cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thickening of poly(vinyl alcohol) by borate

Viscosity and pH of aqueous borate–poly(vinyl alcohol) mixtures were determined under different conditions toward a clarification of the thickening mechanism. Boric acid has little effect on dilute poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), but sodium borate causes sharp viscosity increases which are temperature sensitive and apparently stem from labile exothermic crosslinking of PVOH by borate ions. The pH data indicate that the complexing of borate with simple polyols such as mannitol and glycerol is a different process from borate crosslinking of PVOH. The PVOH thickening and gelling effect probably arises from the replacement of labile waters of hydration on borate ion by OH groups of PVOH rather than from borospirane formation.
Knowledge based optimization modeling for decision support in system KOMIS

The author presents a current experience with knowledge-based formulation of optimization models for large-scale, long-term decision problems. The project considered originated with an attempt to verify the feasibility of integration of quantitative decision tools with emerging knowledge engineering technology. A prototype integrated system, KOMIS, took the form of a data-driven, interactive program. The basic mode of operation implemented consists of the translation of 'natural language' queries into decision problem(s), formulation of corresponding mathematical optimization models, solving the models, and presenting the user with solutions in a user-friendly manner. An example of KOMIS application is presented. >
Machydro-90; The Microwave Aircraft Experiment For Hydrology

MACHYDRO-90 is a multisensor aircraft campaign (MAC) that was held in central Pennsylvania over an eleven day period in July 1990. The emphasis of the campaign was on the microwave measurements of soil moisture, although other aspects of hydrology and microwave-target interactions were also studied. A description is given of the experiment, its organization, and the meteorological conditions during the eleven days. Preliminary results are also presented from PBMR (Push-Broom Microwave Radiometer) and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) measurements of soil moisture. These results are portrayed in the context of the hydrology, which, during this experiment, exhibited dry and wet extremes.
Medical malpractice and the emergency medicine resident.

Abstract [Ott CJ, Houry DE. Medical malpractice and the emergency medicine resident. Ann Emerg Med. December 2000;36:631-633.]
Dicer Dependent MicroRNAs Regulate Gene Expression and Functions in Human Endothelial Cells

Dicer is a key enzyme involved in the maturation of microRNAS (miRNAs). miRNAs have been shown to be regulators of gene expression participating in the control of a wide range of physiological pathways. To assess the role of Dicer and consequently the importance of miRNAs in the biology and functions of human endothelial cells (EC) during angiogenesis, we globally reduced miRNAs in ECs by specific silencing Dicer using siRNA and examined the effects on EC phenotypes in vitro. The knockdown of Dicer in ECs altered the expression (mRNA and/or protein) of several key regulators of endothelial biology and angiogenesis, such as TEK/Tie-2, KDR/VEGFR2, Tie-1, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and IL-8. Although, Dicer knockdown increased activation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway it reduced proliferation and cord formation of EC in vitro. The miRNA expression profile of EC revealed 25 highly expressed miRNAs in human EC and using miRNA mimicry, miR-222/221 regulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein levels after Dicer silencing. Collectively, these results indicate that maintenance and regulation of endogenous miRNA levels via Dicer mediated processing is critical for EC gene expression and functions in vitro.
Gender Differences in Resource Use and Evaluatuon of Attributes of Places of Resource Use by Native Americans and Caucasians from Western Idaho: Relevance to Risk Evaluations

A substantial body of literature deals with exposure differences between men and women, and how men and women perceive environmental risk, but far less attention has been devoted to how men and women use the environment and how they evaluate the features of natural environments. The objective of this study was to examine gender differences in the perceptions of environmental quality and resource use for Native Americans and Caucasians interviewed at an Indian festival in northwestern Idaho. More individuals engaged in fishing than any other consumptive activity, and more people engaged in camping and hiking than other nonconsumptive activities. For both ethnic groups, significantly more men hunted than women, although a higher percentage of Native Americans of both genders hunted than did Caucasians. Although significantly more Caucasian men fished than women (63 vs. 41%), there were no marked differences in fishing for Native Americans. Significantly more Native American women gathered herbs (57%) compared to men (37%). There were no significant gender differences in nonconsumptive activities (camping, hiking, biking, bird watching, or picnicking). For those who engaged in consumptive and nonconsumptive activities, however, there were few gender differences in the frequency of these activities, except for fishing, hunting, and crabbing by Caucasians (men had higher rates) and collecting berries and herbs for Native Americans (women had higher rates). When asked to evaluate environmental characteristics or attributes on a scale of 1 (less important) to 5 (very important), unpolluted water, clean air, no visible smog, unpolluted groundwater, and appears unspoiled were rated the highest. There were few significant gender differences in these evaluations for Native Americans, but there were significant gender differences for Caucasians: Women rated most features higher than did men (except for natural tidal flow). These data indicate a need to evaluate not only consumption rate differences between men and women, but also nonconsumptive activities, as well as resource values and perceptions, when managing environments and determining potential risk from exposure.
Collagen Organization Critical Role in Wound Contraction

