cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conserving the Ogallala Aquifer in southwestern Kansas: from the wells to people, a holistic coupled natural–human model

Abstract. The impact of water policy on conserving the Ogallala Aquifer in Groundwater Management District 3 (GMD3) in southwestern Kansas is analyzed using a system-level theoretical approach integrating agricultural water and land use patterns, changing climate, economic trends, and population dynamics. In so doing, we (1) model the current hyper-extractive coupled natural–human (CNH) system, (2) forecast outcomes of policy scenarios transitioning the current groundwater-based economic system toward more sustainable paths for the social, economic, and natural components of the integrated system, and (3) develop public policy options for enhanced conservation while minimizing the economic costs for the region's communities. The findings corroborate previous studies showing that conservation often leads initially to an expansion of irrigation activities. However, we also find that the expanded presence of irrigated acreage reduces the impact of an increasingly drier climate on the region's economy and creates greater long-term stability in the farming sector along with increased employment and population in the region. On the negative side, conservation lowers the net present value of farmers' current investments and there is not a policy scenario that achieves a truly sustainable solution as defined by Peter H. Gleick. This study reinforces the salience of interdisciplinary linked CNH models to provide policy prescriptions to untangle and address significant environmental policy issues.
Teaching Inference about Proportions Using Bayes and Discrete Models

Teaching elementary statistical inference from a traditional viewpoint can be hard, due to the difficulty in teaching sampling distributions and the correct interpretation of statistical confidence...
Effectiveness of Oral Hygiene Instructions Given in Computer-Assisted Format versus a Self-Care Instructor

Background: This randomized, single-blinded, controlled study compares the effectiveness of two modes of delivering the same set of oral hygiene instructions: those loaded on a computer-assisted teaching format versus those given personally by a self-care instructor. Methods: 60 participants with mild to moderate periodontitis were randomized to either the computer-teaching format or the self-care instructor. Plaque score and bleeding indices were assessed at baseline and at 4 week re-evaluation to compare the instructional modalities. Results: At baseline, there was no difference in the parameters between the two groups. At re-evaluation, all parameters were significantly improved compared to baseline; however, there was no difference between any parameters in the computer group versus the instructor. Plaque score was significantly different between younger and older participants, such that participants under 50 years old had lower plaque scores when they received instructions using the computer format (72.5 ± 12.6 vs. 87.2 ± 10.4; p < 0.001). Additionally, in those under-50 year olds, plaque scores were significantly better in the group using the computer format (87.2 ± 10.4 vs. 78.3 ± 15.6; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Computer teaching formats and self-care instructors are both effective means of communicating oral hygiene instructions. Computer-assisted instruction format effectiveness may amplify as the population ages. Applications of computer formats teaching oral hygiene instructions and cost effectiveness comparison studies warrant significant future investigation.
Mode of Growth and Temperature Dependence on Expression of Atrazine-degrading Genes inPseudomonassp. strain ADP Biofilms

Bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP is capable of metabolizing atrazine, a synthetic herbicide, and uses atrazine as a sole nitrogen source for growth. The microbe completely mineralizes the substrate in a catabolic pathway comprised of six enzymatic steps. All enzymes, AtzA-AtzF, encoded by corresponding genes, AtzA-AtzF , are located on a self-transmissible plasmid, pADP-1. (Souza, M. L., Wackett, L.P., and Sadowsky, M.J Appl. and Environ. Microbiol. 64(6): 2323-2326, 1998) RT-qPCR was used to differentiate gene expression in atrazine-degrading genes in Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP cells grown as suspended cells and as biofilms. Relative gene expression was also evaluated for biofilms grown at 25 o C, 30 o C, and 37 o C. Complementary atrazine kinetic data was collected using GC-MS for both modes of growth and temperature variance. No significant difference in expression was observed for all atrazine-degrading genes in biofilm-mediated cells relative to planktonic cells, suggesting neither decreased or increased catabolic activity at the mRNA level. In contrasting experiments concerning biofilm growth, expression was downregulated at 37 o C for genes AtzA , AtzB , and AtzC and upregulated for genes AtzD , AtzE , AtzF, signifying Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP biofilms catabolic activity may change in response to substantial temperature changes. Gradual decreases in atrazine concentration were apparent in cells grown in shake flasks, while biofilm-mediated cells showed transient increases and decreases in reactor effluent. The complex extracellular matrix components, quorum sensing, and genetic transfer may account for accumulation and rapid degradation of atrazine. The data collected suggest biofilm-mediated bioremediation may give insight into catabolic activity and atrazine degradation potential.
Development and Evaluation of a Reverse-Entry Ion Source Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer

As a step towards development of a high-resolution ion mobility mass spectrometer using the orbitrap mass analyzer platform, we describe herein a novel reverse-entry ion source (REIS) coupled to the higher-energy C-trap dissociation (HCD) cell of an orbitrap mass spectrometer with extended mass range. Development of the REIS is a first step in the development of a drift tube ion mobility-orbitrap MS. The REIS approach retains the functionality of the commercial instrument ion source which permits the uninterrupted use of the instrument during development as well as performance comparisons between the two ion sources. Ubiquitin (8.5 kDa) and lipid binding to the ammonia transport channel (AmtB, 126 kDa) protein complex were used as model soluble and membrane proteins, respectively, to evaluate the performance of the REIS instrument. Mass resolution obtained with the REIS is comparable to that obtained using the commercial ion source. The charge state distributions for ubiquitin and AmtB obtained on the REIS are in agreement with previous studies which suggests that the REIS-orbitrap EMR retains native structure in the gas phase.
Guerrilla Architecture and Humanitarian Design

Cities of the future will be largely extra-legal. Most will not be planned nor be built on land that is legally owned. They will be realized without the formal input of civic or private agencies. Politicians, policy-makers, planners and civic leaders will have limited impact upon them. Architects and engineers will have even less. This professional marginalization is not due to a lack of expertise, nor is it due to a lack of desire. It is because the frameworks that support these professions are structured in a manner that privileges a pace and structure of interaction that is fundamentally counter with that used to build these future-cities. This chapter proposes an alternative manner of practice, one that is more aligned with the nature of these extra-legal settlements.
Left Main Revascularization: One Size Does Not Fit All.

The past decade has been rich in studies and meta-analyses examining whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could be a viable alternative to cardiac surgery, the current gold standard, for unprotected left main (LM) and multivessel revascularization. Some of these studies now have up to 5
Electrospun Nanofibers for Design and Fabrication of Electrocatalysts and Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel cells

In the past decades, in response to the energy needs of modern society and emerging ecological concerns, the pursuit of novel, low-cost, and environmentally friendly energy conversion and storage systems has raised significant interest. Among these systems, fuel cells have gained much attention for their high efficiency and high power density, with low greenhouse gas emission. As one of the most promising and versatile fabrication methods for one-dimensional mesostructured nanomaterials composed of organic, inorganic, metallic, or hybrid components prepared as randomly or orientedly arranged continuous nanofibrous mats with possibilities of ordered internal morphologies such as core-sheath, hollow, or porous fibers, or even multichanneled microtubes, electrospinning has been widely investigated to fabricate electrocatalysts and electrolyte materials applied in fuel cells because of their dimensional, directional, and compositional flexibility. In this chapter, the application of electrospun nanofibers for the specific design and fabrication of different components is reviewed in detail. Particular progresses with the use of electrospun nanofibers on improved fuel cell performance, such as power density, ionic conductivity, interfacial resistance, and chemical stability, as well as mechanical strength are emphasized, which, as we hope, can trigger further development and evolution of fuel cells as one potential energy conversion device and system.
Abstract 688: Risk of Radiation Induced Cancer from Cardiac CT in a Real-Life Clinical Patient Population

Previous studies on lifetime cancer risks from radiation at cardiac CT are based on extrapolation of data unrelated to medical imaging and on presumptive scan protocols but not on actual patient cohorts. We aimed to determine the realistic risk of radiation induced cancer based on a real-life clinical patient population undergoing cardiac CT. We studied 104 consecutive patients undergoing 64-slice cardiac CT (Siemens). Data were obtained on patient demographics (sex, age, weight) as well as CT technique (kV, mAs, scan length, DLP) which were used to determine median values and the 10th and 90th percentiles. Organ dose estimates were obtained using the ImPACT dosimetry spreadsheet. Organ doses were converted into patient lifetime risk of developing radiation induced fatal and non-fatal cancer using the BEIR VII approach. Patient cancer risks were adjusted taking into account patient sex, age and weight, the latter being an often neglected factor influencing radiation risk. The majority of patients (62%) were males, with a median patient age of 59 years (41–72) and a median weight of 92 kg (69–116). All scans were performed at 120 kV, and the median DLP was 1124 mGy-cm (940–1500). In normal sized patients, the organs receiving the highest radiation doses were the lung (76 mGy) and the female breasts (92 mGy). The average patient lifetime risk for developing a radiation induced cancer was 0.12%, of which 90% would be fatal. Approximately 85% of the radiation risk arises from the irradiation of the lung. Patients with an age and weight at the 10th percentile, who receive a DLP at the 90th percentile would have a cancer risk double the average value. In a typical clinical population undergoing cardiac CT patients are predominantly male, heavier set, and in their 5th–7th decade of life. In such a patient population the realistic risk of radiation induced cancer from cardiac CT is 0.12%, with the risk to the most sensitive patients being about twice this value. Thus, in a real-life clinical patient cohort the realistic risk of radiation induced cancer from cardiac CT is substantially lower than previously reported for general populations. Appropriate patient selection and indication remain the most important means for radiation protection.
Rattus mindanensis (Philippine black rat)

