cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polistes wasp hypersensitivity: diagnosis by venom-induced release of histamine in vitro.

Abstract Polistes wasps cause a majority of Hymenoptera-induced anaphylactic reactions in Texas. Using the in vitro release of histamine from basophils of patients allergic to Polistes stings, we have studied the cross-reactivity of venoms from three species of Polistes wasps as well as the cross-reactivity among Polistes , honeybee, and Vespula maculifrons (yellow jacket) venoms. Venom collected by an extrusion technique from Pollistes exclamans, Pollistes apachus , and Pollistes Carolina caused release of histamine in seven Polistes -sensitive individuals. The dose-response curves from all three Polistes species were quite similar, suggesting extensive cross-reactivity among these species. None of these patients showed significant release of histamine from leukocytes exposed to yellow jacket or honeybee venom. We conclude that a source of Polistes venom is available for further study and possibly for therapy. It appears that any of three local common species of Polistes wasps could be used. Our studies confirmed earlier reports that Hymenoptera sensitivity is often genus-specific.
Status and redescription of the genus Padangia Werner, with comparative visceral data on Collorhabdium Smedley and other genera (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Padangia pulchra Werner, 1924, a forgotten monotypic taxon from Sumatra, is reexamined and found to be distinct from all known colubrid genera. Comparison with colubrids of possible affinity indicates that Padangia is most closely related to the monotypic Collorhabdium williamsoni Smedley of Malaya. The visceral anatomy of Padangia and Collorhabdium is described. As Werner's generic epithet is preoccupied by the mollusc Padangia Babor, 1900, Etheridgeum is proposed as a replacement name. Etheridgeum pulchrum is redescribed and illustrated.
Bayesian estimation in the three-parameter logistic model

A Bayesian procedure is developed for the estimation of parameters in the two-parameter logistic item response model. Joint modal estimates of the parameters are obtained and procedures for the specification of prior information are described. Through simulation studies it is shown that Bayesian estimates of the parameters are superior to maximum likelihood estimates in the sense that they are (a) more meaningful since they do not drift out of range, and (b) more accurate in that they result in smaller mean squared differences between estimates and true values.
Molecular Electrostatic Potential Devices on Graphite and Silicon Surfaces

We demonstrate that molecular gates using molecular electrostatic potentials (MEP) can be used on hydrogen-passivated silicon substrates without any disturbance of their behavior in vacuum; however, the use of graphite as a substrate strongly affects such behavior. As expected, the substrate may become one more design variable. The ability to have several substrate alternatives is very important for the practical implementation of this new scenario based on molecular potentials. In general, the effect of the substrate can be predetermined by calculating the MEP of the surface as this indicates how strongly its intrinsic potential is.
The marine algae and seagrasses of the miskito bank, Nigaragua

Abstract A total of 4 seagrass species and 99 benthic algal species were found (34 Chlorophyta; 17 Phaeophyta; 46 Rhodophyta; 2 Cyanophyta). The highest species diversity occurred on shallow coral reefs and ridges (0–3 m deep: 4 seagrass species and 77 algal species). Intermediate levels of species diversity existed in depths from 3–12 m (4 seagrass species and 55 algal species). The lowest species diversity was found in depths from 12–40 m (1 seagrass and 37 algal species). Thalassia was the dominant seagrass up to 2 m deep; Thalassia and Syringodium were mixed from 2–8 m deep; while Syringodium was the dominant seagrass over 8 m deep. Most species found are widely distributed throughout the western tropical Atlantic area. There was no evidence of endemic species.
Asymptotic Solution for Thermocapillary Flow at High and Low Prandtl Numbers Due to Concentrated Surface Heating

Thermocapillary convection due to nonuniform surface heating is the dominant form of fluid motion in many materials processing operations. The velocity and temperature distributions for the region adjacent to the area of peak surface heating are analyzed for the limiting cases of large and small Prandtl numbers. For a melt pool whose depth and width are large and small Prandtl numbers. For a melt pool whose depth and width are large relative to the thermal and viscous boundary layers, it is shown that the most important parameter is the curvature (i.e., {gradient}{sup 2}q) of the surface heat flux distribution. The solutions of the temperature and stream functions are presented, some of which are in closed form. Simple, explicit expressions for the velocity and maximum temperature are presented. These results are found to be quite accurate for realistic Prandtl number ranges, in comparison with exact solutions for finite Prandtl numbers. Besides being more concise than exact results, the asymptotic results also display the Prandtl number dependence more clearly in the respective ranges.
Visual quantification of DNA double-strand breaks in bacteria

