cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal decomposition of RDX/BAMO pseudo-propellants

Abstract Measurements of gaseous species and temperature profiles for RDX/BAMO pseudo-propellants were performed to study their decomposition and the chemical and physical effects of their binder ingredient, 3,3′-bis-azidomethyl-oxetane (BAMO), on the base ingredient, 1,3,5-trimethylene trinitramine (RDX). The propellants were made from a physical mixture of RDX and BAMO in weight ratio of 80:20. Experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure in argon with heat fluxes of 100 and 400 W/cm 2 delivered by a CO 2 laser. Gaseous samples were extracted through the use of quartz microprobes and analyzed by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (TQMS). Temperature profiles were measured using micro-thermocouple techniques to investigate surface and gas-phase reaction zones identified by the species measurement. Results of species and temperature measurements showed chemical and physical interactions between the two ingredients. From the species measurements, products of each ingredient, RDX and BAMO, were found to exist simultaneously throughout the gas phase; however, primary reaction chemistry in the gas phase was dominated by RDX. Three different categories of gaseous products were identified in the species measurements: species common to both BAMO and RDX; from RDX or BAMO only; and those which can not be attributed to RDX or BAMO alone. Surface temperatures were ∼640 and ∼670 K at 100 and 400 W/cm 2 , respectively, while that of RDX was ∼610 K for both heat fluxes. The temperature profiles showed the existence of an isothermal region in the gas phase, with the temperature of ∼1200 K at 100 W/cm 2 and ∼1500 K at 400 W/cm 2 . The effect of BAMO in RDX/BAMO was clearly evident in the change of surface mole fractions and profiles of major species, expansion of reaction zones, and the constant temperature profile in the gas phase. .
Encapsulation of Nucleic Acids and Opportunities for Cancer Treatment

The development of nucleic acid drugs for the treatment of various cancers has shown great promise in recent years. However, efficient delivery of these drugs to target cells remains a significant challenge towards the successful development of such therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of encapsulation technologies being developed for the delivery of nucleic acid-based anti-cancer agents. Both micro and nanoparticles systems are discussed along with their use in delivering plasmid DNA as well as oligonucleotides. The majority of the systems discussed have used DNA immunotherapy as the potential mode of anticancer therapy, which requires targeting to antigen presenting cells. Other applications, including those with oligonucleotides, focus on targeting tumor cells directly. The results obtained so far show the excellent promise of encapsulation as an efficient means of delivering therapeutic nucleic acids.
A quantitative computer-assisted morphometric analysis of stimulation-induced injury to myelinated fibers in a peripheral nerve.

Abstract We describe a computer-assisted morphometric procedure for quantifying acute axonal injury induced in peripheral nerves by prolonged electrical stimulation. The procedure is a two-phase process, with the image analysis implemented via a commercial image analysis program, followed by an automated editing of the morphometric parameters of each object identified by the image analysis software. Both phases are implemented on IBM-compatible personal computers. The custom software counts the number of fibers undergoing early axonal degeneration, using a two-category classification scheme based on the range of myelin cross-sectional area and axonal cross-sectional areas of normal (unstimulated) nerves. When the damaged fibers are counted using this procedure, the correlation between the normalized amplitude of the electric stimulus and the number of degenerating fibers is the same as when the analysis is performed by an experienced histopathologist ( R =0.87) and carries the advantage of being entirely objective. The correlation was higher with a two-category classification (damage/no damage) than when the severity of the damage to each axon was weighted according to the amount of axonal shrinkage. We determined that axons 3.5–9 μ m in diameter are the most vulnerable to injury from the electrical stimulation. This has certain implications regarding the mechanism underlying this type of injury.
Band Structure and Fermi Surface of Zinc

The band structure of zinc is calculated using a modified orthogonalized-plane-wave method and the Hartree-Fock calculations of neutral zinc by Piper. The band structure is obtained in a form which allows it to be extended readily to slight distortions of the lattice. The calculated structure is compared to an experimental band structure obtained by adjusting the matrix elements to fit de Haas-van Alphen observations of the zinc Fermi surface. The band energies do not differ by more than 0.04 ry for the two treatments. The Fermi surface from the experimental band structure is drawn in some detail. One matrix element is found to be only 0.004 ry, requiring an analysis of magnetic breakdown in the interpretation of experiments. The probability of band-to-band transitions, calculated explicitly in the high-field limit, is continued into the low-field range with a result equivalent to Blount's low-field result. The formulas for the intermediate range are applied to zinc.
Phase I trial of echinomycin (NSC 526417), a bifunctional intercalating agent, administered by 24-hour continuous infusion☆

