cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of vowels in “vowelless” syllables

Traditionally, it has been held that the primary information for vowel identification is provided by formant frequencies in the quasi-steady-state portion of the spoken syllable. Recent search has advanced an alternative view that emphasizes the role of temporal factors and dynamic (time-varying) spectral information in determining the perception of vowels. Nine vowels spoken in /b/ + vowel + /b/ syllables were recorded. The syllables were modified electronically in several ways to suppress various sources of spectral and durational information. Two vowel-perception experiments were performed, testing subjects’ ability to identify vowels in these modified syllables. Results of both experiments revealed the importance of dynamic spectral information at syllable onset and offset (in its proper temporal relation) in permitting vowel identification. On the other hand, steady-state spectral information, deprived of its durational variation, was a poor basis for identification. Results constitute a challenge to traditional accounts of vowel perception and point toward important sources of dynamic information.
Feature-aided tracking (FAT)

Association of observations and tracks is a fundamental component of most solutions to the tracking problem. Association is frequently formulated as a multiple hypothesis test. Typically, the test statistic, called the track score, is the likelihood or likelihood ratio of the observations conditioned upon the association hypotheses. Assuming that the test is reasonably efficient, further reduction in the association error probability necessitates the introduction of additional information into the track score. This additional information is embodied in quantities called track features which are to be included in the track score. In practice, the necessary conditional probabilities of the track features are unknown. The class of non-parametric hypothesis tests is designed to provide such a test in the absence of any probabilistic information about the data. However, the test statistics used in non-parametric tests cannot be used directly in the track score. The one probabilistic quantity generally available with non-parametric tests is the Type I error probability, the probability of failing to accept a true hypothesis. If the non-parametric test is distribution free then the Type I error probability is independent of the distribution of the track features. This paper presents a distribution free, non-parametric test of the track features that can be used to test the association hypotheses and a quantity that can be included in the track score is derived from the Type I error probability of the test.
Contrast increment thresholds of rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Increment contrast thresholds were determined behaviourally as a function of background contrast for sinusoidal gratings with spatial frequencies between 0.5 and 8.0 c/deg. As has been previously reported for humans, the contrast discrimination functions were characterized by a facilitation effect for low background contrasts and a masking effect for high background contrasts. The shapes of the functions varied with spatial frequency, but for all spatial frequencies, portions of the functions were adequately described by a power law. The shapes of the reaction time distributions obtained for near threshold stimuli suggested that at least two mechanisms with different spatio-temporal sensitivities were involved in detecting the stimulus and that the exact shape of the contrast discrimination function was dependent on which mechanism dominated detection.
Continued organizational identification following involuntary job loss

Purpose – Continued identification with a former employer may provide valuable self‐enhancement during transition, or it may highlight unsettling self‐discontinuity. This study seeks to develop and test competing hypotheses regarding the extent to which continued organizational identification relates to psychological well‐being following involuntary job loss.Design/methodology/approach – The author conducted a two‐wave survey study spanning six months during the recent financial crisis in 2008 to test these hypotheses. Results are presented for 86 employees in two samples, 45 who were unemployed at the beginning of the study and 41 who lost their jobs during the study.Findings – Continued organizational identification positively related to psychological well‐being in both samples. In a post‐hoc analysis, this relationship held only for employees who attributed their job loss to themselves, rather than to external factors such as their organizations.Research limitations/implications – The results are based...
Density estimation for nonlinear parametric models with conditional heteroscedasticity

Abstract This article studies density and parameter estimation problems for nonlinear parametric models with conditional heteroscedasticity. We propose a simple density estimate that is particularly useful for studying the stationary density of nonlinear time series models. Under a general dependence structure, we establish the root n consistency of the proposed density estimate. For parameter estimation, a Bahadur type representation is obtained for the conditional maximum likelihood estimate. The parameter estimate is shown to be asymptotically efficient in the sense that its limiting variance attains the Cramer–Rao lower bound. The performance of our density estimate is studied by simulations.
Possible contribution of encainide metabolites to the long-term antiarrhythmic efficacy of encainide☆

Abstract To establish long-term efficacy and the relation between drug plasma concentration and antiarrhythmic response, 12 patients with encainide-responsive frequent complex ventricular ectopic activity underwent 1 year of therapy with encainide. Twenty-four hour ambulatory electrocardiograms were obtained at baseline and every 2 months. Drug withdrawal with concomitant plasma sampling and electrocardiographic monitoring was performed at and 12 months. Average group premature ventricular contraction (PVC) suppression during the year was 97 to 99%, with nearly total suppression of pairs and salvos. The most common adverse effects were transient visual disturbances and dizziness or lightheadedness. During a dose interval (6 to 12 hours) the concentration of encainide metabolites exceeded that of encainide by several-fold. The median time of arrhythmia return after drug withdrawal was 12 to 14 hours. At the time of arrhythmia return encainide was generally no longer detectable but the average concentration of O-demethylencainide and 3 methoxy-O-demethlencainide was 72 ± 49 and 172 ± 74 ng/ml, respectively. It is concluded that encainide therapy is extremely effective for continuous long-term suppression of complex ventricular arrhythmias and its metabolites contribute significantly to its antiarrhythmic action during chronic oral therapy.
PS2-12: The Usability of the SPAN Distributed Research Network Menu-Driven Interface.