In this paper, we describe a method for the visualization of double-strand breaks in a single electrostretched Escherichia coli DNA molecule. We also provide evidence that electrostretched or migrated DNA under neutral microgel electrophoresis conditions is made up of individual chromosomes. Using the neutral microgel electrophoresis technique, DNA migration (stretching) was measured and the number of DNA double-strand breaks were counted following exposure of E. coli cells to 0, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 rad of X-rays. The use of an intense fluorescent dye, YOYO and custom-made slides have helped us in visualizing individual bacterial DNA molecules. Bacterial DNA appears similar in structure compared to electrostretched DNA from human lymphocytes. We were able to detect changes in DNA migration (stretching) induced by an X-ray dose as low as 12.5 rad and an increase in the number of DNA breaks induced by a dose as low as 25 rad. The extent of DNA migration and number of breaks were directly correlated to X-ray dosage.
Construction Business Automation System

This paper introduces a system prototype, the construction business automation system, for modeling and automating construction business processes by using workflow and object technologies. Construction management tasks are developed as distributed internet applications for supporting reusability of software components, simplifying process modeling, and automating business processes. The development of the prototype has resulted in the following technologies: (1) the object-oriented reusable component technology for modeling construction management tasks; (2) the construction business process modeler based on the task based modeling methodology; (3) the request driving methodology for raising business requests and instantiating corresponding process instances; and (4) the supporting technology for interacting with a commercial workflow engine (e.g., i-Flow) for executing business process instances. A purchasing process is used as an example to illustrate these related topics and the applicability of the methodologies in construction business automation.
Thermal Kinetic Parameters of Thiamin in Wheat Flour at Temperatures Higher than 100°C

Kinetic parameters for thiamin degradation were obtained using 2 high-temperature heating methods: (1) atmospheric pressure (AP) with moisture correction and (2) controlled pressure (CP). At AP conditions, 33.3% dry basis(db) moisture wheat flour with 0.35% (db) thiamin was heated in thin steel cells isothermally at 145, 160, and 172 °C. To obtain the moisture correction factor, a constant-moisture study was conducted at 80 °C using 6 moisture contents (6.1% to 36.9%). At CP conditions, flour at 19%, 28.2%, and 33.3% (db) moisture in double-seamed cans was heated in a CP steam retort at 129 °C. For the AP method, the corrected activation energy for 33.3% moisture content was 129.5 kJ/g-mol and reaction rate at 80 °C was 3.48×10 - 4 min - 1 . Using the CP method, the activation energy and reaction rate were 121.0 kJ/g-mol and 9.69×10 - 5 min - 1 , respectively. Results obtained from 2 methods were not statistically different. These results illustrated that the correction method could be used as an alternative for researchers without access to controlled pressure equipment and transient heat transfer software.
Glow discharge plasma deposition of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether for fouling‐resistant biomaterial surfaces

The glow discharge plasma deposition (GDPD) of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether is introduced as a novel method for obtaining surfaces that are resistant to protein adsorption and cellular attachment. Analysis of films by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and several biological assays indicate the formation of a fouling-resistant, PEO-like surface on several substrata (e.g., glass, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene). Adsorption of 125I-radiolabelled proteins (fibrinogen, albumin and IgG) from buffer and plasma was very low (typically less than 20 ng/cm2) when compared to the untreated substrata, which exhibited much higher levels of protein adsorption. Not all coated substrata adsorbed equal amounts of protein (e.g., coated glass samples typically adsorbed more protein than coated polyethylene or coated polytetrafluoroethylene samples), suggesting that the substratum used may affect the amount of protein adsorbed. Measurement of dynamic platelet adhesion, using epifluorescent video microscopy, and endothelial cell attachment further demonstrates the short-term nonadhesiveness of these surfaces.
The design of efficient broad-band piezoelectric transducers

A design method for acoustic thin disk transducers with high efficiency, broad bandwidth, and good impulse response is presented. This method is based on the use of quarter-wave matching layers between the piezoelectric material and the acoustic load. As is made evident using the transmission line model of Krimholtz, Leedom, and Matthaei, the finite thickness of the piezoelectric material must be taken into account in the matching layer design. Criteria for optimum broad-band transducer designs with a given piezoelectric material are developed which show the importance of a high electromechanical coupling coefficient. A method for obtaining Gaussian shaped passbands, necessary for optimum impulse response, is also shown. Several transducers have been built to illustrate this design approach with excellent agreement between theory and experiment. One such transducer has 3.2 dB round trip insertion loss and one octave bandwidth.
Adaptive pilot utilization for OFDM channel estimation in a time varying channel

