cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural elucidation of phosphatidylcholines from tissue using electron induced dissociation

Abstract Lipids are an important class of biomolecules that have many different biological functions. Accurately characterizing the chemical structures of lipids is critical to understanding their roles in biochemical pathways. These pathways can be regioisomerically selective and can produce specific sn-chain and double bond positional isomers, highlighting the significance of understanding isomeric content. Conventional tandem mass spectrometry methods, such as collision induced dissociation (CID), often provide incomplete structural information for lipids and metabolites. Alternative ion activation methods, such as electron induced dissociation (EID), can provide more extensive fragmentation, enabling more thorough structural characterizations. Herein, we have used EID to identify phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids generated directly from tissue surfaces via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). EID has enabled the identification of the lipid fatty acyl substituents at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of the glycerol backbone as well as the localization of carbon-carbon double bond positions in the fatty acyl chains. This has provided for the identification of sn and double-bond positional isomers in rat brain tissue. EID also enabled the relative quantification of isomeric content in mixtures of lipid isomers in an imaging mass spectrometry workflow.
Coagulation function changes and the clinical implication in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

Objective To study the coagulation disorder in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and their influences on the prognosis. Methods A prospective case-control study was carried out in our ICU. According to the pediatric/neonatal new definition of SIRS, all the patients were divided into 2 groups:SIRS group (24 cases) and non-SIRS group (21 casea), as well as 28 control cases were included. The SIRS group was divided into 2 subgroups:death and survivor subgroup. Levels of platelet (PLT), prothrombin test (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time ( APTT ), fibrinogen (FBG), thrombin antithrombin complex (TAT), antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ), protein C (PC), thrombomodulin (TM), tissue-type plsminogen activator (TPA), D-dimer (DD) were measured in all cases. Results ( 1 ) Levels of PT, APTT, TAT, TM, DD, TPA were significantly higher in SIRS group than those in non-SIRS group and control group ( P 0.05 ). (2) The coagulation indexes of death cases were not significantly different from those of survivors(P > 0.05). Conclusion (1) Patients with SIRS have coagulation disorder, characterized by coagulation activation, anticoagulation consumption and fibrinolysis activation. (2) Molecular markers of blood coagulation are good markers to reflect the different stages of early SIRS. (3) Impact of blood coagulation markers on the patients' prognosis needs to be further evaluated by enlarging the sample size. Key words: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome; Coagulation disorder dysfunction; Molecular markers of blood coagulation; Multiple organ failure
Do Waveforms Matter? Yes They Do! A Case in Point:

A 38-year-old G1P0 presented to the Vascular Lab at 32 weeks gestation for evaluation of persistent left lower extremity edema. The patient reported a 1-month history of left leg pain and swelling ...
Multimodal modeling of collaborative problem-solving facets in triads

Collaborative problem-solving (CPS) is ubiquitous in everyday life, including work, family, leisure activities, etc. With collaborations increasingly occurring remotely, next-generation collaborative interfaces could enhance CPS processes and outcomes with dynamic interventions or by generating feedback for after-action reviews. Automatic modeling of CPS processes (called facets here) is a precursor to this goal. Accordingly, we build automated detectors of three critical CPS facets—construction of shared knowledge, negotiation and coordination, and maintaining team function—derived from a validated CPS framework. We used data of 32 triads who collaborated via a commercial videoconferencing software, to solve challenging problems in a visual programming task. We generated transcripts of 11,163 utterances using automatic speech recognition, which were then coded by trained humans for evidence of the three CPS facets. We used both standard and deep sequential learning classifiers to model the human-coded facets from linguistic, task context, facial expressions, and acoustic–prosodic features in a team-independent fashion. We found that models relying on nonverbal signals yielded above-chance accuracies (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUROC) ranging from .53 to .83, with increases in model accuracy when language information was included (AUROCS from .72 to .86). There were no advantages of deep sequential learning methods over standard classifiers. Overall, Random Forest classifiers using language and task context features performed best, achieving AUROC scores of .86, .78, and .79 for construction of shared knowledge, negotiation/coordination, and maintaining team function, respectively. We discuss application of our work to real-time systems that assess CPS and intervene to improve CPS outcomes.
Building highly reliable high-performance computing systems through implementation of an end to end reliability strategy

The required reliability of a system depends on its intended market. Consumer electronics have a high tolerance for faults, IBM Enterprise Systems have a near zero fault requirement, while servers and data centers have a fault tolerance in between the Enterprise and Consumer markets. To manufacture high performance computing systems that are highly reliable, IBM uses an end to end strategy which includes Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS). Reliability must be built into the system at all levels, from the transistor to the circuit to the complete system. This talk will explore aspects of IBM’s RAS strategy including technology qualification, wafer screening, module screening, and the tradeoffs between performance, reliability, and cost.
N 2 Fixation in Ocean Basins

