cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Matter and Substance in the Cartesian Universe

The overall goal of our investigation is to explore possible formulations of a Cartesian physics that can circumvent some of its well-known internal inconsistencies, such as those raised in Newton’s famous argument against Descartes’ theory of space and motion. However, in order to investigate the prospects of successfully devising such a response, we will need to explore further the details of Descartes’ laws of nature. While chapter 5 will investigate the origins and function of the Cartesian conservation law for “quantity of motion,” the present chapter will examine the conditions or stipulations that Descartes appended to his collision rules, as well as the specific character and content of Descartes’ hypotheses of matter and (material) substance. Up to this point, it has been largely assumed that Descartes’ laws, and his corresponding concept of matter, will present no special difficulties when transferred to a plenum setting (i.e., his matter-filled world). Yet, as will be shown, this marriage presents a number of obstacles that threaten to undermine Descartes’ entire project. I will argue, nevertheless, that many portions of Descartes’ major scientific treatise, the Principles of Philosophy, demonstrate that he was fully aware of, and capable of addressing, many of the difficulties brought to light by the conjunction of these seemingly incompatible partners, i.e., his quasi-absolutist natural laws and a plenum environment.
Pain, skin sensations symptoms, and cognitive functioning predictors of health-related quality of life in pediatric patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

The aim was to investigate pain, skin sensations symptoms and patient self-reported, and parent proxy-reported cognitive functioning as predictors of generic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) from the perspectives of patients and parents. The Pain, Skin Itch Bother, Skin Sensations, and Cognitive Functioning Scales from the PedsQL™ Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Module and the PedsQL™ Generic Core Scales were completed in a multi-site national study by 323 patients and 335 parents. Patients were 5–25 years of age. Pain and skin symptoms and cognitive functioning were tested for bivariate and multivariate linear associations with generic HRQOL. Pain, skin itch bother, skin sensations, and cognitive functioning were associated with decreased HRQOL in bivariate analyses (Ps < 0.001). In predictive analytics models, utilizing hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for demographic covariates, pain, skin itch bother, skin sensations, and cognitive functioning as a group accounted for 61 percent of the variance in patient-reported generic HRQOL (P < 0.001), reflecting a large effect size. For parent proxy-report, the predictor variables as a group accounted for 53% of the variance in generic HRQOL. Pain, skin symptoms, and patient self-reported and parent proxy-reported cognitive functioning are key predictors of generic HRQOL in pediatric patients with NF1. Delineating NF1-specific symptoms and cognitive functioning as high-priority predictors from the patient and parents perspective enhances a family-centered approach in clinical research, clinical trials, and clinical practice intended to improve the global generic HRQOL of pediatric patients with NF1.
Making Sense of Smart Living, Working, and Organizing Enhanced by Supposedly Smart Objects and Systems

The term smart is applied to many different types of things in today’s world, leaving the question of what is meant by the title of an IFIP 8.6 workshop called “Smart Living, Working, and Organizing.” This paper’s goal is to provide a conceptual basis for making sense of “smart living, working, and organizing.” It provides many examples of nominally smart objects and systems, presents principles related to smartness, provides a definition of smart that applies to objects and systems, presents dimensions related to four categories of smartness, and uses two brief examples to show how those dimensions might be used in thinking about how to make an object or system smarter.
Unraveling Polymer Structures with RAFT Polymerization and Diels–Alder Chemistry

Using Diels–Alders (DA) chemistry as a dynamic-covalent linkage, we explored the kinetic growth mechanism of polymer structures including starlike materials and nanogels. The use of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization allows for precise control of DA linkages within the polymer backbone. Controlling the competition between intra- and intermolecular cross-linking reactions allows for the preparation of polymer structures that can expand their volume after cleavage of the DA linkages as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Macroscopically, this would be analogous to untying a rope ball knot, commonly termed a “monkey’s fist”.
Simple, high yielding synthesis of trifunctional fluorescent lanthanide chelates

Abstract In an effort to produce strong fluorophores which are conjugated to biologically active substrates, we report a facile, high yielding synthesis of conjugable lanthanide chelates based on the cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) macrocycle.
Experimental Demonstration of an Additively Manufactured Vapor Chamber Heat Spreader

Vapor chambers and heat pipes are often used as standalone heat spreaders for electronics cooling and in other applications. Metal additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have an intrinsic ability to form the porous structures and internal cavities required to fabricate a vapor chamber or a heat pipe. Additive manufacturing techniques thereby have potential for fabricating vapor chambers with complex geometries and locally tailored wick structures to improve performance as well as to monolithically embed vapor chamber heat spreaders within other components. The focus of the present work is to conduct an experimental assessment of the viability of additively manufactured vapor chambers. A direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technique was used to fabricate a monolithic stainless steel vapor chamber heat spreader with a 39% porous, 0.5-mm thick wick and a 1.5-mm thick internal vapor core. The functionality of the as-printed vapor chamber was evaluated based on characterization of the heat spreading behavior with and without fluid charge. Charging with water decreased the effective thermal resistance of the device while spreading heat from a central hot spot, confirming functionality of the additively manufactured vapor chamber.
Improving the Accuracy of Wearable Sensors for Human Locomotion Tracking Using Phase-Locked Regression Models