These karyotypes are gifts of Dr. D. H. Wurster-Hill, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA and the arrangement follows her description. Skin biopsies which served for the cytogenetic study came from animals trapped on Luzon, Philippines.
SYNTACTIC CATEGORIES IN SIGNED VERSUS SPOKEN LANGUAGES

Abstract Are syntactic categories a fundamental property of language – or of spoken language? Natural sign languages share the fundamental properties of language. Are there any significant effects of the modality of transmission – the fact that spoken languages are primarily sequential, while sign languages employ a significant spatial component? Linguistic categories include both language-specific and language-universal types. By considering the properties that languages share, linguists develop theories which attempt to capture the permissible range of variation. Most of these theories are based on the analysis of spoken languages only. Thus, they are in danger of overlooking the properties exhibited by language in the visual modality. This chapter focuses on morphosyntactic properties which on first examination seem to show effects of the linguistic modality. On further analysis, these properties are argued to be more deeply similar across the modes
cDNA microarray to study gene expression of dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in MPTP and 6-hydroxydopamine models: implications for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease

cDNA microarray membranes comprising 1,200 different gene fragments have been employed to identify gene expression profile in MPTPinduced nigro striatal dopamine neurodegeneration and its protection with R-apomorphine. Both MPTP (N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) and R-apomorphine (R-APO) induced alterations in specific patterns of gene expression. MPTP altered the expression of 49 different genes involved in oxidative stress (oxidative stress-induced protein A 170, cytochrome P450 1A1 and Osp94), inflammation (cytotoxic cytokines, eg: IL-1, IL-6, TNFalpha), protective cytokines (IL-10), glutamate receptors (NMDA but not AMPA receptors), neurotrophic factors (GDNF, EGF), nitric oxide synthase and transferrin receptor, as determined by microarray membrane hybridization. Furthermore, an additional cascade of further, yet undefined events, also occurred (cell cycle regulators and signal transduction factors), that might act in parallel to oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation, to converge eventually into a common pathway leading to neurodegeneration. R-APO, previously shown by us to protect against MPTP neurotoxicity, prevented the over expression of several genes known to participate in cell death. cDNA microarrays will provide new prospects to study and identify various mechanism of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection not feasible with conventional biochemical procedures, as well as new prospects to develop effective neuroprotective drugs.
Retrospective review of FOLFIRINOX in local advanced pancreatic cancer: Single institution experience.

e15714Background: Although combination of fluorouracil, irinotecan, Leucovorin and oxaliplatin [FOLFIRINOX] significantly increases survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) compared to gemcitabine based on ACCORD trial, the efficacy and toxicities may be different in non-metastatic setting. We reviewed our institution’s experience with FOLFIRINOX in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Methods: We performed a retrospective review of clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with LAPC and receiving between June 2010 and July 2015, with at least one year of follow up from diagnosis, at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Results: Total of 41 patients with ECOG performance scale of 0 or 1, who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX were assessed for clinical and pathological characteristics. Median age was 61 years (range 38-81) with 23 (56.1%) males, 28 (68.3%) Caucasians and 16 (39.0%) underwent surgery (whipple operation) post-neoadjuvant. Median OS (time of diagnosis to last follow...
Data-Driven Scheduling for Improving Patient Efficiency in Ophthalmology Clinics.