Background: Open wound closure by wound contraction produces a healed defect made up mostly of dermis. Generating thicker collagen fibers condenses granulation tissue, which pulls surrounding skin into the defect. The Problem: What is the mechanism for open wound contraction? Is it through the generation of contractile force using sustained myosin ATPase, thus causing cell contraction or by rapid myosin ATPase that condenses collagen fibrils into fibers? Basic/Clinical Science Addressed: The mechanism for wound contraction is not often debated after the discovery of the myofibroblast. Myofibroblasts are the major cell phenotype in maturing granulation tissue. It is concluded, not quite accurately, that myofibroblasts are responsible for wound contraction. As wound contraction progresses, polarized light microscopy reveals birefringence patterns associated with ever-increasing thickening of collagen fibers. Collagen fibers thicken by eliminating water between fibrils. Wound contraction requires collagen sy...
Effects of trypsin inhibitor and particle size of expeller-extracted soybean meal on broiler live performance and weight of gizzard and pancreas

Soybean meal (SBM) is a co-product that remains after the oil is removed from whole soybeans by either solvent extraction or mechanically pressing soybeans using an expeller. Expeller-extracted soybean meal (ESBM) contains more fat and less protein than solvent-extracted soybean meal (SSBM), but has higher trypsin inhibitors (TI) that limit its inclusion in poultry diets. We hypothesized that increasing the particle size of ESBM could enhance chick tolerance to dietary TI. The experiment consisted of a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of 2 ESBM particle sizes (coarse, 1,300 µm, and fine, 530 µm) and 6 TI levels (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 TIU/mg). A total of 672 male broiler chicks was randomly assigned among the 12 treatment combinations with 8 replicates per combination. The birds were provided with 1 kg/bird of starter diet in a crumble form. The pancreas and gizzard were excised and weighed at 16 d of age and organ weights relative to BW calculated. Feed consumption, BW, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined at 7 and 14 d of age. Increasing TI level produced a quadratic effect (P < 0.01) on BW and FCR at 14 d of age. The best performance was obtained when chicks were fed diets containing ESBM at intermediate TI levels. Increasing the particle size of the ESBM from 530 to 1,300 µm improved BW and feed intake (P < 0.01) without affecting FCR. The relative weight of the pancreas increased linearly as TI level increased (P < 0.001). The results of this study indicated that chicks performed better when fed coarse ESBM at an intermediate TI level.
Disk-Scanning Confocal Microscopy

Rapid biological imaging of faint fluorophores in living cells — especially in four dimensions [three dimensions + time] — imposes different instrumentation challenges from slowly acquiring a single high-resolution confocal snapshot of fixed tissue. High acquisition speeds with acceptable contrast and minimal photobleaching suddenly become essential, all without losing the instantaneous optical sectioning that a confocal microscope affords. Of particular interest here, disk-scanning confocal microscopes are proving to be a powerful tool in rapid imaging of live cells in space and time. While the principle is relatively old, new instrument developments, both in optics and in novel ultra-sensitive chargecoupled device (CCD) cameras are greatly expanding the versatility and scope of this approach. However, knowing which system is best for a given question and understanding the inherent strengths and weaknesses is not easy, especially as many of the choices involve complex trade-offs between resolution, speed, sensitivity, 1 and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The goal of this chapter is to provide both a theoretical and a practical guide, with more emphasis on the latter especially when theoretical considerations are covered elsewhere (Chapters 22, 23, and 34, this volume). Here the relative merits, strengths, and weaknesses of using a disk-scanning confocal microscope for biological imaging will be examined and sample applications shown.
The enthalpies of combustion and formation of [2.2]-paracyclophane and triptycene

The enthalpies of combustion, ΔHoc, for crystalline [2.2]-paracyclophane (C16H16) and triptycene (C20H14) have been measured by oxygen combustion calorimetry. The derived standard enthalpies of formation at 298.15 K in the crystalline state are (34.59±0.19) and (51.87±0.20) kcalth mol−1. The strain present in these molecular systems is discussed.
Multiple scattering calculation of the middle ultraviolet reaching the ground.

An investigation is conducted regarding the increase in the UV radiation as a function of wavelength due to changes in the amounts of ozone and various other parameters affecting the radiation in the atmosphere. Attention is given to the methods that can be used to solve the problem of the transfer of radiation through an absorbing and scattering atmosphere which includes aerosols. The multiple channel solution reported by Mudgett and Richards' (1971) is extended to vertically inhomogeneous atmospheres.
Beyond the Vestibular System—Other Contributions to Balance Control

While it was once assumed that abnormal balance was simply the consequence of the loss of vestibular reflexes, we now know that the role of the vestibular system is complex and only part of the sto...
Estimating heroin use in an urban area.