The trend toward soft wearable robotic systems creates a compelling need for new and reliable sensor systems that do not require a rigid mounting frame. Despite the growing use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) in motion tracking applications, sensor drift and IMU-to-segment misalignment still represent major problems in applications requiring high accuracy. This paper proposes a novel 2-step calibration method which takes advantage of the periodic nature of human locomotion to improve the accuracy of wearable inertial sensors in measuring lower-limb joint angles. Specifically, the method was applied to the determination of the hip joint angles during walking tasks. The accuracy and precision of the calibration method were accessed in a group of N =8 subjects who walked with a custom-designed inertial motion capture system at 85% and 115% of their comfortable pace, using an optical motion capture system as reference. In light of its low computational complexity and good accuracy, the proposed approach shows promise for embedded applications, including closed-loop control of soft wearable robotic systems.
Intonation of questions in Polish

Abstract: This study, based on the source-filter theory of speech production and the feature breath-group [BG], deals with intonation contours of interrogative sentences in Polish. The analysis of 150 spectrograms indicates that questions in Polish fall into three categories in terms of their acoustic structure: yes–no questions corresponding to [+BG], alternative questions corresponding to [–BG], and wh- questions.
Ingested ACTH blocks Th17 production by inhibiting GALT IL-6.

Abstract Background EAE is an inflammatory autoimmune process of the CNS that resembles multiple sclerosis (MS) and provides a useful animal model for the evaluation of mechanisms of action for potential immunomodulatory therapies. Oral ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) can decrease clinical disease, IL-17 and Th1-like encephalitogenic IFN-γ secretion and increase Treg frequency. The mechanism by which oral ACTH decreases inflammatory proteins and increases Treg cell frequencies is unknown. OBJECTIVE: IL-6 is a pivotal cytokine in the gut that determines the relative frequencies of Th17 vs Treg cells. We examined whether oral ACTH inhibited IL-6 in the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in EAE. Design/methods B6 mice were immunized with MOG peptide 35–55 and gavaged with scrambled ACTH (scrambled melanocyte stimulating hormone [scrambled α-MSH]) or ACTH 1–39 during ongoing disease. Results Ingested (oral) ACTH inhibited ongoing clinical disease. In the lamina propria (LP) immune compartment, there were significantly less CD11b + IL-6 and IL-17 producing lymphocytes from ACTH fed mice compared to s-MSH fed mice. There was also a decrease in the frequency of IL-17 and IFN-γ producing spleen cells and an increase in CD4 + FoxP3+ Treg cell frequency in ACTH fed mice compared to s-MSH fed control spleens. There were less IFN-γ producing CNS lymphocytes in ACTH fed mice compared to s-MSH fed control CNS. Conclusions Ingested ACTH inhibits EAE clinical disease by inhibiting IL-6 in the GALT.
Resolving absolute depth in circular-ranging optical coherence tomography by using a degenerate frequency comb.

In Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography, an interference signal is generated that spans an RF bandwidth proportional to the product of three parameters: the imaging range, the imaging speed, and the inverse of the axial resolution. Circular-ranging optical coherence tomography (CR-OCT) architectures were introduced to ease long-range imaging by decoupling the imaging range from the signal RF bandwidth. As a consequence, present CR-OCT systems resolve the relative, but not the absolute, depth location of the scatterers. We introduce here a modified implementation of CR-OCT that uses a degenerate frequency comb source that allows recovery of absolute depth information while only minimally impacting the previously described RF bandwidth compression benefits of CR. We show that this degenerate frequency comb can be created by relatively simple modifications to existing frequency comb source designs, and we present absolute ranging capabilities through imaging studies and simulations.
Medicinal Plants of the World, Volume 2. Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses. Ivan A. Ross. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 2001, 488 pp., $99.50. ISBN 0-896-03877-7.

Alternative medicine, complementary treatments, and herbal/natural remedies are of interest to both the layman and the practicing clinician or researcher. This series supplements available resources in these areas and is an interesting addition to such well-known texts as the PDR for Herbal Medicines , Blumenthal’s Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines , Newall’s Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals , and Huang’s The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs . Ross has incorporated several helpful changes in this second volume, including an alphabetical index and cross-references for common names, scientific name, and countries. The index simplifies determining whether studies of potential side effects and toxicity have been addressed. Volume 2 comprises 24 entries and brings the total number of …
Abstract WP442: Process Improvement for Stroke/Cardiovascular Risk Factor Screening

Background and Purpose: Despite advances in the acute treatment of stroke, many patients are delayed in seeking care. While many factors contribute to delays, the principle factor continues to be a...
Early Autonomy May Contribute to an Increase in the General Surgical Workforce.

