cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyaniline / carbon nanotube composites: starting with phenylamino functionalized carbon nanotubes

Composites of carbon a nanotube with polymers are a developing and interesting area of research. The dispersion of the nanotube in polymer matrices is an important factor while making its nanocomposites. Even though in-situ polymerization approach offers a better approach for synthesizing homogeneous polymer nanotube composites, the dispersion of the nanotubes in the monomer solution is a problem. In this article we report a new chemical method for dispersing nanotubes in monomer and the preparation of uniform tubular composite of polyaniline (PANI) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT). For this the oxidized multiwalled nanotube (o-MWNT) was functionalized with p-phenylenediamine, which gave phenylamine functional groups on the surface. This functionalization helped to disperse the nanotubes in acidic solution. The in-situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of these well dispersed nanotubes gave a new tubular composite of carbon nanotube having an ordered uniform encapsulation of doped polyaniline. The phenylamine functional groups on the surface were grown into polyaniline chain so that the composite contains polyaniline functionalized CNT and they were no more an “impurity” in the final nanocomposite. The microscopic and structural properties of this composite were compared with that of a composite prepared under identical condition using o-MWNT.
Antagonism between Cytokinins and Germination Inhibitors

THE inhibition of lettuce seed germination by several naturally occurring growth inhibitors is reversed by kinetin in red light1. Kinetin in red light also breaks the dormancy in Xanthium seed, presumably by counteracting the inhibitor present in the seed2,3. A similar antagonism between kinetin and coumarin is shown in the germination of Brassica seed4. Actinomycin D inhibits the release from dormancy which is induced by kinetin in Xanthium seed2, which suggests that DNA-dependerit UNA synthesis is involved in the dormancy release. There is, however, no evidence as yet to suggest whether the endogenous inhibitors act at the same or at different sites. The evidence suggests an interplay of cytokiriins, growth inhibitors, phyfcochrome and perhaps other factors in the control of seed germination and dormancy. This communication reports on the interactions in the germination of lettuce seed between zeatin5,6 (a, naturally occurring cyfcokinin) and domain7,8 (abscisin II), kinetin arid dormin, zeatin and coumarin, and kinetin arid coumarin.
THE MACROTYPE EGGS OF TACHINIDAE (DIPTERA) ON HELIOTHIS SPP. (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) IN NORTH CAROLINA

A key to macrotype tachinid eggs, actually or potentially occurring on larvae of Heliothis spp. in North Carolina, is provided, based primarily on eggs from reared and trapped gravid adults. This key is probably valid for most of the southeastern United States. Eggs of Winthemiini are described (the common Heliothis parasites Winthemia rufopicta (Big.) and W . sinuata Reinh., and also W . manducae Sabrosky and DeLoach, W . datanae (Tns.), and Nemorilla pyste (Walk.)).
Oscillatory magnetogasdynamic slip flow in a microchannel

The problem of pressure-driven magnetogasdynamic (MGD) slip flow with small rarefaction through a long microchannel is considered. The flow is driven by a steady or oscillatory pressure gradient. The study of MGD flows in microchannels is of interest since they occur in many electromagnetic microscale devices. In obtaining the microfluidic solutions in the presence of a magnetic field, some additional physical, mathematical, and numerical issues need to be considered. These issues deal with the scaling laws for microscale MGD flows and the relevant parameters such as Mach number, Reynolds number, Hartmann number, magnetic Reynolds number, and Knudsen number. For planar constant area microchannels, it is possible to obtain the analytical solutions for both steady and oscillatory pressure-driven flows at low magnetic Reynolds numbers. The flow field is assumed to be quasi-isothermal, which is a good assumption in the absence of a strong electric field. As physically expected, at higher values of the magnetic field (that is at a higher Hartmann number) the velocity profile in the channel flattens, and the pressure varies nonlinearly along the channel.
Vibrational spectra and frequency assignments for octafluoropropane (C3F8) and hexafluoroacetone (C3F6O)

Abstract The infrared vibrational spectra of octafluoropropane and hexafluoroacetone have been investigated in the range 4000-35 cm −1 . A supplementary study of the Raman spectrum of octafluoropropane in the gas and liquid phase including qualitative polarizations of the lines has been carried out. Attempts to obtain a Raman spectrum of hexafluoroacetone were unsuccessful because of extreme fluorescence. No CF 3 torsional modes for either molecule were observed. By comparing the spectra of the two molecules, it has been possible to make a reasonable assignment for the frequencies of the normal vibrational modes of both molecules.
Interfaces with the ineffable: Meeting aesthetic experience on its own terms