The purpose of this pilot project was to develop a verifiable method of empirically estimating heroin usage in a defined geographic area. If such a methodology could be constructed, appropriate officials could employ the procedure to promote planning, prevention, and education projects, and to evaluate on-going programs. Thus, should such a technique be developed, it could replace more traditional and empirically unconfirmed methods.Employing data furnished by local law-enforcement, social, and medical agencies, a questionnaire was developed, pretested, and applied to a selected sample of the stipulated population. Cluster sampling was the specific statistical method utilized. Based on this methodology, estimates of heroin use were derived for the population.Given the constraints of the study, if appears that this technique has the potential of providing the methodology for estimating the extent of heroin use in a given geographic area.
Distinct Roles of DMAP1 in Mouse Development

DMAP1 (DNMT1-associated protein 1) is a member of the TIP60-p400 complex that maintains embryonic stem (ES) cell pluripotency and a complex containing the somatic form of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1s). DMAP1 interacts with DNMT1s through a domain that is absent in Dnmt1(V)(/)(V) mice expressing just the oocyte form (DNMT1o). A Dmap1-null allele was generated to study the role of DMAP1 in development. Consistent with the phenotypes of loss of other members of the TIP60-p400 complex, Dmap1(-/-) mice died during preimplantation in both Dnmt1(+/+) and Dnmt1(V)(/)(V) backgrounds. Unexpectedly, in the Dnmt1(V)(/)(V) background, Dmap1(+/-) parents produced mainly Dmap1(+/-) mice. Most Dmap1(+/+) progeny died during midgestation, with loss of DNA methylation on imprinted genes, suggesting that DMAP1 influences maintenance methylation mediated by DNMT1o. In this regard, a DMAP1-DNMT1o complex was detected in ES cells when DNMT1o was stably expressed but not when transiently expressed, indicating a novel interaction between DMAP1 and DNMT1o. These results suggest that DMAP1-DNMT1s and DMAP1-DNMT1o interactions are essential for normal development and that DMAP1-DNMT1o complexes are not readily formed in the embryo. Therefore, DMAP1 mediates distinct preimplantation epigenetic reprogramming processes: TIP60-p400 nucleosome remodeling and DNMT1 maintenance methylation.
Western Sahara, resources, and international accountability

The illegality of facilitating the exploitation of natural resources by an occupying power in non-self-governing territories is well-established in international law, yet – as in such cases as Namibia and East Timor – the legal principles are often overlooked by foreign corporations and their governments. The resource-rich territory of Western Sahara, under Moroccan occupation since 1975, is no exception, as European, North American, and Australian companies have sought to take advantage of lucrative fishing grounds or mineral deposits. While some have tried to claim that such resource extraction is legal since Morocco reinvests the money it receives into the territory through ambitious development programs, the benefits of such ‘development' have largely gone to Moroccan settlers and occupation authorities, not the indigenous population. As with Namibia and East Timor, it may fall to global civil society to pressure such companies, through boycotts and divestment campaigns, to end their illegal exploitat...
Interactive role of the cytopathologist in EUS-guided fine needle aspiration: an efficient approach

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a minimally invasive method for cytologic sampling of peripheral and deep-seated mass lesions. The clinical utility of FNA continues to improve in direct proportion to the increasing sophistication of imaging techniques and the growing experience of radiologists, cytopathologists,1 and endoscopists. Image-guided FNA can yield near‐tissue-equivalent diagnostic material that can form the basis for therapeutic decisions. Minimal morbidity, low cost, and a rapid turnaround time that reduces patient anxiety make FNA a pre
The Working Class Promise: A Communicative Account of Mobility-Based Ambivalences

In-depth interviews with 62 people with working class ties (blue-collar workers and adult sons and daughters of blue-collar workers) reveal a social construction of working class that imbues it with four core, positively valenced values: strong work ethic, provider orientation, the dignity of all work and workers, and humility. This constellation of values is communicated through a ubiquitous macrolevel discourse—which I coin the Working Class Promise—that elevates working class to the highest position in the social class hierarchy and fosters a strong commitment to maintain a working class value system and identity. However, this social construction is only a partial social construction. That is, these individuals do not question material, socioeconomic-based delineations of class boundaries (e.g., income, education level, occupational prestige). Consequently, their acceptance of structural class boundaries, combined with their high regard of working class values, positions social classes in ways that ma...
Some Notes on the Development and Structure of the Theory of Committees

