cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of aromatic carboxylic acids on carbon nanotubes: impact of surface functionalization, molecular size and structure

A large quantity of emerging contaminants are ionizable, and the ionized compounds display different adsorption behaviors than their neutral counterparts. In particular, a strong intermolecular force, negative charge assisted hydrogen bonding ((−)CAHB), was recently identified, which explains the unusually strong adsorption of negatively charged compounds on carbon nanotubes with oxygen-containing functional groups. However, most previous studies only probed molecules with one benzene ring. The adsorption of ionizable compounds with more than one benzene ring and additional functional groups has not been examined. This study investigated the effect of surface functionalization, molecular size and structure of six aromatic carboxylic acids on their adsorption on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in batch reactors. In addition, the short-range interactions of the neutral acids with MWNTs were calculated to evaluate the effect of aromaticity and bulkiness. Hydrophobicity and electrostatic interactions dominate the intermolecular forces between ionized contaminants and MWNT surfaces. pH dependent octanol/water partitioning coefficient (Dow) is a more precise indicator of the adsorption of ionizable compounds on MWNTs. (−)CAHB is a significant force only for compounds with one benzene ring. Hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups displayed similar capacity to form (−)CAHB, as indicated by the release of hydroxide ions.
Proud and Productive Procrastination

Procrastination is a prevalent and problematic, yet seldomly studied behavior. Twitter provides perfect examples for proud and productive procrastination through the deliberate self-representation of procrastination. Using manual coding and machine learning aided coding content analysis, this study uses 4587 tweets contained the hashtag #procrastination, and the author aims to identify the genres of tweets disclosing this behavior and further discuss the notion of value creation as sense-making [1] with this particular hashtag. Results suggested that structured procrastination was more likely associated with positive impact and it was more likely put in an ironic tone on Twitter. This finding is in line with the self-enhancement strategy when people represent themselves on social media. Data also show that people were more likely to self-reflect at critical time nodal points in a week, such as the end of weekdays and weekends. This paper offers theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the socio-cultural and psychological function of social media in the case of disclosing an arguably negative, yet prevalent behavior, procrastination.
Performance Comparison of Commercial Gan Hemt under Repetitive Overcurrent Operations

Gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMT) are of great interest for pulsed power applications due to their proven capabilities in RF applications. With further advances in GaN power semiconductors, there's an interest in the evaluation of their performance under repetitive overcurrent operation in power electronics applications beyond the manufacturer's prescribed operating parameters. A GaN HEMT from two different vendors were evaluated in a pulsed ring down testbed at 475 V with a peak current above 80 A over a repetition rate of 138 Hz. The testbed employed a temperature chamber to adjust the case temperature of the device during testing. The devices' electrical characteristics, such as transconductance, forward I-V curve and reverse blocking voltage were measured throughout testing and have not shown significant degradation. The collected data from these measurements allowed a comparison of the devices' performance and shows their ability to handle transient overcurrent conditions commonly found in power semiconductor device applications.
NMR-Based Analysis of Pomegranate Juice Using Untargeted Metabolomics Coupled with Nested and Quantitative Approaches

Pomegranate juice is a complex mixture of structurally diverse compounds appearing in various concentrations. The composition of the final product depends on several factors, such as the fruit variety and the addition of adulterants. Its diverse composition makes pomegranate juice an excellent system for assessing the potential of an analytical method for targeted and untargeted analysis. Here, we tested the ability of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy techniques for the targeted and untargeted metabolite analysis of pomegranate juice. The NMR spectra assignment was performed using the novel NOAH sequences and spiking with model compounds. Several metabolites, including sugars, organic acids, and amino acids, were identified and quantified in a rapid and simultaneous manner. Five internal standards were tested, with potassium hydrogen phthalate and dimethylmalonic acid found to be the most appropriate, based on their shorter T1 relaxation times and spectral simplicity, while MnCl2 was successfully applied as a relaxation agent for the reduction of the experimental time. Among the pulse sequences that were tested for their quantitative potential, the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill gave the best results. The quantitative, QEC-HSQC experiment was also found to be very promising for mixture analysis. Additionally, the potential of 1D/2D NMR-based untargeted analysis was successfully tested on two cases, namely, differentiation between cultivars and detection of adulteration with apple juice. This study demonstrates the proof of concept for 1D and 2D NMR methods in the targeted and untargeted analysis of pomegranate juice and can be extended to other complex matrices.
Traffic Without the Police