We propose an architecture for Pilot Symbol Assisted Modulation based OFDM systems for estimating the channel in a rayleigh fading channel. We use deviation of corresponding signals as a parameter to predict the channel characteristics in the transmitter end. We transmit fixed length of test signal to the channel whenever connection setup initiation takes place. Then by using the response, number of pilot signals to insert is determined and correspondingly appended to the data signal. Thus by varying the number of pilots depending upon the channel environment, it certainly improves the channel estimation and reduction in number of pilots used for channel estimation and feedback. This proposed approach differs from the conventional pilot assisted channel estimation in terms of pilot symbols utilization and real time integration between transmitter and receiver without any feedback. Using computer simulations, we showed that the proposed Transmitter architecture could achieve a better bit-error-rate (BER) performance in high mobility Environment. Furthermore, Performance comparisons in terms of BER, Average spectral efficiency between proposed method and PSAM based channel estimation in a Rayleigh fading channel is simulated to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.
The Application of Monoline Insurance Principles to the Reregulation of Investment Banks and the GSEs

This article explores the benefits of reregulating the investment banks and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs, namely, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) by applying the monoline principle that has been long established in regulating insurers that offer coverage against mortgage and bond default risks. The monoline regulatory principle was created to ensure that losses on a risky insurance line would not endanger other safe lines. The principle is applicable to both investment banks and the GSEs because both sets of institutions have operated with two basic divisions: a hedge fund division that maintained a highly risky investment portfolio and an infrastructure division that carried out activities with high direct value for the overall financial or mortgage markets. The monoline principle involves placing the two divisions in a new regulatory structure whereby the infrastructure division is bankruptcy remote from any losses that might occur within the hedge fund division.
Continuous-time digital signal processors

In this paper, we discuss how asynchronous design techniques can be used in the implementation of continuous-time signal processors. Such processors are presented by signals developed by continuous-time analog-to-digital converters which involve no sampling, and thus do not exhibit aliasing; in addition, the resulting in-band quantization error is lower than in conventional techniques. Several design considerations are given, and preliminary experimental results are presented.
Inducible nitric oxide releasing poly-(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen adhesive hydrogels for tissue regeneration

Nitric oxide (NO) release can promote healthy tissue regeneration. A PEG-fibrinogen adhesive hydrogel that would allow forinducible NO release was created with mechanical properties that could be tailored to specific applications and tissue types. PEG (4-arm)-fibrinogen hydrogels of varying ratios were derivatized with S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine (SNAP)-thiolactone to create an active NO donor material. Controlled release from gels was established using light as the activating source, although temperature, pH, and external mechanical loading are also means to induce active NO release. Gels with varying ratios of fibrinogen to PEG were made, derivatized, and tested. Gels below a ratio of 1.5:1 (fibrinogen:PEG) did not gel, while at ratio of 1.5:1 gelation occurs and NO release can be induced. Interestingly, the release from 1.5:1 gels was significantly lower compared to 2:1 and 3:1 gel formulations. Rheometric data show that lower ratio gels are more elastic than viscous. Derivatized gels exhibited linear elastic moduli, behaving more like other more synthetic hydrogels. Swelling data indicates that as the ratio of fibrinogen to PEG increases the swelling ratio decreases, likely due to the hydrophobic nature of the NO donor. Cells remain viable on both derivatized and non-derivatized gels.
Negotiation versus influence

The bargaining and minority influence literatures offer contradictory theories for the efficacy of compromise for influence. Assuming that the relative merits of these two classes of theories lie in their concentration on the public versus the private aspect of influence, we predicted that consistency (without compromise) would be more effective for attitude change but that compromise would be more effective for public concessions. We further predicted that the timing or context of the compromise could change the meaning and the consequences of that strategy. In particular, compromise ‘at the last minute’ was assumed to be a negotiating tactic that fostered both public concessions and private attitude change. The predictions were generally confirmed.
Chemotaxis Toward Sugars in Escherichia coli

Using a quantitative assay for measuring chemotaxis, we tested a variety of sugars and sugar derivatives for their ability to attract Escherichia coli bacteria. The most effective attractants, i.e., those that have thresholds near 10(-5) M or below, are N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, 6-deoxy-d-glucose, d-fructose, d-fucose, 1-d-glycerol-beta-d-galactoside, galactitol, d-galactose, d-glucosamine, d-glucose, alpha-d-glucose-1-phosphate, lactose, maltose, d-mannitol, d-mannose, methyl-beta-d-galactoside, methyl-beta-d-glucoside, d-ribose, d-sorbitol, and trehalose. Lactose, and probably d-glucose-1-phosphate, are attractive only after conversion to the free monosaccharide, while the other attractants do not require breakdown for taxis. Nine different chemoreceptors are involved in detecting these various attractants. They are called the N-acetyl-glucosamine, fructose, galactose, glucose, maltose, mannitol, ribose, sorbitol, and trehalose chemoreceptors; the specificity of each was studied. The chemoreceptors, with the exception of the one for d-glucose, are inducible. The galactose-binding protein serves as the recognition component of the galactose chemoreceptor. E. coli also has osmotically shockable binding activities for maltose and d-ribose, and these appear to serve as the recognition components for the corresponding chemoreceptors.
Allelism and molecular mapping of soybean necrotic root mutants.

