cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure and dynamics of the diarsenic complex in crystalline silicon

Based on first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), we propose a structural model for a diarsenic $({\mathrm{As}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{As}}_{i})$ complex in Si and a mechanism for its reorientation, diffusion and dissociation. We find that the lowest-energy structure of ${\mathrm{As}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{As}}_{i}$ consists of two As atoms bonded together in a single lattice site with a bond axis which is tilted slightly from the [110] direction. Our study demonstrates the ${\mathrm{As}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{As}}_{i}$ pair may undergo reorientations within a lattice site and diffusion, with energy barriers of 1.05 and $1.33\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$, respectively. Dissociation of an ${\mathrm{As}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{As}}_{i}$ pair is likely to occur predominantly by the liberation of an $\mathrm{As}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Si}}_{i}$ pair to leave behind a substititional As atom. The dissociation barrier is predicted to be $1.33\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$, and the ${\mathrm{As}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{As}}_{i}$ binding energy is calculated to be $1.00\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ relative to dissociation products ${\mathrm{As}}^{0}$ and $\mathrm{As}\mathrm{Si}_{i}{}^{0}$. We also discuss the role of ${\mathrm{As}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{As}}_{i}$ pairs in As transient enhanced diffusion and clustering.
Aggregation in dilute solutions of Mn2+ and inorganic pyrophosphate and its biochemical consequences

Abstract Evidence is presented for the formation of large aggregates in dilute (0.1–0.55 mM) solutions of Mn2+ and inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) at pH 7.2, and a sttructure is proposed. Aggregate formation is slow compared to what is expected for ionic association reactions, half-lives of minutes being common in the concentration range studied. Aggregation is found to be reversible, but the disaggregation process is extremely slow, having a half-life of many hours. Aggregation is also found to occur between Mn2+ and PPi analogs, and a recent study on aggregation in solution of Ca2+ and aPPi analogs cited. On the other hand, no evidence is found for aggregation in solutions of Mg2+ and PPi. Aggregation is found to have important consequences for kinetic studies on inorganic pyrophosphate (EC 3.6.i.i.) since aggregates are not substrates and eventually PPi hydrolysis becomes limited by the disaggregation rate. Studies which do not take the aggregation phenomenon into account may thus seriously underestimate the catalytic efficiency of some divalent metal ion cofactors. The phenomenon is of some general importance, because of the large number of divalent metal ion requiring enzymes having PPi as a substrate. Procedures for doing kinetic studies on such enzymes are proposed. The possible importance of the aggregation phenomenon for studies on bone formation is also discussed.
A density functional study of atomic hydrogen adsorption on plutonium layers

Abstract Hydrogen adsorption on δ-Pu (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) surfaces using the generalized gradient approximation of the density functional theory with Perdew and Wang functionals have been studied at both the spin-polarized level and the non-spin-polarized level. For the (1 0 0) surface at the non-spin-polarized level, we find that the center position of the (1 0 0) surface is the most favorable site with a chemisorption energy of 2.762 eV and an optimum distance of the hydrogen adatom to the Pu surface of 1.07 A. For the spin-polarized (1 0 0) surface, the center site is again the preferred site with a chemisorption energy of 3.467 eV and an optimum hydrogen distance of 1.13 A. For the non-spin-polarized (1 1 1) surface, the center position is also the preferred site, but with slightly lower chemisorption energy, namely 2.756 eV and a higher hydrogen distance, 1.40 A, compared to the (1 0 0) center site. The center site is also the preferred site for the spin-polarized (1 1 1) surface, with a chemisorption energy of 3.450 eV and a hydrogen distance of 1.42 A. Also, for the spin-polarized calculations, the over all net magnetic moments of the (1 1 1) surface changed significantly due to the hydrogen adsorption. The 5f orbitals are delocalized, especially as one approaches the Fermi level. However, the degree of localization decreases for spin-polarized calculations. The coordination numbers have a significant role in the chemical bonding process. Mulliken charge distribution analysis indicates that the interaction of Pu with H mainly takes place in the first layer and that the other two layers are only slightly affected. Work functions, in general, tend to increase due to the presence of a hydrogen adatom.
The Danziger-Elmergreen theory of periodic catatonic schizophrenia.