The quantitative input of N by N2 fixation is a key area of research that is important for placing marine N2 fixation in the context of other global input and removal terms for N budgets. Research has proceeded in the water column and benthos using a variety of approaches from extrapolating field measurements to larger areas, using geochemical proxies based on nutrient concentrations and their isotopic signatures and evaluating deviations in key nutrient ratios in order to determine integrative estimates over broader time and space scales. Globally important levels of N2 fixation occur in the N. Atlantic, North Pacific and western S. Pacific. Other ocean areas are less well characterized. Heterotrophic N2 fixers may contribute to these inputs but their quantitative role has yet to be elucidated.
"We Don't Feel so Alone": A Qualitative Study of Virtual Memory Cafés to Support Social Connectedness Among Individuals Living With Dementia and Care Partners During COVID-19

Introduction: Loneliness and low social support can be detrimental to the health of individuals living with Alzheimer's and related dementias (ADRD) and family care partners. Restrictions on gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 create an even greater risk for social isolation. Memory Cafes are a highly replicated program that provide individuals living with ADRD and care partners an opportunity to socialize in an inclusive and supportive environment without fear of judgment, pressure, or stigma. Following restrictions on in-person gatherings, virtual Memory Cafes offer regular social engagement opportunities in an online format. While the Memory Cafe model has been replicated globally, their effects on loneliness and perceived social support are generally unknown. Even less is known about their impact when operating in a virtual environment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews in Spanish and English were conducted with individuals living with dementia and family care partners who regularly attend Memory Cafes hosted by partners in a Texas Memory Cafe Network. Interviews took place online using video conferencing software, were transcribed, then analyzed for common themes using a combined inductive and deductive approach. Results: A total of 17 interviews were conducted with persons living with dementia (n = 5) and family care partners (n = 12) who attend Memory Cafes to learn about their perceived experiences of social connectedness since COVID-19. Care partners included spouses (n = 8) and adult children (n = 4). Interviews included attendees of different Memory Cafe models, including in-person only (n = 2), virtual only (n = 9), and those who attend both models (n = 6). Five key themes were identified: (1) Reprieve; (2) What is still possible; (3) Connectedness; (4) Inclusivity; and (5) Value added, with ten sub-themes supporting these main themes. Discussion: Findings substantiate evidence that Memory Cafes offer important benefits for families living with dementia, providing vital new insight into the potential for virtual Memory Cafes to offer similar benefits. Findings have implications beyond the context of COVID-19, where virtual models may support the social connectedness of those living in geographically marginalized and underserved areas. Virtual models may not address the needs of all families experiencing dementia due to lack of access to technology and limitations for virtual engagement with those experiencing later stage dementia.
When people die by suicide: Introducing unacceptable loss thresholds as a potential missing link between suicide readiness states and actively suicidal clinical states.

Introduction Contemporary models of suicide have largely overlooked why a person at high risk for suicide attempts suicide at a specific time. We propose the construct of unacceptable loss thresholds (i.e., a person's tolerance limit for a negative life event, which if violated results in an increase in suicide risk), which addresses many paradoxes in the literature related to suicide triggers. The aim of this paper is to provide preliminary proof of concept and to stimulate replication and further empirical study. Methods We recruited an online community sample of individuals with a suicide attempt history (n = 144). These individuals answered questions about the time leading up to their most recent suicide attempt. Results The majority (70.8% yes; 18.1% cannot remember; 11.1% no) reported creating a threshold of unacceptable loss, and that relatively small events were enough to trigger feelings that life was not worth living (63.9% yes; 30.6% maybe; 5.6% no). Further, the majority (57.6% yes; 21.5% yes, but only if asked; 20.8% - no) reported they would be willing to tell their therapist/doctor about their thresholds of unacceptable loss. Conclusion The construct of unacceptable loss deserves further empirical inquiry. Individuals contemplating suicide set them and if the loss occurs, it may trigger suicidal action in suicide ready individuals. Thresholds could provide risk assessment and safety planning data currently being overlooked.
An examination of the effects of explicit cloud water in the UCLA GCM

The effect of explicit cloud water on the climate simulation by the University of California of Los Angeles GCM is investigated by adding the mixing ratios of cloud ice and cloud liquid water to the prognostic variables of the model. The detrained cloud ice and cloud liquid water are obtained by the microphysical calculation in the Arakawa-Schubert (1974) cumulus scheme. The results are compared with the observations concerned with cloudiness, planetary albedo, OLR, and the dependence of cloud water content on temperature.
Ampulla Morphogenesis in Anural and Urodele Molgulid Ascidians

