cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-platinum Carbon-Supported Oxygen Reduction Catalyst Ink Evaluation Based on Poly(sulfone) and Poly(phenylene)-Derived Ionomers in Alkaline Media

Described in this work is an electrochemical evaluation of novel alkaline ionomers employed as catalyst binder for non-platinum group metal electrocatalysts based on cyanamide precursor. Electrochemical evaluation of the non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) catalyst bound with the featured alkaline ionomer classes over a range of conditions gives insight into how they behave, as well as provide information on how the varying functionalities enhance or inhibit the rate of oxygen reduction. We are showing that the polymer backbone structure has a larger influence on facilitating favorable reaction kinetics than ionomer to catalysts ratio. The poly(sulfone)-derived ionomers result in a worse activity than electrocatalysts with Nafion® and poly(phenylene)-derived ionomers. They also exhibited more peroxide desorption and greater limitation in the mass transport regime. The poly(phenylene)-derived polymers performed in line with the benchmark ionomer, Nafion®. The poly(phenylene)-derived ionomers show promise as fruitful line of research in establishing an anion-conducting ionomer for alkaline electrolyte fuel cells.
Detection of two internal magnetic fields in Fe3(PO4)2·4H2O

Abstract Mossbauer studies of Fe3(PO4)2·4H2O (Tc = 15°K) show two effective hyperfine fields having magnitudes 362 kG and 203 kG. All other parameters describing the hyperfine and quadrupole interactions are given including the electric field gradients and relative orientations.
Insidious Strut Fractures in a DeBakey-Surgitool Aortic Valve Prosthesis

Recent reports of cage wear occurring in DeBakey-Surgitool aortic valve prostheses prompted us to examine with image intensification all our patients who have had this type of prosthesis implanted. One patient, who was asymptomatic, was discovered to have a prosthesis with two fractured struts. This patient's prosthetic valve was replaced successfully with a stented porcine heterograft prosthesis. Including the valve removed from this patient, 8 DeBakey-Surgitool aortic valves with structural defects have been reported to the manufacturer. In the absence of a catastrophic event, patients with valves having fractured or worn struts may be totally asymptomatic, and routine periodic roentgenographic examination may be the only way of detecting strut wear or fracture.
Computation of the velocity field of an excited shear layer

An infinitely thin shear layer emanating from a semi-infinite flat plate subjected to acoustic excitation is considered. The flow field outside the excited shear layer is computed employing a source distribution approach. Results are given for the region of the velocity field that cannot easily be obtained by analytical approximations.
IL‐1β associations with posttraumatic epilepsy development: A genetics and biomarker cohort study

Summary Objective Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a significant complication following traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet the role of genetic variation in modulating PTE onset is unclear. We hypothesized that TBI-induced inflammation likely contributes to seizure development. We assessed whether genetic variation in the interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) gene, IL-1β levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, and CSF/serum IL-1β ratios would predict PTE development post-TBI. Methods We investigated PTE development in 256 Caucasian adults with moderate-to-severe TBI. IL-1β tagging and functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped. Genetic variance and PTE development were assessed. Serum and CSF IL-1β levels were collected from a subset of subjects (n = 59) during the first week postinjury and evaluated for their associations with IL-1β gene variants, and also PTE. Temporally matched CSF/serum IL-1β ratios were also generated to reflect the relative contribution of serum IL-1β to CSF IL-1β. Results Multivariate analysis showed that higher CSF/serum IL-1β ratios were associated with increased risk for PTE over time (p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis for rs1143634 revealed an association between the CT genotype and increased PTE risk over time (p = 0.005). The CT genotype group also had lower serum IL-1β levels (p = 0.014) and higher IL-1β CSF/serum ratios (p = 0.093). Significance This is the first report implicating IL-1β gene variability in PTE risk and linking (1) IL-1β gene variation with serum IL-1β levels observed after TBI and (2) IL-1β ratios with PTE risk. Given these findings, we propose that genetic and IL-1β ratio associations with PTE may be attributable to biologic variability with blood–brain barrier integrity during TBI recovery. These results provide a rationale for further studies (1) validating the impact of genetic variability on IL-1β production after TBI, (2) assessing genetically mediated signaling mechanisms that contribute to IL-1β CSF/serum associations with PTE, and (3) evaluating targeted IL-1β therapies that reduce PTE. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Investigation of the role of lignin in biphasic xylan hydrolysis during dilute acid and organosolv pretreatment of corn stover.