Echinomycin was administered to 43 patients with advanced cancer in escalating doses ranging from 60 to 2128 mcg/m2. The dose-limiting toxicity of echinomycin administered as a 24-h continuous infusion every 28 days was nausea and vomiting beginning at the end of the 24 h infusion and lasting from 3 to 8 days. Other toxicities included sporadic thrombocytopenia and biochemical evidence of liver dysfunction characterized by elevations in SGOT. Peripheral vein phlebitis was noted in 100% of patients, and watery diarrhea of 24–48-h duration was noted in 7% of patients. The maximally tolerated dose of echinomycin was 2128 mcg/m2. The recommended dose for phase II trials utilizing the 24-h continuous infusion schedule is 1600 mcg/m2 repeated every 28 days with pretreatment antiemetics.
The cAMP-binding Popdc proteins have a redundant function in the heart

Popdc (Popeye-domain-containing) genes encode membrane-bound proteins and are abundantly present in cardiac myocytes and in skeletal muscle fibres. Functional analysis of Popdc1 (Bves) and Popdc2 in mice and of popdc2 in zebrafish revealed an overlapping role for proper electrical conduction in the heart and maintaining structural integrity of skeletal muscle. Popdc proteins mediate cAMP signalling and modulate the biological activity of interacting proteins. The two-pore channel TREK-1 interacts with all three Popdc proteins. In Xenopus oocytes, the presence of Popdc proteins causes an enhanced membrane transport leading to an increase in TREK-1 current, which is blocked when cAMP levels are increased. Another important Popdc-interacting protein is caveolin 3, and the loss of Popdc1 affects caveolar size. Thus a family of membrane-bound cAMP-binding proteins has been identified, which modulate the subcellular localization of effector proteins involved in organizing signalling complexes and assuring proper membrane physiology of cardiac myocytes.
Participant expectations in pulmonary hypertension-related research studies.

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is a patient advocacy organization seeking to find ways to prevent, improve treatment for, and cure pulmonary hypertension (PH) and to provide hope for the PH community through support, education, research, advocacy, and awareness. Many patients involved with PHA are also involved in various PH-specific research studies; however, the patient expectations and priorities for PH-specific research are currently unknown or not well examined. Our objective was to identify the current modes of study entry, priorities within research, and expectations over the course of study involvement for patient constituents of PHA. A 29-question online survey was designed by PHA and disseminated to the PHA patient constituency on its Facebook page through a post on November 29, 2012. Responses were collected on SurveyMonkey through December 10, 2012. Respondents were divided into parallel survey tracks, depending on whether the respondent indicated previous participation in research studies. These two cohorts of individuals were analyzed and, where appropriate, compared with tests of association. A total of 234 respondents were included in the final data analysis, with 95 (40.6%) reporting previous participation in research studies. These respondents reported an overall positive experience in their research studies (64.9% very good, 21.3% good, 12.8% neutral, 1.1% bad). Of the respondents with previous research study participation, 91.1% indicated that receipt of the study outcome after participation would positively influence their decision to participate in future research; despite this, only 41.17% reported receiving information of this sort after their participation. Research participation is a strong interest of PHA patient constituents; clear and consistent communication from the research team is an expectation of many participants. Despite this expectation, 58.83% of respondents indicated they did not receive communication from the research team after participation. This offers an opportunity not only to improve participants’ experiences but also to increase the likelihood of future study participation.
Fluxional Additives: A Second Generation Control in Enantioselective Catalysis

The concept of “fluxional additives”, additives that can adopt enantiomeric conformations depending on the chiral information in the ligand, is demonstrated in enantioselective Diels−Alder and nitr...
Structural relationships, crystal chemistry and anion substitution processes for M(III)X3 systems of the lanthanides and actinides

An examination of data for lanthanide and actinide phases with UCl,-type and PuF&-type M(III)X3 structures has shown that these systems are conveniently described by alternating layers of [MX,]z+ and [xl:-. The relationships between the UC13- and PuBr&ype structures are described and expanded to include a variety of anion substitution systems, M(III)X3-,Y,. The two different types of [MX,]:+ layers observed in these systems are consistent with the existence of a novel structural unit, [M2X.+]*+. The effects of radius ratio constraints and layering mechanisms on the phase equilibria and anionic substitution processes, polymorphism and crystal growth in the MX,-,Y, systems are discussed.
Phase-matched electromagnetic scattering in active dielectric films.

