cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Albania & Kosovo, An Overview: Their Past & Current Legal Systems; What Does Their Future Hold?

I have taken on the task of writing an article on the current legal situation in Kosovo for a few reasons. Firstly, it was my assignment as a senior attorney commissioned under the auspices of the American Bar Association through the Center for International Legal Studies to teach law there in the fall of 2009. I taught criminal law at Universum University in Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo. While there, I lectured the students on the current state of the criminal law as outlined by the United Nations1 as well as gave them an overview of the American criminal and procedural system. Like the Kosovars themselves, I found my students very engaging, with a thirst for knowledge and love of Americans that no doubt sprang from our allegiance and help during the latest war there. One has to remember that this is a third world country, vastly different from a developed country like the United States or even any developed country in Europe. Its history is crucial in understanding the current state of legal affairs. It’s culture and economy also has an impact on its legal system, as does that of its mother country, Albania. This article will also serve to bring the interested reader up to date as to what is happening there, legally speaking. It is my hope that the reader will come away with a better understanding of Kosovo’s current plight. My aim is to present the beliefs and positions of all countries involved. In considering all of the above, the question becomes what can be envisioned for these Balkan territories. Legally, socially and economically speaking? I believe it will be one that is challenging and bright. However, it will be years in the making. Having said this, it is my sincere hope that a compromise will ensue between the Kosovar Albanians and Kosovar Serbs and that the Rule of Law2 will gain a strong foothold there, making for a stable government and administration, the capability to sustain territorial and political independence, to keep public order and security, a legal system and a court organization that ensures everybody ordinary justice3, thus the protection of its citizens and a sound economy.
Educational and Supportive Services for Adolescents Living With their Families

Where do adolescents and their families turn when the school sends that final notice of expulsion, when conflict in the home has reached such unbearable levels that parents are prompted to request the immediate placement of the adolescent, when parents get that feared call from the police saying that they have picked up their child for possession of drugs, or when the hospital emergency room calls to say that their son or daughter was one of five teenagers in a car crash? Where does the youngster turn when he or she just can’t make it in school, can’t find a job, feels awkward because his or her body is so much smaller or bigger than classmates’, feels so down and alone that life is not worth living any longer? While some families manage to cope with the stresses, problems, and crises of the adolescent phase by relying on friends, relatives, and the religious group they belong to, as we saw in the Olson and McCubbin (1983) study, other families desperately need and use support from community services under public and private auspices.
Attention, Workload, and Automation

Discussion of the effects of automation in air traffic control requires an understanding of automation, the air traffic control environment, and the human operator. Without an understanding of what automation can and cannot do, it is impossible to know how it will affect the work environment. Likewise, without a clear understanding of the tasks, jobs, and goals of air traffic control, one can neither determine whether automation is appropriate nor comprehend the effects that automation will have on the work. It also requires an understanding of human abilities and limitations, preferences and biases, perceptions and cognitions. But without understanding automation and the air traffic control task, an expert in human performance can, at best, provide only vague predictions and generic warnings about how the human operator will respond to automation in air traffic control.
A Survey of Metal Oxides and Top Electrodes for Resistive Memory Devices

Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) resistive switching devices are being pursued for a number of applications, including non-volatile memory and high density/low power computing. Reported resistive switching devices vary greatly in the choice of metal oxide and electrode material. Importantly, the choice of both the metal oxide and electrode material can have significant impact on device performance, their ability to switch, and the mode of switching (unipolar, bipolar, nonpolar) that results. In this study, three metal oxides (Cu2O, HfOx, and TiOx) were deposited onto copper bottom electrodes (BEs). Four different top electrode (TE) materials (Ni, Au, Al, and Pt) were then fabricated on the various metal oxides to form MIM structures. Devices were then characterized electrically to determine switching performance and behavior. Our results show that the metal TE plays a large role in determining whether or not the MIM structure will switch resistively and what mode of switching (unipolar, bipolar, or non-polar) is observed.
Coming to grips with bioinformatics

The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) instruments has transformed biomedical inquiry, yet has created new challenges for data analysis and interpretation. Our ability to understand data initially hinges upon the use of the Human Reference Genome Sequence to align short read pair data resulting from a variety of different experimental approaches, followed by a dizzying array of analytical algorithms to sort out the alterations present in the comparison of tumour to normal. This presentation will focus on a reductionist approach to the bioinformatics-based analytical paradigm, attempting to inject a practical logic to the enterprise of NGS data analysis.
Trapping Dynamics and Charged Defects: Light Induced Studies in a-Si:H and a-Si1-xGe:H

