cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-ray scattering studies of thin films of photosensitive polyimides

Abstract Using the techniques of wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), the morphology of polyimide thin films thermally imidized from several photosensitive polyimide (PSPI) precursors has been investigated and compared with that of the thin films prepared from the corresponding poly(amic acid) precursors: poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene pyromellitimide) (PMDA-ODA), poly( p -phenylene biphenyltetracarboximide) (BPDA-PDA) and poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene benzophenonetetracarboximide) (BTDA-ODA). The WAXD results indicate that regardless of the precursor origin, the BTDA-ODA polyimide is amorphous, whereas the other polyimides exhibit a molecular order. For both the PMDA-ODA and the BPDA-PDA, the molecular order is relatively higher in the films prepared from the PSPI precursors than in those from the corresponding poly(amic acid)s, indicating that during thermal imidization, the photosensitive groups play an important role to improve the mobility of the polymer chains, which may be critically needed to make better molecular packing, in spite of their bulkiness having the potential to hinder the molecular packing. In Lorentz-corrected SAXS analyses, a long period (130–156 A mean periodicity) was observed for all the polyimides except the PMDA-ODA. In particular, the microstructure in the BPDA-PDA could be described by an extended chain-based two-phase (ordered and less ordered phase) model with diffuse boundaries because of its high chain rigidity. In addition, the Guinier SAXS analyses indicate the presence of voids in all the polyimide films, regardless of the precursor origin. The size of voids was 251–349 A in radius, depending upon the type of polyimide.
Articulators in dental education and practice.

Abstract This study showed that only a small percentage of students continued to use or prescribe articulators after beginning their practices. Yet many restorative teaching programs have utilized semiadjustable articulators with the intent to stimulate a continued use of the instrument in practice. Perhaps the emphasis of instruction should not be placed upon a certain type of articulator for all restorative dentistry but instead upon the selection of an articulator dependent upon the degree of difficulty encountered with each patient. For example, a simple articulator may be used for simple treatment such as a single full gold crown in an otherwise healthy mouth with physiologic occlusion. This does not obviate the need for properly related master and opposing full-arch casts of high quality. Also, instruction is required which will assure that the new crown does not introduce occlusal interferences in centric relation, the intercuspal position, or laterotrusive and mediotrusive excursions. Emphasis should be taken away from teaching use of only one instrument. It should instead be directed toward an understanding of the basic principles of occlusion, cultivating an ability to differentiate the complexity of treatment, and then selecting an instrument which will provide the most practical and suitable result. An effort should be made to compensate for the instrument's limitations by careful clinical examination and correction.
Temporal and anatomical distribution of nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression and nitric oxide production during central nervous system inflammation.

Nitric oxide (NO) has important roles in inflammatory processes. It was the aim of this study to ascertain whether changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA expression lead to similar temporal and anatomical changes in NO production in an experimental model of CNS inflammation. NOS-II (inducible NOS) mRNA expression was analyzed 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or vehicle. Increased expression of NOS-II mRNA was observed surrounding the microinjection site and meninges. The changes were significantly higher than controls at 4 and 6 h, returning to baseline at 24 h. Using the novel fluorometric NO detection system, 4,5-Diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2/DA), for the direct detection of NO production, we observed a significant increase in NO production after 4 and 6 h. NO production was observed in areas surrounding the injection site, meninges surrounding the brain and perivascular cells and neuron-like cells throughout the cortex. However, increases in NO production in these areas remained significantly higher than controls at 24 h. These findings demonstrate for the first time that, in fresh frozen tissue, that the anatomical distribution of NOS-II mRNA is consistent with the distribution of NO production. We conclude that increases in NOS-II mRNA following i.c.v. administration of IL-1β lead to increases in NO production. While the mRNA is degraded by 24 h post treatment, the enzyme remains active. We propose that the DAF-2/DA method can be used as a potential marker in the diagnosis of CNS inflammation.
Imprint of oaks on nitrogen availability and δ 15 N in California grassland-savanna: a case of enhanced N inputs?

