cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of a macromolecular camptothecin conjugate with dual phase drug release.

A water soluble macromolecular conjugate of camptothecin (CPT) with a new, dual phase hydrolytic drug release mechanism was prepared on the basis of a 60 kDa biodegradable hydrophilic “stealth” polyacetal, poly(1-hydroxymethylethylene hydroxy-methyl formal). Succinamido-glycinate was used as a prodrug releasing group. A model preparation with 7.5% CPT content w/w was water soluble. The lipophilic camptothecin prodrug, camptothecin-(O20)-succinimidoglycinate, was released from the conjugate with t1/2 = 2.2 ± 0.1 h in rodent plasma. The blood clearance in a rodent model as measured by CPT was release limited, t1/2 = 2.1 ± 0.2 h, while the conjugate half-life was 14.2 ±1.7 h. In a xenograft tumor model, the conjugate demonstrated higher antineoplastic efficacy than CPT at a less than equitoxic dose. This improved therapeutic window is in line with the modified drug pharmacokinetics and with camptothecin release in a stabilized lipophilic prodrug form. Regulation of prodrug release and hydrolysis rates throug...
PUBLIC ACCESS TO OCEAN BEACHES: IF YOU FIND A PARKING SPACE, HOW DO YOU GET TO THE BEACH?

The public presently owns, or has the right to use, a substantial portion of the nation's ocean beaches. However, the public cannot, in fact, use many of these beaches because there is no legal access to them. As the coast develops, more and more areas become closed to the public. The states are now being encouraged to plan for access to the beaches; there are a number of tools and techniques at their disposal.
Accessible interfaces for robot assistants

Currently, high-level task control of robots is generally performed by using a graphical interface on a desktop or laptop computer. This type of mediated interaction is not natural, and can be problematic and cumbersome for persons with certain types of motor disabilities, and for people interacting with the robot when there are no computer displays present. In this work, we present a framework which enables the removal of such obvious intermediary devices and allows users to assign tasks to robots using interfaces embedded directly in the world, by projecting these interfaces directly onto surfaces and objects. We describe the implementation of the projected interface framework, and give several examples of tasks which can be performed with such an interface.
The role of the locus coeruleus

170 fathers can only be a maximum of 10 times higherB: the high carrier detection rate obtained in the mothers by Biggs and Rizza would also be evidence against such a possibility. The results of Frank and his colleagues for carriers of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome could be explained by the presence of heterozygote advantage, but the authors reject this possibility as insufficient to account for their data. Is carrier testing artefactual? It can be argued that the carrier testing findings in all three diseases may be artefactual, e.g. if by some unrecognized bias, more carrier than normal daughters were tested, or if the biochemical carrier detection tests give higher values for younger subjects. On the other hand, it is also possible that, in at least these X-linked diseases, the heterozygote car- rier does possess some as yet unrecog- nized selective advantage which is responsible for maintaining the incidence of the disease. For the present time it would seem only sensible to test all available female relatives of males with X-linked disorders in order to determine if more heterozygotes are present in the population than previously suspected. A major problem remains to be answered with respect to DMD: if most of the families with isolated affected males do carry the gene, why are only a few affected males born? A deficiency of affected males was noted by Haldane and, as he suggested, could be explained if, in these families, the disease had abnormal segregation, low penetrance, or low viability 7. No evidence for reduced penetrance in males has been found. In these families the disease could have increased lethal effects so that an affected male zygote does not implant or is aborted. This is frequently found in lethal genetic disorders of animals, but, in a disease with lethal effects both
Effect of landscape position on the sediment chemistry of abandoned-channel wetlands

The nature of sediments in abandoned channels is an important component of their development as floodplain wetlands. The texture, organic matter, phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen content of sediments were determined for abandoned channels along the Iowa and Cedar Rivers near their confluence in Iowa. Differences in the levels of these constituents were examined among categories of three landscape gradients: present connectivity to the river, time since abandonment, and proximity to agricultural land use. Local scale processes of ecological development are seen in the importance of time for increased organic matter and nitrogen. Basin scale processes of sediment transport and deposition are revealed by the importance of connectivity for decreases in these two elements, and by the counter-intuitive findings for nitrogen and especially phosphorous and potassium in relation to agricultural proximity. Location on a floodplain is important for differentiating development, but it cannot be reduced to univariate gradients.
Using noise transmission properties to identify stochastic gene regulatory networks

Gene regulatory networks often occur at such small scales that their dynamics are controlled by individual molecular events. This discrete behavior causes significant quantities of intrinsic noise. In some cases, mechanisms exist in the system to repress this noise. With different parameters, the same mechanisms may amplify the noise. By examining the properties of how noise is transmitted through the system, one can gather significant information about the system and aid researchers to identify system properties. In this paper, we consider a few simple analytical schemes to identify the parameters of gene transcription and translation processes with feedback regulation. While protein distributions can be measured with fluorescent protein tagging and flow cytometry, it is much more difficult to measure the quantities of messenger RNAs in a single cell. We show that with the right experimental procedures involving measurements of proteins alone, one can identify transcription and translation parameters.
Thermal Analysis of Multiphoton Absorption at 193 nm in Volume-Absorbing Glass