Background/Aims Distributed research networks (DRNs) represent a mechanism by which electronic health care data can be securely shared and analyzed across multiple sites. DRNs may feature a menu-driven interface that allows researchers to query structured data sets that reside behind each participating site’s firewall. These queries return aggregated data tables that contain simple frequencies, such as the number of patients by age, gender, diagnosis, treatment or procedure. It is hypothesized that researchers would use a menu-driven interface to conduct preparatory-to-research queries for power analyses that require data from multiple sites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usability of a menu-driven interface developed for the Scalable Partnering Network for Comparative Effectiveness Research (SPAN).
Hot bats: extreme thermal tolerance in a desert heat wave.

Climate changeispredicted toincrease temperature extremesandthusthermalstressonorganisms.Animalsliving in hot deserts are already exposed to high ambient tempera- tures (Ta) making them especially vulnerable to further warming. However, little is known about the effect of extreme heat events on small desert mammals, especially tree-roosting microbats that are not strongly protected from environmental temperature fluctuations. During a heat wave with record Tas at Sturt National Park, we quantified the thermal physiology and behaviour of a single free-ranging little broad-nosed (Scotorepens greyii, henceforth Scotorepens) and two inland freetail bats (Mormopterus species 3, henceforth Mormopterus) using temperature telemetry over 3 days. On 11 and 13 January, maximum Ta was ∼45.0 °C, and all monitored bats were thermoconforming. On 12 January 2013, when Ta exceeded 48.0 °C, Scotorepens abandoned its poorly insulated roost during the daytime, whereas both Mormopterus remained in their better insulated roosts and were mostly thermoconforming. Maximum skin temperatures (Tskin) ranged from 44.0 to 44.3 °C in Scotorepens and from 40.0to45.8°CinMormopterus,andthesearethehighestTskin values reported for any free-ranging bat. Our study provides the first evidence of extensive heat tolerance in free-ranging desert microbats. It shows that these bats can tolerate the most extreme Tskin range known for mammals (3.3 to 45.8 °C) and delay regulation of Tskin by thermoconforming over a wide temperature range and thus decrease the risks of dehydration and consequently death.
Pooled energy budget and human life history.

Human life history contains a series of paradoxes not easily explained by classical life history theory. Although overall reproductive output is higher than in related primates, juvenile growth is slower and age-specific reproductive rates decline faster with age. A simple energetic model would predict that growth and reproductive rates should be positively correlated and that reproductive effort should not decelerate with age. The pattern of negative correlations in humans suggest the presence of trade-offs among peak reproductive rate, childhood growth, and reproductive rate at older ages. To address this puzzle, we propose a synthesis of reproductive ecology and behavioral ecology focused on intra- and inter-somatic energy transfers. This integration includes three concepts: the mother as final common pathway through which energy must pass to result in offspring; a distinction between direct and indirect reproductive effort, proposing the latter as a novel net energy allocation category relative to growth and direct reproductive effort; and a pooled energy budget representing the energetic contributions and withdrawals of all members of a breeding community. Individuals at all reproductive life stages are considered in light of their contributions to the pooled energy budget. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evidence for control of abyssal agglutinated foraminiferal community structure by substrate disturbance: Results from the HEBBLE Area

Abstract Deep-sea agglutinated foraminifera have been quantitatively examined from 28 coretop samples from seven box cores collected in June, 1983, at the HEBBLE (High Energy Benthic Boundary Layer Experiment) Site (40°27′N, 62°20′W, 4815–4825 m depth) and HEBBLE Shallow Site (40°53′N, 63°44′W, 4185 m depth) on the Nova Scotian continental rise. Samples from the relatively tranquil HEBBLE Shallow Site can be distinguished from the HEBBLE Site on the basis of their microfauna. A Q-mode VARIMAX factor analysis of species-frequency data delineates three major faunal assemblages: 1. (1) A faunal assemblage from the HEBBLE Site dominated by Ammobaculties sp. cf. A. americanus. This assemblage exhibits lowest species diversity (suggesting a disturbed community) and strongly associated with box cores containing fine-grained, laminated sediments. 2. (2) An assemblage associated with box cores from the HEBBLE Meadow dominated by Saccammina tubulata, Psammosphaera sp., cf. P. fusca, a coarsely grained species of Psammosphaera and Reophax sp. 1. 3. (3) A fauna occurring at the HEBBLE Shallow Site, dominated by Hormosinella distans, with Reophax bacillaris and Ammobaculites agglutinans unique to the assemblage. This fauna displays a higher ratio of calcareous to agglutinated species, significantly higher species diversity, lower variability and a greater proportion of hormosinids and species utilizing finer grains than samples from the HEBBLE Site, which is interpreted as reflecting environmental stability. Marked heterogeneity exists among agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages within box cores. At the HEBBLE Meadow, within-box-core faunal variability exceeds between-box-core variability, suggesting that environmental factors influencing the distribution of species are patchy on a scale of approximately 40 cm.
Migrating sockets—end system support for networking with quality of service guarantees

