cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation and the relationship between stream and lake ecotypes of a threatened desert Catostomid, the Warner sucker (Catostomus warnerensis)

Many fish species exhibit diverse life history strategies that help maintain population viability. An understanding of the relationships among these strategies is crucial for prioritising conservation actions. The Warner sucker, endemic to the Warner Lakes Basin in southern Oregon, USA, is one example of a taxon where a lack of information regarding relationships among life history strategies has hampered conservation efforts. Warner suckers have two distinct life history types: stream-type fish that have a fluvial life history and lake-type fish that have an adfluvial life history. There are advantages and disadvantages associated with each life history, and presently the relationship between life history types is not well understood. Our objectives were to determine the amount of genetic variation within and among tributary populations of Warner suckers and to determine the origins of suckers collected in the Warner Lakes. We collected individuals from four tributary populations, a refugial population, and Hart and Crump lakes and genotyped them at 16 microsatellite loci. Estimates of genetic variation among populations suggested low levels of gene flow (FST = 0.153) and genetic variation among populations seemed to be influenced by population and habitat characteristics. Nearly all of the individuals collected in Hart and Crump lakes originated in a single tributary, Deep Creek, which likely reflects reduced habitat connectivity between most other tributaries and the Warner Lakes. Data presented in this study are useful for evaluating the status of Warner sucker populations and for prioritising conservation actions such as the removal and modification of barriers.
MIDDLE PENNSYLVANIAN (DESMOINESEAN) CEPHALOPODA OF THE MAZON CREEK FAUNA, NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS

ABSTRACT Cephalopods are not common in the Middle Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesean) Mazon Creek fauna of Illinois, but they are unusually diverse. Ectocochliate forms include the coiled nautiloids Stearoceras and Titanoceras , a single bactritoid, Bactrites , and the ammonoids Wiedeyoceras (bearing mandibles in the body chamber) and an indeterminate schistoceratid. The oldest squidlike cephalopod, Jeletzkya douglassae Johnson and Richardson, 1968, was originally based upon a tentacular (decapod) Mazon Creek impression bearing arm hooks; additional specimens now provide information concerning its coleoid-like 9-element radula, the mandibles, and the shells. Two isolated, nautiloid-like radulae from the Mazon Creek are remarkably similar to the radula of modern Nautilus , in bearing nine tooth elements and four marginal plates; they are described as Paleocadmus herdinae Solem and Richardson, 1975 and Paleocadmus pohli n.sp. The association of rarely preserved body parts such as arm hooks, mandibles and radulae with the body is unique and is important in establishing paleobiological and phylogenetic relationships.
How Does Evolution Explain Blindness in Cavefish

Commonly used evolution assessments often ask about the evolution of blindness in cavefish or salamanders, running speed in cheetahs, and/or the long necks of giraffes. Explaining the loss of function in cave animals, however, is more difficult than explaining evolution involving gains of function resulting from natural selection. In fact, the evolution of cavefish blindness is not yet well understood by scientists. This article presents the three current hypotheses for explaining the evolution of blindness in Mexican tetras (Astyanax mexicanus), related to the Next Generation Science Standards and the Advanced Placement curriculum.
Smartphone-Enabled Detection Strategies for Portable PCR-Based Diagnostics

Incredible progress continues to be made toward development of low-cost nucleic acid-based diagnostic solutions suitable for deployment in resource-limited settings. Detection components play a vitally important role in these systems, but have proven challenging to adapt for operation in a portable format. Here we describe efforts aimed at leveraging the capabilities of consumer-class smartphones as a convenient platform to enable detection of nucleic acid products associated with DNA amplification via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). First, we show how fluorescence-based detection can be incorporated into a portable convective thermocycling system controlled by a smartphone app. Raw images captured by the phone's camera are processed to yield real-time amplification data comparable to benchtop instruments. Next, we leverage smartphone imaging to achieve label-free detection of PCR products by monitoring changes in electrochemical reactivity of embedded metal electrodes as the target DNA concentration increases during replication. These advancements make it possible to construct rugged inexpensive nucleic acid detection components that can be readily embedded in a variety of portable bioanalysis instruments.
Identifying somatic oncogenic mutations in leukocytes that infiltrate primary breast cancers.