Woody vegetation is distributed patchily in many arid and semi-arid ecosystems, where it is often associated with elevated nitrogen (N) pools and availability in islands of fertility. We measured N availability and δ15N in paired blue-oak versus annual grass dominated patches to characterize the causes and consequences of spatial variation in N dynamics of grassland-savanna in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. We found significantly greater surface soil N pools (0–20 cm) in oak patches compared to adjacent grass areas across a 700 m elevation gradient from foothills to the savanna-forest boundary. N accumulation under oaks was associated with a 0.6‰ depletion in soil δ15N relative to grass patches. Results from a simple δ15N mass balance simulation model, constrained by surface soil N and δ15N measured in the field, suggest that the development of islands of N fertility under oaks can be traced primarily to enhanced N inputs. Net N mineralization and percent nitrification in laboratory incubations were consistently higher under oaks across a range of experimental soil moisture regimes, suggesting a scenario whereby greater N inputs to oak patches result in net N accumulation and enhanced N cycling, with a potential for greater nitrate loss as well. N concentrations of three common herbaceous annual plants were nearly 50% greater under oak than in adjacent grass patches, with community composition shifted towards more N-demanding species under oaks. We find that oaks imprint distinct N-rich islands of fertility that foster local feedback between soil N cycling, plant N uptake, and herbaceous community composition. Such patch-scale differences in N inputs and plant–soil interactions increase biogeochemical heterogeneity in grassland-savanna ecosystems and may shape watershed-level responses to chronic N deposition.
Molecular Mechanisms of Cl−/H+ Coupling in CLC-ec1

The bacterial CLC-ec1 is a structurally known H+/Cl− exchanger of the CLC family and it has served as an excellent model to predict many functional properties of the eukaryotic CLC channels and transporters. We investigated two fundamental questions in the mechanism regulated coupled Cl−/H+ exchange: first, is H+ movement rate limiting? Second, what are the molecular determinants of Cl−/H+ coupling in CLC-ec1?To investigate whether H+ movement is rate or not in the transport cycle we measured the isotope effect associated with exchanging H+ with D+ on the transport rate. We found that this substitution has little effect on the Cl− transport rate, suggesting that H+ binding or its movement across the membrane are not rate limiting. This implies that either Cl−binding or a conformational change in the protein is the rate limiting step.We then studied the coupling between H+ and Cl− binding. If n H+ bind to or are released by CLC-ec1 in response to a Cl− binding event then the enthalpy of Cl− binding to CLC-ec1 measured with isothermal titration calorimetry, ΔHtot, is the sum of two components: Cl− binds to CLC-ec1 and n H+ are released into or absorbed from the surrounding solution, ΔHobind, and subsequently binds to a buffer molecule, ΔHbuf. By measuring the enthalpy in several buffers we can determine the number of H+ binding or unbinding from CLC-ec1 in response to Cl− binding. We found that for WT CLC-ec1 n∼0.5, suggesting that for every 2 Cl− binding 1 H+ is released. This is in agreement with the transport stoichiometry of CLC-ec1. This binding coupling is ablated by mutations that inhibit H+ transport. Neutralization of either of the two H+-accepting glutamates of CLC-ec1 leads to impairment in Cl−-coupled H+ release.
Prostaglandins in macula densa function

Prostaglandins in macula densa function. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and immunoreactive protein localize to the macula densa and adjacent cortical thick ascending limb in renal cortex, and chronic NaCl restriction increases expression of this enzyme. These findings suggest an integral role for eicosanoids generated by macula densa-associated COX-2 in mediating renin release. As selective inhibitors of COX-2 become available, it will be important to assess their effects on the renin-angiotensin system and glomerular hemodynamics.
Ultrasonic estimation of weight in the very low-birth weight fetus: A resident versus staff physician comparison

The estimation of weight in the very low-birth weight fetus (< 1500 gm) is becoming more important in obstetric management as neonatal nurseries are reporting better outcome in this weight category. It has become clear that assessment of weight can best be accomplished through the use of ultrasound. In many institutions, however, ultrasonography is under the control of other departments and is not readily available. This arrangement prevents rapid access and compromises the benefit of the technique. To evaluate the accuracy of scans performed in very low-birth weight infants by personnel with limited training in ultrasonography, we undertook a systematic study of weight estimates in this select group of patients. To date, 31 ultrasound examinations have been performed by staff physicians and 50 by resident physicians. Comparisons made between ultrasound examinations by staff and resident physicians showed that the absolute error between the ultrasound-predicted weight and the actual weight, though less in the case of staff physician examinations, was not statistically significant.
Carbon dioxide as a reversible inhibitor of spermatozoan metabolism.

LOW-TEMPERATURE storage (+ 5° to − 79° C.) has been the primary means of preserving the life and fertility of mammalian spermatozoa in vitro. Experiments in our laboratory have repeatedly shown that low levels of carbon dioxide prolonged the life of bovine sperm at 37° C. under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions1. Recent experiments have shown that high concentrations of carbon dioxide in a properly buffered medium reversibly inhibit sperm motility and metabolism. Preliminary results have shown that the fertility of bovine semen stored for several days at room temperature in a diluent saturated with carbon dioxide is not impaired2.
The rates of cleavage of insoluble and soluble collagens by tissue collagenases.