Two-photon absorption in volume-absorbing materials may be significant for high-power, short-pulse excimer laser irradiation. In the present work, the effects of two-photon absorption on the laser intensity propagation and the penetration depth are investigated. The temperature history of a glass plate during pulsed ultraviolet (UV) laser heating is predicted. The results show that the two-photon absorption can compress the volume-absorbing effect to surface absorption and increase the peak temperature on the glass surface. This will reduce the damage threshold, increase the energy loss, and reduce the accuracy of pulsed-laser calorimeters.
Waveform moment analysis: An ASYST program for topographical analyses of nonnegative bounded waveforms

The moments of a nonnegative bounded waveform (e.g., bounded probability density functions or responses that can be expressed as bounded probability density functions) provide the basis for characterizing the waveform. Traditionally, only the lower-order moments (k ≤ 4) have been utilized in deriving topographical indices of these waveforms. Recent advances in waveform moment analysis, however, have made it possible to derive comprehensive and interpretable indices of complex nonnegative bounded waveforms by utilizing both lower-order and higher-order moments. Waveform moment analysis is reviewed briefly, and a flexible and efficient computer program is presented for conducting waveform moment analyses.
A high-order method for stiff boubdary value problems with turning points

This paper describes some high-order collocation-like methods for the numerical solution of stiff boundary-value problems with turning points. The presentation concentrates on the implementation of these methods in conjunction with the implementation of the a priori mesh construction algorithm introduced by Kreiss, Nichols and Brown [SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 23 (1986), pp. 325–368] for such problems. Numerical examples are given showing the high accuracy which can be obtained in solving the boundary value problem for singularly perturbed ordinary differential equations with turning points.
We're going Google!: making the most of marketing

In the 2011-2012 academic year, Lewis & Clark College migrated its email system to Google Apps for Education. To support this project, a Marketing and Branding Committee planned how to best keep our community informed and updated before and during the migration period. This project brought new opportunities to forge relationships with our users over the short and long term, as they relied heavily on the IT department for support during the transition. Integrating our marketing with our existing services improved attendance in our training and information sessions, and provided a key point of contact with our users in both providing project updates and receiving feedback. This paper explores the challenges of marketing and branding our campus email migration to Google Apps for Education, which included publicizing large-scale changes, reaching traditionally non-responsive groups such as students and adjunct faculty, and coordinating marketing on multiple campuses. Benefits that come with a strong, integrated marketing campaign will be addressed as well, which include leveraging the increased face time to build and maintain a social media presence and using the excitement of new products and services to bolster existing services and programs.
Mining massively incomplete data sets by conceptual reconstruction

Incomplete data sets have become almost ubiquitous in a wide variety of application domains. Common examples can be found in climate and image data sets, sensor data sets and medical data sets. The incompleteness in these data sets may arise from a number of factors: in some cases it may simply be a reflection of certain measurements not being available at the time; in others the information may be lost due to partial system failure; or it may simply be a result of users being unwilling to specify attributes due to privacy concerns. When a significant fraction of the entries are missing in all of the attributes, it becomes very difficult to perform any kind of reasonable extrapolation on the original data. For such cases, we introduce the novel idea of conceptual reconstruction, in which we create effective conceptual representations on which the data mining algorithms can be directly applied. The attraction behind the idea of conceptual reconstruction is to use the correlation structure of the data in order to express it in terms of concepts rather the original dimensions. As a result, the reconstruction procedure estimates only those conceptual aspects of the data which can be mined from the incomplete data set, rather than force errors created by extrapolation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach on a variety of real data sets.
Structural design for systems fault diagnosis

Abstract Diagnosis of process faults rests on the possibility of identifying the parameters in the process model related to the faults. Existence of unique identifiability means being able to discriminate one fault from another when multiple faults occur. How to analyze a process including the control system for faults is described and some examples of the procedure including applications to pathological cases are presented.
Photocatalyzed and photosensitized conversion of organic dyes on porous and non-porous air–solid surfaces: Kinetic models reconsidered