An investigation of oblique plane-wave electromagnetic scattering from active dielectric films reveals the existence of anomalously large resonances that occur at discrete plane-wave angles of incidence. These resonances may be understood from a leaky-wave phase-matching condition whose predictions for the first few modes agree to within a few percent of those obtained from a rigorous treatment using Maxwell’s equations. Enhancement in the scattered-field intensities of the order of 100 was observed in experiments using finite-diameter pump and probe laser beams and active films as thin as 6 μm.
SU-E-T-96: Gafchromic EBT2 Film Response at X-Ray Energies From 4.5 KeV to 50 KVp

Purpose: Our intent is to measure the energy dependent response of Gafchromic EBT2 film to fluorescent Kα/Ks x‐ray energies from 4.51 to 19.61 keV, and tungsten bremsstrahlung spectrum at 50 kVp of mean energy 23.3 keV. Methods: Fluorescent x‐rays were generated using a silver anode x‐ray spectrum upon high purity metals Ti, Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, and Mo. Fluorescent x‐ray dose rates were measured with an extrapolation ion chamber model EIC‐1 manufactured by Far West Technology, Inc., (Goleta, CA). Tungsten Bremsstrahlung x‐ray dose rate was measured with an NIST‐traceable Radcal 10X5‐6 ion chamber. Film was exposed to doses ranging up to 800 cGy and scanned in TIFF format at 72 ppi and 48 bits RGB using a Microtek Scanmaker i800 transmission scanner, according to the film manufacturer recommendations. Net optical density is plotted versus dose (cGy). Results: Net optical density increased with photon energy, varying by a factor of 1.5 between lowest and highest energies at all doses. Conclusion: Gafchromic EBT2 displays definite energy dependence at low x‐ray energies ranging from the fluorescent 4.5 keV to 50 kVp spectrum of mean energy 23.3 keV. The general trend with energy agrees with other studies performed at higher energies. Wayne State University School of Medicine Fund for Medical Research and Education
The enhancement of the tensile strength of biaxially oriented polyvinylidene chloride by a gaseous environment

Abstract The fracture stress of biaxially oriented polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) below about 150 K was greater in N 2 and CH 4 environments than in an inert environment such as helium. Also a prior exposure to N 2 while under stress increased the fracture stress in helium. The biaxial orientation of the PVDC may not be the primary cause of the enhancement of strength in N 2 or CH 4 since biaxially oriented polymethylmethacrylate exhibited the usual behavior in that it had a lower strength in the N 2 environment than in the helium environment. Disoriented PVDC also showed strength enhancement, but only at moderately higher strain rates. It is suggested that the low diffusivity of gases in PVDC and Nylon 6-6 is the major factor that determines the strength enhancement in an environmental gas and that the mechanism of enhancement is by the blunting of points of stress concentration instead of the formation of large crazes.
Shape based retrieval in NHANES II

NHANES II is a nationally significant medical image database of spine x-ray images located at the National Library of Medicine. A key feature of spine disease in these images is the presence of osteoytes which are bony processes that alter the shape of vertebrae. Shapes of vertebrae are conveniently described in shape spaces which are non-linear manifolds. Indexing in such non-linear manifolds is an open problem. In this paper, we describe a technique of embedding shape manifolds in Euclidean spaces in a way that allows the use of classical indexing techniques for indexing shape. Application of this to the NHANES II database is also described.
Subtle encephalomyelitis in children: a variant of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

Four children with chronic, mild, nonspecific symptoms are described in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the presence of multifocal white-matter lesions suggestive of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. The children ranged in age from 14 months to 15 years. The clinical picture was vague and inconclusive and consisted of several months of headaches, irritability, clumsiness, and personality change. Physical examinations were noncontributory. Laboratory investigation revealed no other cause of the demyelination. All of the patients have done well without any treatment, with a disappearance of symptomatology. The white-matter lesions on MRI scan in these children may indicate subtle exposure to a myelinolytic antigen. It has been suggested that such an exposure may create a state of complete or partial resistance to the encephalitogenic potential of the next infection or immunization. With complete resistance, the patient remains healthy and with partial resistance progressive demyelination re...
Yersinia pestis Is Viable with Endotoxin Composed of Only Lipid A

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major outer membrane component of gram-negative bacteria. The minimal LPS structure for viability of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is lipid A glycosylated with 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo) residues. Here we show that another member of the Enterobacteriaceae, Yersinia pestis, can survive without Kdo in its LPS.
Os isotopic variation in basalts from Haleakala Volcano, Maui, Hawaii: A record of magmatic processes in oceanic mantle and crust