We are at a watershed moment in which growing national protest and public outcry over police injustice and brutality, especially against people of color, are animating new meanings of public safety and new proposals for structural police reforms. Traffic stops are the most frequent interaction between police and civilians today, and they are a persistent source of racial and economic injustice. Black and Latinx motorists in particular are disproportionately stopped, questioned, frisked, searched, cited, and arrested during traffic stops. Traffic enforcement is thus a common gateway for funneling overpoliced and marginalized communities into the criminal-justice system. Piecemeal constitutional and statutory interventions are insufficient to address these systemic problems, which necessitate structural police reform and require a fundamental rethinking of the role of police in the traffic space. Traffic enforcement and policing are so intertwined today, however, that it is difficult to envision a world without police involvement in traffic regulation. Illustrating this point is one of the common critiques lodged against the growing movement to defund the police: “Who would enforce traffic laws?” This Article offers a normative vision of our driving system that challenges the conventional wisdom that traffic enforcement is impossible without the police. It articulates a new legal framework that decouples traffic enforcement from police functions. This framework offers a starting point for renewed thinking about the basic structure of traffic enforcement, the role of police in traffic enforcement, and the ways in which law and policy can be used as tools to achieve fairness and equality in traffic enforcement. The Article provides a comprehensive analysis of the important benefits that nonpolice alternatives to traffic enforcement would create for public safety, policing, and criminal-law and criminal-justice reform, especially for people of color and other marginalized communities who are vulnerable to overpolicing and overcriminalization in today’s driving regime. The Article concludes by addressing potential objections to removing the police from traffic enforcement.
A comparison of the feedback sandwich, constructive-positive feedback, and within session feedback for training preference assessment implementation

Feedback is an important and effective tool for changing employee behavior. While feedback is generally considered effective, characteristics of its delivery can impact the degree to which it chang...
Hexokinase 1 Cellular Localization Regulates the Metabolic Fate of Glucose

The product of hexokinase (HK) enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate, can be metabolized through glycolysis or directed to alternative pathways, such as the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to generate anabolic intermediates. However, it is not known what determines the fate of G6P. HK1 contains an N-terminal mitochondrial–binding domain, but its physiologic significance remains unclear. We overexpressed full-length and truncated HK1 in tissue culture and generated mice lacking the HK1 mitochondrial-binding domain (ΔE1HK1). Although ΔE1HK1 mice displayed no overt phenotype, HK1 dislocation from the mitochondria increased glucose flux through the PPP, decreased flux below the level of GAPDH, and induced a hyper-inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide. The mechanism for the increased PPP flux is through glycolytic block at GAPDH, which is mediated by binding of cytosolic HK1 with S100A8/A9 and increased GAPDH nitrosylation through iNOS. Additionally, human and mouse macrophages from conditions of low-grade inflammation, such as aging and diabetes, displayed an increase in cytosolic HK1 and cytokine production, along with reduced GAPDH activity. Our data indicate that HK1 mitochondrial-binding alters glucose metabolism through regulation of GAPDH.
BORED GHOSTS AND ANXIOUS TEXT GAMES: HOW DATING APPS ALGORITHMICALLY CHANNEL THE DESIRE FOR INTIMACY INTO ANXIOUS ENGAGEMENT

This article presents two findings from 50 in-depth interviews of daters using OkCupid, Tinder, and Bumble. The first finding shows that respondents began using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble because they wanted to engage in dialogical exchanges to get to know their matches, something they felt the elaborate essays on OkCupid rendered redundant. The second finding shows that the intimate exchanges they sought on dating apps were hard to find. Instead of intimacy, they encountered anxious text games exacerbated by the widespread practice of ghosting. These findings indicate how the distinct algorithms employed by OkCupid, Tinder, and Bumble cultivate particular feelings, moods, and modes of subjectivity. While OkCupid’s algorithm cultivated entrepreneurs of themselves seeking to optimize their intimate relationships, dating apps cultivate the digital unbored: users compelled to swipe away the angst-inducing boredom of waiting for texts that always may never come. Dating apps render searches for intimacy fraught with anxiety and substantial connections hard to find. But they are well calibrated to the exigencies of platform capitalism, where social relations are as likely to be sold as things, especially when they vanish as quickly as they appear – like ghosts.
Long-Term Results for MC1273, A Phase II Evaluation of De-Escalated Adjuvant Radiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC).