Bandtail defect carrier trapping dynamics in high quality photo-CVD grown a-Si1-xGex:H (x=0.3 and 0.62) and PECVD deposited a-Si:H films were studied using photo-modulated electron spin resonance (PMESR). Comparison of the dark spin densities with junction capacitance (drive-level profiling) methods indicate that a majority of the defects are neutral in the a-Si:H and 30% Ge samples, but the majority of the defects in the 62% Ge sample are charged. Lineshape deconvolution of the PMESR signals in the in-phase and quadrature phase as a function of photo-modulation frequency, excitation energy and excitation intensity for both intrinsic (state A) and light soaked (state B) states revealed three significant insights: in state A all samples behave similarly, state B behavior of the a-Si:H is dramatically different from the state B alloyed samples, and strong evidence for ‘safe hole traps’ (SHT) is observed in the state B a-Si:H material.
Leadership Style and Sales Performance: A Test of the Situational Leadership® Model

This paper presents an empirical examination of the Situational Leadership® Model (SLM), which is used extensively in management training programs by major corporations and government agencies. Data from 675 salespersons and 41 branch managers in the insurance industry did not support the hypothesis that leadership styles prescribed by the SLM were associated with superior sales performance. The four styles described by the SLM were also tested, with an exploratory regression, in terms of their relative effects on sales performance. Agents working for managers who preferred the high-task, low-relationship style performed better than did agents working for managers who preferred other styles. Some implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Urinary Glycosaminoglycans in Normal Subjects and Patients with Stones

AbstractUrinary glycosaminoglycans are thought to be macromolecular inhibitors of calcium stone formation. The 24-hour excretion of urinary glycosaminoglycans was measured quantitatively in 24 normal subjects and 206 patients with different etiologies of stone disease. In both groups a positive correlation was found between urinary glycosaminoglycans and total urinary volume and urinary sulfate. In normal subjects total urinary volume was r equals 0.716, p less than 0.001 and urinary sulfate was r equals 0.813, p less than 0.001, while in patients with stones these values were r equals 0.338, p less than 0.001 and r equals 0.326, p less than 0.001, respectively.The only significant difference in excretion of urinary glycosaminoglycans between the groups was found in the subgroup of patients with type I absorptive hypercalciuria. The type I absorptive hypercalciuria value of 33.4 ± 14.9mg. per day in patients with stones was significantly higher than the 25.8 ± 8.3mg. per day detected in normal subjects (p...
Development of Microsatellite Markers for Buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides; Poaceae), a Drought-Tolerant Turfgrass Alternative

Premise of the study: Buchloe dactyloides (Poaceae) is an important component of Great Plains prairies and a popular drought-tolerant turfgrass alternative in North America. This species comprises an autopolyploid series, and microsatellite primers were developed to understand the distribution of genetic variation among cytotypes and across its large geographic range. Methods and Results: Fifteen microsatellite loci were designed and successfully amplified in six B. dactyloides populations. Within-population genetic diversity was comparatively high, consistent with B. dactyloides' life history. Allelic variation at 13 loci was consistent with the cytotype established in chromosome-counted samples. Conclusions: This variable, interpretable set of loci allows for the determination of multilocus genotype in B. dactyloides individuals of varying cytotype. Data such as these from a range-wide sample set can provide important insights for germplasm conservation and crop improvement in this ecologically and econ...
Peripheral, Arterial, and Central Lines and Gastric Tube Placement

Describe the anatomical sites, technical steps, and possible complications of peripheral intravenous catheter placement.
DeepSplice: Deep classification of novel splice junctions revealed by RNA-seq

Alternative splicing (AS) is a regulated process that enables the production of multiple mRNA transcripts from a single multi-exon gene. The availability of large-scale RNA-seq datasets has made it possible to predict splice junctions, as well as splice sites through spliced alignment to the reference genome. This greatly enhances the capability to decipher gene structures and explore the diversity of splicing variants. However, existing ab initio aligners are vulnerable to false positive spliced alignments as a result of sequence errors and random sequence matches. These spurious alignments can lead to a significant set of false positive splice junction predictions, confusing downstream analyses of splice variant detection and abundance estimation. In this work, we illustrate that splice junction sequence characteristics can be ascertained from experimental data with deep learning techniques. We employ deep convolutional neural networks for a novel splice junction classification tool named DeepSplice that (i) outperforms state-of-the-art methods for predicting splice sites, (ii) shows high computational efficiency and (iii) can be applied to self-defined training data by users.
Ceramide Inhibits IgG-Dependent Phagocytosis in Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Ceramide is a product of agonist-induced sphingolipid metabolism in several cell types, including polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In adherent PMNs, the kinetics of ceramide production correspond with the termination of fMLP-stimulated H2O2 release. Furthermore, short chain ceramides inhibit fMLP-mediated H2O2 release in adherent PMNs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of short chain ceramides and sphingoid bases on phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized erythrocytes (EIgG) by suspended PMNs activated with fMLP. N -Acetylsphingosine, N -acetylphytosphingosine, phytosphingosine, sphingosine, and dihydrosphingosine, but not N -acetyldihydrosphingosine, inhibited phagocytosis of EIgG. In contrast, these same lipids did not inhibit fMLP-mediated chemotaxis. Endogenous ceramide levels increased within the first few minutes of phagocytosis, with a significant ( P < .05) accumulation by 30 minutes, the time by which phagocytosis was terminated. Neutral sphingomyelinase activity paralleled the increase in ceramide, consistent with the generation of ceramide by the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. The N -acetyl-conjugated sphingols (C2 ceramides) blocked phosphatidylethanol formation indicating that phospholipase D (PLD) is an intracellular target of ceramide action. These data suggest that ceramides, generated through activation of the sphingomyelin cycle, act as negative regulators of FcγR-mediated phagocytosis.
A Wound Complication After Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Lengthening Requiring Surgical Excision: A Case Report