One of the key objectives of biomass pretreatment is to maximize the xylose yield. However, the kinetics of xylan hydrolysis appear to be governed by two parallel first-order reactions with one reaction much faster than the other, thereby limiting both the rate and extent of xylan hydrolysis. Here, we investigate the influence of lignin on xylan hydrolysis kinetics during dilute acid pretreatment of corn stover rind (CSR) by modifying either the substrate or the pretreatment conditions. Dilute acid pretreatment was conducted to test the hypothesis that association of a fraction of the xylan with lignin causes this fraction to hydrolyze at a slower rate resulting in biphasic kinetics. In addition, CSR was pretreated under organosolv (OS) conditions, where xylan and lignin were solubilized simultaneously, to decouple the hydrolysis of xylan from the lignin redistribution process that occurs during dilute acid pretreatment. Dilute acid pretreatment of CSR delignified under mild conditions still exhibited biphasic kinetics, although the fraction of slow hydrolyzing xylan decreased and the rate of fast hydrolyzing xylan increased by 60% resulting in achieving more than 95% total xylose yield. Pretreatment of CSR under OS conditions also appeared to exhibit biphasic xylan hydrolysis kinetics. Unexpectedly, the solubilization of xylan and lignin appeared to occur at similar rates. The increases in the rate and fraction of fast hydrolyzing xylan observed by removing the majority of the lignin support the hypothesis that the slow hydrolyzing xylan is a result of its association with lignin. To further investigate the role of lignin in xylan hydrolysis, the raw and pretreated CSR samples were labeled with a monoclonal antibody (containing a fluorescent dye) that binds xylan specifically so that the location of xylan in the cell wall could be imaged by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLM). CLM of the pretreated delignified samples showed a similar, intense signal pattern as exhibited by the raw and pretreated control, indicating that the majority of the remaining xylan was located at both cytosolic and middle lamellar cell wall edges. OS pretreated CSR did, however, show a diminution in signal intensity at cell wall edges compared to CSR pretreated under standard dilute acid conditions.
Determination of the zeta potential of surfactants with mixed counterions using a video enhanced microscopy electrophoresis cell

The zeta potential of 2 mM solutions of didodecyldimethylammonium and ditetradecyldimethylammonium surfactants containing a mixture of acetate and bromide are reported. The measuremtns were made using new electrophoretic cells which can be used with a video enhanced microscope. This permits the simultaneous visualization and zeta potential characterization of vesicles and microtobule surfactant solutions. With increasing acetate molar fraction, the zeta potential increases. These results are interpreted in terms of the charge density at the shear plane of the aggregate interface.
Identification of TaqI Endonuclease Active Site Residues by Fe2+-mediated Oxidative Cleavage

Metal cofactors (Mg2+ and Mn2+) modulate both specific DNA binding and strand cleavage in the TaqI endonuclease (Cao, W., Mayer, A. N., and Barany, F. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 2276-2283). This work attempts to establish the structural basis of TaqI-DNA-metal2+ interactions using an affinity cleavage technique. The protein was cleaved by localized hydroxyl radicals generated by oxidizing Fe2+ within the metal binding sites. Cleavage fragments were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and cleavage sites were determined using micropeptide sequencing. Eleven amino acid residues in the vicinity of cleavage sites were selected for site-directed mutagenesis. The negative charge at Asp137 is essential for DNA cleavage but not required for sequence specific binding. Mutations at Asp142 abolish both specific binding and catalysis, except for D142E, which converts TaqI into a completely Mn2+-dependent endonuclease. The positive charge at Lys158 appears to be important for both specific binding and catalysis. Mutations at other sites affect binding and/or catalysis to different degrees, except Trp113 and Glu135, which appear to be nonessential for the TaqI enzyme activity. The critical residues for TaqI function are distinct from the PDX14-20(E/D)XK catalytic motif elucidated from other endonucleases.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INTERMITTENT PASSAGE OF LOCKE'S SOLUTION INTO LIVING SKIN

Minute amounts of Locke's or Tyrode's solution have been brought into contact with the interstitial connective tissue of the skin of the living mouse, at atmospheric pressure, in such a manner that the blood or lymphatic vessels are not entered directly. Under such circumstances these absorbable fluids enter the tissue spontaneously. Entrance is strikingly intermittent, not continuous, and so too when very slight pressures are brought to bear on the fluids (1). Hyperemia of the tissues, with accompanying dilatation of the blood vessels, increases the entrance of fluids at atmospheric pressure but it is still intermittent. By contrast, venous obstruction leads to intermittent backflow into the apparatus, but reflex hyperemia, following release of the obstruction, is attended by an increase of flow into the tissues in spite of the great reactive dilatation of vessels. The inflow is also intermittent. If the skin is deprived of circulation, fluid does not enter it at all at atmospheric pressure, though it moves in regularly and continuously if slight pressure is put upon it. Edema-forming fluids, described in the text, also enter in a continuous manner when forced into the skin of either living or dead animals. So too do serum and sperm oil. The findings indicate that the passage of interstitial fluid into the blood vessels may be intermittent under normal circumstances and its escape from them as well. The observed occurrence of intermittent flow in the blood vessels of several tissues (9, 15–25) will go far to account for the intermittent entrance of fluid into the skin.
Culture shock in the library: Implications for information literacy instruction

