cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unstable inter-H chain disulfide bonding and non-covalently associated J chain in rat dimeric IgA

Abstract Disulfide bonds are a major force in stabilizing the three-dimensional structure of immunoglobulins. To determine the pattern of interchain disulfide bonding between the four H chains, four L chains and single J chain of rat dimeric IgA (dIgA), we analyzed dIgA from the LO DNP-64 hybridoma by diagonal SDS-PAGE. Bands corresponding to one, two, three and four H chains, one and two L chains and the free J chain were observed under non-reducing conditions, suggesting that the interchain disulfide bonds in rat dIgA are unstable under denaturing conditions. Similar patterns of disulfide bonding were observed in three other hybridoma or myeloma dIgAs from LOU/CN rats. In contrast, when dIgA pretreated with iodoacetamide (IA) was analyzed by the same technique, only bands corresponding to four H chains, one and two L chains and the free J chain were observed, suggesting that blocking free sulfhydryl groups stabilizes the inter-H chain disulfide bonds. Reaction of dimeric LO DNP-64 dIgA with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) or with 14 C-IA demonstrated that this dIgA contains an average of 4 moles of free sulfhydryl groups per mole of protein under non-denaturing conditions and 9 moles of free sulfhydryl groups under denaturing conditions. Taken together, the results suggest that interchain disulfide bonds in rat dIgA are unstable, presumably due to the influence of nearby free sulfhydryl groups, and that non-covalent forces are critical for stabilizing the dIgA complex. The results also indicate that J chain is entirely non-covalently associatd with the H chains, an apparently unique feature of rat dIgA. A model for interchain disulfide bonding in rat dIgA is proposed.
Reconfigurable integrated optoelectronics

This paper presents the building-block theory of reconfigurable optoelectronic integrated circuits in Si and InP. New chips are proposed.
Microstructure Evolution during Roller Hemming of AZ31B Magnesium Sheet

The differences in the microstructure evolution during laser-roller hemming and conventional roller hemming (done at room temperature) of commercial-grade AZ31B sheet were studied using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). It was observed that the flanging operation, done as a precursor to roller hemming, produced a heterogeneous grain structure that remained throughout the subsequent hemming steps. Laser heating, applied during the roller passes, significantly reduced the amount of both extension and contraction twinning in the inner and outer band, respectively. More importantly, after two roller passes without laser heating, extension twinning in the inner band seemed to saturate. This forced the material in the inner band to accommodate further deformation by harder mechanisms, such as pyramidal slip and contraction twinning, during the third roller pass when failure occurred. The laser-hemmed samples exhibited much lower hardness values, especially in the inner band, which was deemed to be largely responsible for the success of the hemming operation with laser heating.
Embedded tutorial 2: compilers for power and energy management

Summary form only given. In this tutorial, I will give an overview of current approaches to compiler-directed power and energy mangement. I will discuss several promising compiler optimization techniques in detail, together with an assessment of their potential benefits. These optimizations include remote task mapping, resource hibernation, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, and quality of result tradeoffs. Based on preliminary experiences with these optimizations, I will present a compiler writer's wish list for hardware architects and OS designers in order to support application specific power and energy management. An overview of future challenges will conclude the tutorial.
Risk Management and the Responsible Corporation: How Sweeping the Invisible Hand?

Although enterprise risk management (ERM) has many benefits for corporations, there has been virtually no discussion of the extent to which its practice may be said to constitute corporate social responsibility. This article presents a prima facie case for the convergence of the two and examines this case through a consideration of four possible objections or challenges. The conclusion of this article is a tempered optimism that ERM has the significant, but as yet untapped, potential to constitute socially responsible activity, which, if realized, would enable Adam Smith's invisible hand of the marketplace to have an expanded sweep.
Response planning and generation in the mercury flight reservation system

Abstract This paper describes the response planning and generation components of the mercury flight reservation system, a mixed-initiative spoken dialogue system that supports both voice-only interaction and multi-modal interaction augmenting spoken inputs with typing or clicking at a displayed Web page. mercury is configured using the Galaxy Communicator architecture ( Seneff, Hurley, Lau, Schmid, & Zue, 1998 ), where a suite of servers interact via program control mediated by a central hub. Language generation is performed in two steps: response planning, or deep-structure generation, is carried out by the dialogue manager, and is well-integrated with other aspects of dialogue control; control flow is specified by a dialogue control table ( Seneff & Polifroni, 2000a ). Response generation, or surface-form generation, is executed by a separate language generation server, under the guidance of a set of recursive generation rules and an associated lexicon ( Baptist & Seneff, 2000 ). The generation of the textual string for the graphical interface and the marked-up synthesis string for spoken outputs are controlled by a shared set of generation rules ( Seneff & Polifroni, 2000b ). Thus there is a direct meaning-to-speech mapping that eliminates the need to analyze linguistic structure for synthesis. To date, we have collected over 25 000 utterances from users interacting with the mercury system. We report here on both the results of user satisfaction studies conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and on our own tabulation of a number of different measures of dialogue success.
Downstream Influence of Film-Cooling in a High-Speed Laminar Boundary Layer