The cleavage rates of insoluble and acid-soluble bovine collagens by tissue collagenases from the cultures of C3H mouse mammary adenocarcinoma and from human rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts at 37°C were compared by measuring dansyl (Dns)-IIe and Dns-Leu, amino-terminal residues at the cleaved sites after dansylation. The kinetic parameters, Kcat and Km, defined functionally, were as follows: for insoluble Achilles tendon collagen, Km values were 0.89 and 0.83 μM; Kcat/Km 39.2 and 317 μM−1 h−1. For acid-soluble skin collagen the values were 0.83 and 0.82 μM; 44.6 and 354 μM, respectively. The supernatants from the insoluble and acid-soluble collagens contained 28% and 92% of total Dns-IIe and 1.3% and 43% of total Hyp, respectively. Results showed that both tissue collagenases cleaved insoluble collagen almost as rapidly as they did reconstituted collagen fibrils. The cleavage of collagen was proportional to enzyme concentration. The presence of Dns-IIe and Dns-Leu in the supernatant arises from a second c...
A Dynamically Reconfigurable System for Closed-Loop Measurements of Network Traffic

Streaming network traffic measurement and analysis is critical for detecting and preventing any real-time anomalies in the network. The high speeds and complexity of today's networks, coupled with ever evolving threats, necessitate closing of the loop between measurements and their analysis in real time. The ensuing system demands high levels of programmability and processing where streaming measurements adapt to the changing network behavior in a goal-oriented manner. In this work, we exploit the features and requirements of the problem and develop an application-specific FPGA-based closed-loop measurement (CLM) system. We make novel use of fine-grained partial dynamic reconfiguration (PDR) as underlying reprogramming paradigm, performing low-latency just-in-time compiled logic changes in FPGA fabric corresponding to the dynamic measurement requirements. Our innovative dynamically reconfigurable socket offers 3× logic savings over conventional static solutions, while offering much reduced reconfiguration latencies over conventional PDR mechanisms. We integrate multiple sockets in a highly parallel CLM framework and demonstrate its effectiveness in identifying heavy flows in streaming network traffic. The results using an FPGA prototype offer 100 percent detection accuracy while sustaining increasing link speeds.
Cyclooxygenase-2–Dependent Prostacyclin Formation Is Regulated by Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol In Vitro

Reduction of plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels is associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death. Some of this clinical benefit may be derived from an improvement in endothelium- dependent vasodilation. In the present study, we examined the effects of LDL reduction on cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and prostacyclin (PGI2) production. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to reduced concentrations of LDL demonstrated increased PGI2 production in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.750.2 to 2.60.2 ng/mL, P0.0001). This alteration in PGI2 production did not result from LDL-induced changes in PGI2 synthase expression. However, selective inhibition of COX-2, but not COX-1, blocked PGI2 production under low cholesterol conditions. Addition of exogenous cholesterol induces dose-dependent reductions in endothelial COX-2 expression as measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and by Western blotting. Pretreatment of cells with actinomycin D, a transcription inhibitor, reduced COX-2- derived PGI2 production by 45.9% (from 0.550.09 to 0.250.08 ng/mL). Taken together, these observations indicate that endothelial PGI 2 production is regulated by cholesterol at the transcriptional level and that cholesterol-sensitive transcriptional pathways that regulate COX-2 expression are present in vascular tissue. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2002;22:983-988.)
K/sup +/ ion source for the heavy ion induction linac system experiment ILSE

Low emittance singly charged potassium thermionic ion sources are being developed for the ILSE injector. The ILSE, now under study at LBL, will address the physics issues of particle beams in a heavy ion fusion driver scenario. The K/sup +/ ion beam is emitted thermionically into a diode gap from alumino-silicate layers (zeolite) coated uniformly on a porous tungsten cup. The injector diode design requires a large diameter (4" to 7") source able to deliver a high current (/spl sim/ 800 mA) low emittance (E/sub n/ >
High temperature measurements of martensitic transformations using digital holography

During thermal cycling of nickel-aluminum-platinum (NiAlPt) and single crystal iron-chromium-nickel (FeCrNi) alloys, the structural changes associated with the martensite to austenite phase transformation were measured using dual-wavelength digital holography. Real-time in situ measurements reveal the formation of striations within the NiAlPt alloy at 70°C and the FeCrNi alloy at 520°C. The results demonstrate that digital holography is an effective technique for acquiring noncontact, high precision information of the surface evolution of alloys at high temperatures.
University of St. Thomas uses AHP to grow operations management major

Our study describes how one business school department used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to identify and rank factors most influencing students' choice of business school concentrations. Using a series of pairwise comparison matrices as the survey instrument, we identified characteristics associated with a student's personal abilities and goals as the most important factor influencing a student's choice in majors. The factors were then mapped with student touch points (e.g., campus events, information sessions, etc.) in an effort to directly influence those factors most affecting students' decision making and increase departmental enrolment numbers. The result was a near 120% increase in operations management enrolment upon the completion of the project.
Inorganic carbon sources and biomass regulation in intensive microalgal cultures