A percutaneous tendo-Achilles lengthening procedure corrects limited ankle joint equinus by decreasing the pull of the triceps surae complex. The standard technique using 3-incision hemisection described by Hoke is often used in patients with diabetes because of the minimal number of incisions and low risk of wound complications. We describe a patient who underwent percutaneous tendo-Achilles lengthening with a resultant open wound complication requiring staged surgical debridement.
Preservation, design and modern architecture: the challenges ahead

Much of the built environment has been constructed in the last hundred years, particularly in the decades following 1945. These buildings and sites are considered an integral part of our collective...
Systematic review of peer education intervention programmes among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Aims and objectives To systematically review published randomised controlled trials of peer education interventions among adults with type 2 diabetes. Background Systematic reviews have shown mixed results for peer support interventions to improve diabetes self-management. Given the effectiveness of diabetes education by healthcare professionals, peer education interventions may be a useful alternative approach. This review addressed that gap. Design Systematic review. Method A systematic search of published randomised controlled trials between 2006–2016 was conducted using the keywords diabetes, type 2 diabetes, randomised controlled trials, self-management, peer education and peer support. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Jadad scale. Results Seven studies were included in the final review, and the Jadad scores ranged from 8–10 of a possible 13 points. There was no consistent design, setting, or outcome measurement among the studies. There were two types of peer education interventions compared to traditional diabetes education: face-to-face or a combination of face-to-face and telephone/texting. The most common clinical outcome measure was HbA1c. Two of six studies showed statistically significant improvement in HbA1c between intervention and control groups. An increase in diabetes knowledge was also statistically significant in two of five studies. Conclusion Peer education could be successful in improving clinical outcomes. No evidence was found indicating that healthcare provider education was superior in regard to clinical knowledge or behavioural or psychological outcome measures than peer education. HbA1c was statistically significantly lower in some peer education groups compared to control groups. Relevance to Clinical Practice There is evidence that peer education can be useful in achieving positive clinical outcomes such as decreasing HbA1c levels and increasing diabetes knowledge. A certified diabetes educator or a trained healthcare professional should not be overlooked though when using peer educators.
Characterization of Ultra-Thin Epoxy-Resin Based Dielectric Substrate for Flexible Power Electronics Applications

Abstract Available substrate materials for power module applications has been investigated for a long time. Though Direct Bonded Copper (DBC) substrates, nowadays, have been widely applied in power electronics applications, especially power modules, due to its superior performance in mechanical ruggedness, thermal conductivity, and isolation capability. Its cost and complicated requirements during fabrication processes are always concerns in industries. At the same time, flexible electronics has become a rapidly expanding area with commercial applications including displays, medical, automotive, sensors arrays, wearable electronics, etc. This paper will initiate an investigation on a dielectric material that has potential in high power wearable electronics applications. A recently developed ultra-thin Epoxy-Resin Based Dielectric (ERBD) substrate material which is suitable for power electronic applications, is introduced. The ERBD can be fabricated with thickness as low as 80μm, with more than 5kV DC isol...
Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and Maternal Symptomatology-An Exploratory Analysis of Patient Experiences When Reporting Complaints.

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess patient experiences when reporting symptoms of twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) to their health-care providers.Methodology:The study utilized an o...
Theatrical Mash-up: Assembled Text as Adaptation in Medea/Macbeth/Cinderella

This chapter proposes that a number of recent stage adaptations might best be termed ‘mash-ups’ , a label borrowed from hip-hop music, due to their reception and their creators’ methods and goals in textual assemblage . The primary case study is Medea/ Macbeth /Cinderella (M/M/C), presented in 2012 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival under the co-direction of Bill Rauch and Tracy Young, which simultaneously stages Euripides ’ Medea, Shakespeare ’s Macbeth, and Rodgers and Hammerstein ’s musical Cinderella. M/M/C has more in common with Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album than with the postmodern ‘collages’ of twentieth-century US theatres such as the Wooster Group because the pleasures audiences derive from M/M/C are a result of the degree to which they attend to similarities and differences among the production’s culturally undifferentiated source materials.
Makerspaces and boundary work: the role of librarians as educators in public library makerspaces:

