cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial solution synthesis and characterization of complex oxide catalyst powders based on the LaMO3 system

Abstract A polymerizable-complex synthesis method coupled with inkjet deposition was used to generate combinatorial libraries of complex oxide catalyst powders based on the LaMO 3 (M=Cr, Co) system. Strontium and calcium were substituted on the La-sites, and cobalt, chromium and combinations of Co and Cr were substituted on the B-sites of the perovskite matrix. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and catalytic activity screening were performed on the libraries. Each system was examined for its catalytic activity in the CO oxidation reaction with infrared thermography. Catalytic activity was confirmed in the La x Sr y Co z O 3− δ and La x Cr y Co z O 3− δ systems. Most of the catalytic activity was in the cobalt-rich and most perovskite-like regions. The La x Sr y Co z O 3− δ libraries exhibited variation in catalytic activity with temperature, which may be indicative of oscillatory behavior.
Microfluidic Gas Purge Valves

We present two PDMS-based gas purge valves for general lab-on-a-chip applications. The valves are devised based on a three-layer configuration comprising a top layer for fluid channels, a membrane, and a bottom layer for gas channels. The pneumatic valves work as a normal gateway for fluids when the membrane is bulged down (open state) or up (closed state) by vacuum or pressure, respectively. In a closed state, the residual gas in front of a fluid can be eliminated through a small notch or a permeable PDMS membrane by simply pumping the fluid. The purge valve with a small notch, termed surface-tension enable valve (ST valve), can resist pressure under 5.5 kPa. The liquid is retained by the surface tension force resulting from the surrounding hydrophobic walls. In contrast, the purge valve with vacuum grooves above the fluid channel, termed gas-permeation enable valve (GP valve), can resist pressure higher than 5.5 kPa. Based on permeation principle, the unwanted gas can slowly escape from the fluid channel through the PDMS membrane. The unique purge valves enable users to passively align fluids at the desire locations without actively sensing or having a feedback loop. A mixing process was successfully performed with the GP valves, showing their potential applications in microfluidics.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
TERMINAL TRANSFERASE AND VINCRISTINE-PREDNISONE RESPONSIVENESS IN Ph CHROMOSOME (+) LEUKEMIAS

There is both clinical and morphological heterogeneity among adults with Ph chromosome + (Ph'+) leukemia. A sizeable group of these patients respond to vincristine/prednisone (V/P). Experience with 5 Ph' (+) pediatric patients confirms this heterogeneity and suggests that terminal transferase (TdT) may identify V/P responders. Two patients had blastic conversion (myeloblastic morphology) of stable phase CML. One, TdT(+), responded to V/P with an 8-month-remission duration. The second, TdT(-), had no response to V/P. Two other patients presented as de novo ALL. One, TdT(+), responded to V/P with loss of Ph' + in remission. The second, not initially tested for TdT, had 2 years' continuous remission on standard ALL therapy (with persistence of Ph'(+)) and then converted to stable phase CML. Blast crisis (myeloblastic) one year later, was Ph'(+) and TdT(+); there was transient improvement with V/P. The last patient was morphologically undifferentiated, TdT(+) and responded to V/P and daunomycin with loss of Ph (+). The response of the 4 TdT(+) patients to V/P suggests that such patients, regardless of morphology, may respond to ALL chemotherapy.
Observations of wavefront reproduction by stimulated Brillouin and Raman scattering as a function of pump power and waveguide dimensions

Abstract Experimental investigations have been made of wavefront reproduction (WFR) by backward stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and backward stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in CS 2 and C 7 H 6 O using a linearly polarized ruby pump at λ=0.694 μm. The studies were carried out as a function of the length and cross-section of the optical waveguide and the pump power at the input to the nonlinear medium; curves showing the percentage of nonreproduced backscattered radiation versus power into the waveguide are presented. In all of the cases studied the degree of reproduction by SBS was higher than that by SRS and the efficiency of WFR for both SBS and SRS improved as the pump power into the waveguide was increased, the bore diameter of the lightpipe decreased, and the length of active media decreased.
CYSTIC TESTICULAR LESIONS IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION

Purpose: We present the etiology, histological evaluation and management of all cystic lesions of the pediatric testis. Materials and Methods: Illustrative cases from our experience are reported with a literature review of all possible diagnoses. Results: Included in the differential diagnosis of cystic testis lesions in children are epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, prepubertal teratoma, juvenile granulosa cell tumor, cystic dysplasia of the rete testis, testicular cystic lymphangioma, simple cyst and cystic degeneration after torsion. Testis sparing surgery is feasible in many circumstances. Conclusions: Cystic lesions of the pediatric testis are rare but represent an interesting group of diagnoses. Patient age at presentation, examination features, tumor markers and sonographic appearance may assist in making a presumptive and occasionally definitive diagnosis preoperatively. Based on the likely diagnosis enucleation or partial orchiectomy may be considered when performed with frozen section histological assessment. A thorough understanding of potentially cystic testis lesions in children leads to the best management choices and often to preservation of a substantial portion of the affected testis.
Solar energy conversion by chloroplast photoelectrochemical cells