Properties of the solutions of the mathematical model introduced by Danziger and Elmergreen for the study of periodic catatonic schizophrenia are studied, and it is shown that the properties established suggest that the model can be used to study other forms of catatonic schizophrenia besides periodic catatonic schizophrenia.
How well do online forums facilitate discussion and collaboration among novice animation programmers

Animation programming is a widely-respected approach for helping students to learn programming skills, and online forums are a widely-used approach for helping students to interact with one another. But in what ways, if any, does combining animation programming with online forums lead to useful discussion and collaboration among learners? To answer this question, we analyzed online forum discussions among people who were learning to create animation programs using the Scratch programming environment. We discovered that specific kinds of online posts were more likely than others to be followed by discussion, and we found that the ensuing collaboration often involved the exchange of design ideas and feedback within small groups of users. These findings reveal opportunities for enhancing online forums and surrounding tools so they more effectively facilitate discussion, collaboration, and ultimately development of programming skills.
Effects of low dissolved oxygen on survival, growth and reproduction of Daphnia, Hyalella and Gammarus

Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Hyalella azteca, and Gammarus lacustris were exposed to low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the laboratory. Acute and chronic exposures were conducted to develop data for use in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) water quality criteria document for dissolved oxygen. Daphnia magna had two 48-h LC50s (50% mortality) of 0.6 and 0.7 mg/L, a highest-adverse-effect concentration of 0.6, and a lowest-no-adverse-effect concentration of 0.9 mg/L O2 (based on reproduction). Daphnia pulex had a 48-h LC50 of 0.5, two 96-h LC50s of 0.4 and 0.7, a highest-adverse-effect concentration of 1.6, and a lowest-no-adverse-effect concentration of 2.1 mg/L O2 (based on reproduction). Hyalella azteca had 96-h and 30-d LC50s of 1.2 (based on reproduction). Gammarus lacustris had two 7-d LC50s of <0.2 mg/L, a highest-adverse-effect concentration of <0.2, and a lowest-no-adverse-effect concentration of 0.1 mg/L O2 (based on survival). Lack of access to the water surface increased mortality. Nitrogen-stripped and vacuum-degassed test water produced the same mortality. Results of this study indicate that dissolved oxygen concentrations adequate to avoid impairment of fish production, as outlined in the EPA's water quality criteria document, should provide reasonable protection for these four species.
Common Trends in Software Fault and Failure Data

The benefits of the analysis of software faults and failures have been widely recognized. However, detailed studies based on empirical data are rare. In this paper, we analyze the fault and failure data from two large, real-world case studies. Specifically, we explore: 1) the localization of faults that lead to individual software failures and 2) the distribution of different types of software faults. Our results show that individual failures are often caused by multiple faults spread throughout the system. This observation is important since it does not support several heuristics and assumptions used in the past. In addition, it clearly indicates that finding and fixing faults that lead to such software failures in large, complex systems are often difficult and challenging tasks despite the advances in software development. Our results also show that requirement faults, coding faults, and data problems are the three most common types of software faults. Furthermore, these results show that contrary to the popular belief, a significant percentage of failures are linked to late life cycle activities. Another important aspect of our work is that we conduct intra- and interproject comparisons, as well as comparisons with the findings from related studies. The consistency of several main trends across software systems in this paper and several related research efforts suggests that these trends are likely to be intrinsic characteristics of software faults and failures rather than project specific.
Comparative study of thermally conductive fillers for use in liquid encapsulants for electronic packaging

Thermal management plays a very vital role in the packaging of high performance electronic devices. Effective heat dissipation is crucial to enhance the performance and reliability of the packaged devices. Liquid encapsulants used for glob top, potting, and underfilling applications can strongly influence the package heat dissipation. Unlike molding compounds, the filler loading in these encapsulants is restrained. This paper deals with the development and characterization of thermally conductive encapsulants with relatively low filler loading. A comparative study on the effect of different ceramic fillers on the thermal conductivity and other critical properties of an epoxy based liquid encapsulant is presented.
The Influence of Teacher Epistemology and Practice on Student Engagement in Literacy Learning.

Learning to read with comprehension requires that students acquire and integrate an increasingly complex set of skills. Students with severe disabilities are often seen as incapable of mastering an...
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons and Fatty Acids of Some Marine and Freshwater Microorganisms

Gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have been used to study the fatty acids and hydrocarbons of a bacterium from the Pacific Ocean, Vibrio marinus, a freshwater blue-green alga, Anacystis nidulans, and algal mat communities from the Gulf of Mexico. Both types of microorganisms (bacteria and algae) showed relatively simple hydrocarbon and fatty acid patterns, the hydrocarbons predominating in the region of C-17 and the fatty acids in the range of C-14 to C-18. The patterns of V. marinus were more comparable to those of the algal populations than to patterns reported for other bacteria. An incomplete correlation between fatty acids and hydrocarbons in both types of organisms was observed, making it difficult to accept the concept that the biosynthesis of hydrocarbons follows a simple fatty acid decarboxylation process.
Monotone Centroid Flow Algorithm for Type Reduction of General Type-2 Fuzzy Sets