B = mass injection parameter Cf = skin-friction coefficient He = total enthalpy h — enthalpy K = ratio of enthalpy L = characteristic length M = mass velocity parameter (pvjjpu)^ qw = heat flux at the wall Re = Reynolds number St = Stanton number T = absolute temperature u = velocity in the stream direction v = velocity in the ^-direction x = coordinate distance measured from actual origin of boundarylayer growth x0 = length of porous plate 3; = coordinate distance measured perpendicular to surface /? = ratio of enthalpy deficit thickness to momentum thickness 6 = velocity boundary-layer thickness 6h = enthalpy deficit thickness ST = thermal boundary-layer thickness SL = compressibility factor r\ = film-cooling effectiveness parameter 0 = momentum thickness <f) = solid-wall effectiveness parameter ^ = dynamic viscosity p = density
Resonance of relativistic electrons with electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves

Relativistic electrons have been thought to more easily resonate with electromagnetic ion cyclotron EMIC waves if the total density is large. We show that, for a particular EMIC mode, this dependence is weak due to the dependence of the wave frequency and wave vector on the density. A significant increase in relativistic electron minimum resonant energy might occur for the H band EMIC mode only for small density, but no changes in parameters significantly decrease the minimum resonant energy from a nominal value. The minimum resonant energy depends most strongly on the thermal velocity associated with the field line motion of the hot ring current protons that drive the instability. High density due to a plasmasphere or plasmaspheric plume could possibly lead to lower minimum resonance energy by causing the He band EMIC mode to be dominant. We demonstrate these points using parameters from a ring current simulation.
Effect of interfacial viscosities upon displacement in capillaries with special application to tertiary oil recovery

Washburn's equation has been generalized to explain the relative effects of the interfacial viscosities, interfacial tension, and wetting during displacement in a single, cylindrical capillary. The effect of the interfacial viscosities is to increase the resistance to displacement regardless of the wetting condition. The predictions of a prior qualitative theory for the relative effects of the interfacial viscosities and of interfacial tension during tertiary oil recovery are fully supported by this analysis. This discussion further indicates that the interfacial dilatational viscosity may be relatively more important than the interfacial shear viscosity.
Comparative and Experimental Approaches to the Study of Microbial Food Webs

The study of microbial food webs is dominated by field measurements of microbial standing stocks and rate processes and to a lesser extent by laboratory studies. These approaches reflect the concerns of microbial ecologists to assess accurately the capabilities of microorganisms and to compare microbial processes to other ecosystem parameters. These approaches have led to enormous advances in understanding microbial food webs. Reconciling our expanding knowledge with general questions about the significance and representation of microbial food webs in ecosystem studies requires additional approaches including comparative studies and field experiments. Comparative studies, analyses of microbial stocks or rates across a wide range of ecosystems, lead to quantitative models of microbial processes. These models facilitate testing of hypotheses at a very general level, allow the comparison of different stocks or rate processes across a gradient of systems, and detect unusual situations or outlier systems. Field experimental manipulations offer the advantages of working with intact natural communities, of direct evaluation of results with statistical methods, and of testing important qualitative hypotheses. Both comparative and field manipulation studies have led to important advances in the study of microbial food webs and should be expanded.
A Study on Changing the Distribution of Winding Coils for Power Transformers Design

The transient characteristics of inrush current that can lead to the inadvertent operation of the protective system has not been assessed previously. This study proposes a design that reduces inrush current based on increasing the inrush equivalent inductance by changing the distribution of winding coils. The high inrush equivalent inductance must be determined by appropriately limiting leakage inductance to consider low voltage regulation. During this work, three 220 V/110–220 V 5 kVA transformers were developed to demonstrate the approach. Field tests and theory indicate that the proposed method successfully limits the inrush current.
Structural Evolution during Photocorrosion of Ni/NiO Core/Shell Cocatalyst on TiO2

The Ni/NiO core/shell structure is one of the most efficient cocatalysts for solar water splitting when coupled with suitable semiconducting oxides. It has been shown that pretreated Ni/NiO core/shell structures are more active than pure Ni metal, pure NiO, or mixed dispersion of Ni metal and NiO nanoparticles. However, Ni/NiO core/shell structures on TiO2 are only able to generate H2 but not O2 in aqueous water. The nature of the hydrogen evolution reaction in these systems was investigated by correlating photochemical H2 production with atomic-resolution structure determined with aberration-corrected electron microscopy. It was found that the core/shell structure plays an important role for H2 generation but the system undergoes deactivation due to a loss of metallic Ni. During the H2 evolution reaction, the metal core initially formed partial voids which grew, and eventually all the Ni diffused out of the core/shell into solution leaving an inactive hollow void/NiO shell. The H2 evolution was generated...
Use of Enrichment Real-Time PCR To Enumerate Salmonella on Chicken Parts†

