cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expansion of signal transduction by G proteins The second 15 years or so: From 3 to 16 α subunits plus βγ dimers

The first 15 years, or so, brought the realization that there existed a G protein coupled signal transduction mechanism by which hormone receptors regulate adenylyl cyclases and the light receptor rhodopsin activates visual phosphodiesterase. Three G proteins, Gs, Gi and transducin (T) had been characterized as αβγ heterotrimers, and Gsα-GTP and Tα-GTP had been identified as the sigaling arms of Gs and T. These discoveries were made using classical biochemical approaches, and culminated in the purification of these G proteins. The second 15 years, or so, are the subject of the present review. This time coincided with the advent of powerful recombinant DNA techniques. Combined with the classical approaches, the field expanded the repertoire of G proteins from 3 to 16, discovered the superfamily of seven transmembrane G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) – which is not addressed in this article – and uncovered an amazing repertoire of effector functions regulated not only by αGTP complexes but also by βγ dimers. Emphasis is placed in presenting how the field developed with the hope of conveying why many of the new findings were made.
FlatCAD and FlatLang: Kits by code

The FlatCAD system lets you create physical construction kits by coding in the LOGO-like FlatLang language. Designers often use structured CAD tools to specify physical form. Programming offers an alternative and powerful method for designing shapes. This paper describes our experimental domain-specific language used to program and manufacture physical shape in the domain of construction kits.
Das Siebzehnte Jahrhundert

Die schnelle Entwicklung der Mathematik wahrend der Renaissance beruhte nicht nur auf der „Rechenhaftigkeit“ der Kaufinannsklasse, sondern auch auf der ausgiebigen Verwendung und weiteren Vervollkommnung von Maschinen. Maschinen kannte man schon im Orient und in der klassischen Antike; sie hatten das Genie von Archimedes inspiriert. Jedoch war durch die Existenz der Sklaverei und das Fehlen eines wirtschaftlich vorwartsdrangenden stadtischen Lebens der Gebrauch von Maschinen in diesen alteren Gesellschaftsformationen praktisch unterbunden worden. Das kann man den Werken von Heron entnehmen, in denen Maschinen beschrieben werden, aber lediglich zur Unterhaltung oder zu Tauschungszwecken.
Natural convection heat transfer from helicoidal pipes

An experimental investigation is reported on natural convection heat transfer in air from the outer surface of constant heat flux helicoidal pipes with vertical and horizontal orientations. The temperatures along the flow direction and peripheral direction of the tube wall were measured. The test Rayleigh numbers range from 4 x 103 to 1 x 10 s for vertical coils and 5 x 103 to 1 X 10s for horizontal coils. The local and average Nusselt numbers are evaluated and correlated. For the vertical case, the results are compared with single horizontal cylinders. It is found that the heat transfer from the first turn is almost the same as that of the single horizontal cylinder. Because of the tube curvature, the heat transfer coefficient on the outer coil wall (i/r = 77/2) is higher than that on the inner coil wall (i/r = 377/2) in the middle turns of the coil. For the horizontal orientation, the results are well correlated with the tube diameter as the characteristic length. The local heat transfer characteristics are discussed as well. The overall average Nusselt number of the horizontal coil is higher than that of the vertical coil in the laminar region.
A Family of Designs for Rapid Scanning Radar Antennas

A family of parallel-plate radar lenses is derived from an optical result of Luneberg. These lenses theoretically produce a beam with a straight wave front from a point source of microwave energy located at any point on a certain circle. A constant refractive index greater than one in the planar portion of the lens permits an inversely proportional smaller feed-circle radius. This provides the possibility of reducing feed-circle size to a point where rapid rotation of the source is feasible, producing rapid scan by the output beam.
Hydrogen Effects on Fracture Toughness of Type 316L Stainless Steel From 175 K to 425 K

The effects of hydrogen on the fracture-toughness properties of Type 316L stainless steel from 175 K to 425 K were measured. Fracture-toughness samples were fabricated from Type 316L stainless steel forgings and hydrogen-charged with hydrogen at 34 MPa and 623 K for two weeks prior to testing. The effect of hydrogen on the J-Integral vs. crack extension behavior was measured at various temperatures by fracturing non-charged and hydrogen-charged samples in an environmental chamber. Hydrogen-charged steels had lower toughness values than non-charged ones, but still retained good toughness properties. The fracture-toughness values of hydrogen-charged samples tested near ambient temperature were about 70% of non-charged values. For hydrogen-charged samples tested at 225 K and 425 K, the fracture-toughness values were 50% of the non-charged values. In all cases, fracture occurred by microvoid nucleation and coalescence, although the hydrogen-charged samples had smaller and more closely spaced microvoids. The results suggest that hydrogen effects on toughness are greater at 225 K than they are at ambient temperature because of strain-induced martensite formation. At 425 K, the hydrogen effects on toughness are greater than they are at ambient temperature because of the higher mobility of hydrogen.
Experimental assessment of technique for measurement of valvular regurgitation by constant infusion of indicator.