Abstract A tremendous amount has been written on culture shock experienced by people who leave their own cultures for another. This essay defines and describes culture shock and clash in general, discusses the literature related to different aspects of culture shock as it relates to international students, describes other related library literature, describes the research of several experts in other fields, and discusses some implications, applications, and solutions.
Illicit drug use in heavy smokers with and without schizophrenia.

Abstract Objective The prevalence of cigarette smoking among people with schizophrenia is greater than that of the general population. Because smoking and use of other drugs covary, we examined illicit drug use in current smokers not trying to quit or reduce their tobacco use. We recruited outpatient participants who had a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia, n = 70) and a control group who had no Axis I psychiatric disorders (control, n = 97). During a 2–3‐hour session, participants completed demographic and research questionnaires, including the Drug Use Survey (DUS). Results Participants with schizophrenia were older than controls (p Conclusions These data suggest that illicit drug use tends to be high in heavy cigarette smokers, regardless of a schizophrenia diagnosis. However, while illicit drug use is high across the lifespan of heavy smokers in the general population, heavy smokers with schizophrenia use illicit drugs mostly in the first decade of their illness.
Differentiated short latency response increases after conditioning in inferior colliculus neurons of alert rat.

Abstract The responses of 35 inferior colliculus multiple units (MUs) to tone onset were measured in 10 freely moving rats before and after differential behavioral conditioning. MU response changes were found in the 16.8 msec after tone onset (includes 2 msec air travel time) after learning. Responses to CS+ onset increased in 12 of the 35 individual MUs, and in the group of MUs as a whole, after conditioning. The CS+ CS− difference increased in 17 of the 35 individual MUs, and in the group of MUs, after conditioning. The response differentiation was significant in the 3.6–6.4 msec interval after the tone reached the animal's ears, the time at which neuronal responses were first evident. Since the inferior colliculus increases were differentiated between CS+ and CS−, they could not be explained by sensitization caused by changed middle ear contractions or by alterations in orientation to the speakers.
Nacimiento Fault and Related Structures, Northern New Mexico

Initial development of the Nacimiento uplift occurred during the Laramide orogeny by what may have been shear folding of the brittle Precambrian basement rocks and stretching of the incompetent overlying sedimentary strata along a monoclinal fold on the west side of the uplift. Antithetic and synthetic normal faults formed in the strata along the monocline as it developed. The normal faults and the fold were cut by the Nacimiento fault which is nearly vertical at depth but flattens upward and has westward movement of the hanging wall block over the San Juan basin. Where the Nacimiento fault is preserved at high structural and stratigraphic levels it is gently dipping and has normal faults in the hanging wall block. These longitudinal normal faults formed as the uplift was arched and stretched. A model based on primary vertical uplift integrates the different stress fields that caused the complex sequence of monoclinal folding, normal faulting, and reverse faulting with concomitant tensional features in the hanging wall block.
A Logic Design for a Microwave Computer

The properties of presently available components place special emphasis on two desiderata of logic design for use in a microwave digital computer: 1) Smallness of the number of active elements; 2) elimination of information-cycling paths having delay times comparable or short compared with the bit period, as in the conventional flip-flop. A logic design developed in response to these pressures is described in substantially complete detail. Property 1) is obtained by the use throughout of a multiplexing procedure such that the computer functionally (although not physically) resembles a number of nearly identical, and correspondingly slower, computers which are able to operate either independently or in concert.
Comparison of Two Rapid Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Assays, Determine HIV-1/2 and OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2, for Detection of Recent HIV Seroconversion

Modified protocols of two rapid tests were compared with a less sensitive (LS) (detuned) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for their abilities to distinguish recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion from long-term infections. The results for samples from 100 HIV-positive patient that had previously been tested by the Vironostika LS EIA had a 97% concordance with the results of the Determine HIV 1/2 assay and 93% concordance with those of the OraQuick HIV 1/2 assay.
Challenges of measuring forest floor organic matter dynamics:: Repeated measures from a chronosequence