BACKGROUND Nationally, 85% of general surgery graduates pursue fellowships reducing the incoming general surgical workforce with a predicted shortage of 41,000 general surgeons by 2025. In recent studies, the lack of confidence appears to be a major factor contributing to resident decision to pursue fellowship. The aim of the study was to determine if a hybrid academic/community program contributes to early autonomy and the decision to pursue fellowship in general surgery graduates. METHODS We evaluated the level of confidence, level of autonomy, and decision to pursue fellowship at a hybrid academic/community program that historically graduates 70% of their residents into general surgery practice through an anonymous survey. Participants responded using Likert scales along with simple polar questions. RESULTS Most current residents (90%) reported, upon graduation, that they feel very confident (45%) or fairly confident (45%) performing major cases independently. Most attendings (64%) reported that during their third year of residency, they began performing the majority (more than 75%) of their major cases as surgeon junior while current residents (55%) reported they were performing the majority as a second-year resident. Fifty-five percent of residents felt that confidence played a role in the decision to pursue fellowship. Thirty-three percent of our current chief residents and only 34% of the total general surgery residents plan to pursue fellowships. Conclusions: Our study showed that our residents appear to have earlier levels of autonomy than that experienced by our practicing surgeons when they were residents. Confidence continues to play a role in the decision to pursue fellowship and overall our residents are confident in technical skills at graduation. Our unique program continues to graduate the majority of our surgical residents into successful general surgery practice.
X -Band Quasi-Elliptic Non-Reciprocal Bandpass Filters (NBPFs)

This article reports on the design and practical development of RF co-designed MMIC components that exhibit the function of a bandpass filter and an RF isolator. They are based on cascaded non-reciprocal frequency-selective stages (NFSs), one-pole/two-transmission zero (TZ) multi-resonant stages, and impedance inverters. The combination of these components results in a two-port network that exhibits a nonreciprocal quasi-elliptic bandpass filter (NBPF) response in the forward direction and full RF signal cancellation in the reverse one. The operating principles of the NBPF are presented through various circuit-based design examples of low- and high-order configurations. For proof-of-concept demonstration purposes, NBPF prototypes were designed on an MMIC GaAs process and were experimentally validated at $X$ -band. They include a two-pole/two-TZ NBPF and a three-pole/four-TZ NBPF.
Mixed metal exposures measured from toenail in relation to mini-mental state examination scores in the Normative Aging Study

Background:The epidemiologic evidence between environmental exposures and cognition has focused primarily on the increased risk of singular offenders and, until recently, statistical approaches to ...
Face Processing and Social Functioning in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors.

OBJECTIVE Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) experience deficits in social functioning. Facial expression and identity recognition are key components of social information processing and are widely studied as an index of social difficulties in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. This study evaluated facial expression and identity recognition among PBTS, youth with ASD, and typically developing (TD) youth, and the associations between these face processing skills and social impairments. METHODS PBTS (N = 54; ages 7-16) who completed treatment at least 2 years prior were matched with TD (N = 43) youth and youth with ASD (N = 55) based on sex and IQ. Parents completed a measure of social impairments and youth completed a measure of facial expression and identity recognition. RESULTS Groups significantly differed on social impairments (p < .001), with youth with ASD scoring highest followed by PBTS and lastly TD youth. Youth with ASD performed significantly worse on the two measures of facial processing, while TD youth and PBTS were not statistically different. The association of facial expression recognition and social impairments was moderated by group, such that PBTS with higher levels of social impairment performed worse on the expression task compared to TD and ASD groups (p < .01, η2 = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS Variability in face processing may be uniquely important to the social challenges of PBTS compared to other neurodevelopmental populations. Future directions include prospectively examining associations between facial expression recognition and social difficulties in PBTS and face processing training as an intervention for PBTS.
Multinomial Regression Analysis if Yam (Dioscorea Spp.) Consumers’ Preferences and Varietal Diversification Pattern in Nigeria

Multinomial regression analysis of yam consumers’ preference and varietal diversification in the yam production system in Nigeria was the thrust of this investigation. Five major yam farming communities were sampled randomly to get 200 respondents (suppliers and consumers) of yam. Parametric and non-parametric tests were employed to analyze the primary data collected with the questionnaire. The result indicates that white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is the dominant variety among consuming households. The majority of the respondents prefer selling of white yam (76%) followed by water yam (13%) and yellow yam (l1%) in response to consumers’ preferences. The mean value of yam supplied was 505.34kg, while the mean quantity consumed was 14.56kg. The finding shows that the statistical relationship between the varieties consumed and supplied is strong and positive. It was concluded that as the demand-end is willing to purchase more quantity of white yam supplied, yam farmers and marketers are advised to scale-up production and supply respectively to take advantage of the increasing market demand for white yam in Nigeria. Also, more research works on yam varieties should be conducted by researchers to expand the value chain / industrial uses of other yam varieties to prevent their extinction.
Tribute to Curt Berger