Salmonella bacteria that survive cooking or that cross-contaminate other food during meal preparation and serving represent primary routes of consumer exposure to this pathogen from chicken. In the present study, enrichment real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to enumerate Salmonella bacteria that contaminate raw chicken parts at retail or that cross-contaminate cooked chicken during simulated meal preparation and serving. Whole raw chickens obtained at retail were partitioned into wings, breasts, thighs, and drumsticks using a sterilized knife and cutting board, which were then used to partition a cooked chicken breast to assess cross-contamination. After enrichment in buffered peptone water (400 ml, 8 h, 40°C, 80 rpm), subsamples were used for qPCR and cultural isolation of Salmonella. In some experiments, chicken parts were spiked with 0 to 3.6 log of Salmonella Typhimurium var. 5− to generate a standard curve for enumeration by qPCR. Of 10 raw chickens examined, 7 (70%) had one or more parts contaminated wit...
Filicide-Suicide in Chicago, 1870-1930

Filicide (the killing of a child by a parent) followed by the offender's suicide is a tragic but, fortunately, rare event. The contexts and circumstances surrounding filicide-suicide may provide insight into parental psychology. The authors test several hypotheses about filicide-suicide using a database including incident-level information on 11,018 Chicago homicides during 1870-1930. The results provide some support for the hypothesis of differential risk of suicide following filicide by genetic parents and stepparents and replicate previous research indicating that filicides with multiple victims are more likely to end in the offender's suicide than are filicides with a single victim; parents are more likely to commit suicide following the filicide of an older child than of a younger child; and older parents, relative to younger parents, are more likely to commit suicide following filicide. The discussion situates these results within the existing literature and highlights important directions for future research.
Parental snoring and SIDS: a testable hypothesis.

This letter is directed to those persons who are conducting research in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Dr. Tonkin9s anatomical evidence implicating pharyngeal relaxation during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep as a cause for SIDS is an important contribution to the literature (55:650, May 1975). Her work suggests a possible study that can be immediately implemented to test the probability of identifying couples who might be at increased risk for experiencing the tragedy of SIDS.
Prognostic value of plasma N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide levels in the acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome suffer from profound cardiac and pulmonary derangement, including right ventricular strain and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, which may potentially alter concentrations of cardiac natriuretic peptides. We sought to determine whether N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are elevated in acute respiratory distress syndrome and whether they can serve as a marker of prognosis in this setting.
The Land Tax Redemption Records, 1798–1963

England's Land Tax was determined annually from i692 to I798; at that ! time the amount voted for the year became a perpetual charge, subject to redemption or purchase. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pages of detailed information from tax records chronicle the history of the i,i00,000 property tax values assigned in I798 as well as the course of their redemptions from I798 to i963. This staggering amount of evidence is contained in twelve main files from the Inland Revenue Office, housed in the archives of the PRO at Kew, Richmond, under the class numbers IR 20 to IR 3I. The information is sufficient to occupy an investigator's research time for many years, if not his lifetime, without his even venturing to examine land tax data in the various county and local record offices throughout England and Wales. It is obvious that the statistical data I presented in a paper which appeared in this journal' are subject to various interpretations, so I welcome the criticisms directed at them by Ginter and Wilson. I hope that I can clarify my own limited research in this subject matter by means of this response.
Training of balance under single- and dual-task conditions in older adults with balance impairment

Background and Purpose. Traditionally, rehabilitation programs emphasize training balance under single-task conditions to improve balance and reduce risk for falls. The purpose of this case report is to describe 3 balance training approaches in older adults with impaired balance. Case Descriptions. Three patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 interventions: (1) single-task balance training, (2) dual-task training under a fixed-priority instructional set, and (3) dual-task training under a variable-priority instructional set. Outcomes. The patients who received balance training under dual-task conditions showed dual-task training benefits; these training benefits were maintained for 3 months. The patient who received variable-priority training showed improvement on novel dual tasks. Discussion. Older adults may be able to improve their balance under dual-task conditions only following specific types of balance training. This case report gives insight on how this intervention might be combined with more traditional physical therapy intervention. [Silsupadol P, Siu KC, Shumway-Cook A, Woollacott MH. Training of balance under single- and dual-task conditions in older adults with balance impairment. Phys Ther . 2006;86:269–281.]
Long-term thinning of the southeast Greenland ice sheet from Seasat, Geosat, and GFO Satellite Radar altimetry