Os isotopic data are presented for a suite of tholeiitic and alkalic basaltic lavas from the Honomanu Gulch section of Haleakala Volcano, Maui spanning the shield-building, post-shield and post-erosional stages of the typical Hawaiian volcanic cycle. Os is shown to behave compatibly during fractional crystallization of the basalts, with a bulk crystal-melt partition coefficient of 10 ± 5. Os isotopic compositions are inversely related to Os concentrations and exhibit no simple temporal trend, in contrast to Sr, Nd, Pb and He isotopic data from the suite [1]. The Os, Sr and He isotopic systematics in the Haleakala basalts are explained by the presence of three components. The dominant component has 187Os188Os = 0.132 ± 0.002 (187Os186Os = 1.10 ± 0.02), 87Sr86Sr = 0.704 and elevated 3He4He and is interpreted to reflect melts derived from the Hawaiian mantle plume. A second component with low 187Os186Os, 87Sr86Sr and 3He4He is considered representative of depleted upper mantle (MORB source). Temporal and petrologic trends in the isotopic data support a model for progressive mixing between plume-derived melts and up to 30% of small-degree partial melts of the MORB source during the later stages of volcanic activity. Direct exchange of plume-derived melts with MORB-source peridotite is precluded. A third component with 187Os188Os > 0.135 (187Os186Os > 1.12) is diagnostic of old crustal materials with high time-integrated ReOs. It is present only in some of the most differentiated basalts and is probably derived through contamination of melts with aged oceanic crust beneath the volcano. This study demonstrates that Os isotopes in ocean island basaltic magmas are sensitive to interactions with oceanic crust and mantle. As a consequence, the Os isotopic compositions of such basalts can record a variety of magmatic processes both within and outside their mantle plume source regions.
Income inequality and sexually transmitted in the United States: Who bears the burden?

Three causal processes have been proposed to explain associations between group income inequality and individual health outcomes, each of which implies health effects for different segments of the population. We present a novel conceptual and analytic framework for the quantitative evaluation of these pathways, assessing the contribution of: (i) absolute deprivation - affecting the poor in all settings - using family income; (ii) structural inequality - affecting all those in unequal settings - using the Gini coefficient; and (iii) relative deprivation - affecting only the poor in unequal settings - using the Yitzhaki index. We conceptualize relative deprivation as the interaction of absolute deprivation and structural inequality. We test our approach using hierarchical models of 11,183 individuals in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We examine the relationship between school-level inequality and sexually transmitted infections (STI) - self-reported or laboratory-confirmed Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea or Trichomoniasis. Results suggest that increased poverty and inequality were both independently associated with STI diagnosis, and that being poor in an unequal community imposed an additional risk. However, the effects of inequality and relative deprivation were confounded by individuals' race/ethnicity.
Ego-syntonic alien hand syndrome after right posterior cerebral artery stroke

The alien hand syndrome classically consists of involuntary movements accompanied by a feeling of foreignness and personification of the affected limb. Autocriticism, in which patients criticize and express astonished frustration with the behavior of the autonomous limb, is a commonly noted feature. Most cases of alien hand are associated with lesions of the supplementary motor areas of the frontal lobes, the corpus callosum, or both. The authors report on a 79-year-old man who sustained a right posterior cerebral artery distribution infarction and developed alien hand syndrome in the absence of callosal involvement. Also unique is that the patient perceived the alien hand as acceptable and positive, not hostile and repugnant. This case suggests not only that the neuroanatomic regions responsible for alien hand syndrome may require re-examination, but also that its definition may need expansion.
Application of a flight test and data analysis technique to flutter of a drone aircraft

Modal identification results presented were obtained from recent flight flutter tests of a drone vehicle with a research wing (DAST ARW-1 for Drones for Aerodynamic and Structural Testing, Aeroelastic Research Wing-1). This vehicle is equipped with an active flutter suppression system (FSS). Frequency and damping of several modes are determined by a time domain modal analysis of the impulse response function obtained by Fourier transformations of data from fast swept sine wave excitation by the FSS control surface on the wing. Flutter points are determined for two different altitudes with the FSS off. Data are given for near the flutter boundary with the FSS on.
The effect of systemic disturbances on the pulp of experimental animals

Abstract Degenerative changes were described in the pulps of caries-free teeth of experimental animals associated with the following systemic disturbances: starvation, alloxan diabetes, protein deprivation, repeated injections of cortisone, and the “Alarm Reaction” of Selye. The pulp changes were more severe in the continuously erupting incisors than in the molars which are characterized by limited eruption. Comparable degenerative changes were observed in the pulp in different systemic conditions, and the degree of degeneration was related to the severity of the systemic disturbance.
Nod1, but not the ASC inflammasome, contributes to induction of IL-1β secretion in human trophoblasts after sensing of Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. Previously, we showed that infection of human trophoblast cells by Ct triggers the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-1β. The aim of this study was to understand the innate immune pathways involved in trophoblast production of IL-1β after Ct infection. The approach we took was to inhibit the expression or function of the key Toll-like receptors (TLRs), Nod-like receptors, and inflammasome components that have been associated with chlamydia infection. In this study, we report that Ct-induced trophoblast IL-1β secretion is associated with the transcription of IL-1β mRNA, the translation and processing of pro-IL-1β, and the activation of caspase-1. In addition, we demonstrate that Ct-induced IL-1β production and secretion by the trophoblast is independent of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and the Nalp3/ASC inflammasome. Instead we report, for the first time, the importance of Nod1 for mediating trophoblast IL-1β secretion in response to a Ct infection.
High-external-quantum-efficiency organic light-emitting devices