Purpose To improve clinic efficiency through development of an ophthalmology scheduling template developed using simulation models and electronic health record (EHR) data. Design We created a computer simulation model of 1 pediatric ophthalmologist’s clinic using EHR timestamp data, which was used to develop a scheduling template based on appointment length (short, medium, or long). We assessed its impact on clinic efficiency after implementation in the practices of 5 different pediatric ophthalmologists. Participants We observed and timed patient appointments in person (n = 120) and collected EHR timestamps for 2 years of appointments (n = 650). We calculated efficiency measures for 172 clinic sessions before implementation vs. 119 clinic sessions after implementation. Methods We validated clinic workflow timings calculated from EHR timestamps and the simulation models based on them with observed timings. From simulation tests, we developed a new scheduling template and evaluated it with efficiency metrics before vs. after implementation. Main Outcome Measures Measurements of clinical efficiency (mean clinic volume, patient wait time, examination time, and clinic length). Results Mean physician examination time calculated from EHR timestamps was 13.8±8.2 minutes and was not statistically different from mean physician examination time from in-person observation (13.3±7.3 minutes; P = 0.7), suggesting that EHR timestamps are accurate. Mean patient wait time for the simulation model (31.2±10.9 minutes) was not statistically different from the observed mean patient wait times (32.6±25.3 minutes; P = 0.9), suggesting that simulation models are accurate. After implementation of the new scheduling template, all 5 pediatric ophthalmologists showed statistically significant improvements in clinic volume (mean increase of 1–3 patients/session; P ≤ 0.05 for 2 providers; P ≤ 0.008 for 3 providers), whereas 4 of 5 had improvements in mean patient wait time (average improvements of 3–4 minutes/patient; statistically significant for 2 providers, P ≤ 0.008). All of the ophthalmologists’ examination times remained the same before and after implementation. Conclusions Simulation models based on big data from EHRs can test clinic changes before real-life implementation. A scheduling template using predicted appointment length improves clinic efficiency and may generalize to other clinics. Electronic health records have potential to become tools for supporting clinic operations improvement.
Development and validation of rapid environmental DNA (eDNA) detection methods for bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii).

Bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) for wildlife action plans in every state it occurs and multi-state efforts are underway to better characterize extant populations and prioritize restoration efforts. However, traditional sampling methods can be ineffective due to the turtle’s wetland habitat, small size, and burrowing nature. Molecular methods, such as qPCR, provide the ability to overcome this challenge by effectively quantifying minute amounts of turtle DNA left behind in its environment (eDNA). Developing such methods for bog turtles has proved difficult partly because of the high sequence similarity between bog turtles and closely-related, cohabitating species, most often wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta). Additionally, substrates containing bog turtle eDNA are often rich in organics or other substances that frequently inhibit both DNA extraction and qPCR amplification. Here, we describe the development and validation of a qPCR assay, BT3, targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene that correctly identifies bog turtles with 100% specificity and sensitivity when tested on 201 blood samples collected from six species over a wide geographic range. We also developed a full-process internal control employing a genetically modified strain of Caenorhabditis elegans to improve DNA extraction methods, limit false negative results due to qPCR inhibition, and measure total DNA recovery from each sample. Using the internal control, we found that DNA recovery varied by over an order of magnitude between samples and likely explains the lack of bog turtle detection in some cases. Methods presented herein are highly-specific and may offer a more cost effective, non-invasive tool to supplement bog turtle population assessments in the Eastern United States. Poor or differential DNA recovery, which remains unmeasured in the vast majority of eDNA studies, significantly reduced the ability to detect bog turtle in their natural environment.
Chapter 20 – Synopsis

The state-of-the-art for insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) products is described. Devices have been optimized for blocking voltages ranging from 600 to 6500 V. The operating current density for the silicon IGBTs is quantified for each blocking voltage capability. The advent of wide band gap semiconductor power devices is discussed as a competitor to the silicon IGBT. The derivation of the Baliga's figure-of-merit is discussed. The development of silicon carbide power devices is described. State-of-the-art SiC power Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) performance is documented. A cost analysis is presented for SiC power MOSFETs to allow comparison with silicon IGBTs. It is concluded that the cost of SiC devices is six times larger than that of silicon IGBTs.
Use of high-sensitivity digital ELISA improves the diagnostic performance of circulating brain-specific proteins for detection of traumatic brain injury during triage

Background: Historically, limited sensitivity associated with traditional immunoassay methods has prevented the use of brain-specific proteins as blood biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI) during triage, as these proteins exhibit low circulating concentrations. Digital ELISA is a newly-developed technique that is up to 1000 times more sensitive than conventional ELISA methods. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of digital ELISA over conventional ELISA improves the performance of brain-specific proteins as blood biomarkers of TBI during triage.Methods: Blood was sampled from TBI patients (n = 13) at emergency department admission, as well as from neurologically normal controls (n = 72). Serum levels of two brain-specific proteins, neurofilament light chain (NfL) and Tau, were measured via digital ELISA. Estimated conventional ELISA measures were generated by adjusting values according to the lower limits of detection achievable with commercially available conventional ELISA assays, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the diagnostic performance of digital ELISA measures to estimated conventional ELISA measures in terms of their ability to discriminate between TBI patients and controls.Results: Used in combination, digital ELISA measures of NfL and Tau could discriminate between groups with 100% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. Estimated conventional ELISA measures could only discriminate between groups with 7.7% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity. This difference in diagnostic performance was statistically significant when comparing areas under ROC curves.Conclusions: The use of digital ELISA over conventional ELISA methods improves the diagnostic performance of circulating brain-specific proteins for detection of TBI during triage.
Retained Temporary Epicardial Pacing Wires: A Systematic Review and Treatment Algorithm.