11000 Background: In the past decade, sequencing studies have delineated somatic mutations in human cancers. Given that cancer cells interact with their microenvironment and the presence of somatic...
Using online peer assessment in an Instructional Technology and Material Design course through social media

This study was designed to investigate the student teachers perceptions about and benefits and challenges of using Facebook as an online peer assessment tool for the student teachers’ works. The study group included 24 student teachers in science education department of a state university located in the southeast region of Turkey. A case study approach of the qualitative method was employed in the research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. The interviews were audio recorded, and records of all the interviews were transcribed into full text in Turkish. Collected data were analyzed using an emergent coding approach. Codes, then, were categorized to constitute themes and subthemes. The findings indicated that the student teachers were able to give objective feedback on their peers’ work and engaged more actively in class after participating in online peer assessment. Additionally, the students found it exciting and productive to use Facebook as a peer assessment tool in their learning.
The Ninth Chapter

[1] And the fifth angel blew [2] and I saw a star fallen from heaven unto the earth. [3] And to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [4] And he opened the bottomless pit [5] and there arose a smoke of the pit, as it were the smoke of a great furnace. [6] And the sun and the air were darkened by the reason of the smoke of the pit. [7] And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth. [8] And unto them was given power, [9] as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Capture, transport, prophylaxis, acclimation, and continuous spawning of mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) in captivity.

Abstract Successful culture of marine fish relies upon availability of high quality fertilized eggs obtained from broodstock. However, some of the most critical aspects of obtaining such eggs are often overlooked. These aspects include the capture, transport, acclimation, and spawning of sexually mature wild-caught fish. Mahi-mahi ( Coryphaena hippurus ), also known as dolphinfish, have been identified as one of the most promising candidate species for development of warm-water marine finfish aquaculture due to their high growth rate, market presence, and global distribution. In addition, mahi-mahi have proven to be a useful model species for physiology and environmental toxicology research, specifically in studies examining tropical and subtropical pelagic teleosts. One of the keys to aquaculture development of this species is the ability to obtain year-round production of fertilized embryos. This study documents the technical methods utilized to reach a point of consistent mahi-mahi egg production year-round, while also detailing the live transport tank and land-based spawning tank design, implementation, and operation. Following three different groups of wild-caught mahi-mahi broodstock from the point of capture throughout their lifespan, this study provides novel information on growth, survival, and spawning of this species in captivity. Results from this research have allowed for significant new insights into the effects of a variety of environmental stressors on the early life stages of this species. Furthermore, the ability to maintain consistent spawning populations of mahi-mahi in captivity has allowed for reliable and consistent production of fully-weaned fingerlings of this species, thereby resolving one of the key industry bottlenecks that has been limiting expansion of mahi-mahi commercial-scale aquaculture.
Discussion of “Aggregate Margin Debt and the Divergence of Price from Accounting Fundamentals”

Burger and Curtis (2017) is an empirical investigation of whether aggregate margin debt correlates with aggregate stock prices and aggregate accounting-based fundamentals. While the paper convincingly documents a significant relation: aggregate margin debt is higher when aggregate fundamentals-to-price ratios are low, it fails to document why. The documented relation could exist because margin traders are the overly exuberant noise traders that push stock prices higher away from fundamental values; or the documented relation could be spurious, and exist because aggregate margin debt rises with aggregate price levels simply because margin loan capacity increases as aggregate price levels increase. With insufficiently granular data (aggregate margin debt measured monthly), the authors are not able to sort out why the relation exists. Thus, interpretation of the findings documented in this paper is difficult. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Intramolecular C–H and C–F Bond Oxygenation by Site-Differentiated Tetranuclear Manganese Models of the OEC

The dangler manganese center in the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II plays an important role in the oxidation of water to dioxygen. Inspired by the structure of the OEC, we synthesized a series of site-differentiated tetra-manganese clusters [LMn3(PhPz)3OMn][OTf]x (2: x = 2; 3: x = 1) that features an apical manganese ion—distinct from the others—that is appended to a trinuclear manganese core through an μ4-oxygen atom bridge. This cluster design was targeted to facilitate studies of high-valent Mn-oxo formation, which is a proposed step in the mechanism for water oxidation by the OEC. Terminal Mn-oxo species—supported by a multinuclear motif—were targeted by treating 2 and 3 with iodosobenzene. Akin to our previously reported iron complexes, intramolecular arene hydroxylation was observed to yield the C–H bond oxygenated complexes [LMn3(PhPz)2(OArPz)OMn][OTf]x (5: x = 2; 6: x = 1). The fluorinated series [LMn3(F2ArPz)3OMn][OTf]x (8: x = 2; 9: x = 1) was also synthesized to mitigate the obs...
Are self-report scales as effective as clinician rating scales in measuring treatment response in routine clinical practice?