A variety of approaches have emerged in HCI that grapple with the ineffable, ill-defined, and idiosyncratic nature of aesthetic experience. The most straightforward approach is to transform the ineffable aspects of these experiences into precise representations, producing systems that are well-defined and testable but may miss the fullness of the experienced phenomenon. But without formal models and codified methods, how can we design and evaluate for a phenomenon we aren't sure can be adequately capturedq In this article, we present a case study of a system for reflection and awareness of emotional presence that was, in a sense, lived into being. Through system design, use, and evaluation we recount how the system evolved into something that enhanced rather than impoverished the sympathetic awareness of another. In discussing the strategies and results of the case study, we examine what it means for the HCI community to not only design for aesthetic experiences but also bring aesthetics into the practice of HCI.
TH‐C‐220‐03: Extraction of Radiosensitivity Coefficients from Multiparametric Molecular Imaging Data through Computational Tumor Modeling

Purpose: Patient‐specific differences in tumor radiosensitivity are generally disregarded in radiation therapy (RT), an approach that overlooks subgroups with different therapeutic responses. In this study, we extracted voxel‐based radiosensitivity coefficients from multiparametric molecular imaging data using a computational tumor growth and response model. Methods: Thirteen canine patients with sinonasal tumors underwent pre‐therapy PET/CT imaging of metabolic activity ([18F]FDG), proliferation ([18F]FLT), and hypoxia ([61Cu]Cu‐ATSM) using bite‐block immobilization. Following two RT fractions and two off‐treatment days, proliferative response was assessed via [18F]FLT‐PET/CT. Using a previously developed tumor simulation model, voxel‐based ‘effective’ linear radiosensitivity coefficients (alpha) were determined by simulating treatment response based upon pre‐therapy PET data and iteratively minimizing differences between simulated and imaged proliferative response. Resulting alpha values were investigated for inter‐ and intra‐patient heterogeneity, histology dependence, and spatial correlations with pre‐therapy PET data. Results: Alpha values in carcinomas (mean=0.061/Gy, SD=0.051/Gy) were higher than those found in sarcomas (mean=0.042/Gy, SD=0.024/Gy). Carcinomas were more heterogeneous in response (range=0.554/Gy) than sarcomas (range=0.110/Gy), which correlated with a more heterogeneous pre‐therapy uptake of all three PET imaging surrogate markers. Increased [61Cu]Cu‐ATSM uptake (SUV>4) alone indicated radioresistance, while simultaneous [18F]FLT uptake lowered effective alpha values. Using Akaike's information criterion, five carcinomas were identified to exhibit bimodal or trimodal alpha distributions, while all sarcomas were found to be unimodal. Conclusion: Within this patient population, carcinomas were more radiosensitive and heterogeneous in alpha and PET tracer uptake. Extracted alpha values and their correlations with pre‐therapy PET data differed between tumor histologies. Results suggest that imaged hypoxia might not necessarily indicate increased levels of radioresistance as high proliferation potentially offsets this effect. After correlating early treatment response to late outcome, this model could be used to identify potential biological targets within tumors, stratify candidate dose painting patients, and to transform voxel‐ based information into biological treatment planning objectives.
Further Evidence that the Learning of Re-Paired Elements Favors an Incremental Rather than an All-or-None Model

The re-pairing of the S-R elements of failed paired-associates retarded subsequent learning. This result is presented as evidence of sub-threshold associative strength not revealed by response probability. The result, therefore, favors an incremental model of the Hull type.
Relaxation mechanism of ultrasonic attenuation in Ho-rich Er1-xHoxRh4B4.

Temperature-dependent ultrasonic attenuation measurements in the Ho-rich magnetic superconducting system Er/sub 1/minus//ital x//Ho/sub /ital x//Rh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ show broad maxima at temperatures around 10 K. A two-energy-level model is proposed and expressions are derived to elucidate the nature of these relaxation-attenuation maxima.
Effect of Light Intensity on Schottky Barrier Widths and I-V Characteristics of Polymer Heterojunction Photodiodes

The Schottky barriers that forms on the interface between aluminum and organic semiconductor of polymer heterojunction photodiodes based on poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methylester blend, has been investigated according to Mott-Schottky curves. We focused on the effect of light intensity on the Schottky barrier widths and I-V characteristics of the devices. Comparison of the mathematical models and experimental data measured under different light intensities indicate a dependency of Schottky barrier to the light intensity.
Mathematical Model for MRSA Nasal Carriage

An interesting biological phenomenon that is a factor for the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains, such as MRSA, is human nasal carriage. Here, we evaluate several biological hypotheses for this problem in an effort to better understand and narrow the scope of the dominant factors that allow these bacteria to persist in otherwise healthy individuals. First, we set up and analyze a simple PDE model created to generally mimic the interactions of the microbes and nasal immune response. This includes looking at different types of diffusion and chemotaxis terms as well as different boundary conditions. Then, using sensitivity analysis, we walk through several biological hypotheses and compare to the model's results looking for persistent infection scenarios indicated by the model's bacteria component surviving over time.
Role of Transcription Factor T-bet Expression by CD4+ Cells in Gastritis Due to Helicobacter pylori in Mice

Gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori is induced by a Th1-mediated response that is CD4 cell and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) dependent. T-bet is a transcription factor that directs differentiation of and IFN-γ secretion by CD4+ Th1 T cells. The goal of this study was to use two mouse models to elucidate the role of T-bet in gastritis due to H. pylori. C57BL/6J mice, congenic T-bet knockout (KO) mutants, or congenic SCID (severe, combined immunodeficient) mutants were given live H. pylori by oral inoculation. SCID mice were given CD4+ splenocytes from C57BL/6J or T-bet KO mice by intraperitoneal injection. Twelve or 24 weeks after bacterial inoculation, C57BL/6J mice developed moderate gastritis but T-bet KO mice and SCID mice did not. In contrast, SCID recipients of either C57BL/6J T cells or T-bet KO T cells developed gastritis 4 or 8 weeks after adoptive transfer. In recipients of C57BL/6J CD4+ cells but not recipients of T-bet KO cells, gastritis was associated with a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to H. pylori antigen and elevated gastric and serum IFN-γ, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. In spite of the absence of IFN-γ expression, indicating failure of Th1 differentiation, CD4+ T cells from T-bet KO mice induce gastritis in H. pylori-infected recipient SCID mice. This indicates that Th1-independent mechanisms can cause gastric inflammation and disease due to H. pylori.
Evaluation of Radiation-Hardened Design Techniques Using Frequency Domain Analysis

Frequency domain analysis is shown to be useful for quantifying the single-event vulnerability of a mixed-signal circuit. Frequency domain single-event analysis is demonstrated for different pipelined analog-to-digital converter topologies. Design tradeoffs of comparator redundancy are evaluated using a signal-to-noise ratio metric.
Consumption-leisure tradeoffs in pigeons: Effects of changing marginal wage rates by varying amount of reinforcement.

Pigeons' rates of responding and food reinforcement under simple random-ratio schedules were compared with those obtained under comparable ratio schedules in which free food deliveries were added, but the duration of each food delivery was halved. These ratio-with-free-food schedules were constructed so that, were the pigeon to maintain the same rate of responding as it had under the simple ratio schedule, total food obtained (earned plus free) would remain unchanged. However, any reduction in responding would reduce total food consumption below that under the simple ratio schedule. These “compensated wage decreases” led to decreases in responding and decreases in food consumption, as predicted by an economic model of labor supply. Moreover, the reductions in responding increased as the ratio value increased (i.e., as wage rates decreased). Pigeons, therefore, substituted leisure for consumption. The relationship between these procedures and negative-income-tax programs is noted.
Arc resistant equipment for low voltage motor control center applications

Due to recent focus on arc flash hazards, arc resistant equipment is becoming increasingly common in industrial facilities throughout North America. This paper addresses arc resistant equipment as it applies to low voltage motor control centers (NEMA 600V LVMCC/IEC 690V LV controlgear). A brief overview and history of applicable internal arc fault testing guides (IEEE C37.20.7 and IEC/TR 61641) are included. Test procedures and their considerations are reviewed, as well as arc resistant assessment criteria. An examination of the various methods to achieve an arc resistant rating (device limited rating and duration rating) are addressed as well as considerations for implementing arc resistant equipment in pulp, paper, and forest product applications.
Learning Query Reformulations for Personalized Web Search Using a Probabilistic Inference Network

The continuous development of the Internet has resulted in an exponential increase in the amount of available pages and made it into one of the prime sources of information A popular way to access this information is by submitting queries to a search engine which retrieves a set of documents. However, most search engines do not consider the specific information needs of the user and retrieve the same results for everyone, potentially resulting in poor results due to the inherent ambiguity in keyword-based search queries. One way to address this is by creating a personalized profile that incorporates the search preferences of the specific user. We present an intelligent system that is capable of learning such a search profile given a set of queries. The search profile is represented with a probabilistic network that incorporates semantic information about the user’s use of keywords in the queries. This profile is then used to automatically modify the original queries created by a specific user to improve the degree of relevance between the user’s search interests and the retrieved documents. To learn the profile, we create and implement a gradient-based learning algorithm that uses the results of initial user searches to determine query modifications that improve search performance. The proposed intelligent system is a client-side application which operates with an arbitrary keyword-based search engine and which adapts to the preferences of the user as well as to the characteristics of the search engine. We demonstrate the system by learning a search profile that is used to suggest query modifications within a specific domain of interest.
The Major Opsin in Bees (Insecta: Hymenoptera): A Promising Nuclear Gene for Higher Level Phylogenetics

We report the phylogenetic utility of the nuclear gene encoding the long-wavelength opsin (LW Rh) for tribes of bees. Aligned nucleotide sequences were examined in multiple taxa from the four tribes comprising the corbiculate bees within the subfamily Apinae. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence variation in a 502-bp fragment (approx 40% of the coding region) strongly supported the monophyly of each of the four tribes, which are well established from previous studies of morphology and DNA. Trees estimated from parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of LW Rh sequences show a strongly supported relationship between the tribes Meliponini and Bombini, a relationship that has been found uniformly in studies of other genes (28S, 16S, and cytochrome b). All of the tribal clades as well as relationships among the tribes are supported by high bootstrap values, suggesting the utility of LW Rh in estimating tribal and subfamily rank for these bees. The sequences exhibit minimal base composition bias. Both 1st + 2nd and 3rd position sites provide information for estimating a reliable tree topology. These results suggest that LW Rh, which has not been reported previously in studies of organismal phylogenetics, could provide important new data from the nuclear genome for phylogeny reconstruction.
High-dynamic-range imaging: amplitude and phase control