Accurate estimates of the retention of carbon in forest soils following forest disturbances are essential to predictions of global carbon cycling. The belief that 50% of soil carbon is lost in the first 20 years after clearcutting is largely based on a chronosequence study of forest floors in New Hampshire northern hardwoods (Covington, 1981). We resampled forest floors in 13 stands in a similar chronosequence after an interval of 15 years. The three youngest stands, which were predicted to lose organic matter over this time, did not exhibit the 40‐50% losses predicted by the original chronosequence. The oldest stands had about twice as much organic mass in the forest floor as those cut recently, but this pattern could be explained equally well by historical changes in the nature of forest harvest as by the age of the stands. For example, mechanized logging probably causes more mechanical disturbance to the forest floor than horse logging, burying more organic matter into the mineral soil. Markets for forest products and the intensity of harvest removals have also changed over time, possibly contributing to lower organic matter in the forest floor in young stands. In any chronosequence study, effects of change in the nature of the treatment over time can easily be misinterpreted as change with time since treatment. Repeated sampling of the chronosequence provides controls for some of these effects. In the case of forest floor organic matter, however, high spatial variation makes it difficult to distinguish whether the observed variation is more likely due to changes in treatment over time or to differences in time since treatment. Because of the large amounts of carbon involved, small changes in rates of soil organic matter storage may be quite important in global climate change, but they will remain difficult to detect, even with very intensive sampling. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A cascade of adenovirus early functions is required for expression of adeno-associated virus

One measurable biological activity of early adenovirus genes is their ability to promote growth of the defective adeno-associated virus, AAV. We have identified an ordered sequence of communications among the early genes of adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) that results in expression of the helper activity. We purified DNA fragments and mRNAs corresponding to early Ad2 regions E1, E2A, E3 and E4 and injected them via glass capillaries into AAV-infected cells. DNAs were placed in the nucleus, mRNAs in the cytoplasm. AAV DNA and proteins synthesized in response to the injected Ad2 nucleic acids were extracted from as few as 100 cells and identified by gel electrophoresis. Our results reveal a cascade of early Ad2 gene regulation, E1 leads to E2A leads to E4, with E4 providing the helper effect for AAV.
A functional periorbital subunit allograft: vascular, anatomic, and technical considerations for future subunit facial transplantation.

Summary Background Injury to the face can result in the loss of critical specialized structures (the eyelids, lips, ears and nose). Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) allows the surgeon to replace exactly what has been lost. The success of the clinical face transplants suggests the possibility of transplanting specialized units of the face. In this study we explore the neurovascular anatomy and technical specifics for harvest of a functional composite eyelid subunit flap. Methods 12 fresh cadaver heads were studied, each yielding two flaps ( N = 24). The facial (FA) and superficial temporal arteries (STA) were cannulated and injected with a gelatin/acrylic dye mixture. 6 cadaver heads were evaluated via high-resolution three-dimensional CT scans with contrast. Results The dye injected into the STA uniformly stained the tissue of the eyelid/periorbital subunit. Injection into the FA resulted in staining of the skin and soft tissues in the medial canthal region and superior eyelid skin in 66% of specimens. CT scan studies confirm our findings with injection into the STA resulting in contrast infiltration of the palpebral arterial arcades in all cases. Injection of the FA resulted in contrast infiltration of the palpebral arterial arcades in 2 of 3 cases. Conclusions Based this study, a periorbital flap can be based on the STA. Motor innervation of the flap is via the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve with sensory innervation via the infraorbital, supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves. FA could be used, but its ability to perfuse the entire flap was inconsistent.
Asthma in USA: its impact on health-related quality of life

AbstractObjectives: Given the growing prevalence of asthma in USA, it is important to understand its national burden from the patient’s perspective. The objective of this research is to examine the national burden of asthma and poor asthma control on health function, health perception and preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQL). Methods: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a nationally representative survey, was used to estimate the impact of asthma and indicators of poor asthma control on health function, self-rated health perception and preference-based HRQL using multivariate regression methods controlling for socioeconomic, clinical and demographic characteristics. Two HRQL instruments were used: SF-12v2 Physical Component Scale (PCS-12) and Mental Component Scale (MCS-12); EQ-5D-3L index and visual analogue scale (VAS). Two multivariate regression methods were used, Censored Least Absolute Deviation [EQ-5D-3L and VAS (due to censoring)] and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) (PCS-12...
FURTHER STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF X-RADIATION ON THE MULTIPLICATION OF RICKETTSIA MOOSERI IN EMBRYONATE EGGS

The effect of x-rays on the growth of rickettsiae in the embryonate egg was investigated. The intensifying effect of x-radiation of the host on rickettsial growth can be attributed to alterations of the cells of the host that persist at least 7 days. The greatest enhancement of the growth of rickettsiae occurred when moderately infected cells were irradiated. These experiments indicate that x-rays may neutralize or reverse changes in the host that are unfavorable to the growth of rickettsiae. Explanations of the observed phenomena in terms of biochemical and biological alterations of the cells of the host are discussed.
Media adaptation framework in biofeedback system for stroke patient rehabilitation