This article will be partly historical and will consider the version of the theory of committees put forward by Professor Kenneth J. Arrow, in relation to a theory which had been given a little earlier by the present writer. Arrow’s views can be found in his well-known article of 19503 and in Social Choice and Individual Values (1st ed. 1951, 2nd ed. 1963) and those of the present writer in a series of articles 1948 to 1949.4 This theory, already existing at the time when Arrow wrote, will be referred to 41 as “the existing theory.” The comparison we make gives the opportunity to restate and clarify some of the central positions of the normative theory of committees. In some ways the paper will be in the nature of a revision article and will confine itself to the essentials on which the theory hinges.
The Nation’s Primary Porpoise…?: Weighing Security and the Environment in NRDC v. Winter

A Casenote on NRDC v. Winter with particular discussion about the interplay between the military and national security and adherence to the laws, particularly environmental laws
Past Imperfect: Personal Statements Can Renew Motivation, Improve Learning

Students submit as part of their law school application a personal statement that explores life-changing events, describes the influence of key people, and explains why the applicant wants to become a lawyer. Revisited effectively by a law teacher, a student’s personal statement can be an excellent motivational tool and a powerful educational resource. In the former capacity, it keeps the student mindful of original ideals; in the latter role, it prompts the law teacher to turn diverse life backgrounds into a new source of instructional material.On the first day of class with my second- and third-year law students, I distribute to them a copy of their personal statement and announce that the first paper assignment is to write an updated personal statement. They are to carefully examine the discrepancy between how they imagined law school would deal with their ideals and what, in fact, law school has done in that regard. As they critically reflect on written promises made to themselves, will the person they once were recognize the person they have become? Why have they gone back on their word – and at what price?Students report that engaging in this introspective exercise is so unexpected and strange that they do not know how to proceed initially. They tell me that they feel disoriented, as though pulled away from a myopic focus on legal rules to once again behold a broad social vision. Taking this sobering look at where they are in light of where they thought they would be, most students discover that they would apply themselves eagerly to academics if deeply felt convictions instead of mere concepts were at stake. They would study harder and take classes more seriously if law school instruction were tied to something more important that a final course grade.The personal statement exercise jump-starts a semester-long commitment to integrate student ideals into the learning enterprise.
Rethinking UNESCO World Heritage List in Africa: The Example of Saint Louis, Senegal

This paper aims at rethinking and problematizing the concept of heritage as defined by UNESCO and applied to Saint Louis of Senegal. It is based on the assumption that the notion of heritage is a novel modern construct, informed by and geared to serve Western hegemony through its epistemology and historiography. In fact, the island of Saint Louis hosted important French colonial buildings and infrastructures and became listed as a world heritage site in 2000. The local people living in or utilizing the site today abide by the UNESCO's regulations in matters of construction, conservation and demolition. Such universalistic impositions often are at odds with their needs, their memory and their traditions. The incurred tensions raise some questions: whose interests are there? Are peoples voices and preservation knowledge taken account in the process? To what extent does the heritage represent local peoples identity and/or memory?
The Purpose and Principles Involved in Experimenting

This chapter focuses on the principles that follow the basic assumption that the changes that occur in a given confined part of nature can be explained in terms of cause–effect relations. The chapter reveals the objections raised against such assumption by philosophers David Hume and Bertrand Russell and summarizes a methodical analysis of cause–effect relations as presented by logician J. S. Mill. The purpose of any experiment is to collect data, which in turn needs to be analyzed or processed to derive inferences. There are four ways of collecting data: observation, surveys, computer simulation, and experiment. Though analyses of data using these methods share common features, the chapter pays attention to collecting data from experiments. The discussion in the chapter is restricted to one cause–one effect relations, but only after noting that although convenient and often adequate, these may fall short of correctness. In addition, the chapter also focuses on the method of concomitant variation; this method is similar to the method of residue in that a bundle of factors is causally related to another bundle of factors.
Abstract 4485: Prediction of esophageal cancer risk through quantification of gamma-H2AX levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Increased susceptibility to DNA damage has been shown to be associated with increased risk of many cancers. Accumulation of gamma-H2AX (γ-H2AX) in cultured cells after stimulation by ionizing radiation or other genotoxic agents is a sensitive indicator of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induction. We hypothesize that higher level of DSBs, as measured by γ-H2AX levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), may be able to predict higher cancer risk. We first developed an objective, high-throughput, and image-based method to quantify immunofluorescence intensities of γ-H2AX in cultured PBLs. To test this hypothesis, using an ongoing esophageal cancer case control study, we measured the γ-H2AX levels at baseline and after gamma-radiation in the PBLs from 245 newly diagnosed, previously untreated esophageal cancer patients and 400 healthy control subjects, and calculated the ratio of radiation-induced to the baseline γ-H2AX levels as a parameter of DSBs. The mean γ-H2AX ratio was significantly higher in cases (1.48±0.14) than controls (1.39±0.11) (P =1.47×10-14). When dichotomized at the median level of the γ-H2AX ratio in control subjects, individuals in the high γ-H2AX ratio group exhibited a significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer (odds ratio [OR]=2.83, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 2.00-4.00). When subjects were categorized into tertiles defined by the distribution of the relative γ-H2AX ratio in control subjects, a significant dose-response relationship was observed between γ-H2AX ratio and risk of esophageal cancer. Compared to subjects in the lowest tertile of γ-H2AX ratio, those in the middle and the highest tertiles exhibited increased risks of esophageal cancer with ORs of 1.60 (95% CI: 1.00-2.55) and 3.72 (95% CI: 2.43-5.70), respectively (P for trend =2.24×10-10). Quartile analysis also showed similar dose-response relationship. Our data suggest that higher ratio of gamma-radiation-induced to baseline γ-H2AX is significantly associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. This study supports that measurement of this ratio may be used as a novel phenotypic assay to identify individuals at high risk for esophageal cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4485. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4485
“Language,” “communication,” and the longing for the authentic in LSP testing