The ultimate limitation of visible light high-dynamic-range imaging systems such as shaped pupil coronagraphs comes from scattering caused by imperfections in the optical surfaces of the collecting system, and from the non-uniform reflectivity of those surfaces. This paper focuses on the correction of these imperfections using two deformable mirrors in a zero path length difference Michelson interferometer. Simulations show the advantages and limitations of introducing such a device into a wavefront control loop. Laboratory work shows progress towards high resolution amplitude control.
The Effect of Clipping the Udders of Cows on the Quality of Milk

The effect of clipping of udders of cows upon the quality of milk has been the subject of original study of but a few investigators (2, 3). The information available, though brief, indicates benefit from the practice. Among milk producers and quality supervisors there seems to be varied opinion as to the benefit of the clipping of udders. In view of the increasing emphasis on the methods for obtaining milk of good quality, a study was made of the effect of clipping of udders and adjacent areas on certain quality properties of milk.
Mismatch Theory and Class-based Affirmative Action: Brief Amicus Curiae for Richard Lempert in Support of Respondents in Fisher v. Univ. Texas, No. 14-981 (2015)

This is an amicus brief filed in conjunction with and on behalf of the respondent in Fisher v. University of Texas et al., (2015). It responds to amicus briefs filed by Richard Sander and Richard Kahlenberg. Subject to the word constraints imposed on briefs amici by the Supreme Court, it reviews the empirical evidence relating to arguments by Sander that academic mismatch means affirmative action harms those minorities it is supposed to benefit and by Kahlenberg to the effect that class-based affirmative action together with proactive outreach, will allow colleges and universities to achieve the same racial diversity that can be achieved through race-conscious affirmative action without explicitly considering race. The brief shows that key studies which Sander and Kahlenberg cite in support of their claims do not bear the weight put on them, and in some cases lessons their authors draw from them positively mislead. Additional evidence and arguments are also offered to dispose of Sander's and Kahlenberg's claims. The Sander and Kahlenberg briefs are available at the Supreme Court and, most likely, other venues. Readers are encouraged to read these briefs to better judge the arguments made in my brief.
Dietary Arginine Requirement of Juvenile Yellow Perch

We conducted an 8-wk feeding experiment to determine the dietary arginine requirement of juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens). The basal diet contained 33 g crude protein/100 g diet (23 g crude protein supplied by crystalline L-amino acids and 10 g crude protein supplied by casein and gelatin). Eight dietary treatments contained graded levels of L-arginine-HCI ranging from 0.44 to 1.84 g/100 g dry diet in gradations of 0.2 g/100 g diet. Diets were made isonitrogenous with L-glutamic acid and were fed to triplicate groups of fish with an initial weight of 11 g/fish. Dietary arginine significantly affected weight gain and feed efficiency but not survival. The best weight gain and feed efficiency values were 155.3% increase from initial weight and 0.63, respectively. Quadratic regression analyses of weight gain and feed efficiency data indicated the dietary arginine requirement to be 1.61 and 1.41 g/100 g diet, respectively. We recommend 1.41 g L-arginine-HC1/100 g diet for juvenile yellow perch fed purified diets. The recently developed dietary arginine requirements of fish are surprisingly similar and generally higher than those of the ureotelic mammals and lower than the uricotelic birds.
The braconid genus Alysia (Hymenoptera): a description of the subgenera and a revision of the subgenus Alysia