Vascular ampulla morphogenesis was studied in two anural-developing molgulids and one urodeledeveloping molgulid. In all three species, each juvenile developed one longer ampulla (termed the primary ampulla) and several shorter ampullae (termed secondary ampullae). Ampulla growth was accompanied by the formation of contraction rings that moved in a proximal to distal direction. Contraction ring formation was initiated by the epidermal cells situated in the proximal region of each ampulla. The formation of an expanding bubble-like region within each lumen preceded ring formation. These rings moved at approximately 120 μm/min. Rings were produced for several days until the ampullae retracted towards the body wall. In all three species, hemoblast cells were evident at day 4 within the developing mantle sinus (hemocoel). Ampulla growth was studied by positioning chalk particles on the tunic surface near the tips of ampullae. During the growth phase, chalk particles moved towards the body of the zooid. This report is the first to describe contraction ring formation and the polarized transport of tunic components during ampulla morphogenesis in two anural ascidian species.
Dynamo-Supported Magnetic Fields in Radio Jets

Turbulence in radio jets will amplify any initial magnetic field to a level comparable to the energy density in the turbulence. If the turbulence is helical, as could be the case in a jet arising from a rotating accretion flow, magnetic flux as well as energy will be generated, and magnetic fields will be maintained which are ordered on scales comparable to the jet radius. This paper presents large-scale dynamo solutions for magnetic fields in turbulent, expanding jets.
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and pathological complete response in rectal cancer

The management of rectal cancer has evolved significantly in the last few decades. Significant improvements in local disease control were achieved in the 1990s, with the introduction of total mesorectal excision and neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Level 1 evidence has shown that, with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) the rates of local recurrence can be lower than 6% and, as a result, neoadjuvant CRT currently represents the accepted standard of care. This approach has led to reliable tumor down-staging, with 15-27% patients with a pathological complete response (pCR)-defined as no residual cancer found on histological examination of the specimen. Patients who achieve pCR after CRT have better long-term outcomes, less risk of developing local or distal recurrence and improved survival. For all these reasons, sphincter-preserving procedures or organ-preserving options have been suggested, such as local excision of residual tumor or the omission of surgery altogether. Although local recurrence rate has been stable at 5-6% with this multidisciplinary management method, distal recurrence rates for locally-advanced rectal cancers remain in excess of 25% and represent the main cause of death in these patients. For this reason, more recent trials have been looking at the administration of full-dose systemic chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting (in order to offer early treatment of disseminated micrometastases, thus improving control of systemic disease) and selective use of radiotherapy only in non-responders or for low rectal tumors smaller than 5 cm.
Laminar free convection from a horizontal infinite strip facing downwards

Die laminare freie Konvektion eines isothermen, unendlichen horizontalen Streifens, dessen Unterseite erwarmt ist, wird durch die Impuls-Integral-Methode innerhalb der Grenzschichtannaherung behandelt. Die Losung ergibt sich in einer Integralform, die fur alle Prandtl-Zahlen gultig ist. Man findet, dass die Grenzschichtdicke einen endlichen Wert an den Streifenkanten erreicht und nur fur unendlich grosse Prandtl-Zahlen verschwindet. Diese Resultate stehen im Widerspruch zu denen vonWagner [13]. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit werden durch eine Aufnahme des Stromungsfeldes bestatigt, welche die Stromlinien und die endliche Grosse der Grenzschichtdicke an den Kanten zeigt.
X-ray structure and temperature dependent luminescent properties of two bimetallic europium complexes

Abstract The structural, luminescent and temperature dependent luminescent properties of two homodinuclear europium complexes bridged by 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpm) are reported. β-Diketonate ligands 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butanedione (tfa) and 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione (tta) are used as capping ligands resulting in complexes of the form [Eu(tfa)3]2bpm (1) and [Eu(tta)3]2bpm (2). All EuIII ions are eight coordinate with six O atoms from the β-diketones and two N atoms from the polyazine bridging ligand. Excitation of the β-diketonate ligands tfa or tta at ca. 340 nm in toluene solutions results in the characteristic EuIII emission in the visible region of the spectrum. The emission intensity and lifetime associated with the EuIII centers decrease as the temperature of the solution is increased. Lifetime measurements are fit to a monoexponential while the temperature dependent lifetime data is fit to an Arrhenius-type equation. Evaluation of the data in comparison to data obtained from the monometallic EuIII analogs reveal very similar photoluminescent properties. This suggests little electronic communication between EuIII ions via the polyazine bpm bridging ligand.
Infection and lymphoma.