This commentary argues that the OET research raises inescapable contradictions in trying to separate “language” from “communication” within a weak performance test and advocates for reconceptualizing the legitimate domain of “language” more widely, reclaiming the full potential of the communicative competence framework.
Maximum likelihood rumor source detection in a star network

Here we examine the problem of rumor source identification in star networks. We assume the SI model for rumor propagation with exponential waiting times. We consider the case where a rumor originates from a single source, and find an explicit, non-iterative, maximum likelihood estimate for the source given the observed infection pattern. The theoretical derivation is supported by computational data. We contrast this estimator with the "rumor center" estimator of Shah and Zaman. Unlike rumor centrality, our ML estimator admits the possibility of more than two equiprobable maxima for a given infection pattern, and while a unique rumor center is always equivalent to the distance center, we show that this is not the case for our ML estimator.
Playing with the Ace of Hearts; or, Mentorship, Sportsmanship, and Nick Carter’s Epistemological Dilemmas

The opening scene of The fust and the Unjust; or, Nick Carter’s Sudden Resolution (1914) finds Nick Carter and his adopted son/detective apprentice, Chick Carter, discussing a criminal they have recently captured. Their conversation demonstrates the complex moral and epistemological underpinnings of the series: [Nick]: ‘I am convinced there is some good in the man. He surely has a quick brain, and he probably has a code of honor of his own. I should like to have him for a partner if he’d keep straight. He would be useful on the side of law and order. But I’m afraid such a thing would be impossible with a man of his temperament.’ ‘But,’ put in Chick, with dismay, ‘where should I come in if he were your partner? We’ve got along all right so far without any reformed crook to help us. It seems to me——’ ‘I know — I know,’ laughed the detective. ‘I wasn’t thinking of it as a possibility — only what a pity it is that such brains should be wasted as they are. He has the detective faculty highly developed. I’d back him against any of the best men at police headquarters in running down a criminal mystery.’ ‘He’s been a policeman, hasn’t he?’ ‘Yes.’ (6–7)
Some Qualitative Aspects of the Three-Body Flow*

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the qualitative aspects of the three-body flow. It describes a way in which the recent theory of isolating blocks may be applied to the Newtonian planar three-body problem. A full understanding of the three-body problem also requires application of the theory of quasi-periodic motion and perhaps a number of other as yet undiscovered ideas. Newton's model for the motion of three bodies in the plane under the influence of their mutual gravitational attraction consists of the manifold (R 6 – Δ) X R 6 of states of the system together with the equations of motion. The equations of motion form a Hamiltonian system of differential equations with Hamiltonian function H ( Q , P ). It is known that Newton's equations of motion conserve energy, momentum, and angular momentum. A first step in the qualitative study of the three-body problem might be to describe the topology of the manifolds of a surface M ( h, ω ). This has been done for the planar and the nonplanar problems. The chapter describes a general approach to the study of a flow suggested by Charles Conley. The approach follows the following steps: (1) locate certain isolated invariant sets of the flow; (2) describe the phase portrait locally near these sets; (3) establish how the invariant sets are tied together by heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits; and (4) describe the phase portrait near the union of the invariant sets and the heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits.
Consumer Product Chemicals in Indoor Dust: A Quantitative Meta-analysis of U.S. Studies

Indoor dust is a reservoir for commercial consumer product chemicals, including many compounds with known or suspected health effects. However, most dust exposure studies measure few chemicals in small samples. We systematically searched the U.S. indoor dust literature on phthalates, replacement flame retardants (RFRs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), synthetic fragrances, and environmental phenols and estimated pooled geometric means (GMs) and 95% confidence intervals for 45 chemicals measured in ≥3 data sets. In order to rank and contextualize these results, we used the pooled GMs to calculate residential intake from dust ingestion, inhalation, and dermal uptake from air, and then identified hazard traits from the Safer Consumer Products Candidate Chemical List. Our results indicate that U.S. indoor dust consistently contains chemicals from multiple classes. Phthalates occurred in the highest concentrations, followed by phenols, RFRs, fragrance, and PFASs. Several phthalates and RFRs had the highest ...
Classes of Eclipsing Binaries and the Roche Lobe