The continuous infusion of indicator into the left ventricle at a constant rate, with comparison of indicator concentration in aortic and left atrial blood at equilibrium prior to recirculation, is theoretically a valid method for measurement of mitral regurgitation. When assessed in dogs with constantly metered left ventricular-atrial regurgitation, however, the method failed to measure regurgitation accurately and yielded values which, in general, were well below the true ones. The failure of the method appeared to be due to incomplete dispersion of dye in the ventricle and limited distribution of regurgitated blood within the atrium. Despite differences between the animal preparation and naturally occurring mitral regurgitation, the study casts doubt on the quantitative reliability of data on valvular regurgitation in man obtained by indicator methods utilizing left ventricular injection and left atrial sampling.
Parallel processing laboratory for optimal clustering methods

Many clustering problems are highly dependent on optimization techniques and the use of Monte Carlo methods. A discussion is provided for providing a transputer based laboratory and how such a laboratory can be used to investigate optimal clustering methods. >
Sequence Determinants of Circadian Gene Expression Phase in Cyanobacteria

ABSTRACT The cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 exhibits global biphasic circadian oscillations in gene expression under constant-light conditions. Class I genes are maximally expressed in the subjective dusk, whereas class II genes are maximally expressed in the subjective dawn. Here, we identify sequence features that encode the phase of circadian gene expression. We find that, for multiple genes, an ∼70-nucleotide promoter fragment is sufficient to specify class I or II phase. We demonstrate that the gene expression phase can be changed by random mutagenesis and that a single-nucleotide substitution is sufficient to change the phase. Our study provides insight into how the gene expression phase is encoded in the cyanobacterial genome.
A REVIEW OF PRIMARY LUNG TUMORS IN THE DOG AND CAT

Primary pulmonary carcinomas are being encountered with increasing frequency in older dogs and cats. The most common presenting complaint in the canine is a nonproductive cough of several weeks' duration, but many affected animals have no abnormal clinical signs in the early stages of the disease. A solitary mass that arises from a single focus in the peripheral pulmonary tissue is the most frequently observed radiographic sign of a primary lung tumor. Often a definitive diagnosis can be made only following thoracotomy with removal or biopsy study of the neoplastic tissue. A classification system based on the prevailing histologic pattern may then be used to categorize most primary lung neoplasms as adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, anaplastic carcinomas, or bronchioloalveolar carcinomas. Adenocarcinomas are most common in the dog and cat. Only the neoplastic cell type and the presence or absence of metastatic disease have been found to be of value as prognostic indicators. Following wide surgical resection of the pulmonary mass, dogs with pulmonary adenocarcinomas are reported to have a longer mean survival time than animals with other types of primary lung carcinomas.
New Parameter to Evaluate Moisture Damage of Asphalt-Aggregate Bond in Using Dynamic Shear Rheometer

Most of the techniques used today to evaluate practically moisture damage in asphalt pavements are involved in compacted asphalt mixtures. These tests generally simulate field conditions, and provide a performance-related parameter of moisture effects by applying mechanical techniques. No test of the compacted mixtures, however, can isolate the fundamental and rheological properties of the asphalt-aggregate bond, which hinder proper understanding and quantification of the moisture damage phenomenon. To avoid these complications and improve the evaluation of asphalt-aggregate interfacial properties in moist situations, this study proposes a new experimental method. In this method, dynamic shear rheometer was used to measure asphalt-aggregate interfacial properties. A degree of moisture damage relating to the interfacial properties was then quantified using linear viscoelastic concepts to propose a meaningful parameter, called wet to dry yield shear stress ratio. Moreover, possible factors such as film thicknesses, conditioning times, and chemical effects were studied in terms of the W/D YSS ratio.
The Rhetoric of Violence in Rap and Country Music

This study is a semiotic ethnography and ethnomusicological comparison of the rhetoric of violence found in two increasingly popular musical forms, rap and country. Based on the production-of-culture perspective, musical genres are considered socially constructed organizing principles and lyrics, the primary data, are viewed as ensembles of texts. The strategy is to address rap and country songs as they present claims concerning the focal concerns of trouble and toughness. First, analysis is framed in terms of three violent crimes–murder, manslaughter, and assault. Second, dimensions of toughness are specified–physical prowess and masculinity. This study illustrates the hidden resemblances between rap and country and highlights parallels between these essentially incompatible musical domains.
Stability and change in estuarine biofilm bacterial community diversity.