Purpose/Objective(s) We previously reported the two-year results of MC1273, a phase II trial evaluating 30-36 Gy of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) for selected patients (pts) with HPV+ OPSCC. Herein we report the long-term disease control and toxicity rates for this de-escalated regimen. Materials/Methods Details for the MC1273 regimen have previously been published. All pts received surgery & neck dissection for a margin negative resection. Eligibility criteria included pts with HPV+OPSCC, ≤10 pack-year smoking history, and negative margins. Cohort A (≥T3, ≥N2, lymphovascular invasion, or perineural invasion) received 30 Gy delivered in 1.5 Gy b.i.d. over 12 days along with weekly docetaxel (15 mg/m2, days 1 & 8). Pts with +ECE were enrolled in Cohort B and received the same treatment plus a simultaneous integrated boost to nodal levels with ECE to 36 Gy in 1.8 Gy b.i.d. The primary endpoint was local/regional control (LRC) at 2 years with each cohort powered to detect a 10% locoregional failure rate with 85% confidence. Secondary endpoints included 2-yr progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity, swallow function, and pt reported QOL. Follow-up was q3 mos for the first 2 years, q6 mo for year 3, and yearly until year 5. Based upon the 2-year MC1273 data, pts with pT4 disease were excluded from MC1675, the follow-up phase III trial randomizing pts to the 30-36 Gy regimen versus a standard 60 Gy regimen. Results Accrual was from September 2013 to June 2016 (n = 80, 1 ineligible, Cohort A: 37, Cohort B: 43, median (range) age 61 years (25 - 77), male n = 71 (89.9%). Median follow-up for alive pts as of 2/22/21 was 52 mos (30 – 67). Late grade 2 or higher toxicity rates at 2, 3, and 5 years were 6.7%, 6.8%, and 5.0%, respectively, with the most common being dry mouth (1.7%, 3.4%, and 0.0% at years 2, 3, and 5) and dysphagia (3.3%, 0.0%, and 5.0% at years 2, 3, and 5). Grade 3 rates were 0.0%, 0.0%, and 1.2% at years 2, 3, and 5, respectively, with one pt who developed a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in the brachial plexus at the edge of the neck volume 51 mo after RT. The 2, 3, and 5 year disease metrics for the entire study population, Cohort A, and Cohort B can be found in the Table, along with an unplanned subset analysis for pts qualifying for MC1675 (n = 72). Conclusion MC1273 maintained excellent long-term disease control rates comparable to historical controls, particularly in the intermediate risk cohort and pts qualifying for MC1675. Toxicity rates remained low long-term.
Automating Induction over Mutually Recursive Functions

In order to automate proofs by induction a crucial problem that needs to be addressed is to decide on an induction scheme that leads to appropriate induction hypotheses for carrying out the proof. Boyer and Moore proposed in [5] the use of terminating function definitions for generating induction schemes. Inspired by Boyer and Moore's work, Zhang, Kapur and Krishnamoorthy introduced the cover set induction method for mechanizing induction for equational specifications in [14]. Both these approaches do not consider interaction among function definitions. Induction schemes are generated by considering function definitions in isolation, one at a time. In applications involving mutually recursive definitions, exploiting interactions among the definitions seems crucial. The cover set method implemented in the theorem prover RRL [13] as well as the methods implemented for induction in Boyer and Moore's theorem prover Nqthm based on the above approaches, do not perform well when the definitions involved are mutually recursive. Proving even very simple properties over such definitions by these methods requires some form of user intervention. We discuss how the cover set induction method implemented in RRL can be extended to automatically prove inductive properties of mutual recursive functions. An algorithm for generating cover sets from mutually recursive definitions is given. The proposed method has been implemented in the theorem prover RRL and has been extensively experimented with good results. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated using a nontrivial example of showing the equivalence of the call by value and call by name bottom-up evaluation of arithmetic expressions. A comparison of the method with those employed in Nqthm and also with an approach based on implicit induction [7, 3, 2] implemented in the theorem prover Spike is given.
Component Specification Using Event Classes

Working in a higher-order, abstract logic of events , we define event classes , a generalization of interfaces, and propagation rules that specify information flow between event classes. We propose a general definition of a component as a scheme, parameterized by a set of input classes, that defines a set of output classes and propagation rules. The specification of a component is a relation between its input classes and defined output classes that follows from its propagation rules and definitions. We define a subset of programmable event classes that can be compiled and executed and a language, called E #, for specifying components. Components specified in E #preserve programmability---if the component's input classes are programmable then its output classes and propagation rules are programmable. Thus a component specified in E #is a higher-order object: given programs for its input classes, it produces a distributed program for propagating information and programs for its output classes. These programs can be passed as inputs to other components so that components can be composed.
Ketamine induces motor neuron toxicity and alters neurogenic and proneural gene expression in zebrafish

Ketamine, a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptors, is a pediatric anesthetic that has been shown to be neurotoxic in rodents and nonhuman primates when administered during the brain growth spurt. Recently, the zebrafish has become an attractive model for toxicity assays, in part because the predictive capability of the zebrafish model, with respect to chemical effects, compares well with that from mammalian models. In the transgenic (hb9:GFP) embryos used in this study, green fluorescent protein (GFP) is expressed in the motor neurons, facilitating the visualization and analysis of motor neuron development in vivo. In order to determine whether ketamine induces motor neuron toxicity in zebrafish, embryos of these transgenic fish were treated with different concentrations of ketamine (0.5 and 2.0 mm). For ketamine exposures lasting up to 20 h, larvae showed no gross morphological abnormalities. Analysis of GFP-expressing motor neurons in the live embryos, however, revealed that 2.0 mm ketamine adversely affected motor neuron axon length and decreased cranial and motor neuron populations. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that ketamine down-regulated the motor neuron-inducing zinc finger transcription factor Gli2b and the proneural gene NeuroD even at 0.5 mm concentration, while up-regulating the expression of the proneural gene Neurogenin1 (Ngn1). Expression of the neurogenic gene, Notch1a, was suppressed, indicating that neuronal precursor generation from uncommitted cells was favored. These results suggest that ketamine is neurotoxic to motor neurons in zebrafish and possibly affects the differentiating/differentiatedneurons rather than neuronal progenitors. Published 2011. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Further Evaluation of Prompting Tactics for Establishing Intraverbal Responding in Children With Autism