Abstract The use of organic dyes to assay photocatalyst activity in air–solid systems has been explored frequently in recent years. We earlier proposed a two step kinetic model for photcatalyzed conversion of dyes in sub-monolayer and multi-layer deposits on titania films and powders. The present paper reconsiders both our own work and that of other researchers to propose more fundamental kinetic models which include the influence of illumination profiles within porous films and powder layers. The new models are shown to rationalize results for dye-photocatalyst data from multiple laboratories published over the last two decades. This outcome indicates that different kinetic analyses must be used to obtain rate constants in non-porous, uniformly illuminated systems (e.g., self-cleaning glasses) vs. porous systems such as thick macro- and meso-porous layers and powders, which exhibit illumination intensity variation with depth.
Antigenic structure of the hemagglutinin of influenza virus B/Hong Kong/8/73 as determined from gene sequence analysis of variants selected with monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Antigenic variation among influenza B viruses is different from that of influenza A in several ways. Antigenic shift has not been observed, distinct antigenic variants of influenza B cocirculate, and antigenically similar viruses have been isolated many years apart. To study the mechanism of antigenic drift in influenza B viruses, monoclonal antibodies were used to select antigenic variants of B/Hong Kong/8/73 virus hemagglutinin (HA). Analyses of the nucleotide sequences of the HA gene of B/Hong Kong/8/73 and the eight variants identified specific regions of the influenza B HA molecule involved in antigenicity, and enabled antigenic mapping data to be correlated with the structure of the protein. The altered amino acids in the variants, when compared to the HA of A/Aichi/2/68, A/Aichi/2/68, were found in two of the four antigenic regions previously identified for type A viruses. In addition, four of the eight variants showed multiple nucleotide changes some of which gave rise to double amino acid changes. In addition, in the present study monoclonal antibodies which belong to the same antigenic group recognize amino acid changes in regions corresponding to antigenic sites A and B of the H3 HA. These results are in contrast to those obtained with HA variants of A/Memphis/1/71 virus. In the influenza A studies only single amino acid changes were found and these correlated well with the three-dimensional structure as determined by D. C. Wiley, I. A. Wilson, and J. J. Skehel, (1981 , Nature (London) 289 , 366–373); monoclonal antibodies which recognized one region did not recognize any of the other antigenic sites. Our results suggest that although the basic three-dimensional structure of the influenza B HA may be similar to that of A viruses, the B HA molecule may be folded in a more compact manner so that antigenic sites A and B are in closer proximity to each other than in the H3 structure.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Is Associated With Resolution of Incisional Drainage in Most Wounds After Hip Arthroplasty

Background Persistent wound drainage after hip arthroplasty is a risk factor for periprosthetic infection. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used in other fields for wound management although it is unclear whether the technique is appropriate for total hip arthroplasty.
An Electrothermal Sample Introduction System for ICP Spectrometry

In recent years the coupling of two or more analytical techniques to take advantage of their individual benefits has become quite popular and effective. Among these combined tools is the electrothermal atomizer with an inductively coupled plasma (ICP). In this merger the electrothermal device vaporizes the sample for introduction into the ICP where atomization and excitation occur, in contrast to the conventional electrothermal atomizer employed for atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) in which vaporization and atomization are not separated. Recently there have been descriptions of electrothermal vaporization (ETV) techniques, with ICP spectrometry, that employ a graphite yarn, graphite rod, metal filaments (platinum, tantalum, and tungsten), a microarc, radio frequency arc, and spark. Also, commercial electrothermal atomizers (e.g., Instrumentation Laboratory IL655, Perkin Elmer HGA 74, and HGA 500) have been modified for direct electrothermal sample introduction into the ICP.
Effects of Individual Characteristics on Plea Negotiations Under Sentencing Guidelines

ABSTRACT Research conducted on the decision points between arrest and sentencing is scarce. There is a need for research to examine processing decisions. This research attempts to fill in the gap of knowledge about case processing decisions by focusing on plea negotiations; specifically, the examination of the effect of individual characteristics on the prosecutor's plea bargaining decisions in a sentencing guideline state by using two dependent variables (negotiated plea vs. a non-negotiated plea and a three category dependent variable simultaneously analyzing negotiated pleas, non-negotiated pleas, and bench or jury trials). The results indicate that race/ethnicity, sex, and age of the offender did not predict the likelihood of receiving a negotiated guilty plea. Using multinomial logistic regression, it was discovered that demographic characteristics were predictors of the decision to negotiate a guilty plea compared to the bench/jury trial conviction. Black offenders were more likely than white offend...
An efficient nonquasi-static diode model for circuit simulation