We study the internal and external quantum efficiencies of vacuum-deposited organic light-emitting devices (OLED's). The internal quantum efficiency of OLED's based on tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum is calculated to be 5.7 times the observed external quantum efficiency ?(e), consistent with measurements. We demonstrate a shaped substrate that increases ?(e) by a factor of 1.9+/-0.2 over similar OLED's fabricated upon flat glass substrates and leads to a 100%-emissive aperture, i.e., the emitting area completely occupies the display area even in the presence of metal interconnects. We also discuss a substrate structure that increases ?(e) by an additional factor of 2. The high device efficiencies are promising for developing OLED-based displays with extremely low power consumption and increased operational lifetime.
The alcohol beverage purchase age and single-vehicle highway fatalities

In this study the relationship between the alcohol beverage purchase age and single-vehicle fatalities is examined. Two separate analyses, a bivariate cross-tabulation and a multiple regression, support the finding of a positive relationship between the purchase age and single-vehicle fatalities. This finding is explained by the neighboring state effect, i.e., minors in jurisdictions with high purchase ages drive to neighboring jurisdictions with lower age restrictions to purchase alcoholic beverages. A uniform national purchase age is recommended as a countermeasure.
Processing capability of the primary visual cortex and possible physiologic basis for an apparent motion illusion.

The primary visual cortex is known to process stimuli in a given part of the visual field such that divisions of the cortical column into orientation and ocular dominance minicolumns are present. Applying a model incorporating both the Hebb learning hypothesis and a Mountcastle-like organizational structure to the visual cortex, we predicted that the processing capabilities of the column involve dynamic interactions among minicolumns and are much greater than presently documented. In particular, processing of rotational stimuli in area 17 was suggested by the model. Motivated by this, a psychophysics experiment was conducted that demonstrated a spatial-temporal filling-in process in apparent motion. We have now presented this “human illusion” to cats and recorded from units in area 17 with results which clearly demonstrate striking phenomena not simply understood. The purpose of this note is to present our experimental paradigm with the preliminary results.
Response to Therapy in an Experimental Rabbit Model of Meningitis Due to Listeria monocytogenes

A uniformly fatal, reproducible model of experimental meningitis due to Listeria monocytogenes was developed in rabbits for study of the natural progression of the disease and was used to evaluate treatment regimens. Bacterial titers in cerebrospinal fluid and pleocytosis approximated those found in humans. Therapeutic studies in vivo revealed that rifampin was less rapidly bactericidal than ampicillin or penicillin, the agents usually recommended for treatment of meningitis; that penicillin plus rifampin was no more efficacious than penicillin alone; that ampicillin demonstrated greater bactericidal activity in vivo than did penicillin; and that addition of an aminoglycoside (gentamicin) to either penicillin or ampicillin significantly enhanced their bactericidal activity in vivo. Ampicillin plus gentamicin was the most effective combination in vivo and may represent the preferred mode of therapy for listeria meningitis.
Incubation periods for paediatric AIDS patients

A recent seroprevalence study of newborns indicates that one in 62 children born in New York City has antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)1. The distribution of incubation periods for paediatric patients is needed to estimate future AIDS case loads from these seroprevalence data. Current estimates of incubation periods for paediatric patients are based on limited data2–5. We use parametric5,6 and non-parametric7,8 methods to analyse incubation periods for 215 paediatric patients with AIDS whose only known route of infection is maternal. We conclude that incubation periods are longer than previously reported9; that there is a distinct knee in the incubation period distribution at seven months which suggests two risk populations; and that there is an increase in incidence which is consistent with exponential growth.
The native T-type calcium current in relay neurons of the primate thalamus

The generation of thalamic bursts depends upon calcium currents that flow through transiently open (T)-type calcium channels. In this study, we characterized the native T-type calcium current underlying thalamic burst responses in the macaque monkey. Current clamp recordings from lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) slices showed characteristic burst responses when relay cells were depolarized from relatively hyperpolarized membrane potentials. These bursts could also be elicited by stimulation of excitatory synaptic inputs to LGN cells. Under voltage clamp conditions, the inactivation kinetics of native currents recorded from primate LGN neurons showed consistency with T-type currents recorded in other mammals and in expression systems. Real-time reverse transcriptase PCR performed on RNA isolated from the LGN (including tissues isolated from magnocellular and parvocellular laminae) detected voltage-dependent calcium channel (Ca(v)) 3.1, Ca(v) 3.2, and Ca(v) 3.3 channel transcripts. Ca(v) 3.1 occurred at relatively higher expression than other isoforms, consistent with in situ hybridization studies in rats, indicating that the molecular basis for burst firing in thalamocortical systems is an important conserved property of primate physiology. Since thalamic bursts have been observed during visual processing as well as in a number of CNS disorders, studies of the expression and modulation of these currents at multiple levels are critical for understanding their role in vision and for the discovery of new treatments for disruptions of thalamic rhythms.
Self‐Concept of Academic Ability and the Adult College Student