Introduction Temporary epicardial pacing wires (TEPW) are used in the immediate postoperative cardiac surgery period for the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of acute arrhythmias. They are usually removed before discharge, but are sometimes clipped and left to retract into the skin and are thus retained. Rare complications from these retained wires have been documented in numerous case reports. We describe a case of a 57-year-old man with chronically draining wounds due to infected retained pacing wires. This case prompted a systematic review of these patients to delineate complications and to create a novel treatment algorithm. Methods The authors conducted a systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases and retrieved relevant, English-language articles published between 1986 and 2018. Two reviewers critically appraised the studies that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results Thirty-one articles met inclusion criteria with a total of 35 patients included. The existing articles represent either level IV or level V evidence. Mean ± SD time of presentation from initial TEPW placement was 4.9 ± 5.9 years, with a range of 1 month to 24 years and 77% of patients were symptomatic. The TEPW wire migration occurred in 74% of patients, with invasion into vasculature, visceral organs, and subcutaneous tissue. Most of the patients who underwent wire removal had complete recovery. The relevant literature suggests that there is a wide range of complications, and migration is more often associated with need for surgical intervention. Conclusions In patients with severe symptoms or evidence of migration, surgical intervention and removal should be strongly considered to prevent potentially deadly complications. We propose an algorithm to minimize these complications based on a literature analysis in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
Yellow star, red star: Holocaust remembrance after communism

For so much of European history, discussion about the Jews has not really been about Jews. For example, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an antisemitic text published in 1903 that described the...
John R. Commons and the Moral Foundations of American Labor Law

John R. Commons’ Legal Foundations of Capitalism (1924) is relevant for American labor law because it represented in some ways the pinnacle of the Progressive Movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. Commons believed that markets were not automatically self-correcting so that workers would not necessarily be treated fairly. This view explains why he was a founder of institutional economics, as opposed to a supporter of neoclassical economics. Commons also discussed the limitations of the American legal system in favoring big business rather than labor unions. In this essay, I discuss Commons’ criticisms, supplemented by contemporary scholars’ work. In modern society, procedures are often understood better than the goals that they are meant to facilitate. This means that many writers in the Law and Economics field are no longer comfortable in conceptualizing how quantitative measures of value can be usefully combined with qualitative measures of value, resulting in justice. The ideas of John R. Commons as a founder of institutional economics are discussed as a remedy for this.
Retirement decisions in a changing labor market

The papers in this volume examine a series of important questions that influence the transition from full time employment to complete retirement. Retirement is shown to be a process as individuals move from career jobs to bridge jobs to being out of the labor force. The articles examine the characteristics of bridge jobs and the employment conditions that older workers prefer. Analysis provided by the authors show the importance of saving throughout work life and how pension plans and retirement saving plans influence the timing of retirement.
Nursing home social services: A systematic review of the literature from 2010 to 2020.

Nursing home (NH) social workers carry out person-centered care, guided by the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act. As the projected population of individuals requiring NH care is expected to grow and bec...
Car seat heater burns: awareness and prevention

The demand for car seat heaters is on the rise due to the added comfort they offer passengers. However, such luxury is not without risk and prolonged exposure to high surface temperatures of the seat may result in severe burns. We present a unique case of an 18-year-old paraplegic patient who sustained severe full-thickness burns requiring operative intervention after prolonged exposure to a car seat heater. We then tested 10 car seat heaters manufactured after 2014 to establish maximum temperature settings and safety features. We also examine the importance of raising awareness to this issue and share the concerns of previous publications regarding the lack of manufacturer standards in car seat heaters.
Diagnosing Diabetes, Diagnosing Colonialism: An Ethnography of the Classification and Counting of a Senegalese Metabolic Disease

This article explores the top-down production of the statistics frequently circulated in global health. These data must first originate in a place like the public hospital in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in doctor’s offices and laboratories and medical archives. At their root, these data are an accumulation of individual bodies, experiences, and intimate diagnostic moments. This aggregation turns the afflicted into categories and statistical regimes that shape a global health understanding of diabetes specifically, and noncommunicable diseases broadly. This article explores the individual diabetes diagnostic moment itself and the politics of the current nosology of Type 1 and Type 2, a seemingly neutral dichotomy that belies colonial relationships between Senegal, slavery, sugar production and consumption, and the effects these relationships have on contemporary conceptions of diabetes diagnosis in Senegal and global health.
A Portable Micro-Gas Chromatography with Integrated Photonic Crystal Slab Sensors on Chip.