This article explores public librarians’ performance of boundary work in relation to teaching and learning in library makerspaces. Boundary work occurs when individuals delineate their domain of kn...
Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules in Normal and Abnormal Neural Development

Abstract The cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions mediated by the adhesion molecules on the cell surface are vital to neural development and plasticity. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, promotes cell-to-cell adhesion in the nervous system through a homophilic, Ca2+-independent binding mechanism. NCAM-mediated cell adhesion is involved in the regulation of neural cell migration, neurite outgrowth and fasciculation, and synaptic formation. Polysialic acid (PSA), found as a component of neural tissue, is a linear homopolymer containing sialic acid residues in -2,8-linkage. Polysialylation of the NCAM decreases the homophilic binding of NCAM thereby attenuating cell adhesion. The attachment of PSA to NCAM gives rise to additional mechanisms in modulating cell adhesion. The polysialylation of NCAM is modulated in the developmental stage and is site-specific during the development. Endoneuraminidase N, which specifically cleaves PSA without compromising the cell viability, has been utilized to explore the modulatory effects of PSA upon cell migration. PAS on the NCAM contributes to the motility of migratory cells. The expression levels of NCAM and polysialylated NCAM are critical for neural plasticity, which is dependent on either cell migration and sprouting or the synaptic activity.
Transdermal Clonidine in Elderly Patients with Mild Hypertension: Effects on Blood Pressure and Plasma Catecholamines

Oral clonidine has gained increasing acceptance as initial monotherapy for mild to moderate hypertension (Sambhi 1983). We have reported that this therapy does not significantly change fluid volumes, cardiac haemodynamics or renal function (Thananopavarn et al. 1982). Additionally, the potentially disadvantageous changes in lipid chemistry that have been seen with diuretic and β-blocking drugs have not been reported with clonidine. The development of a transdermal preparation of clonidine has some practical and theoretical advantages which could extend the usefulness of clonidine as initial monotherapy in mild to moderate hypertension. The once-weekly administration is a convenience that could enhance compliance. Also, the consistent blood levels achieved should avoid high peak blood concentrations and thereby reduce drug-related side-effects.
Ethnographic interviews to elicit patients' reactions to an intelligent interactive telephone health behavior advisor system.

Abstract Information technology is being used to collect data directly from patients and to provide educational information to them. Concern over patient reactions to this use of information technology is especially important in light of the debate over whether computers dehumanize patients. This study reports reactions that patient users expressed in ethnographic interviews about using a computer-based telecommunications system. The interviews were conducted as part of a larger evaluation of Telephone-Linked Care (TLC)-HealthCall, an intelligent interactive telephone advisor, that advised individuals about how to improve their health through changes in diet or exercise. Interview findings suggest that people formed personal relationships with the TLC system. These relationships ranged from feeling guilty about their diet or exercise behavior to feeling love for the voice. The findings raise system design and user interface issues as well as research and ethical questions.
Statistical Considerations in the Design and Analysis of Longitudinal Microbiome Studies

Longitudinal studies of microbial communities have emphasized that host-associated microbiota are highly dynamic as well as underscoring the potential biomedical relevance of understanding these dynamics. Despite this increasing appreciation, statistical challenges in the design and analysis of longitudinal microbiome studies such as sequence counting, technical variation, signal aliasing, contamination, sparsity, missing data, and algorithmic scalability remain. In this review we discuss these challenges and highlight current progress in the field. Where possible, we try to provide guidelines for best practices as well as discuss how to tailor design and analysis to the hypothesis and ecosystem under study. Overall, this review is intended to serve as an introduction to longitudinal microbiome studies for both statisticians new to the microbiome field as well as biologists with little prior experience with longitudinal study design and analysis.
HIV-1 Fusion with CD4+ T cells Is Promoted by Proteins Involved in Endocytosis and Intracellular Membrane Trafficking.

The HIV-1 entry pathway into permissive cells has been a subject of debate. Accumulating evidence, including our previous single virus tracking results, suggests that HIV-1 can enter different cell types via endocytosis and CD4/coreceptor-dependent fusion with endosomes. However, recent studies that employed indirect techniques to infer the sites of HIV-1 entry into CD4+ T cells have concluded that endocytosis does not contribute to infection. To assess whether HIV-1 enters these cells via endocytosis, we probed the role of intracellular trafficking in HIV-1 entry/fusion by a targeted shRNA screen in a CD4+ T cell line. We performed a screen utilizing a direct virus-cell fusion assay as readout and identified several host proteins involved in endosomal trafficking/maturation, including Rab5A and sorting nexins, as factors regulating HIV-1 fusion and infection. Knockdown of these proteins inhibited HIV-1 fusion irrespective of coreceptor tropism, without altering the CD4 or coreceptor expression, or compromising the virus’ ability to mediate fusion of two adjacent cells initiated by virus-plasma membrane fusion. Ectopic expression of Rab5A in non-permissive cells harboring Rab5A shRNAs partially restored the HIV-cell fusion. Together, these results implicate endocytic machinery in productive HIV-1 entry into CD4+ T cells.
Aprendiendo y Sobresaliendo: Resilient Indigeneity & Yucatec-Maya youth