The persistence of the eponyms “Hodgkin” and “Reed–Sternberg” and the noncommittal descriptor “disease” underscores the uncertainties long associated with the multinucleated giant cells that Sternb...
Some applications of two-dimensional stress transfer analyses

Abstract Two-dimensional stress transfer analyses are performed for the following system: a long central plate bonded on opposite sides along its length to two short plates and subjected to tensile loading at its ends. The load transfers from the long plate to the short plate through the interfacial shear stress. The system represents the unit cell of platelet-reinforced composites, in which parallel matrix cracks are uniformly spaced and are bridged by the platelet, in a two-dimensional sense. Analytical solutions for the crack opening displacement, the additional displacement of the composite due to the presence of cracks, and stress intensity factor at the crack tip are derived. Letting the long plate and the short plates have the same mechanical properties, the analytical solutions are compared to the existing numerical solutions for tensile loading of both a double edge notch strip and a semi-infinite plane with parallel edge cracks. Good agreement is obtained in this comparison.
Evaluation of reaction barrier compensating coatings on SCS-6 fibers in Ti-24Al-11Nb(at%) composites

Abstract The objective of the present study is to determine the influence of surface coatings prepared by sol-gel techniques on microstructure and residual stress distribution in SCS-6/Ti-24AI-11Nb composites. The approach taken was to apply two different oxide coatings with varying thermal expansion coefficients and elastic moduli to the surface of the SCS-6 fibers. Yttrium oxide and magnesium oxide were chosen since each were reportedly compatible with titanium matrices. Layers of two different thicknesses (approximately 0.1 μm and 0.5 μm for the magnesia and 0.5μm and 1.0 μm for the yttria) were applied to the fibers for comparison. The fibers were then placed in the matrix foil and vacuum hot pressed to final consolidation. The integrity of the various coatings, their stability with respect to the fiber and matrix, how they influence the β-depleted region, and their effect on residual stresses, matrix cracking and interfacial strength was studied after exposure to elevated temperatures for different periods of time.
Effect of Sparse Long-chain Branching on the Film-casting Behavior for a Series of Well-defined HDPEs

Abstract The effect of sparse long chain branching, LCB, on the film-casting process is analyzed using a molecular model for the rheological behavior for a series of well-characterized, high-densit...
Using Matching to Investigate the Relationship between Religion and Tolerance

Examining religion in the study of political behavior has produced varied results because of a lack of clarity on the conceptualization of religion and a methodology that cannot adequately untangle the multiple meanings of religion. Using the technique of propensity score matching, this work breaks apart the three B's in a number of analyses in order to properly understand how behavior, belief, and belonging impacts political tolerance. The results of this analysis indicate that a belief in biblical literalism decreases political tolerance, while church attendance often increases tolerance.
Mid-IR beam direction stabilization scheme for vibrational spectroscopy, including dual-frequency 2DIR.

A compact laser beam direction stabilization scheme is developed that provides the angular stability of better than 50 μrad over a wide range of frequencies from 800 to 4000 cm−1. The schematic is fully automated and features a single MCT quadrant detector. The schematic was tested to stabilize directions of the two IR beams used for dual-frequency two-dimensional infrared (2DIR) measurements and showed excellent results: automatic tuning of the beam direction allowed achieving the alignment quality within 10% of the optimal alignment obtained manually. The schematic can be easily implemented to any nonlinear spectroscopic measurements in the mid-IR spectral region.
Elevated basal and thapsigargin-stimulated intracellular calcium of platelets and lymphocytes from bipolar affective disorder patients measured by a fluorometric microassay.

Abstract Background: A number of investigators have reported finding elevated basal and stimulated intracellular calcium levels in the platelets or lymphocytes of bipolar disorder patients. Methods: Intracellular calcium was measured by a micro fura-2 fluorometric method in the platelets and lymphocytes of 30 affective disorder patients and 14 control subjects. Results: We observed significantly elevated basal calcium concentrations in bipolar patient platelets and lymphocytes compared to control subjects. Bipolar patient platelet calcium responses to thrombin, serotonin, and thapsigargin were also significantly greater than control subjects. The peak calcium levels of lymphocytes of bipolar patients were greater than control subjects only when stimulated by thapsigargin. There were significant differences between bipolar and unipolar patients in basal and thapsigargin-stimulated calcium measures but not between bipolar I and bipolar II patients. Unmedicated versus medicated calcium measures were not significantly different. We also found little correlation between calcium measures and the severity of mood rating. Conclusions: Using this method, we were able to confirm and extend the work of others, indicating altered intracellular calcium homeostasis in the blood cells of bipolar disorder patients. In addition, our data suggest that storage operated calcium channels may be the source of the elevated intracellular calcium in platelets and lymphocytes of bipolar patients.
Calculated phonon band structure and density of states and interpretation of the Raman spectrum in rocksalt ScN