Based on the partitioned-charge-based modeling approach, a general nonquasi-static dynamic charge element is derived to simulate both transient behavior and high-frequency characteristics of a semiconductor diode. A new model parameter /spl tau/ is introduced to describe the dynamic charge redistribution time for a diode. By partitioning the total base charge into quasi-static (QS) and nonquasi-static (NQS) terms, a single-/spl tau/ (level 2) diode model is first derived. By further dividing the NQS charge, a double-/spl tau/ (level 3) diode model is proposed to describe different reverse recovery processes. In addition, a voltage-dependent equation is incorporated to the double-/spl tau/ model into account for the dynamic charge partitioning. We show that the SPICE diode (level 1) model is included by setting /spl tau/ to zero as a special case of the proposed models. The new diode model has been implemented in MISIM, a model independent SPICE-like simulation framework. Significant improvement in accuracy over the traditional SPICE diode model in both time and frequency domain has been demonstrated, while achieving the same or even better simulation speed and reliability. >
Temporal and diagnostic influences on the expression of comorbid psychopathology symptoms in infants and toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract In an attempt to increase the specificity and sensitivity the diagnostic criteria for ASD has been recently modified. Aside from the impact the diagnostic rates, these changes also have implications for the study of comorbid symptoms in the ASD population. As we refine the criteria for the ASD category we must also seek to improve our understanding of the manifestation of comorbid psychopathology within ASD populations. The current study sought to examine diagnostic and temporal influences on the expression of comorbid psychopathology symptoms in 205 infants and toddlers ranging in age from 17 to 37 months. Participants were separated into two groups based on their diagnoses (i.e., Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD] and atypical development without an ASD). The BISCUIT-Part 2 was administered on two separate occasions, with the initial and follow up assessment occurring within one of two time intervals (4–8 months, or 9–13 months). Results from the current study indicate that the time between initial and follow up assessments is a significant factor influencing symptom expression. In addition to the temporal influence, it was observed that children diagnosed with ASD exhibit significantly less stable symptoms of comorbid psychopathology. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Mitigating the adverse impacts of the Dallas North Central Expressway construction on businesses

Reconstruction of the Dallas North Central Expressway is one of the largest construction projects undertaken by the Texas Department of Transportation. The $450 million, 18-km highway and light-rail corridor is being stage constructed under heavy commuting and Interstate traffic and a variety of strategies have been undertaken to mitigate the adverse impacts on traffic flow and businesses. The findings of various surveys conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the business mitigation policies, including the impact on sales and access of business sales data reported to the state comptroller, an examination of multitenant occupancy rates for office space in the catchment area, and an analysis of businesses that either closed or opened are reported here. Somewhat surprisingly, more businesses opened than closed during construction. Recommendations are made on which policies can be utilized in other metropolitan areas of Texas and the United States.
Limitations of Preschool Instruments and Standards for Minimal Levels of Technical Adequacy

Serious evaluation of preschool instruments has been limited in part by the lack of standard technical adequacy criteria. This article suggests minimal levels of technical adequacy for subtest and total test internal consistency, stability, floors, subtest item gradients, and validity. Ten commonly used preschool instruments (5 used for placement purposes and 5 used for general skills testing) were evaluated according to the proposed criteria, and suggestions were made that concerned the use of the instruments. The principal recommendation made is that practitioners carefully select instruments for preschool assessment according to the instruments' technical adequacy.
Biomechanics of Glaucoma: A Parametric Study of Flow in Schlemm’s Canal

Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness, affecting approximately seventy million people. Glaucoma is typically caused by high intraocular pressures due to increased outflow resistance, which is primarily concentrated within the trabeculae meshwork and the canal of Schlemm. Debris within trabecular spaces can complicate and limit formation and reabsorption of aqueous humor, leading to elevated interocular pressures. In this study, the biomechanics of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma are investigated. Computational modeling in physiologically realistic geometries is performed to examine the relationship between intraocular pressure and downstream trabecular and canal resistance. The governing equations for fluid flow are solved, and the influence of such factors as tissue porosity is evaluated. Increased understanding of the biomechanics of glaucoma can improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Anomalies of the inferior vena cava and renal veins: embryologic and surgical considerations

Anomalies of the inferior vena cava and renal veins occur infrequently but if unidentified can lead to significant morbidity during surgical exploration. An understanding of the embryologic development of the vena cava and its tributaries is necessary to understand the genesis of these sometimes complex anomalies and their accompanying anatomic variants. Newer radiologic modalities in the form of spiral computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional reconstruction of spiral CT allow clear definition of the anatomy of these anomalies. Variations in the embryologic evolution of the vena cava dictate the different venous anomalies that may be encountered in the retroperitoneum. Additionally, the utility of newer radiologic modalities in the identification of these anomalies is discussed.
Temperature dependence of laser-induced bulk damage in SiO2 and borosilicate glass.