I was in Chile when I received the e-mail telling me of Curt's death. He was the same generation as my father, who had died two years earlier. They knew each other when both were active in housing and planning circles in New York City in the 1950s. I met Curt a quarter century later when I was awarded a fellowship to study urban history at Columbia. My father (who was pushing me toward law school) had sent me to talk with Curt. At the time I saw him simply as my father's friend; he did not com? mand my fervent interest. I next encountered him five years later when, as a new law professor, I was looking for a property casebook. Dukeminier and Krier was new and glitzy, but I came from a line of dirt lawyers, had majored in history, and had worked as an environmental and transportation planner before law school; I was troubled by both the politics and the history contained in Dukeminier and Krier. The Berger casebook stood out for several rea? sons. I liked the way it explored the links between property, poverty, and power, and I appreciated its complex understandings of the role of urban and environmental planning in a democratic society. Its use of leases, mortgages, and other real estate documents taught important skills; moreover, it linked them with an analysis of the distribution of power between landlords and tenants, home buyers and banks. The casebook showed students, rather than told them, that property law is about the creation and manipulation of entrenched power relationships. But what impressed me most about the Berger casebook was some? thing simple: When Curt asked a question in the notes, he answered it. This seems a small thing, but to me it was not. Barely two years out of law school, I remembered my confusion when faced with conventional casebooks. How on earth was I supposed to know the answers to the questions that the casebook posed, I wondered? There inevitably was the odd zealot who claimed to look up all the note cases, but most of us did not. Why ask a question of a student who did not have the information required to answer it? This was one of the many demoralizing mysteries of law school I had vowed not to recreate.
Va Health Care System Experience With Natural Disasters

At 7:42 a.m., on October 1st, 1987, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck the Los Angeles area.
Exploring the Effects of Open Social Student Model Beyond Social Comparison

In our journey exploring the effects of Open Student Model (OSM) on students working with programming problems and examples, we have incorporated the idea of social visualizations to extend OSM to Open Social Student Modeling (OSSM). Although comparison features in OSSM, where a student can compare herself to the group or individual peers, have shown to increase students' work, we now shift our attention to other effects. The goal is to explore the OSSM effects beyond comparison, particularly metacognitive support, and we propose a representation of the OSSM towards these lines.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Auxiliary Power Units

The prospect of replacing the existing aircraft gas turbine auxiliary power unit (APU) with a fuel cell system is discussed. Both solid oxide and proton exchange membrane fuel cell system solutions are reviewed, with the focus on hybrid solid oxide fuel cell/gas turbine systems. The hybrid system is projected to reduce ground NOx emissions by half, along with reducing other emissions, noise, and fuel use by significant amounts. There are still challenges with the technology, including increased mass, volume, and cost compared with current gas turbine systems. Other challenges include sufficiently processed jet fuel or adding a second fuel such as hydrogen into the aircraft system. While more progress with each of the major subsystems is needed to make the fuel cell APU system a reality, subscale demonstrations and novel approaches such as distributed systems can help accelerate this technology. Keywords: aircraft; auxiliary power unit (APU); electrical power; fuel cell; gas turbine; hybrid; PEMFC; proton exchange membrane; SOFC; solid oxide
Distiller’s dried grains with solubles as an alternative protein source in diets of tilapia

Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a dried residue that remains after the fermentation of grain mash by selected yeasts and enzymes to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide, is currently readily available and less expensive than other conventional protein sources on a per unit protein basis. The nutrient content and nutritional value of DDGS varies with the source and quality of the grains, fermentation time and efficiency, the drying process and the quantity of distiller’s solubles added. In general, corn and wheat DDGS are deficient in lysine and methionine for tilapia, with lysine being the most limiting. Research evaluating the nutritional value of DDGS showed that 20‐30% DDGS derived from corn or wheat can be included in tilapia diets without requiring lysine supplementation. With supplementation of lysine, DDGS at levels of 40% or higher can be used without affecting growth performance and feed utilization efficiency. Distiller’s dried grains with solubles also contain yeast, a rich source of beta glucan and nucleotides that have been reported to enhance immunity and disease resistance in fish. Corn DDGS, owing to its high oil content, is rich in linoleic acid and is an excellent source of energy and essential fatty acids for tilapia. High concentrations of xanthophylls present in corn DDGS may impart yellow pigment in fish flesh if included at high levels. Taking into consideration various factors affecting the nutritional value of diets and the quality of pellet and fish products, 15‐20% DDGS appears to be optimum in the diets of tilapia.
Mechanisms of hydrolysis of O-phosphorothioates and inorganic thiophosphate by Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase.