Mutability of the w4 flower color locus in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., is conditioned by an allele designated w4-m. Germinal revertants recovered among self-pollinated progeny of mutable plant...
Cardiac tissue characterization using near-infrared spectroscopy

Cardiac tissue from swine and canine hearts were assessed using diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) ex vivo. Slope measured between 800-880 nm reflectance was found to reveal differences between epicardial fat and normal myocardium tissue. This parameter was observed to increase monotonically from measurements obtained from the onset of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A sheathe-style fiber optic catheter was then developed to allow real-time sampling of the zone of resistive heating during RFA treatment. A model was developed and used to extract changes in tissue absorption and reduced scattering based on the steady-state diffusion approximation. It was found that key changes in tissue optical properties occur during application of RF energy and can be monitored using NIRS. These results encourage the development of NIRS integrated catheters for real-time guidance of the cardiac ablation treatment.
Imagining Participatory Action Research in Collaboration with Children: an Introduction

For decades, social science researchers have been studying programs, services, and settings that are explicitly designed to have an influence on children (e.g., mental health services for children, school classrooms, after school programs, families, neighborhoods). Researchers who are concerned with the contexts in which children develop, social issues that influence children, and/or social justice generally define and evaluate a problem related to these programs or settings, and sometimes create and assess an intervention. Consequently, these researchers are often the ones to determine the problem definition. Common definitions include poor developmental or educational outcomes, child abuse, child labor violations, and so forth. These problem definitions and subsequent conceptualizations then become part of a larger narrative about what or who needs fixing (Seidman and Rappaport 1986). Frequently, these problems are studied by collecting survey data from adults or by observing children. Generally, these measures and observational procedures are designed by adult researchers. In the field of community psychology, however, there has been a broad consensus that community members should also be involved in defining problems and solutions, as their participation improves the research and benefits the community. When thinking about issues that affect children, community psychologists have most frequently conceptualized important stakeholders as parents and extended family members, family advocates, teachers, mental health professionals, and other adults in children’s lives. These adults may be consulted in interviews or focus groups, usually responding to the problem as conceptualized by the researcher. Increasingly, adult stakeholders and older youth may take on more participatory roles. Rarely, however, are children consulted or asked to help formulate the problem definition or proximate solution. Indeed, research is typically done for children, but not with children. This special issue is a collection of papers about participatory action research with children who are middle school age or younger, and is intended to stimulate dialogue and to offer alternatives when conducting research that affects children.
ROWLEY REVIEW. Bird migration in the southern hemisphere: a review comparing continents

To broaden perspectives and stimulate research on migration, I survey the bird species that breed in the northern hemisphere and migrate to the southern hemisphere and species that migrate within the southern hemisphere, comparing routes, seasonal patterns and life histories. Differences in the area and latitudinal extent of land masses on the two sides of the Equator influence patterns of bird migration. In contrast to birds breeding in the northern hemisphere, no land or freshwater birds breeding in the southern hemisphere migrate between continents and only a very few cross the Equator. Furthermore, except for shorebirds, few northern intercontinental migrants reach the southern hemisphere in regions south of the equatorial forest belt, because most encounter, and are filtered out by, suitable habitats en route. Australasia is an extreme case because only 10 land or freshwater migrants from the northern hemisphere regularly occur there (most are uncommon or rare) compared with 42 in Africa and 28 in South America, and no Australasian breeders enter Asia beyond Wallace’s Line. Historical geographical and oceanic barriers may be an additional factor limiting migration to Australasia. There are generally no or only slight differences in frequencies of austral migrants within foraging guilds or families across southern continents. Exceptions are rallids, with more migrants in Africa, and cuckoos and nectarivores, with more Old World than New World migrants. Austral migrations are of shorter distances than most of those of the northern hemisphere, and they appear to vary more with respect to routes and patterns. Breeding and non-breeding ranges frequently overlap. Partial migration is common, but there is no evidence that it differs in frequency from that in northern regions. Because climate is generally milder and drier in the southern hemisphere, rainfall is a more important influence on migration than in the north especially in some nomadic birds, but temperature also predicts migration frequency and pathways for many species. These patterns are similar across southern continents, but each continent has its own characteristics. Southern hemisphere migrants seem to display ecophysiologies and orientation mechanisms similar to those found in northern hemisphere species, but very few southern species have been studied. I argue that the variation present among southern hemisphere migrations provides exceptional opportunities to understand the evolution and ecology of migration systems. In order to take advantage of these systems, we need to focus on variation in movement behaviour, on associated syndromes of traits, and on the particular features of natural selection and ecology setting thresholds that lead to the diverse migration patterns observed.
Source character of microseismicity in the San Francisco Bay block, California, and implications for seismic hazard