Three freshwater and one marine algal species were grown under inorganic carbon limitation in laboratory continuous cultures. Comparisons were made between HCO3− alkalinity and bubbled CO2 as carbon sources. HCO3− alkalinity was an excellent source of inorganic carbon below specific pH levels, but chemical precipitation at high pH placed an upper limit on productivity that was far lower than potential light-limiting levels. With bubbled CO2 it was possible to achieve light limitation. The main factor controlling productivity was the mass flux of inorganic carbon added to the culture, which is the product of gas flow rate and influent P level. Small bubbles were more efficient than large bubbles at low gas flow rates and P levels, but led to froth flotation of algal cells and concomitant reductions in productivity at high bubble rates. At 1% CO2 productivity was still dependent on mass fluxes of added carbon, but was independent of bubble size. At high bubble rates with 1% CO2 narcosis was evident. Maximum yields occurred at intermediate dilution rates when inorganic carbon was supplied via bubbled gas.
Total Syntheses of Hopeanol and Hopeahainol A Empowered by a Chiral BrØnsted acid-Induced Pinacol Rearrangement

Although the stilbene resveratrol is simple in terms of its size and functional group array, it possesses high chemical reactivity, a property that enables its conversion into hundreds of architecturelly diverse bioactive oligomeric natural products.[1–3] Among recent dimeric isolates, hopeanol and hopeahainol A (1 and 2, Scheme 1) are two of the most intriguing given their constrained, partially dearomatized bicyclic cores and potent activity in antitumor and acetyl-cholinesterase inhibition assays.[4] Indeed, these molecules have already been the subject of synthetic interest, with reports by Nicolaou, Chen, and co-workers describing racemic and enantioselective syntheses of 1 and 2 in 15 linear steps.[5] Their route featured several cascade-based bond constructions[6] and the discovery that hopeahainol A (2) could be converted into hopeanol (1) upon treatment with base, an idea counter to the original biosynthetic proposal.[4b] In this communication, we describe a distinct approach for the total synthesis of these natural products empowered by a unique, reagent-driven pinacol rearrangement and substrate-specific oxidation chemistry. Significantly, it has potential for scaleability as well as biogenetic implications.
Convergent finite difference methods for one-dimensional fully nonlinear second order partial differential equations

This paper develops a new framework for designing and analyzing convergent finite difference methods for approximating both classical and viscosity solutions of second order fully nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) in 1-D. The goal of the paper is to extend the successful framework of monotone, consistent, and stable finite difference methods for first order fully nonlinear Hamilton–Jacobi equations to second order fully nonlinear PDEs such as Monge–Ampere and Bellman type equations. New concepts of consistency, generalized monotonicity, and stability are introduced; among them, the generalized monotonicity and consistency, which are easier to verify in practice, are natural extensions of the corresponding notions of finite difference methods for first order fully nonlinear Hamilton–Jacobi equations. The main component of the proposed framework is the concept of a “numerical operator”, and the main idea used to design consistent, generalized monotone and stable finite difference methods is the concept of a “numerical moment”. These two new concepts play the same roles the “numerical Hamiltonian” and the “numerical viscosity” play in the finite difference framework for first order fully nonlinear Hamilton–Jacobi equations. In the paper, two classes of consistent and monotone finite difference methods are proposed for second order fully nonlinear PDEs. The first class contains Lax–Friedrichs-like methods which also are proved to be stable, and the second class contains Godunov-like methods. Numerical results are also presented to gauge the performance of the proposed finite difference methods and to validate the theoretical results of the paper.
Analysing seismic-source mechanisms by linear-programming methods

Summary. Linear-programming methods are powerful and efficient tools for objectively analysing seismic focal mechanisms and are applicable to a wide range of problems, including tsunami warning and nuclear explosion identification. The source mechanism is represented as a point in the six-dimensional space of moment-tensor components. Each observed polarity provides an inequality constraint, linear with respect to the moment tensor components, that restricts the solution to a half-space bounded by a hyperplane passing through the origin. The intersection of these half-spaces is the convex set of all acceptable solutions. Using linear programming, a solution consistent with the polarity constraints can be obtained that maximizes or minimizes any desired linear function of the moment tensor components; the dilatation, the thrust-like nature, and the strike-slip-like nature of an event are examples of such functions. The present method can easily be extended to fit observed seismic-wave amplitudes (either signed or absolute) subject to polarity constraints, and to assess the range of mechanisms consistent with a set of measured amplitudes.
Establishment of non-native plant species after wildfires: effects of fuel treatments, abiotic and biotic factors, and post-fire grass seeding treatments.