Recently, type-2 fuzzy logic systems (T2 FLSs) have received increased research attention due to their potential to model and cope with the dynamic uncertainties ubiquitous in many engineering applications. However, because of the complex nature and the computational intensity of the inference process, only the constrained version of T2 FLSs, i.e., the interval T2 FLSs, was typically used. Fortunately, the very recently introduced concepts of α-planes and zSlices allow for efficient representation, as well as a computationally fast inference process, with general T2 (GT2) FLSs. This paper addresses the type-reduction phase in GT2 FLSs, using GT2 fuzzy sets (FSs) represented in the α-plane framework. The monotone property of centroids of a set of α-planes is derived and leveraged toward developing a simple to implement but fast algorithm for type reduction of GT2 FSs - i.e., the monotone centroid flow (MCF) algorithm. When compared with the centroid flow (CF) algorithm, which was previously developed by Zhai and Mendel, the MCF algorithm features the following advantages. 1) The MCF algorithm computes numerically identical centroid as the Karnik-Mendel (KM) iterative algorithms, unlike the approximated centroid which is obtained with the CF algorithm; 2) the MCF algorithm is faster than the CF algorithm, as well as the independent application of the KM algorithms; 3) the MCF algorithm is easy to implement, unlike the CF algorithm, which requires computation of the derivatives of the centroid; and 4) the MCF algorithm completely eliminates the need to apply the KM iterative procedure to any α-planes of the GT2 FS. The performance of the algorithm is presented on benchmark problems and compared with other type-reduction techniques that are available in the literature.
College student engagement surveys: Implications for information literacy

This chapter describes the library use and information literacy behaviors included on standardized college student surveys of engagement and experiences, particularly information literacy-related experimental items developed by ACRL's Institute for Information Literacy's College Student Surveys Project Group on the 2006 NSSE College Student Report.
Neural chronometry and coherency across speed–accuracy demands reveal lack of homomorphism between computational and neural mechanisms of evidence accumulation

The stochastic accumulation framework provides a mechanistic, quantitative account of perceptual decision-making and how task performance changes with experimental manipulations. Importantly, it provides an elegant account of the speed–accuracy trade-off (SAT), which has long been the litmus test for decision models, and also mimics the activity of single neurons in several key respects. Recently, we developed a paradigm whereby macaque monkeys trade speed for accuracy on cue during visual search task. Single-unit activity in frontal eye field (FEF) was not homomorphic with the architecture of models, demonstrating that stochastic accumulators are an incomplete description of neural activity under SAT. This paper summarizes and extends this work, further demonstrating that the SAT leads to extensive, widespread changes in brain activity never before predicted. We will begin by reviewing our recently published work that establishes how spiking activity in FEF accomplishes SAT. Next, we provide two important extensions of this work. First, we report a new chronometric analysis suggesting that increases in perceptual gain with speed stress are evident in FEF synaptic input, implicating afferent sensory-processing sources. Second, we report a new analysis demonstrating selective influence of SAT on frequency coupling between FEF neurons and local field potentials. None of these observations correspond to the mechanics of current accumulator models.
Paper-thin membrane aperture-coupled L-band antennas

A microstrip line on very thin membrane substrate (0.05 mm) is slot-coupled through a thick air substrate (12.7 mm) to excite an L-band radiating patch element. A breadboard unit achieved a relatively wide bandwidth of 100 MHz (8%). Very narrow coupling slot is used with aspect ratio of 160 (conventional slot aspect ratio is between 10 to 30). This new feed design makes the thin-membrane or inflatable array antenna technology more practical. It reduces the number of thin-membrane layers required for a dual-pol wide-band inflatable array from three layers in a previous design to two layers. In addition, this technology allows the thin-membrane array antenna elements to be readily integrated with thin-membrane-mounted transmit/receive (T/R) modules. Calculation shows that, without the patch, the microstrip line and slot combination can also radiate as a paper-thin (0.05 mm) radiator at the L-band frequencies.
The Making of a Colonial Welfare State U.S. Social Insurance and Public Assistance in Puerto Rico

