cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AnAqSim: Analytic Element Modeling Software for Multi-Aquifer, Transient Flow

Introduction Analytic element method (AEM) groundwater flow models, first developed in the early 1980s, have made great advances over the past decade. Their power and ease of use place them among the first tools that a hydrogeologist or engineer may wish to apply when the need arises to develop a rapid and cost-effective answer to a question regarding a groundwater flow system. AEM models are capable of simulating both confined or water table aquifers, and heterogeneities such as zones of differing hydraulic conductivity or differing model base elevation (e.g., bedrock). Newer AEM models permit multiple aquifer layers, transient simulations, and analysis of saltwater interface boundaries. Each hydrologic feature or “element” is represented by a precise analytic mathematical solution, with those element solutions being superimposed (added together) to form more complex solutions. Model set up is quick. No construction of a complex computational grid or mesh is required. In addition, the tight integration of model post-processing tools in many AEM models supports a rapid run-display-change-rerun cycle that allows the modeler to focus on the model concepts and interpretation, and not on the mechanics of model modification. A new AEM model called AnAqSim applies a new theoretical approach based on model domains to incorporate many of these powerful AEM features. AnAqSim was developed by Dr. Charles Fitts of Fitts Geosolutions and is available on the web site http://www.AnAqSim.com.
Does innate consumer innovativeness relate to new product/service adoption behavior? The intervening role of social learning via vicarious innovativeness

Empirical studies provide an inconsistent picture of the relationship between an innovative personality predisposition (i.e., innate consumer innovativeness [ICI]) and innovative behavior (i.e., new product adoption behavior). Such inconsistencies suggest intervening variables that may mediate the relationship have not been considered. Using data from a panel of consumers (n = 296 in a cross-sectional phase, n = 147 in a matched, two-phase longitudinal analysis), we find that ICI does not directly influence adoption behavior but does so indirectly through two of three components of vicarious innovativeness (modeling and engagement in word of mouth but not exposure to advertising). Furthermore, despite the evidence that consumers’ decision processes differ for service versus product adoption, extant studies largely ignore the role of ICI in new service adoption. Our findings suggest that vicarious innovativeness plays a similar intervening role in service contexts. Finally, divergent operationalizations of adoption behavior (ownership, relative time of adoption) appear to perform equally well.
Gender Differences in Grief Reactions following the Death of a Parent

This study examined gender differences in psychological functioning in a sample of college students who lost a parent to death. Male and female students (n = 65) who had a parent that had died were asked to complete a series of self report questionnaires to assess psychological distress, feelings of grief and bereavement, and coping strategies. Overall, no gender differences were found between bereaved students on measures of psychological distress. However an avoidant coping style was related to symptoms of depression in females, but not in males. Students who lost a mother were more likely to report symptoms of depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation as compared to students who lost a father. Future research implications and the clinical importance of these findings are discussed.
Preparation of defined molecular species of lactosylceramide by chemical deacylation and reacylation withN-succinimidyl fatty acid esters

A procedure for the preparation of specific molecular species ofd-erythro-lactosylceramide involving deacylation and reacylation of lactosylceramide prepared from bovine brain gangliosides is described. Lactosylceramide wasN-deacylated by alkaline hydrolysis and the resulting four lysolactosylceramides, which contained d18∶1, d20∶1, d18∶0 and d20∶0 long-chain bases, were simultaneously re-N-acylated with theN-succinimidyl ester of either 16∶0, 18∶0, 20∶0, 24∶0, 20∶1, 22∶1 or 24∶1 fatty acid. The resulting lactosylceramide contained four molecular species of lactosylceramides, i.e., d18∶1, d20∶1, d18∶0 and d20∶0 long-chain bases coupled with the fatty acid that was introduced. Lactosylceramides prepared in this manner were separated into four individual molecular species by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Each of the purified molecular species of lactosylceramide was quantitated by HPLC after derivatization with benzoylchloride and was characterized by mass spectrometry. The yields of reacylated lactosylceramide were 38–58% relative to the starting lactosylceramide; the purity of each of the molecular species of lactosylceramide was greater than 95%.
The isotopic composition of the ammonia and the nitrate ion in rain

Abstract The ammonia and the nitrate ions in rain-water have been quantitatively isolated with the use of ion exchange resins. The nitrogen isotope ratio of each fraction has been measured relative to atmospheric nitrogen. A kinetic isotope effect has been calculated on the basis of the formation of nitrate from atmospheric ammonia. The nitrogen-15 content of the two ions vary from rain to rain with respect to the nitrogen-15 content of atmospheric nitrogen. There is a constant kinetic isotope effect between the ammonia and nitrate ion of 1.004 3 ± 0.001 4 . This result is in agreement with the postulate that the nitrate arises from the oxidation of ammonia. The isotope effect during the laboratory fixation of nitrogen with electric sparks was measured.
Possible correlation between classifications and potassium-argon ages of chondrites.