In this paper, we present a media adaptation framework for an immersive biofeedback system for stroke patient rehabilitation. In our biofeedback system, media adaptation refers to changes in audio/visual feedback as well as changes in physical environment. Effective media adaptation frameworks help patients recover generative plans for arm movement with potential for significantly shortened therapeutic time. The media adaptation problem has significant challenges - (a) high dimensionality of adaptation parameter space (b) variability in the patient performance across and within sessions(c) the actual rehabilitation plan is typically a non first-order Markov process, making the learning task hard. Our key insight is to understand media adaptation as a real-time feedback control problem. We use a mixture-of-experts based Dynamic Decision Network (DDN) for online media adaptation. We train DDN mixtures per patient, per session. The mixture models address two basic questions - (a) given a specific adaptation suggested by the domain expert, predict patient performance and (b) given an expected performance, determine optimal adaptation decision. The questions are answered through an optimality criterion based search on DDN models trained in previous sessions. We have also developed new validation metrics and have very good results for both questions on actual stroke rehabilitation data.
Analysis of Morphological Parameters to Differentiate Rupture Status in Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms

In contrast to size, the association of morphological characteristics of intracranial aneurysms with rupture has not been established in a systematic manner. We present an analysis of the morphological variables that are associated with rupture in anterior communicating artery aneurysms to determine site-specific risk variables. One hundred and twenty-four anterior communicating artery aneurysms were treated in a single institution from 2005 to 2010, and CT angiograms (CTAs) or rotational angiography from 79 patients (42 ruptured, 37 unruptured) were analyzed. Vascular imaging was evaluated with 3D Slicer© to generate models of the aneurysms and surrounding vasculature. Morphological parameters were examined using univariate and multivariate analysis and included aneurysm volume, aspect ratio, size ratio, distance to bifurcation, aneurysm angle, vessel angle, flow angle, and parent-daughter angle. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that size ratio, flow angle, and parent-daughter angle were associated with aneurysm rupture after adjustment for age, sex, smoking history, and other clinical risk factors. Simple morphological parameters such as size ratio, flow angle, and parent-daughter angle may thus aid in the evaluation of rupture risk of anterior communicating artery aneurysms.
Variable and fixed rank 1 N/sup 4/ interconnections (optical neural nets)

It is shown that full interconnection of an N*N array to an N*N output array with a rank-1 N/sup 4/-component matrix is quite straightforward for essentially all values of N. A number of applications and implementations are then described, showing that for fixed interconnect systems one can achieve small size, ruggedness, low cost, and speed. >
Evaluating the use of strontium isotopes in tree rings to record the isotopic signal of dust deposited on the Wasatch Mountains

Dust cycling from the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains is an important component of ecological and hydrological processes. We investigated the use of strontium (Sr) concentrations and isotope ratios ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) in tree rings as a proxy for dust deposition. We report Sr concentrations and isotope ratios ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) from atmospherically deposited dust, soil, bedrock, and tree rings from the Wasatch Mountains to investigate provenance of dust landing on the Wasatch Mountains and to determine if a dust Sr record is preserved in tree rings. Trees obtained a majority of their Sr from dust, making them a useful record of dust source and deposition. Dust contributions of Sr to soils were more than 94% over quartzite, 63% over granodiorite, and 50% over limestone. Dust contributions of Sr to trees were more than 85% in trees growing over quartzite, 55% over granodiorite, and between 0% and 92% over limestone. These findings demonstrate that a dust signal was preserved in some tree rings and reflects how Sr from dust and bedrock mixes within the soil. Trees growing over quartzite were most sensitive to dust. Changes in Sr isotope ratios for a tree growing over quartzite were interpreted as changes in dust source over time. This work has laid the foundation for using tree rings as a proxy for dust deposition over time.
Treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes.

At least 17 million people in the United States have diabetes mellitus, and another 50 million have hypertension. These chronic diseases increasingly coexist in our aging population. Both diseases are important predisposing factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal disease, and the coexistence of these risk factors is a very powerful promoter of CVD and renal disease. There is accumulating evidence that the rigorous treatment of hypertension and other risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia considerably lessens the burden of CVD and renal disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. There is considerable evidence that strategies addressing diet and exercise reduce the development of diabetes and are an important component of treatment in persons who have established diabetes. There are also considerable data suggesting that the treatment strategies that interrupt the renin-angiotensin system have special benefits in patients with diabetes and may prevent the development of clinical diabetes in hypertensive patients with impaired glucose tolerance. Data from a recent study indicate that the control of systolic blood pressure, using a diuretic agent as part of antihypertensive therapy, reduces the risk of stroke and other CVD end points. Recent reports indicate that angiotensin receptor–blocking agents decrease the rate of development of proteinuria and diabetic renal disease. These observations will likely have a significant impact on treatment of hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1850-1857
Language Differences and Metadata Features on Twitter