Establishment and spread of non-native species following wildfires can pose threats to long-term native plant recovery. Factors such as disturbance severity, resource availability, and propagule pressure may influence where non-native species establish in burned areas. In addition, pre- and post-fire management activities may influence the likelihood of non-native species establishment. In the present study we examine the establishment of non-native species after wildfires in relation to native species richness, fire severity, dominant native plant cover, resource availability, and pre- and post-fire management actions (fuel treatments and post-fire rehabilitation treatments). We used an information-theoretic approach to compare alternative hypotheses. We analysed post-fire effects at multiple scales at three wildfires in Colorado and New Mexico. For large and small spatial scales at all fires, fire severity was the most consistent predictor of non-native species cover. Non-native species cover was also correlated with high native species richness, low native dominant species cover, and high seeded grass cover. There was a positive, but non-significant, association of non-native species with fuel-treated areas at one wildfire. While there may be some potential for fuels treatments to promote non-native species establishment, wildfire and post-fire seeding treatments seem to have a larger impact on non-native species.
Determinants of Children’s Self-Esteem: An Examination of Perceived Competence and Affect in Sport

The present study examined perceived sport competence and affect experienced in sport as possible determinants of children’s levels of self-esteem. The sample consisted of 183 summer sport program participants ranging in age from 8 to 13 years. The children completed self-report questionnaires that assessed the constructs of interest. Hypothesized relationships among the constructs were then examined using structural equation modeling techniques. The results revealed that both structural models tested provided an adequate fit with the sample data. For the affect mediator model, perceived competence significantly influenced positive affect and to a lesser degree negative affect, while only positive affect influenced self-esteem. For the perceived competence mediator model, only positive affect significantly influenced perceived competence, which in turn significantly influenced self-esteem. Thus, higher scores on perceived competence and positive affect were associated with higher scores in children’s self...
Career Commitment in Human Service Professionals: A Biographical Study

Twenty-five human service professionals were studied at two points in time: during the first year of their careers and 12 years later. Questionnaires and in-depth biographical interviews were used to gather data aobut the Ss' careers and personal lives. Quantitative analyses indicated that age, attitude toward life, and job satisfaction were positively correlated with career commitment. Marrieds were significantly more committed than singles, and career changers were less committed to their present careers than were those who had not changed careers. Qualitative analysis identified several other factors that might enhance career commitment, including a challenging work experience before entering the present career, positive professional development experiences, supportive organizational climates, and interesting work. The results were used to develop a theoretical model of career commitment in which professional self-efficacy plays a central role.
The prehospital emergency care system in Mexico City: a system's performance evaluation.

INTRODUCTION Mexico City has one of the highest mortality rates in Mexico, with non-intentional injuries as a leading cause of death among persons 1-44 years of age. Emergency medical services (EMS) in Mexico can achieve high levels of efficiency by offering high quality medical care at a low cost through adequate system design. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether the prehospital EMS system in Mexico City meets the criteria standards established by the American Ambulance Association Guide for Contracting Emergency Medical Services (AAA Guide) for highly efficient EMS systems. METHODS This retrospective, descriptive study, evaluated the structure of Mexico City's EMS system and analyzed EMS response times, clinical capacity, economic efficiency, and customer satisfaction. These results were compared with the AAA guide, according to the soc ial, economic, and political context in Mexico. This paper describes the healthcare system structure in Mexico, followed by a description of the basic structure of EMS in Mexico City, and of each tenet described in the AAA guide. The p aper includesdata obtained from official documents and databases of government agencies, and operative and administrative data from public and private EMS providers. RESULTS The quality of the data for response times (RT) were insufficient and widely varied among providers, with a minimum RT of 6.79 minutes (min) and a maximum RT of 61 min. Providers did not define RT clearly, and measured it with averages, which can hide potentially poor performance practices. Training institutions are not required to follow a standardized curriculum. Certifications are the responsibility of the individual training centers and have no government regulation. There was no evidence of active medical control involvement in direct patient care, and providers did not report that quality assurance programs were in place. There also are limited career advancement opportunities for EMS personnel. Small economies of scale may not allow providers to be economically efficient, unit hours are difficult to calculate, and few economic data are available. There is no evidence of customer satisfaction data. CONCLUSIONS Emergency medical services in Mexico City did not meet the AAA requirements for high-quality, prehospital, emergency care. Coordination among EMS providers is difficult to achieve, due, in part, to the lack of: (1) an authoritative structure; (2) sound system design; and (3) appropriate legislation. The government, EMS providers, stakeholders, and community members should work together to build a high quality EMS system at the lowest possible cost.
Interplay between three global regulatory proteins mediates oxygen regulation of the Escherichia coli cytochrome d oxidase (cydAB) operon