We present an end system architecture designed to support networking with quality of service (QoS) guarantees. The protocol processing component of the architecture, called migrating sockets, has been designed with minimal hidden scheduling which enables accurate determination of the rate requirement of a user application. The end system provides QoS guarantees using: 1) an adaptive rate-controlled scheduler; 2) rate-based flow control on the send side for access to reserved-rate network connections; and 3) a constant overhead active demultiplexing mechanism on the receive side which can be transparently enabled in wide-area TCP/IP internetworking (although it is not restricted to TCP/IP). To achieve efficiency, migrating sockets lets user applications manage network endpoints with minimal system intervention, provides user level protocols read-only access to routing information, and integrates kernel level support previously built for efficient data movement. Migrating sockets is backward compatible with Unix semantics and Berkeley sockets. It has been used to implement Internet protocols such as TCP, UDP, and IP (including IP multicast), and run existing applications such as vic. Migrating sockets has been implemented in Solaris 2.5.1. We discuss our implementation experience, and present performance results of our system running on Sun Sparc and Ultra workstations, as well as Pentium-II desktops.
Reexpansion hypotension: a complication of rapid evacuation of prolonged pneumothorax

Three cases of hypotension are described that followed rapid evacuation of persistent unilateral pneumothorax. Common features included the presence of a pneumothorax for approximately one week before treatment commenced and profuse unilateral reexpansion edema, a rising hematocrit reading, hypotension, and anuria after evacuation of the pneumothorax in spite of a relatively normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In one case, cardiac output was measured and found to be low (1.54 and 1.65 L/min/sq m), with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 10 to 14 mm Hg. Death due to cardiovascular collapse occurred in one patient; ischemic colitis, acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and ischemic necrosis of both humeral heads occurred in another. The cases presented and the literature reviewed suggest that cardiovascular compromise was the end result of the combined effects of intravascular volume depletion and myocardial depression.
Proton and heavy ion acceleration facilities for space radiation research

The particles and energies commonly used for medium energy nuclear physics and heavy charged particle radiobiology and radiotherapy at particle accelerators are in the charge and energy range of greatest interest for space radiation health. In this article we survey some of the particle accelerator facilities in the United States and around the world that are being used for space radiation health and related research, and illustrate some of their capabilities with discussions of selected accelerator experiments applicable to the human exploration of space.
The 24 January 2013 ML 4.4 Earthquake near Paradox, Colorado, and Its Relation to Deep Well Injection

A local magnitude ( M L) 4.4 earthquake occurred near the town of Paradox, in western Colorado, on 24 January 2013, at 4:46:39 UTC time (23 January 2013, at 9:46:39 p.m. local time) and was strongly felt in nearby communities. Earthquakes this large are infrequent in the region. A search of regional earthquake databases yields just nine previous earthquakes of magnitude 3.5 or larger recorded since 1985, and occurring within 200 km of the January 2013 earthquake epicenter (Fig. 1). Of these nine earthquakes, the epicenters of four are within several kilometers of an active brine deep injection well, and, based on their timing and location, we interpret them to be induced by injection operations. Figure 1. Epicenters of ![Graphic][1] earthquakes recorded in the vicinity of Paradox, Colorado, since 1985. The earthquake epicenters shown were taken from the following sources: Reclamation’s Paradox Valley Seismic Network (PVSN) catalog, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) catalog (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss; last accessed 5 February 2013), the USGS National Earthquake Information Center Preliminary Determination of Epicenters (NEIC‐PDE) Bulletin (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/data/pde.php; last accessed 5 February 2013), and the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) catalog (http://www.quake.utah.edu; last accessed 5 February 2013). The 24 January 2013 earthquake was recorded by the Paradox Valley Seismic Network (PVSN), a local 20‐station surface array of broadband three‐component seismometers installed to monitor earthquakes induced by fluid injection at the Paradox Valley Unit (PVU) deep brine disposal well. PVSN has been continuously operated in various configurations since 1985, including a six‐year pre‐injection baseline period. Ground motions from the January 2013 earthquake were also recorded by strong‐motion instruments at three free‐field sites located between 5 and 12 km from the epicenter. In this article, we provide analyses of the January 2013 event based on data from the local seismic network and strong‐motion instruments. We compare the … [1]: F1/embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Security: Cross Layer Protocol in Wireless Sensor Network