Relatively little research has focused on the experiences of students and families of Yucatec-Maya origin in the U.S., and even less has focused on Yucatec-Maya youth and resilience, a normative process of positive adaptation despite exposure to adversity. Using Critical Latinx Indigeneities, which centers on Indigeneity across multi-national spaces, sociohistorical colonialities, and migrations, this study examines how Indigenous identity, familial linguistic and cultural practices, and resilience processes relate to one another for 10 (three girls) California-based Yucatec-Maya students. Through interview data, the themes that emerge expose discrimination as one form of adversity Yucatec-Maya students experience. There are three overarching themes related to the students’ collective resilience process and the emergence of resilient Indigenous identities: 1) their lived, linguistic, familial, and community-based experiences; 2) familial support and academic resilience; and 3) transformational welcoming spaces. These protective processes contribute to the students’ agency in [re]defining their resilient Indigenous identities in the U.S.
Electrochemical behavior of protons and cupric ions in water in salt electrolytes with alkaline metal chloride

Abstract The proton reduction and copper deposition in water-in-salt electrolytes with LiCl were studied. Cyclic voltammetry on stationary electrode with various scan rates and linear sweep voltammetry on disk electrodes with different rotation rates were used to determine not only the diffusion coefficients but also the effective concentrations of protons and cupric cations. The suppression of hydrogen evolution limiting current observed in water-in-salt electrolyte was determined to result from the inhibition of proton diffusion. This diffusion inhibition was mainly related to the structural diffusion across hydrogen bond network and is not observed for cupric cations. The effects of alkaline metal cations on the acidity of electrolytes, the diffusivity of protons as well as the copper deposition rate were also studied using various super high concentrations of LiCl, NaCl and KCl.
Reproductive outcomes following fertility-sparing surgery for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract Objective Investigate the reproductive outcomes of patients diagnosed with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) following fertility-sparing surgery (FSS). Methods A systematic review of the Pubmed/Medline, EMBASE and Web-of-Science databases between January 1st 1990 and February 28th 2020 was performed. Full articles reporting on at least 10 patients with MOGCT who underwent FSS and provided data on fertility or pregnancy outcomes were included. Results A total of 47 studies that included 2189 patients with MOGCT who underwent FSS were included. Rate of chemotherapy use was 79.9% while cumulative relapse rate was 8.7%. Based on 1110 patient from 27 studies rate of premature ovarian failure was 3.7%. Fecundity rate was 24.6% (n = 1980, from 42 studies), while 80.6% of patients attempting pregnancy had at least one pregnancy (n = 474, from 27 studies). Based on 294 live births, the rate of preterm delivery was 3% while among 261 live infants, only 3 (1.2%) malformations were reported. Conclusions The majority of patients with MOGCTs have normal menstrual and reproductive function following FSS. Fecundity and pregnancy outcomes are comparable to the general population.
Amyloid beta acts synergistically as a pro-inflammatory cytokine

The amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is believed to play a central role in Alzheimer9s disease (AD), the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. However, the natural, evolutionarily-selected functions of Aβ are incompletely understood. Here, we report that nanomolar concentrations of Aβ act synergistically with known cytokines to promote pro-inflammatory activation in primary human astrocytes (a cell type increasingly implicated in brain aging and AD). Using transcriptomics (RNA-seq), we show that Aβ can directly substitute for the complement component C1q in a cytokine cocktail previously shown to induce astrocyte immune activation. Furthermore, we show that astrocytes synergistically activated by Aβ have a transcriptional signature similar to neurotoxic "A1" astrocytes known to accumulate with age and in AD. Interestingly, we find that this biological action of Aβ at low concentrations is distinct from the transcriptome changes induced by the high/supraphysiological doses of Aβ often used in in vitro studies. Collectively, our results suggest an important, cytokine-like function for Aβ and a novel mechanism by which it may directly contribute to the neuroinflammation associated with brain aging and AD.
TET-dioxygenase deficiency in oncogenesis and its targeting for tumor-selective therapeutics.

Abstract TET2 is one of the most frequently mutated genes in myeloid neoplasms. TET2 loss-of-function perturbs myeloid differentiation and causes clonal expansion. Despite extensive knowledge regarding biochemical mechanisms underlying distorted myeloid differentiation, targeted therapies are lagging. Here we review known biochemical mechanisms and candidate therapies that emerge from this. Specifically, we discuss the potential utility of vitamin C to compensate for TET-dioxygenase deficiency, to thereby restore the biochemical function. An alternative approach exploits the TET-deficient state for synthetic lethality, exploiting the fact that a minimum level of TET-dioxygenase activity is required for cell survival, rendering TET2-mutant malignant cells selectively vulnerable to inhibitors of TET-function.
Grass bud responses to fire in a semiarid savanna system.