Summary The Escherichia coli cydAB operon, encoding the subunits of the high-affinity cytochrome d oxidase, is maximally transcribed in microaerobiosis as a result of the combined action of the oxygen-responsive regulators Fnr and ArcA. Here, we report that the histone-like protein H-NS is an aerobic repressor of cydAB expression. ArcA is shown to antagonize HNS action to render cydAB expression insensitive to H-NS repression in anaerobiosis. The targets for HNS-mediated aerobic repression are the four oxygenregulated promoters, designated P1, P2, P3 and P4. H-NS control is the result of H-NS binding to an extended region within the cydAB promoter element, including sequences upstream from and overlapping the four regulated promoters. We propose a regulatory model in which oxygen control of cydAB transcription is mediated by three alternative protein‐DNA complexes that are assembled sequentially on the promoter region as the cells are shifted from aerobic to microaerobic and to anaerobic conditions. According to this model, ArcA-P plays a central role in cydAB regulation by antagonizing H-NS repression of cydAB transcription when oxygen becomes limiting. This allows peak gene expression and subsequent repression by Fnr under fully anaerobic conditions.
Accurate expectancies diminish perceptual distraction during visual search

The load theory of visual attention proposes that efficient selective perceptual processing of task-relevant information during search is determined automatically by the perceptual demands of the display. If the perceptual demands required to process task-relevant information are not enough to consume all available capacity, then the remaining capacity automatically and exhaustively “spills-over” to task-irrelevant information. The spill-over of perceptual processing capacity increases the likelihood that task-irrelevant information will impair performance. In two visual search experiments, we tested the automaticity of the allocation of perceptual processing resources by measuring the extent to which the processing of task-irrelevant distracting stimuli was modulated by both perceptual load and top-down expectations using behavior, fMRI, and electrophysiology. Expectations were generated by a trial-by-trial cue that provided information about the likely load of the upcoming visual search task. When the cues were valid, behavioral interference was eliminated and the influence of load on frontoparietal and visual cortical responses was attenuated relative to when the cues were invalid. In conditions in which task-irrelevant information interfered with performance and modulated visual activity, individual differences in mean BOLD responses measured from the left intraparietal sulcus were negatively correlated with individual differences in the severity of distraction. These results are consistent with the interpretation that a top-down biasing mechanism interacts with perceptual load to support filtering of task-irrelevant information.
A World Wide Web education center for analog microsystem design education

A World Wide Web-based education center for analog microsystem design education is described. This education center combines written tutorials, simulation and web-based measurement experiments into a single web site that can be accessed by the general engineering community. The web-controlled measurement suite is described in detail. Contact the author for information on how to access the education center over the web.
Role of mTOR signaling in intestinal cell migration

An early signaling event activated by amino acids and growth factors in many cell types is the phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; FRAP), which is functionally linked to ribosomal protein s6 kinase (p70(s6k)), a kinase that plays a critical regulatory role in the translation of mRNAs and protein synthesis. We previously showed that intestinal cell migration, the initial event in epithelial restitution, is enhanced by l-arginine (ARG). In this study, we used amino acids as prototypic activators of mTOR and ARG, IGF-1, or serum as recognized stimulators of intestinal cell migration. We found that 1) protein synthesis is required for intestinal cell migration, 2) mTOR/p70(s6k) pathway inhibitors (rapamycin, wortmannin, and intracellular Ca(2+) chelation) inhibit cell migration, 3) ARG activates migration and mTOR/p70(s6k) (but not ERK-2) in migrating enterocytes, and 4) immunocytochemistry reveals abundant p70(s6k) staining in cytoplasm, whereas phospho-p70(s6k) is virtually all intranuclear in resting cells but redistributes to the periphery on activation by ARG. We conclude that mTOR/p70(s6k) signaling is essential to intestinal cell migration, is activated by ARG, involves both nuclear and cytoplasmic events, and may play a role in intestinal repair.
Authorship matrix: a rational approach to quantify individual contributions and responsibilities in multi-author scientific articles.

We propose a rational method for addressing an important question—who deserves to be an author of a scientific article? We review various contentious issues associated with this question and recommend that the scientific community should view authorship in terms of contributions and responsibilities, rather than credits. We propose a new paradigm that conceptually divides a scientific article into four basic elements: ideas, work, writing, and stewardship. We employ these four fundamental elements to modify the well-known International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship guidelines. The modified ICMJE guidelines are then used as the basis to develop an approach to quantify individual contributions and responsibilities in multi-author articles. The outcome of the approach is an authorship matrix, which can be used to answer several nagging questions related to authorship.
On the Origins of the Term and Meanings of "Adult Education" in the United States.