ACCORDING to Kirsten et al.1 and Hintenborger2, the frequency distribution curves of the potassium–argon ages of stone meteorites show two distinct maxima. One occurs at ages close to 4.5 × 109 years, the other occurs around 1 × 109 years. However, if one classifies the chondrites into the Urey–Craig3 L- and H-groups a relationship between classifications and gas retention ages is apparent (Fig. 1). The classification in L- and H-groups (that is, hypersthene-olivine and bronzite-olivine chondrites respectively) is based on the following chemicalmineralogical parameters: bulk iron3, specific gravity4, metallic nickel–iron4,5, and Fe/Fe + Mg ratios in olivine and rhombic pyroxene6,7. Only well-classified chondrites have been included. Carbonaceous chondrites and enstatite chondrites have been excluded since they constitute separate groups7. Fig. 1 shows the frequency distribution of chondrites with well-known classification and well-determined age. The age values were taken from Anders8 and Kirsten et al.1. The diagram shows that the substantial degassing, which leads to an apparent potassium–argon age of about 1 × 109 years, is, on the basis of the chondrites investigated so far, considerably more frequent for the L-group of chondrites than for the H-group. The uranium–helium ages are also plotted in the diagram, showing a similar effect. New potassium–argon age measurements9 seem to yield some more H-group chondrites with low potassium–argon ages. However, recent uranium–helium measurements10 again seem to support an age-classification relationship as indicated in Fig. 1. The purpose of this communication is to direct attention to the apparently more frequent, substantial degassing of L-group chondrites in comparison to H-group chondrites, and to emphasize the necessity for more potassium–argon gas retention age measurements of chondrites, for which the classification into L- and H-groups is well known.
The Effective Conductivity of Random Suspensions of Spherical Particles

The effective conductivity of an infinite, random, mono-disperse, hard-sphere suspension is reported for particle to matrix conductivity ratios of ∞, 10 and 0.01 for sphere volume fractions, c, up to 0.6. The conductivities are computed with a method previously described by the authors, which includes both far- and near-field interactions, and the particle configurations are generated via a Monte Carlo method. The results are consistent with the previous theoretical work of D. J. Jeffrey to O(c^2) and the bounds computed by S. Torquato and F. Lado. It is also found that the Clausius-Mosotti equation is reasonably accurate for conductivity ratios of 10 or less all the way up to 60 % (by volume). The calculated conductivities compare very well with those of experiments. In addition, percolation-like numerical experiments are performed on periodically replicated cubic lattices of N nearly touching spheres with an infinite particle to matrix conductivity ratio where the conductivity is computed as spheres are removed one by one from the lattice. Under suitable normalization of the conductivity and volume fraction, it is found that the initial volume fraction must be extremely close to maximum packing in order to observe a percolation transition, indicating that the near-field effects must be very large relative to far-field effects. These percolation transitions occur at the accepted values for simple (sc), bodycentred (BCC) and face-centred (FCC) cubic lattices. Also, the vulnerability of the lattices computed here are exactly those of previous investigators. Due to limited data above the percolation threshold, we could not correlate the conductivity with a power law near the threshold; however, it can be correlated with a power law for large normalized volume fractions. In this case the exponents are found to be 1.70, 1.75 and 1.79 for sc, BCC and FCC lattices respectively.
Quality control and nondestructive testing in reactor pressure vessel fabrication

Abstract The objectives of this paper are to briefly outline a quality control program for the design and fabrication of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel which will meet all nuclear and safety requirements, and to show how nondestructive testing can help to achieve the broad objective. Failure in materials, components, and assembly has demonstrated that our present techniques of fabrication are not sufficient alone to assure repeated reliability in critical components. Flaws and inhomogeneities occur even when using the best processes and properly controlled procedures. Thus an adequate and well integrated nondestructive testing program is necessary to assure the quality level required in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The principal nondestructive methods used in the fabrication of reactor pressure vessels are: visual, X-ray and gamma radiography, ultrasonics, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant. The nondestructive testing program must include the inspection of plate material, forging, casting, cladding, and welds. Various methods and their application to the nondestructive testing of pressure vessels and components will be illustrated and discussed.
Alcohol-induced impairment of central nervous system function: behavioral skills involved in driving