Abstract Objective Recent treatment guidelines have suggested that outcome should be measured in routine clinical practice. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project, we compared three self-report scales of depressive symptoms and the two most widely used clinician administered scales in treatment studies in their sensitivity to change and evaluation of treatment response in depressed patients treated in routine practice. Methods At baseline and 4-month follow-up 153 depressed outpatients with DSM-IV MDD completed the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS), Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology—Self-report version (QIDS-SR), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The patients were rated on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). On each scale treatment response was defined as a 50% or greater reduction in scores from baseline. Results While there were some differences in the percentage of patients considered to be responders on the different scales, a large effect size was found for each scale, with little variability amongst the scales. The level of agreement between the three self-report scales and the clinician rating scales was approximately the same Limitations The present study was conducted in a single clinical practice in which the majority of the patients were white, female, and had health insurance. Discussion When measuring outcome in clinical practice the magnitude of change in depressive symptoms is as great on self-report scales as on clinician rating scales.
Adding Trauma-Informed Care at a Bereavement Camp to Facilitate Posttraumatic Growth: A Controlled Outcome Study

Background: Studies on posttraumatic growth (PTG) among bereaved youth are rare; outcome studies on how to facilitate PTG among this population are even more scarce. Objectives: This study examined the addition of trauma-informed care to bereavement interventions to foster PTG in youth attending a weekend-long bereavement camp. Method: A total of 105 participants completed standardized measures of posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress disorder after which 52 of the participants took part in a camp session. Ninety-five of the participants from both groups were post-tested four weeks after the camp session. Results: Multiple Regression showed that PTG scores were significantly greater at posttest for the treatment group. No significant changes in PTSD were found in either group, although the presence of dissociative symptoms decreased significantly among campers in the treatment group. Conclusions: Findings suggest trauma-informed care may increase posttraumatic growth among youth coping with loss. Implications for future studies and clinical practice are discussed
A Novel Method for Deformation Estimation Based on Multibaseline InSAR Phase Unwrapping

The three-pass differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (DInSAR) is one of the approaches in radar interferometry applications for measuring the deformation of the earth surface. The conventional three-pass DInSAR needs a successful single-baseline (SB) phase unwrapping (PU) procedure on each interferogram to ensure accurate deformation monitoring. Because of the limitation of the phase continuity assumption, the SB PU becomes a challenging processing step when the study area has strong phase variation. In this paper, the multibaseline (MB) InSAR PU methodology, which can eliminate the phase continuity assumption by means of the baseline diversity, is transplanted into the conventional three-pass DInSAR domain. Based on MB PU, a novel terrain deformation estimation approach is developed. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is an effective surface deformation estimation method.
A Vindication of Ferdinand Hiller

ABSTRACTThe personal attacks made against Ferdinand Hiller, director of the Cologne conservatory from 1850 to 1884, by members of the circle surrounding Franz Liszt need to be reexamined in the lig...
Families who foster children with HIV: A pilot study

This is a study to examine the characteristics of families providing foster care for children with HIV. The paper discussed the special problems of children with AIDS. In addition HIV foster families were compared with other foster families to determine if there were any differences. Implications for recruiting foster families for children with HIV are discussed.
Elements of Infectious Heredity in Fungi

In its broadest and perhaps original sense the term “plasmid” encompasses a cytoplas-mically inherited genetic supplement to a cell’s normal genetic complement. In the fungal cell, where eukaryotic cellular organization is manifested, the normal genetic complement includes nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. All other informational molecules of nucleic acid resident in fungal cytoplasm, if they can be inherited, should qualify as plasmids and, in the context of this symposium, as potential extrachromosomal vectors.
Circadian Misalignment and Sleep Disruption in Shift Work: Implications for Fatigue and Risk of Weight Gain and Obesity

The interplay of circadian timing and metabolic physiology represents a new frontier in biomedical research. Emerging evidence from animal models indicates that circadian physiology impacts weight gain, including the observation of obesity in clock gene mutants and most recently the finding that food intake restricted to the habitual sleep time of mice leads to weight gain as compared to the same amount of food intake during the normal wake episode. Eating at night is common in work schedules with long work hours and with work operations during the nighttime hours (e.g., health care, emergency response, security personnel) and in circadian sleep disorders including, but not limited to, shift work disorder. Shift work and shift work disorder are associated with circadian misalignment, sleep disruption, and fatigue, all of which may contribute to weight gain and obesity via the modification of feeding hormones and perhaps total daily energy expenditure. Future research is needed to explore the impact of circadian misalignment/sleep disruption and the resulting fatigue on metabolic physiology in shift workers, the mechanisms underlying this association and to develop effective countermeasures to promote shift worker health and well-being.
Longitudinal trajectories of hospital performance across targeted cardiovascular conditions in the USA.