Laser-induced bulk damage studies have been performed at temperatures of 80 and 295 K on crystalline quartz, fused silica, and BK-7 borosilicate glass. It is found that the threshold fluences for both single-pulse and multiple-pulse damage differ very little between these two temperatures. This observation is compared with the temperature dependences expected for several damage mechanisms which have been proposed in recent years, including electron avalanche, multiphoton absorption, inclusion heating, and bond breaking. The relative merits of these models are discussed in light of the temperature-dependent data and other damage data. Electron avalanche is most nearly consistent with most damage data, but is the least consistent with the temperature-dependent data. Indeed, it appears that none of the damage models proposed to date can explain all the phenomena of laser-induced damage in transparent solids adequately.
Population Characteristics of Cyclodextrin Complex Stabilities in Aqueous Solution

Binding constants (K11) of 1:1 complexes of alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, and gamma-cyclodextrin with many substrates (guests) were collected from published sources and subjected to statistical analysis. All systems refer to 25 +/- 5 degrees C and aqueous solution. The frequency distributions of log K11 are satisfactorily described by normal distributions with the following parameters (n = number of complexes, mu = population mean, sigma = population standard deviation): alpha-cyclodextrin, n = 663, mu = 2.11, sigma = 0.90; beta-cyclodextrin, n = 721, mu = 2.69, sigma = 0.89; gamma-cyclodextrin, n = 166, mu = 2.55, sigma = 0.93. Stabilities of pairs of cyclodextrin complexes with a common substrate are not precisely correlated, but they do not appear to be wholly independent quantities. The stabilities of alpha-cyclodextrin complexes are consistent with a recent interpretation of solvent effects on alpha-cyclodextrin complex stabilities.
Development of high performance cast stainless steels for ITER shield module applications

Abstract Casting of austenitic stainless steels offers the possibility of directly producing large and/or relatively complex structures, such as the first wall shield modules or the divertor cassette for the ITER, which may lead to simpler component fabrication and major cost savings. Past efforts to use cast steel for these large components were unsuccessful due to lower than acceptable strength in the test components. To improve and validate cast stainless steel as a substitute for wrought stainless steel for shield module applications, a series of test cast steels based on the commercially available CF3M specification have been designed and fabricated. These modifications utilize combinations of Mn and N, which result in significant increases in strength, fracture toughness, and impact properties. These mechanical performance improvements have been achieved without any loss of irradiation performance, corrosion performance, or weldability.
Effects of Salinity on Physicochemical Properties of Alaska Pollock Surimi after Repeated Freeze–Thaw Cycles

ABSTRACT: The effects of residual salt in surimi on physicochemical properties as affected by various freeze and thaw (FT) cycles were examined. Fresh Alaska pollock surimi was mixed with 4.0% sugar and 5.0% sorbitol, along with 8 combinations of salt (0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0% NaCl) and sodium polyphosphate (0.25% and 0.5%), vacuum-packed, and stored at −18 °C until used. FT cycles (0, 6, and 9) were used to mimic long-term frozen storage. At the time of gel preparation, each treatment was appropriately adjusted to maintain 2% salt and 78% moisture. The pH decreased as residual salt increased during frozen storage. Salt extractable protein (SEP) decreased (P < 0.05) as FT cycles extended from 0 to 9. Regardless of residual salt and phosphate concentration during frozen storage, whiteness value (L*− 3b*) decreased (P < 0.05) as FT cycles extended, except for samples with 0.4% salt/0.5% phosphate and 0.6% salt/0.25% phosphate. Water retention ability (WRA) and texture significantly (P < 0.05) decreased at higher salt content (0.8% and 1.0%) after 9 FT cycles, indicating higher residual salt concentration can shorten the shelf life of frozen surimi. Our study revealed lower residual salt concentration and higher phosphate concentration are likely to extend the shelf life of frozen surimi.
Metal-pentaborane(9) derivatives: 2-[Co(CO)4]B5H8 and 2[(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]B5H8

Abstract Reaction of 2-XB 5 H 8 (X  Cl, Br) with Naco(CO) 4 produces the transiently stable 2-[Co(CO) 4 ]B 5 H 8 . The similar 2-[(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 ]B 5 H 8 , which exhibits much greater thermal stability, is prepared by reaction of LiB 5 H 8 with (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 I. Reactions of CO 2 (CO) 8 with B 5 H 9 under a variety of conditions produce 2-[Co(CO) 4 ]B 5 H 8 along with an inseparable impurity that appears to be 1-[Co(CO) 4 ]B 5 H 8 .
Contribution of Transcriptomics to Systems-Level Understanding of Methanogenic Archaea

Methane-producing Archaea are of interest due to their contribution to atmospheric change and for their roles in technological applications including waste treatment and biofuel production. Although restricted to anaerobic environments, methanogens are found in a wide variety of habitats, where they commonly live in syntrophic relationships with bacterial partners. Owing to tight thermodynamic constraints of methanogenesis alone or in syntrophic metabolism, methanogens must carefully regulate their catabolic pathways including the regulation of RNA transcripts. The transcriptome is a dynamic and important control point in microbial systems. This paper assesses the impact of mRNA (transcriptome) studies on the understanding of methanogenesis with special consideration given to how methanogenesis is regulated to cope with nutrient limitation, environmental variability, and interactions with syntrophic partners. In comparison with traditional microarray-based transcriptome analyses, next-generation high-throughput RNA sequencing is greatly advantageous in assessing transcription start sites, the extent of 5′ untranslated regions, operonic structure, and the presence of small RNAs. We are still in the early stages of understanding RNA regulation but it is already clear that determinants beyond transcript abundance are highly relevant to the lifestyles of methanogens, requiring further study.
Polymeric Nanoparticles via Noncovalent Cross-Linking of Linear Chains