Increasingly, land managers have attempted to use extreme prescribed fire as a method to address woody plant encroachment in savanna ecosystems. The effect that these fires have on herbaceous vegetation is poorly understood. We experimentally examined immediate (<24 hr) bud response of two dominant graminoids, a C3 caespitose grass, Nassella leucotricha, and a C4 stoloniferous grass, Hilaria belangeri, following fires of varying energy (J/m2) in a semiarid savanna in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion of Texas. Treatments included high- and low-energy fires determined by contrasting fuel loading and a no burn (control) treatment. Belowground axillary buds were counted and their activities classified to determine immediate effects of fire energy on bud activity, dormancy, and mortality. High-energy burns resulted in immediate mortality of N. leucotricha and H. belangeri buds (p < .05). Active buds decreased following high-energy and low-energy burns for both species (p < .05). In contrast, bud activity, dormancy, and mortality remained constant in the control. In the high-energy treatment, 100% (n = 24) of N. leucotricha individuals resprouted while only 25% (n = 24) of H. belangeri individuals resprouted (p < .0001) 3 weeks following treatment application. Bud depths differed between species and may account for this divergence, with average bud depths for N. leucotricha 1.3 cm deeper than H. belangeri (p < .0001). Synthesis and applications: Our results suggest that fire energy directly affects bud activity and mortality through soil heating for these two species. It is imperative to understand how fire energy impacts the bud banks of grasses to better predict grass response to increased use of extreme prescribed fire in land management.
Psychedelics as Novel Therapeutics in Alzheimer's Disease: Rationale and Potential Mechanisms.

Serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist “classic psychedelics” are drawing increasing interest as potential mental health treatments. Recent work suggests psychedelics can exert persisting anxiolytic and antidepressant effects lasting up to several months after a single administration. Data indicate acute subjective drug effects as important psychological factors involved in observed therapeutic benefits. Additionally, animal models have shown an important role for 5-HT2AR agonists in modulating learning and memory function with relevance for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias. A number of biological mechanisms of action are under investigation to elucidate 5-HT2AR agonists’ therapeutic potential, including enhanced neuroplasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and alterations in brain functional connectivity. These diverse lines of research are reviewed here along with a discussion of AD pathophysiology and neuropsychiatric symptoms to highlight classic psychedelics as potential novel pharmacotherapies for patients with AD. Human clinical research suggests a possible role for high-dose psychedelic administration in symptomatic treatment of depressed mood and anxiety in early-stage AD. Preclinical data indicate a potential for low- or high-dose psychedelic treatment regimens to slow or reverse brain atrophy, enhance cognitive function, and slow progression of AD. In conclusion, rationale and potential approaches for preliminary research with psychedelics in patients with AD are presented, and ramifications of this line of investigation for development of novel AD treatments are discussed.
Synthesis of poly(N4-anisoyldeoxycytidylate) and poly(N6-Benzoyldeoxyadenylate)

Abstract The chemical synthesis and enzymatic polymerization of N 4 - anisoyldeoxycytidine 5′-triphosphate and of N 6 - benzoyldeoxyadenosine 5′-triphosphate by deoxynucleotidyl terminal transferase are described.
Attenuation and Enhancement of Compliance with Experimental Demand Characteristics

College students chose between reinforcement schedules in which a key press produced a cartoon video followed by nonreinforcement. The experimenter introduced a demand characteristic by stating a preference for choosing one schedule while indicating that the other schedule was also acceptable. With identical schedules (25 s of reinforcement, 5 s of nonreinforcement), compliant choices approached 100%. When the designated schedule presented a 5-s reinforcer followed by a 25-s timeout, participants complied initially, and then chose the other schedule on most trials. The aversiveness of the timeout, combined with the predominantly reinforcing alternative, deterred compliance. Elaborating the instructional context by stating that choosing the designated schedule would “help us with the data analysis” significantly increased compliant choices but did not alter the rise-and-decline pattern found with the simpler instructions. A salient relation between an experimenter’s preference and a scientific benefit thus promotes compliance with demand cues but does not insulate it from attenuation by relatively mild aversive consequences. Demand characteristics are not a uniquely powerful source of behavioral control.
The Six Core Theories of Modern Physics