Abstract We examine relocated seismicity within a 30-km-wide crustal block containing San Francisco Bay and bounded by two major right-lateral strike-slip fault systems, the Hayward and San Andreas faults, to determine seismicity distribution, source character, and possible relationship to proposed faults. Well-located low-level seismicity ( M d ≦ 3.0) has occurred persistently within this block throughout the recording interval (1969 to 1995), with the highest levels of activity occurring along or directly adjacent to (within ∼5 km) the bounding faults and falling off toward the long axis of the bay. The total seismic moment release within the interior of the Bay block since 1969 is equivalent to one M L 3.8 earthquake, one to two orders of magnitude lower than activity along and within 5 km of the bounding faults. Focal depths of reliably located events within the Bay block are generally less than 13 km with most seismicity in the depth range of 7 to 12 km, similar to focal depths along both the adjacent portions of the San Andreas and Hayward faults. Focal mechanisms for M d 2 to 3 events within the Bay block mimic focal mechanisms along the adjacent San Andreas fault zone and in the East Bay, suggesting that Bay block is responding to a similar regional stress field. Two potential seismic source zones have been suggested within the Bay block. Our hypocentral depths and focal mechanisms suggest that a proposed subhorizontal detachment fault 15 to 18 km beneath the Bay is not seismically active. Several large-scale linear NW-trending aeromagnetic anomalies within the Bay block were previously suggested to represent large through-going subvertical fault zones. The two largest earthquakes (both M d 3.0) in the Bay block since 1969 occur near two of these large-scale linear aeromagnetic anomalies; both have subvertical nodal planes with right-lateral slip subparallel to the magnetic anomalies, suggesting that structures related to the anomalies may be capable of brittle failure. Geodetic, focal mechanism and seismicity data all suggest the Bay block is responding elastically to the same regional stresses affecting the bounding faults; however, continuous Holocene reflectors across the proposed fault zones suggest that if the magnetic anomalies represent basement fault zones, then these faults must have recurrence times one to several orders of magnitude longer than on the bounding faults.
A digital governor for hydrogenerators

The authors describe the development and testing of a microcomputer-based digital governor for hydrogenerators. The digital governor was shown to approximate the control function of existing analog controllers. This task was performed as a first step to future work intended to utilize the versatility of microcomputers in effecting more sophisticated control algorithms to improve hydrosystem operation. >
NF90 selectively represses the translation of target mRNAs bearing an AU-rich signature motif

The RNA-binding protein nuclear factor 90 (NF90) has been implicated in the stabilization, transport and translational control of several target mRNAs. However, a systematic analysis of NF90 target mRNAs has not been performed. Here, we use ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation analysis to identify a large subset of NF90-associated mRNAs. Comparison of the 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) of these mRNAs led to the elucidation of a 25- to 30-nucleotide, RNA signature motif rich in adenines and uracils. Insertion of the AU-rich NF90 motif (‘NF90m’) in the 3′UTR of an EGFP heterologous reporter did not affect the steady-state level of the chimeric EGFP-NF90m mRNA or its cytosolic abundance. Instead, the translation of EGFP-NF90m mRNA was specifically repressed in an NF90-dependent manner, as determined by analysing nascent EGFP translation, the distribution of chimeric mRNAs on polysome gradients and the steady-state levels of expressed EGFP protein. The interaction of endogenous NF90 with target mRNAs was validated after testing both endogenous mRNAs and recombinant biotinylated transcripts containing NF90 motif hits. Further analysis showed that the stability of endogenous NF90 target mRNAs was not significantly influenced by NF90 abundance, while their translation increased when NF90 levels were reduced. In summary, we have identified an AU-rich RNA motif present in NF90 target mRNAs and have obtained evidence that NF90 represses the translation of this subset of mRNAs.
Hybrid multi-channel multi-radio wireless mesh networks

Many efforts have been devoted to maximizing network throughput in a multi-channel multi-radio wireless mesh network. Current solutions are based on either pure static or pure dynamic channel allocation approaches. In this paper, we propose a hybrid multi-channel multi-radio wireless mesh networking architecture, where each mesh node has both static and dynamic interfaces. We first present an Adaptive Dynamic Channel Allocation protocol (ADCA), which considers optimization for both throughput and delay in the channel assignment. In addition, we also propose an Interference and Congestion Aware Routing protocol (ICAR) in the hybrid network with both static and dynamic links, which balances the channel usage in the network. Compared to previous work, our simulation results show that ADCA reduces the packet delay considerably without degrading the network throughput. Moreover, the hybrid architecture shows much better adaptivity to changing traffic than pure static architecture without dramatic increase in overhead.
PLIOCENE ODOCOILEUS FROM HAGERMAN FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, IDAHO, AND COMMENTS ON THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF ODOCOILEUS BRACHYODONTUS