We compared prompting tactics to establish intraverbal responding (question answering) in four boys with autism. Based on the results of intraverbal, textual, echoic, and tact pretests, we compared vocal and picture prompts with three participants, and textual, vocal, and picture prompts with one participant. We also evaluated repeated acquisition with different question sets, and included a concurrent-chains arrangement, in which initial link selections determined which prompting procedure occurred in the terminal link. All the prompting procedures were effective in establishing intraverbal responding, but vocal prompts resulted in the fewest trials to criterion for all four participants during the initial prompt comparison. However, the results were less consistent for the second comparison. The concurrent chains arrangement revealed a clear preference for picture prompts for one participant, but the results for the others were inconclusive.
Thermally induced micromechanical stresses in ceramic/ceramic composites

The internal micromechanical stresses which develop in ceramic-ceramic composites as a consequence of temperature changes and thermoelastic property differences between the reinforcing and matrix phases are addressed by the Eshelby method. Results for two whisker reinforced ceramic matrix composites and for quartz particles in porcelain are discussed. It is concluded that the stresses which develop in the second phase reinforcing inclusions are quite substantial (GPa-levels) and may be highly anisotropic in character. These stresses are additive to the macroscopic thermal stresses from temperature gradients which are encountered during heating and cooling, and also to externally applied mechanical stresses (loads). These micromechanical stresses are expected to be highly significant for thermal cycling fatigue and other failure processes.
Symmetry potential of the Δ ( 1232 ) resonance and its effects on the π − / π + ratio in heavy-ion collisions near the pion-production threshold

Effects of the completely unknown symmetry (isovector) potential of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(1232)$ resonance on the total and differential ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}/{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ ratio in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies from 100 to 1000 MeV/nucleon are explored within an isospin-dependent Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (IBUU) transport model. The effects are found to be negligible at beam energies above the pion-production threshold owing to the very short lifetimes of less than 2 fm/$c$ for $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ resonances with masses around ${m}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}=1232$ MeV, leaving the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}/{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ ratios of especially the energetic pions still a reliable probe of the high-density behavior of nuclear symmetry energy ${E}_{\mathrm{sym}}(\ensuremath{\rho})$. However, as the beam energy becomes deeply subthreshold for pion production, effects of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ symmetry potential become appreciable, especially on the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}/{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ ratio of low-energy pions from the decays of low-mass $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ resonances which have lived long enough to be affected by their mean-field potentials, providing a useful tool to study the symmetry potential and spectroscopy of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ resonances in neutron-rich nuclear matter. Interestingly, though, even at the deeply subthreshold beam energies, the differential ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}/{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ ratio of energetic pions remains sensitive to the ${E}_{\mathrm{sym}}(\ensuremath{\rho})$ at suprasaturation densities with little influence from the uncertain symmetry potential of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$ resonance.
Recent developments in artificial neural network based character recognition: a performance study

Artificial neutral networks (ANN) provide a robust computational paradigm for character recognition. The character classifier needs to have the capability to separate arbitrarily shaped regions in the pattern space. The recent development in such ANN-based classifiers and their learning methods are reviewed. Such classifiers are based on multilayer (hidden layer) ANN or higher-order correlation ANN and use backprojection learning. The performance of some ANN-based classifiers is evaluated and their relative performance is compared. The performance evaluation is based on factors such as recognition accuracy and reliability of classification fault tolerance to misregistration and spatial quantizations, computational costs in training, and classification. >
Causes of non-medication-induced nasogastric tube occlusion.

In vitro simulation of nasogastric tube delivery of enteral formulas was used to study the mechanism and prevention of non-medication-induced nasogastric tube occlusion. Enteral nutrition products--Osmolite, Ensure, Vital High Nitrogen, and Vivonex T.E.N.--were placed in glass beakers and titrated with hydrochloric acid to determine the pH at which clotting would occur. Factors such as pH, protein content, viscosity, electrolyte composition, flow rate, and tube design were evaluated to determine their effects on coagulation of formula. Addition of simethicone emulsion and docusate sodium to the formulas and siliconization of the nasogastric tubes were studies for their effect on prevention of clog formation. Clumping began to occur at pH 4.6 (the isoelectric point for casein) for Ensure and Osmolite; addition of protein supplement did not change the pH at which coagulation occurred. Vital High Nitrogen and Vivonex T.E.N. formulations did not clump in the beakers. Ensure and Osmolite coagulated within 35 seconds at pH 4.6 or less and remained unchanged at pH greater than 6.0. Addition of sodium or calcium caseinate greatly increased the tendency of the formulas to coagulate. Viscosity of the formula increased markedly as pH decreased. Addition of electrolytes had no effect on precipitation or clumping. Slow or no flow rates within nasogastric tubes placed in simulated gastric juice decreased the pH and caused clumping of formulas within the tubes in a retrograde manner. Flow time or clog formation was not affected by the addition of simethicone or docusate sodium or siliconization of the nasogastric tube.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Book Review: Aging With A Disability: What the Clinician Needs to Know