Despite modem and 1920s era assertions that the term "adult education" was practically unknown in the United States prior to 1924, American usage dates at least to the late nineteenth century. By 1899 at least four influential people had used the term. Melvil Dewey, the inventor of the book cataloging system, had even offered a typology of adult education in 1904. Other terms, such as continuation education, home education, popular education, university extension, and educational extension, all dealt with learning by adults. But Henry M. Leipziger's indefatigable advocacy of New York City's Free Lectures program as an "institute of adult education" offered a context in which liberal adult education prospered. More than any other, Leipziger is responsible for the early advocacy and diffusion of the new term.
Cascadable RF MEMS switched capacitors for 0.1–2 GHz applications

This paper presents an RF MEMS switched-capacitor suitable for VHF and UHF tunable filters and reconfigurable matching networks. The device is based on a symmetric circular beam geometry that results in low-series-inductance compact device arrays for high-value capacitances. Device arrays are shown with down-state capacitances ranging from 11.22 to 17.49 pF, with associated impedances of 144-7 Ω and 91-4 Ω at 100–2000 MHz. The impedances vary with frequency as 1/ω over a 20:1 frequency range. The measured Q is greater than 50 in the VHF range.
Ground-simulation investigation of VTOL airworthiness criteria for terminal area operations

A two-part ground simulation investigation of variables that affect VTOL terminal area operations was conducted. The baseline vehicle selected was a generalized tilt-rotor aircraft. Experimental variables included the manner in which conversion from airborne to thrust-borne flight is effected, the coupling between conversion and aircraft pitch and heave control, and the allowable range of airspeeds at given thrust inclination angles. Four pilots conducted over 200 piloted evaluations of combinations of these variables for representative VTOL terminal area tasks. Among the results shown are that, for visual approaches, the conversion profile had minimal influence on the aircraft's acceptability but, for instrument approaches, desired performance could be achieved only if all of the conversion was performed prior to acquiring the glide slope, or if additional automation and display assistance was provided.
Greater power and computational efficiency for kernel-based association testing of sets of genetic variants.

Motivation: Set-based variance component tests have been identified as a way to increase power in association studies by aggregating weak individual effects. However, the choice of test statistic has been largely ignored even though it may play an important role in obtaining optimal power. We compared a standard statistical test— a score test—with a recently developed likelihood ratio (LR) test. Further, when correction for hidden structure is needed, or gene– gene interactions are sought, state-of-the art algorithms for both the score and LR tests can be computationally impractical. Thus we develop new computationally efficient methods. Results: After reviewing theoretical differences in performance between the score and LR tests, we find empirically on real data that the LR test generally has more power. In particular, on 15 of 17 real datasets, the LR test yielded at least as many associations as the score test—up to 23 more associations—whereas the score test yielded at most one more association than the LR test in the two remaining datasets. On synthetic data, we find that the LR test yielded up to 12% more associations, consistent with our results on real data, but also observe a regime of extremely small signal where the score test yielded up to 25% more associations than the LR test, consistent with theory. Finally, our computational speedups now enable (i) efficient LR testing when the background kernel is full rank, and (ii) efficient score testing when the background kernel changes with each test, as for gene–gene interaction tests. The latter yielded a factor of 2000 speedup on a cohort of size 13 500. Availability: Software available at http://research.microsoft.com/enus/um/redmond/projects/MSCompBio/Fastlmm/.
Letter by Abu Daya et al Regarding Article, "Myocardial Stiffness in Patients With Heart Failure and a Preserved Ejection Fraction, Contributions of Collagen and Titin".

We read with interest the article by Zile et al.1 Using human epicardial biopsies, they showed that patients with hypertension who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have a significant increase in total, collagen-dependent, and titin-dependent passive myocardial stiffness accompanied by increased extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrillar collagen content and changes in phosphorylation state. These novel molecular findings affirm a principal role of ECM expansion in HFpEF and corroborate clinical studies of ECM expansion in patients with HFpEF. These data also highlight remaining gaps in our knowledge about the pathophysiology of myocardial fibrosis that may hinder identifying new therapeutic targets. A key pathophysiological issue is whether …
TEACHING AMIDST PRECARITY: PHILADELPHIA'S TEACHERS, NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CRISIS

This article aims to capture the rising critical consciousness among Philadelphia educators throuhgout the AY 2013-2014 school year as the district experienced an unprecedented fiscal crisis. Drawing on 30 interviews and 9 months of participant observation at a neighborhood high school, Johnson High, this article ethnographically depicts the ways in which resistance and complicity to neoliberal education reforms were intrixcably bound up in teachers praxis, educational care, and political engagements.
Evaluation of Sarcopenia by DXA

There are four body composition phenotypes widely used to describe older adults: normal, sarcopenic, obese, and sarcopenic obese. In this paper, we will discuss how DXA can be used to quantify body composition and how DXA can identify patients with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.
Recurrent Placenta Previa and the Significance of Placentography as a Diagnostic Criterion