AIMS Thirty-day risk standardized readmission and mortality rates (RSRR, RSMR) are key determinants for hospital performance for cardiovascular conditions such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF). We evaluated whether individual hospitals in the USA perform similarly for HF and AMI over time based on readmission and mortality metrics. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 1950 hospitals in the USA with continuous participation in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) public reporting programme between 2010 and 2016 were identified. Latent mixture modelling was used to define performance trajectory groups. Overall, there were consistent declines in the RSMR (16.1-14.0%) and RSRR (20.3-16.6%) for AMI from 2010 to 2016. For HF, RSRR declined over time (25.1-21.7%), while there was a modest increase in RSMR (11.3-12.0%); parallel findings were observed across performance trajectory groups. The proportion of best performing centres for HF care that were also best performers for AMI care based on the 30-day RSMR and 30-day RSRR metric was 54% and 35%, respectively. Furthermore, the discordance rate between the best and worst performers for both conditions was low (<2% for both 30-day outcomes). CONCLUSION In the USA, despite variation in baseline hospital-level outcomes, hospitals had consistent longitudinal trajectories (worsening or improvement) across conditions and metrics. Hospitals identified as high performing were frequently similar across target conditions and over time, suggesting that performance may be driven by systems of care influencing different disease states in a comparable manner.
The International Monetary Fund: Politics of Conditional Lending

Introduction 1. What is the IMF? 2. Who Controls the IMF? 3. Why Do Governments Participate in IMF Programs? 4. What are the Effects of IMF Programs? 5. Do Governments Comply with IMF Arrangements? 6. Reform the IMF? 7. Conclusion
Fluorescence and Rotational Dynamics of a Crystalline Molecular Rotor Featuring an Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorophore

Recent studies have shown that "crystal fluidity" in the form of fast conformational motions is critical for large-amplitude rotational motion in crystals. To explore this concept, we designed a crystalline assembly featuring two diethynylbenzene (DEB) molecular rotators linked to tetraphenylethylene (TPE), a fluorophore known to emit with intensities that depend on the rigidity of the medium. We envisioned that an increase in crystal fluidity as a function of increasing temperature would facilitate rotational motion of the DEB while diminishing the fluorescence intensity of the TPE. The aggregation-induced emission of the TPE moiety was confirmed when its fluorescence intensity increased by the addition of water to a THF solution. While bulk solids showed a relatively strong TPE emission with a lifetime of 4 ± 1 ns, no significant changes were observed between measurements carried out from 77 to 298 K, indicating that the crystal environment has limited motion within the excited-state lifetime. This conclusion was confirmed by the quadrupolar echo 2H NMR line-shape analysis of a deuterium-labeled sample between 198 and 298 K, which revealed rotational correlation times in the microsecond regime, suggesting that rotational fluidity is 3 orders of magnitude too slow to affect fluorescence emission.
Evaluation of Lifting Capacity Determination Methodologies: A Fuzzy Set Approach

Abstract The main objective of this study is to demonstrate, using fuzzy modeling techniques, that the acceptable maximum effort (AME) is a better predictor of lifting capacity of workers than the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) utilized in the literature. Hamming distance between AME and lifting capacity was always lower than that between MVC and lifting capacity. Also, the similarity index was higher between AME and lifting capacity, than between MVC and lifting capacity. Thus, it is suggested that if a static muscle testing regimen is selected in job design tests to assess the lifting capacity of workers, then AME not MVC should be the measure used.
SnO 2 Nanoparticles Embedded Biochar as Anode Material in Lithium Ion Batteries

To meet two goals of low cost and sustainability for battery fabrication, a SnO 2 nanoparticles embedded biochar (biochar/SnO 2 ) composite was fabricated using agriculture waste via a facile two-step hydrothermal and sintering method. The as prepared biochar/SnO 2 showed a uniform SnO 2 distribution in biochar. As a result, a high specific capacity of 577 mAh/g was obtained after 100 cycles, which is much higher than pristine SnO 2 nanoparticles and biochar. The significant improvement of specific capacity and cycle stability could be attributed to the nature hierarchical porous structure from biochar, which provided a high surface area and a volume buffer for SnO 2 during battery operation.
The Dreams of Mothers: Implications of Sen’s Capability Approach for Single Mothers on Welfare

Can we improve upon an income-driven approach for assisting poor single mothers? This study evaluates the No Limits program (Illinois) by applying Amatya Sen’s capabilities approach, which implies ...
Understanding a Rapidly Expanding Refugee Camp Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Satellite Imagery

In summer 2017, close to one million Rohingya, an ethnic minority group in Myanmar, have fled to Bangladesh due to the persecution of Muslims. This large influx of refugees has resided around existing refugee camps. Because of this dramatic expansion, the newly established Kutupalong-Balukhali expansion site lacked basic infrastructure and public service. While Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRCC) conducted a series of counting exercises to understand the demographics of refugees, our understanding of camp formation is still limited. Since the household type survey is time-consuming and does not entail geo-information, we propose to use a combination of high-resolution satellite imagery and machine learning (ML) techniques to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of the refugee camp. Four Very-High Resolution (VHR) images (i.e., World View-2) are analyze to compare the camp pre-and post-influx. Using deep learning and unsupervised learning, we organized the satellite image tiles of a given region into geographically relevant categories. Specifically, we used a pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract features from the image tiles, followed by cluster analysis to segment the extracted features into similar groups. Our results show that the size of the built-up area increased significantly from 0.4 km² in January 2016 and 1.5 km² in May 2017 to 8.9 km² in December 2017 and 9.5 km² in February 2018. Through the benefits of unsupervised machine learning, we further detected the densification of the refugee camp over time and were able to display its heterogeneous structure. The developed method is scalable and applicable to rapidly expanding settlements across various regions. And thus a useful tool to enhance our understanding of the structure of refugee camps, which enables us to allocate resources for humanitarian needs to the most vulnerable populations.
Open Educational Resources Grant Program: A Strategy for Student Savings in Texas

The Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board have recently developed a grant program to incentivize the use of Open Educational Resources among higher education faculty in the state. This chapter will examine the particulars of the inaugural 2018 Open Educational Resources Grant Program, as well as other OER work in the state, and discuss the implications of this work for the Texas strategic plan for higher education, 60X30TX. Strengths and challenges of the grant program will be explored in order to develop suggestions for the implementation of similar programs in other states.
Informal and Incidental Learning in the time of COVID-19:

The ProblemCOVID-19 has brought challenges to all sectors of society, from leadership at the top to service at the front lines. Learning (and unlearning) by its very nature will play an outsize rol...
Big-Data Business Models: A Critical Literature Review and Multi-Perspective Research Framework

The emergence of ‘big data’ offers organizations unprecedented opportunities to gain and maintain competitive advantage. Trying to exploit the strategic business potential embedded in big data, many organizations have started to renovate their business models or develop new ones, giving rise to the phenomenon of big-data business models (BDBMs). Although BDBM research is still in its infancy, a significant number of studies on the topic have been published since 2014. We thus suggest it is time to perform a critical review and assessment of the literature at the intersection of business models and big data (analytics), thereby responding to recent calls for further research on and sustained analysis of BDBMs. In particular, our review uses three major criteria (BDBM types, dimensions, and deployment) to assess the state of the BDBM literature and identify shortcomings in this literature. On this basis, we derive and discuss five central research perspectives (supply chain, stakeholder, ethics, national, and process), providing guidance for future research and theory development in the area. These perspectives also have practical implications on how to address the current BDBM deployment gap.
Evaluation of a commercial database to estimate residence histories in the los angeles ultrafines study

Abstract Background Commercial databases can be used to identify participant addresses over time, but their quality and impact on environmental exposure assessment is uncertain. Objective To evaluate the performance of a commercial database to find residences and estimate environmental exposures for study participants. Methods We searched LexisNexis® for participant addresses in the Los Angeles Ultrafines Study, a prospective cohort of men and women aged 50–71 years. At enrollment (1995–1996) and follow-up (2004–2005), we evaluated attainment (address found for the corresponding time period) and match rates to survey addresses by participant characteristics. We compared geographically-referenced predictors and estimates of ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) exposure from a land use regression model using LexisNexis and survey addresses at enrollment. Results LexisNexis identified an address for 69% of participants at enrollment (N = 50,320) and 95% of participants at follow-up (N = 24,432). Attainment rate at enrollment modestly differed (≥5%) by age, smoking status, education, and residential mobility between surveys. The match rate at both survey periods was high (82–86%) and similar across characteristics. When using LexisNexis versus survey addresses, correlations were high for continuous values of UFP exposure and its predictors (rho = 0.86–0.92). Significance Time period and population characteristics influenced the attainment of addresses from a commercial database, but accuracy and subsequent estimation of specific air pollution exposures were high in our older study population.
Why are Muslim Bans Wrong? Diagnosing Discriminatory Immigration Policies with Brock’s Human Rights Framework

In the course of presenting a compelling and comprehensive framework for immigration justice, Brock (2020) addresses discriminatory immigration policies, focusing on recent attempts by the Trump administration to exclude Muslims from the U.S. (the ‘Muslim ban’). This essay critically assesses Brock’s treatment of the issue, and in particular the question of what made the Muslim ban and similar policies unjust. Through examining these issues, further questions regarding the immigration justice framework on offer arise.
Using Digital Image Correlation for Evaluating the Impact of Brine on Swelling of Heterogeneous Shales