Solar energy can be captured by photochemical or photoelectric processes in which a gradient of chemical potential can be generated using photochemical redox reactions. Photosynthesis is the most efficient system for quantum conversion and storage of solar energy1. Various biomimetic systems have been constructed as models for the conversion of light to electrical energy2–11. These biological photoelectrochemical cells have utilized macrocrystalline chlorophyll a (Chl a)2, chlorophyll liquid crystals deposited on the electrodes3–5 or incorporated into filters6, bilayer lipid membranes7, chloroplast membranes8, chloroplasts9 and bacterial reaction centres10,11. The power conversion efficiencies are mostly very low (≈0.002%). We describe here a chloroplast photoelectrochemical cell which generates large photovoltage and photocurrent, and has a power conversion efficiency close to 1%.
Avian influenza at both ends of a migratory flyway: characterizing viral genomic diversity to optimize surveillance plans for North America

Although continental populations of avian influenza viruses are genetically distinct, transcontinental reassortment in low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses has been detected in migratory birds. Thus, genomic analyses of LPAI viruses could serve as an approach to prioritize species and regions targeted by North American surveillance activities for foreign origin highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). To assess the applicability of this approach, we conducted a phylogenetic and population genetic analysis of 68 viral genomes isolated from the northern pintail (Anas acuta) at opposite ends of the Pacific migratory flyway in North America. We found limited evidence for Asian LPAI lineages on wintering areas used by northern pintails in California in contrast to a higher frequency on breeding locales of Alaska. Our results indicate that the number of Asian LPAI lineages observed in Alaskan northern pintails, and the nucleotide composition of LPAI lineages, is not maintained through fall migration. Accordingly, our data indicate that surveillance of Pacific Flyway northern pintails to detect foreign avian influenza viruses would be most effective in Alaska. North American surveillance plans could be optimized through an analysis of LPAI genomics from species that demonstrate evolutionary linkages with European or Asian lineages and in regions that have overlapping migratory flyways with areas of HPAI outbreaks.
Control of coherent information via on-chip photonic-phononic emitter-receivers.

Integrated photonics hold potential for signal processing but some operations are difficult to perform in all-optical devices. Here, Shin et al. use the coupling between coherent photons and phonons in nanophotonic waveguides to demonstrate frequency-selective, narrow-linewidth radiofrequency photonic filters.
β-Turn sequences promote stability of peptide substrates for kinases within the cytosolic environment.

A strategy was developed to extend the lifetime of an peptide-based substrate for Abl kinase in the cytosolic environment. Small β-turn structures were added to the peptide's N-terminus to block entry into peptidase catalytic sites. The influence of the size of the β-turn and two covalent cross-linking strategies on the rate of hydrolysis was assessed. The most peptidase-resistant substrate was degraded at a rate of 0.6 pmol mg−1 s−1 and possessed a half-life of 20.3 ± 1.7 min in a Baf/BCR-ABL cytosolic lysate, representing 16- and 40-fold improvements, respectively, over that of a control peptide lacking the β-turn structure. Furthermore, the kcat/KM value of this peptide was 432 μM−1 min−1, a 1.25× increase over the unmodified control, verifying that the added β-turn did not hinder the substrate properties of the peptide. This improved peptide was microinjected into single Baf/BCR-ABL cells and substrate phosphorylation measured. Zero to forty percent of the peptide was phosphorylated in the single cells. In contrast, when the control peptide without a β-turn was loaded into cells, the peptide was too rapidly degraded to detect phosphorylation. This work demonstrates that small β-turn structures can render peptides more resistant to hydrolysis while retaining substrate efficacy and shows that these stabilized peptides have the potential to be of high utility in single-cell enzyme assays.
An economic analysis of pregnancy resolution in Virginia: specific as to race and residence.

This study analyses an economic model of pregnancy resolution; that is, a model of the choice by a pregnant woman to abort her fetus or carry it to term. This analysis, using an analytical model derived from the household utility framework, adds to previous research by presenting race and residence specific estimates of how individual characteristics, history of abortion, and the community-based factors determine women's choices of giving birth vs. abortion. The main data for estimating the model were drawn from the 1984 vital statistics of all induced abortions and live births in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The major findings indicate that low parental education, high maternal age, previous early abortions, and the availability of abortion providers all significantly reduce the probability of choosing the live birth option. Married status and the availability of family planning clinics significantly increase the probability of the live birth option. The findings also suggest that women's choices between abortion and live birth vary substantially with race (white vs. black) and residential (urban vs. rural) location.
Are performance improvement professionals measurably improving performance? What PIJ and PIQ have to say about the current use of evaluation and measurement in the field of performance improvement

Measurement and evaluation are at the core of reliably improving performance. It is through these central mechanisms that performance improvement professionals are able to demonstrate the true worth of their efforts. However, the true value of the contributions they make is inconclusive. This article presents a content analysis of 10 years' worth of Performance Improvement and Performance Improvement Quarterly articles as an initial data point to be used for professional reflection and further exploration into the intentions and practices of performance improvement practitioners.
The control of spontaneous lysis of protoplasts from Gossypium hirsutum anther callus