Geosat Follow On (GFO) radar altimeter data are processed with previous altimeter datasets to measure long-term elevation change of higher elevation portions of the southern Greenland ice sheet over time periods from 1978-1988, 1985-2002, and 1978-2002. Average elevation change results indicate approximately zero overall elevation change for all time periods. The results also indicate that upper-elevation thinning in southeast Greenland has been widespread and has existed for several decades.
Fast adaptive algorithms for multichannel LS filtering

Fast recursive least-squares (FRLS) algorithms for multichannel finite-impulse response (FIR) filtering and system identification are discussed. The exact case is considered where the predictor depends linearly on the parameters. Using suitable order updating procedures several distinct step-up, step-down or step-down, step-up schemes for the computation of the Kalman gain are presented. Single block-order as well as multiple single-order one-term recursions are developed. >
Formation of Polymerizable Phospholipid Nanotubules and Their Transformation into a Network Gel

Phospholipids containing diacetylene moieties along their hydrocarbon chains have been extensively studied for their ability to self-assemble into tubule structures from aqueous and aqueous/alcohol solvents. 1,2-Bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8,9PC) has previously been shown to form hollow microtubules of length 50−200 μm and average diameter of approximately 0.5 μm. In this paper we report the formation of phospholipid tubules with outer diameters approximately an order of magnitude less than those of pure DC8,9PC microtubules, from a mixture of DC8,9PC and the short chain saturated lipid 1,2-bis(dinonanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DNPC). Optical and electron microscopy of equimolar aqueous mixtures of DC8,9PC and DNPC revealed the formation of nanotubules of diameter 50−60 nm and length up to 100 μm, after incubation at ambient temperature for several hours. Continued incubation of the nanotubule suspension at ambient temperature caused a gradual transformation of the nano...
Kernel level speculative DSM

Interprocess communication (IPC) is ubiquitous in today's computing world. One of the simplest mechanisms for IPC is shared memory. We present a system that enhances the System V IPC API to support distributed shared memory (DSM) by using speculations. Speculations provide performance improvements by enabling rollback of overly optimistic speculative executions. This paper describes a speculative total order communication protocol, a speculative sequential consistency model, and a speculative distributed locking mechanism. All these are supported by a mathematical model showing the advantages of speculative execution over traditional execution. Our DSM system is part of the Mojave system, which consists of a compiler and the extensions of the operating system designed to support speculations and process migration. The goal of our system is to provide a simpler programming paradigm for designers of distributed systems.
Application of rectangular and elliptical dielcore feed horns to elliptical reflector antennas

The pattern characteristics of elliptical reflector antennas are investigated when they are fed by rectangular and elliptical horns partially filled with a dielectric. The bandwidth characteristics of these dielcore horns are superior to those of their corrugated horn counterparts. Representative reflector patterns are computed to properly demonstrate the utility of these feeds for reflector antennas with elliptical apertures. This reflector antenna exhibits high efficiency and low cross polarization, and may be suitable for radar and satellite antenna applications. The antenna configuration may become useful in relatively small antennas where more than 10% cross-polar bandwidth is required. The efficient dielcore horns may also be used as feeds for elliptical nonshaped dual-reflector antennas. >
Light-induced pH changes in the intact retinae of normal and early diabetic rats.

Abstract Double-barreled H+-selective microelectrodes were used to measure local extracellular concentration of H+ ([H+]o) in the retina of dark-adapted anesthetized Long-Evans rats. The microelectrode advanced in steps of 30 μm throughout the retina from the vitreal surface to retinal pigment epithelium and then to the choroid, recording changes in [H+]o evoked by light stimulation. Recordings were performed in diabetic rats 1–3 months after intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and the results were compared with data obtained in age-matched control animals. Brief light stimulation (2.5 s) evoked changes of [H+]o with amplitudes of a few nM. Throughout the retina, there was a transient initial acidification for ∼200 ms followed by steady alkalinization, although amplitudes and kinetics of these components were slightly variable in different retinal layers. No significant difference was found when the light-induced [H+]o changes recorded in various retinal layers of early diabetic rats were compared with the [H+]o changes from corresponding layers of control animals. Also, when H+-selective microelectrodes were located in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer, an increase in H+ was recorded, whose time course and amplitude were similar in control and diabetic rats. However, a striking difference between light-induced [H+]o changes in controls and diabetics was observed in the choriocapillaris, in the thin layer (10–20 μm) distal to the basal membrane of the RPE. In control rats, choroidal [H+]o decreased in a few cases, but much more often practically did not change. In contrast, diabetic rats demonstrated either an increase (in half of the cases) or no change in choroidal [H+]o. The data suggest that the active participation of the choroidal blood supply in stabilization of [H+]o could be partially compromised already at early stages of diabetes in rats. Interestingly, it appeared that the acid removal by the choroidal circulation was compromised most after 1 month of diabetes and tended to improve later.
Is intracellular sodium increased in hypertension

hypertension [8-111. From the beginning, investigators had two methodological concerns; first, the separation of erythrocytes from Iqucocytes and platelets in whole blood, and secondly the trapping of plasma with its high Na+ concentration in the erythrocyte pellet after centrifugation. Consequently, lengthy centrifugation procedures were used, followed by washing of erythrocytes in icecold Na+-free solutions. In ice-cold solutions, erythrocytes shrink with a reduction in the water content of the
Abstract 197: Determining the Potential Role of cTnT Isoform Switching In the Development of Early Childhood Tropomyosin-Linked DCM