Preface Notational Conventions. Part 1 Mathematics: Vector Analysis Linear Operators on Inner-Product Spaces Green's Functions The Calculus of Variations Random Walk Functional Calculus Gaussian Random Processes* Cartesian Tensors. Part 2 Classical Mechanics: Euler-Lagrange Equation: First Version Hamilton's Principle Multiple Particles in Three Dimensions Euler-Lagrange Equation: Second Version Hamilton's Equations Poisson Brackets*. Part 3 Electricity and Magnetism: The Electrostatic Field The Magnetostatic Field The Electromagnetic Field The Macroscopic Maxwell's Equations Gauge Transformations*. Part 4 Quantum Mechanics: Fundamental Assumptions Schrodinger's Equation Next Steps Momentum Representation Operators The Uncertainty Principle The Schrodinger and Heisenberg Pictures Time-Varying Forcing*. Part 5 Statistical Physics Historical Context Thermodynamics Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics* Quantum Statistical Mechanics*. Part 6 Special Relativity: Einstein's Postulates and First Consequences Theories Must Be Covariant. Part 7 Quantum Field Theory: The Lagrangian for a Mechanical Field The Field-Transition Amplitude The Feynman Propagator Second Quantisation Interacting Fields Antiparticles. Additional Reading Symbol Index Equation Index Subject Index.
Experimental results in rapid system prototyping with incomplete CAD tools and inexperienced designers

The effect of designer inexperience and incomplete CAD tool suites on the rapid prototyping of microelectronic systems was studied through a course on advanced digital system design. Some of the results confirm that well known and respected design methodologies are indeed preferable to other alternatives, whereas other results showed previously unknown traits. All of the projects were successfully completed, demonstrating that the stated limitations can be overcome. The results of the study are discussed. >
The potential economic benefits of integrated and sustainable ocean observation systems: The Southeast Atlantic region

The South East Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS) collects, manages and disseminates coastal oceanic and atmospheric observation information along the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States. This paper estimates the benefits of SEACOOS information in eleven benefit categories. Following a methodology used in similar studies of other U.S. coastal regions, we evaluate the impacts of conservative changes in economic activity in each sector. The annual economic benefit of SEACOOS information is $170 million (2003 $'s), an estimate that falls between annual benefits of $33 million for the Gulf of Maine region and $381 million for the Gulf of Mexico.
The extreme ultraviolet emissions of solar flares: A comparison between OSO-6 spectroheliograph observations and SFDs

The time structure and intensity of OSO-6 observations of EUV bursts were studied in relation to the corresponding 10-1030 A enhancements deduced from SFD data. Impulsive EUV emissions from lines normally emitted from either the chromosphere or from the chromosphere-corona transition region rise simultaneously with the 10-1030 A flash, to within the time resolution of the OSO-6 observations. Mg X 625 A also showed concurrent impulsive emissions and a close intensity relation to the 10-1030 A enhancement. The observational results are consistent with the hypothesis that most of the EUV radiation is being produced thermally in a region of chromospheric density, which is being heated by collisional losses of nonthermal electrons.
Presentation and management of epigastric hernias in children

Abstract Background/Purpose: Although epigastric hernias are common, there are no reports that describe the presentation and treatment of these defects in children. The authors reviewed their experience with these hernias to develop recommendations for their management in this age group. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for all children younger than 18 years who presented for evaluation of an epigastric hernia at our institution over 14 years. Data on presentation, operative findings, and postoperative results were obtained. Results: Forty children were evaluated for an epigastric hernia, representing 4% of all pediatric patients seen for treatment of a hernia. An epigastric hernia was first observed at birth in 12 patients (30%). All children presented with a mass in the epigastrium. The hernia was observed to be either symptomatic (abdominal wall pain or tenderness) or enlarging in 22 patients (55%). Thirty-eight children underwent repair, and 2 were lost to follow-up. There was no recurrence or morbidity associated with surgical repair of these defects. Conclusions: Epigastric hernias are common in children and frequently present in infancy. Because most are either symptomatic or enlarging, the authors recommend repair of these defects at the time of presentation. J Pediatr Surg 35:1754-1756. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Planning for 2012 AGU Fall Meeting

The Fall Meeting is AGU's flagship meeting and is the largest Earth and space sciences meeting in the world. The high quality of this meeting is due to the joint efforts of the Fall Meeting Program Committee, the professional AGU meetings staff, AGU members who serve as session chairs, and AGU members who submit abstracts and attend the meeting. The 2011 Fall Meeting was attended by more than 21,000 people, including 30% from outside the United States. To maintain the high quality of AGU science and the reputation of AGU for excellence in meetings, the AGU Meetings Committee has finalized the 2012 schedule.
Small Angle Neutron Scattering Characterization of the Porous Structure of Carbons Prepared Using Inorganic Templates