Abstract The isolation of cotton anther callus protoplasts is greatly enhanced when the amino acids arginine, serine or glycine, or the divalent cations Ca2+ or Mg2+ are included in the enzyme mixture. These compounds stabilize cotton protoplasts in the presence of RNase found in the cellulase enzyme mixture. The inhibition of RNase-induced lysis may involve cation or amino acid protection of critical membrane proteins during protoplast isolation. Using these protective agents, cotton protoplasts will give rise to macroscopic callus colonies after 3 weeks in culture.
Catalysis, stereochemistry, and inhibition of ureidoglycolate lyase.

Abstract Ureidoglycolate lyase (UGL, EC 4.3.2.3) catalyzes the breakdown of ureidoglycolate to glyoxylate and urea, which is the final step in the catabolic pathway leading from purines to urea. Although the sequence of enzymatic steps was worked out nearly 40 years ago, the stereochemistry of the uric acid degradation pathway and the catalytic properties of UGL have remained very poorly described. We now report the first direct investigation of the absolute stereochemistry of UGL catalysis. Using chiral chromatographic analyses with substrate enantiomers, we demonstrate that UGL catalysis is stereospecific for substrates with the (S)-hydroxyglycine configuration. The first potent competitive inhibitors for UGL are reported here. These inhibitors are compounds which contain a 2,4-dioxocarboxylate moiety, designed to mimic transient species produced during lyase catalysis. The most potent inhibitor, 2,4-dioxo-4-phenylbutanoic acid, exhibits a KI value of 2.2 nm and is therefore among the most potent competitive inhibitors ever reported for a lyase enzyme. New synthetic alternate substrates for UGL, which are acyl-α-hydroxyglycine compounds, are described. Based on these alternate substrates, we introduce the first assay method for monitoring UGL activity directly. Finally, we report the first putative primary nucleotide and derived peptide sequence for UGL. This sequence exhibits a high level of similarity to the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase family of proteins. Close mechanistic similarities can be visualized between the chemistries of ureidoglycolate lyase and fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase catalysis.
‘You're Heading in the Right Direction’

In the current interview, the internationally renowned pancreatologist Fred Gorelick highlights the key importance of mentorship and gives us a hint of his experience in pancreatic research. Dr. Gorelick's discoveries on zymogen activation on the pancreatic acinar cell lead the way on the understanding of the mechanisms underlying cell damage during pancreatitis. This work opened a new field of study and has served as the foundation for subsequent work for a large number of laboratories around the world.
Ring gland transplantations and body weight in Drosophila

Abstract The hormonal concentration of 80 to 85-hr-old larval females of Drosophila melanogaster was increased by transplanting ring glands from donors of the same age, sex, and strain as the hosts. The physiological effects of injecting one ring gland into individual females, which underwent development from egg to adult at 25 ± 0·50°C, were studied by recording the times of puparium formation, adult emergence, and by examining the wet and dry weights of treated and untreated groups. Injections of ring glands into inbred hosts neither affect the times of puparium formation nor of adult emergence, but increase the wet and dry weights of recipients. The observed gain in the body weight may be due to an increase in the rate of biosynthesis influenced by a higher hormonal concentration during development.
Longitudinal assessment of leg motor activity and sleep patterns in infants with and without Down syndrome

Whether infants with Down syndrome (DS) perform leg movements with the same frequency and quality as their typical development (TD) counterparts is equivocal. Furthermore, the relationship between these early leg movements and later onset of locomotor milestones has only been partially explored. The aims of this study were two-fold: (1) to describe the longitudinal leg activity in infants with and without DS (3-6 months), and (2) to examine sleeping patterns and leg activity during the night. In addition, the relationships between leg activities and sleep patterns with locomotor development were explored. An activity monitor was placed monthly on the infant's ankle for 48 h. Data were analyzed to separate day-night, high-low activity, and sleep fragmentation. The results indicate that infants with DS produced more low intensity activity and more fragmented sleep. These findings are discussed in relation to the influence of early motor activity on achievement of functional motor behavior.
Stress-activated protein kinases in cardiovascular disease.