An oft-noted component of sarcomeric HCM and DCM is the observation that patients within families, carrying the same primary mutation, often exhibit significant phenotypic variability. This lack of a distinct link between genotype and phenotype has greatly complicated clinical management. In a recent study of two large unrelated multigenerational families carrying the tropomyosin (Tm) mutation Asp230Asn (D230N), a striking “bimodal” distribution of severity was observed. In these families, many children (<1 year) with the mutation presented with a severe form of DCM that led to sudden, often fatal congestive heart failure, while adults developed a mild to moderate DCM in mid-life. Of note, children who survived the initial presentation often recovered significant systolic function in adolescence and young adulthood. Therefore, to better understand the mechanism of this “bimodal” phenotype, we began to investigate the potential modulating role of isoform switching by other sarcomeric components. We hypothe...
Light a Candle or Curse the Darkness? The Politics of Freshwater Scarcity in the Middle East

The literature addressing the extent to which freshwater is infused with the potential for conflict, and the implications of lack of water availability, can be broadly divided into two schools of thought. The first approach is that of ‘neo-Malthusianism’, whose proponents contend that freshwater scarcity is pervasive and growing, and will be an increasing irritant to interstate relations in the future and a salient cause of conflict. In contrast, the ‘Cornucopians’ argue that scarcity is an eminently soluble problem, that a host of technological, innovative and institutional remedies can be brought to bear to alleviate scarcity, and that collaboration and cooperation, not conflict, has been and will be the norm in interstate relations over shared water resources. Evaluating both theories, I find that neo-Malthusians offer a more plausible account of future interstate water relations in the Middle East. Growing physical constraints to water supplies and the shortcomings of current technological and institutional mechanisms for easing scarcity will continue to render access to freshwater a likely flash-point of future antagonisms in the region. Despite the rapidly approaching natural limits to consumption of available water supplies, the adoption of several key policy interventions by Middle Eastern states and/or the international community may well alleviate water scarcity to an appreciable degree, and prevent intensifying competition over scarce water resources from erupting in violent conflict. These policy options and their merits are discussed and justified in the final section of the article.
The novel RacE-binding protein GflB sharpens Ras activity at the leading edge of migrating cells.

A novel protein, GflB, is found to control both Ras and Rho to optimize the reorganization of actin cytoskeletons for directed cell migration. GflB is subjected to feedback regulation from actin cy...
Effect of atorvastatin pretreatment on the the incidence of spontaneous revascularization in the patients with ST elevated myocardia infarction

Objective:To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on the incidence of spontaneous revascularization in the patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction.Method:The 116 patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction,aged from 29 to 85 years old,were randomized to pretreatment with atorvastatin(80-mg loading dose given a mean of 2 hours before cardioangiography[n=56])or placebo(n=60).TIMI grade and the incidence of spontaneous revascularization were determined.Result:At baseline,there were no difference in the age,sex,the history of angina pectoris,diabetes and hypertension between the statin group and control group(P0.05).An absolute difference of TIMI grade could be observed in the statin group;The incidence of spontaneous revascularization of statin group was higher than that of control group(P=0.012).Conclusions:Atorvastatin may elevate the incidence of spontaneous revascularization in the patients with ST elevated myocardia infarction.
Portable Colorimetric Paper-Based Biosensing Device for the Assessment of Bisphenol A in Indoor Dust.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins and is used in a variety of commercial and consumer products. The leaching of BPA can result in human exposure via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal routes. As a result, humans have been exposed in their home and work environment to BPA. Conventional methods for BPA exposure assessment rely on cumbersome laboratory instrumentation with high capital and operational expenditures which limit the number of samples that can be analyzed. We report here the design of a compact portable colorimetric paper-based biosensing device with integrated sampling/analysis units for field-based measurements of BPA in indoor dust. The system employs interchangeable low-cost paper-based enzyme sensors as a test zone for BPA detection interfaced with an air-sampling cassette as a sample collection area. The sensor response was concentration-dependent with a detection limit of 0.28 μg/g. The sensor was validated with the conventional gas chromatography method ...
America and Japan Neck and Neck: The Nixon, Ford, and Carter Era, 1969–81