Editors: Bryan Kemp & Laura Mosqueda Reviewer: Patricia Duffley-Renow Publisher: Johns Hopkins, 2004 Paper, ISBN: 0-8018-7817-9, 307 pp. Cost: $24.95 USD
Mooring motion bias of point-Doppler current meter measurements

Upper-ocean current measurements have been made for more than 20 years from taut-fine surface moorings deployed in the equatorial Pacific by NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). Until 1998 the moorings were instrumented with mechanical current meters (MCMs, either Vector Averaging Current Meters (VACM) or Vector Measuring Current Meters (VMCM)). Comparison with nearby subsurface 150 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) indicated that differences between the two measurement systems were generally small (i.e., mean differences of 5 cm s/sup -1/ or less). By the early-1990's, maintenance of the aging MCMs (designed in the 1960s and 1970s) was difficult, time consuming and expensive. Early tests of the Sontek Argonaut-MD current meters by PMEL indicated that it was a good candidate for replacement of the MCMs. Subsequent comparisons between Argonaut-MD data and nearby ADCPs revealed significant bias between the two, with the Argonaut-MD reporting lower horizontal current speed. Further investigation, including the analysis of high-frequency output from the Argonaut-MD compass/tilt-sensor (Precision Navigation model TCM2), found that the source of the bias was the inability of the compass/tilt-sensor to function properly in response to extreme lateral and rotational accelerations experienced by the instruments in high current speed regimes. A solution to this problem was to reduce the acceleration of the current meters by attaching vanes to each instrument. Since PMEL introduced this modification, differences between Argonaut-MD and ADCP data are comparable to those found previously between MCM and ADCP.
Microwave properties of low-density polyacetylene

The results of an initial study of the microwave properties of low-density foamlike (CH)x are reported for intermediate dopant levels. The electrical conductivity and dielectric constant are obtained at microwave frequencies, and the results are analyzed in terms of effective medium theory. The possibility of utilizing the doped foamlike (CH)x as an efficient microwave absorber is discussed.
Oxygen-dependence of metabolic heat production in the appendix tissue of the voodoo lily (Sauromatum guttatum Schott)

Abstract Scanning electron microscopy revealed abundant stomates in the epidermis of the appendix tissue of voodoo lily ( Sauromatum guttatum Schott). The stomates were closed before and after the day of flowering climacteric (D-day), but were fully open at the time of peak metabolic activity. The rate of metabolic heat production, as determined by microcalorimetry, was completely dependent on oxygen availability. The highest heat rates were obtained from D-Day appendix tissue in 100% oxygen, the smallest bits of tissue having the highest rates (9100 μW mg −1 dry wt.). Metabolic rates were lower for larger pieces of tissue or for tissue in air or nitrogen compared with oxygen. Even a thin film of water on the tissue surface reduced the respiratory rate. Metabolism of the D-day appendix had a Q 10 of 2.5.
Noise radiated from inverted velocity profile jets under simulated flight

Measurements were made of the noise radiated by an inverted profile coannular jet. The measurements were made inside an anechoic chamber and forward flight was simulated with an open jet surrounding a coannular nozzle. The diameters of the center and the annular nozzles were 1.27 cm and 2.03 cm, respectively. The open jet wind tunnel was 17.1 cm in diameter and could be operated at speeds up to 150 m/sec. Noise measurements were made in the acoustic far field at several spherical angles ranging from 20 deg to 120 deg relative to the jet axis. Flow through the center jet decreased the noise radiated by the annular jet. The addition of forward velocity further decreased the noise, and the two noise reductions seem to be additive. Measurements of the mean velocity profile demonstrate that forward flight reduced the growth rate of the high speed annular jet, and that center flow reduced the rate of merging of the annular jet.
New and future advanced imaging techniques

The advances in diagnostic imaging in the past 20 years have been nothing short of phenomenal. This article presents what is available with some of the latest in state-of-the-art techniques. Included are three-dimensional techniques, vascular MRI, high-resolution three-dimensional video animation, positron emission tomography, MR spectroscopy, and other developing methodology in diagnostic imaging.
A Single Mutation in the Acetylcholine Receptor δ-Subunit Causes Distinct Effects in Two Types of Neuromuscular Synapses