Cells respond to extracellular stimuli by activating signal transduction pathways, which culminate in changes in gene expression. The particular genetic program activated determines, in large part, the response of the cell (eg, growth versus growth arrest versus apoptosis; differentiation versus dedifferentiation). A critical component of eukaryotic signal transduction is the activation of protein kinases, which phosphorylate a host of cellular substrates, including transcription factors controlling the induction of various genes. For example, the Ras/ERK-1 and ERK-2 (or MAP kinase) pathway transduces critical components of the growth factor–induced mitogenic response to the nucleus. Expression of inactive or interfering mutants of components of the pathway disrupts, and expression of constitutively active mutants activates, mitogenesis.1 Recently, protein serine/threonine kinases related to ERK-1 and -2 have been identified; these kinases transduce signals to the nucleus not in response to growth factors and other mitogens but in response to cellular stresses such as inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), ischemia, reversible ATP depletion, heat shock, endotoxin, and genotoxic stress. These kinases, called the SAPKs2 or, alternatively, c-Jun N-terminal (amino-terminal) kinases (JNKs, named after one of their physiological substrates),3 and p38,4 likely play critical roles in the genetic response of many components of the cardiovascular system to disease processes (Table⇓). In this review, we will discuss these stress-activated kinases, how they are regulated, and the evidence suggesting roles they may play in cardiovascular disease. View this table: Table 1. Postulated Effects of SAPKs and p38 in Cardiovascular Disease States The SAPKs were first described in 1990 as the dominant microtubule-associated protein 2 kinase activated in rat liver in response to systemic administration of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide.5 The kinase shared two major characteristics with the mitogen-activated p42 and p44 MAP kinases (later renamed ERK-2 and ERK-1, respectively). The first was proline-directed substrate specificity. Serine or …
Sodium bicarbonate causes dose-dependent increases in cerebral blood flow in infants and children with single-ventricle physiology.

Sodium bicarbonate causes dose-dependent increases in cerebral blood flow in infants and children with single-ventricle physiology
Stimulation Of Microbial Urea Hydrolysis In Groundwater To Enhance Calcite Precipitation

Addition of molasses and urea was tested as a means of stimulating microbial urea hydrolysis in the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer in Idaho. Ureolysis is an integral component of a novel remediation approach for divalent trace metal and radionuclide contaminants in groundwater and associated geomedia, where the contaminants are immobilized by coprecipitation in calcite. Generation of carbonate alkalinity from ureolysis promotes calcite precipitation. In calcite-saturated aquifers, this represents a potential long-term contaminant sequestration mechanism. In a single-well experiment, dilute molasses was injected three times over two weeks to promote overall microbial growth, followed by one urea injection. With molasses addition, total cell numbers in the groundwater increased 1−2 orders of magnitude. Estimated ureolysis rates in recovered groundwater samples increased from 25 nmol L−1 hr−1. A quantitative PCR assay for the bacterial ureC gene indicated that urease gene numbers increased up to ...
Policy Issues in School Attendance of Children with Aids: A National Survey:

The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of existing state school attendance policies for children with acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition, responses from a brief survey instrument were used to secure information regarding the development and use of these policies. Results indicated that the majority of states had developed policies emphasizing the education of children with AIDS within the regular classroom setting, the use of preventive measures enhancing hygiene and sanitary practices, and the involvement of health officials as appropriate.
Boats, Pathways, and Aquatic Biological Invasions: Estimating Dispersal Potential with Gravity Models

Biological invaders can have dramatic effects on the environment and the economy. To most effectively manage these invaders, we should consider entire pathways, because multiple species are dispersed through the same vectors. In this paper, we use production-constrained gravity models to describe movement of recreational boaters between lakes – potentially the most important pathway of overland dispersal for many aquatic organisms. These models are advantageous because they require relatively easily acquired data, hence are relatively easy to build. We compare linear and non-linear gravity models and show that, despite their simplicity, they are able to capture important characteristics of the recreational boater pathway. To assess our model, we compared observed data based on creel surveys and mailed surveys of recreation boaters to the model output. Specifically, we evaluate four metrics of pathway characteristics: boater traffic to individual lakes, distances traveled to reach these lakes, Great Lakes usage and movement from the Great Lakes to inland waters. These factors will influence the propagule pressure (hence the probability of establishment of invasive populations) and the rate of spread across a landscape. The Great Lakes are of particular importance because they are a major entry point of non-indigenous species from other continents, hence will act as the origin for further spread across states. The non-linear model had the best fit between model output and empirical observations with r2 =0.80, r2 =0.35, r2 =0.57, and r2 =0.36 for the four metrics, respectively. For the distances traveled to individual lakes, r2 improved from 0.35 to 0.76 after removal of an outlier. Our results suggest that we were able to capture distances traveled to most but not all lakes. Thus, we demonstrate that production-constrained gravity models will be generally useful for modeling invasion pathways between non-contiguous locations.
Chemical applications of topology and group theory 27. Topological aspects of polyoxovanadate macropolyhedra