Early-twentieth-century Puerto Rican women’s and labor groups advocated for public support for economically needy groups to little avail, given the fiscal limitations of the early colonial state. The exclusion of Puerto Rico from the comprehensive social welfare embodied in the Social Security Act of 1935 was rooted in U.S. Congressional resistance to statehood for selected territories. The platform of the Partido Popular Democratico (Popular Democratic party—PPD), which merged elements of Puerto Rican nationalism with a foreign-investment-and-export-dependent development strategy, further distanced Puerto Ricans from participation in federal welfare programs. The PPD’s economic program yielded rapid initial growth followed by stagnation. Resulting unemployment and declining consumer demand led to a gradual reversal of U.S. social welfare policy toward Puerto Rico. Beginning in the 1950s, federal social insurance and public assistance programs were extended to Puerto Rico, albeit with funding restrictions...
Copulation duration in the soldier fly: the roles of cryptic male choice and sperm competition risk

In most animal species, females invest more in reproduction than males do and are therefore expected to be the choosier sex. However, male choice is also expected to occur whenever there is sufficient variation in female quality and male mating effort is high. Postcopulatory or "cryptic" male choice is defined as variation in the amount of resources males allocate to females of varying quality. The soldier fly Merosargus cingulatus exhibits significant variation in copulation duration. This variation in mating effort may be a consequence of cryptic male choice, although other processes such as sperm competition may also play a role. In this study, I manipulated factors associated with the risk of sperm competition (male density) and varying mate quality (female size) to determine whether these factors affected male mating effort. I found direct evidence that male M. cingulatus can control copulation duration. Copulations were longer when male density was high, which support the hypothesis that males increase copulation duration when there is a high risk of sperm competition. In addition, copulation duration was longer when males mated with larger more fecund females, which supports the hypothesis of cryptic male choice. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
The use of the acetonide derivative in the preparation of D-threo-chloramphenicol-1-3H and its nitroso derivative

An efficient synthesis of millimolar quantities of high specific activity D-threo-chloramphenicol-1-3H is described. The key step is the chromatographic separation of the compound from its 1-epimer, produced in the Ca(B3H4)2 reduction of chloramphenicol ketone (D-α-dichloroacetyl-amino-β-hydroxy-p-nitropropiophenone), by use of the acetonide derivative. Stereochemical aspects of the N-bromosuccinimide oxidation of chloramphenicol to chloramphenicol ketone have been investigated, and the previously reported [1] specific rotation of chloramphenicol ketone has been corrected. The synthesis of nitrosochloramphenicol-1-3H is described.
Quantum Brownian Motion

A tutorial discussion is given of path integral methods for dealing with the fluctuations of a quantum variable (“particle”) coupled to a large quantum system (“environment”) that provides a friction force linearly proportional to the particle velocity. It is shown explicitly how the sum over paths can be reduced to an ordinary double integral for the time evolution of the density matrix describing the particle when the potential in which it moves has one of the following three simple forms: constant, linear, or quadratic. A brief summary is given of results that can be obtained by this method.
The motivation complex: a tribute to James G. and Jessie L. Miller

Motivation involves needs and resources, decision making, communication and feedback, power and influence. These elements are often considered quite separately both in behavioural research and in teaching. The focus of most studies of motivation narrows towards the link between thought and action. Yet there are complex models for each of the separate elements, and all of these models interact. A more complete picture of motivation may be obtained by considering the interactions amongst these elements and between systems. This paper presents models of each of the elements and combines them into a model of the entire motivation complex, in order to emphasize the systemic character of the interactions that lead to motivated behaviour. Miller's living systems theory is employed throughout. Thus the resulting model applies not only to human individuals, but also to the behaviour of all levels of living systems. Routes for further research are suggested. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reproductive and Mating Success in the Small-Mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) Estimated via Microsatellite Parentage Analysis

Bateman’s principles of sexual selection predict that the sex with “cheaper” gametes may maximize reproductive efforts by mating multiply and so display greater positive covariance between reproductive and mating success. We conducted a semi-controlled breeding experiment to genetically quantify sexual selection in adult Ambystoma texanum, a sexually monomorphic salamander with simple courtship behaviors. We used four polymorphic microsatellite loci to genotype 57 adults enclosed in a breeding wetland and compared their multilocus profiles to that of 862 embryos collected from the enclosure. The molecular data were used to assign parentage, investigate the mating system, and measure sexual selection intensity. Parentage analyses indicated 36% of dams and 93% of sires were genetically sampled via their gametes but physically unsampled, suggesting that a large number of breeders over-wintered within the enclosure and/or some females released into the enclosure were already inseminated. We used the genetic data to generate estimates of individual reproductive and mating success and we interpret these in light of salamander behavior and sexual selection theory. The incidence of multiple mating in females (86%) was considerably higher than in males (32%) and the standardized variance in mating success was significantly greater in females. The correlations between reproductive and mating success were significant and of similar magnitude between the sexes, indicating that both sexes increased reproductive success through increased mating success. This pattern may be a function of differential opportunities for mating success between the sexes.
Prospective Study on Usual Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Western Women