Abstract Hydrolyses of phosphate and O-phosphorothioate monoesters by Zn(II) and Co(II) alkaline phosphatases (Escherichia coli) are compared. Although the rate of hydrolysis of the O-phosphorothioate by the Zn(II) enzyme is ∼100-fold slower than the hydrolysis of phosphate esters, the kinetic data of the transient and steady state phases of the reaction show that the stepwise mechanisms are apparently identical. Reaction of the Zn(II) enzyme with O-phosphoro[35S]thioate at acid pH results in the incorporation of covalently linked 35S into the enzyme during the transient phase of the reaction, and H2S is not released. Thus a thiophosphoryl enzyme forms analogous to the phosphoryl enzyme formed by phosphate esters. In contrast, H2S and Pi are the products of hydrolysis of inorganic thiophosphate by the enzyme. The variation in the absolute and relative magnitudes of the rate constants describing (thio)phosphorylation and de-(thio)phosphorylation of the enzyme can be explained on the basis of the steric and electronic effects of sulfur substitution in retarding nucleophilic displacement processes involved in the generation and decomposition of reaction intermediates. Sulfur substitution reduces the negative homotropic interactions between the two active sites such that at concentrations of O-phosphorothioate g10-4 m a 2-mole burst of phenol is observed in the pre-steady state phase of the reaction. Enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of thiophosphate and solvent-phosphate -OH exchange appear to proceed via a rate-limiting, pH-independent phosphorylation. The catalytic rate of H2S release from thiophosphate is ∼10-fold greater than the rate of hydrolysis of O-phosphorothioate, but ∼50-fold less than the rate of hydrolysis of phosphate esters. Substitution of Co(II) for the Zn(II) of alkaline phosphatase increases the rate of O-phosphorothioate hydrolysis by 4-fold, but results in a 5-fold reduction in the rate of phosphate ester hydrolysis and a 10-fold drop in the rate of thiophosphate hydrolysis. While these variations are not fully explicable at present, they reflect differences in the rates of the same mechanistic steps, emphasizing the involvement of the metal ion in all processes required for catalytic hydrolysis.
Through-Thickness Properties of 2D Woven SiC/SiC Panels with Various Microstructures

CMC hot-section components in advanced aero and space propulsion systems will typically require high mechanical performance (cracking strength, ultimate strength and strain, and creep-rupture resistance) for all directions in which the component will experience significant service-related stresses. In addition, the CMC should display high through-thickness thermal conductivity and be fabricated in thin sections in order to reduce stresses due to through-thickness thermal gradients. Thus CMC component microstructures, fiber architectures, and wall thicknesses need to be optimized to maximize these properties. The objective of this study was to measure, as a function of temperature, the effects of different microstructures and fiber architectures on the in-plane stress-strain behavior, thru-thickness tensile strength, and thermal conductivity of thin SiC/BN/SiC composite panels. Key variables included fiber type, fiber volume fraction, fiber architectures, BN interphase volume fraction, fiber-interphase-matrix bonding, matrix type, matrix composition, and matrix porosity. Fiber architectures primarily included those formed from random 2D fabric lay-up. The matrix types evaluated were partial CVI SIC plus slurry-cast MI SiC/Si, full PIP SiC, and full CVI SiC. The property results are interpreted in terms of underlying mechanisms. Approaches for optimizing the through-thickness behavior of SiC/SiC CMC are discussed.
Progress in high-speed TDMA communications

In the future, time division multiple access (TDMA) shared-media optical communications will be necessary to meet the need for high-rate bandwidth-on-demand services. Algorithms designed to manage the network must be simple enough to be executable with a minimal amount of processing available at the optical bit rate. We have developed a frame-based slotted architecture called HLAN (helical local area network). In early work, the HLAN architecture was implemented on a helical ring physical structure, but most recently has been explained using a folded bus implementation. The HLAN architecture may be implemented using all-optical switches as the interface between the high-speed optical bus, and the more sophisticated electronic processors in the user access node. These all-optical switches may be configured to perform address recognition, buffering, clock recovery and rate conversion. We give a brief overview of the HLAN algorithm and present our most recent switching results. In addition, we present our progress to date on the demonstration of a 100 Gb/s all-optical TDMA testbed.
Comparative inhibitory effects of antigen and antibody in the staphylococcal enterotoxin solid-phase radioimmunoassay system.

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay employing 125I-labeled enterotoxins and polystyrene tubes coated with specific antibody has been developed for assaying the relative concentrations of antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B. Competitive binding occurs between tube-bound antibody and free antibody for binding sites on 125I-labeled enterotoxin. The sensitivity of the system is affected by the amount of antibody on the walls of the tubes, the concentration of 125I-labeled enterotoxin added to the system, and probably by the relative binding affinities of the bound and unbound antibodies. Antibody, 0.01 to 0.07 μg/ml, inhibited the uptake of 125I-labeled enterotoxin by 20%. Both the antibody and antigen solid-phase radioimmunoassay inhibition systems can be appropriately represented by either of the following two models: Loge (Y/1 - Y) = α0 + α1 LogeX and LogeY = β0 + β1 LogeX, where Y is bound activity, X is antigen or antibody concentration for inhibition, and α0, α1, β0, and β1 are regression coefficients. Estimates from the first model were slightly more precise for the antibody system, whereas the reverse was true for the antigen system.
Talking Blind: Disability, Access, and the Discursive Turn

The author describes two exhibits: Blind at the Museum at the Berkeley Art Museum in 2005, and What Can a Body Do? , at the Canter Fitzgerald Gallery at Haverford College in 2012. She argues for inclusive design in the exhibits themselves, as well as what she calls the exhibit’s discursive elements--catalogues, docent tours, symposia, and websites--that not only extend the life of such exhibits but also expand access for attendees and others. Key words: Blind artists, inclusive design, accessible exhibit design, the discursive turn, the Berkeley Art Museum, the Canter Fitzgerald Gallery.
The sigma B-dependent promoter of the Bacillus subtilis sigB operon is induced by heat shock.