Novel polymeric nanoparticles were prepared through the chain collapse of linear polymers driven by noncovalent cross-linking of dendritic self-complementary hydrogen-bonding units (SHB). Random copolymers containing SHB units, poly[(methyl methacrylate)-r-2-((3,5-bis(4-carbamoyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)benzyloxy)carbonylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (A1, A2), were synthesized with various incorporation ratios by reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Dramatically different behavior was observed depending on the level of incorporation of the supramolecular units. At high loadings of A2 (6% SHB incorporation), intramolecular chain collapse is favored, resulting in the formation of well-defined polymer nanoparticles, which were characterized by scanning force microscopy (SFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and viscosity studies. In contrast, analysis of copolymer A1 (1% SHB incorporation) revealed that chain collapse occurred primarily through intermolecular interactions le...
Diffusion and Solubility Measurements in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

This paper focuses on a new method for measuring the diffusion coefficients of gases in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) using a semi-infinite volume approach. Henry's constants were also measured under the same conditions as the diffusion coefficients. The relationship of the Henry's constants and diffusion coefficients with temperature is discussed along with the relationship of the diffusion coefficients with molecular size and viscosity. The RTIL used was ethylmethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ([emim])([Tf2N]), and the gases used were ethane, ethene, propane, propene, and carbon dioxide.
Antennae-whipping behavior in the American lobster, Homarus Americanus (Milne-Edwards)

Electrophysiological techniques were employed to demonstrate that an acrylic coating blocks the mechanosensory activity of the cuticular hair organs on the chelipeds of Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards) without eliciting spurious activity in their innervation. Agonistic encounters between animals with acrylic on the dorsal surface of the claws (experimental), on the ventral surface of the claws (“plastic” control), and absent (“bare” control) were observed. Experimental animals responded to <3% of all antennae-whips, while “plastic” control animals responded to 73%, and “bare” control animals to 64%, of all antennae-whips. We conclude that antennae-whipping is a form of tactile communication, in which information probably is received through mechanosensory activity in the cuticular hair organs on the dorsal surface of the chelipeds.
Survey for Armillaria by plant associations in northern Arizona

Fungi in the genus Armillaria are associated with an important disease of deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs in western North America. This study examined the distribution of Armillaria by forest habitat types on the Kaibab National Forest and northern Coconino National Forest, Arizona. Over 400 trees were examined for Armillaria in 76 Interior West Forest Inventory and Analysis permanent plots representing 17 different habitat types. Samples of the fungus associated with Armillaria root disease were collected from 23 trees and identified using DNA sequencing. All samples were determined to consist of a single species, Armillaria solidipes Peck [= A. ostoyae (Romagnesi) Herink]. Only 10 of the 76 plots and 5 of the 17 habitat types sampled had Armillaria solidipes present on one or more trees. A. solidipes was more commonly found in mixed-conifer and subalpine forests and was rare in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Doug. Ex. Larson & C. Larson) forests, which was consistent with previous root disease studies conducted in the Southwest. However, our estimates of Armillaria presence may be conservative since we did not examine entire root systems.
Dorsalization of the neural tube by the non-neural ectoderm

The patterning of cell types along the dorsoventral axis of the spinal cord requires a complex set of inductive signals. While the chordamesoderm is a well-known source of ventralizing signals, relatively little is known about the cues that induce dorsal cell types, including neural crest. Here, we demonstrate that juxtaposition of the non-neural and neural ectoderm is sufficient to induce the expression of dorsal markers, Wnt-1, Wnt-3a and Slug, as well as the formation of neural crest cells. In addition, the competence of neural plate to express Wnt-1 and Wnt-3a appears to be stage dependent, occurring only when neural tissue is taken from stage 8–10 embryos but not from stage 4 embryos, regardless of the age of the non-neural ectoderm. In contrast to the induction of Wnt gene expression, neural crest cell formation and Slug expression can be induced when either stage 4 or stage 8–10 neural plates are placed in contact with the non-neural ectoderm. These data suggest that the non-neural ectoderm provides a signal (or signals) that specifies dorsal cell types within the neural tube, and that the response is dependent on the competence of the neural tissue.
Capacitor-based multiple-module sequentially-fired pulse forming network for nonlinear loads