Background— Phytoestrogens have been suggested to lower cardiovascular disease risk, but existing research focused on non-Western high intake levels and on risk factors. We investigated whether habitual low phytoestrogen intake is associated with manifest cardiovascular disease risk. Methods and Results— Between 1993 and 1997, 16 165 women 49 to 70 years old and free from cardiovascular disease were enrolled in the Dutch Prospect-EPIC cohort (European Prospective study Into Cancer and nutrition) and followed up for a median period of 75 months. At enrollment, women filled in questionnaires on chronic disease risk factors and nutrition. Intake of phytoestrogens was estimated using the food frequency questionnaire covering regular dietary intake of 178 food items in the year before enrollment. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios of cardiovascular disease for quartiles of phytoestrogen intake adjusted for age at intake, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, hypertension, hyperch...
Learning 'From Nobody': The Limited Role of Teaching in Folk Models of Children's Development

Among the Western intelligentsia, parenting is synonymous with teaching. We are cajoled into beginning our child’s education in the womb and feel guilty whenever a ‘teaching moment’ is squandered. This paper will argue that this reliance on teaching generally, and especially on parents as teachers, is quite recent historically and localised culturally. The majority follow a laissez faire attitude towards development that relies heavily on children’s natural curiosity and motivation to emulate those who are more expert.
Multi-piece Mold Design Based on Linear Mixed-Integer Program toward Guaranteed Optimality

Multi-piece molds are a type of molding technology, which consist of more than two mold pieces and are assembled/dissembled like a space puzzle. Based on such molds, complex parts can be made for limited run production. Compared to traditional two-piece molds, parts with much more complex geometries can be made, however, this also brings challenge in designing such multi-piece molds. Previous works to address the problem are all based on heuristics. In this paper, we present a multi-piece mold design framework based on linear mixed integer program. In our method, multi-piece mold design with guaranteed optimality on the number of mold pieces can be generated for any given CAD model of a molded part. The formulation of multi-piece mold design as a linear mixed-integer program is presented. The related multi-piece mold design framework is discussed. Some examples are provided which illustrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.
Techniques for test output response analysis

When a digital part is tested using automatic test equipment (ATE) the correct output response is usually stored in the ATE memory and matched with the actual test response. If a part is tested using a built-in self-test (BIST) scheme the entire test response is too lengthy to be stored in the part and some reduced version of the response must be used. The reduction of test response data is discussed. There is one special situation that occurs when more than one copy of the digital part is available. In this case, the output response of the identical parts can be compared and no response data storage is required. A discussion is presented of arbitrary parts that must have their test response analyzed without any assumptions about their internal structure. >
Safety checking of machine code

We show how to determine statically whether it is safe for untrusted machine code to be loaded into a trusted host system.Our safety-checking technique operates directly on the untrusted machine-code program, requiring only that the initial inputs to the untrusted program be annotated with typestate information and linear constraints. This approach opens up the possibility of being able to certify code produced by any compiler from any source language, which gives the code producers more freedom in choosing the language in which they write their programs. It eliminates the dependence of safety on the correctness of the compiler because the final product of the compiler is checked. It leads to the decoupling of the safety policy from the language in which the untrusted code is written, and consequently, makes it possible for safety checking to be performed with respect to an extensible set of safety properties that are specified on the host side.We have implemented a prototype safety checker for SPARC machine-language programs, and applied the safety checker to several examples. The safety checker was able to either prove that an example met the necessary safety conditions, or identify the places where the safety conditions were violated. The checking times ranged from less than a second to 14 seconds on an UltraSPARC machine.
Inflamed pouch mucosa possesses altered tight junctions indicating recurrence of inflammatory bowel disease

Background and aims The etiology of pouchitis after coloproctomucosectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis is still unknown. Beside changes in luminal antigens, the immunological predisposition is assumed to be responsible. In previous electrophysiological studies, we showed that mucosal barrier and transport function in pouchitis is markedly reduced. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze barrier function on the molecular level. Material and methods Pouch biopsies of 36 ulcerative colitis patients were analyzed. Time points were (1) intraoperative immediately prior to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (n = 13), (2) >1 year after ileostomy closure (pouch, n = 12), and (3) during pouchitis (n = 11). Control terminal ileum biopsies were obtained from eight patients undergoing hemicolectomy due to carcinoma. Expression of tight junction proteins was analyzed by Western blotting and confocal laser-scanning microscopy. To elucidate effects on epithelial barrier properties, impedance spectroscopy was performed in miniaturized Ussing chambers. Results In pouchitis, epithelial resistance was markedly reduced compared to non-inflamed pouch and control ileum. Expression of tight junction proteins claudin-1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 and occludin revealed differential expression regulation with the tightening tight junction protein claudin-1 being decreased and an increase of the pore-forming claudin-2, whereas other claudins remained constant. Morphometry indicated the mucosal surface to be unchanged. Conclusion Pouchitis is characterized by a selective change of tight junction proteins in favor of opening the epithelial tight junction and, thus, the paracellular pathway, which contributes to the inflammatory process. This resembles changes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and indicates IBD recurrence in pouchitis.
Cultural Differences and Perceived Belonging During Korean Adoptees' Reunions With Birth Families