By the late 1960s, the United States was groaning under the weight of geopolitical and geoeconomic commitments all around the world. Geopolitically, the United States had military alliances and assistance agreements with nearly fifty countries, had 560,000 troops fighting in Vietnam, was feverishly trying to stay ahead in the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, and watched impotently as France and China joined the nuclear club in the mid 1960s and acted increasingly independently of the two superpowers. Geoeconomically, Japan had become the world’s second largest economy and from 1965 enjoyed continually larger trade surpluses with the United States, the European Community became more cohesive and prosperous, while the United States suffered low growth, higher inflation and unemployment, and a deteriorating trade balance.
Biocatalyzed Regioselective Synthesis in Undergraduate Organic Laboratories: Multistep Synthesis of 2-Arachidonoylglycerol

In order to introduce the concepts of biocatalysis and its utility in synthesis to organic chemistry students, a multistep synthesis of endogenous cannabinergic ligand 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) was tailored for use as a laboratory exercise. Over four weeks, students successfully produced 2-AG, purifying and characterizing products at each stage of the reaction series. This synthetic series also reinforces the importance of executing reactions under inert atmosphere, the strategic placement of protecting groups, and regioselectivity.
Strategies to increase laser damage performance of Ta 2 O 5 /SiO 2 mirrors by modifications of the top layer design.

Ta2O5/SiO2 high reflection (HR) interference coatings for λ∼1 μm offer superior performance at high irradiance conditions. However, these coatings are not good candidates for high peak power conditions in comparison to HfO2/SiO2 multilayer stacks. Here we show that the modification of the top layers design of a quarter wave Ta2O5/SiO2 high reflector leads to 4-5 fold increase in the laser damage fluence compared to a quarter wave (Ta2O5/SiO2)15 when tested at λ=1.03 μm using pulse durations of 0.19 and 4 ns and peak power densities of 43.5 and 216 GW/cm2. One of the designs achieved a laser damage threshold fluence of 174 J/cm2 at 4 ns, which is 10% higher than that of a HfO2/SiO2 quarter wave design.
Feasibility, acceptability, and effects of a peer support group to prevent child maltreatment among parents experiencing homelessness

Abstract Parents and children experiencing an episode of homelessness face a variety of adverse factors that can increase their risk of difficult relationships and even child maltreatment. Parent support programs have been suggested as one way to strengthen parent-child relationships and decrease risk of child maltreatment for this vulnerable population, but such programs have not been rigorously evaluated. This study was designed to investigate if Circle of Parents, a self-help support group developed to decrease child maltreatment, was a feasible, acceptable, and effective intervention for parents residing in shelters (N = 80). The investigation utilized a quasi-experimental design using propensity score analysis with a services-as-usual comparison group. The Protective Factors Survey (PFS) and a client satisfaction questionnaire served as the primary outcome measures and group facilitators provided information about feasibility of the intervention within shelters. Promising evidence was found for the acceptability and feasibility of Circle of Parents. However, analyses of PFS data showed little difference between the intervention and services-as-usual comparison groups. Overall, findings pointed to emerging positive findings but underscored the need for continued controlled examination of the effectiveness of Circle of Parents implemented in shelters and transitional housing.
Team personality composition, emergent leadership and shared leadership in virtual teams: A theoretical framework

Abstract Limited theory and research has been devoted to the role of team personality composition, as well as emergent and shared leadership, in virtual teams. In an effort to provide a theoretical basis for the role of team personality composition, as well as emergent and shared leadership, in virtual teams, we propose a virtual team framework that portrays the team personality composition as predictors of emergent and shared leadership. These in turn are expected to impact virtual team performance. We further posit that the relationships between team personality composition and virtual team performance are indirect, through emergent leadership and shared leadership. Finally, we present team virtuality as a moderator between team composition and team processes. Suggestions for future research and implications for the management of virtual teams are presented.
4 – TRANSIENT SATURATED FLOW

In this chapter, we consider transient, signle-phase fluid flow satisfying the following continuity equation and Darcy's law [Bear, 1972]:
Polymer/Graphene Composites for Energy Storage

In recent years, tremendous research effort has been focused on novel supercapacitors because of their stable ultra-high power density, cycling life, and fast charging–discharging rate. These researches aimed at increasing the energy density of supercapacitors without sacrificing high power capability so that they reach the levels achieved in batteries and at lowering fabrication costs. For this purpose, conjugated polymers have been effectively integrated with graphene nanosheets for supercapacitor applications, which sparked great excitement in superior performance owing to their synergistic effects on charge absorption and transportation, and extraordinary characteristic of the reversible oxidation–reduction activity which enables a high energy density. In this chapter, simple pathways to tailor polymer/graphene composites architectures for improving supercapacitor performances were summarized. Further, a theoretical model has been established to quantify the influences of various factors on the supercapacitor behaviors. On this basis, challenges and perspectives in this exciting field are also discussed. These results not only provide fundamental insight into supercapacitors but also offer an important guideline for future design of advanced next-generation supercapacitors for industrial and consumer applications.
Objective assessment of pathological speech using distribution regression