Application such as health monitoring, disaster relief mission, etc. require secure communication of messages. In this paper, we propose a novel approach of using an evolutionary algorithm with self adapting nature to avoid denial of service (DoS) attack. This approach is best suited for applications where energy and computation power is sparse. Detection of DoS claims and countermeasures taken while maximizing quality of service (QoS) is explained with results.
On the rate of dissociation of H2 by supported catalysts of first and second transition period elements

Abstract In simple catalytic reactions, involving hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of simple hydrocarbons, one of the important intermediates is that H 2 is dissociated to 2H by the transition metal catalyst. In this letter we examine the electronic structure of H adsorbed on a transition metal atom which is itself bonded to a support. In this study we isolate some barriers to H 2 dissociation, and using a single universal scaling parameter are able to predict the ratio of simple catalytic reactions involving catalysts composed of first and second series transition metals.
Gastrointestinal Parasites in Free-Ranging Kenyan Baboons (Papio cynocephalus and P. anubis)

We screened fecal samples from 3 groups of wild-living baboons (Papio cynocephalus and P. anubis), involved in longitudinal behavioral studies, for evidence of gastrointestinal parasites. The two objectives of the study were: 1) to compare parasites from two of the groups with different foraging behavior from the same area and 2) to obtain fecal parasitic data on 3 groups of baboons to provide baseline reference data. We sampled individual baboons opportunistically from Lodge and Hook's groups, Amboseli National Park and from Mpala Group, Mpala Wildlife Research Centre, Kenya. Lodge Group baboons supplemented foraging on wild foods by daily foraging in human-source refuse, whereas Hook's and Mpala groups did not. We collected fecal samples from 55, 30 and 42 individuals in Hook's, Lodge and Mpala groups, respectively, and processed them via ether sedimentation. We identified strongylids, Streptopharagus sp., Physaloptera sp., Trichuris sp., Enterobius sp., and Strongyloides sp., in the feces, but no parasite directly attributable to exposure to people. Garbage- and wild-feeding Amboseli baboons differed in the prevalence of Streptopharagus sp., Physaloptera sp. and Trichuris sp.
Infrared quenching of conductivity at high electric fields in a bulk, copper-compensated, optically activated GaAs switch

Controlled compensation of silicon-doped gallium arsenide with copper has been obtained by a process of thermal annealing at ascending temperatures. By using compensated Cu:Si:GaAs as switch material it is possible to activate and deactivate photoconductivity with two laser pulses of different wavelengths. Persistent photoconductivity is first induced by 1064-nm radiation that is absorbed at copper centers in the bandgap. Later, the photoconductivity is extinguished by stimulating quenching with 1620-nm radiation. This process is shown to be temporarily effective against lock-on currents at fields greater than 3.5 kV/cm-that is after a delay of approximately 25 ns, the lock current reappeared at a lower magnitude, whereas, at low fields, the photocurrent was permanently quenched. >
Haemodynamic stresses and the onset and progression of vascular diseases

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), a common vascular disease among the adult population, forms in the portion of the aorta below the renal arteries and upstream of its bifurcation into the two iliac arteries. While the precise cause of this vascular disease is still unknown, it is believed to be multi-factorial and predominantly degenerative, arising through a complex interplay among several biological factors as well as from specific local changes in the haemodynamic stresses on the vessels wall. Using a simple mechanical model to simulate the difference in the stiffness of the aorta and iliac arteries, Duclaux, Gallaire & Clanet (J. Fluid Mech., 2010, this issue, vol. 664, pp. 5–32) propose a scaling argument for the transition between homogeneous and inhomogeneous deformation of an elastic tubular membrane that offers a plausible explanation for the observed localization of the AAAs. While neglecting long-term tissue remodelling and other important biological processes, the fluid mechanics model of Duclaux et al. (2010) appears to be consistent with some known associated risk factors.
Physical weight loading induces expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 in the brain stem.

Sustaining brain serotonin is essential in mental health. Physical activities can attenuate mental problems by enhancing serotonin signaling. However, such activity is not always possible in disabled individuals or patients with dementia. Knee loading, a form of physical activity, has been found to mimic effects of voluntary exercise. Focusing on serotonergic signaling, we addressed a question: Does local mechanical loading to the skeleton elevate expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (tph2) that is a rate-limiting enzyme for brain serotonin? A 5 min knee loading was applied to mice using 1 N force at 5 Hz for 1,500 cycles. A 5-min treadmill running was used as an exercise (positive) control, and a 90-min tail suspension was used as a stress (negative) control. Expression of tph2 was determined 30 min – 2 h in three brain regions ––frontal cortex (FC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), and brain stem (BS). We demonstrated for the first time that knee loading and treadmill exercise upregulated the mRNA level of tph2 in the BS, while tail suspension downregulated it. The protein level of tph2 in the BS was also upregulated by knee loading and downregulated by tail suspension. Furthermore, the downregulation of tph2 mRNA by tail suspension can be partially suppressed by pre-application of knee loading. The expression of tph2 in the FC and VMH was not significantly altered with knee loading. In this study we provided evidence that peripheral mechanical loading can activate central tph2 expression, suggesting that physical cues may mediate tph2-cathalyzed serotonergic signaling in the brain.
Emotions and Emotional Labor at Worker-Owned Businesses: Deep Acting, Surface Acting, and Genuine Emotions