Abstract sigma B, a secondary sigma factor of Bacillus subtilis, was found to increase 5- to 10-fold when cultures were shifted from 37 to 48 degrees C. Western blot (immunoblot) analyses, in which monoclonal antibodies specific for the sigB operon products RsbV, RsbW, and sigma B were used to probe extracts from wild-type and mutant B. subtilis strains, revealed that all three proteins increased coordinately after heat shock and that this increase was dependent on sigma B but not RsbV, a positive regulator normally essential for sigma B-dependent sigB expression. Nuclease protection experiments of RNA synthesized after heat shock supported the notion that the shift to 48 degrees C enhanced transcription from the sigB operon's sigma B-dependent promoter. The level of mRNA initiating at the sigma B-dependent ctc promoter was also seen to increase approximately 5- to 10-fold after heat shock. Pulse-labeling of the proteins synthesized after a shift to 48 degrees C demonstrated that sigB wild-type and mutant strains produced the major heat-inducible proteins in similar amounts; however, at least seven additional proteins were present after the temperature shift in the wild-type strain but absent in the sigB null mutant. Thus, although sigma B is not required for the expression of essential heat shock genes, it is activated by heat shock to elevate its own synthesis and possibly the synthesis of several other heat-inducible proteins.
Abstract 132: Cardiomyocyte Specific Conditional Overexpression Of Stromal Cell Derived Factor 1 Facilitates Cardiac Regeneration After Permanent Coronary Artery Ligation In Mice.

Background: Interruption of cardiac stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF1)-CXCR4 axis by chronic AMD3100 administration increased myocardial injury after permanent coronary artery ligation demonstrating the important role of this chemokine in cardiac regeneration. Hypothesis: Cardiomyocyte specific conditional overexpression of SDF1 prevents heart failure after permanent coronary ligation and facilitates cardiac regeneration. Methods and Results: Tetracycline-controlled, αMyHC promoter directed overexpression of cardiac SDF1, resulted in a significant increase of SDF1 expression (SDF1: 8.1 ng/mg protein) compared to littermate WT mice (0.02 ng/mg protein) four weeks after doxycycline withdraw. SDF1 overexpression increased AKT and casein kinase 1 levels in the heart. Although there was no difference in cardiac function and scar size 1 week after infarction, SDF1 overexpression improved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (SDF1 [n=13]: 47±5% [mean±SEM] vs. WT [n=15]: 29±4%, p + cardiomyocyte (CM) nuclei in the borderzone of the infarct (22±3% vs. 5±1% CM nuclei, p + cells compared to WT mice. Cardiomyocyte cross sectional area in the border zone was significantly reduced in SDF1 mice (365±13 μm 2 vs. 434±10 μm 2 , p 2 vs. 2498±153/ mm 2 ) compared to WT mice. Conclusion: This study demonstrates for the first time that cardiac specific overexpression of SDF1 increases myocardial regeneration and improves LV function 4 weeks after permanent coronary ligation.
Verlaine's La bonne chanson and Romances sans paroles

In Verlaine's La bonne chanson, the path to the lady involves centripetal circling, proceeding by degrees, toward an ever closer encounter, in hopes of achieving synthesis with her at the stillpoint of a vortex. Two episodes, located like elliptical dual centers, result in two outcomes: the first, a sudden, centrifugal reversal flinging him violently away, signifying the lady's rejection; the second, an apparently successful but short-lived fusion, as the poet's measured centrifugal withdrawing, this time of his own accord, portrays. By the time Romances sans paroles opens, estrangement from the lady has increased, but a harmonious intimacy has developed between the poet and a male companion, and the poet's bisexuality is reflected by various gender relations and shifts. His open avowal of a homosexual affair is a shock that upsets the delicate balance between conflicting desires that had been, until now, precariously maintained, resulting in the violent, vertiginous vortex that tears things apart. Although the vortex is, as phenomenon and symbol, reversible, whirling centripetally toward a calm union at the center or centrifugally away toward the furious chaos at the periphery, it is the destructive centrifuge that prevails in these works, ending all tensions and conflicts by annihilating them.
Conductivity, Per Cent Lactose, and Freezing Point of Milk