Several points emerge from the large body of data on the effects of alcohol on CNS function. First, the degree of impairment is dose related, but not identical or strictly linear for all behaviors. Alcohol-related impairment of behavioral skills involved in driving is greatest for those tasks that require cognitive functioning; simple perception alone is least affected. Impairment of cognitive functioning, which includes information processing and decision making under conditions of divided attention, is evident at BALs above 50 mg/dl and is markedly affected above 100 mg/dl. Above a BAL of 100 mg/dl, almost all behavioral skills are impaired by alcohol. Most studies have employed only one or at most two doses of alcohol in testing for impairment. The limited range of BALs studied makes determination of the overall shape of the dose-response curve difficult. Second, alcohol-related impairment of CNS functions cannot be demonstrated at low BALs. There is no consistent evidence that BALs below 50 mg/dl impair any behavior in most individuals. Youth and the elderly, groups not typically studied in the laboratory, may represent exceptions to this general observation. Nonetheless, these findings are more consistent with a threshold effect for impairment than for impairment at all levels of BAL. Third, for most behavioral skills, the decrement in performance after alcohol is slight, rarely exceeding 35-50% of the control period. In many studies, changes of only 8-10% are reported to be statistically significant. Whether these small statistically significant decrements in performance are an explanation for increased crash risk remains uncertain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Genome organization of retroviruses. VII. Infection by double-stranded DNA synthesizedin Vitro from moloney murine leukemia virus generates A virus indistinguishable from the original virus used in reverse transcription

Abstract Using transfection assay, we have confirmed the results reported by E. Rothenberg, D. Smotkin, D. Baltimore and R. A. Weinberg ( Nature (London) 269 , 122–126, 1977) that cDNA of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MLV) synthesized in vitro is infectious. The only infectious molecule appeared to be the genome-length double-stranded DNA with a sedimentation value of 20 S. By immunoprecipitation and two-dimensional tryptic peptide analysis, we have demonstrated that the two major viral structural proteins, glycoprotein gp70 and the core protein p30, synthesized in M-MLV cDNA-transfected cells were indistinguishable from those synthesized in M-MLV-infected cells.
Determination of ten trace elements in meteorites and lunar materials by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

Abstract A procedure is reported for the determination of Ni, Ge, Ru, Au, Ir, Zn, Ga, Cd, In and U in meteorites and lunar materials. The precision in multiple determinations at the 95% confidence level is less than 10% except for gold (15%). Ruthenium and uranium are determined by counting 97 Ru and 103 Ru x-rays; the chemical yield is determined from 106 Ru added before sample dissolution. The activity of 116m In is determined with improved sensitivity from integral counts in the region 1.5–3.0 MeV on a NaI(TI) detector.
Tsunami-generated boulder ridges in Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada

An array of east-trending ridges 1-2 m high and up to 2 km long occurs on the Tahoe City shelf, a submerged wave-cut bench <15 m deep in the northwest sector of the lake. The shelf is just north of the amphitheater of the giant subaqueous 10 km 3 McKinney Bay landslide, which originated on the west wall of Lake Tahoe. Images from a submersible camera show that the ridges are composed of loose piles of boulders and cobbles that lie directly on poorly consolidated, fine-bedded lake beds deposited in an ancestral Lake Tahoe. Dredge hauls from landslide distal blocks, as well as from the walls of the reentrant of the landslide, recovered similar lake sediments. The McKinney Bay landslide generated strong currents, which rearranged previous glacial-derived debris into giant ripples creating the boulder ridges. The uncollapsed part of the sediment bench, including the Tahoe City shelf, poses a hazard because it may fail again, producing a landslide and damaging waves.
Nonsurgical Management of Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of hypercalcemia in the outpatient setting and is typically caused by a single benign parathyroid adenoma. Most patients with hyperparathyroidism are postmenopausal women. Patients can be asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. Parathyroidectomy is the definitive cure for primary hyperparathyroidism, and no medical therapies have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this disorder. Guidelines for surgery have been established by a National Institutes of Health consensus panel, but many patients do not meet these guidelines or have comorbid conditions that prohibit surgery. This review describes alternative treatment options for patients who decide against or are unable to proceed with surgery.
Activity recognition from user-annotated acceleration data

In this work, algorithms are developed and evaluated to de- tect physical activities from data acquired using five small biaxial ac- celerometers worn simultaneously on different parts of the body. Ac- celeration data was collected from 20 subjects without researcher su- pervision or observation. Subjects were asked to perform a sequence of everyday tasks but not told specifically where or how to do them. Mean, energy, frequency-domain entropy, and correlation of acceleration data was calculated and several classifiers using these features were tested. De- cision tree classifiers showed the best performance recognizing everyday activities with an overall accuracy rate of 84%. The results show that although some activities are recognized well with subject-independent training data, others appear to require subject-specific training data. The results suggest that multiple accelerometers aid in recognition because conjunctions in acceleration feature values can effectively discriminate many activities. With just two biaxial accelerometers - thigh and wrist - the recognition performance dropped only slightly. This is the first work to investigate performance of recognition algorithms with multiple, wire-free accelerometers on 20 activities using datasets annotated by the subjects themselves.
Physical and occupational therapy: effects related to treatment, frequency, and motor delay.