Biofouling communities contribute significantly to aquatic ecosystem productivity and biogeochemical cycling. Our knowledge of the distribution, composition, and activities of these microbially dominated communities is limited compared to other components of estuarine ecosystems. This study investigated the temporal stability and change of the dominant phylogenetic groups of the domain Bacteria in estuarine biofilm communities. Glass slides were deployed monthly over 1 year for 7-day incubations during peak tidal periods in East Sabine Bay, Fla. Community profiling was achieved by using 16S rRNA genes and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of 16S rRNA genes in combination with ribotyping, cloning, and sequencing to evaluate diversity and to identify dominant microorganisms. Bacterial community profiles from biofilms grown near the benthos showed distinct periods of constancy within winter and summer sampling periods. Similar periods of stability were also seen in T-RFLP patterns from floating biofilms. Alternating dominance of phylogenetic groups between seasons appeared to be associated with seasonal changes in temperature, nutrient availability, and light. The community structure appeared to be stable during these periods despite changes in salinity and in dissolved oxygen. Biofilms develop on all surfaces in aquatic environments and are defined as matrix-enclosed microbial populations adherent to each other and/or surfaces (1, 32). A substantial part of the microbial activity in nature is associated with surfaces (12). Surface association (biofouling) is an efficient means for bacteria to proliferate in both favorable and sometimes hostile environments. By adopting a sessile mode of life, microbes can achieve several advantages over their planktonic counterparts (38), including the ability to capture and concentrate nutrients from the water column in the existing exopolysaccharide matrix, cometabolic interactions with neighboring microorganisms (17), and resistance to harmful chemicals (2) and
A Summary of the Major Documents Signed at the Earth Summit and the Global Forum.

(1992). A Summary of the Major Documents Signed at the Earth Summit and the Global Forum. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development: Vol. 34, No. 8, pp. 12-36.
Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel-Loaded Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Overcome Multidrug Resistance by Inhibiting P-Glycoprotein and Depleting ATP

To test the ability of nanoparticle formulations to overcome P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance, several different doxorubicin and paclitaxel-loaded lipid nanoparticles were prepared. Doxorubicin nanoparticles showed 6- to 8-fold lower IC(50) values in P-gp-overexpressing human cancer cells than those of free doxorubicin. The IC(50) value of paclitaxel nanoparticles was over 9-fold lower than that of Taxol in P-gp-overexpressing cells. A series of in vitro cell assays were used including quantitative studies on uptake and efflux, inhibition of calcein acetoxymethylester efflux, alteration of ATP levels, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity. Enhanced uptake and prolonged retention of doxorubicin were observed with nanoparticle-based formulations in P-gp-overexpressing cells. Calcein acetoxymethylester and ATP assays confirmed that blank nanoparticles inhibited P-gp and transiently depleted ATP. I.v. injection of pegylated paclitaxel nanoparticles showed marked anticancer efficacy in nude mice bearing resistant NCI/ADR-RES tumors versus all control groups. Nanoparticles may be used to target both drug and biological mechanisms to overcome multidrug resistance via P-gp inhibition and ATP depletion.
The Utility of Person-Specific Analyses for Investigating Developmental Processes: An Analytic Primer on Studying the Individual.

The fields of psychology and human development are experiencing a resurgence of scientific inquiries about phenomena that unfold at the level of the individual. This article addresses the issues of analyzing intraindividual psychological/developmental phenomena using standard analytical techniques for interindividual variation. When phenomena are characterized by intraindividual variation, analyses must be done at the level of the individual. Research on these processes generally uses methods analyzing interindividual variation, rather than intraindividual, however, a noteworthy fundamental difference exists between the two. The current article provides theoretical and empirical illustrations of the fundamental contrast between variation within subjects and variation between subjects. First, we explain this distinction through the classical ergodic theorems. Next, we discuss the utility of analysis of intraindividual variation for developmental processes. We then provide an empirical example, using recent...
Conservation agriculture : what is it and why is it important for future sustainable food production?

Conservation agriculture (CA), defined as minimal soil disturbance (no-till) and permanent soil cover (mulch) combined with rotations, is a more sustainable cultivation system for the future than those presently practised. The present paper first introduces the reasons for tillage in agriculture and discusses how this age-old agricultural practice is responsible for the degradation of natural resources and soils. The paper goes on to introduce conservation tillage (CT), a minimum tillage and surface mulch practice that was developed in response to the severe wind erosion caused by mouldboard tillage of grasslands and referred to as the American dust bowl of the 1930s. CT is then compared with CA, a suggested improvement on CT, where no-till, mulch, and rotations significantly improve soil properties (physical, biological, and chemical) and other biotic factors, enabling more efficient use of natural resources. CA can improve agriculture through improvement in water infiltration and reducing erosion, improving soil surface aggregates, reducing compaction through promotion of biological tillage, increasing surface soil organic matter and carbon content, moderating soil temperatures, and suppressing weeds. CA also helps reduce costs of production, saves time, increases yield through more timely planting, reduces diseases and pests through stimulation of biological diversity, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Availability of suitable equipment is a major constraint to successful CA, but advances in design and manufacture of seed drills by local manufacturers are enabling farmers to experiment and accept this technology in many parts of the world. Estimates of farmer adoption of CA are close to 100 million ha in 2005, indicating that farmers are convinced of the benefits of this technology. The paper concludes that agriculture in the next decade will have to produce more food, sustainably, from less land through more efficient use of natural resources and with minimal impact on the environment in order to meet growing population demands. This will be a significant challenge for agricultural scientists, extension personnel, and farmers. Promoting and adopting CA management systems can help meet this complex goal.
Neural net robot controller with guaranteed stability