Members of worker cooperatives—organizations collectively owned and democratically run by their workers—report substantial differences in how they can or must perform various emotions, compared wit...
Characterization of glucose-insulin responsiveness and impact of fetal number and sex difference on insulin response in the sheep fetus

GSIS is often measured in the sheep fetus by a square-wave hyperglycemic clamp, but maximal β-cell responsiveness and effects of fetal number and sex difference have not been fully evaluated. We de...
Bone tissue compositional differences in women with and without osteoporotic fracture

It is generally accepted that the hallmark of osteoporosis is a reduction in bone mass. There is significant overlap, however, in bone mineral density between osteoporotic and normal individuals. This study examined the chemical composition of bone tissue obtained from women who had sustained a fracture and women without fracture to determine if there are differences between the two groups. Nineteen fractured and eleven non-fractured proximal femurs were obtained, matched for age and bone volume fraction obtained from micro-computed tomography. Trabecular bone specimens were examined by Raman spectroscopy to determine measures of chemical composition. A subset of the specimens was utilized to compare locations at the fracture and regions at least 2 mm away from apparent tissue damage using Raman spectroscopy. In addition, fifteen iliac crest biopsies each were obtained from women who had sustained a fracture and from normal controls. Raman spectroscopy was used to determine measures of chemical composition of trabecular and cortical bone. The results demonstrated that femoral bone tissue in the region of visible damage had a trend towards differences compared to regions at least 2 mm from visible damage. Femoral trabecular bone in fractured women had a higher carbonate/amide I area ratio than in unfractured women. Iliac crest biopsies revealed a higher carbonate/phosphate ratio in cortical bone from women who had sustained a fracture. Results suggest that the chemical composition of bone tissue may be an additional risk factor for osteoporotic fracture.
Models for computational steering

This paper describes a conceptual model for computational program steering. By exploiting previous results attained in program monitoring, debugging, and configuration, the abstractions and mechanisms derived from this model are shown suitable for both algorithmic and human interactive steering. A characterization of existing systems for computational steering using the model's abstractions demonstrate such generality. The model is illustrated through its use for steering a large-scale scientific code. Mechanisms for computational steering derived from the model are presented that include sensors, probes, and actuators.
Functionalized organic semiconductor-based field-effect transistors for phosphonate vapor detection

In this talk, we report initial studies of p-type oligomer OFETs, with hydroxyl and phenol functionalized semiconductor blends serving as receptor layers, responding to the weakly basic analyte dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) that simulates phosphonate nerve agents. The hydroxyl group is the simplest receptor that could be utilized for enhancing this interaction. At least one blend appears to be single-phase based on x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy.
Surround suppression and sparse coding in visual and barrel cortices

During natural vision the entire retina is stimulated. Likewise, during natural tactile behaviors, spatially extensive regions of the somatosensory surface are co-activated. The large spatial extent of naturalistic stimulation means that surround suppression, a phenomenon whose neural mechanisms remain a matter of debate, must arise during natural behavior. To identify common neural motifs that might instantiate surround suppression across modalities, we review models of surround suppression and compare the evidence supporting the competing ideas that surround suppression has either cortical or sub-cortical origins in visual and barrel cortex. In the visual system there is general agreement lateral inhibitory mechanisms contribute to surround suppression, but little direct experimental evidence that intracortical inhibition plays a major role. Two intracellular recording studies of V1, one using naturalistic stimuli (Haider et al., 2010), the other sinusoidal gratings (Ozeki et al., 2009), sought to identify the causes of reduced activity in V1 with increasing stimulus size, a hallmark of surround suppression. The former attributed this effect to increased inhibition, the latter to largely balanced withdrawal of excitation and inhibition. In rodent primary somatosensory barrel cortex, multi-whisker responses are generally weaker than single whisker responses, suggesting multi-whisker stimulation engages similar surround suppressive mechanisms. The origins of suppression in S1 remain elusive: studies have implicated brainstem lateral/internuclear interactions and both thalamic and cortical inhibition. Although the anatomical organization and instantiation of surround suppression in the visual and somatosensory systems differ, we consider the idea that one common function of surround suppression, in both modalities, is to remove the statistical redundancies associated with natural stimuli by increasing the sparseness or selectivity of sensory responses.
Polymerization of aromatic nuclei. X. Polymerization of benzene to p-polyphenyl oligomers by nitrogen dioxide—aluminum chloride