Designing a linear pulse forming network (PFN) to maintain a constant voltage and current for constant load impedance is a relatively well-known process. Techniques exist whereby passive PFN networks can be synthesized for nonlinear loads, but the resulting systems are usually physically large and lack enough flexibility to be used in a research environment. This investigation describes the design and construction of a multiple-module sequentially-fired pulse forming network (SFPFN) to maintain constant voltage and current for a nonlinear load. SFPFN operation basically consists of charging multiple capacitor banks (i.e., modules) to variable levels and sequentially-firing these banks into the load at appropriate times. The nonlinearity of the load determines the module charge voltage and the time when it is switched into the load. An added benefit from the SFPFN presented in this investigation is that real-time computer monitoring and control allows the group of modules to be charged from a single primary power source via a group of switching relays, regardless of the number of modules. The nonlinear load used in this investigation is a helical coil electromagnetic launcher (HCEL). The nonlinearities of the HCEL are well-known with factor of 2 changes in its resistance due to joule heating and large variations in its terminal voltage due to changes in the armature back-voltage. Results include computer simulation and experimental measurements, which show a relatively constant 15-kA pulse can be maintained into the HCEL for approximately 6 ms. Maximum SFPFN operating voltage is 900 V
Programming in an undergraduate CS curriculum

This note argues for a fairly classical undergraduate computer science (CS) curriculum where "software" (programming and related topics) takes a bigger role than is often the case. The discussion is based partly on experience with an undergraduate curriculum change at Texas A&M University and with developing a new freshman programming course. That freshman course is the central topic of this note. Based on industrial experience, it is argued that the primary aim of a university education in the area of "software" is to be a foundation for professional work. The primary design criterion for the freshman (first year) programming course is to make it a good start at that. Caveat: the opinions expressed about the needed improvements of and directions for software education is based on personal experience rather than hard data.
A new signaling protocol for intersystem roaming in next-generation wireless systems

In next-generation wireless systems, one of the major features that is different from the current personal communication service systems is the seamless global roaming. The mobile subscribers will be allowed to move freely across different networks while maintaining their quality of service for a variety of applications. To meet this demand, the signaling protocol of mobility management must be designed, supporting location registration and call delivery for roaming users who move beyond their home network. A new signaling protocol is proposed, emphasizing the active location registration for ongoing services during the mobile subscribers' movement. Another important goal of this new protocol is to reduce the overhead caused by mobility management so that the signaling traffic load and consumption of network resources can be reduced. The new protocol efficiently reduces the latency of call delivery and call loss rate due to crossing wireless systems with different standards or signaling protocols. The numerical results reveal that the proposed protocol is effective in improving the overall system performance.
Upholstered Furniture: Results of a Consumer Wear Study

A consumer wear study was designed to identify differences in performance of four cotton print upholstery fabrics. Sixty occasional chairs in two slightly different styles were used. The chairs were placed in consumers' homes for two years, then returned to the university for analysis. Soiling was the most apparent effect of the wear study, especially on the chair arms and the backs of the high backed style. Fabric from the arms of the chairs had lower breaking strength and elongation values than did fabric from the cushions or chair backs. The lightest weight fabric lost a significantly greater amount of strength during the two-year wear period; the changes from the original values in the other fabrics were much less severe. Several manufacturing related prob lems were identified and subsequently addressed through quality control efforts within the company that manufactured the chairs.
Portable power sources using combustion of butane and thermoelectrics

RTI is currently developing cascade and segmented thermoelectric (TE) power modules to achieve a thermal-to-electric efficiency target of 20%. In this context, we have achieved significant power levels with advanced bulk SiGe TE modules developed individually. Power levels over 1 W/sub e/ per module - with 11 W/sub e/ demonstrated by using 10 modules - now make a new thermoelectrics-based man-portable power supply potentially very attractive. These new modules are able to operate at high temperatures (>700/spl deg/C) and are thereby able to effectively utilize the temperature from direct combustion of any fuel such as butane, propane, natural gas, diesel or other logistics fuels. Combining: (1) these high-temperature SiGe TE modules with (2) a combustor with (3) a lightweight heat exchanger could enable TE to address man-portable off-grid requirements for fueled power sources.
The upper bound and lower bound of the genus of pancake graphs

Both the pancake graph and star graph are Cayley graphs and are especially attractive for parallel processing. They both have sublogarithmic diameter, and are fairly sparse compared to hypercubes. In this paper, we focus on another important property, namely the genus. The genus of a graph is the minimum number of handles needed for drawing the graph on the plane without edges crossing. We will investigate the upper bound and lower bound for the genus of pancake graph and compare these values with the genus of the star graph as well as that of the hypercube.
Infiltration of Simulated Rainfall: Dry Aggregate Size Effects