Shale is a highly heterogeneous and laminated formation that has the capability to swell and deform when coming into contact with high water activity fluids. The contemporary methods for characterizing the shale swelling, such as linear swelling meter (LSM) and strain gauges (SG), are limited to providing only the overall expansion of the ground shale material or shale specimens, which is insufficient for the complex characterization of shale–fluid interaction. Therefore, this work was focused on filling the gap in clay stabilizer performance evaluation by using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method, which introduces the dynamic quantitative analysis of complex tensile strain development, which is induced by the hydration and swelling of clay in the shale, along with the visualization of spatial variations in shale deformation. The experiments were carried out in atmospheric conditions by immersion of the shale specimens into the DI water and brines with various concentrations. The diverse effect of salt type and concentration on shale's swelling intensity, fracture initiation and propagation, and matrix alteration as a function of time was distinguished. From the full-field strain maps the induced local high strain-expansion sites and strain development in the matrix owing to shale–fluid interaction were identified. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed to correlate the mineralogical composition of the specimens to the shale's swelling response provoked by the DI water and brines. The anisotropy in shale swelling was evaluated, where the dominant expansion of the shale was found to be in the direction orthogonal to the bedding plane. Overall, the DIC allowed monitoring the mechanical alteration in the highly heterogeneous shale formation by the fluid intake, which provided a new understanding of a sophisticated shale behavior owing to clay expansion, whereby the swelling inhibition degree of shale by the brines was assessed.
Antimicrobial Agents and Membrane Function

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the interactions of antibiotics (and antimicrobial agents generally) with cellular membranes, and the application of these reagents to the study of membrane physiology in micro-organisms. Much of the experimental material currently available refers to mitochondria and to artificial membrane systems, perhaps because biochemists were alert to the selective effects of many antibiotics on membrane functions. The chapter is restricted to those functions, which appear to be intrinsically associated with membranes: impermeability to small molecules, active transport, and the generation of metabolic energy. Eucaryotic cells, such as fungi and algae, differ fundamentally from the procaryotic bacteria in the organization of membranous elements. In the former, the plasma membrane serves as the main osmotic barrier and energy generation is the function of specialized organelles, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. In procaryotic cells, the division of labor is much less obvious. Exposure of bacteria to certain compounds—including organic solvents and detergents, destroys the osmotic barrier. This is readily recognized by release from the cells of small metabolites such as K+, phosphate, amino acids and sugars, and is generally lethal. The concept that ions traverse membranes in association with lipid-soluble carriers is traditional in membrane physiology, but it been recognized recently that certain pharmacological agents exert their effects by serving as artificial ion carriers.
Studies of the binding of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase to DNA: V. T7 RNA chain initiation by enzyme-DNA complexes

Initiation of T7 RNA chains by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase-T7 DNA complexes has been followed using incorporation of λ-32P-labeled ATP and GTP to determine the relation between the enzyme binding sites and RNA chain initiation sites on the T7 genome. If the period of RNA synthesis is limited to less than two minutes, the stoichiometry of RNA chain initiation can be measured in the absence of chain termination and re-initiation. About 70% of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme molecules in current enzyme preparations are able to rapidly initiate a T7 RNA chain. The ratio of ATP- to GTP-initiated T7 RNA chains is not altered by variations in the number of enzyme molecules added per DNA, nor by alterations in the ionic conditions employed for RNA synthesis. This suggests that RNA chain initiation sites are chosen randomly through binding of RNA polymerase to tight (class A) binding sites on T7 DNA. Although there are only about eight class A binding sites per T7 genome, many T7 RNA chains can be initiated per genome, hence, RNA polymerase can pass rapidly from other (class B) sites on the T7 genome to locate an RNA chain initiation site and these initiation sites are rapidly re-used. In the presence of rifampicin, the period of time allowed for RNA chain initiation can be reduced to a very short interval. At very high rifampicin concentrations and in the presence of excess RNA polymerase, T7 RNA chain initiation appears to be restricted to two ATP- and one GTP-initiated chains per genome. Since a major fraction of this T7 RNA is thought to be initiated at the early promoter region, this suggests that there are multiple binding and initiation sites in that region.
A Mobile Robot Control Framework: From Simulation to Reality

In order to expedite the research and development of robotic systems and foster development of novel robot configurations, it is essential to develop tools and standards that allow researchers to rapidly develop, communicate, and compare experimental results. This paper describes the Mobility Open Architecture Simulation and Tools Framework (MOAST). The MOAST framework is designed to aid in the development, testing, and analysis of robotic software by providing developers with a wide range of open source robotic algorithms and interfaces. The framework provides a physics-based virtual development environment for initial testing and allows for the seamless transition of algorithms to real hardware. This paper details the design approach, software architecture and module-to-module interfaces.
A combined linear and nonlinear preconditioning technique for incompressible navier-stokes equations

We propose a new two-level nonlinear additive Schwarz preconditioned inexact Newton algorithm (ASPIN). The two-level nonlinear preconditioner combines a local nonlinear additive Schwarz preconditioner and a global linear coarse preconditioner. Our parallel numerical results based on a lid-driven cavity incompressible flow problem show that the new two-level ASPIN is nearly scalable with respect to the number of processors if the coarse mesh size is fine enough.
Bridging the gap between the theory and the real world in dynamic systems and control education