Abstract The square pyramidal VOtO4b and octahedral VOtO4bOi vertices of polyoxovanadates have non-bonding dxy orbitals, which can overlap weakly, leading to stabilization of derivatives with d1 VIV vertices through binodal orbital aromaticity. The S4 symmetry of dxy orbitals favors structures based on vanadium macropolyhedra with VOV edges and C4 axes at each vertex, such as the octahedron and cuboctahedron, as well as other polyhedra with all degree 4 vertices. In this connection, Boersma, Duijvestijn, and Gobel have shown that the three operations of flattened capping, antiprism expansion, and cube stretching are sufficient for generating all possible polyhedra with all degree 4 vertices from the regular octahedron, the simplest polyhedron with all degree 4 vertices. Polyoxovanadates based on vanadium macro-octahedra include V6O198−, V10O286−, and V13O343− containing one, two, or three vanadium macrooctahedra, respectively. Although metal macrocuboctahedra are important building blocks for polyoxomolybdates and polyoxotungstates in ions of the type XM12VIO40n−, the corresponding polyoxovanadates have unfavorably high negative charges, e.g. PV12VO4015−, which can be neutralized by capping square faces of the cuboctahedron with VvO3+ units leading, for example, to the stable PV14O429− ( PV12O4015− + 2VO3+). Similarly, one of the structures found for the V18O4212− anion is based on a hexacapped cuboctahedron of ideal Oh symmetry, which is reduced to Td symmetry when V18O4212− encapsulates a tetrahedral ion such as SO42− or VO43−. In the absence of a tetrahedral anion to be encapsulated the V18O4212− anion adopts d4d symmetry, which is based on a 45 ° twist of one half of the hexacapped cuboctahedron relative to the other half. The vanadium macropolyhedron for the D3h V15O365− anion is not derived directly from a tricapped cuboctahedron, which can have only C2v or C3v symmetry, but instead from the D3h trigonal prism through a succession of symmetry-preserving capping and edge-removal processes.
Eulerian Polynomials and Numbers, Bernoulli Numbers, and the Riemann Zeta-Function

Chapter 5 contains more number theory than any of the remaining 20 chapters. Of the 94 formulas or statements of theorems in Chapter 5, the great majority pertain to Bernoulli numbers, Euler numbers, Eulerian polynomials and numbers, and the Riemann zeta-function. As is to be expected, most of these results are not new. The geneses of Ramanujan’s first published paper [4] (on Bernoulli numbers) and fourth published paper [7] (on sums connected with the Riemann zeta-function) are found in Chapter 5. Most of Ramanujan’s discoveries about Bernoulli numbers that are recorded here may be found in standard texts, such as those by Bromwich [1], Nielsen [5], Norlund [2], and Uspensky and Heaslet [1], for example.
Toward a Morality of Materiality Adorno and the Primacy of the Object

The growing interest in materiality in cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, and geography, sometimes referred to as “new materialism,” seems to have left little room for normative questions and concerns. Although such research has explored the role of materiality in normative projects, attention to the normative quality of the material itself is lacking. This article argues that Adorno's theory of the primacy of the object provides materiality research with a theoretical foundation for exploring the normative power of the material object itself. By incorporating the theory of the primacy of the object with the theoretical insights of new materialism, this article will demonstrate not only how Adorno's theory can benefit current research on materiality but also how this research expands the way Adorno's supposedly elitist theories can be applied.
Structure of the Dorsal Horn

This chapter will take as its primary mission the description of laminae I-VI (Fig. 5.1), first presented by Rexed (1952; 1954), who related this organizational pattern to earlier work. To reduce the size of this chapter, we will focus on primary afferent input and only briefly treat the equally important descending input and consider only mammalian studies.
Parathyroid hormone secretion by multiple distinct cell populations, a time dynamic mathematical model

The acute response of parathyroid hormone to perturbations in serum ionized calcium ([Ca2+]) is physiologically complex, and poorly understood. The literature provides numerous observations of quantitative and qualitative descriptions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) dynamics. We present a physiologically based mathematical model of PTH secretion constructed from mechanisms suggested in the literature, and validated against complex [Ca2+] clamping protocols from human data. The model is based on two assumptions. The first is that secretion is a fraction of cellular reserves, with the fraction being determined by the kinetics of [Ca2+] with its receptor. The second is that there are multiple distinct populations of parathyroid cells, with different secretory parameters. The steady state and transient PTH secretion responses of the model are in agreement with human experimental PTH responses to different hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia stimuli. This mathematical model suggests that a population of secreting cells is responsible for the PTH secretory dynamics observed experimentally.
High temperature performance of field controlled thyristors

Measurements of the characteristics of Field Controlled Thyristors have been performed over a temperature range of -30°C to 200°C. These measurements demonstrate that field controlled thyristors exhibit superior high temperature forward blocking capability when compared with conventional thyristors. In addition to retaining their reverse blocking capability, these devices show an increase in the blocking gain with increasing ambient tempera-conduction behavior is similar to that of conventional rectifiers and the measured increase of the forced gate turn-off time in these devices with increasing temperature has been correlated with an increase in the minority carrier lifetime.
Uniform Distribution of Generalized Polynomials

Abstract Generalized polynomials form a natural family of functions which are obtained from polynomials by the use of the greatest integer function, addition, and multiplication. Among other results, we show that if the coefficients of a generalized polynomial q(n) are sufficiently independent then the sequence q(n), n = 1, 2, ..., is uniformly distributed (mod 1) (see Theorem 3.1). We also show, for example, that the sequence [αn] βn = 1, 2, ..., is uniformly distributed (mod 1) if and only if either α2 ∉ Q and β is irrational or α2 ∈ Q and β is rationally independent of 1, α (see Proposition 5.3).
An intelligent universal virtual laboratory (UVL)