A multilayer neural net (NN) controller for a general serial-link robot arm is developed. The structure of the NN controller is derived using a filtered error approach. No learning phase is needed. It is argued that standard backpropagation tuning, when used for real-time closed-loop control, can yield unbounded NN weights if: (1) the net cannot exactly reconstruct a certain required nonlinear control function; (2) there are bounded unknown disturbances in the robot dynamics; or (3) the robot arm has more than one link (i.e. nonlinear case). Novel online weight tuning algorithms given include correction terms to backpropagation, plus an added robustifying signal, and guarantee tracking as well as bounded weights. >
PREDATION ON JAPANESE QUAIL VS. HOUSE SPARROW EGGS IN ARTIFICIAL NESTS: SMALL EGGS REVEAL SMALL PREDATORS

Abstract Nest predation studies frequently use eggs such as Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) to identify potential predators of Neotropical migrants' eggs, but such eggs may be too large or thick-shelled to identify the full complement of potential predators. We compared predation events and predators of Japanese Quail and smaller House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs in paired, camera-monitored ground nests within edges and interiors of 40 mixed-hardwood forest stands in central Massachusetts. House Sparrow eggs were depredated significantly more than Japanese Quail eggs at both forest edges and interiors. Eleven potential predator species disturbed nests, six of which were confirmed as predators. Our use of House Sparrow eggs revealed predation by eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), but not by white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), the most abundant small mammal species in all 40 stands. Neither predator species composition (as detected by camera) ...
Computation: Brief History Prior to the 1900s

Computation, as a human activity, has a long history extending back to such ancient civilizations as Egypt, Sumeria (Babylon), Assyria, Greece, and Rome and the later civilizations of medieval Europe. It was used in commerce, agriculture and astronomy. However, it was not an activity of the common man in the street.
Cutaneous and Temporal Bone Malignancies

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) body distribution = 85 % head and neck (most commonly nasal tip and alae of nose) BCC 4× more common on embryonic fusion planes than other regions of midface Cutaneous SCC most common index lesion site: the lateral aspect of head and the ear Cutaneous SCC most common met site: parotid (75 %) and upper cervical nodes Prognostic factors for melanoma include the number of metastatic lymph nodes, tumor burden and primary tumor ulceration, satellite and in-transit metastasis High-dose interferon-a 2b is the only FDA-approved adjuvant therapy for stage III melanoma
Effectiveness of Cedar Oil Products for Preventing Host Use by Ips avulsus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a Modified Small-Bolt Assay

Insecticide products based on cedar oil are readily available, but evaluations against pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are lacking. In the southeastern U.S., the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm, is the major bark beetle pest for which tree protectants are applied. However, Ips avulsus (Eichhoff) are more consistently available, are easily trapped and can attain pest status at times, making them an attractive option for the evaluation of certain tree protection products. In this study, we evaluated 2 commercial cedar oil products for their ability to prevent attack by I. avulsus on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) bolts. The field method we deployed was an extension of a previously developed laboratory method in which small-bolts are treated with the product and provided a challenge by adult beetles. The new method used multiple-funnel traps baited with synthetic attractants to direct I. avulsus to test bolts. The method was successful in providing a challenge to t...
Verbal Auditory Cueing of Improvisational Dance: A Proposed Method for Training Agency in Parkinson's Disease.

Dance is a non-pharmacological intervention that helps maintain functional independence and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease (PPD). Results from controlled studies on group-delivered dance for people with mild-to-moderate stage Parkinson’s have shown statistically and clinically significant improvements in gait, balance, and psychosocial factors. Tested interventions include non-partnered dance forms (ballet and modern dance) and partnered (tango). In all of these dance forms, specific movement patterns initially are learned through repetition and performed in time to music. Once the basic steps are mastered, students may be encouraged to improvise on the learned steps as they perform them in rhythm with the music. Here, we summarize a method of teaching improvisational dance that advances previous reported benefits of dance for people with PD. The method relies primarily on improvisational verbal auditory cueing (VAC) with less emphasis on directed movement instruction. This method builds on the idea that daily living requires flexible, adaptive responses to real-life challenges. In PD, movement disorders not only limit mobility, but also impair spontaneity of thought and action. Dance improvisation trains spontaneity of thought, fostering open and immediate interpretation of verbally delivered movement cues. Here we present an introduction to a proposed method, detailing its methodological specifics, and pointing to future directions. The viewpoint advances an embodied cognitive approach that has eco-validity in helping PPD meet the changing demands of daily living.
Rubiacearum Americanarum Magna Hama Pars IX. New species and a new combination in Hippotis and Pentagonia (Hippotideae) from Central and western South America