. Identification ofcervid material from these sites was likely made on geographic bases,rather than on unique morphological characters.As is true at many other early to middle Pliocene localities in NorthAmerica, cervid material is rare at Hagerman Fossil Beds NationalMonument (HAFO). A recent summary of the geology and paleontologyof the monument included cervids in a faunal list, but did not give a morespecific taxonomic identification (McDonald et al., 1996). Gustafson(1985) referred a single shed antler from HAFO to
Characterization of mechanical and morphological properties of cellulose reinforced polyamide 6 composites

The utilization of cellulose in reinforcing engineering thermoplastics through melt compounding processes is an argumentative topic in the natural fiber research community. Three different cellulosic materials were used to reinforce polyamide 6 (PA6) at three loading levels (2.5, 5 and 10 % by weight): (1) microcrystalline cellulose, (2) spray-dried cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and (3) spray-dried cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The particle size, morphology, and thermostability of cellulose were determined using laser diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis. Compounding of cellulose with PA6 was conducted using a batch mixer at 232 °C and testing samples were produced using an injection molder at 270 °C. Slight mass loss of cellulose was observed at 232 °C while serious thermal degradation occurred at 270 °C. No serious thermal degradation of cellulose was observed in the composites because the cellulose materials were exposed to injection molding processing temperatures for a short time period. The mechanical testing results indicated that tensile modulus and strength of the composites were improved by adding cellulose while cellulose had negligible effect on the flexural properties. Impact strength decreased significantly by adding cellulose because of the poor distribution of cellulose particles throughout the matrix using the batch mixing process. Optimized mixing with improved distribution of cellulose are necessary to explore the potential reinforcing effect of cellulose, especially CNF and CNC in PA6. The SEM micrographs showed that there were no agglomerations among the cellulose particles, indicating that spray-dried cellulose materials could be suitable reinforcements in polymer-based composites.
Cicero and the natural law tradition in America

In a famous letter to Henry Lee, written on May 8, 1825, almost fifty years after the signing of the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson gave his most extensive and reflective account of his great handiwork. By way of response to a published remark of Timothy Pickering that the Declaration did not contain an idea "but what had been hackneyed in Congress two years before", Jefferson wrote:
Under Household Government: Sex and Family in Puritan Massachusetts

M. Michelle Jarrett Morris's careful detective work has revealed new vistas through what at first seemed to be an old window: Massachusetts Bay court records. By combining painstaking genealogical ...
The Games of Monitoring Shared Local Government Services

Shared and multijurisdictional models for service provision in local government are growing in popularity. City managers face new challenges in monitoring and evaluating local government services when their cities do not have sole authority over a shared local shared. As public managers craft strategies to address shared service monitoring, they must take into consideration the characteristics of the shared service arrangement. This paper uses game theory to illustrate two distinct games that managers face in monitoring shared local services under two different service sharing models, one in which the cities have a bilateral interlocal agreement, and one in which the local service is provided through a multi-member public authority. Predictions from these two models are evaluated with data from a sample of cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. This investigation begins to chart the challenge for developing sound theoretical explanations for the evaluation of shared local government services.
Transition of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care: Assessment of Transition Readiness Factors and Disease Outcomes in a Young Adult Population

BACKGROUND Limited data exist on what factors impact transition readiness and how readiness impacts short-term disease outcomes. METHODS Patients between the ages of 18 and 25 with an established inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis completed questionnaires at the time of an outpatient visit in the pediatric or adult setting, which included the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ). After 6 months, electronic medical records were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 95 patients were enrolled, 46 in the adult care setting and 49 in the pediatric care setting. Patients in the adult setting had a significantly higher overall TRAQ score compared with the pediatric setting (median: 4.42 [IQR: 3.9-4.6] versus 4.06 [IQR: 3.4-4.4], P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age was independently associated with higher TRAQ scores (odds ratio: 1.49; 95 confidence interval%, 1.1-2.02). Nonadherent patients scored lower on the Managing Medications subscale (median: 4.25 [IQR: 3.3-4.8] versus 4.75 [IQR: 4.3-5.0], P < 0.01). Logistic regression showed that patients who scored <4.75 on the Medication Management subscale were 3.8 times more likely to be nonadherent than patients who scored ≥4.75 (95% confidence interval, 1.4-10.3). This remained significant after adjusting for gender and age. During the 6-month follow-up period, 9/95 patients (10%) had hospitalizations or ED visits related to inflammatory bowel disease. There were no associations between TRAQ scores and hospitalizations/ED visits. CONCLUSIONS Age is the primary factor that drives transition readiness. Our findings suggest that administering the medication management portion of the TRAQ can be used to identify patients at risk for nonadherence. Follow-up studies are needed to determine how readiness impacts long-term disease outcomes.
Negligible Role of Adrenal Hormones in Regulation of DNA Synthesis in Livers of Partially Hepatectomized Rats