Issues related to occupational and physical therapy services for handicapped students are outlined. Among the issues addressed are the efficacy of therapy treatments, who should receive therapy, the frequency of services, and the effects of therapy on non-motor domains. Results of an experiment are reported which tested hypotheses about several of these issues. Findings suggest that the developmental therapy treatment affected gross motor gains for preschool children who exhibited moderate but not mild motor delays, and that one treatment per week was as effective as three treatment sessions per week.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and control climate change implicate a wide range of social, moral, economic, and political issues, none of them simple or clear. But when regulators use cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the desirability of climate change mitigation, one factor typically determines whether mitigation is justified: the discount rate, the rate at which future benefits are converted to their present value. Even low discount rates make the value of future benefits close to worthless: at a discount rate of three percent, ten million dollars five hundred years from now is worth thirty-eight cents today. Thirty-eight cents is therefore more than we would be willing to pay now to save a life in five hundred years. Discounting over very long periods, like in the context of climate change, has long perplexed economists, philosophers, and legal scholars alike. This Article evaluates the four principal justifications for intergenerational discounting, which are often conflated in the literature. It
Elucidation of the active surface and origin of the weak metal–hydrogen bond on Ni/Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces: a surface science and density functional theory study

Ni/Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces were prepared by physical vapor deposition of Ni onto Pt(1 1 1) single crystals at 300 K with and without subsequent annealing at 600 K, and by direct deposition of Ni at 600 K. The structure, composition and chemical properties of these surfaces were investigated using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of H2, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Hydrogen desorbed at a lower temperature from the annealed Ni/ Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces than from the clean Pt(1 1 1) surface or thick (>5 ML) Ni surface, suggesting a weaker metal–hydrogen bond on the annealed Ni/Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces. In contrast, H2 desorbed from the surface prepared by 300 K nickel deposition at a higher temperature than from Pt(1 1 1) and close to that from the thick Ni surface, suggesting a stronger metal–H bond on the unannealed Ni/Pt(1 1 1) surface. STM, LEIS and XPS results indicated that Ni atoms deposited at 300 K remain on the Pt(1 1 1) surface, but that substantial amounts of Ni atoms diffuse into the bulk in the course of annealing at 600 K. Density functional theory calculations showed that subsurface Ni atoms could leads to a weaker metal–hydrogen bond by modification of the electronic structure of the surface Pt atoms.
Erratum to: plasma soluble thrombomodulin levels are associated with mortality in the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective Thombomodulin (TM) is an activator of protein C and a biomarker for endothelial injury. We hypothesized that (1) elevated plasma levels would be associated with clinical outcomes and (2) polymorphisms in the TM gene would be associated with plasma levels.
A Systolic Design Methodology with Application to Full-Search Block-Matching Architectures

We present a systematic methodology to support the design tradeoffs of array processors in several emerging issues, such as (1) high performance and high flexibility, (2) low cost, low power, (3) efficient memory usage, and (4) system-on-a-chip or the ease of system integration. This methodology is algebraic based, so it can cope with high-dimensional data dependence. The methodology consists of some transformation rules of data dependency graphs for facilitating flexible array designs. For example, two common partitioning approaches, LPGS and LSGP, could be unified under the methodology. It supports the design of high-speed and massively parallel processor arrays with efficient memory usage. More specifically, it leads to a novel systolic cache architecture comprising of shift registers only (cache without tags). To demonstrate how the methodology works, we have presented several systolic design examples based on the block-matching motion estimation algorithm (BMA). By multiprojecting a 4D DG of the BMA to 2D mesh, we can reconstruct several existing array processors. By multiprojecting a 6D DG of the BMA, a novel 2D systolic array can be derived that features significantly improved rates in data reusability (96%) and processor utilization (99%).
Applications of suppression filters for CDMA overlay situations

A direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating over a Rayleigh fading channel and sharing a common spectrum with various narrowband waveforms is discussed. Because of the presence of these narrowband waveforms, a suppression filter at a receiver is employed to reduce the interference. The average bit error rate (BER) performance is evaluated, and how the performance is influenced by various parameters, such as the number of taps of the suppression filter, the number of multiple-access users, the ratio of the narrowband interference bandwidth to the spread spectrum bandwidth, the interference power-to-signal power ratio, and the ratio of the offset of the interference carrier frequency from the spread spectrum carrier frequency to the half spread spectrum signal bandwidth, is investigated. >
Green marketing: Are environmental and social objectives compatible with profit maximization?