Summary form only given. Although there are many stimulating and practical applications for system dynamics and automatic control, students often find the material too abstract, too mathematical, and difficult to master when it is presented in lecture. This paper presents a unique approach of multimedia assisted curriculum integration, which integrates three different courses through the effective use of laboratory practice and interactive multimedia techniques. Dynamic systems and control education in a typical mechanical engineering program consists of two basic courses: system dynamics deals with basic materials for modeling and analyzing dynamic systems of an interdisciplinary nature; and automatic control presents techniques for analysis and design of control systems. The multimedia software will go far beyond the material in traditional textbooks by illustrating key concepts in dynamic systems and control through video display, animation and active exploration.
Comparing resident cataract surgery outcomes under novice versus experienced attending supervision

PURPOSE: To determine whether supervision by an attending who is new to surgical teaching, or an experienced attending measurably influences intraoperative complications rates or outcomes in phacoemulsification performed by ophthalmology residents. SETTING: Single tertiary hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Resident-performed phacoemulsification cases supervised by one novice attending (N=189) and experienced attending (N=172) over 1 year were included. Data included: resident year, patient age, sex, preoperative risk factors (4+ on the four point scale for dense/white/brunescent cataracts, Flomax, zonular dialysis, pseudoexfoliation, glaucoma risk, post-vitrectomy), intraoperative risk factors (Trypan blue, iris hooks), and intraoperative complications (capsule tears, vitreous loss, zonular dialysis, zonular dehiscence, burns, nuclear fragment loss, Descemet's tear). Experienced attending data were compared against those of the novice attending. RESULTS: Regarding preoperative risks, experienced attending cases more likely involved 4+ cataract (P=0.005), Flomax (P<0.001), or glaucoma risk (P=0.001). For intraoperative risks, novice attending cases more likely involved Trypan blue (P<0.001). Regarding complications, novice attending cases were associated with vitreous loss (P=0.002) and anterior capsule tears (P<0.001). When comparing total complications, the novice attending was more likely to have both increased number of cases with complications and total complications than the experienced attending. The novice attending's overall complication rate trended downward (rate from 28% in first 25 cases to 6.67% in last 15). CONCLUSION: Early cases for the novice attending were accompanied by greater complications (vitreous loss and anterior capsule tear), likely due to a learning curve. Surgical judgment in the operating room likely develops with experience. Training programs may focus on these specific areas to aid new instructors.
Nonlinear Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorems and their Applications to Dynamical Problems in Strongly Coupled Plasmas

This paper discusses the methodology and some applications of a dynamical mean field theory type approach developed by K.I. Golden and the author to the problem of dynamical response functions and collective mode dispersion in a strongly coupled plasma. Additional applications are discussed by Golden (Golden, this Volume).
Turbulent mixed convection along a vertical plate

Information on heat transfer characteristic of mixed convection in fully developed turbulent boundary layer flow is currently lacking in the literature. Oosthuizen employed a mixing-length model, in which the buoyancy effect was included in the turbulent diffusivities, to analyze turbulent mixed convection flow along an isothermal vertical flat plate under low free-stream velocities and Grashof numbers in the range of 10{sup 8.5} to 10{sup 9.5} (i.e., in the free convection dominated regime). He adjusted the empirical constant in his proposed model and obtained a fair agreement between the experimental data of Hall and Price and his predicted values. Both studies, however, were limited to a small range of the turbulent mixed convection regime close to the pure turbulent free convection limit. Turbulent mixed convection along a vertical flate plate in cross flow has been studied analytically by using the mixing-length model and experimentally. In the present Note, mixed convection in turbulent boundary layer flow along an isothermal vertical flat plate is analyzed for the entire mixed convection regime, ranging from pure forced convection to pure free convection, by employing a modified Van Driest mixing-length model for the turbulent diffusivities that account for the buoyancy effect. This approach is a simplemore » attempt to treat the turbulent mixed convection problem, but it does provide good numerical results, particularly for the forced convection dominated regime.« less
Self-Guided Molecular Dynamics Simulation for Efficient Conformational Search

Conformational searching is a basic approach in theoretical and computational chemistry, and molecular dynamics [MD] simulation is a powerful computational tool to study structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic properties of molecular systems. In this paper, we report a new MD simulation method with the primary goal of improving dramatically the conformational searching efficiency in an MD simulation in order to study slow events in physics, chemistry, and biology. This new MD simulation method was based upon a new equation of motion in which a guiding force was introduced, in addition to the instantaneous force, to accelerate the systematic motion. This guiding force may be calculated as a time average of the instantaneous force from the trajectory obtained from the very same MD simulation. Bonded substructures were defined for molecular systems in order to enhance effectively both the inter- and intramolecular systematic motions. The improvement of the overall conformational searching efficiency and the p...
Selective induction of Fos and FRA immunoreactivity within the mesolimbic and mesostriatal dopamine terminal fields.