The general pattern of light curves as shown by the ‘typical’ examples in Figure 23 readily suggested that three classes of eclipsing binaries are to be distinguished: EA Algol type: the light is fairly constant outside of eclipses. As this constancy strictly holds only in the revolution of two spherical bodies with isotropic surface area brightnesses, the stars are thought to approximate this simple model. Beginning and end of eclipses are fairly well-defined. As a rule, primary and secondary minima have unequal depths. EB s Lyrae type: The light varies also outside the eclipses, often to an extent that the duration of the eclipses is not even approximately seen. Causes are the deformation of the stars into bodies without rotational symmetry, and differences of brightness between various parts of the surfaces. The ‘rectification’ of the light curve (p. 110) purports to reduce the analysis of these features to the proceeding, simpler case. EW W Ursae Maioris type: it was formed as a sub-group of closely related light curves within the s Lyr class. Characteristic features are the shorter periods (less than 1 day) and the frequently almost equal depths of primary and secondary minima. Eclipses cover a considerable fraction of the period although their duration is not readily determined from the light curve. Open image in new window Fig. 23 The ‘typical’ light curves of β Per, β Lyr, and W UMa.
An intuitive approach to understanding the resting membrane potential.

a fundamental property of cells is that through the use of ion transporters they maintain intracellular ion concentrations that differ from those of the extracellular environment ([15][1]). Although it is not known precisely how this difference in ion concentrations came about in evolution, numerous
Superstrength through Nanotwinning

The theoretical strength of a material is the minimum stress to deform or fracture the perfect single crystal material that has no defects. This theoretical strength is considered as an upper bound on the attainable strength for a real crystal. In contradiction to this expectation, we use quantum mechanics (QM) simulations to show that for the boron carbide (B4C) hard ceramic, this theoretical shear strength can be exceeded by 11% by imposing nanoscale twins. We also predict from QM that the indentation strength of nanotwinned B4C is 12% higher than that of the perfect crystal. Further, we validate this effect experimentally, showing that nanotwinned samples are harder by 2.3% than the twin-free counterpart of B4C. The origin of this strengthening mechanism is suppression of twin boundary (TB) slip within the nanotwins due to the directional nature of covalent bonds at the TB.
Does Your Body Know Who You Know? Multiple Roles of Network Members’ Socioeconomic Status for Body Weight Ratings:

Combining the theory of social capital with work on three social factors, respectively, socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and lifestyle, this study examines four roles of accessed SES (network me...
Oral Exposure and Absorption of Toxicants

Disclaimer : This article has been reviewed in accordance with the policy of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Extending Genome-wide Association Study Results to Test Classic Anthropological Hypotheses: Human Third Molar Agenesis and the "Probable Mutation Effect"

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identifies regions of the genome that likely affect the variable state of a phenotype of interest. These regions can then be studied with population genetic methods to make inferences about the evolutionary history of the trait. There are increasing opportunities to use GWAS results-even from clinically motivated studies-for tests of classic anthropological hypotheses. One such example, presented here as a case study for this approach, involves tooth development variation related to dental crowding. Specifically, more than 10% of humans fail to develop one or more permanent third molars (M3 agenesis). M3 presence/absence variation within human populations has a significant genetic component (heritability estimate h 2 = 0.47). The evolutionary significance of M3 agenesis has a long history of anthropological speculation. First, the modern frequency of M3 agenesis could reflect a relaxation of selection pressure to retain larger and more teeth following the origins of cooking and other food-softening behaviors (i.e., the genetic drift hypothesis or, classically, the "probable mutation effect"). Alternatively, commensurate with increasing hominin brain size and facial shortening, M3 agenesis may have conferred an adaptive fitness advantage if it reduced the risk of M3 impaction and potential health complications (i.e., the positive selection hypothesis). A recent GWAS identified 70 genetic loci that may play a role in human M3 presence/absence variation. To begin evaluating the contrasting evolutionary scenarios for M3 agenesis, we used the integrated haplotype score (iHS) statistic to test whether those 70 genetic regions are enriched for genomic signatures of recent positive selection. None of our findings are inconsistent with the null hypothesis of genetic drift to explain the high prevalence of human M3 agenesis. This result might suggest that M3 impaction rates for modern humans do not accurately retrodict those of the preagricultural past. Alternatively, the absence of support for the positive selection hypothesis could reflect a lack of power; this analysis should be repeated following the completion of more comprehensive GWAS analyses for human M3 agenesis.
Characterizing trends in fruit and vegetable intake in the USA by self-report and by supply-and-disappearance data: 2001-2014.

