whole-body DEXA scans were done when infants were within 1 week of anticipated discharge from NICU or prior to going home from the nursery. Unpaired t-tests were used for statistical analysis and data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Results Mean adjusted gestational age and measured weights for group 1 (n = 23) were 38.09 ± 0.42 weeks and 2,505 ± 109 g; group 2 (n = 39) were 35.34 ± 0.19 weeks and 2,253 ± 64.36g; and group 3 (n = 38) were 39.53 ± 0.22 weeks and 3,521 ± 82.45 g. Infants in group 2 had decreased percent body fat (6.71 ± 0.72) vs group 1 (9.74 ± 0.99, p = .01) and group 3 (11.88 ± 0.7, p Conclusions Preterm infants in the NICU who are close to discharge continue to remain smaller than term newborn infants. While preterm infants between 30 and 36 weeks continue to have decreased percent body fat, preterm infants
Technology Application Analysis of Things

In this paper,a concise things technology exposition,reveals the technology of things existing problems,pointed out the direction of the development of networking technology,illustrates the application of networking technology prospects.
Empirical Methods in Strategy Research: Regression Analysis and the Use of Cross-Section Versus Pooled Time-Series, Cross-Section Data

Empirical research in strategic management has relied extensively on the use of cross-section data analysis. This paper undertakes a formal examination of methodological issues raised by a cross-section analysis. Specifically we address the limited ability of a cross-section analysis to account for coefficient variation across firms and over time. These pose as important limitations in the context of strategic management research. This paper discusses alternative analytical techniques that can control for many of the limitations of a cross-section analysis. Regression methods based on pooled time series, cross-section data can help overcome biases introduced because model parameters can vary across firms or over time.
Continuity of ADHD in Adulthood: Hypothesis and Theory Meet Reality

This chapter deals with the hypothesis and continuity of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adulthood. The hypothesis concerning the continuity of ADHD into the adult years has become reality. Current theory for the etiology of ADHD is consistent with a lifetime presentation, reflecting developmental rather than a pathological difference between affected individuals and the general population. The consequences of living with the burden of a significantly disabling condition that reflects limited self-control, results in problems for an adult ADHD suffer. The condition serves as a risk factor, limiting their potential for academic and vocational achievement, as well as acting as a catalyst for comorbid psychiatric and life problems. This chapter concludes that much work remains to be done to understand the developmental course, risk, and protective factors involved in the adult outcome of ADHD, clinicians must increasingly turn their research and clinical attention to the care and treatment of affected adults.
Sexual Scripts and the Sexual Behavior of Men and Women Who Use Pornography

Using data collected from 1,880 heterosexual men and women residing in the United States, this study investigated the associations among gender, pornography consumption, and 20 sexual behaviors obs...
Micro- and Nanotechnology for Vascular Tissue Engineering

This chapter discusses recent micro- and nanotechnologic approaches to tissue-engineered vascular graft design and biomaterial-driven microvascular formation. Contributions to the field of vascular tissue engineering from micro- and nanotechnology are numerous. Toward the development of tissue-engineered vascular grafts, they include surface topography to direct vascular cells, micropatterned cell sheets, and nanofibrous matrices for scaffolds. Additionally, microfluidic systems to control flow and cell location have given us methods to study angiogenesis under tightly regulated conditions. Finally, microfabricated scaffolds and nanofiber gels are designed to enhance vascularization in vivo, bringing tissue engineering one step closer to clinical success.
Housing and neighborhood physical quality: Children's mental health and motivation

Abstract This longitudinal study examined relations between the physical quality of housing, neighborhood, and their interactive effect on the life course development of 341 U.S. rural children from ages 9–24 years. Standardized instruments assessed housing quality (structural, clutter/cleanliness, indoor climate, hazards, crowding/privacy) and neighborhood quality (street connectivity, density, land use mix; proximate building/sidewalk conditions; neighborhood stability; proximity to nature/amenities). Analyses focused on two critical components of child development: 1) psychological health and 2) helplessness. Growth curve analyses with multilevel modeling revealed that lower quality housing was associated with poorer psychological health (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) as well as marginally more helplessness on a behavioral task over 15 years, from ages 9–24 years. All analyses statistically controlled for income level. Neither neighborhood quality nor its interaction with housing quality was related to psychological health or motivation.
Social Immunity and the Superorganism: Behavioral Defenses Protecting Honey Bee Colonies from Pathogens and Parasites

Understanding the complexities of social insect immunity, that is, how insects combat pathogens, parasites and pests, is a fundamental question that not only has broad applications for understandin...