The objective of this project is to create a realistic, real-time, electrical engineering virtual laboratory for the use of disabled students. This project targets individuals who do not have adequate mobility of their upper bodies to perform laboratory experiments. To provide a more realistic and enhanced learning experience, the users of the virtual laboratory are allowed the freedom to build and test a wide variety of realistic electrical circuits, and be able to perform curriculum-based experiments. The main goal is to create an environment similar to a real electrical engineering laboratory, and to offer the user a way to learn the different aspects of instrumentation and circuitry.
Intrinsic Need Satisfaction: A Motivational Basis of Performance and Weil-Being in Two Work Settings1

Studies in 2 work organizations tested a self-determination theory based model in which employees’ autonomous causality orientation and their perceptions of their managers’ autonomy support independently predicted satisfaction of the employees’ intrinsic needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness, which in turn predicted their performance evaluations and psychological adjustment. Path analysis indicated that the self-determination theory model fit the data very well and that alternative models did not provide any advantage.
To fix or to learn? How production bias affects developers' information foraging during debugging

Developers performing maintenance activities must balance their efforts to learn the code vs. their efforts to actually change it. This balancing act is consistent with the “production bias” that, according to Carroll's minimalist learning theory, generally affects software users during everyday tasks. This suggests that developers' focus on efficiency should have marked effects on how they forage for the information they think they need to fix bugs. To investigate how developers balance fixing versus learning during debugging, we conducted the first empirical investigation of the interplay between production bias and information foraging. Our theory-based study involved 11 participants: half tasked with fixing a bug, and half tasked with learning enough to help someone else fix it. Despite the subtlety of difference between their tasks, participants foraged remarkably differently-making foraging decisions from different types of “patches,” with different types of information, and succeeding with different foraging tactics.
Use of multiblade sensors for on-line rotor tip-path plane estimation

Techniques are investigated for on-line estimation of rotor states in the nonrotating frame from multiple, simultaneous measurements in the rotating frame. The multiblade coordinate transformation is first applied to transform both flapping and flapping rate measurements into the nonrotating frame. The 'observer' approach is then used to generate algorithms for estimating tip-path plane rate and attitude from transformed flapping and flapping rate measurements. A numerical evaluation using simulated measurements is conducted to evaluate the performance of the algorithms and recommendations are made.
Interfacial phenomena at the compressed co2-water interface

Compressed CO2 is considered to be a viable alternative to toxic volatile organic solvents with potential applications in areas including separation reactions, and materials formation processes. Thus an interest in CO2 stems from the fact that it is very inexpensive, has low toxicity, and is not a regulated. However, compressed CO2 has a zero dipole moment and weak van der Waals forces and thus is a poor solvent for both polar and most high molecular weight solutes, characteristics that severely restrict its applicability. In order to overcome this inherent inability, surfactant-stabilized organic and aqueous dispersions in CO2 have been proposed. This work will discuss fundamentals and recent advances in the design of amphiphiles for the novel CO2-water interface.
The Rabbit: A Suitable Model for Investigation of Vascular Responsiveness During Pregnancy

The decreased vascular response to angiotensin II that characterizes normal pregnancy is lost in pregnancy induced hypertension and associated with an increase in response to norepinephrine. These alterations in vascular responsiveness have not been thoroughly investigated and are poorly understood. Suitable models manifesting physiologic conditions known to exist in human pregnancy have not been satisfactorily demonstrated. We investigated the chronically catheterized and unmedicated rabbit for similarities of four conditions known to occur during human pregnancy. We compared mean arterial pressure and vascular response to angiotensin II and to norepinephrine in 19 non-pregnant and 16 pregnant animals. Plasma levels of angiotensin II, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine levels were measured and compared. We found striking similarities for conditions investigated in our rabbit model when compared with data reported in the literature for human pregnancy. We conclude the rabbit is a suitable model for...
Maternal Mortality in Ghana: Impact of the Fee-Free Delivery Policy and the National Health Insurance Scheme

Maternal mortality (MMR) is the second largest cause of female deaths in Ghana. Yet, many households cannot afford the cost of skilled delivery The study utilized the Panel Data Model to examine the impact of the fee-free delivery (FDP) and the National Health Insurance Policy (NIP) exemptions on MMR in Ghana. The Demographic and Health Survey reports on Ghana from 2002 to 2009 served as the main data source. Data were analyzed using Panel data model with within group fixed effects estimator. MMR declined significantly over the period studied. Both FDP and NIP positively impacted MMR at a 5% level of significance. In addition, skilled delivery was a significant predictor of MMR. Stakeholders would do well to ensure NIP is adequately funded in order to sustain the decline in MMR.
Abstract P324: Hemodynamic Recovery And Baroreflex Sensitivity Are Reliable And Associated With Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In A Nationally Representative Sample Of Young US Adults