Mutations in AChR subunits, expressed as pentamers in neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), cause various types of congenital myasthenic syndromes. In AChR pentamers, the adult e subunit gradually replaces the embryonic γ subunit as the animal develops. Because of this switch in subunit composition, mutations in specific subunits result in synaptic phenotypes that change with developmental age. However, a mutation in any AChR subunit is considered to affect the NMJs of all muscle fibers equally. Here, we report a zebrafish mutant of the AChR δ subunit that exhibits two distinct NMJ phenotypes specific to two muscle fiber types: slow or fast. Homozygous fish harboring a point mutation in the δ subunit form functional AChRs in slow muscles, whereas receptors in fast muscles are nonfunctional. To test the hypothesis that different subunit compositions in slow and fast muscles underlie distinct phenotypes, we examined the presence of e/γ subunits in NMJs using specific antibodies. Both wild-type and mutant larvae lacked e/γ subunits in slow muscle synapses. These findings in zebrafish suggest that some mutations in human congenital myasthenic syndromes may affect slow and fast muscle fibers differently.
The β-model problem : The incompatibility of X-ray and sunyaev-zeldovich effect model fitting for galaxy clusters

We have analyzed a large sample of numerically simulated clusters to demonstrate the adverse effects resulting from the use of X-ray-fitted β-model parameters with Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect (SZE) data. There is a fundamental incompatibility between β-model fits to X-ray surface brightness profiles and those done with SZE profiles. Since observational SZE radial profiles are in short supply, the X-ray parameters are often used in SZE analysis. We show that this leads to biased estimates of the integrated Compton y-parameter inside r500 calculated from clusters. We suggest a simple correction of the method, using a nonisothermal β-model modified by a universal temperature profile, which brings these calculated quantities into closer agreement with the true values.
Activation adverse events induced by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine in children and adolescents.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of activation cluster adverse events (AC-AEs) in youths treated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvox...
Competing Vocabularies and “Research Stuff”

Summary The NCSU Libraries portal, MyLibrary@NCState, presents customization and personalization options to students, faculty and staff. These profiles must be constructed in such a manner that eliminates unnecessary complexity and library jargon. At the same time, this process must also represent the unavoidable complexity of the research process. This paper examines the discussion that underlies the profiling and resource description framework and highlights some procedural and political problems that designers of library portals must take into account.
New convolutional code constructions and a class of asymptotically good time-varying codes

We show that the generator polynomials of certain cyclic codes define noncatastrophic fixed convolutional codes whose free distances are lowerbounded by the minimum distances of the cyclic codes. This result is used to construct convolutioual codes with free distance equal to the constraint length and to derive convolutional codes with good free distances from the BCH codes. Finally, a class of time-varying codes is constructed for which the free distance increases linearly with the constraint length.
Estimates of Tag Loss from Recoveries of Fish Tagged and Permanently Marked

Abstract The annual rate r of tag loss may be estimated from observations on the proportion of tag retentions among recoveries of fish which were both tagged and permanently marked at the time of release. In samples recovered t years after release, the proportion of marked fish still bearing tags is assumed to be an estimate of rt. Homogeneity of these t-year loss rates for different year classes may be tested by Chi-square, and the information from all samples may then be combined in the form of a maximum-likelihood estimator of r. Finally, a goodness-of-fit Chi-square may be calculated to test the assumption of a constant annual rate of tag loss. When applied to recapture data on lake whitefish in Georgian Bay, these tests failed to detect any errors in this simple model.
Activation of murine lymphocytes by cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate: Specificity and role in mitogen action

Abstract Cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) stimulates nucleic acid synthesis in lymphocytes, and has been implicated as the intracellular effector of the actions of mitogenic agents on these cells. In the present study, we examined the specificity of the mitogenic activity of cyclic GMP and of its 8-bromo (Br) derivatives, and the effects of the T cell mitogens, concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and staphylococcal entertoxin B (SEB) on the cyclic GMP content and guanylate cyclase activity of mouse splenic lymphocytes. Cyclic GMP and guanosine modestly increased the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA by cultured lymphocytes, but were far less effective than their 8-Br-derivatives. However, on a molar basis the mitogenic activity of both 8-Br-guanosine and 8-Br-5′-GMP exceeded that of 8-Br-cyclic GMP, when tested in the presence and absence of serum in the culture media. Combined addition of maximal doses of these nucleotides did not give additive stimulatory effects, suggesting an action on a common subpopulation of cells, and possibly a common mechanism. By contrast, cyclic AMP, 8-Br-cyclic AMP, 8-Br-adenosine, cholera toxin and prostaglandin E1 suppressed both basal [3]thymidine incorporation and stimulation of this parameter by T-cell line mitogens and the guanosine nucleotides. Rapid effects of concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, SEB, guanosine, 5′-GMP, 8-Br-guanosine, and 8-Br-5′-GMP on the cyclic GMP content of murine lymphocytes could not be demonstrated. Similarly, concanalin A, phytohemagglutinin and SEB failed to alter guanylate cyclase activity when added directly to cellular homogenates or pre-incubated with intact cels. Conversely, carbamylcholine rapidly increased lymphocyte cyclic GMP but was not mitogenic. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP are antagonistic in their influence on lymphocyte mitogenesis. However, they also demonstrate that related nucleotides are more potent mitogens than cyclic GMP and suggest that activation of murine lymphocytes by concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and SEB may not be mediated by rapid increases in cellular cyclic GMP content. Since high concentrations of exogenous cyclic GMP and related nucleotides must be used to influence DNA synthesis, the biologic significance of this effect remains uncertain.
DATA FUSION IN SEVERAL ALGORITHMS