Water conservation often is limited by soil conditions that cause runoff, even from small rainstorms. This study evaluated the influence of tillage-induced aggregates on infiltration into Pullman soil (Torrertic Paleustoll). Tillage methods were PLOW (plowing and disking), ROTO (rotary), SWEEP (sweep), or NOTILL (no-tillage). Aggregate sizes were <0.42, 0.42—0.84, 0.84—2.0, 2.0—6.4, and 6.4—18.3mm. Rainwater was applied until runoff and percolation became constant. Final infiltration (If) rates differed due to tillage, aggregate size, and interaction effects, but maximum difference was only 8.1 mm h−1, suggesting that If rate differences have little significance from a water conservation viewpoint during intense, short-duration rainstorms that occur in semiarid regions. Cumulative infiltration (Ic) apparently is of greater significance; it was greatest for large aggregates. The PLOW treatment resulted in most large aggregates and presumably would result in greatest Ic. However, under field conditions, Ic was similar for PLOW and SWEEP treatments. For the SWEEP treatment, tillage undercut the surface and retained more residues, thus negating the advantage of larger, but apparently less stable, aggregates with the PLOW treatment with respect to Ic.
A compressive eletroencephalography (EEG) sensor design

This paper presents a design of compressive eletroencephalography (EEG) sensors that can generate high fidelity EEG measurement through a compressive sensing approach. The conventional sampling structure of EEG sensor consists of uniform electrodes placed on the scalp. Each electrode generates one channel of signals to be further processed. The proposed method contributes with a new EEG sensor design. It includes (1) non-uniform multiplex sampling structures and (2) incoherent compressive sensing protocols. In the new design, each electrode consists of a number of elements in pseudo-random shapes, yielding EEG signals with different spatial resolutions. The multi-channel sampling rates are controlled by a pseudo-random vector generator. The final measurement is the sum of the multi-channel signals within a time window after each sample is encoded with a Bernoulli number. This method allows to achieve compressive measurements of EEG signals with 16 sensing elements at a random sampling rate, resulting in a high compression ratio with little information loss.
The American Advantage in Civil Procedure? An Autopsy of the Deutsche Telekom Litigation

This article examines the influence of civil procedure on the legal framework that supports securities markets in the U.S. and in Germany, two very different legal systems. It does so by way of comparing parallel shareholder actions against Deutsche Telekom for securities disclosure violations arising out of the same facts and allegations – the first set of actions filed in federal district court in Manhattan, the second filed in district court in Frankfurt, Germany.Deutsche Telekom was accused in both actions of misrepresenting the value of its real-estate holdings in its financial disclosures and for failing to disclose negotiations for the acquisition of the U.S. Company VoiceStream in its July 2000 offering prospectus.But the cases proceeded very differently and produced dramatically different outcomes. Within five years, and after full discovery, the U.S. class action plaintiffs negotiated a $120 million settlement with the Deutsche Telekom defendants. Meanwhile, the parallel claims by German shareholders, the first of which were filed in 2001, were ultimately dismissed by the German courts in 2012. Until now the German shareholders have received nothing, even after the German Bundestag had adopted a new and unprecedented aggregate litigation mechanism in late 2004 (dubbed “the Deutsche Telekom law”) to afford thousands of complaining German shareholders a reasonable mechanism for pursuing a just and speedier resolution of their claims against the DT defendants.The article also engages claims about the importance of litigation discovery for corporate and securities laws advanced by Michael Halberstam and Erica Gorga in Litigation Discovery and Corporate Governance: The Missing Story About “The Genius of American Corporate Law” 63 Emory Law Review 1383 (2014).
Exotic becomes erotic: interpreting the biological correlates of sexual orientation.

Although biological findings currently dominate the research literature on the determinants of sexual orientation, biological theorizing has not yet spelled out a developmental path by which any of the various biological correlates so far identified might lead to a particular sexual orientation. The Exotic-Becomes-Erotic (EBE) theory of sexual orientation (Bem, 1996) attempts to do just that, by suggesting how biological variables might interact with experiential and sociocultural factors to influence an individual's sexual orientation. Evidence for the theory is reviewed, and a path analysis of data from a large sample of twins is presented which yields preliminary support for the theory's claim that correlations between genetic variables and sexual orientation are mediated by childhood gender non-conformity.
Hope, Hype and Help: Ethically Assessing the Growing Market in Stem Cell Therapies

Medical tourism on the part of those seeking therapies for terminal diseases has a long and inglorious tradition. For many decades, those diagnosed with terminal cancer have sought care at all mann...
Improvements in coded aperture thermal neutron imaging

A new thermal neutron imaging system has been constructed, based on a 20-cm x 17-cm He-3 position-sensitive detector with spatial resolution better than 1 mm. New compact custom-designed position-decoding electronics are employed, as well as high-precision cadmium masks with Modified Uniformly Redundant Array patterns. Fast Fourier Transform algorithms are incorporated into the deconvolution software to provide rapid conversion of shadowgrams into real images. The system demonstrates the principles for locating sources of thermal neutrons by a stand-off technique, as well as visualizing the shapes of nearby sources. The data acquisition time could potentially be reduced two orders of magnitude by building larger detectors.