As one of the simplest transition-metal nitrides, ScN is quite interesting. After this material was thought to be a semimetal for a long time,1 it was finally concluded to be a semiconductor with an indirect gap of about 1 eV and smallest direct gap of about 2 eV.2–7 It was recently found to be a potentially interesting magnetic semiconductor host by adding Mn as dopant.8,9 Its crystal growth in thin-film form was improved considerably in recent years.4,10–12 It was also predicted that alloys or superlattices with IIIa column elements Ga, Al, or In might have interesting properties involving a hexagonal form of ScN.13–15 Yet, several properties of this material are only poorly known. Here we study the vibrational properties. While calculated phonon band structures were reported previously for the hypothetical hexagonal form,14 we are only aware of one previous study of the phonons in rocksalt ScN.16 That paper does not discuss the comparison with the Raman spectra in any detail and furthermore uses a different pseudopotential from the one used here, which leads to significant differences. In the rocksalt structure, first-order Raman scattering is forbidden by symmetry. Yet, a Raman spectrum was observed and reported by Travaglini et al.1 and by Gu et al.12 It was interpreted as a disorder-induced first-order Raman spectrum representing the density of phonon states. In infrared absorption, one expects to see the TO and LO modes at the zone center because these are optically allowed, but the presence of free carriers complicates this picture. Travaglini et al.1 extracted TO to be 45 meV or 362 cm −1 from an analysis of the infrared reflectivity, which exhibits a plasmon LO-phonon-coupled mode because of the large free-carrier concentration in their samples. Here, we present phonon band structures and density of states DOS and compare carefully with the Raman data by Travaglini et al.1 We find that the latter shows not a pure but weighted density of states, with a larger intensity for the LO L modes. Several features can be accounted for with Van Hove singularities at the zone boundary. The emphasis of the LO L modes is explained in terms of their dominant role in the breathing-induced motions around the cation which exhibit the strongest electron-phonon coupling.
A Coprocessor Sharing-Aware Scheduler for Xeon Phi-Based Compute Clusters

We propose a cluster scheduling technique for compute clusters with Xeon Phi coprocessors. Even though the Xeon Phi runs Linux which allows multiprocessing, cluster schedulers generally do not allow jobs to share coprocessors because sharing can cause oversubscription of coprocessor memory and thread resources. It has been shown that memory or thread oversubscription on a many core like the Phi results in job crashes or drastic performance loss. We first show that such an exclusive device allocation policy causes severe coprocessor underutilization: for typical workloads, on average only 38% of the Xeon Phi cores are busy across the cluster. Then, to improve coprocessor utilization, we propose a scheduling technique that enables safe coprocessor sharing without resource oversubscription. Jobs specify their maximum memory and thread requirements, and our scheduler packs as many jobs as possible on each coprocessor in the cluster, subject to resource limits. We solve this problem using a greedy approach at the cluster level combined with a knapsack-based algorithm for each node. Every coprocessor is modeled as a knapsack and jobs are packed into each knapsack with the goal of maximizing job concurrency, i.e., as many jobs as possible executing on each coprocessor. Given a set of jobs, we show that this strategy of packing for high concurrency is a good proxy for (i) reducing make span, without the need for users to specify job execution times and (ii) reducing coprocessor footprint, or the number of coprocessors required to finish the jobs without increasing make span. We implement the entire system as a seamless add on to Condor, a popular distributed job scheduler, and show make span and footprint reductions of more than 50% across a wide range of workloads.
Citizenship as a weapon

The focus of this article is on citizenship in its juridical sense. Other theorists, especially communitarians and civic republicans, have attempted to expand the idea of citizenship to include a social/political sense; they advocate expanding citizenship beyond its juridical confines to include civic participation as one of the hallmarks of citizenship. A new stage of expansion has begun; it is represented by those who want to make citizenship more multiple and flexible, to see citizenship in a more ethical/normative sense. These expansionist approaches do not jettison the juridical sense of citizenship. In fact, they build upon it. Therefore, these conceptions of citizenship become problematic to the extent that the juridical building block becomes problematic. Thus, the first task is to problematize this juridical sense of citizenship. This article explores a different critical path than the ones typically taken. It pushes the envelope by thinking about citizenship as a weapon. While more exposes of ad...
Is Adolescent Varicocelectomy Safe After Previous Inguinal Surgery

Purpose: Varicocelectomy after previous inguinal surgery poses a potential risk of testicular volume loss. To assess the extent to which varicocelectomy can be done without the complication of ipsilateral testis atrophy we present outcomes in adolescent patients with a history of inguinal surgery who underwent ipsilateral varicocelectomy.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patient data from a single urologist practice. Testicular volume was recorded preferentially by ultrasound or, when unavailable, by ring orchidometry. Testicular asymmetry was calculated using the formula, [(right testis volume − left testis volume)/right testis volume] × 100. Symmetry was defined as less than 10% asymmetry. Catch-up growth was defined as resolution of asymmetry.Results: We identified 22 adolescent patients who fit study criteria. The patients underwent a total of 25 varicocelectomies since 3 underwent bilateral repair after previous bilateral inguinal surgery. Initial inguinal surgery included inguinal h...
Observations on the measurement of two-photon absorption cross-section

We have measured two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections of four organic molecules in solution. The data show that the nonlinear transmission method without consideration of other nonlinear effects results, under certain conditions, in erroneous values for the TPA cross-sections. We also find that the cross-sections measured by excited-state methods, namely two-photon induced fluorescence and a new excited-state method, which is based on transient spectroscopy following two-photon excitation, are in good agreement with the published data. Therefore, caution is warranted when using the transmission method.
Introduction: Remembering Phil*