The miniaturization of gas chromatography (GC) systems has made it possible to utilize the analytical technique in various on-site applications to rapidly analyze complex gas samples. Various types of miniaturized sensors have been developed for micro-gas chromatography (µGC). However, the integration of an appropriate detector in µGC systems still faces a significant challenge. We present a solution to the problem through integration of µGC with photonic crystal slab (PCS) sensors using transfer printing technology. This integration offers an opportunity to utilize the advantages of optical sensors, such as high sensitivity and rapid response time, and at the same time, compensate for the lack of detection specificity from which label-free optical sensors suffer. We transfer printed a 2D defect free PCS on a borofloat glass, bonded it to a silicon microfluidic gas cell or directly to a microfabricated GC column, and then coated it with a gas responsive polymer. Realtime spectral shift in Fano resonance of the PCS sensor was used to quantitatively detect analytes over a mass range of three orders. The integrated µGC–PCS system was used to demonstrate separation and detection of a complex mixture of 10 chemicals. Fast separation and detection (4 min) and a low detection limit (ng) was demonstrated.
Incorporation of Azide Functionality into Recombinant Protein via Recombinant, Enzymatic, and Chemical Approaches for Bio-Orthogonal Modification

Introducing unique functional group into proteins is an attractive approach for site-specific protein modification applications. In this study, we systemically investigated four different strategie...
The Vector-Ballot E-voting approach

Looking at current cryptographic-based e-voting protocols, one can distinguish three basic design paradigms (or approaches): (a) Mix-Networks based, (b) Homomorphic Encryption based, and (c) Blind Signatures based. Each of the three possesses different advantages and disadvantages w.r.t. the basic properties of (i) efficient tallying, (ii) universal verifiability, and (iii) allowing write-in ballot capability (in addition to predetermined candidates). In fact, none of the approaches results in a scheme that simultaneously achieves all three. This is unfortunate, since the three basic properties are crucial for efficiency, integrity and versatility (flexibility), respectively. Further, one can argue that a serious business offering of voting technology should offer a flexible technology that achieves various election goals with a single user interface. This motivates our goal, which is to suggest a new ”vector-ballot” based approach for secret-ballot e-voting that is based on three new notions: Provably Consistent Vector Ballot Encodings, Shrink-and-Mix Networks and Punch-Hole-Vector-Ballots. At the heart of our approach is the combination of mix networks and homomorphic encryption under a single user interface; given this, it is rather surprising that it achieves much more than any of the previous approaches for e-voting achieved in terms of the basic properties. Our approach is presented in two generic designs called ”homomorphic vector-ballots with write-in votes” and ”multi-candidate punch-hole vector-ballots”; both of our designs can be instantiated over any homomorphic encryption function.
Cannabis Use Frequency and Use-Related Impairment among African American and White Users: The Impact of Cannabis Use Motives

ABSTRACTObjectives. Cannabis use motives are differentially related to cannabis-related impairment and coping motives appear to have the strongest relation to use-related impairment. However, it is currently unknown whether African-American individuals differ from White persons in reasons for using cannabis. It is also unknown whether motives’ relations to cannabis use and related impairment vary as a function of race. The present study examined the role of race on cannabis use motives and tested whether motives’ relations with cannabis use and related impairment differed by race.Design. The sample consisted of 111 (67.6% non-Hispanic White, 32.4% African-American) current cannabis-using adults.Results. African-American participants did not significantly differ from White participants on cannabis use frequency or use-related impairment. African-American participants endorsed more social motives than White participants. Race interacted with social, coping, and conformity motives to predict cannabis-related...
Towards net-centric cyber survivability for ballistic missile defense

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is engaged in a mission to unify its software systems towards a “net-centric” vision—where commanders gain advantage by rapidly producing, consuming, and sharing information using service oriented architectures (SOAs). In this paper, we study the cyber survivability of mission-critical net-centric systems, focusing on Ballistic-Missile-Defense (BMD) systems. We propose a net-centric architecture for augmenting the survivability of critical DoD net-centric systems. Our architecture draws inspiration from several theories of warfare, focusing on the goal of giving cyber commanders “decision superiority.” Our architecture prescribes a net-centric decision-support system that implements the Cyber OODA loop (the cycle of observing, orienting, deciding, and acting within the cyber domain). We present an illustration-of-concept prototype implementation, and describe its role in a ballistic-missile exercise. We relate our experiences from this exercise and suggest future directions towards achieving net-centric cyber survivability.
Sled for benthic microbial fuel cell deployment with carbon fabric anodes