Benzene was polymerized to p-polyphenyl oligomers by nitrogen dioxide–aluminum chloride. Polymer production was favored by AlCl3:NO2 ratios of at least 2, long reaction times, and higher temperatures. Evidence for the polymer structure was obtained from elemental analyses, oxidative degradation, solubility, molecular weight, functional group tests, low molecular weight products, and infrared and ultraviolet spectra. The chains contained small amounts of chloro, amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl substituents. Molecular weight data on the benzene-soluble portion (40–71%) revealed an average of 4–6 phenylene units per chain. Under altered conditions nitrobenzene could be obtained as the major product, indicating the sensitivity of the system to changes in reaction variables. With nitrobenzene as oxidant, a similar type of polymer resulted. The theoretical aspects are discussed.
Identity theory as a theoretical framework to understand attrition for university students in transition

There has been extensive research done with a view to explaining the processes of transition into tertiary study and the factors that may be associated with student attrition. This paper consolidates the authors’ research in relation to the transition of students into adult and tertiary bridging programs and undergraduate university study and presents an alternative approach to the use of objective conditions such as financial challenges and first-in-family status in explaining the attrition phenomenon. Identity theory is used as the basis to develop a theoretical framework that will assist educators working in these areas to engage more fully with and assist students to develop the academic and scholarly identity necessary to sustain appropriate and effective academic behaviours during the transition into tertiary education.
The Effect of Lattice Strain on the Catalytic Properties of Pd Nanocrystals

The effect of lattice strain on the catalytic properties of Pd nanoparticles is systematically studied. Synthetic strategies for the preparation of a series of shape-controlled Pd nanocrystals with lattice strain generated from different sources has been developed. All of these nanocrystals were created with the same capping agent under similar reaction conditions. First, a series of Pd nanoparticles was synthesized that were enclosed in {111} surfaces: Single-crystalline Pd octahedra, single-crystalline AuPd core–shell octahedra, and twinned Pd icosahedra. Next, various {100}-terminated particles were synthesized: Single-crystalline Pd cubes and single-crystalline AuPd core–shell cubes. Different extents of lattice strain were evident by comparing the X-ray diffraction patterns of these particles. During electrocatalysis, decreased potentials for CO stripping and increased current densities for formic-acid oxidation were observed for the strained nanoparticles. In the gas-phase hydrogenation of ethylene, the activities of the strained nanoparticles were lower than those of the single-crystalline Pd nanoparticles, perhaps owing to a larger amount of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide on the surface.
DISTINGUISHING TWO DIMENSIONS OF UNCERTAINTY

Chapter 1 in Essays in Judgment and Decision Making, Brun, W., Kirkeboen, G. and Montgomery, H., eds. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Advances in chemotherapy of cancer in man.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that the consideration of the status of chemotherapy of cancer in man today is based upon the actual achievement of objective effects against several forms of disseminated cancer by the action of chemical substances. A review of the advances in cancer chemotherapy in small number of institutions, which have pioneered in this field, leaves no question concerning the value of these directions of research. The chapter explores that the panels are accelerating progress in the areas of organic chemistry, screening, pharmacology, biochemistry, and clinical investigation. Synthesis of new chemical compounds is proceeding in a number of directions, although most of the workers are making nucleic acid inhibitors and cytotoxic agents. The pharmaceutical industry and the university laboratories are furnishing thousands of chemical compounds for biological studies from their stock sources. The chapter concludes that the costly lag between discovery in the laboratory or in the clinic and application to the patient with cancer should be abolished or greatly shortened.
Sources and consequences of oxidative damage from mitochondria and neurotransmitter signaling

Cancer and neurodegeneration represent the extreme responses of growing and terminally differentiated cells to cellular and genomic damage. The damage recognition mechanisms of nucleotide excision repair, epitomized by xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), and Cockayne syndrome (CS), lie at these extremes. Patients with mutations in the DDB2 and XPC damage recognition steps of global genome repair exhibit almost exclusively actinic skin cancer. Patients with mutations in the RNA pol II cofactors CSA and CSB, that regulate transcription coupled repair, exhibit developmental and neurological symptoms, but not cancer. The absence of skin cancer despite increased photosensitivity in CS implies that the DNA repair deficiency is not associated with increased ultraviolet (UV)-induced mutagenesis, unlike DNA repair deficiency in XP that leads to high levels of UV-induced mutagenesis. One attempt to explain the pathology of CS is to attribute genomic damage to endogenously generated reactive oxygen species (ROS). We show that inhibition of complex I of the mitochondria generates increased ROS, above an already elevated level in CSB cells, but without nuclear DNA damage. CSB, but not CSA, quenches ROS liberated from complex I by rotenone. Extracellular signaling by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid in neurons, however, generates ROS enzymatically through oxidase that does lead to oxidative damage to nuclear DNA. The pathology of CS may therefore be caused by impaired oxidative phosphorylation or nuclear damage from neurotransmitters, but without damage-specific mutagenesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:322-330, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carbamazepine-related antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of epilepsy - a comparative review.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) is one of the older antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), both in the US and worldwide. Neurologists and non-neurologists have become very familiar with its spectrum of efficacy, advantag...
CARBON DIOXIDE IN PREVENTION OF THE DELETERIOUS DILUTION EFFECT ON METABOLISM AND MOTILITY OF MAMMALIAN SPERMATOZOA.