This issue of the Journal of the History of Biology is dedicated to the memory of Philip Joseph Pauly, who died from complications of lymphoma on April 2, 2008, at the age of 57. Phil was a professor in the History Department at Rutgers University, where he had been a faculty member since 1981. In this collection of reminiscences and articles we wish to honor him as a scholar, colleague, friend, mentor to students, and supporter of our discipline. The essays following the reminiscences reflect in various ways on the ideas in Phil’s three books and related articles. Their themes reveal the diverse directions in which Phil’s ideas could be taken, showing how his work inspired and challenged us on many fronts. His revised dissertation on Jacques Loeb, completed in 1981 at the Johns Hopkins University, was published in 1987 as Controlling Life: Jacques Loeb and the Engineering Ideal in Biology. There followed a superbly crafted and insightful study of American biology, with emphasis on the Progressive Era, Biologists and the Promise of American Life; from Meriwether Lewis to Alfred Kinsey, published in 2000. Phil’s third book, Fruits and Plains: The Horticultural Transformation of America (2007) developed the themes of the second book but explored in a bolder way a synthetic history that aimed to ‘‘see the past as a whole’’ by combining histories of the environment,
Dependence of Transition Temperatures and Enthalpies of Fusion and Crystallization on Composition in Polyaniline/Nylon Blends

The properties of blends, cast from hexafluoro-2-propanol, of nylon 6 and of nylon 12 with polyaniline doped with various functionalized organic acids were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and microscopy. The glass transition temperature of the as-cast and dried blends of polyaniline with either nylon displayed a composition-independent relationship indicative of a phase-separated morphology irrespective of the functionalization of the sulfonic acid dopant. Although electron microscopy data also showed phase-separated morphologies, the PANI domain size within the nylon matrix was found to be dependent upon the functionalized acid dopant. A decrease in the melting transition temperatures of nylon 6 and associated enthalpies with blend composition is attributed to the effects of dissociation and degradation processes occurring during thermal analysis. We suggest that the effusion of the resulting thermally induced species from within the polyamide domain disrupts the crystalline structur...
Weighing Reward and Punishment

In their Report “Positive interactions promote public cooperation” (4 September, p. [1272][1]), D. G. Rand et al. find that targeted reward is at least as effective as targeted punishment in maintaining cooperation. In their experiment, infrequent reward may be sufficient because the group is small and interacts repeatedly. However, in real-world situations, punishment may be the more effective and cost-efficient option. In many real-world cases, unlike Rand et al. 's example, the cost to Player A of giving Player B a material reward is roughly the same as the benefit Player B receives from the reward. (The benefit of nonpecuniary rewards, such as praise, may exceed their cost considerably. Rand et al. suggest this, but their experiment is not set up to provide evidence.) Thus, the cost of cooperation is simply shifted to those who provide the reward. However, the threat of punishment provides a less costly lever to force cooperation, even when the threat must be carried out. The cost of a match and a gallon of gasoline is much less than cost to repair the damage they could cause. Likewise, nasty words can hurt much more than the effort it takes to say them. In real-world situations, when people are not interacting in a small group and when they are motivated by money, the threat of punishment is effective. Laws are based largely on this insight. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1177418
Energetics of pulsed laser ablation species as determined by quadrupole and time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Time-of-flight data from an electron impact quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) are used to determine the composition and energy of a neutral plume created by pulsed laser ablation of ZnTe. Velocities of the ablated species are extracted by taking spectra at two distances and measuring the change in arrival time. Results from the QMS are compared to those obtained by 193-nm laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Hypnotizability and psychoactive medication.

Abstract The effect of several commonly used psychoactive medications on hypnotizability in a population of psychiatric inpatients and outpatients is reported. Hypnotizability was measured using the Hypnotic Induction Profile among 115 psychiatric patients who were diagnosed according to research diagnostic criteria. Hypnotizability scores were analyzed on the basis of psychiatric diagnosis and medication received. No significant effects on scores were found for antipsychotic or antidepressant medications, or lithium. However, those anxious patients receiving antianxiety agents obtained scores which were nearly significantly higher than those without such medication. These data suggest that among a seriously disturbed psychiatric population, the use of appropriate psychoactive medications does not hamper hypnotizability and in certain cases the treatment effect of the medication may indeed improve it.
Toward an integrated model of adoption of mobile phones for purchasing ancillary services in air travel