Along with others, we recognize the impact of human action on environmental quality. At the same time, we note that businesses have entered the ‘green market’. The goal of this paper is to open a discussion about green marketing. We raise questions regarding how firm governance impacts the ability of firms to incorporate environmental objectives into profit maximization. Additionally, we discuss the green marketing strategies that firms have chosen to use, as well as public and private options available for eco-label monitoring and enforcement to avoid additional consumer confusion.
Interannual changes in distribution of age-0 walleye pollock near the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, with reference to the prediction of pollock year-class strength

Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) is a key species and a major commercial fishery target in the eastern Bering Sea (EBS). Recruitment of juveniles to the adult stock is largely determined by first-year survival in favourable nursery areas, and the waters around the Pribilof Islands are an important nursery area. Based on a six-year acoustic survey programme (September 1994-1999) to investigate abundance and distribution variations of age-0 pollock, we developed a set of predictive indices relating the age-0 Pribilof population to the EBS pollock stock at recruitment (age-3). EBS year-class strength at recruitment correlates with age-0 density, the spatial relationship between juveniles and euphausiids, and the degree of centricity of the age-0 distributions around the Pribilof Islands, i.e. neither too far inshore nor offshore. Seabird numbers and density ratios of predatory groundfish also influenced age-0 pollock distribution, but did not provide consistent discrimination among year classes. We hypothesize that age-0 pollock must transition from a copepod diet to a euphausiid diet by September to maximize their survival potential and to estab ish a strong adult cohort.
Planar microwave and millimeter-wave lumped elements and coupled-line filters using micro-machining techniques

Planar microwave and millimeter-wave inductors and capacitors have been fabricated on high-resistivity silicon substrates using micro-machining techniques. The inductors and capacitors are suspended on a thin dielectric membrane to reduce the parasitic capacitance to ground. The resonant frequencies of a 1.2 nH and a 1.7-nH inductor have been increased from 22 GHz and 17 GHz to around 70 GHz and 50 GHz, respectively. We also report on the design and measurement of a new class of stripline filters suspended on a thin dielectric membrane. Interdigitated filters with 43% and 5% bandwidth have been fabricated and exhibit a port-to-port 0.7 dB and 2.0 dB loss, respectively, at 14-15 GHz. The micro-machining fabrication technique can be used with silicon and GaAs substrates in microstrip or coplanar-waveguide configurations to result in planar low-loss lumped elements and filters suitable for monolithic integration or surface mount devices up to 100 GHz. >
The covenant of the prophets: Muslim texts, jewish subtexts

For several years I have been trying to analyze Muslim historical thinking and the manner in which it affected perceptions of the Jewish past a past which Muslims fully appropriated as part of their own historical experiences and world-view. Put somewhat differently, I have been trying to understand the process by which a heritage common to both monotheistic faiths could and did become a bone of contention as well as a basis of mutual understanding. This linkage between Muslim self-reflection and the creation of a larger monotheist historiography is crucial to the formation of Muslim attitudes toward “the other,” the polemical discourse against Jews and Judaism, and, more generally, Muslim-Jewish relations throughout the Middle Ages. The present study is culled from a project on Muslim uses of the Jewish past.
Use of Computed Tomography and Plantar Pressure Measurement for Management of Neuropathic Ulcers in Patients With Diabetes