Background: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) usually decreases as heart rate (HR) increases over serial recordings, an autonomic phenomenon mediated by the baroreflex arc and attributed to recovery from stress associated with instrumentation for sphygmomanometry and initial cuff inflation. Despite clinical relevance of baroreflex pathophysiology and widespread availability of simultaneously recorded BP and HR, few epidemiologic studies have examined their relationship, its reliability or population distribution. We therefore investigated the reflex in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), hypothesizing that it is reliably measured and affected by major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Methods: We examined 15,701 U.S. adults aged 24-34 yr (mean = 28.4 yr; 49% female; 34% racial/ethnic minority) at the Add Health Wave IV (2008) in-home visit, which included 3 resting, seated SBPs and HRs recorded at 30 sec intervals. We used random-effects models to estimate SBP recovery (SBPR), HR recovery (HRR), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) as the decrease in SBP, increase in HR, and slope of the RR interval-SBP association across recordings. In a stratified, random subset of 100 participants examined twice, 1-2 wk (mean = 8.6 d) apart, we then used random-effects models to estimate their reliability as an intra-class correlation coefficient and 95% confidence interval (ICC, 95% CI) and compare it with HR variability, i.e. the standard deviation of and root mean square of successive differences in RR (SDRR; RMSSD). In the entire sample, we used logistic regression to estimate associations of the measures with CVD risk factors as odds ratios (ORs, 95% CIs). We adjusted estimation parameters for participant clustering, sampling probabilities, and attrition to facilitate inference. Results: The means (SDs) of initial SBP, HR and RR were 127 (15) mmHg, 73 (12) b/min and 841 (141) ms. For SBPR, HRR and BRS, they were -1.2 (4.4) mmHg, 0.6 (4.3) b/min and 0.2 (1.0) ms/mm Hg. The corresponding ICCs (95%CI) were 0.78 (0.70,0.86), 0.47 (0.32,0.63) and 0.63 (0.51,0.75), but only 0.22 (0.03,0.41) and 0.15 (-0.05,0.34) for SDRR and RMSSD. Relative to those without a given CVD risk factor, the OR (95%CI) for BRS 28 yr), obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), diabetic (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%), hypertensive (SBP/DBP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg), sedentary and currently smoking participants: 1.7 (1.5,1.8), 1.1 (1.0,1.2), 2.1 (1.9,2.3), 2.3 (1.7,3.0), 1.6 (1.4,1.7), 1.6 (1.4,1.8) and 1.2 (1.1,1.4). Similar associations were observed for SBPR and HRR. Conclusion: Simple, noninvasive measures of hemodynamic recovery and baroreflex sensitivity as estimated from brief recordings of resting, seated SBP and HR are reliable and consistently related to CVD risk factors in young U.S. adults, suggesting potential utility in subclinical assessment of CVD risk.
Targeting Viral and Host Factors During the Hepatitis C Virus Replication for Efficient Antiviral Treatment

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a global health problem. Unfortunately there is no preventive vaccine for HCV infection. The common standard treatment for HCV is pegylated interferon α (PEG-IFNα) plus ribavirin, which is non-specific and has strong side effects. Recently, the combination with the HCV protease inhibitor has been approved to improve the sustained virologic response although still far away from cure. Therefore, we are still on the way of developing more effective and specific antiviral treatments with diverse mechanisms of action against HCV. Viral replication is a key and complicated step during HCV life cycle. Besides those specific HCV viral proteins that are involved in the replication, host cellular factors that are key to control efficient viral replication and promote host immune response against HCV could also be the targets for novel antiviral treatments. This review focuses on these aspects and summarizes some recent progress on the related three aspects.
“Them Against Us”: Anita Hill v. Clarence Thomas

(1992). “Them Against Us”: Anita Hill v. Clarence Thomas. The Black Scholar: Vol. 22, The Clarence Thomas Confirmation, pp. 48-52.
A Mutation Associated with Stuttering Alters Mouse Pup Ultrasonic Vocalizations

Summary A promising approach to understanding the mechanistic basis of speech is to study disorders that affect speech without compromising other cognitive or motor functions. Stuttering, also known as stammering, has been linked to mutations in the lysosomal enzyme-targeting pathway, but how this remarkably specific speech deficit arises from mutations in a family of general "cellular housekeeping" genes is unknown. To address this question, we asked whether a missense mutation associated with human stuttering causes vocal or other abnormalities in mice. We compared vocalizations from mice engineered to carry a mutation in the Gnptab (N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase subunits alpha/beta) gene with wild-type littermates. We found significant differences in the vocalizations of pups with the human Gnptab stuttering mutation compared to littermate controls. Specifically, we found that mice with the mutation emitted fewer vocalizations per unit time and had longer pauses between vocalizations and that the entropy of the temporal sequence was significantly reduced. Furthermore, Gnptab missense mice were similar to wild-type mice on an extensive battery of non-vocal behaviors. We then used the same language-agnostic metrics for auditory signal analysis of human speech. We analyzed speech from people who stutter with mutations in this pathway and compared it to control speech and found abnormalities similar to those found in the mouse vocalizations. These data show that mutations in the lysosomal enzyme-targeting pathway produce highly specific effects in mouse pup vocalizations and establish the mouse as an attractive model for studying this disorder.
An Economic Model of Maritime Piracy: Part 2, Optimal Enforcement of Anti-piracy Laws