ABSTRACT. The forty-two species included in Alysia are divided into two subgenera based on the shape of the ovipositor. Four species-groups are proposed for Alysia (Alysia) and three for Alysia (Anarcha). The species of the subgenus Alysia are revised, with emphasis on the Nearctic fauna, and eleven new species are described. Seven new synonyms and ten new combinations are proposed. Epidista is transferred from synonymy under Alysia to synonymy under Tanycarpa. A new name Gnathopleura quadridentatanom.n. is proposed for G.nigripennis (Brues), a junior secondary homonym of G.nigripennis (Thomson).
First report of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum navitas on switchgrass in New York.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial grass with significant potential as a biofuel crop. From 2007 to 2010, foliar lesions were observed in new and mature stands of switchgrass in various locations in New York. Lesions were elliptical with purple margins and white necrotic centers, generally 20-year-old naturalized stand of switchgrass in Steuben County), JF437053; Cn080NY08 (from 'Pathfinder' in Chemung County), JF437054; and Cn101NY09 (from 'Blackwell' in Chemung County), JF437055) exhibited 100% nucleotide identity to the type isolate of C. nativas (GenBank No. GQ919068) collected from switchgrass selection 'Brooklyn' in New Jersey (1). Pathogenicity of the sequenced isolates along with seven other isolates (Cn105NY09 from 'Sunburst' in Tompkins County; Cn107NY09 from 'Trailblazer' in Tompkins County; Cn109NY09 from 'Forestburg' in Tompkins County; Cn111NY09 and Cn112NY09 from 'Shelter' in Tompkins County; and Cn122NY09 and Cn123NY09 from 'Cave-in-Rock' in Genesee County) was evaluated in greenhouse experiments. Seven- to eight-week-old switchgrass plants were inoculated with conidial suspensions (1 × 106 conidia/ml) of C. nativas. Inoculum or sterilized water was sprayed until runoff. Three plants of each of 'Cave-in-Rock' and 'Kanlow' were sprayed per treatment and the experiment was repeated for 3 of the 10 isolates. Inoculated plants were placed in a mist chamber for 48 h before they were returned to the greenhouse and observed for disease development, which occurred within 1 week of inoculation for both cultivars. No symptoms developed on the control plants. Foliar lesions closely resembled those observed in the field. C. nativas was consistently reisolated from symptomatic tissue collected from greenhouse experiments. Switchgrass anthracnose associated with C. graminicola sensu lata has been reported in many U.S. states (2). On the basis of molecular phylogenetics and distinguishing morphological characters, Crouch et al. erected C. navitas as a novel species distinct from C. graminicola sensu stricto, a taxon restricted to the corn anthracnose pathogen (1). C. nativas was first documented on switchgrass in New Jersey (1) and appears to be the same pathogen causing anthracnose of switchgrass in the adjoining state of Pennsylvania (1,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. nativas causing anthracnose of switchgrass in New York. References: (1) J. A. Crouch et al. Mycol. Res. 113:1411, 2009. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , May 5, 2011. (3) M. A. Sanderson et al. Agron. J. 100:510, 2008.
Inhibition of Intracellular Transport of B Cell Antigen Receptor Complexes by Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus K1

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) is a large complex that consists of a disulfide-linked tetramer of two transmembrane heavy (μ) chains and two light (λ or κ) chains in association with a heterodimer of Igα and Igβ. Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes a transforming protein called K1, which has structural and functional similarity to Igα and Igβ. We demonstrate that K1 downregulates the expression of BCR complexes on the surface. The NH2-terminal region of K1 specifically interacts with the μ chains of BCR complexes, and this interaction retains BCR complexes in the endoplasmic reticulum, preventing their intracellular transport to the cell surface. Thus, KSHV K1 resembles Igα and Igβ in its ability to induce signaling and to interact with μ chains of the BCR. However, unlike Igα and Igβ, which interact with μ chains to direct BCR complexes to the cell surface, K1 interacts with μ chains to block the intracellular transport of BCR complexes to the cell surface. These results demonstrate a unique feature of the K1 transforming protein, which may confer virus-infected cells with a long-term survival advantage.
Government Action, Biases in Risk Perception, and Insurance Decisions

Biases in risk perception potentially have a large effect on insurance and risk-related behavior. The government can alter these perceptions either through informational programs or controlling the risk. Policies that convey a higher risk level generally have the expected effects on insurance and protective actions, whereas efforts that increase the precision of either the government risk information or private beliefs typically have ambiguous effects. In some cases, the structure of how government policies enter the risk-belief function is consequential. Ascertaining the magnitude of the effects, not simply the direction, also is an important issue. For example, misperceptions have a dramatic effect on the tradeoffs between compensating differentials and the size of the loss but a negligible effect on the tradeoff between compensating differentials and the magnitude of the probability.
Marital Well-Being and General Happiness of Newlywed Couples: Relationships Across Time

This study examined the relationship between the marital well-being and the general happiness of an individual across time and the relationship of one partner's marital well-being to the subsequent marital well-being of the spouse. The marital well-being and general happiness of individuals from 317 newlywed couples (161 African-American couples, 155 White couples) were assessed in the first year of marriage and again in the second year. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that the higher an individual's Time 1 marital well-being was, the greater his or her Time 2 general happiness became. For men, but not women, the higher their Time 1 general happiness was, the higher their marital well-being became at Time 2. Also, in general, the higher the individual's Time 1 marital well-being was, the higher the Time 2 marital well-being of the partner became.
K-12 online and blended teacher licensure: Striking a balance between policy and preparedness

as the number of K-12 students participating in various forms of online and blended learning steadily rises, teacher quality is of paramount concern. this article explores the theoretical underpinnings surrounding teacher quality in online settings as well as practical considerations for what teachers should know and be able to do in online environments. Following this understanding, we examine state-level policy from across the nation aimed toward establishing mechanisms to ensure online teacher quality. based on this analysis, policy recommendations are suggested to help inform the development of high quality online teachers. While additional research is needed to assess the effectiveness of such measures, a vital first step is to begin the process of a systematic review concerning what current research reveals about quality online teaching, actions states are taking along these lines, and lessons that can be gleaned from each of these areas.
Changes in soil properties, microbial biomass, and fluxes of C and N in soil following post-agricultural grassland restoration