The following new species are described: Hippotis stellata C. M. Taylor & Rova, found from eastern Panama to northwestern Ecuador and distinguished by its closely grouped or possibly stellate trichomes; Pentagonia angustifolia C. M. Taylor, found in western Panama and formerly confused with P. nuciformis Dwyer; P. dwyeriana C. M. Taylor, found in western Panama and formerly confused with P. macrophylla Bentham; Pentagonia monocaulis C. M. Taylor, found in eastern Costa Rica and formerly confused with P donnell-smithii (Standley) Standley; and Pentagonia sanblasensis C. M. Taylor, found in central Panama and also formerly confused with P. macrophylla. The new combination H. panamensis (Dwyer) C. M. Taylor is based on Duroia panamensis Dwyer, and a description is presented for this poorly known species, which is actually the most commonly collected species of Hippotis in Central America and adjacent northwestern Colombia.
Garden-Variety Liberals: Discovering Eden in Levinas and Locke

Over the last decade theorists have begun to examine the political implications of Emmanuel Levinas's ethical phenomenology. Looking at Levinas's work as a whole, but with special emphasis on his major works, Totality and Infinity and Otherwise than Being, I argue that Levinas revives a Lockean state of nature politics, although with a novel and more compatible epistemology. Levinas's liberalism manifests itself most clearly in his concern for human rights, his fear of tyranny, and his use of a Lockean temporal scheme for political judgment. Both thinkers locate the source of ethical revolt in an abstracted apolitical past that represents the authoritative history of the moral individual. Levinas's "pluralism" is a return to a moral and metaphysical brand of liberalism partly at odds with deconstruction and other radical currents in contemporary social theory.
Assessing Team Conflict in Student Design Teams

Our work is investigating the role of team conflict in the context of student design project work. We are interested in the types of conflicts that occur during the team’s development of their design solution, and how these conflicts may in fact contribute in a positive way to the overall design solution. We are using a mixed-method approach to data collection through student interviews, team observations, reflective memos, and surveys. This paper reports results from a study implemented in a required first-year engineering design course. Results from this study indicate that teams experience a range of conflicts, where some students perceive these conflicts as beneficial to team performance. In addition, our results describe several strategies teams use to manage and leverage these conflicts. Finally, methodologically we found that the team memos and team conflict surveys were better instruments for capturing team conflict, more so than self-report surveys.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Survey Of Influenza A/H1N1 Virus-infected Status In Anhui Province

Objective To study the status of influenza A/H1N1 virus infection in Anhui province,and provide evidence for formulating our strategies of prevention and control.Methods By using case registration form which designed by China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for some provinces to investigate the status of influenza A/H1N1 virus infection,a sampling survey was conducted in 11 cities of Huaibei region,Jianghuai region and Jiangnan region in Anhui.Results The infection rate of A/H1N1 influenza was 29.41%,was slightly higher than that of the national average level(23.00%) in the same period.Conclusion In Anhui province,the infection rate of influenza A/H1N1 virus is lower,the immunological barrier among people has not yet established,so it is still necessary to take the inoculation of influenza A/H1N1 vaccine.
Direct measurement of the (23)Na(α,p)(26)Mg reaction cross section at energies relevant for the production of galactic (26)Al.

The 1809-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray from the decay of $^{26}{\mathrm{Al}}^{g}$ is an important target for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray astronomy. In the convective C/Ne burning shell of massive presupernova stars, the $^{23}\mathrm{Na}(\ensuremath{\alpha},p)^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$ reaction directly influences the production of $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$. We have performed a direct measurement of the $^{23}\mathrm{Na}(\ensuremath{\alpha},p)^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$ reaction cross section at the appropriate astrophysically important energies. The stellar rate calculated in the present work is larger than the recommended rate by nearly a factor of 40 and could strongly affect the production of $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ in massive stars.
Chapter 5 – The Psychology of Sex: A Mirror from the Internet

Publisher Summary Various forces have had an impact on the pluralism that is sexuality and the Internet—sexuality and the Internet continues to reflect that diversity. It is essential that the most repressive ends of the spectrum not dictate what is available online. The diverse meanings inherent in the human sexuality complex, and recent advances and debates in sexology and the social sciences as a whole, argue for maintaining that pluralism. Sexual pleasure, personal happiness, satisfaction with life, and personal interconnectedness with others is also a strong part of that mix. Sexual diversity is the norm on the Internet, despite efforts to sanitize and homogenize it to conform to the level of psychosexual development of children. Various communities have adopted it to help inform others of their sexual realities. Among scientists, sexologists are among a broad spectrum of social science professionals utilizing the Web to promote better research and to disseminate its results to more people. In the balance, these factors can only bode well for sexology and for collective sexual health.
Probing the question order effect while developing a chemistry concept inventory