Background and Purpose. Total contact casting is effective at healing neuropathic ulcers, but patients have a high rate (30%–57%) of ulcer recurrence when they resume walking without the cast. The purposes of this case report are to describe how data from plantar pressure measurement and spiral x-ray computed tomography (SXCT) were used to help manage a patient with recurrent plantar ulcers and to discuss potential future benefits of this technology. Case Description. The patient was a 62-year-old man with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) of 34 years' duration, peripheral neuropathy, and a recurrent plantar ulcer. Although total contact casting or relieving weight bearing with crutches apparently allowed the ulcer to heal, the ulcer recurred 3 times in an 18-month period. Spiral x-ray computed tomography and simultaneous pressure measurement were conducted to better understand the mechanism of his ulceration. Outcomes. The patient had a severe bony deformity that coincided with the location of highest plantar pressures (886 kPa). The results of the SXCT and pressure measurement convinced the patient to wear his prescribed footwear always, even when getting up in the middle of the night. The ulcer healed in 6 weeks, and the patient resumed his work, which required standing and walking for 8 to 10 hours a day. Discussion. Following intervention, the patient's recurrent ulcer healed and remained healed for several months. Future benefits of these methods may include the ability to define how structural changes of the foot relate to increased plantar pressures and to help design and fabricate optimal orthoses.
Unusual mode of binding of human group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 to anionic interfaces as studied by continuous wave and time domain electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Human group IIA phospholipase A2 (hGIIA) is secreted from a number of cells during inflammation and is known to interact strongly with anionic membranes and to exhibit potent Gram-positive bactericidal activity. This protein contains 23 cationic residues, which are scattered over its entire surface, resulting in a high pI of 9.39. To understand the molecular basis for the selective binding of hGIIA to anionic membranes, 14 single-site, spin-labeled hGIIA proteins were analyzed in the presence and absence of vesicles of anionic phospholipid by time domain and continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin relaxant techniques. Surprisingly, for hGIIA bound to anionic vesicles, all of the spin labels were highly protected from water-soluble spin relaxants. Together with light scattering studies, these EPR results suggest the formation of a supramolecular aggregate involving clusters of hGIIA molecules bridging together multiple vesicles. This anomalous mode of binding of hGIIA to anionic phospholipid explains previous data in which charge reversal mutation of a few cationic residues on multiple faces of hGIIA leads to a comparable and modest reduction in affinity of the protein for anionic vesicles. In the presence of mixed micelles composed of 10% anionic phospholipids in Triton X-100 a monodisperse protein-lipid complex is formed. Under these conditions, the EPR methods were used to map the surface of hGIIA that constitutes the interfacial binding site (IBS). The IBS of hGIIA consists of the highly hydrophobic surface that surrounds the opening to the active site slot.
Database frameworks: Textbooks vs. student perceptions

This research examines the framework used by Computer Science students at the conclusion of their first semester of study of database concepts. To discover which concepts are considered as essential components in students' mental frameworks for database systems, a questionnaire listing 31 database concepts was given to Computer Science students upon completion of their first database course. This survey was given to two student groups: one during the last week of their first database course, and the other during the first meeting of a second database course. To identify which topics were crucial, students were asked to rate each concept on a ten-point scale. From their responses, we calculated the average perceived importance for each concept. This paper analyses the results of this survey for the two student groups. We then compare the student ratings with word frequencies exhibited by authors of database textbooks. In this way, we are able to show how the database framework of students relates to frameworks presented in textbooks.
Fracture Propagation in Composites with Biaxial Fiber Reinforcement

Fracture characteristics such as damage progression, work of fracture, ultimate fracture loads, and failure modes are evaluated by computational simulation for composites with biaxial braided fiber reinforcements. Several Graphite–Epoxy Mode I compact tension (C(T)) specimens with different biaxial fiber orientations are modeled and simulated. Damage initiation, growth, and propagation processes at the microscopic level are tracked, enabling a more insightful interpretation of the test results. The effects of ply-layup with various orientations of the braid axis with reference to the notch directions are investigated with respect to their influences on damage and fracture progression characteristics. Results validate the computational simulation method and identify fracture characteristics for biaxially reinforced composites.
Polymer nanocomposites for high-temperature composite repair

A novel repair agent for resin-injection repair of advanced high temperature composites was developed and characterized. The repair agent was based on bisphenol E cyanate ester (BECy) and reinforced with alumina nanoparticles. To ensure good dispersion and compatibility with the BECy matrix in nanocomposites, the alumina nanoparticles were functionalized with silanes. The BECy nanocomposites, containing bare and functionalized alumina nanoparticles, were prepared and evaluated for their thermal, mechanical, rheological, and viscoelastic properties. The monomer of BECy has an extremely low viscosity at ambient temperature, which is good for processability. The cured BECy polymer is a highly cross-linked network with excellent thermal mechanical properties, with a high glass transition temperature (T{sub g}) of 270 C and decomposition temperature above 350 C. The incorporation of alumina nanoparticles enhances the mechanical and rheological properties of the BECy nanocomposites. Additionally, the alumina nanoparticles are shown to catalyze the cure of BECy. Characterization of the nanocomposites included dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, rheological and rheokinetic evaluation, and transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results show that the BECy nanocomposite is a good candidate as repair agent for resin-injection repair applications.
Application of oscillation monitoring data for the detection of event signatures