Summary Milk from individual cows and from groups of cows was examined for its freezing point and for factors affecting the freezing point. Based on results obtained with 100 raw milk samples from individual cows, lactose was found to be the most important factor governing the freezing point of milk. Of the 62 samples with over 4.5% lactose, 23 (37%) had freezing points of −0.550° C. and below, and 6 (10%) had freezing points above the 3% water-tolerance level, namely, −0.5335° C. Of the 38 samples with 4.5% lactose or less, none had a freezing point of −0.550° C. or below, but 22 (58%) had freezing points of above −0.5335° C. The specific conductivity of milk varied inversely with the per cent lactose. Although in low-lactose mastitic milk a legal freezing point was observed, nonmastitic milk equally low in lactose showed freezing points above the legal minimum. Both prolonged storage of raw milk and pasteurization decreased the specific conductivity of milk and raised its freezing point.
The master switch gene sex-lethal promotes female development by negatively regulating the N-signaling pathway.

Summary Notch ( N ) signaling is used for cell-fate determination in many different developmental contexts. Here, we show that the master control gene for sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster , Sex-lethal ( Sxl ), negatively regulates the N -signaling pathway in females. In genetic assays, reducing Sxl activity suppresses the phenotypic effects of N mutations, while increasing Sxl activity enhances the effects. Sxl appears to negatively regulate the pathway by reducing N protein accumulation, and higher levels of N are found in Sxl − clones than in adjacent wild-type cells. The inhibition of N expression does not depend on the known downstream targets of Sxl ; however, we find that Sxl protein can bind to N mRNAs. Finally, our results indicate that downregulation of the N pathway by Sxl contributes to sex-specific differences in morphology and suggest that it may also play an important role in follicle cell specification during oogenesis.
Acquiring and Combining Overlapping Concepts

This article presents OLOC, an incremental concept formation system that learns and uses overlapping concepts. OLOC learns probabilistic concepts that have overlapping extensions and does so to maximize expected predictive accuracy. When making predictions, OLOC can combine multiple overlapping concepts.
Graphs & networks: computing and analytics at lincoln laboratory

Over the last decade, Lincoln Laboratory has been conducting research and development in graph and network analytics, and the computing architectures that support these analytics as data sets scale to million-node graphs and beyond. This talk gives a brief introduction to the application domains that can exploit graph analytics, and the "big data" computational challenges inherent in these applications. The talk then presents a computational framework for graph and network analytics based on spectral analysis methods. To support the programming and computational needs of large scale graphs and complex analytics, Lincoln Laboratory has also been developing specialized programming languages and computing architectures. Recent advances in these areas and future directions are discussed.
Effects of Process Parameters on Formation of Hybrid Tissue Constructs

Tissue engineering is a promising aspect of regenerative medicine that is aimed at constructing functional tissues and organs. While progresses in tissue engineering have led successful clinic applications, challenges remain for more complex tissues/organs that require concerted efforts from multiple types of cells. One of the key issues in building replacements for complex tissues/organs is to mimic the organ’s complex natural organization using a mixture of engineered materials and living cells [1]. Electrospinning has shown promise as a technique to create the microenvironment necessary for cell growth and proliferation for tissue engineering applications[2–4], while multiple fabrication methods have been developed to manipulate live cells(e.g. cell printing) [5–7]. To this end, a system integrating polymer electrospinning technique and pressure-driven cell deposition method is currently under development for forming hybrid tissue constructs with living cells and polymers. This study focuses on examining morphology of electrospun fibers as function of processing parameters including working distance and solution flow rate.© 2013 ASME
``Clustering modes'' in the vibrational spectra of Hg 1-x Cd x Te alloys

The spectral densities of states for phonons in ${\mathrm{Hg}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Cd}}_{\mathrm{x}}$Te alloys are predicted using the recursion method and are compared with Raman scattering data. The ``clustering mode'' observed by Amirtharaj et al. is shown to be an ``alloy mode'' associated with vibrations of a Te atom bonded to one Cd atom and three Hg atoms. ${\mathrm{Hg}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Cd}}_{\mathrm{x}}$Te is shown to be a ``two-mode'' alloy vibrationally.
Micro-mechanical deformation mechanisms in the fracture of hybrid-particulate composites based on glass beads, rubber and epoxies

Two tougheners, glass beads and carboxyl terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer (CTBN), are used to toughen and stiffen an epoxy thermoset. Rubber-encapsulated glass beads are used and the hybrid particulate composites containing them are compared with those containing non-encapsulated glass beads. Within a certain range of composition, the rubber encapsulation is found to change the interactions between glass beads and CTBN particles, resulting in an increase in fracture toughness. The toughening effect is explained by the fact that the cavities of CTBN particles are larger in encapsulation systems than in non-encapsulation systems. As more CTBN particles are incorporated into glass bead filled epoxies, the cavitation/shear yielding mechanism of CTBN particles replaces the micro-shear banding mechanism of glass beads as the major micro-mechanical deformation. Rubber encapsulation seems to enable this transition of major micro-mechanical deformation to occur at a lower volume fraction of CTBN.
Clinical course of alcohol dependence in African Americans.