The design of assessment tools is critical to accurately evaluate students' understanding of chemistry. Although extensive research has been conducted on various aspects of assessment tool design, few studies in chemistry have focused on the impact of the order in which questions are presented to students on the measurement of students' understanding and students' performance. This potential impact has been labeled the question order effect in other literature and may be considered as a threat to the construct validity of the assessment tool. The set of studies described in this article tested whether question order effects were present within a concept inventory on acid-based chemistry. In particular, we tested whether the order of two conceptually isomorphic questions, one pictorial and one verbal, affected students' performance on the concept inventory. Two different versions of the inventory were developed and collected from students enrolled in the second semester of first-year university chemistry courses (general chemistry; N = 774) at two different institutions and to students enrolled in the first semester of organic chemistry (N = 163) at one of the two institutions. Students were further divided in two groups based on their self-reported level of effort in answering the concept inventory. Interviews were also conducted with a total of 19 students at various stages of the studies. Analyses of differences in students' responses to the two versions of the inventory revealed no question order effect in all settings. Implications for instructors and researchers are provided.
Catenary Analysis and Calculation Method of Track Rope of Cargo Cableway with Multiple Loads

According to actual working condition, the catenary equations of elastic track tope for setting-up is proposed based on the cableway erection requirement, such as the erection angle of end, the initial cable length and midpoint position of cable. The mechanics equilibrium equations, the loads span equations and the consistent equations are presented by analysis of track rope stress state under loads. The nonlinear equations are constructed for elastic track tope with multiple loads and the initial values of newton iteration method are obtained to solve the nonlinear equations. The results of this method are compared with the testing results and numerical results in other literatures and the contrast verifies the reliability of this method. The method is more concise and has smaller amount of calculations with a unified form. It can provide effective means to design the cargo cableway and to check the engineering safety during the erection stage and running stage of cableway.
Lesson plan: an agenda for change in American higher education, by Michael G. Bowen and Michael S. McPherson, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2016, xii + 163 pp., US$17.43, CAN$30.87 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-69117-210-1

The idea that higher education reflects and is a significant contributor to a country’s well-being is a key assumption of Lesson Plan: An Agenda for Change in American Higher Education. The book’s ...
PERCH: A Unified Framework for Disease Gene Prioritization

To interpret genetic variants discovered from next-generation sequencing, integration of heterogeneous information is vital for success. This article describes a framework named PERCH (Polymorphism Evaluation, Ranking, and Classification for a Heritable trait), available at http://BJFengLab.org/. It can prioritize disease genes by quantitatively unifying a new deleteriousness measure called BayesDel, an improved assessment of the biological relevance of genes to the disease, a modified linkage analysis, a novel rare-variant association test, and a converted variant call quality score. It supports data that contain various combinations of extended pedigrees, trios, and case-controls, and allows for a reduced penetrance, an elevated phenocopy rate, liability classes, and covariates. BayesDel is more accurate than PolyPhen2, SIFT, FATHMM, LRT, Mutation Taster, Mutation Assessor, PhyloP, GERP++, SiPhy, CADD, MetaLR, and MetaSVM. The overall approach is faster and more powerful than the existing quantitative method pVAAST, as shown by the simulations of challenging situations in finding the missing heritability of a complex disease. This framework can also classify variants of unknown significance (variants of uncertain significance) by quantitatively integrating allele frequencies, deleteriousness, association, and co-segregation. PERCH is a versatile tool for gene prioritization in gene discovery research and variant classification in clinical genetic testing.
MODELO LOGÍSTICO PARA EL APOYO A LA PERFORACIÓN OFFSHORE COMO UN APORTE A LA INTERNACIONALIZACIÓN DEL SECTOR HIDROCARBUROS DE COLOMBIA

One strategy of internationalization is the proper management of logistics operations cause this leads to maximize the use of the competitive advantages of the organizations or productive sectors. Also, because there is an opportunity to acquire new knowledge, new technology, cost reduction and inventory management. This is why the main objective of this investigation is to design a logistic model to support offshore drilling as a benchmark for the Colombian industry on the take on logistical decisions on extraction projects the oil or gas offshore. The model was made with the identification of causes of failures logistics presented in international and national experiences, through review of secondary sources and with a validation through interviews applied to experts. The result was the construction of the model, its operation and the use of linear programming for simulating the behavior of the costs of implementing the tool.
“Who Was King? Who Was Not King?”