Disturbances in power systems cause oscillations which can be observed in measured signals throughout the network. This paper examines the relationship between events in the system and the measured modal content of the oscillations. Identifying patterns or distinguishing characteristics from oscillation monitoring data is examined in the context of linear system theory and control theory. Our results show that with knowledge of the nominal modes of certain generators, it is often possible to distinguish an event at one of these generators.
Optimizing Eigenvector-Based Frequency Estimation in the Presence of Identical Frequencies in Multiple Dimensions

Recently an eigenvector-based algorithm has been developed for multidimensional frequency estimation. Unlike most existing algebraic approaches that estimate frequencies from eigenvalues, the eigenvector-based algorithm can achieve automatic frequency pairing without joint diagonalization of multiple matrices, but it is not applicable if there exist identical frequencies in certain dimensions. In this paper, we propose to use weighting factors to extend the eigenvector-based algorithm to handle identical frequencies in one or more dimensions. The weighting factors are optimized by minimizing the error variance. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Building Common Ground for Environmental Flows using Traditional Techniques and Novel Engagement Approaches

Despite increased understanding of the science of environmental flows, identification and implementation of effective environmental flow policies remains elusive. Perhaps the greatest barrier to implementing flow policies is the framework for water management. An alternative management approach is needed when legal rights for environmental flows do not exist, or are ineffective at protecting ecosystems. The research presented here, conducted in the U.S. state of Arizona, provides an empirical example of engagement to promote social learning as an approach to finding ways to provide water for the environment where legal rights for environmental flows are inadequate. Based on our engagement process we propose that identifying and then building common ground require attention to the process of analyzing qualitative data and the methods for displaying complex information, two aspects not frequently discussed in the social learning or stakeholder engagement literature. The results and methods from this study can help communities develop an engagement process that will find and build common ground, increase stakeholder involvement, and identify innovative solutions to provide water for the environment that reflect the concerns of current water users.
Neonatal hypernatremic dehydration secondary to lactation failure

Dehydration in the neonatal period has many causes. Dehydration is classified as isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic, based on the serum osmolality that in most cases is reflected in the serum sodium level. Hypernatremic dehydration is usually caused by gastroenteritis, but it can also be caused by salt poisoning or diabetes insipidus. This type of dehydration can be especially dangerous. The hyperosmolar state can lead to brain shrinkage, venous thrombosis, and subdural capillary hemorrhage. In addition, rehydration can cause cerebral edema and subsequent seizures. Seizures can frequently occur, even with the best rehydration regimens. Breastfeeding can commonly cause mild dehydration, but it is usually quite well tolerated. No prospective studies have been done to investigate the incidence or prevalence of hypernatremic dehydration secondary to lactation failure. At least one author believes that the condition is more common now because of early infant hospital discharge without adequate follow-up. We report a case report and literature review of hypernatremic dehydration caused by lactation failure.
A wealth of cells

Hematopoetic stem cells are the gold standard in cancer treatment, but mining them from bone marrow is difficult and dangerous. Therefore, researchers have turned from invasive bone marrow aspiration to a new mine—umbilical cord blood (UCB). UCB is typically discarded but has been found to be a great source of stem cells that can be used in mismatched settings with improved safety. However, a challenge exists in that the numbers of stem cells in UCB are very low. Doctors have responded to the lack of stem cells in UCB by pooling multiple cords for adult transplants, a costly and complex process. Now, Wagner Jr. et al. may have found a way to perform alchemy. The researchers designed a way to expand stem cells into transplant units that are as safe as, and perhaps more effective than, the current double UCB transplant, potentially obviating the need for pooling umbilical cords and thereby expanding the donor pool of these lifesaving blood treatments. The expansion works primarily by treating UCB with the aryl hydrocarbon antagonist StemRegenin-1 (SR-1), which increases the number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in a cord. Here, in keeping with the standard double UCB control, 17 patients with leukemia or advanced myelodysplastic syndrome received one unmanipulated unit and one selected for ex vivo expansion culture. Results showed the modified transplants were as safe as the controls: Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), transplant-related mortality and overall survival all met historical norms. In fact, post-transplant hospital stays were reduced to 30 days from the historical average of 46. The process was not just as safe as traditional double UCB transplants, but seemingly more effective. The stem cell expansion worked. The SR-1 expansion cultures increased the number of total nucleated cells 854-fold and CD34+ cells 330-fold, regardless of the starting CD34 number. Even though the unmanipulated unit was chosen for its greater desirability, SR-1 cultured units led to significantly more CD34+ cells and reconstituted blood cells more rapidly after six months in patients in which the treated unit predominated over the unmanipulated unit. Some caution is still required. It will take further study to determine whether these expanded cells are effective as a stand-alone graft, rather than simply in combination with unmanipulated units. The answer will have a huge impact on the number of necessary umbilical cords. Additionally, the safety study only involved 17 patients, all with hematological malignancy. Larger and wider studies of both the safety and efficacy of SR-1 expansion units are certainly needed. Toxicity in children, for example, has yet to be evaluated. But initial results show Wagner et al. may have significantly reduced the need to dig for stem cell gold, allowing us to turn a few coins into an enormous treasure. J. E. Wagner Jr. et al ., Phase I/II trial of StemRegenin-1 expanded umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells supports testing as a stand-alone graft. Cell Stem Cell 18 , 144–155 (2016). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2015.10.004
Using Behavioral Risk Factor Data as a surveillance tool to monitor the prevalence of initiation, continuation and completion of Human Papilloma Virus vaccination in children