The influence of the mesencephalic dopaminergic projections on the neurons within the basal forebrain and prefrontal cortex is not well understood although it has been intensely investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Fos-like and FRA-like (Fos Related Antigens) immunoreactivity (IR) as a qualitative and quantitative marker of neuronal activity within the mesolimbic and mesostriatal dopamine terminal fields. Following the administration of apomorphine (5.0 mg/kg S.C.), a rapid increase in FRA-IR, accompanied by Fos-IR, was observed within the striatum in a patchy distribution. Apomorphine also induced the expression of FRA-IR within the nucleus accumbens, cortex, septum, and the islands of Calleja complex. This broad pattern of activation contrasts with the limited expression of Fos-IR and FRA-IR within the dorsolateral striatum, dorsomedial shell of the nucleus accumbens, and cingulate cortex following haloperidol administration (2.0 mg/kg, S.C.). Finally, it was observed that nuclei expressed Fos-IR rapidly and transiently within the striatum following haloperidol, whereas the number of FRA-IR nuclei remained elevated but changed in distribution and intensity over time. In conclusion, different regions within the dopamine terminal fields express varying concentrations of Fos-IR and FRA-IR after stimulation or blockade of dopamine receptors. These data indicate that Fos, as well as selective FRAs, can be used to delineate populations of neurons with altered metabolic activity resulting from the administration of dopaminergic agents. Furthermore, the data support the concept of segregated mesostriatal and mesolimbic projections, in particular the division of the nucleus accumbens into the shell and core compartments.
Social Relationships and PTSD Symptomatology in Combat Veterans

The primary purpose of this study is to determine if recent combat veterans discriminate between different sources of social support, and then preliminarily investigate the relationship of social support source on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. Participants included 83 married male combat veterans. Principal-axis factor analysis with equamax rotation observed four distinct latent factors for each source of support examined. ANOVAs were performed to determine the relationship of each source of support from the distinct latent factors on the level of PTSD. Results indicate that the level of PTSD is related to support received from a significant other, F(1, 81) 30.36, p .001, family, F(1, 81) 8.10, p .006, and military peers, F(1, 81) 6.70, p .011, but not friends, F(1, 81) 1.79, p .18. In general, higher levels of support from each category were associated with lower levels of PTSD in combat veterans. The results suggest that combat veterans distinguish between specific sources of social support, which may have a protective effect on the level of PTSD.
Children’s response alternation as a function of stimulus duration, age, and trials

On each of 81 trials, 4-, 7-, and 10-year-old children were required to choose either a red or a green light by making one of two responses. Duration of the chosen light was either 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 sec, and was varied within Ss. Frequency of alternation was greater for 7-year-olds than for 4- and 10-year-olds, while the latter two groups did not differ. In addition, frequency of alternation decreased across trials but did not vary as a function of stimulus duration.
Pif1 helicase lengthens some Okazaki fragment flaps necessitating Dna2 nuclease/helicase action in the two-nuclease processing pathway.

We have developed a system to reconstitute all of the proposed steps of Okazaki fragment processing using purified yeast proteins and model substrates. DNA polymerase δ was shown to extend an upstream fragment to displace a downstream fragment into a flap. In most cases, the flap was removed by flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), in a reaction required to remove initiator RNA in vivo. The nick left after flap removal could be sealed by DNA ligase I to complete fragment joining. An alternative pathway involving FEN1 and the nuclease/helicase Dna2 has been proposed for flaps that become long enough to bind replication protein A (RPA). RPA binding can inhibit FEN1, but Dna2 can shorten RPA-bound flaps so that RPA dissociates. Recent reconstitution results indicated that Pif1 helicase, a known component of fragment processing, accelerated flap displacement, allowing the inhibitory action of RPA. In results presented here, Pif1 promoted DNA polymerase δ to displace strands that achieve a length to bind RPA, but also to be Dna2 substrates. Significantly, RPA binding to long flaps inhibited the formation of the final ligation products in the reconstituted system without Dna2. However, Dna2 reversed that inhibition to restore efficient ligation. These results suggest that the two-nuclease pathway is employed in cells to process long flap intermediates promoted by Pif1.
Current activity for the future: The Zo-ped

This chapter presents a more general view of the zone of proximal development than ordinarily encountered in the American psychological literature. It refers to Soviet influence on Vygotsky and presents examples from work, play, and educational activities involving elementary-school-age American children.
On Rogers Smith's Civic Ideals

Rogers Smith's Civic Ideals is a grand project and an impressive achievement. As one expects from Smith's work, it combines scholarship and moral seriousness, and the effort to relate theory to practice, the present to the past. Notable for Smith's command of the details of policy – court decisions, statutes, and administrative history – Civic Ideals is also an invitation to rethink the nature of the United States as a political society, an inquiry into our political identity and purpose.