Understanding the dynamics of soil C and N pools and fluxes following grassland restoration in formerly cultivated soils is needed to assess the capacity of this land-use change to return soil properties and function to pre-disturbance conditions. We examined changes in physical (bulk density) and chemical (pH, available P and N, and total stocks of C and N) properties, microbial biomass C and N, and transformation rates of C and N in soil (0–10 cm depth) across a 35-year chronosequence of prairie restorations and never-cultivated (native) prairie to evaluate the rate and extent to which sowing native perennial plants into formerly cultivated soils returns soil to steady state conditions. Bulk density, available P, and extractable inorganic N decreased exponentially across the chronosequence. Soil pH increased linearly across the chronosequence to exceed that in native prairie soil. Total C and N stocks in cultivated soil were <50% that of native prairie, and increased at rates of 26.2 g C m−2 year−1 and 1.68 g N m−2 year−1 across the chronosequence. In the oldest restoration, total C and N stocks were 55% and 41% higher than the cultivated soil, respectively. Recovery of C and N stocks to levels comparable to native prairie soil was estimated to take 350 years. Microbial biomass C and N increased 5-fold. Potential C mineralization rate was comparable to native prairie soil following two decades of restoration, and exceeded native prairie in the 35-years restoration. In situ soil CO2 efflux reached equilibrium in <30 years. Potential net N mineralization rate, however, did not exhibit a directional change across the restoration chronosequence, but was lowest in the oldest restored grasslands. Thus, cessation of tillage and sowing native vegetation leads to rapid decreases in available N and P, and promotes rapid (decadal scale) recovery of labile soil organic matter pools, but recovery of total C and N pools requires several centuries. This study suggests that soil properties related to nutrient retention and regulation of nutrient availability can be reestablished within the first few decades of restoration, while C sequestration will continue on a longer time scale.
Beyond Red Light Enforcement Against the Guilty But Innocent: Local Regulations of Secondary Culprits

Automated traffic enforcement schemes, employing speed and red light cameras, are increasingly used by local governments in the United States. In some schemes, traffic violations are pursued against the owners as well as the drivers of the recorded motor vehicles. Here, the mens requirements that typically accompany criminal code violations are often lacking. A form of strict liability for secondary culprits is justified because of their ability to control the primary culprits using the vehicles and because traffic accidents will be reduced. While likely to continue to anger many citizens, the surge of automated traffic enforcement schemes will also likely continue since significant deterrence of vehicle violations may follow and because significant additional revenue for local governments will follow. Many violations charged through automated schemes will be processed administratively, that is outside the judicial article courts, freeing trial court judges to handle the pressing business of civil and criminal cases and freeing prosecutors to focus on more serious offenses. Increasing numbers of vehicle owners will likely be punished for the driving of others whose bad acts were never aided, and may even have been expressly banned. There are limits to local governmental regulation of traffic violations involving secondary culprits. Besides public outcry, there are state and federal government preemption's as well as constitutional interests. The constitutional bars include property owner interests in equal protection, non-excessive fines, and due process. Notwithstanding these limits, there is much room for expanding automated traffic enforcement schemes aimed at secondary culprits. Judicial precedents suggest as well there can be expansions of non-automated traffic enforcement schemes, as well as non-traffic enforcement schemes, aimed at property owners as secondary culprits. Such non-traffic schemes today involve trash, booze, tobacco, drugs and adult entertainment. This paper will first review contemporary local regulations of secondary culprits through automated traffic enforcement schemes. It will then examine the limits on such regulations, focusing on the schemes in Knoxville, Cleveland and Chicago. Finally, it will explore potential new local governmental regulations of property owners as secondary culprits in and outside of traffic, and with and without automated enforcement.
Procesos cuánticos en islas semiconductoras: manipulación óptica y control de estados coherentes

Es notable que muchos de los avances cientificos recientes y mas asombrosos de nuestra sociedad, tanto en las ciencias fisicas y quimicas, como en las matematicas mismas, derivan directamente de una de las leyes mЗs peculiares de la naturaleza, la mecanica cuantica .
Cardiovascular problems in pregnancy.

The past two decades have witnessed major advances in the treatment of the pregnant woman with a cardiovascular disorder. A greater awareness of the physiologic burden that pregnancy places upon the already compromised cardiovascular system has led to more accurate preconception counseling and itnproved surgical and medical care of these patients. The authors present a current overall review of the subject, including acquired and congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, management of prosthetic valves during pregnancy, common drugs encountered, and peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Ethics in the work of acting for patients.