Purpose – Recently, ancillary services' (e.g. bag processing, preferred seating) contribution to the overall air travel revenues has become substantial. Yet, no study to date has addressed how these services are purchased. This study aims to investigate air travelers' adoption of mobile phones to purchase ancillary air travel services. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive structural model was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model and augmented with constructs like trust, privacy, security, innovativeness, and personalization. The model was validated using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling. Findings – The model explained 84 percent of the variability in intentions to use mobile phones to purchase air travel ancillary services. The strongest predictor of attitudes was perceived usefulness, followed by perceived ease of use and trust. Research limitations/implications – First, this study's extended theoretical framework was well supported, as it captures rel...
A Field-Programmable Analog Array Development Platform for Vestibular Prosthesis Signal Processing

We report on a vestibular prosthesis signal processor realized using an experimental field programmable analog array (FPAA). Completing signal processing functions in the analog domain, the processor is designed to help replace a malfunctioning inner ear sensory organ, a semicircular canal. Relying on angular head motion detected by an inertial sensor, the signal processor maps angular velocity into meaningful control signals to drive a current stimulator. To demonstrate biphasic pulse control a 1 k Ω resistive load was placed across an H-bridge circuit. When connected to a 2.4 V supply, a biphasic current of 100 μA was maintained at stimulation frequencies from 50-350 Hz, pulsewidths from 25-400 μ sec, and interphase gaps ranging from 25-250 μsec.
Duality, Quarks, and Inelastic Electron-Hadron Scattering

A model for high-energy hadron reactions is proposed, incorporating ideas borrowed from the duality scheme of strong interactions and from the quark version of the parton model for inelastic electron-hadron scattering. Experimental tests of the model are discussed.
Alpha-chloralose immobilization of rock doves in Ohio.

To improve capture efficacy of rock doves (Columba livia) in nuisance situations, we reevaluated the effectiveness of three dosages (60, 120 and 180 mg/kg) of alpha-chloralose (AC). Responses to immobilization using 180 mg/kg AC also were compared in rock doves deprived of food for 16 hr and not food deprived. Mean ( 6SE) time to first effects (33 6 2 min) and mean time to capture (94 6 5 min) were significantly less for rock doves receiving 180 mg/kg than for rock doves receiving lower dosages ($53 6 3 min and $153 6 17 min, respectively). Ten, 10, and eight rock doves immobilized with 60, 120, and 180 mg/kg AC recovered within 24 hr, respectively; all rock doves recovered within 29 hr. Although food-deprived rock doves showed effects of AC immobilization earlier than did rock doves with food, time to capture was similar between these two groups. For capturing rock doves, we recommend treating corn with 3 mg AC/kernel and using 180 mg/kg as the effective dose. This modified formulation and dosage should improve capture success of rock doves substantially and improve the ability to resolve nuisance rock dove problems.
Demonstration and characterization of a multibillion-shot, 2.5-mJ, 4-ns, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

We have demonstrated and characterized a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser under continuous operation for over 7 billion shots. Through periodic monitoring of the laser's vital signs, the system dynamics were decoupled to identify the sources of degradation. The initial and the final pump-laser diode wavelengths and powers were measured and compared. No evidence of an accumulative effect leading to optical damage at a fluence lower than the single-shot threshold was observed.
The registry case finding engine: an automated tool to identify cancer cases from unstructured, free-text pathology reports and clinical notes.

Background The American College of Surgeons mandates the maintenance of a cancer registry for hospitals seeking accreditation. At the University of Michigan Health System, more than 90% of all registry patients are identified by manual review, a method common to many institutions. We hypothesized that an automated computer system could accurately perform this time- and labor-intensive task. We created a tool to automatically scan free-text medical documents for terms relevant to cancer. Study Design We developed custom-made lists containing approximately 2,500 terms and phrases and 800 SNOMED codes. Text is processed by the Case Finding Engine (CaFE), and relevant terms are highlighted for review by a registrar and used to populate the registry database. We tested our system by comparing results from the CaFE to those by trained registrars who read through 2,200 pathology reports and marked relevant cases for the registry. The clinical documentation (eg, electronic chart notes) of an additional 476 patients was also reviewed by registrars and compared with the automated process by the CaFE. Results For pathology reports, the sensitivity for automated case identification was 100%, but specificity was 85.0%. For clinical documentation, sensitivity was 100% and specificity was 73.7%. Types of errors made by the CaFE were categorized to direct additional improvements. Use of the CaFE has resulted in a considerable increase in the number of cases added to the registry each month. Conclusions The system has been well accepted by our registrars. CaFE can improve the accuracy and efficiency of tumor registry personnel and helps ensure that cancer cases are not overlooked.
US versus Them: Mass Attitudes toward Offshore Outsourcing