Benthic microbial fuel cells generate renewable power from the ocean sea floor and can be used to power sensors and other Navy relevant systems. Deployment of benthic microbial fuel cells by divers continues to be a significant cost attributed to their use as possible power sources for underwater instruments. A significant amount of effort is involved in placing the anode material at an appropriate depth to encourage suitable power generation. This is necessary to provide anaerobic conditions, preventing the interference of oxygen as an alternative electron acceptor to the fuel cell anode. Traditionally, divers have been used to bury large scale systems (m2) that generate 10–100 mW of power. To eliminate the need for a diver, the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center- Pacific has developed a sled for deploying BMFCs with fabric anodes. The sled has an axle that holds the fabric and unrolls it under the sediment surface. The sled system has been demonstrated to deploy on the order of 10 m2 of fabric anode material within minutes. A fabric anode was designed, which holds the promise to outperform traditional graphite anodes. A sled deployable BMFC architecture that uses a fabric anode was developed, deployed, and tested in San Diego Bay with the goal of powering remote marine sensors for the Navy.
Structure of human dual-specificity phosphatase 7, a potential cancer drug target

Human dual-specificity phosphatase 7 (DUSP7/Pyst2) is a 320-residue protein that belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase (MKP) subfamily of dual-specificity phosphatases. Although its precise biological function is still not fully understood, previous reports have demonstrated that DUSP7 is overexpressed in myeloid leukemia and other malignancies. Therefore, there is interest in developing DUSP7 inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents, especially for cancer. Here, the purification, crystallization and structure determination of the catalytic domain of DUSP7 (Ser141–Ser289/C232S) at 1.67 A resolution are reported. The structure described here provides a starting point for structure-assisted inhibitor-design efforts and adds to the growing knowledge base of three-dimensional structures of the dual-specificity phosphatase family.
Headquarters–subsidiary relationships in MNCs: Fifty years of evolving research

We review the contributions to research on headquarters–subsidiary (HQS) relationships published in the Journal of World Business (known as the Columbia Journal of World Business until 1997) from the late 1960s to the present day. Based on 81 articles on the topic, we identify trends and dominant approaches in the journal's contributions to this area and link them to trends in the broader field of international management (IM) research and practice. We underline the journal's pioneering role in identifying and bringing to the forefront novel research questions and ideas that would later become central to the IM field. We conclude by assessing the importance and relevance of the journal's contributions to the literature on HQS relationships and by suggesting several directions for future research in this area, which could build on past work and leverage new phenomena.
Mechanical behavior of silica optical fibers coated with low-index low-surface energy perfluorinated polymer

Two formulations based on perfluorinated polymer were prepared for use as UV-curable optical cladding for silica fibers. In the first formulation an adhesion promoting agent based on fluoroacrylate resin was synthesized and mixed with the experimental product Defensa 7702++ in order to promote wetting and chemical adhesion to the silica fibers. In the second formulation, wetting and physical adhesion between the liquid coating and the silica fibers were achieved by increasing the viscosity of the starting coating by addition of unsaturated perfluorinated polymer into Defensa. Both formulations were used as primary coatings on dual coated silica optical fibers. The mechanical behavior of the formulations was characterized by the strip test, the pull-out test and zero stress aging in 90 degrees Celsius pH 7 buffer. The results show that both formulations exhibit better wetting-adhesion characteristics than unmodified starting coating and that the strength degradation during zero- stress aging was lower for the fiber coated with the formulation of higher viscosity.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Parent-based intervention strategies to reduce adolescent alcohol-impaired driving.

Objective: To review selected issues to consider when designing parent-based interventions for reducing alcohol-impaired driving in adolescent populations and to present a theoretical framework for analyzing such behavior. Methods: The existing literature on alcohol-impaired driving and parent influences is considered based on a literature review of contemporary social science journals. Data also are presented from a survey of junior and senior high school students in the Capitol District of New York. Conclusions: Parent-based approaches are promising and represent an additional tool in the armament of strategies to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. Programs should focus on variables that are amenable to change (cognitions and attitudes), conduct preliminary studies to isolate relevant attitudes and cognitions for the target population of interest, formulate strategies that recognize the numerous demands in a parent's life and take into account existing theoretical frameworks on alcohol-impaired driving in...
Density-induced quantum phase transitions in the ground state of triplet superconductors