Given the optimal behavior of pirates and victims described in Chapter 4, this chapter examines the optimal enforcement of anti-piracy laws. This involves choosing the probability of apprehension and the sanction to maximize the net value of shipping. In the case where there exists a single enforcer with both the will and the resources to carry out the optimal policy, the standard conclusions from the economics of crime literature apply. Specifically, the sanction is ‘maximal’ and the probability of apprehension equates the last dollar spent on enforcement to the marginal benefit of deterrence. Actual enforcement policies, however, fall short of this ideal for several reasons: first, law enforcement is a public good and so individual countries are likely to underinvest in effort; second, the cost of prosecuting and punishing pirates is very high; and third, even if countries have the will to impose punishment, they may differ in their interpretation of what constitutes an appropriate sanction.
Statistical Examination of AOAC Use-Dilution Method for Testing Disinfectant Efficacy

The AOAC use-dilution method is examined from a statistical viewpoint by using the fundamental concept of operating characteristic curves to focus attention on the inadequately defined aspects of the acceptance/rejection criteria used for disinfectant registration and enforcement purposes.
Microtubules and Microfilaments

Next to membranes, there is probably no other cellular element as ubiquitous as the microtubule and related fibrillar structures. Although their presence was first suggested by Sigmund Freud (1882), then a young cell biologist working on live crayfish neurons, their actual existence could only be asserted with some assurance even as late as the mid-1950s (Porter, 1955). It remained for the advent of glutaraldehyde fixation (Sabatini et al., 1963; Karnovsky, 1965), combined with other refinements in electron microscopic techniques (Palay et al., 1962), to confirm their reality convincingly. Subsequently, researches on these organelles have reached a relatively high level of frequency, and a number of review articles have appeared in print (Dustin, 1972, 1978; Bardele, 1973; Margulis, 1973; Olmstead and Borisy, 1973; Shelanski, 1973; Bryan, 1974; Mazia, 1975; Snyder and McIntosh, 1976; Stephens and Edds, 1976; Kirschner, 1978). Generally three categories of fibrillar elements are recognized, distinguished for the present on the basis of their diameters: microtubules, ranging from 180 to 250 A in thickness, intermediate filaments, between 80 and 100 A, and nanofilaments,* from 40 to 70 A (Burnside, 1975). Among others, the second category includes neurofilaments and tonofilaments, the latter of which will be recalled as occurring in intercellular junctions (Chapter 1, Section 1.2.3). Because microtubules are by far the most extensively investigated of these structures, they are reported in detail before other types are given attention.
Chapter Six – Introduction to Chemical Reactions in Analytical Chemistry

Publisher Summary Most classical methods are based on chemical reactions rather than physical properties. The chemistry of these reactions is fundamental to the development of an understanding of modern chemical and instrumental methods of analyses, measurement, or separation. As the instrumental techniques are introduced, the relationships among the instrumental response, the chemistry of the solution, and how the data is used for analysis becomes apparent. The chemical reactions of analytical interest are divided into four areas: acid-base reactions, precipitation, gravimetry and titration, oxidation-reduction reactions, and complex formation. This chapter discusses the different types of equilibrium constants that are of interest to the analytical chemist. Details, limitations, and calculations in their application in the general areas of acid-base, oxidation-reduction, gravimetric, and complexometric methods are further explained in the chapter. For most practical applications in analytical chemistry, the approximation that the equilibrium constant is independent of concentration can be made.
Inventing Vietnam: The Cold War, Colonialism, and the Origins of the American Commitment to Vietnam, 1945–1954

In February 1950, when the Truman administration extended formal recognition to the State of Vietnam and material aid to the French effort to reestablish a crumbling empire, American officials never imagined the quarter-century-long Vietnam War would be the ultimate result. The French had, for several years, been attempting to beat back Vietnamese nationalists led by Ho Chi Minh and his Viet Minh fighters and to reimpose colonial rule in Vietnam. Significant American military intervention remained relatively far off. The United States had only recently begun to formulate any policy toward Southeast Asia. Vietnam, alongside Laos and Cambodia, remained primarily a French problem that compelled U.S. monetary aid. Direct American interest in Southeast Asia was only very slowly developing. In just a few short years, however, global conditions had changed dramatically. French ambitions in Vietnam had been thwarted by 1954. Japan had been substantially rebuilt and needed regional trade partners. From Guatemala and the Congo to Egypt and Indonesia, a global cold war and the end of colonialism brought greater instability and the threat of independent nationalist leaders around the world bent on pursuing neutralist foreign policy and nationalist domestic policy agendas. In the United States, intellectuals, policy makers, and others had begun to refine and implement ideas for controlling what they perceived to be the most undesirable and dangerous aspects of this unstable global environment through economic aid and modernization in former colonial areas.