SummaryRats were depleted of adrenal corticosteroids by adrenalectomy and orchidectomy, as evidenced by determination of blood levels 1 week later, and by failure of the animals to survive without supplementary NaCl. When 7-day adrenalectomized-orchi-dectomized rats were partially hepatectomized, incorporation of [3H]thymidine into hepatic DNA, indicative of rate of liver regeneration, differed insignificantly from the rate in similarly treated controls, and diverged at only one time point (30 hr) from the rate in regenerating livers of normal rats. The divergence was due to the saline-dextrose injections, not to adrenalectomy-orchidectomy. Administration of adrenal cortical hormones in near physiologic doses did not alter [3H]thymidine incorporation in experimental or control rats. The evidence does not support an important role for these hormones as physiologic regulators of liver growth during hepatic regeneration.
Functional Properties of Human Stem Cell-Derived Neurons in Health and Disease

Stem cell-derived neurons from various source materials present unique model systems to examine the fundamental properties of central nervous system (CNS) development as well as the molecular underpinnings of disease phenotypes. In order to more accurately assess potential therapies for neurological disorders, multiple strategies have been employed in recent years to produce neuronal populations that accurately represent in vivo regional and transmitter phenotypes. These include new technologies such as direct conversion of somatic cell types into neurons and glia which may accelerate maturation and retain genetic hallmarks of aging. In addition, novel forms of genetic manipulations have brought human stem cells nearly on par with those of rodent with respect to gene targeting. For neurons of the CNS, the ultimate phenotypic characterization lies with their ability to recapitulate functional properties such as passive and active membrane characteristics, synaptic activity, and plasticity. These features critically depend on the coordinated expression and localization of hundreds of ion channels and receptors, as well as scaffolding and signaling molecules. In this review I will highlight the current state of knowledge regarding functional properties of human stem cell-derived neurons, with a primary focus on pluripotent stem cells. While significant advances have been made, critical hurdles must be overcome in order for this technology to support progression toward clinical applications.
Polysiloxane vaginal rings and cylinders for physiologic endometrial priming in functionally agonadal women

17 β -estradiol (E 2 )- and/or crystalline progesterone (P)-impregnated polysiloxane vaginal rings and cylinders were tested as a system for endometrial priming in functionally agonadal women awaiting donor embryo transfer. Endometrial tissue was obtained by a transcervical biopsy procedure on simulated cycle day 26. The adequacy of the replacement regimen was judged by endometrial histologic dating, scanning electron micrographs, receptor content, and circulating E 2 and P serum concentrations. Endometrial dating was consistent with cycle day 26. Electron micrographs showed normal surface characteristics. E 2 and P receptor concentrations were within the normal range. Serum E 2 levels were midfollicular, 105 ± 12.8 pg/ml (mean ± SEM), and midcycle, 254 ± 28.6 pg/ml. P levels during the simulated follicular phase were undetectable ( 2 and P within the normal range for the entire menstrual cycle, and a convenient and physiologic therapeutic alternative to oral, vaginal, or intramuscular steroid replacement.
Food habits of Arctic staghorn sculpin (Gymnocanthus tricuspis) and shorthorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) in the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort Seas

Abstract Arctic staghorn sculpin ( Gymnocanthus tricuspis ) and shorthorn sculpin ( Myoxocephalus scorpius ) belong to Cottidae, the second most abundant fish family in the western Arctic. Although considered important in food webs, little is known about their food habits throughout this region. To address this knowledge gap, we examined and compared the diets of 515 Arctic staghorn sculpin and 422 shorthorn sculpin using stomachs collected over three summers in the northeastern Chukchi Sea (2010–2012) and one summer in the western Beaufort Sea (2011). We used permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) to compare sculpin diets between regions and selected size classes. Differences in mouth morphologies and predator size versus prey size relationships were examined using regression techniques. Arctic staghorn sculpin and shorthorn sculpin diet compositions differed greatly throughout the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Regardless of body size, the smaller-mouthed Arctic staghorn sculpin consumed mostly benthic amphipods and polychaetes, whereas the larger-mouthed shorthorn sculpin shifted from a diet composed of benthic and pelagic macroinvertebrates as smaller individuals to shrimps and fish prey as larger individuals. Within shared habitats, the sculpins appear to partition prey, either by taxa or size, in a manner that suggests no substantial overlap occurs between species. This study increases knowledge of sculpin feeding ecology in the western Arctic and offers regional, quantitative diet information that could support current and future food web modeling efforts.
Organizational Structures as the Primal Information System

An information system consists of a collection of entities and their relationships. Information systems act to collect, store, process, and transport information. This chapter argues that there are two polar types of information systems. The first, the organizational process information system (OPIS), relies upon the organizational structures as its information system. The second, the technologically augmenting information system (TAIS), supplements the OPIS. A TAIS relies on a combination of technology and its users to augment human communication. Every OPIS has had its supporting TAISs ever since the invention of writing. In the past century the capacity improvements in TAISs created by improved communications, improved information processing capabilities, and developments in understanding of decision theory and management science models have created miracles and headaches for those operating organizations.
Case 54: A Statistical Impasse