Data fusion consists of the process of integrating several datasets with some common variables, and other variables available only in partial datasets. The main problem of data fusion can be described as follows. From one source, having X0 and Y0 datasets (with N0 observations by multiple x and y variables, n and m of those, respectively), and from another source, having X1 data (with N1 observations by the same nx-variables), we need to estimate the missing portion of the Y1 data (of size N1 by m variables) in order to combine all the data into one set. Several algorithms are considered in this work, including estimation of weights proportional to the distances from each ith observation in the X1 "recipients" dataset to all observations in the X0 "donors" dataset. Or we can use a sample balancing technique with the maximum effective base performed by applying ridge-regression for the Gifi system of binaries obtained from the x-variables for the best fit of the "donors" X0 data to the margins defined by each respondent in the "recipients" X1 dataset. Then the weighted regressions of each y in the Y0 dataset by all variables in the X0 are constructed. For each ith observation in the dataset X0, these regressions are used for predicting the y-variables in the Y1 "recipients" dataset. If X and Y are the same n variables from different sources, the dual partial least squares technique and a special regression model with dummies defining each of the three available sets are used for prediction of the Y1 data.
Firm behavior under input rationing

Abstract This paper uses the concept of virtual prices to evaluate the impact of an input quantity constraint, such as a ration or quantity control, upon the competitive multiproduct profit-maximizing firm's factor demand, output supply, multiproduct cost and revenue structures, marginal implicit valuations of fixed factors, and capacity utilization. The properties of the input-rationed and unrationed output supply and factor demand functions, costs, and capacity utilization are related, consistently describing behavior under both regimes. Both Hicksian and Marshallian functions are assessed. The potential effects of input rationing upon wet rice production and labor utilization in the islands of Indonesia off-Java serves as a case study.
Nitroazole universal bases in peptide nucleic acids.

The syntheses of PNA oligomers containing potential ambiguous nucleobase analogues, namely 3-nitropyrrole and 5-nitroindole, have been accomplished. Hybridization properties of these PNAs with comp...
Separation of nucleation from crystallization kinetics by two step calorimetry experiments

Abstract Following the direct observation, by isothermal calorimetry studies, time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curves of the classical form for crystallization of ice from aqueous LiCl solutions, we have developed two step calorimetric studies which allow nucleation and growth contributions to the overall process to be separated. The position of the temperature of maximum nucleation rate is found, by the new measurements to lie 5 K higher in temperature than predicted by theoretical analysis of the TTT curves, though to have similar form. The results are to be regarded as preliminary in nature.
Complete reduction of 2-chloroethylethylsulfide by hydrodesulfurization using mo-doped mesoporous substrates

Bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide, commonly known as mustard gas, is a highly toxic compound that acts as a vesicant, primarily by hydrolysis to produce HCl [1]. Prior to the 1960’s, this compound was synthesized and stored at various locations throughout this country and the world [2–4]. The inherent danger in storing this chemical has led to efforts to degrade it by various means. Stockpiles of mustard gas are currently destroyed by incineration, which, even when complete, can release environmentally unfavorable compounds such as sulfoxides, sulfones, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Most other chemically-based techniques used to react bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide have relied on oxidative pathways, whether using solution- or solid-based approaches [5–7]. These reactions have the same environmental problems as incineration. In addition, a highly oxidizing agent can often lead to bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfone, which is nearly as toxic as mustard gas itself [8].
Japanese Fundraising: A Comparative Study of the United States and Japan

The enactment of the Law to Promote Specified Nonprofit Activities in 1998 has resulted not only in a rapid increase in the number of specified nonprofit corporations (NPO corporations) but also in an urgent need for effective fundraising in Japan. Despite Japan's long and rich tradition of philanthropy and a serious need for fundraising, very little research on Japanese fundraising has been available. With original data collected via surveys and interviews from fundraisers in Japan and the United States, this paper analyzes the application of fundraising techniques by Japanese fundraisers and identifies their primary practices. Given the differing views on fundraising between the two countries, which the author ascribes to issues of cross-national comparability, the study investigates fundraising current practices in Japan by using the US fundraising model as the baseline. Comparisons of fundraising practices among the Japanese, Japanese Americans, and non-Japanese Americans are also examined to determine whether or not fundraising practices are influenced by cultural and societal factors.
Microtubule stability along mammalian peripheral nerves.