Adults' self-concept of academic ability is discussed within the larger context of self-concept theory, the presence of adults in college, and the sparse research on adult self-concept. The operation of adult self-concept was explored with data gathered from 480 undergraduate students age 25 or older. Adult self-concept of academic ability appeared to operate much as predicted by the theory. It was shaped from past academic activities (credits earned and GPA), and it affected subjective academic outcomes such as “how well one feels he/she is doing in college” and “whether one's goals are being met by the college experience.” It also affected objective outcomes such as current credit load carried and grades attained. Self-concept did not vary by race, gender, or income, though it did vary by age. Subdomains of self-concept were explored, and the most important appeared to be interaction skills within the classroom. Relating academic self-concept to other psychological variables showed that it is unrelated to motivation, positively related to global self-esteem, and negatively related to depression, stress, and external attributions for academic success.
The evolution and maintenance of virulence in microparasites.

In recent years, population and evolutionary biologists have questioned the traditional view that parasite-mediated morbidity and mortality?virulence?is a primitive character and an artifact of recent associations between parasites and their hosts. A number of hypotheses have been proposed that favor virulence and suggest that it will be maintained by natural selection. According to some of these hypotheses, the pathogenicity of HIV, Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,theShigella,as well as Plasmodium falciparum,and many other microparasites, are not only maintained by natural selection, but their virulence increases or decreases as an evolutionary response to changes in environmental conditions or the density and/or behavior of the human population. Other hypotheses propose that the virulence of microparasites is not directly favored by natural selection; rather, microparasite-mediated morbidity and mortality are either coincidental to parasite-expressed characters (virulence determinants that evolved for other functions) or the product of short-sighted evolution in infected hosts. These hypotheses for the evolution and maintenance of microparasite virulence are critically reviewed, and suggestions are made for testing them experimentally.
Health behavior and urinary tract infection in college-aged women

We conducted a case-control study to examine the associations between various behavioral risk factors and urinary tract infection among college-aged women. Cases were collected from a University Health Service, and were compared to Health Service controls and to a population-based control group. Sexual intercourse, diaphragm use, and urinating after sexual intercourse were each associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). The magnitude of the association of diaphragm use with UTI was reduced when urination habits around sexual intercourse were considered.
Training Referential Communication Skills: The Limits of Success.

Abstract We explored why an effective speaker-training technique failed to generalize to listener skills by comparing the relative effectiveness of speaker and listener training. Our hypotheses were that: either listening tasks utilize different skills than speaking tasks (thus one should not expect transfer), or the acquisition of listener skills precedes the acquisition of speaker skills (thus the transfer patterns tested in our previous research—speaker to listener—violated the normal developmental sequence), or there is no spontaneous transfer between tasks in different modalities (even though such tasks require the use of some of the same skills). This research utilized a referential communication paradigm. Five-year-olds received either speaker training, listener training, or both speaker and listener training. Children were tested for transfer on speaking and listening task after a 1-week delay. The results suggest that although speaking and listening tasks appear to require, at least in part, certain of the same skills, preschoolers do not exhibit spontaneous intermodality transfer. Theoretical implications for the relationship between speaker and listener skills are discussed.
Optimized phase system resulting from a comparison of endcapped and non-endcapped chemically bonded silica for the hydrophobic high-performance liquid chromatography of peptides

Abstract An optimized, generally applicable mobile and stationary phase system is identified for the hydrophobic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of a wide variety of peptides. This reversed-phase system is arrived at as a result of an investigation in which endcapped and non-endcapped, chemically bonded, silicabased supports are compared in terms of their effect on the elution properties of the peptide solutes. Among the peptide solutes included in the study are enkephalins, neurotensins, angiotensins, oxytocin, phenylalanine homopolymers, and products of enzymatic digestion. Some of the features of the optimized phase system are reduced band broadening, improved peak symmetry, excellent resolution, low UV absorbance and volatility of the mobile phase. The retention data that are obtained aid in defining the mechanistic influence that residual silanols have on the elution behavior of peptides chromatographed under hydrophobic HPLC conditions.
Multipotent progenitor cells in the adult dentate gyrus