Objective assessment of pathological speech is an important part of existing systems for automatic diagnosis and treatment of various speech disorders. In this paper, we propose a new regression method for this application. Rather than treating speech samples from each speaker as individual data instances, we treat each speaker's data as a probability distribution. We propose a simple non-parametric learning method to make predictions for out-of-sample speakers based on a probability distance measure to the speakers in the training set. This is in contrast to traditional learning methods that rely on Euclidean distances between individual instances. We evaluate the method on two pathological speech data sets with promising results.
Modelling an automated storage and retrieval system using Petri nets

Abstract We investigated the feasibility of using stochastic Petri nets (SPNs) to describe the behaviours of automated storage/retrieval systems as well as to evaluate the performance of different control policies of such systems. SPNs have been studied in the past 2 decades, and have become a powerful tool in modelling concurrent and distributed systems that exhibit synchronization and contention of shared resources. It appeared that some important characteristics of AS/RS could be well modelled with SPNs. The SPN is a graph-based tool suitable for modelling systems (manufacturing, computer, biological, etc.). It can be used to model a system at different levels of abstraction. In this study, the efficiency, control rules, bay assignment, and many other performance issues associated with AS/RS have been studied in detail using SPN models. SPNs are shown to be equivalent to the stochastic processes in which embedded Markov chains can be recognized. In addition, a stochastic Petri net package, SPNP, was ad...
Conjugation of carbohydrates to proteins using di(triethylene glycol monomethyl ether) squaric acid ester revisited.

Abstract Properties of di(triethylene glycol monomethyl ether) squarate relevant to conjugation of carbohydrates to proteins have been reinvestigated and compared with those of dimethyl squarate. It is concluded that the commercially available, crystalline dimethyl squarate remains the most convenient and efficient reagent for conjugation of amine-containing carbohydrates to proteins by a two-step or one-pot conjugation protocol.
Acute myocardial infarction triggered by use of synthetic cannabis

A young woman presented with an anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction shortly after synthetic cannabis use. This report highlights the cardiovascular risks of these drugs.
Content Categories of Behavioral Science Questions at Nine Medical Schools

This study investigated behavioral science curricula content from nine medical schools. Nineteen major behavioral science content areas were identified from an analysis of 1,920 objective behavioral science test questions. Considerable variation was found across the nine schools in terms of emphasis of content areas taught in behavioral science. Suggestions are offered for replication and extension of the present investigation.
Racial Disparities in Autism Identification in the United States During 2014

The underidentification of students with autism is a well-documented phenomenon that implies minority children are less likely to receive autism-specific interventions and services vital for better outcomes. Previous research has found that minority children are less likely to be identified as having autism, but recent changes in federal reporting from five to seven racial categories warrant further investigation of minority underidentification in the autism category. This logistic regression analysis of autism count data was conducted to examine differences in identification according to seven racial reporting categories. We calculated the probability of autism identification for each racial group and tested odds ratios for significant differences within each state and Washington, DC. We also compared odds of autism identification for each racial group in each state to the odds of identification for White students in California. Within-state analyses indicated minority students in most states continue to...
New Applications of Acoustic Emission to Materials Testing

Acoustic emission (AE) makes use of the ultrasonic signals which result from the release of energy within a sample or structure as it is subjected to stress. The physical source of these signals and their amplitudes is determined by the condition of the material and structure and the manner of stress application. AE is routinely used as an inspection technique to detect crack growth in metal structures subjected to pressurization or mechanical forces. It is also routinely used to detect fiber breakage in composite structures such as filament wound pressure vessels and utility bucket trucks [1,2,3]. A technique to quantify prior impact damage using the AE generated by low level heating in polymer-based composites previously damaged by mechanical deformation has been investigated by the NSWC team [4] and by others [5,6]. The studies presented here address the use of AE to characterize the condition of the bondlines between materials.
Trans-N-Alkyl-6, 7-Dihydroxyoctahydrobenzo[g]-Quinolines: Apomorphine Congeners Lacking the Non-Oxygenated Aromatic Ring

ABSTRACT A synthetic sequence leading to the title compounds has been devised. The compounds are related to the dopaminergically active 2-aminotetralins, as well as to apomorphine, and they present the dopamine moiety pharmacophore in the so-called α-conformation. Nitrogen substituents are those which have been demonstrated previously to confer interesting/significant biological effects. High central dopaminergic potency and activity were demonstrated in several animal models. Structure-activity aspects are discussed.
Accuracy of the minimal leak test for endotracheal cuff pressure monitoring.