A nursing therapeutics requires that nurses literally act for patients, and they do so in three domains:the physical, the psychological, and what the authors calls the "integrity of the self." Acting for the patient is a matter of inherent ethical significance. Acting for another carries the risk of
Budd--Chiari syndrome in a child

We describe a 14-month-old female who presented with hepatomegaly 1 month after abdominal trauma. Eight years later, radiographic and histologic studies confirmed the diagnosis of Budd--Chiari syndrome with evolution to cirrhosis.
The effect of monetary incentive in paired associate learning using an absolute method

The design, apparatus, and stimulus materials of an earlier experiment (Harley, 1965) was duplicated with two exceptions: (1) An absolute method was used in the place of a differential method, and (2) each S was tested to a criterion of 3 consecutive correct trials. The results indicated that the magnitude of incentive had no effect upon learning which was consistant with many animal learning studies summarized by Pubols (1960). Learning was found to be more closely related to learning time (trials x exposure time) than trials.
Racial and gender differences in dating violence victimization and disordered eating among U.S. high schools

Abstract Background: In 2013, 1 in every 10 students who dated or went out with someone in the previous 12 months reported some form of dating violence (DV). Only a few studies have evaluated the relationship between DV and disordered eating (DE). This study aims to evaluate gender differences in the association between DV victimization and DE behaviors using a nationally representative sample of high school students in the United States. Materials and Methods: Data came from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Students who reported dating or going out with anyone in the previous 12 months and responded to DV and DE questions were included (N = 9,677). DV was categorized as physical DV, sexual DV, physical and sexual DV, and none. The outcome, or DE, was determined by questions about unhealthy weight control behaviors. Multiple logistic regression models provided odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Race/ethnicity was an effect modifier; thus, stratified analyses assessed for gender a...
Invasive Aspergillosis Associated With Severe Influenza Infections

Background. Invasive aspergillosis may occur in the setting of severe influenza infections due to viral-induced respiratory epithelium disruption and impaired immune effects, but data are limited. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted among severe influenza cases requiring medical intensive care unit (ICU) admission at an academic center during the 2015–2016 season. Data collected included respiratory cultures, medical conditions and immunosuppressants, laboratory and radiographic data, and outcomes. A systematic literature review of published cases in the English language of aspergillosis complicating influenza was conducted. Results. Six (75%) of 8 ICU influenza cases had Aspergillus isolated; 5 were classified as invasive disease. No ICU patient testing negative for influenza infection developed aspergillosis during the study period. Among cases with invasive aspergillosis, influenza infection was type A (H1N1) (n = 2) and influenza B (n = 3). Published and current cases yielded n = 57 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group criteria: 37% proven, 25% probable, and 39% possible cases). An increasing number of cases were reported since 2010. Sixty-five percent of cases lacked classic underlying conditions at admission for aspergillosis, 86% had lymphopenia, and 46% died. Conclusions. Aspergillosis may occur in the setting of severe influenza infections even among immunocompetent hosts. Risks may include influenza A (H1N1) or B infections and viral-induced lymphopenia, although further studies are needed. Prompt diagnosis and antifungal therapy are recommended given high mortality rates.
Dude (Duality descriptor): A robust descriptor for disparate images using line segment duality

We present a novel descriptor algorithm (DUDE) using line/point duality and a randomization strategy that provides simple but robust, consistent feature extraction and correspondence. Using duality enables us to effectively capture a distribution of line segments, and the proposed randomization strategy improves repeatability over existing techniques by generating more line features in common between two images. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach using a challenging set of disparate image pairs, and show that the DUDE descriptor performs comparably to state-of-the-art methods with significantly less computation expense.
Effects of Vertical Ground Motion on Seismic Performance of Reinforced Concrete Flat-Plate Buildings

AbstractNonlinear time-history analyses are conducted on a flat-plate building to explore the damaging effects of vertical ground acceleration on punching shear failure of slab–column connections, ...
Using in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) to develop toxicity metrics for human health risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

AbstractPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are flame retardants found in many industrial components, such as furniture foam, consumer electronics, plastics, and textiles and levels have increased in human beings over the past few decades. PBDE (1) produce adverse neurotoxic effects in mice, (2) are lipophilic, and (3) bioaccumulate in fish. Consequently, PBDE biomagnification may occur, which may be transferred to human beings in amounts that may exert adverse health effects. This investigation uses in vitro models to calculate bioassay-based reference doses in order to develop a human health risk assessment based on the consumption of PBDE-contaminated fish, using in vitro to in vivo extrapolation. The toxicity effects of 10 PBDE congeners were examined and compared among those developed using traditional in vivo mouse studies and in vitro models in this investigation employing rat (Clone-9), HEPG2 and zebrafish liver cells to determine the feasibility of using alternative approaches to develop toxici...
Consensus Control for Energy Storage Systems