Objective To examine the comparability of fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake data in the USA from 2001 to 2014 between data acquired from two national data collection programmes. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Linear regression models estimated trends in daily per capita intake of total F&V. Pooled differences in intake of individual F&V (n 109) were examined by processing form (fresh, frozen, canned, dried and juice). Setting What We Eat in America (WWEIA, 2001-2014) and Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data series (LAFA, 2001-2014). Results No temporal trends were observed in daily per capita intake of total F&V from 2001 to 2014 using WWEIA and LAFA. Modest differences between WWEIA and LAFA were observed in mean pooled intake of most individual F&V. Conclusions WWEIA and LAFA produced similar estimates of F&V intake. However, WWEIA may be best suited for monitoring intake at the national level because it allows for the identification of individual F&V in foods with multiple ingredients, and it is structured for sub-population analysis and covariate control. LAFA does retain advantages for other research protocols, specifically by providing the only nationally representative estimates of food losses at various points in the food system, which makes it useful for examining the adequacy of the food supply at the agricultural, retail and consumer levels.
Immunology of Streptococci

The wealth of antigens and of immune responses associated with streptococci has provided a wide choice of antibodies for clinical diagnosis of streptococcal infections, abundant materials and models for experimental immunologists and immunogeneticists, and a diversity of hypotheses about the pathogenesis of the nonsuppurative complications of streptococcal infections, acute nephritis and acute rheumatic fever.
Platelet Signaling Pathways and New Inhibitors.

The major physiological role of platelets is in the formation of hemostatic plugs at sites of penetrating vascular injury that serve to limit blood loss. The aberrant intravascular activation of platelets can, if unchecked, lead to thrombotic events that cause myocardial infarction and stroke. Many antiplatelet agents are used clinically to limit platelet activation in patients at risk of arterial thrombotic events. However, their use can be associated with a significant risk of bleeding. An improved understanding of platelet signaling mechanisms should identify safer targets for antiplatelet therapy. Our understanding of the breadth and complexity of signaling pathways that marshal platelet activation has expanded rapidly over the past decade.1–4 Recent work published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology ( ATVB ) and other journals has provided further insight into the regulation of platelet signaling events and identified new targets against which to develop novel antiplatelet agents. One of the cornerstones of current antiplatelet therapy targets ADP-mediated platelet activation and aggregation via the P2Y12 receptor. However, a major challenge of the thienopyridine-based P2Y12 inhibitors, such as clopidogrel and prasugrel, is the occurrence of high on-treatment platelet reactivity, defined as a higher than expected platelet response to agonist.5 Armstrong et al6 have recently described an important contribution of platelet turnover to high on-treatment platelet reactivity. In vitro and ex vivo studies demonstrated that the relatively short half-life of clopidogrel and prasugrel was associated with poor inhibition of aggregation of newly formed reticulated platelets upon ADP stimulation.6 By comparison nonthienopyridine-based P2Y12 inhibitors, such as ticagrelor, maintained a good level of platelet inhibition even when untreated platelets were introduced.6 However, further studies are required to establish if there is any clinical benefit of nonthienopyridine-based P2Y12 inhibitors in the context of high on-treatment platelet reactivity. In addition to expressing P2Y12, …
The heavy price of conversion from laparoscopic to open procedures for emergent cholecystectomies.

Abstract Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard operative intervention for gallbladder disease. Complications may necessitate conversion to an open cholecystectomy (OC). This study aims to determine the cost-consequences of laparoscopic-to-open conversion using a nationally-representative sample. Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample (2007–2011), adult patients undergoing emergent LC were identified. Patients undergoing secondary-conversion to OC were subsequently identified. Multivariable regression analyses, accounting for differences in propensity-quintile, mortality, length of stay, and hospital-level factors were then performed to assess for differences in the odds of conversion and total predicted mean costs per index-hospitalization. Results Of 225,805 observations, conversion to open occurred in 1.86% (n = 4203) of cases. Increased age, African-American ethnicity, public-insurance and teaching-hospital status were associated with a higher likelihood of conversion (p Conclusion Patients undergoing conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy are at an increased risk of receiving disparate care and increased mortality.
Second language learners develop non-native lexical processing biases

Infants develop language-specific biases favoring either consonantal or vocalic information. These phonological biases affect various levels of spoken-language recognition in children and adults. This study explored whether adults who speak a second language (L2) apply phonological biases during L2 lexical processing, and whether the biases applied are those of the native language (L1), or those appropriate for the L2. Two word reconstruction experiments were carried out in English and Mandarin Chinese. L1 and L2 speakers of English demonstrated a consonantal bias by changing English vowels faster than consonants. L1 and L2 speakers of Mandarin demonstrated a vocalic bias by changing Mandarin consonants faster than vowels. Even relatively late L2 classroom learners whose L1 triggers a consonantal bias (English) exhibited a vocalic bias in their L2 (Mandarin). Lexically related processing biases are thus determined by the phonological and lexical characteristics of the stimuli being processed and not solely by listeners’ L1.
Does Perceptual Learning Style Matching Affect L2 Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition through Reading