Objectives To determine the accuracy of the minimum leak test as a surrogate for target endotracheal cuff pressure of 20-30 cm H2 O in intubated patients. Methods Cuff pressures were measured at the University of Miami Hospital using the minimum leak test on every intubated patient once per shift, then cuff pressure was reevaluated using handheld numerical manometers and recorded pressures above or below the target range, readjusting the pressure as needed. This assessment was repeated throughout each patient's intubation for up to 6 days. The readjustment rate of the test and the probability of a patient needing at least one adjustment were determined. Results One hundred twenty-two patients were evaluated. Median age was 67 years (range 29-95), 52% were male, 48% were female. Patients were followed for an average of 4.7 days. Seven hundred twenty-two minimum leak tests were performed. Of these, 170 required readjustment into the target range (24% readjustment rate). Of the tests outside target range, 66% of cuffs were overinflated and 34% were underinflated. Fifty-five percent of patients required at least one adjustment. Conclusion Despite ubiquitous use of the minimum leak test for endotracheal cuff pressure adjustment, the test has an unacceptably high error rate resulting in cuff pressures above or below the target range. Most patients will require at least one adjustment throughout an intubation, putting them at risk for tracheal injury, stenosis, or leak and aspiration. The minimum leak test is not sufficiently accurate for endotracheal cuff pressure monitoring. Formal manometry is superior and should be used to optimize patient outcomes. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1646-1650, 2020.
Mapping endothelial functional phenotype in cancer by unveiling the kinase and phosphatase pathways

Endothelial cells (EC) are state-dependent regulators of the tumor ecosystem: quiescent ECs promote homeostasis; proliferative ECs stimulate tumor growth. Tumors, in turn, promote pro-tumorigenic EC phenotype. We studied functional and phosphorylative transformations on EC state in cancer. Quiescent HUVECs cultured in breast cancer cell-conditioned media displayed marked elongation and impaired wound healing. Quantitative mass spectrometry identified phosphorylative regulators of this dysfunctional transformation. Growth factor receptor kinases showed decreased, rather than increased activity, suggesting that EC regulation in tumors can arise other than from classic growth-factor-mediated angiogenesis alone. Of the 152 kinases and phosphatases across 62 families, six were chosen for functional validation using pharmacologic inhibitors. Inhibiting Akt and Ptp1b restored EC regulatory state, warranting further investigation as therapeutic targets; Src inhibition, however, promoted the dysfunctional phenotype, suggesting caution for Src inhibitors as EC-regulating therapies. Mapping phosphorylative drivers reveals complex relationships between EC phenotype, transformation, and regulation, and may shed light on how existing cancer-targeting inhibitors affect tumor endothelium. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD020333.
Input-output inspired method for permissible perturbation amplitude of transitional wall-bounded shear flows

The precise set of parameters governing transition to turbulence in wall-bounded shear flows remains an open question; many theoretical bounds have been obtained, but there is not yet a consensus between these bounds and experimental or simulation results. In this work, we focus on a method to provide a provable Reynolds-number-dependent bound on the amplitude of perturbations a flow can sustain while maintaining the laminar state. Our analysis relies on an input-output approach that partitions the dynamics into a feedback interconnection of the linear and nonlinear dynamics (i.e., a Lur\'e system that represents the nonlinearity as static feedback). We then construct quadratic constraints of the nonlinear term that is restricted by system physics to be energy-conserving (lossless) and to have bounded input-output energy. Computing the region of attraction of the laminar state (set of safe perturbations) and permissible perturbation amplitude are then reformulated as linear matrix inequalities, which allows more computationally efficient solutions than prevailing nonlinear approaches based on the sum of squares programming. The proposed framework can also be used for energy method computations and linear stability analysis. We apply our approach to low-dimensional nonlinear shear flow models for a range of Reynolds numbers. The results from our analytically derived bounds are consistent with the bounds identified through exhaustive simulations. However, they have the added benefit of being achieved at a much lower computational cost and providing a provable guarantee that a certain level of perturbation is permissible.
Introduction to Maximum Likelihood

An overview of the basic concepts and components of likelihood-based modelling and introduces the process of maximizing a likelihood. We show that the OLS model can be derived in a likelihood framework.
Correction to: Laura Limonic, Kugel and Frijoles: Latino Jewish in the United States

Readers are alerted that the book review by Ilan Stavans of Laura Limonic’s Kugel and Frijoles: Latino Jewry in the United States, which appeared in Contemporary Jewry v40(3), contains several factual errors. The factual errors include: the location of the College of Old Westbury, which is Long Island, New York; it implies repeatedly that the book author is just past her dissertation, and suggests that she writes akin to a “dutiful doctorate student,” when in fact she is a tenured professor; it incorrectly states that the author uses a small sample size for statistical tables, when in fact the tables are from the latest Pew Foundation national study of American Jews; and it incorrectly states that two chapters in the book have the same title. An Editor’s Note has been posted on this review, with additional comments.