In the past several years, microblogging services like Twitter and Facebook have become a popular method of communication, allowing users to disseminate and gather information to and from hundreds or thousands (or even millions) of people, often in real-time. As much of the content on microblogging services is publicly accessible, we have recently seen many secondary services being built atop them, including services that perform signicant content analysis, such as real-time search engines and trend analysis services. With the eventual goal of building more accurate and less expensive models of microblog streams, this paper investigates the degree to which language variance is related to the metadata of microblog content. We hypothesize that if a strong relationship exists between metadata features and language then we will be able to use this metadata as a trivial classier to match individual messages with specialized, more accurate language models. To investigate the validity of this hypothesis, we analyze a corpus of over 72M Twitter messages, building language models conditioned on a variety of available message metadata.
MAINTAINING WHITENESS: THE FEAR OF OTHERS AND NICENESS

This article links two ways of maintaining whiteness and white privilege employed by gated communities residents in the surrounding suburbs of New York City and San Antonio, Texas. The first, the fear of others, is well documented in the anthropological literature but not as a strategy for maintaining whiteness in the built environment, while the second, the desire for “niceness,” is a relatively new construct that focuses on the way people make moral and aesthetic judgments to control their social and physical environments. Niceness and fear of others were initially understood as discursive means for justifying and rationalizing the choice to live in a residential development that was closed off and seen by outsiders as exclusionary. It also became apparent that fear of others, when combined with niceness, inscribes racist assumptions on the landscape. This inscription of whiteness is seen as natural, normative, taken-for-granted, and most importantly out of residents' everyday awareness. Thus, gated communities with private governance and a homeowners' association are creating and maintaining white spaces similar to those in South Africa discussed in this volume by Matthew Durington. This addition of the concept of niceness to an understanding of how gated communities work as racist and exclusionary places begins the unraveling of how “nice” people, who say “nice” things, and have “nice” or liberal values, participate in maintaining whiteness in the built environment.
A Distributed Dual-Band LC Oscillator Based on Mode Switching

In this paper, we present a distributed dual-band LC oscillator suitable for low-phase-noise applications. It switches between the odd and even resonant modes of a fourth-order LC resonator. In contrast to other switched-resonator designs, the switches used for mode selection do not carry current, and therefore, do not affect the quality factor of the resonator, which leads to low phase noise. Analysis shows it achieves the same phase-noise figure-of-merit (FoM) as a single-band LC oscillator that uses the same inductor and active core. This was verified by a prototype in a 0.13-μm CMOS process. It draws a current of 4 mA from a 0.5-V power supply and achieves a FoM of 194.5 dB at the 4.9-GHz band and 193.0 dB at the 6.6-GHz band, which is the same as the reference standalone LC oscillator. There is good agreement among theory, simulation, and measurement results.
Functional Characterization of Naturally Occurring Variants of Human Hepatitis B Virus Containing the Core Internal Deletion Mutation

Naturally occurring variants of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) containing the core internal deletion (CID) mutation have been found frequently in HBV carriers worldwide. Despite numerous sequence analysis reports of CID variants in patients, in the past decade, CID variants have not been characterized functionally, and thus their biological significance to HBV infection remains unclear. We report here two different CID variants identified from two patients that are replication defective, most likely due to the absence of detectable core protein. In addition, we were unable to detect the presence of the precore protein and e antigen from CID variants. However, the production of polymerase appeared to be normal. The replication defect of the CID variants can be rescued in trans by complementation with wild-type core protein. The rescued CID variant particles, which utilize the wild-type core protein, presumably are enveloped properly since they can be secreted into the medium and band at a position similar to that of mature wild-type Dane particles, as determined by gradient centrifugation analysis. Our results also provide an explanation for the association of CID variants with helper or wild-type HBV in nature. The significance of CID variants in HBV infection and pathogenesis is discussed.
Lifetime mating success in a natural population of the damselfly, Enallagma hageni (Walsh) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Variance in lifetime mating success was measured for individuals of a population of Enallagma hageni, a non-territorial damselfly in northern Michigan. E. hageni is an explosive breeder with scramble competition for mates. Highly skewed operational sex ratios resulted in intense male-male competition which took the form of interference with tandem pairs. 41% of the males failed to mate in their lifetime as opposed to only 3.6% mating failure in females. The effect on mating success of size, age, longevity, and time spent at the breeding site were investigated. Intermediate sized males obtained the most matings, and male lifetime mating success was highly correlated with longevity.
Tales from the Walled City: Aesthetics of Political Prison Culture in Post-War Greece