Microtubule (MT) number, axonal area, and MT density were examined in unmyelinated axons of rat cervical vagus nerve. Study of nerve regions proximal (1-5 mm) and distal (35-40 mm) to the nodosum ganglion in controls (incubation at 37 degrees C for 1 h) showed that the number of MT per axon is significantly less in distal than in proximal nerve regions. Cooling (incubation at 0 degree C for 1 h) caused a significant reduction in the number of MT per axon in both nerve regions. The unmyelinated axons from both nerve regions showed a comparable reduction in MT number by cooling, indicating that axonal MT stability to cold was not significantly different between these two nerve regions. In these nerves no detectable changes were found in cross-axonal area of unmyelinated axons between distal and proximal nerve regions. In another experimental series, in distal nerve regions (35-40 mm from the nodosum ganglion) the number of MT was not further reduced in nerves incubated at 0 degree C by increasing the incubation time. Similar results were obtained from colchicine treated nerves (incubation at 37 degrees C, with 10 mM colchicine for 1 and 2 h). Distal nerve regions (35-40 mm from the nodosum ganglion) showed a similar reduction in the number of MT per axon when nerves were incubated at 0 degree C or with colchicine, suggesting that this drug, as well as cold, may be affecting a similar population of axonal MT, i.e., MT susceptible to anti-MT agents. These results indicate that approximately one-half of the axonal MT are stable to cold as well as to colchicine in rat unmyelinated axons.
Fragmentation of vitamin B12 during 337 nm matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization of vitamin B12 at 337 nm yields low abundances of the protonated molecule in time-of-flight mass spectra when the matrix α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid is used. A variety of fragment ions are observed in the time-of-flight mass spectra which may be assigned on the basis of previous studies of vitamin B12 fragmentation. When the matrix 4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrobenzoic acid is used, an abundant signal from the protonated molecule ion of vitamin B12 is produced. Fragment ions are still observed in the time-of-flight mass spectra but at much lower abundances. Studies of the influence of matrix-to-analyte ratio and desorbing laser intensity argue against direct photodissociation as the mechanism of fragment ion formation. Matrix choice appears to most strongly influence the internal energies of the laser-desorbed ions thereby controlling the fragmentation processes.
PRISONERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD COMPONENTS OF THE LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS

Prisoners' attitudes toward components of the legal and judicial systems are reviewed and analyzed with data collected from prisoners in their first several days of incarceration. These data are analyzed within subgroups of the prison population. In general, attitudes toward the police are negative, attitudes toward the law and the judicial system are mixed, and attitudes toward lawyers are positive. However, preprison and prison status factors influence the attitudes held by prisoners, and these different patterns of influence are discussed.
Evolutionary changes in left and right ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction.

To determine the evolutionary changes in right and left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction, 3 serial gated blood pool scans were performed in 76 patients within 24 hours (24 H), at 10 days (10 D) and 3 months (3 M) following the onset of myocardial infarction. The patients were divided into 3 groups : ANT (anterior MI), INF (inferior MI without right ventricular dysfunction) and RVF (inferior MI with right ventricular dysfunction). LVEF in ANT was significantly lower than that of INF and RVF at 24 H, 10 D and 3 M. The ratio of right ventricular volume to LV volume (RVV/LVV) was compared among 3 groups. The mean values of RVV/LVV in RVF were 1.3 through 24 H and 3 M and they were significantly higher than the other two groups. The RVV/LVV in ANT and INF were around 1.0. LVEDVI in RVF was rather smaller than that of ANT and INF. LVESVI in ANT at 24 H was significantly larger than that of INF and RVF and the mean value of LVESVI in ANT were around 60 ml/M2 from 24 H to 3 M. LVEF in ANT, RVF and INF did not increase significantly during peak exercise at 3 M. However, quantitative regional wall motion analysis revealed that regional wall motion of R2 (posterolateral wall motion) in ANT and R5 (septal wall motion) in INF decreased significantly during peak exercise. These impairments in regional wall motion might be due to the exacerbation of ischemia of non-infarcted area.
A Voltage-Frequency Island Aware Energy Optimization Framework for Networks-on-Chip

In this paper, we present a partitioning, mapping, routing and interface optimization framework for energy-efficient voltage-frequency island (VFI) based networks-on-chip. Unlike the recent work that performs tile partitioning only with voltage-frequency assignment for a given mesh network layout, our framework consists of three key VFI-aware components, i.e., VFI-aware core partitioning with voltage and frequency assignment, VFI-aware mapping, and VFI-aware routing path allocation. In addition, we develop a VFI interface and its insertion algorithm to easily satisfy performance constraints. Our methodology makes cores using the same voltage and frequency unified to single VFI. Thus, our technique considerably reduces VFI overheads such as a mixed clock first input, first output buffer and a voltage level converter up to 82% and energy consumption up to 10% compared with the state-of-the-art work. It proves that our global energy optimization framework achieves better power-performance trade-offs.