Neurogenesis persists in the adult dentate gyrus of rodents throughout the life of the organism. The factors regulating proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of neuronal progenitors are now being elucidated. Cells from the adult hippocampus can be propagated, cloned in vitro, and induced to differentiate into neurons and glial cells. Cells cultured from the adult rodent hippocampus can be genetically marked and transplanted back to the adult brain, where they survive and differentiate into mature neurons and glial cells. Although multipotent stem cells exist in the adult rodent dentate gyrus, their biological significance remains elusive. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 36: 249–266, 1998.
Multicyclic Study on the Simultaneous Carbonation and Sulfation of High-Reactivity CaO

Micron-sized CaO, obtained by calcination of mesoporous CaCO3, attained 36 wt % CO2 sorption capacity after 100 cycles of carbonation and calcination reactions at 700 °C. The extent of simultaneous carbonation (XCO2) and sulfation (XSO2) of CaO at 700 °C was obtained under simulated flue gas conditions (10% CO2, 3000 ppm of SO2, 4% O2 in N2). CaO reacts with SO2 to form thermally stable CaSO4, which leads to a reduction in the CO2 capture capacity of CaO. Whereas XSO2 increases monotonically with the residence time, XCO2 goes through a maximum and eventually drops as a result of direct sulfation of CaCO3. The maximum value attained by XCO2 was 50% in 10 min in the first cycle. The highest XCO2/XSO2 ratio of 5 is attained at a residence time of 5 min. XSO2 is higher under simultaneous carbonation and sulfation conditions compared to sulfation of CaO or direct sulfation of CaCO3.
Components of a Framework for the Design of Energy Services for Villages in Developing Countries

The development of energy services for the 40% of the world’s population currently living in energy poverty is a challenging design problem. There are competing and often conflicting objectives between stakeholders from global to user viewpoints, and the confounding effects of real-world performance, rebound, and stacking of technologies makes the determination of optimal strategies for off-grid village energy complicated. Yet there are holistic and lasting solutions that can adequately address the technical, social, economic, and environmental constraints and satisfy the goals of all stakeholders. These solutions can be better identified by systematically considering five major qualitative and quantitative outcomes including 1) energy access and efficiency, 2) climate benefits, 3) health impacts, 4) upfront and recurring economic and opportunity costs, and 5) quality of life for the user in terms of several metrics. Beginning with a comprehensive survey of energy uses in a village and current and potential technological options to meet those needs, this article proposes a methodology to identify and quantify these five outcomes for various intervention scenarios. These evaluations can provide a better understanding of the constraints, trade-offs, sensitivity to various factors, and conditions under which certain designs are appropriate for the village energy system. Ultimately a balance of all five objectives is most likely to result in equitable, user-driven, and sustainable solutions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Paper: On the realization problem for stationary, homogeneous, discrete-time systems

For degree 2, stationary, homogeneous systems, we consider realizations in the form of state-affine difference equations, and in the form of feedback-free interconnections of stationary linear systems, adders, and multipliers. Realizability conditions are presented in terms of the symmetric transfer function (or kernel), and in terms of a new representation called the regular transfer function (or kernel). A procedure is given for constructing a minimal dimension state-affine realization, and the corresponding interconnection.
Successful management of central sleep hypoventilation in an infant using enteral doxapram

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Recruitment of folliculin to lysosomes supports the amino acid-dependent activation of Rag GTPases.

Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, a human disease characterized by fibrofolliculomas (hair follicle tumors) as well as a strong predisposition toward the development of pneumothorax, pulmonary cysts, and renal carcinoma, arises from loss-of-function mutations in the folliculin (FLCN) gene. In this study, we show that FLCN regulates lysosome function by promoting the mTORC1-dependent phosphorylation and cytoplasmic sequestration of transcription factor EB (TFEB). Our results indicate that FLCN is specifically required for the amino acid–stimulated recruitment of mTORC1 to lysosomes by Rag GTPases. We further demonstrated that FLCN itself was selectively recruited to the surface of lysosomes after amino acid depletion and directly bound to RagA via its GTPase domain. FLCN-interacting protein 1 (FNIP1) promotes both the lysosome recruitment and Rag interactions of FLCN. These new findings define the lysosome as a site of action for FLCN and indicate a critical role for FLCN in the amino acid–dependent activation of mTOR via its direct interaction with the RagA/B GTPases.
Kames's Naturalist Aesthetics and the Case of Tragedy

In this essay, I discuss Kames' aesthetic theory, as presented in his essay, ‘Our Attachment to Objects of Distress’ (concerning the problem of tragedy), and in Elements of Criticism. I argue that Kames' (non-)response to the problem of tragedy – that we find tragedies painful (not pleasing), yet are ‘attracted to them through the workings of the “blind instinct” of sympathy’ – is intended to call the standard formulation of the problem of tragedy (‘why do we find such painful things pleasing?’) into question. This standard formulation, on Kames' view, mistakenly assumes that we cannot be attracted to anything but pleasure, whereas tragedy (among other phenomena) shows that human nature is considerably more complex than this. I argue, further, that Kames' treatment of tragedy exemplifies the character of his aesthetics more broadly: aesthetic values are explained by reference to general laws governing human nature (we are attracted to this sort of thing, averse to that, etc.) – or explanatory naturalism. ...
A low-cost solution to rural water disinfection