SummaryAn experiment was designed to test the effect of CO2 in preventing the deleterious dilution effect on metabolism and motility of spermatozoa in varying concentrations from the same sample. The results showed that CO2 prevented the depressed metabolic activity and loss of motility associated with high dilution. Thus, CO2 is one essential factor which is removed from the sperm cells upon excessive dilution.
Evidence for a shared structural role for HMG1 and linker histones B4 and H1 in organizing chromatin.

Abstract The high mobility group proteins 1 and 2 (HMG1/2) and histone B4 are major components of chromatin within the nuclei assembled during the incubation of Xenopus sperm chromatin in Xenopus egg extract. To investigate their potential structural and functional roles, we have cloned and expressed Xenopus HMG1 and histone B4. Purified histone B4 and HMG1 form stable complexes with nucleosomes including Xenopus 5S DNA. Both proteins associate with linker DNA and stabilize it against digestion with micrococcal nuclease, in a similar manner to histone H1. However, neither histone B4 nor HMG1 influence the DNase I or hydroxyl radical digestion of DNA within the nucleosome core. We suggest that HMG1/2 and histone B4 have a shared structural role in organizing linker DNA in the nucleosome.
Microfluidics in systems biology-hype or truly useful?

Systems biology often relies on large-scale measurements and model-building to understand how complex biological systems function. Microfluidic technology has been touted as a tool for high-throughput experiments and has been a valuable tool to some systems biology research. This review focuses on applications where microfluidics can enhance experimental sensitivity and throughput, particularly in recent development in single-cell analyses and analyses on multi-cellular or complex biological entities. We conclude that microfluidics is not necessarily always useful for systems biology, but when used appropriately can greatly enhance experimentalists’ ability to measure and control, and thereby enhance the understanding of and expand the utility of biological systems.
Jaundice associated with peritoneal absorption of bilirubin.

Jaundice was observed in a patient whose common bile duct was completely severed for 26 days. Absorption of the extravasated bilirubin and varying diversion of biliary flow into the peritoneal cavity contributed to the icterus. Because peritoneal absorption of bilirubin had not been previously defined, studies were conducted in the rat. In bile fistula and lymph fistula rats, absorption was determined by the intraperitoneal injection of 3H-bilirubin or by application of the isotopic pigment on peritoneal membranes. Unconjugated bilirubin and bilirubin conjugates were both rapidly absorbed. Studies in the Gunn rat indicated that bilirubin conjugates could pass the peritoneal membranes without being converted to unconjugated bilirubin. Absorption by way of the thoracic lymph accounted for about 11% of the peritoneal absorption; the remainder was presumably absorbed by way of the diaphragmatic lymph and by diffusion through membranes of the parietal and visceral peritoneum. In rats in which the common bile duct was transected, overgrowth of the duct by adhesions stopped biliary flow into the peritoneal cavity within 24 hr. Alternatively, a polyethylene cannula was inserted into the bile duct. With bile freely effusing into the peritoneal cavity for periods of 19 to 48 hr, serum bilirubin was elevated. Most of the hyperbilirubinemia was found to be due to the rapid cyclic absorption of bilirubin from the peritoneal space and back into it sequentially by way of the blood, liver, and bile duct. Jaundice in the patient is discussed in view of the findings in the rat.
Transmission Gate (TG) Based Soft Error Mitigation Methods

This chapter discusses transmission-gate (TG) based techniques for filtering Single Event Transients (SETs) on logic outputs. After covering the basic TG design and Transient Tunable Filter methodologies, it focuses on a TG mitigation methodology based on “varying gate and body bias control”. In this technique, the gate voltages as well as body biases of individual pass transistors on the TG can be adjusted to allow filtering of varying transient durations. For faster designs, the technique can be combined with the driver sizing method in mitigating the SETs. In this case, the delay of the TG can be individually controlled and the task of SET suppression is divided between the proposed TG method and the driver sizing. In comparison to driver sizing taken alone, the combine approach saves considerable circuit area while keeping the timing constraints.
The ‘isolated ethnics’ and ‘everyday ethnics’: region, identity, and the second-generation Midwest Asian American experience

ABSTRACTWhile studies have documented the Asian American experience in the past two decades, a dearth of research exists on those who grew up in the Midwest. How do Midwest Asian Americans experience their co-ethnic community, culture and pan-ethnic identity? Drawing from in-depth interviews of second-generation Midwest Asian Americans, an analysis of the data reveals two patterns of experiences, including: isolated ethnics and everyday ethnics. The findings are framed around issue of ‘access points’ to the co-ethnic community, and its influence on ethnic identity formation. This research highlights the importance of geographic community context on acculturation of Midwest Asian Americans.
Visiting the Ruins of Detroit: Exploitation or Cultural Tourism?