We consider the possibility of quantum phase transitions in the ground state of triplet superconductors where particle density is the tuning parameter. For definiteness, we focus on the case of one band quasi-one-dimensional triplet superconductors but many of our conclusions regarding the nature of the transition are quite general. Within the functional integral formulation, we calculate the electronic compressibility and superfluid density tensor as a function of the particle density for various triplet order-parameter symmetries and find that these quantities are nonanalytic when a critical value of the particle density is reached.
Self-organized growth of In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots and their opto-electronic device applications

The self-assembly technique of forming three-dimensional islands in the growth of highly strained semiconductor heterostructures has emerged as a powerful technique for the realization of an ordered array of quantum dots. Such quantum dots have been incorporated into the active region of optoelectronic and microelectronic devices in the hope of improving device performance or engineering new ones. Here we present the growth, optical characterization, and device applications for self-assembled InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots.
Development and application of the rated ranking technique in performance appraisal

A performance appraisal procedure called rated ranking is described in which alternation rankings are followed by a rating of the individuals ranked within the limits imposed by the initial rank orders. This procedure was used by 21 foremen in evaluating 185 semi-skilled mine and plant employees of a single company. The results of this application were used to investigate the value of the rated ranking procedure including reliability, nature of the distributions, differences between groups and individuals, halo, construct validity and potential bias in the evaluations. The results provide an encouraging picture of ranking procedures when the rated ranking process is incorporated. The approach has demonstrated value for the purpose of validating selection procedures.
The whereabouts clock: early testing of a situated awareness device

We describe the initial deployment of a prototype device to support awareness of people's location and activities in an office environment. This is a first step toward the design and testing of a related device for the home. Findings from this workplace trial show its value in helping people have a virtual presence, in locating people, and in fostering a sense of group belonging. However, the results also suggest how the design could be made more flexible and expressive which we will explore in the upcoming home trial.
Botulinum toxin type B in piriformis syndrome.

ABSTRACTLang AM: Botulinum toxin type B in piriformis syndrome. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004;83:198–202.ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type B (MYOBLOC) in reducing myofascial pain associated with piriformis syndrome.DesignThis was a single-center, outpatient,
Identity of the Distal Segments of the Maxilla 2 and Maxilliped in Copepods: New Teeth for Carl Claus' Old Saw

Interpretations by Claus and Gicsbrecht of the identity of the distal segments of the maxilla 2 and maxilliped in copepods are reviewed. The developmental pattern of setal additions to these appendages suggests that the distal segments of maxilla 2 are exopodal, while those of the maxilliped are endopodal; these data are consistent with the interpretation of Claus. Information about the genetic regulation of development of a fruitfly, and a reinterpretation of a fossil arthropod also support Claus. A general hypothesis identifies a compartment with a contralateral pair of uniramal limbs as the basic division of the body of an ancestral arthropod. Somites, crustacean biramal appendages, and insect uniramal appendages arc derived. The general hypothesis is used to explain the structure of a copepod including maxilla 2 and maxilliped.
Correlation analysis of dissimilarity matrices

Distance-based methods have been a valuable tool for ecologists for decades. Indirectly, distance-based ordination and cluster analysis, in particular, have been widely practiced as they allow the visualization of a multivariate data set in a few dimensions. The explicitly distance-based Mantel test and multiple regression on distance matrices (MRM) add hypothesis testing to the toolbox. One concern for ecologists wishing to use these methods lies in deciding whether to combine data vectors into a compound multivariate dissimilarity to analyze them individually. For Euclidean distances on scaled data, the correlation of a pair of multivariate distance matrices can be calculated from the correlations between the two sets of individual distance matrices if one set is orthogonal, demonstrating a clear link between individual and compound distances. The choice between Mantel and MRM should be driven by ecological hypotheses rather than mathematical concerns. The relationship between individual and compound distance matrices also provides a means for calculating the maximum possible value of the Mantel statistic, which can be considerably less than 1 for a given analysis. These relationships are demonstrated with simulated data. Although these mathematical relationships are only strictly true for Euclidean distances when one set of variables is orthogonal, simulations show that they are approximately true for weakly correlated variables and Bray–Curtis dissimilarities.
Simultaneous temporal and spatial processing

Rats searched for food that was contingent on time and place in an open field. One location was active at a time, the active location moved in a clockwise direction after each reward, and each location was repeated several times on each daily session. When a location was active, the first response after a fixed interval produced food. The intervals associated with each of the four locations were consistently 60, 30, 30, and 60 sec. For independent groups, inspecting an inactive location had no consequence (n = 7) or reduced the amount of food delivered at the active location (n = 6). The rates of inspecting active and inactive locations increased before the associated intervals elapsed, with preferential responding at the active locations. Rates of anticipation at active locations failed to superimpose when plotted as a function of proportional time. Simultaneous temporal and spatial processing contributed to the failure of proportional timing.