To address the problem of water-borne diseases and the poor success rates of chlorination in the developing world, Compatible Technology International (CTI) began the design of a chlorinator more appropriate for the target populations. An initial assessment demonstrated that none of the disinfection systems commercially available at that time were economically or technically suited to the task. Hence, the design criteria were as follows: (1) The unit should be simple, nonelectrical, field-constructible, and suitable for village-level operation and maintenance. (2) It should handle water flow rates between 2-10 gallons per minute (gal/min) and should deliver a consistent dose of chlorine regardless of water flow rate. CTI selected solid tablets of calcium hypochlorite as the source of the oxidizing agent. CTI has been very sensitive to community acceptance of their new device. Community acceptance is absolutely essential to the ultimate success of this project. The community measures the success of the devices by the palatability of the water they drink and through observations that their children have fewer incidents of diarrhea. While obtaining high-quality chlorine tablets has been a problem, the program has been very well received by the communities, as evidenced by the fact that UNOM (Operation and Maintenance Division of the Nicaraguan Health Ministry) cannot keep up with the requests for the units. Laboratory results show that the village water systems with the chlorinators are free of coliform bacteria. Record keeping in these villages is almost nonexistent. However, anecdotal information indicates that infantile diarrhea is reduced when the chlorinator is installed.
Optimization of a modified electrode for the sensitive and selective detection of α-dipeptides

Sensitive and selective detection of dipeptides is important in neurochemistry. We have developed a flexible detection scheme for dipeptides based on a modified carbon electrode. The modification arises from the anodic treatment of the carbon electrode in alkaline solution. The flexibility of the detection scheme arises from the different conditions used in both the modification and the detection. It is shown that the modification step requires the presence of cupric ion, while the detection step does not. On the other hand, it is shown that the presence of copper in the detection eluent, as well as the pH of the environment, can be used in controlling the selectivity of the modified electrode. For example, the modified electrode is more selective for alpha-dipeptides over beta- and gamma-dipeptides as well as amino acids at pH 9.8, whereas it is selective for all dipeptides over amino acids at pH 8.0. Detection limits of dipeptides on the order of 10 nM were achieved at pH 8.0 by flow-injection analysis with a knotted Teflon tubing connecting the injector and the detector that gave a typical peak volume of about 0.50 ml at 1.0 ml/min. From surface analysis it is shown that the oxygenation of the glassy carbon electrode gives rise to the selectivity. The oxidation of dipeptides at the modified electrode is completely inhibited by 10 mM Mg2+ in the eluent.
Interview: The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke/American Epilepsy Society benchmarks and research priorities for epilepsy research

Daniel H Lowenstein, MD, is the Robert B and Ellinor Aird Professor and Vice-Chairman of Neurology, Director of the Epilepsy Center, and Director of Physician-Scientist Education and Training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He received his BA in Mathematics from the University of Colorado and MD from Harvard Medical School. He completed his neurology residency training at UCSF. Dr Lowenstein is a clinician-scientist who has studied both basic science and clinical aspects of epilepsy. In recent years, he has been an organizer of a large-scale, international effort to study the complex genetics of epilepsy, known as the Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project. He has been actively involved in advancing the cause of epilepsy at the national and international level. Dr Lowenstein served as President of the American Epilepsy Society from 2003 to 2004 and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) Advisory Council from 2000 to 2004, and has overseen the development of the NINDS Epilepsy Research Benchmarks since their inception in 2000.
Frames of reference in architectural design: analysing the hyperacclamation (A-h-a-!)

Abstract The discovery of a creative solution occasionally corresponds to the sudden attainment of a mental insight. Our purpose is to formally describe this phenomenon and the cognitive mechanisms that lead to it. The approach is based on the replicability of just such an insight which underlies the solution to a well known puzzle: the nine-dot puzzle. The insight coincides with the realization that the problem can only be solved when a spurious constraint is removed. Two experimental results are reported: one on the nine-dot puzzle and the other on an architectural sketch design problem. The sketch design problem was structured with several restricting frames of reference to create a situation analogous to the nine-dot puzzle. Subjects' design behaviour was analysed to identify the mechanisms used in achieving the mental insights which allow designers to go beyond the implicit restrictions of these frames. A general model, called SMI-GI, of the mental insight based design and discovery process is described. This model foresees a computer system that can be used to simulate the mental insight mechanism and consequently lead to the systematic examination of this aspect of design creativity.