The last two decades of archaeological and textual research have documented tremendous diversity in the ways that Greater Mesopotamian complex societies constituted themselves as polities (Fig. 1). This increasingly representative database, combined with the use of more processually oriented models of social action, have led to a gradual shift in research perspectives from a “top-down” emphasis on managerial structure toward a “bottom-up” perspective on the organization of Mesopotamian chiefdoms and states (see, e.g., Stein 1994a; Yoffee 1995). The traditional structural approach treated Mesopotamian complex societies as homogeneous, highly centralized entities whose urbanized governing institutions defined and controlled virtually every aspect of economic, political, and social life. This largely implicit view derived from the historic emphases of Near Eastern archaeology and philology. For over a century, archaeologists had concentrated on the excavation of monumental public buildings such as palaces and temples in major urban sites (see, e.g., Lloyd 1980). Similarly, Assyriologists tended to view the cuneiform archives of these centralized institutions as complete and representative records of the full range of activities, institutions, and interest groups in Mesopotamian society. This urban, elite-oriented focus was perfectly understandable, given the fact that Mesopotamia is the earliest known and best-documented ancient urban society.
Radiology–Pathology Conference::Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis

We report the radiology and pathology of a patient with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XC) and review the literature on this unusual condition.
Epidemiology of Primary Ophthalmic Inpatient Admissions in the United States

Purpose To determine the national estimates, demographics, and costs of inpatient eye care in the United States (US). Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a representative sample of all US community hospitals, was used to analyze inpatient admissions with a primary ophthalmic diagnosis from 2001 to 2014. National estimates of the most prevalent diagnoses were determined, and descriptive statistics were calculated for demographics and costs. Results From 2001 to 2014, there were an estimated 671 324 inpatient admissions (male patients, 51.6%; mean [standard deviation] age, 44.5 [27.3] years) in the US owing to an ophthalmic disorder—an annual rate of 16 per 100 000 population. The Mid-Atlantic region had the highest rate. Most admissions were owing to nontraumatic disorders (75.3%), classified as emergencies (41.8%), and covered by public insurance (48.9%). The median length of stay was 2 days and mortality was 0.2%. The total inflation-adjusted cost over the 14-year period was $5.9 billion. The most prevalent diagnosis was orbital cellulitis (14.5%), followed by orbital floor fracture (9.6%) and eyelid abscess (6.0%). Most diagnoses were infectious (28.0%) and the majority were attributed to external disease (24.3%). A total of 31.1% of all patients had an ophthalmic procedure, pars plana vitrectomy (4.8%) being the most common one. Conclusion There were around 48 000 ophthalmic inpatient admissions in the US costing $421 million every year. Orbital pathology, namely infection and trauma, was the leading cause of admissions. Implementing interventions to decrease the incidence of these conditions may significantly reduce the burden of inpatient ophthalmic care.
Abstract 18728: Loss of Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinase 2 in Cardiomyocytes Leads to Cardiac Dysfunction

Introduction: Heart failure is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Despite progresses made in the treatment of most cardiovascular diseases, the prevalence and mortality of heart failure are ...
3D graphene foam-reinforced polymer composites – A review

Abstract This review summarizes the present state and advances of three-dimensional (3D) graphene foam-reinforced polymer matrix composites (GrF-PMC). Graphene foam as a filler is being considered to address challenging issues of graphene dispersion and restacking in composite materials because of its three-dimensional interconnected hierarchical structure and its physio-chemical attributes. Synthesis approaches to prepare 3D graphene-based frameworks, node-branch behavior and intrinsic material properties of free-standing graphene foam are highlighted. The review discusses different processing techniques to fabricate graphene foam-based polymer composites which can be employed in structural and thermal applications. Influence of graphene foam addition on the mechanical behavior of GrF-PMC has been critically examined. Additionally, the electrical, thermal and other material properties vested in graphene foam to enhance the multifunctional behavior of GrF-PMC are summarized. Current challenges associated with GrF-PMC are discussed, and research pathway into the future for progress in GrF-PMC are introduced.
Mental health stigma and communication and their intersections with education

Roughly one in four Americans will experience a mental health issue during his or her lifetime (National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). The consequences of mental disorders ...
Ultra-high strength and ductility from rolling and annealing of a Ni-Cr-Co superalloy

Abstract A new processing route is demonstrated for producing a nickel-based alloy with 1099 MPa tensile yield strength and 30% elongation. A chromium- and cobalt-rich commercial alloy was solution-annealed, cold-rolled, and aged at different temperatures and times to develop partially-recrystallized microstructures with ordered Ni3(Al,Ti) γ′ precipitates. These were tested in uniaxial tension and compared to alloys given the same heat treatment without rolling to assess the contributions of different strengthening mechanisms. Orientation mapping showed the development of a modest 〈111〉 and 〈100〉 double-fiber texture. Scanning transmission electron microscopy also revealed the development of exceptionally large dislocation densities including wall structures.
Informed Consent and Perioperative Antibiotics