Are Detroit ruin tours a form of morally permissible cultural tourism, or do these tours amount to a form of exploitation? To answer this question I compare Detroit ruin tours with ‘slum tours’ – guided tours of slums in the world's major cities. I argue that exploitation of the sort we find in slum tourism also exists, to a lesser extent, in Detroit ruin tours. To show this I detail two different accounts of exploitation and argue that Ruth Sample's account best captures what is most morally problematic with slum tours and ruin tours. I then identify the similarities and differences between slum tours and ruin tours, and provide suggestions for how ruin tours could be retooled to avoid some (but not all) of the worries of exploitation. Finally, I suggest that with the proper framing Detroiters could embrace photographic tours as a new form of cultural tourism.
Hidden Histories of Indigeneity in Urban Andean Ecuador: Transubstantiation, Ceremony, and Intention in Quito

ABSTRACTStudents of the South American Andes have long noted the extraordinary force of objects to traverse cosmic and psychic distances, fill (or empty) the living with power that is often exhibited through public dance, and serve as ‘transactors’ in senses socioeconomic, psychic, cosmic, and geographical. In this article, I examine substances and actions involved in a modified version of Holy Communion that took place in June of 2012 in a working-class neighbourhood located at the outskirts of Quito, Ecuador, to celebrate the nativity of St. John the Baptist. I argue that this act was specifically designed to expand the celebration of the Eucharist in a way that allowed a type of transubstantiation whereby the relatives and friends of former hacienda peons were able to transform their physical bodies into something some believed had long been hidden from them – their right to live in the city as persons of their own making, ones who could legitimately adopt the identity and corresponding histories, terr...
From science to service.

People rely on daily weather services to decide what to wear, make transport choices, prepare for rain, and more. Many societal decisions, however, need information not on time scales of days, but on climate time scales of months, years, or decades. New initiatives such as that of Copernicus in Europe provide a wealth of climate data, which is integral to climate services. However, data is only one aspect of climate services, which also involves translation and use of relevant information with the aim to help society manage the risks and opportunities of climate variability and change ( 1 – 5 ). To be successful, any climate service must have a clear problem focus, build on good-quality observations, and consider climate across different time scales.
Spatial inhomogeneity in Schottky barrier height at graphene/MoS2 Schottky junctions

Transport properties of graphene semiconductor Schottky junctions strongly depend on interfacial inhomogeneities due to the inherent formation of ripples and ridges. Here, chemical vapor deposited graphene is transferred onto multilayer MoS2 to fabricate Schottky junctions. These junctions exhibit rectifying current–voltage behavior with the zero bias Schottky barrier height increases and ideality factor decreases with increasing temperature between 210 and 300 K. Such behavior is attributed to the inhomogeneous interface that arises from graphene ripples and ridges, as revealed by atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy imaging. Assuming a Gaussian distribution of the barrier height, a mean value of 0.96 ± 0.14 eV is obtained. These findings indicate a direct correlation between temperature dependent Schottky barrier height and spatial inhomogeneity in graphene/2D semiconductor Schottky junctions.
Deadbeats or losers: Discretionary male parental investment can make females less choosy

Two of the most important reproductive decisions that animals face are how to choose mates and how to invest in offspring. In species where both males and females provide offspring care, these selection pressures will often be reciprocally intertwined: mate preferences may depend on parental investment patterns while parental investment patterns may depend on mate preferences. We describe and analyze a mathematical model of this interaction, in which females can choose amongst males who have high attractiveness or low attractiveness, while males can decide whether to provide offspring care. We compare the case where males decide whether to provide care to the cases where males always provide care and where they never provide care. For a wide range of parameter settings, we find that when males decide whether to provide care, females are selected to be less choosy. This reduction in female choosiness occurs even though discretionary male care leads to greater variation among males in their offspring output. This finding contrasts with previous theoretical studies, and is driven by our assumption that males can decide whether to help provide care after mating occurs. Our results show how the interdependencies between mate choice and parental care can generate outcomes that can only be understood by considering both processes simultaneously.
Crimson Wave: Shedding Light on Menstrual Health

Crimson Wave is a personal tangible user interface that generates and displays information about its user's menstrual cycle. Basal Body Temperature (BBT) is an individual's temperature at rest, which fluctuates throughout menstruation. Crimson Wave tracks the user's BBT through the wearable armband and then displays the data visually on a separate smart mirror. Specifically, the mirror lights up a color corresponding to the menstrual stage the user is experiencing. Crimson Wave offers a novel method of keeping track of one's health and integrating one's own menstrual information seamlessly into daily life. The combination of live and aggregated personalized data helps users optimize each day. Crimson Wave is helpful to people who are interested in being more informed about their cycles, especially when they are irregular. In this paper, we describe the concept behind Crimson Wave, as well as its implementation and iterations.