Summary 1. Recurrent placenta previa is an uncommon obstetric occurrence. 2. The history of painless vaginal bleeding in the last trimester is suggestive of placenta previa, and an early diagnosis should be made with the aid of soft tissue films. 3. The skillful application of placentography undoubtedly facilitates the diagnosis of this serious complication of pregnancy. 4. Vaginal examination, under “double setup” precautions, and cesarean section confirmed the diagnosis of recurrent placenta previa in the eases presented above.
Lateral Canthal Webs

Secondary lateral canthal webs may occur after trauma or blepharoplasty. Post-blepahroplasty webbing can be seen when upper and lower blepharoplasty is performed together and the lateral skin incisions of the procedures are in close proximity (less than 5 mm apart). Four procedures are described to repair these webs: the del Campo technique, 5-flap rearrangement with V-Y and Z-plasties, upper lid advancement flap, and micro-skin grafting.
Eliminating the Term Primary Care “Provider”: Consequences of Language for the Future of Primary Care

This Viewpoint discusses issues related to the use of “provider” to describe primary care health professionals with varying levels of training and certification and the effects of these issues on quality of care.
Effect of Hot Streaks on Ash Deposition in an Uncooled Turbine Vane Passage

Coal ash deposition was numerically modeled on an uncooled GE-E 3 high pressure turbine vane passage. A model was developed, in conjunction with FluentTM software, to track individual particles through the turbine passage. Particles that strike the adiabatic surface become deposits if their viscosity drops below a predetermined value based on temperature. The computational model incorporated non-uniform inlet temperature conditions to account for the existence of a hot streak. The distribution of the temperature non-uniformity affects the location and amount of deposition measured on the nozzle guide vanes. Using a periodic condition that simulates one combustor nozzle per two nozzle guide vanes, the computational model predicts the optimal location for the combustor nozzle location to minimize total deposition rates in the vane passage. The deposition rates are strongly correlated to the average surface temperature of the vanes, but the clocking position with minimum deposition does not correlate to the clocking position with lowest average surface temperatures. The effect of particle size, or Stokes number, on deposition is studied and discussed.
Statistical Learning and Docking Recover the Reaction Coordinates of a GPCR

GPCRs comprise one-third of targets of all FDA-approved drugs. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of GPCRs can contain over 60,000 atoms, counting for over 180,000 degrees of freedom. The technique described here reduces the dimensionality of GPCR MD simulations through a combination of unsupervised and supervised learning. In particular, time-structure Independent Component Analysis (tICA) [2,3] and molecular docking are used complementarily to determine reaction coordinates relevant to agonist binding and receptor activation.
Enhancing Initiation Efficiency in Metal-Free Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (SI-ATRP)

Well-defined polymer-inorganic hybrid materials were prepared via metal-free surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) with 10-phenylphenothiazine (PhPTZ) as the photocatalyst and 2-bromo-2-phenylacetate initiator tethered to silica surfaces. Initiation efficiency and, hence, graft density were significantly enhanced by this very reactive initiator. The polymerization kinetics, effect of initiator structures, particle sizes, and catalyst concentrations were investigated. Well-defined hybrid particles were prepared at a low catalyst concentration (0.02 mol % or 0.1 mol % to monomer). Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with number-average molecular weight of 3.65 × 104, dispersity of 1.43, and graft density of 0.60 chain/nm2 was grafted from the surface of silica nanoparticles. The hybrid materials were characterized with size exclusion chromatography (SEC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Dr. Worksalot: Personality and Getting Started

Dr. Worksalot (Dr. W) was named chair of a clinical department one and one-half years ago. The dean selected him because his academic credentials were superior to anyone in the department, and the dean had fond hopes that Dr. W could add a much-needed NIH presence to the mostly clinical department. Early on, Dr. W. noted that the residents were not of a caliber acceptable to him, and, likewise, a couple of the faculty in his opinion should be released. He tried to energize the residency director to oust a resident at the year’s end, but the residency director produced repeated evaluations showing that the resident did “acceptable” to more than “expected” work. The residency committee rejected the new chair’s request.
Amorphous Bimetallic Co3Sn2 Nanoalloys Are Better Than Crystalline Counterparts for Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion batteries are considered as a promising alternative to replace the existing lithium-ion batteries for energy storage due to the benefits of low cost and safety. However, it is still challenging to develop suitable electrode materials for reversible storage of sodium. Metal anodes have high capacity for sodium storage but suffer the issue of poor cyclability due to pulverization caused by large volume variation and electrode disintegration. To address this issue, amorphous bimetallic active–inactive nanoalloy Co–Sn with Sn acting as a high capacity active compound and Co acting as a conductive inactive matrix has been explored here. We demonstrated that amorphous nanoalloys exhibited superior electrochemical performances as compared to the low-crystalline and crystalline counterpart nanoalloys as negative electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The degree of crystallinity has negative effects on electrochemical performances. The improved performance of amorphous nanoalloys could be attribu...