The Human Papilloma Virus (“HPV”) is a common sexually transmitted disease that has infected approximately 79 million men and women in the United States alone. A vaccination is available but in order to be effective it must be received prior to becoming sexually active and recipients must complete a three-dose sequence. In this article we explore the predisposing, enabling and need-based factors associated with parents’ or guardians’ decision to have their child initiate, continue and complete the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine. The data file includes 5531 parents and guardians with presumptive knowledge regarding the number of HPV vaccination their child received. Data includes information on the child (e.g. child׳s age) as well as the adult respondent (e.g. health insurance status). A smaller subset of the dataset along with the code to run the model are supplied with this article. The interpretation of these data can be found in the research article published by the authors in the Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.01.010[1].
Structural diversity, spectral characterization and computational studies of Cu(I) complexes with pyridylamide ligands

Cu(I) complexes supported by pyridylamide ligands N-2-acetamidopyridine (Haap), N-(3-pyridyl)nicotinamide (3-pna), N-(2-pyridyl)isonicotinamide (2-pina) and N-(4-pyridyl)picolinamide (4-ppa) were synthesized and characterized. The reaction of CuCl with the deprotonated form of Haap yielded the complex [Cu2(aap)2]n (1) with a one-dimensional polymeric structure. Complexes [Cu(3-pna)3(NCCH3)](HF)(SbF6) (2) and [Cu(4-ppa)(NCCH3)2]BF4 (5) displayed mononuclear structures with tetrahedral geometries on Cu(I) centers. Dinuclear complex [Cu2(2-pina)3(NCCH3)4](SbF6)2 (3) and tetranuclear cluster [Cu4(2-pina)4(NCCH3)4](SbF6)4 (4) were afforded from the same reaction in CH3CN and DMF, respectively. Detailed analysis of X-ray crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface maps suggested that the weak non-covalent interactions and reaction solvents imposed a collaborative effect on the structural conformations of the Cu(I) complexes. The electrochemical properties of the complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Computational studies focusing on complex 1 revealed its unique electronic structure that corresponds to the interesting spectroscopic and electrochemical properties.
Restoring motor control and sensory feedback in people with upper extremity amputations using arrays of 96 microelectrodes implanted in the median and ulnar nerves.

OBJECTIVE An important goal of neuroprosthetic research is to establish bidirectional communication between the user and new prosthetic limbs that are capable of controlling >20 different movements. One strategy for achieving this goal is to interface the prosthetic limb directly with efferent and afferent fibres in the peripheral nervous system using an array of intrafascicular microelectrodes. This approach would provide access to a large number of independent neural pathways for controlling high degree-of-freedom prosthetic limbs, as well as evoking multiple-complex sensory percepts. APPROACH Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays (USEAs, 96 recording/stimulating electrodes) were implanted for 30 days into the median (Subject 1-M, 31 years post-amputation) or ulnar (Subject 2-U, 1.5 years post-amputation) nerves of two amputees. Neural activity was recorded during intended movements of the subject's phantom fingers and a linear Kalman filter was used to decode the neural data. Microelectrode stimulation of varying amplitudes and frequencies was delivered via single or multiple electrodes to investigate the number, size and quality of sensory percepts that could be evoked. Device performance over time was assessed by measuring: electrode impedances, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), stimulation thresholds, number and stability of evoked percepts. MAIN RESULTS The subjects were able to proportionally, control individual fingers of a virtual robotic hand, with 13 different movements decoded offline (r = 0.48) and two movements decoded online. Electrical stimulation across one USEA evoked >80 sensory percepts. Varying the stimulation parameters modulated percept quality. Devices remained intrafascicularly implanted for the duration of the study with no significant changes in the SNRs or percept thresholds. SIGNIFICANCE This study demonstrated that an array of 96 microelectrodes can be implanted into the human peripheral nervous system for up to 1 month durations. Such an array could provide intuitive control of a virtual prosthetic hand with broad sensory feedback.