ABSTRACT Objective: The sequence and progression of alcohol related life events were investigated in a sample of African Americans and compared with findings from a predominantly Caucasian sample. Methods: Alcohol dependent participants were recruited from treatment facilities. Participants completed the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism to assess the physical, psychological and social manifestations of alcoholism and related disorders. Results: The sequence and mean age of appearance of alcohol-related life events were similar for this sample of African-American men and women. While there were similarities in the progression of alcohol related life problems between the African American and the Caucasian samples, the frequency of symptom endorsement for most problems was significantly higher in the Caucasian sample. Conclusions: Identifying ethnic differences in the clinical course of alcohol dependence may be of importance in developing treatment plans and assist in the developmen...
NATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH WEARABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR USE IN TAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is generally a reversible cardiomyopathy with a favorable prognosis. Because of a risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), a wearable cardioverter- defibrillator (WCD) is occasionally prescribed, although its utility is unknown. We reviewed a national database of TCM patients who were prescribed a WCD. The database collected baseline demographics, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), usage compliance, documented arrhythmias, and final survival status. One-hundred and two patients with mean age 63i12 years, 11% men, had an initial EF of 27i7% at the time of WCD prescription. The mean days of use was 44i31 days, with an average daily hours used of 20i4 hours. The average follow-up period was 440i374 days and 95% of patients wore the WCD .90% of prescribed days. Two patients (2%) experienced shocks for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and survived; two patients (2%) experienced significant bradyarrhythmias; one patient received two inappropriate shocks due to signal artifact; no patients experienced a detection failure; two patients died during the prescription period: one with asystole, and one while not wearing the WCD; five patients died after discontinuing WCD usage, two of whom had an EF §35% at the time of WCD discontinuation. The WCD was used with a compliance of .90%. The device detected VAs reliably with a low risk of inappropriate shocks. TCM may be associated with a significant risk of death due to tachy- or bradyarrhythmias and the risk of SCD may persist even if the EF improves.
The preparation of rhodium(III) perchlorate hexahydrate

Abstract A stable rhodium(III) perchlorate hexahydrate, Rh(ClO4)3·6H2O, has been prepared by reaction of perchloric acid with rhodium(III) chloride. The compound is crystalline and water-soluble. X-ray powder diffraction data are given.
Use of pseudopotentials within the floating spherical Gaussian orbital method: Calculations on methane

The utility of nonempirical pseudopotentials in floating spherical Gaussian orbital (FSGO) calculations is examined. Calculations on the methane molecule with various popular pseudopotentials reveal that the best pseudopotentials may not be the most compatible with FSGO’s, but that in all cases, proper treatment of the angular momentum dependence is important.
Polycrystalline silicon solar cells with V-grooved surface

Abstract Mechanical grooving techniques are effective to uniform reduction of surface reflectance over all polycrystalline silicon solar cells. Furthermore, to reduce the surface reflectance, a V-shaped grooving technique was newly examined. To improve the short-circuit current (Isc) and the open-circuit voltage (Voc), a shallow n+/p junction was also examined for the grooved surface. By forming the shallower junction, both Isc and Voc remarkably increased. Consequently, a record high conversion efficiency of 17.2% has been confirmed at Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA) for a 10 × 10 cm2 area polycrystalline silicon solar cell.
Aggressive behavioral phenotypes in mice.

Aggressive behavior in male and female mice occurs in conflicts with intruding rivals, most often for the purpose of suppressing the reproductive success of the opponent. The behavioral repertoire of fighting is composed of intricately sequenced bursts of species-typical elements, with the resident displaying offensive and the intruder defensive acts and postures. The probability of occurrence as well as the frequency, duration, temporal and sequential patterns of aggressive behavior can be quantified with ethological methods. Classic selection and strain comparisons show the heritability of aggressive behavior, and point to the influence of several genes, including some of them on the Y chromosome. However, genetic effects on aggressive behavior critically depend upon the background strain, maternal environment and the intruder. These factors are equally important in determining changes in aggressive behavior in mice with a specific gene deletion. While changes in aggression characterize mutant mice involving a variety of genes, no pattern has emerged that links particular gene products (i.e. enzyme, peptide, receptor) to either an increase or a decrease in aggressive behavior, but rather emphasizes polygenic influences. A potentially common mechanism may be some components of the serotonin system, since alterations in 5-HT neurotransmission have been found in several of the KO mice that display unusual aggressive behavior.
An Action variable of the sine-Gordon model

Abstract It was conjectured that the classical bosonic string in AdS times a sphere has a special action variable which corresponds to the length of the operator on the field theory side. We discuss the analogous action variable in the sine–Gordon model. We explain the relation between this action variable and the Backlund transformations and show that the corresponding hidden symmetry acts on breathers by shifting their phase. It can be considered a nonlinear analogue of splitting the solution of the free field equations into positive- and negative-frequency parts.