L'A. examine l'experience des femmes prisonnieres politiques en Grece d'apres-guerre et s'interroge sur le processus de constitution d'une culture de la prison politique. Centrant son analyse sur la prison Averoff a Athenes, et sur le circuit des camps d'exil, elle explore les conditions de vie dans la prison a partir de trois points de vue : 1. Elle examine le processus d'identification politique collectif entre les prisonnieres, suggerant que certains genres de recits de la prison politique ont contribue a l'affirmation d'une experience collective et au processus de conscientisation collectif. 2. Elle etudie les pratiques et les rituels issus de l'experience collective de l'incarceration, generant une esthetique culturelle specifique de la resistance et de la citoyennete. 3. A partir des recits de deux prisonnieres, Olympia Papadouka et Maria Sideri, elle analyse les modes de representation de soi, au niveau individuel et collectif.
Application of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Computer Aided Design: A Case Study

This paper intends to demonstrate how artificial intelligence techniques can be applied to computer-aided product design and how they can be combined with traditional programming. Refering to a system for the design of high-voltage controlled rectifiers, we illustrate the problems of the formalisation of the task, system specification, knowledge acqusition and representation, interfacing, implementation and testing. Our findings are combined with related, more general results, to analyse the state-of-the-art and future development of CAD programs incorporating artificial intelligence techniques.
Juxtaposing Practice: Uptake as Modal Transposition

The analysis discussed in this paper draws attention to the interactional and inscriptional practices observed in a science laboratory setting that utilizes Group Scribbles. The critical finding is the identification of a pivotal sequence of interaction occurring in the later half of the activity in which one member of the group proposes an innovation for illuminating two light bulbs in a single circuit. The proposal and its subsequent endorsement by the other members are contingent on an immediately prior interaction in which the group appropriates another group's circuit diagram. Together, this pair of adjacent sequential structures exposes multiple instances of uptake between participants. These uptake relations are realized through an ensemble of contingencies consisting of persistent diagrams, tabletop materials, and a locally situated interactional practice. Our analysis shows how the participants' actions transform the setting and how these transformations are consequential for how the group proceeds in the learning activity.
Vertical Greenery Systems as a Strategy in Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Integrating vegetation into architecture has become widely recognized as a multi-beneficial practice in architecture and engineering design to combat an array of environmental issues. Urban areas have microclimates that are different than the climates of their surrounding rural areas. Patterns in these differences over the years have shown that urban microclimates tend to be significantly warmer in comparison. This phenomenon is now recognized as the urban “heat island” effect. While the associated consequences of this urban heating are far reaching, excess energy expenditure, air pollution emissions, and threats to human health are among the most critical for evaluation. The integration of vegetative green space in urban planning, coupled with highly reflective materials in place of conventional paved surfaces on roads and rooftops have proven to be effective methods of urban heat island mitigation. While as separate entities these methods are effective, innovative technology has brought forth greening roofs which allows vegetation to compensate where other roof-cooling strategies fall short. Substantially, vertical greenery systems compensate where greening roofs fall short. This paper explores both integrated vegetation as an optimal mitigation strategy for urban heat islands and vertical plant walls as an optimal design.
Biomaterials-Associated Pathology of Cardiac Valve Prostheses: Clinical Explant Analysis and Studies of Tissue Valve Calcification

Studies of the pathology of explanted clinical and experimental valve specimens were done to determine the role of biomaterials in the failure of heart valve prostheses. From 7/80 through 12/84, 129 patients had valve prostheses removed at our hospital. Thrombosis/thromboembolism was the most frequent cause of the 39 mechanical valve failures (23%). Structural failure (poor durability) caused 12%. In contrast, with tissue-derived bioprostheses (90 patients), primary tissue degenerative failure was frequent (70%), and was usually associated with calcification (CALC). Infection caused 19% of all valve failures with a frequency not differing among valve types. Other causes of failure were not biomaterials-related. Thus, although frank materials degradation necessitates only a minority of mechanical valve removals, the suboptimal biologic properties of contemporary heart valve biomaterials contribute to some frequent complications (such as thrombosis/thromboembolism). Furthermore, degeneration due to mineralization is the overwhelming mode of failure of bioprosthetic valves. To understand and potentially eliminate bioprosthetic valve CALC, the kinetics, morphology and host and implant determinants of this process were studied using subcutaneous implants in rats. In this model, in which the pathologic features were similar to those of actual experimental and clinical valve replacements, CALC of glutaraldehyde-treated porcine aortic valve and bovine pericardium began within 48 hours following implantation; mineral levels were comparable to those in failed clinical valves after 84–126 days. Calcific deposits were initially associated with connective tissue cells, but later involved collagen. Systemically-administered ethane-hydroxy-diphosphonate (EHDP), a drug used to treat some forms of metabolic bone disease, inhibited CALC by 97%, but caused significant bone growth retardation. However, EHDP given by site-specific controlled-release largely mitigated CALC at only 1% of the total effective systemic dose, but without adverse effects.
A comparison of pediatric gastrostomy tube placement techniques.