ABSTRACTThe majority of past research on adoptees' reunions with birth families has focused on domestic adoptees, with little scholarly attention given to the reunions of transnational adoptees despite their large presence in western countries. To address this shortcoming in existing research, the current study explored adult Korean adoptees' reunions with their birth families, focusing on experiences of cultural differences and their perceived impact on relationships with birth family members. Nineteen adult Korean adoptees were interviewed about their reunions and relationships with their Korean birth (a.k.a., first) families. Participants reported cultural differences in family roles and expectations, standards for beauty and femininity, expectations for interactions, and past and present circumstances. These differences were reported to have a range of impacts on participants' subjective sense of belonging with birth families. Whereas some participants experienced estrangement resulting from these dif...
Autophagy in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Metal Neurotoxicity

Autophagy generally refers to cell catabolic and recycling process in which cytoplasmic components are delivered to lysosomes for degradation. During the last two decades, autophagy research has experienced a recent boom because of a newfound connection between this process and many human diseases. Autophagy plays a significant role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and protects cells from varying insults, including misfolded and aggregated proteins and damaged organelles, which is particularly crucial in neuronal survival. Mounting evidence has implicated autophagic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of several major neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, where deficient elimination of abnormal and toxic protein aggregates promotes cellular stress, failure and death. In addition, autophagy has also been found to affect neurotoxicity induced by exposure to essential metals, such as manganese, copper, and iron, and other heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, and methylmercury. This review examines current literature on the role of autophagy in the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis amongst common neurodegenerative disorders and of metal-induced neurotoxicity.
Prenatal heat stress reduces male anogenital distance at birth and adult testis size, which are rescued by concurrent maternal Artemisia absinthium consumption.

Boars from sows with elevated plasma cortisol during pregnancy have shorter anogenital distance (AGD), a trait associated with subfertility. Since gestating sows often experience summer heat stress (HS), a mouse model was used to evaluate the effect of prenatal HS on AGD and fertility; efficacy of the heat stress-mitigating supplement Artemisia absinthium (AB) was also evaluated. Dams were treated from d 8-18 of gestation, residing in ambient temperatures from 0700 to 1900h. From 1900 to 0700h females were exposed to 34.13±0.27°C (HS) with access to water (HSW; n=9), HS with access to a 1% w/v decoction of AB (HSA; n=9), 20.81±0.20°C (thermal neutral; TN) with water (TNW; n=10) or TN with AB (TNA; n=10). Daily liquid consumption was measured from d 6-18, and tail temperature was recorded at 0700 and 1900h from d 8-18. Progeny weight and AGD were recorded at birth and weaning. At maturity, males were mated to non-littermate females from each treatment; these females were euthanized after 16 d of TN gestation. Reproductive traits were compared among all male/female treatment combinations; testes were weighed. Average liquid intake differed among treatments with HS and AB animals drinking more (P 0.10). These data indicate that in utero HS decreases both male birth AGD and adult testis size, effects which maternal AB consumption mitigates.
Early Free-Thinking Societies in America

The rise and fall of early free-thinking societies in America offers a picture of considerable interest. The background is that of eighteenth-century deism—with the neutral tints of unbelief; the high lights are furnished by the fires of the French Revolution, the shadows by the dark fires of reaction. Across this canvas march many figures—rationalists like Franklin and Washington, ardent innovators like Jefferson, and a host of lesser characters—Frenchmen like Genet and his Jacobins, Anglo-Americans like Paine and Houston, plain Americans like Elihu Palmer, with his Principles of Nature, English reformers like Robert Owen and his sons with their liberalizing communism; and ever opposing this army of radicals, the conservative elements—heads of colleges, leaders of the bar, and, as particular defenders of the faith, the clergy of New England.
Active thrusting, landscape evolution, and late Pleistocene sector collapse of Barú Volcano above the Cocos-Nazca slab tear, southern Central America