Preoperative preparation for ureteroscopy includes, among other activities, obtaining informed consent and deciding on the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis. Informed consent is essentially the concept that individuals have the right to make decisions affecting their bodies and health. Informed consent must include (1) the inherent and potential hazards of the proposed treatment, (2) the alternatives to the treatment, if any, and (3) the results likely if the patient remains untreated. In the event of litigation regarding informed consent, a plaintiff has a two-part burden. First, it must be proven the physician did not meet the required standard for informed consents. Second, the plaintiff must prove a causal relationship between the physician’s failure to disclose information and a direct damage to the patient.
Womb Rhetoric: The Martial Maternity of Volumnia, Tamora, and Elizabeth I

Coriolanus and Titus Andronicus are arguably two of Shakespeare’s most violent plays, and although Volumnia and Tamora are neither protagonists nor title characters, they stand out as especially bloodthirsty and politically astute. Volumnia and Tamora exercise considerable political and military power which they derive from their status as mothers. The martial-maternal rhetoric they employ sets them apart from their male counterparts and, more importantly, represents a language of power that is uniquely female. Similarly, Queen Elizabeth I, as both a monarch and a literary subject, has been represented and has represented herself as both a ruthless warrior and a devoted mother. This chapter works to uncover an intertextual relationship in the shared martial-maternal rhetoric of Coriolanus’ Volumnia, Titus Andronicus’ Tamora, and early modern England’s Queen Elizabeth I.
Toward Resilient Operation of Smart Grid

Electric grids in the future will be highly integrated with information and communications technology resulting in a complex cyber-physical system. The increase in the use of information technology is expected to enhance reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of the future electric grid through the implementation of sophisticated monitoring and control strategies. However, the information and communication technology is known to be vulnerable to cyber-intrusions, which may cause physical damage to the power network due to the tight coupling between the physical and cyber layers. This chapter first discusses potential strategies to detect stealthy attacks in a smart grid. Since attacks cannot be foreseen in advance, it is highly desirable to design control algorithms so that the networked system becomes resilient against unknown attacks. Moreover, the heterogeneity of the individual dynamics and the openness of the networked system introduce additional challenges in designing the resilient control algorithm. To this end, we discuss the concept of passivity-short and demonstrate its potential to deal with heterogeneous dynamics and enable plug-and-play operation of the networked system. Two distributed control strategies are then presented to guarantee the resilience of the networked system against unknown attacks.
A cultural lineage of streaming

This research traces a cultural lineage of streaming technology, moments of streams and counterstreams in the history of radio, video and internet broadcasting. By making contact with a number of p...
Metabolite profiling and in vitro biological activities of two commercial bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn.) cultivars.

Abstract The current study was designed to characterize the metabolite profile and bioactivity of two commercial bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn.) genotypes. UPLC-high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was used to identify 15 phenolic and 46 triterpenoids in various bitter melon extracts. Total phenolic levels were the highest (57.28 ± 1.02) in methanolic extract of the inner tissue of Indian Green cultivar, which also correlated to the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (30.48 ± 2.49 ascorbic acid equivalents (mg of AAE)/g of FD). In addition, highest levels of total saponins were observed in chloroform extract of the Chinese bitter melon pericarp (75.73 mg ± 4.67 diosgenin equivalents (DE)/g of FD). Differential inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity was observed in response to polarity of extract, cultivar and tissue type. These results suggest that consumption of whole bitter melon may have potential health benefits to manage diabetes.
MicroRNA 155 contributes to host immunity against Leishmania donovani but is not essential for resolution of infection.

CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1) cells producing interferon gamma (IFN-γ) are critical for the resolution of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). MicroRNA 155 (miR155) promotes CD4+ Th1 responses and IFN-γ production by targeting suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) and Src homology-2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP-1) and therefore could play a role in the resolution of VL. To determine the role of miR155 in VL, we monitored the course of Leishmania donovani infection in miR155 knockout (miR155KO) and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice. miR155KO mice displayed significantly higher liver and spleen parasite loads than WT controls and showed impaired hepatic granuloma formation. However, parasite growth eventually declined in miR155KO mice, suggesting the induction of a compensatory miR155-independent antileishmanial pathway. Leishmania antigen-stimulated splenocytes from miR155KO mice produced significantly lower levels of Th1-associated IFN-γ than controls. Interestingly, at later time points, levels of Th2-associated interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 were also lower in miR155KO splenocyte supernatants than in WT mice. On the other hand, miR155KO mice displayed significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, iNOS, and TNF-α gene transcripts in their livers than WT mice, indicating that distinct organ-specific antiparasitic mechanisms were involved in control of L. donovani infection in miR155KO mice. Throughout the course of infection, organs of miR155KO mice showed significantly more PDL1-expressing Ly6Chi inflammatory monocytes than WT mice. Conversely, blockade of Ly6Chi inflammatory monocyte recruitment in miR155KO mice significantly reduced parasitic loads, indicating that these cells contributed to disease susceptibility. In conclusion, we found that miR155 contributes to the control of L. donovani but is not essential for infection resolution.