This study aimed to compare different techniques for placement of gastrostomy tubes in a pediatric population. A retrospective review was performed for patients less than 18 years of age who underwent gastrostomy tube placement at a single academic children’s hospital between 2010 and 2012. Techniques for gastrostomy placement included Open Stamm, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), fluoroscopy guided, laparoscopic, and laparoscopic assisted PEG. Pre-operative characteristics of patients and post-operative outcomes were compared between techniques. Most patients underwent an Open Stamm (43 %) or PEG (39 %). There were significant differences between groups with respect to primary diagnoses, prior surgeries, and ASA classification. Major complications were rare, with less than 3 % requiring reoperation within 30 days; however, minor complications and returns to the emergency department were common. Unintentional tube dislodgements occurred in 22 % of all patients, with Open Stamm technique identified as an independent predictor of unintentional dislodgement (p < 0.0001). Although conclusions from this retrospective analysis are limited due to heterogeneity between groups, open Stamm gastrostomy placement in children was associated with increased negative outcomes including unintentional tube dislodgements, returns to the emergency department, and need for reoperation within 30 days. Prospective analysis of the various techniques is needed to confirm that minimally invasive techniques for gastrostomy tube placement are associated with a less complicated post-operative course.
Urokinase receptor in human malignant mesothelioma cells: role in tumor cell mitogenesis and proteolysis

Urokinase (uPA) interacts with its receptor (uPAR) to promote proteolysis and tumor migration, functions of potential importance in the pathogenesis of malignant mesothelioma. Immunohistochemistry of human malignant mesothelioma tissue and mesothelioma cells (MS-1) showed that mesothelioma cells express uPAR. We isolated uPAR from MS-1 cells by metabolic labeling and showed that it could be induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Experiments with MS-1 cells showed that uPA binding was saturable, specific, and reversible with a mean dissociation constant (Kd) of 5.4 +/- 1.1 nM. Binding was inhibited by a blocking antibody to uPAR and by the uPA amino-terminal fragment (ATF), but not by low molecular weight uPA. uPAR expression was regulated transcriptionally and translationally; antisense oligonucleotides blocked expression of uPAR protein. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) inhibited PA activity of preformed uPA/uPAR complexes and increased cycling of the receptor from the cell surface. Stimulation of subconfluent MS-1 cells by high molecular weight or recombinant uPA, but not ATF or low molecular weight fragment, caused concentration-dependent incorporation of [3H]thymidine. These data indicate a novel mechanism by which malignant mesothelioma cells localize pericellular proteolysis and concurrently regulate tumor cell proliferation.
Part 2. Notch-sparing γ-secretase inhibitors: The study of novel γ-amino naphthyl alcohols.

One therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease is to inhibit the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase. At the beginning of a series of studies from our laboratories, a series of novel γ-amino alcohols (1) were found to possess γ-secretase inhibitory activity and Notch-sparing effects. A new one-pot synthesis of γ-amino alcohols and the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of these analogs will be discussed.
Practical Wisdom: Educating for Active Bystandership to Prevent Violence and Build Peace

The chapter describes how passivity by members of a society (internal bystanders) and passivity or bad bystandership by outside parties (external bystanders) allows the evolution of increasing violence against subgroups of a society. It discusses how such passivity allows the persistence of violence in the case of intractable conflict, as in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The reasons for passivity are discussed, a number of which have been part of Daniel Bar-Tal’s work, such as delegitimization of the other group, seeing one’s own group as moral and the other as responsible for the conflict and violence and immoral, a siege mentality which focuses on the danger to one’s own group, as well as self-censorship, one element of which is ignoring and not reporting any positive actions by the other party. In case of genocide, passivity means that there is usually little resistance to the evolution of hostility and progressively greater harmful actions against the targeted group. But a small number of people become rescuers once the genocide begins. How can such active bystandership be moved forward? The chapter considers how people can be activated not only to prevent violence but also to create caring communities and societies. It briefly considers the what, how, and who? What are the principles for preventing violence and creating caring societies, what processes/practices are required, and who are the relevant actors for different processes.