In this paper, stratigraphy, geochronology, and geologic mapping are used to characterize a sequence of Quaternary deposits associated with edifice failure of Baru Volcano, which, together with balanced cross sections, illustrate the upper plate’s response to along-strike variations in subduction properties that occur across the tear in the subducting slab located at the Panama fracture zone. The subducting Panama fracture zone is an active transform that separates disparate styles of subduction between the thick, rapid, and flat subduction of the Cocos plate to the west and the thinner, more oblique, and steeper subduction of the Nazca plate to the east. We focus on the arc-forearc region above the Cocos-Nazca slab tear, where both the Fila Costena inner forearc fold-and-thrust belt and the exhumed Cordillera de Talamanca terminate along strike to the southeast. The Fila Costena thrust belt imbricates an Eocene–late Miocene forearc basin sequence with up to 40 km of shortening inboard of Cocos plate subduction and crosscuts a sequence of Pleistocene and younger volcano-sedimentary units on the southwestern flanks of the active Baru Volcano at its southeastern termination. These units, constrained in age by radiocarbon dating ( n = 11), soil color, and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ( n = 5) data, include a sequence of late Pleistocene to Holocene debris-avalanche and lahar deposits. Landscape morphology, the areal distribution of units, and new shortening estimates from balanced cross sections collectively suggest that the southeastern termination of the Fila Costena thrust belt actively propagates to the southeast coeval with migration of the Panama triple junction. The prevailing map pattern suggests that the forearc’s response to southeastward migration of the slab tear varies with distance to the trench. In contrast to deformation patterns in the outermost forearc, plate-boundary tractions associated with shallow subduction and Cocos-Caribbean convergence are more influential in the development of arc-forearc deformation than either oblique subduction of the ∼2 km bathymetric scarp, or right-lateral shear, which both occur astride the subducting Panama fracture zone.
Longitudinal waves in liquid-filled tubes—I: Theory

Abstract Pulse propagation in axisymmetric elastic and viscoelastic tubes has been analyzed on the basis of extensions of existing one-dimensional bar-like and membrane-shell theories upon addition of viscous behavior of the components. A combined analytical-experimental procedure has also been developed for the determination of relevant mechanical properties. It has been found that, for the range of parameters considered, the fluid viscosity can be ignored, whereas that of the container plays a significant role; on the other hand, the radial inertia can be neglected. In a companion paper, the predictions of the theory are found to be in good correspondence with experimental results.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis In Vitro by Megaprimer PCR

1. Introduct ion Among the various mutagenesis procedures based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the "megaprimer" method appears to be the simplest and most versatile. The method utilizes three oligonucleotide primers and two rounds of PCR performed on a DNA template containing the cloned gene to be mutated (1—3). The basic megaprimer procedure is shown schematically in Fig, 1, where A and B represent the "flanking" primers that can map either within the cloned gene or outside the gene (i.e., within the vector sequence) and M represents the internal "mutant" primer containing the desired base change. The mutagenic primer may encode any of the following mutations or combinations thereof: a point mutation (single nucleotide change), a deletion, or an insertion (1,4)The first round of PCR is performed using the mutant primer (e.g.. Ml in Fig. 1) and one of the flanking primers (e.g., A). The double-stranded product (A-Ml) is purified and used as one of the primers (hence the name "megaprimer") in the second round of PCR along with the other flanking primer (B). The wild-type cloned gene is used as template in both PCR reactions. The final PCR product (A-Ml-B) containing the mutation can be used in a variety of standard applications, such as sequencing and cloning in expression vectors, or in more specialized applications, such as production of the gene message in vitro if primer A (or the template sequence downstream of primer A) also contains a transcriptional promoter (e.g., that of SP6 or T7 phage).
Examining Rater Precision in Music Performance Assessment: An Analysis of Rating Scale Structure Using the Multifaceted Rasch Partial Credit Model

The use of raters as a methodological tool to detect significant differences in performances and as a means to evaluate music performance achievement is a solidly defended practice in music psychology, education, and performance science research. However, psychometric concerns exist in raters’ precision in the use of task-specific scoring criteria. A methodology for managing rater quality in rater-mediated assessment practices has not been systematically developed in the field of music. The purpose of this study was to examine rater precision through the analysis of rating scale category structure across a set of raters and items within the context of large-group music performance assessment using a Multifaceted Rasch Partial Credit (MFR-PC) Measurement Model. Allowing for separate parameterization estimation of the rating scale for each rater can more clearly detect variability in rater judgment and improve model-data fit, thereby enhancing objectivity, fairness, and precision of rating quality in the music assessment process. Expert judges (N = 23) rated a set of four recordings by middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional jazz big bands. A single common expert rater evaluated all 24 jazz ensemble performances. The data suggest that raters significantly vary in severity, items significantly vary in difficulty, and rating scale category structure significantly varies across raters. Implications for the improvement and management of rater quality in music performance assessment are provided.
The Next Decade of Sustainability Science