We submitted a paper dealing with the impact of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) (0.5–10 cm H2O) on the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) cross-sectional area (CSA) in obese patients. Other studies have looked at this question but we decided to examine both the impact of RIJA CSA as well as the cardiovascular tolerance to the increased PEEP. Each patient acted as his/her own control. This question had not been addressed before. We found an increase in CSA associated with the increased PEEP, but there was a 25 % incidence of patient cardiovascular intolerance to the increased PEEP. Our statistical analysis was with a two paired Student’s t-test.
Carl Jung's Psychology of Dreams and His View on Freud

Carl Jung (1875-1961) was a well-known Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology. He made significant contributions in psychiatry, psychology, anthropology, and religious studies. He was a prolific writer throughout his long career and some of his books were only published posthumously. He was a world traveller and gave many interviews and lectures that were well received. He carried out a voluminous correspondence with various people and most of these were published after his death [1]. Today there are millions of people who study Jung’s works and practice Jungian counseling, depth psychology therapy, and self-realization efforts.
An approximate method for prediction of thermal performance of direct expansion-solar assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP) systems for water heating applications

Abstract In this study an analytical tool that combines two models for determination of thermal performance of a direct expansion-solar assisted heat pump (DX-SAHP) domestic hot water heater is presented. The first method- the quadratic model developed in this study- predicts the approximate value of the collector fluid temperature from the known values of solar radiation in the collector plane ( I coll ) , condensing temperature and the ambient air temperature. The predicted value of collector fluid temperature is used as an input in a companion model that, using the second law, predicts the system coefficient of performance (COP) from the known values of condensing temperature, compressor efficiency and refrigerant properties. The combined method presented in this study is ideally suited for preliminary design calculations for a selected location or for comparison of different locations for determination of the energy conservation and carbon emission reduction potential of DX-SAHP hot water systems. The thermal performance results predicted from this combined method indicate that system COP ranging from 3.6 to 5.6 can be obtained for the month of January for locations such as New York City, Norfolk and Tampa. The carbon reduction factor (CRF), signifying reduced carbon emission due to switch from electric only water heater to much more efficient DX-SAHP water heater, ranged from 72% to 82% for the chosen locations. This narrow range for CRF indicates that regardless of geographical locations it is prudent to phase out electric only hot water heater and replace them by DX-SAHP water heaters.
Gas exchange uniformity within individual lung lobes.

Oxygen delivery to peripheral tissue is limited, in part, by the efficiency of gas exchange within the lungs. Pulmonary ventilation (VA) to pulmonary perfusion (Q) matching (VA/Q) in the normal lung is known to be heterogeneous (Hlastala and Robertson, 1978) (fig. 1). The degree of VA/Q mismatching in various lung regions has the major effect on the efficiency of blood oxygenation. Factors which increase or decrease the homogeneity of ventilation to perfusion matching have profound effects on arterial oxygen concentrations, and therefore tissue oxygenation.
Large Scale Management of Physicists Personal Analysis Data Without Employing User and Group Quotas

The ability of modern HEP experiments to acquire and process unprecedented amounts of data and simulation have lead to an explosion in the volume of information that individual scientists deal with on a daily basis. Explosion has resulted in a need for individuals to generate and keep large personal analysis data sets which represent the skimmed portions of official data collections, pertaining to their specific analysis. While a significant reduction in size compared to the original data, these personal analysis and simulation sets can be many terabytes or 10s of TB in size and consist of 10s of thousands of files. When this personal data is aggregated across the many physicists in a single analysis group or experiment it can represent data volumes on par or exceeding the official production samples which require special data handling techniques to deal with effectively.In this paper we explore the changes to the Fermilab computing infrastructure and computing models which have been developed to allow experimenters to effectively manage their personal analysis data and other data that falls outside of the typically centrally managed production chains. In particular we describe the models and tools that are being used to provide the modern neutrino experiments like NOvA with storage resources that are sufficient to meet their analysis needs, without imposing specific quotas on users or groups of users. We discuss the storage mechanisms and the caching algorithms that are being used as well as the toolkits are have been developed to allow the users to easily operate with terascale+ datasets.
Overview and interim evaluation of the project ROBIN: Robotics for integration

Statistics in Austria show a significantly higher unemployment rate of people with migration background compared to those without such a background. This situation is further aggravated by the increased application of modern technologies that replace jobs with automated systems. People with migration background in Austria tend to have a lower qualification and corresponding jobs that are in higher danger of being automated. This paper presents the concept of the project ROBIN that employs educational robotics for inspiring young people towards engineering and technology. In this context, a focus is specifically put on supporting young people with a migration background. Also the results of an interim project evaluation are presented and a few lessons learned are discussed.