Learning style matching is a neglected factor that may affect the complex process of second language (L2) incidental vocabulary acquisition through reading. The purpose of the current study is to investigate whether there is any difference in L2 incidental vocabulary acquisition and retention through reading when learners’ perceptual learning style is matched to their input mode, mismatched to their input mode, or mixed. The participants were 108 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners at pre-intermediate levels of English proficiency. Based on their perceptual learning style preferences (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic/tactile, mixed), they were divided into a reading group (consisting of three subgroups: Matched, Mismatched, Mixed) and a control group. The reading group read a graded reader containing 16 target words and then completed immediate and delayed (3 weeks later) vocabulary post-tests. The results revealed no significant differences between the three reading subgroups in terms of incidental vocabulary acquisition and retention. The findings suggest that perceptual learning style matching has no benefits for incidental word learning through reading.
Origin and Background of the Invention of the Electron Microscope

About thirty years ago it was realized that electron rays can be employed for imaging purposes in the magnification of such minute details of nature which are invisible in the light-optical microscope. The way in which this discovery originated and was utilized, and the background of the art of electronics as known at the time and of a number of personal circumstances of the inventor, are presented here for the first time and references are given for every step.
The evolution of galaxy intrinsic alignments in the MassiveBlackII universe

We investigate the redshift evolution of the intrinsic alignments (IA) of galaxies in the \texttt{MassiveBlackII} (MBII) simulation. We select galaxy samples above fixed subhalo mass cuts ($M_h>10^{11,12,13}~M_{\odot}/h$) at $z=0.6$ and trace their progenitors to $z=3$ along their merger trees. Dark matter components of $z=0.6$ galaxies are more spherical than their progenitors while stellar matter components tend to be less spherical than their progenitors. The distribution of the galaxy-subhalo misalignment angle peaks at $\sim10~\mathrm{deg}$ with a mild increase with time. The evolution of the ellipticity-direction~(ED) correlation amplitude $\omega(r)$ of galaxies (which quantifies the tendency of galaxies to preferentially point towards surrounding matter overdensities) is governed by the evolution in the alignment of underlying dark matter~(DM) subhaloes to the matter density of field, as well as the alignment between galaxies and their DM subhaloes. At scales $\sim1~\mathrm{cMpc}/h$, the alignment between DM subhaloes and matter overdensity gets suppressed with time, whereas the alignment between galaxies and DM subhaloes is enhanced. These competing tendencies lead to a complex redshift evolution of $\omega(r)$ for galaxies at $\sim1~\mathrm{cMpc}/h$. At scales $>1~\mathrm{cMpc}/h$, alignment between DM subhaloes and matter overdensity does not evolve significantly; the evolution of the galaxy-subhalo misalignment therefore leads to an increase in $\omega(r)$ for galaxies by a factor of $\sim4$ from $z=3$ to $0.6$ at scales $>1~\mathrm{cMpc}/h$. The balance between competing physical effects is scale dependant, leading to different conclusions at much smaller scales($\sim0.1~\mathrm{Mpc}/h$).
Evaluation, Supervision, and Staff Development under Mandated Reform:

The perspectives of three rural middle school principals as they implement Georgia’s A Plus Education Reform Act of 2000 were investigated in this study. A case study approach was used, employing both within case and cross case analyses. Three interviews were conducted with each of the three participants, resulting in a total of nine interviews. Five perspectives emerged from the data: (1) Evaluation of teacher effectiveness can be indicated only by the results of standardized tests, (2) Supervision consists of classroom visits and observations, (3) Ruralness affects how staff development is delivered, (4) Lack of funding limits the effectiveness of the staff development component of teacher evaluation, and (5) Implementation of A Plus adversely affects the traditional middle school schedule.
Network Modification using a Novel Gramian-based Edge Centrality

Modifying the structure of man-made and natural networked systems has become increasingly feasible due to recent technological advances. This flexibility offers great opportunities to save resources and improve controllability and energy efficiency. In contrast (and dual) to the well-studied optimal actuator placement problem, this work focuses on improving network controllability by adding and/or re-weighting network edges while keeping the actuation structure fixed. First a novel energy-based edge centrality measure is proposed and then its relationship with the gradient (with respect to edge weights) of the trace of the controllability Gramian is rigorously characterized. Finally, a network modification algorithm based on the proposed measure is proposed and its efficacy in terms of computational complexity and controllability enhancement is numerically demonstrated.