If being sustainable is good for everyone, it would not be a debate or argument. The idea that environmental and social outcomes are cobenefits of “smart” business is interesting, but not yet realized. If it was possible and if the best way to do business was analogous with universally positive social and environmental outcomes, companies would have already made this transition. Yet, progress has been stymied by the complexity of identifying specific actions that adequately balance economic, social, and environmental targets. This is especially true in the electric power industry where the variety of natural resource dependencies, business models, and demographics makes industry-level solutions non-universal and rarely simple. Usually, priorities need to be determined, trade-offs assessed, and compromises made between the community, customers, employees, investors, and the environment. These are the complexities that are frustratingly absent from the popularized corporate successes. While environmental and social benefits can be cobenefits of financial outcomes in the electric power industry, we need to know the “right” decisions when win–win–win outcomes are not clear—this is the gap in sustainability science that needs to be addressed.
Viral Diseases and Exanthems of the Skin

Viral diseases are common in children and may manifest in the skin as exanthems or specific lesions such as vesicles, bullae, erosions, ulcers, papules, plaques, and tumors. These illnesses range from serious and life-threatening in the case of smallpox to innocuous and cosmetically concerning as in flat warts. The incidence of certain viral diseases like rubella, measles, and varicella has been dramatically decreased in the developing world through immunization programs. For others, like Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 and herpes zoster, we have targeted antiviral therapies. Human papilloma virus-induced warts and poxvirus-induced molluscum lesions are extremely common pediatric problems without specific antiviral therapies, and thus numerous possible, but often ineffective, treatments exist. There are viral-associated childhood exanthems with distinctive morphologies in which we can only offer observation, symptomatic treatment, and supportive care. These include unilateral laterothoracic exanthem, Gianotti-Crosti syndrome, erythema infectiosum, papular purpuric gloves and socks syndrome, roseola, Epstein Barr Virus-induced mononucleosis, and many of the enteroviral illnesses. Finally, we have progress to make in the management of rarer cutaneous viruses such as orf and cowpox. The management of all of these viruses will be discussed in this chapter.
Toward agile and resilient large-scale systems: Adaptive robust national/international infrastructures

How to manage or control a heterogeneous, widely dispersed, yet globally interconnected system is a serious technological problem in any case. It is even more complex and difficult to control it for optimal efficiency and maximum benefit to the ultimate consumers while still allowing all its business components to compete fairly and freely. This paper briefly describes our on-going work in our holistic approach to analysis of the national and global infrastructure development that builds on advances in the mathematics of complexity, methods of probabilistic risk assessment and techniques for fast computation and interactive simulation with the goal of increased agility and resilience for large-scale systems. As an example, a model and simulation of the “Electric Enterprise” (taken in the broadest possible sense and connected to telecom, water, oil/gas and financial networks) have been developed. The model uses autonomous, adaptive agents to represent both the possible industrial components, and the corporate entities that own these components. Objectives are: 1) To develop a high-fidelity scenario-free modelling and optimization tool to use for gaining strategic insight into the operation of the deregulated power industry; 2) to show how networks of communicating and cooperating intelligent software agents can be used to adaptively manage complex distributed systems; 3) to investigate how collections of agents (agencies) can be used to buy and sell electricity and participate in the electronic marketplace; and ultimately to create self-optimizing and self-healing capabilities for the electric power grid and the interconnected critical infrastructures. From a broader view, we have integrated these into a composite analysis technique, these advances raise an unprecedented new possibility for projecting the future implications—social, economic, environmental, human health, political, and technical—of major societal development activities and technology programs for nations individually and the world as a whole. Taken together, they promise both a real-time outlook and a future perspective on the spectrum of outcomes that might result from alternative national decision pathways. Such projection capability could reveal the development options, results, and implications for any strategy for any type of nation, whether primitive, underdeveloped, developing, or industrial. Forcing functions, critical junctures, and pinch points could be identified so that scarce development resources can be allocated to maximize benefit and minimize unintended consequences. The full realization of this next step in analysis of technology will require several years of dedicated international effort, but the need is urgent and the potential payoff great. The technical—and organizational—underpinnings for such a holistic analysis approach have been demonstrated. It remains for us to build from them a global tool for a better future.