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used for the characterization of the microstructure of carbons derived from organic-loaded inorganic template materials that are used as anodes in lithium ion cells. Pillared clays (PILC), layered silicates whose sheets have been permanently propped open by sets of thermally stable molecular props, were used as a template to load the organic precursors. Five organic precursors, namely pyrene, styrene, pyrene/trioxane copolymer, ethylene, and propylene, were used to load the PILC. Pyrolysis was carried out at 700 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. From SANS, information has been derived about the pore radius, mass fractal dimension, and the cutoff length (above which the fractal property breaks down) on each carbon. In general, the pore radius ranges from 4 to 11 A, and the mass fractal dimension varies in the range from 2.5 to 2.9. Contrast-match SANS studies of carbons wetted in 84% deuterated toluene indicate that a significant amount of pores in carbon from pyrene a...
On the extended β-conformation propensity of polypeptides at high temperature

At room temperature, natural polypeptides exposed to high concentrations of a strong denaturant nearly attain the circular dichroism spectra characteristic of random coils. As temperature is increased, the spectra begin to show the signature of a substantial fraction of extended chain, the structure common in β-sheets. This structural propensity at high temperature is not altered by concentration changes over a greater than 1000-fold range, so it is not caused by aggregation. Four proteins with different folds and varying amounts of α-helical and β-sheet secondary structure, in the presence or absence of denaturant, all were subject to extended chain formation upon heating. This effect arises naturally from the steric constraints associated with polypeptides and is probably counteracted, not enhanced, by hydrophobic interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations in the 298−1000 K range reveal an attractive potential of mean force in the extended chain region of the Ramachandran diagram, which broadens as th...
Internal water relations of flooded wheat grown with rice

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine if rice (Oryza sativa L.), which normally grows under flooded conditions, would increase potentials of flooded winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), if grown with the wheat. Water potential, osmotic potential and turgor potential of the two plants, grown in containers with a commercial potting soil, were measured during the seedling stage in two experiments. One experiment was done under cool-temperature conditions (maximum temperature range: 17–24°C) and the other was done under warm-temperature conditions (maximum temperature range: 29–38°C). Under cool, flooded conditions, seedlings of winter wheat grown with rice had higher water (−1.70 MPa) and osmotic (−2.36 MPa) potentials than wheat seedlings grown alone (−2.66 MPa and −3.28 MPa for the two potentials, respectively). Turgor potential of wheat grown with rice was similar to that of wheat grown alone. Under warm, flooded conditions, the water and osmotic potentials of wheat grown with rice were not higher than those of wheat grown singly, perhaps because roots of wheat did not proliferate under the warm temperatures as they did under the cool temperatures. The results showed that the internal water relations of wheat, when grown together with flooded rice, were different from those of flooded wheat grown alone.
EFFECT OF ROW SPACING AND SEEDING RATE ON SOYBEAN YIELD

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield response to narrow row spacing has been consistently positive in the upper Midwest and new split-row planters have made narrow row soybean production feasible, yet adoption has been slow in Iowa. Wide (76-cm) and narrow (38-cm) row spacing and four seeding rates (185,000; 309,000; 432 000; and 556,000 seeds ha -1 ) were evaluated at three locations during 2004, 2005, and 2006 to determine seed yield in wide and narrow row spacing and four seeding rates and evaluate economic advantages associated with changes in row spacing. Soybean planted in 38-cm row spacing yielded 248 kg ha -1 greater than soybean planted in 76-cm rows after adjustment for differences in final plant populations. Maximum yield at all locations was attained at a final harvest population of 462,200 plants ha -1 but >95% of the maximum yield was achieved with final populations as low as 258 600 plants ha -1 . Increased production costs associated with greater seeding rates removed the yield benefit from greater harvest plant populations. Farm size of 144 ha with at least 50% of the land base dedicated to soybean production would benefit from conversion from wide to narrow rows. To break even on the investment in a split-row planter a yield increase of124 kg ha -1 was necessary for farms with 30% of 288 ha dedicated to soybean production. These data indicate that yield and economic benefits are sufficient to support the production of soybean in narrow rows and at seeding rates below current seeding rate recommendations.
Model Bank State Estimation for Power Grids Using Importance Sampling

Power grid operators decide where and how much power to generate based on the current topology and demands of the network. The topology can change as safety devices trigger (connecting or disconnecting parts of the network) or as lines go down. Often, the operator cannot observe these events directly, but instead has contemporary measurements and historical information about a subset of the line flows and bus (node) properties. This information can be used in conjunction with a computational model to infer the topology of the network. We present a Bayesian approach to topological inference that considers a bank of possible topologies. The solution provides a probability for each member in the model bank. The approach has two important features. First, we build a statistical approximation, or emulator, to the computational model, which is too computationally expensive to run a large number of times. Second, we use the emulator in an importance sampling scheme to estimate the probabilities. The resulting al...
Dephasing and dissipation in resonant double-barriers

Abstract When the environment of a one-dimensional resonant double barrier acts as a source of dephasing or dissipation we find that the resonant half-linewidth is larger than the decay rate of a quasi-bound state. This result shows that measuring the decay rate of a quasi-bound state does not necessarily yield the resonant half-linewidth.