In this paper, consensus integral control is applied for energy storage in microgrids to synchronize the state-of-charge (SoC) and power levels of batteries with limited information exchange. Both local information (SoC and power level) and neighbors’ information (SoC and power level) will be fed into an integral control installed at every battery converter. The design is based on consensus control and takes into consideration of real-world battery coordination requirements, e.g., all batteries should work in the same charging or discharging mode. Compared with the consensus control in the existing literature for voltage consensus or battery SoC/power consensus, this paper offers a simple design. The major assumption of this paper is that each converter should possess an integral control. This assumption is valid since indeed integral controls exist if converters are equipped with secondary frequency control. The designed consensus control is validated by simulations on 14-bus microgrid and IEEE 57-bus power system. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the consensus integral control for variety modes of operation: 1) charging; 2) discharging; and 3) load variation.
Inhibition of CRISPR-Cas9 with Bacteriophage Proteins

Summary Bacterial CRISPR-Cas systems utilize sequence-specific RNA-guided nucleases to defend against bacteriophage infection. As a countermeasure, numerous phages are known that produce proteins to block the function of class 1 CRISPR-Cas systems. However, currently no proteins are known to inhibit the widely used class 2 CRISPR-Cas9 system. To find these inhibitors, we searched cas9 -containing bacterial genomes for the co-existence of a CRISPR spacer and its target, a potential indicator for CRISPR inhibition. This analysis led to the discovery of four unique type II-A CRISPR-Cas9 inhibitor proteins encoded by Listeria monocytogenes prophages. More than half of L. monocytogenes strains with cas9 contain at least one prophage-encoded inhibitor, suggesting widespread CRISPR-Cas9 inactivation. Two of these inhibitors also blocked the widely used Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 when assayed in Escherichia coli and human cells. These natural Cas9-specific "anti-CRISPRs" present tools that can be used to regulate the genome engineering activities of CRISPR-Cas9.
Multiconfiguration Wavefunctions for Molecules: Current Approaches

The generalized valence bond (GVB), fully optimized reaction space (FORS) and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) methods are discussed. All of these approaches in their simplest form provide a multiconfiguration model for the electronic structure of molecules based on a well defined set of valence orbitals. As such they correct for a major deficiency in the Hartree-Fock model. While the GVB, FORS, and CASSCF methods permit the use of a larger orbital set, a scheme which provides a consistent description of molecular systems with an expanded set has yet to be developed.
Delirium after lung transplantation: Association with recipient characteristics, hospital resource utilization, and mortality.

Background Delirium is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The factors associated with post-lung transplant delirium and its impact on outcomes are under characterized. Methods The medical records of 163 consecutive adult lung transplant recipients were reviewed for delirium within 5 days (early-onset) and 30 hospital days (ever-onset) post-transplantation. A multivariable logistic regression model assessed factors associated with delirium. Multivariable negative binomial regression and Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association of delirium with ventilator duration, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS and one-year mortality. Results Thirty six % developed early-onset and 44% - ever-onset delirium. Obesity (OR 6.35, 95% CI 1.61-24.98) and bolused benzodiazepines within the first post-operative day (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.07-4.89) were associated with early-onset delirium. Early-onset delirium was associated with longer adjusted mechanical ventilation duration (p=0.001), ICU LOS (p<0.001), and hospital LOS (p=0.005). Ever-onset delirium was associated with longer ICU (p<0.001) and hospital LOS (p<0.001). After adjusting for clinical variables, delirium was not significantly associated with one-year mortality (early-onset HR 1.65, 95% CI 0.67-4.03; ever-onset HR 1.70, 95% CI 0.63-4.55). Conclusions Delirium is common after lung transplant surgery and associated with increased hospital resources. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Interactive iterative relative fuzzy connectedness lung segmentation on thoracic 4D dynamic MR images.

Lung delineation via dynamic 4D thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary for quantitative image analysis for studying pediatric respiratory diseases such as thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS). This task is very challenging because of the often-extreme malformations of the thorax in TIS, lack of signal from bone and connective tissues resulting in inadequate image quality, abnormal thoracic dynamics, and the inability of the patients to cooperate with the protocol needed to get good quality images. We propose an interactive fuzzy connectedness approach as a potential practical solution to this difficult problem. Manual segmentation is too labor intensive especially due to the 4D nature of the data and can lead to low repeatability of the segmentation results. Registration-based approaches are somewhat inefficient and may produce inaccurate results due to accumulated registration errors and inadequate boundary information. The proposed approach works in a manner resembling the Iterative Livewire tool but uses iterative relative fuzzy connectedness (IRFC) as the delineation engine. Seeds needed by IRFC are set manually and are propagated from slice-to-slice, decreasing the needed human labor, and then a fuzzy connectedness map is automatically calculated almost instantaneously. If the segmentation is acceptable, the user selects “next” slice. Otherwise, the seeds are refined and the process continues. Although human interaction is needed, an advantage of the method is the high level of efficient user-control on the process and non-necessity to refine the results. Dynamic MRI sequences from 5 pediatric TIS patients involving 39 3D spatial volumes are used to evaluate the proposed approach. The method is compared to two other IRFC strategies with a higher level of automation. The proposed method yields an overall true positive and false positive volume fraction of 0.91 and 0.03, respectively, and Hausdorff boundary distance of 2 mm.