Economists have argued that outsourcing is another form of international trade. However, based on a representative national survey of Americans conducted in 2007 and 2009, the distribution of preferences on these two issues appears to be quite different. This article examines the origins of attitudes toward outsourcing, focusing on the extent to which it reflects (1) the economic vulnerabilities of individuals; (2) the information they receive about outsourcing, including their subjective understanding of what constitutes outsourcing; and (3) noneconomic attitudes toward foreign people and foreign countries. The findings emphasize the importance of variations in understandings of the term, as well as the highly symbolic nature of attitudes toward this issue. Individuals who believe the US should distance itself from international affairs more generally, who are nationalistic, or who feel that members of other ethnic and racial groups within the US are less praiseworthy than their own group tend to have particularly hostile reactions to outsourcing. The informational cues people receive are also important influences on their understanding of and attitudes toward outsourcing. Experimental results further emphasize the symbolic nature of attitudes toward outsourcing. Taken together, the results strongly suggest that attitudes are shaped less by the economic consequences of outsourcing than by a sense of “us” versus “them.”
The Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP): An overview

This paper provides a brief historical overview of the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP), the basis for selecting the principal site for this experiment, the scientific objectives, and the strategic planning that has been brought to bear in preparing for the implementation of the project. It also provides a summary of the 25 papers published in this special issue, which collectively represent the launching point for research in the GEWEX's initiatives on continental-scale hydrometeorology.
Squeeze-Film Damping of the Motion of a Control Flapper-Nozzle

A squeeze film used in a flapper-nozzle affords stand-alone properties to the flapper motion, meaning that it behaves in a dynamically stable manner. The device constitutes the first stage of a new family of two-stage electrohydraulic control valves. Successful mathematical modelling of it has been reported by Lin and Akers (1,2).Because of the expense of maintaining close manufacturing tolerances within the damper, the investigation included the extent of deterioration of dynamic response when the dimensions of the damper are varied, when the tolerances on the squeeze-film annular area are relaxed and when the annular clearance is increased.As a result of the investigation, the dimensions and other variables, chosen by trial-and-error procedures, appeared to be optimum from the point of view of dynamic performance, convenience of installation and cost.
A 2-D model of plasma-jet interaction in the hylife inertial confinement fusion reactor

Abstract A two-dimensional, axisymmetric model was developed to study the impulsive crossflow of a lithium plasma through a close-packed annular arrangement of liquid jets, a problem that arises in the design of a certain class of inertial confinement fusion reactors. Calculations performed with this model indicate that a 5 m radius reactor cavity, standing 8 m high, can deliver 1 GWe when pulsed at 1 Hz, without adverse loading of the first wall.
Good Managed Care Needs Universal Health Insurance

Cost-cutting tactics used by managed care plans have spawned movements that demand rights for patients and providers; shoring up those rights, however, will increase the number of uninsured persons...
Preparation of polymerized soybean oil and soy‐based polyols

In the absence of polymerization, soy-based polyols tend to have inadequate hydroxyl equivalent molecular weights for many critical urethane applications. In this article, the polymerization (bodying) of soybean oil is presented as an effective method to increase the molecular weight of soy-based polyols. When bodying is combined with reaction steps for alcohol addition and acid reduction, soy-based polyols suitable for urethane applications can be synthesized. Two different heat-polymerization approaches, catalyzed- and noncatalyzed-bodied soybean oil (BSBO) were evaluated in continuous and batch processing. The catalyzed-BSBO has lower iodine numbers and high viscosities than the noncatalyzed-BSBO. This approach represents one of the least-costly means to increase the hydroxyl equivalent weights of soy-based polyols. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
On two-person Nash implementable choice functions

An elementary proof of a theorem on two-person Nash implementable choice functions is provided.
Investigation of dielectric sample atomization and electrical characteristics in a radio frequency glow discharge source

Abstract Studies are performed to evaluate the roles of discharge power, pressure, sample thickness and operating frequency on the production of free, gas phase atoms from dielectric sample materials with a radio frequency glow discharge source by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (rf-GD-AAS) atomizer. As is expected, the absorbance signals increase with applied power with the optimum operating pressures being somewhat sample and element specific. Plasma stabilization times are on the order of 20 seconds after plasma initiation with the RSD being
Role of the conserved histidines in the Zn module of the copper-activated transcription factors in yeast

The Amt1 and Ace1 transcription factors from Candida glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are activated by the formation of a tetracopper thiolate cluster resulting in Cu4Zn1Amt1 complexes. An independent Zn module exists within the N-terminal 40 residues of Amt1 and Ace1. There are two conserved histidyl residues within this module. His25 serves as a Zn(II) ligand for the S3N1 site. Thus, Zn(II) ligands are provided by cysteinyl thiolates of Cys11, Cys14, Cys23 and His25. The Zn module is a stably folded domain that binds group IIb metal ions with high affinity. Mutations in Amt1 and Ace1 genes within codons encoding Zn(II) cysteinyl ligands markedly attenuate the ability of Amt1 and Ace1 to mediate Cu-induced expression of metallothionein genes. Thus, the Zn modules in Amt1 and Ace1 are functionally important. A second histidine, His18, is conserved in the Zn module of these metal-activated factors. His18 does not serve a major structural role, but appears important functionally in Ace1 and Amt1.