cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological Investigations with Radioactive Calcium and Strontium.

SummaryThe metabolism of calcium and strontium has been studied on normal animals with the radioactive isotopes of those elements. Uptake in the skeleton of different salts of strontium has been compared. These experiments have furnished two practical findings: (1) a method to irradiate the skeleton selectively for therapeutic purposes, (2) the secondary production of appreciable amounts of a long-lived radioactive yttrium, the most likely among the artificial radioactive elements now known, which may be substituted for radium as a penetrating gamma-ray source.
A Hybrid Model Using Logistic Regression and Wavelet Transformation to Detect Traffic Incidents

This research paper investigates a hybrid model using logistic regression with a wavelet-based feature extraction for detecting traffic incidents. A logistic regression model is suitable when the outcome can take only a limited number of values. For traffic incident detection, the outcome is limited to only two values, the presence or absence of an incident. The logistic regression model used in this study is a generalized linear model (GLM) with a binomial response and a logit link function. This paper presents a framework to use logistic regression and wavelet-based feature extraction for traffic incident detection. It investigates the effect of preprocessing data on the performance of incident detection models. Results of this study indicate that logistic regression along with wavelet based feature extraction can be used effectively for incident detection by balancing the incident detection rate and the false alarm rate according to need. Logistic regression on raw data resulted in a maximum detection rate of 95.4% at the cost of 14.5% false alarm rate. Whereas the hybrid model achieved a maximum detection rate of 98.78% at the expense of 6.5% false alarm rate. Results indicate that the proposed approach is practical and efficient; with future improvements in the proposed technique, it will make an effective tool for traffic incident detection.
Planarization of Isolated Defects on ICF Target Capsule Surfaces by Pulsed Laser Ablation

Demanding surface-quality requirements for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsules motivated the development of a pulsed laser ablation method to reduce or eliminate undesirable surface defects....
Justifying the Transition from Trustworthiness to Resiliency via Generation of Safety Cases

Safety analysis plays an important role for developing cyber-physical systems since many of them are also safety critical systems. The failure of cyber-physical systems can have some serious consequences. With the latest development in formal methods, many systems have been converted to a formal model to ensure that all safety requirements have been met. In this case, the systems are called trusted. However, many failures are caused by the missing identification of some properties during the early phase of software development. Thus, a safety case has been widely used as an argument structure to represent how a system has been developed to satisfy safety requirements, and is an important means of communication between various stakeholders in a system. In this paper, we present a novel approach to show how an argument structure can be automatically built via safety case patterns and metamodels underlying a development process. We notice that a transition from trustworthiness to resiliency for many cyber-physical systems is made by separating a fault model from a nominal (non-failure) model in Simulink due to some design considerations such as reduction of a test case generation and the complexity of code. Thus, we take the translation of a nominal model into a fault model into account and employ the model-driven architecture and safety case pattern together to illustrate how a safety case is generated for an argument of the correct transition of a cyber-physical system in Simulink. Last, we discuss how an argument structure of a safety case can be affected by system evolution.
Concomitant polymorphs of 1,3-bis(3-fluorophenyl)urea.

Hydrogen bonding between urea functionalities is a common structural motif employed in crystal-engineering studies. Crystallization of 1,3-bis(3-fluoro­phenyl)urea, C13H10F2N2O, from many solvents yielded concomitant mixtures of at least two polymorphs. In the monoclinic form, one-dimensional chains of hydrogen-bonded urea molecules align in an antiparallel orientation, as is typical of many di­phenyl­ureas. In the ortho­rhom­bic form, one-dimensional chains of hydrogen-bonded urea molecules have a parallel orientation rarely observed in symmetrically substituted di­phenyl­ureas.
Enhancement of Needle Tip and Shaft from 2D Ultrasound Using Signal Transmission Maps

New methods for needle tip and shaft enhancement in 2D curvilinear ultrasound are proposed. Needle tip enhancement is achieved using an image regularization method that utilizes ultrasound signal transmission maps to model inherent signal loss due to attenuation. Shaft enhancement is achieved by optimizing the proposed signal transmission map using the information based on trajectory constrained boundary statistics derived from phase oriented features. The enhanced tip is automatically localized using spatially distributed image statistics from the estimated shaft trajectory. Validation results from 100 ultrasound images of bovine, porcine, kidney and liver ex vivo reveal a mean localization error of \(0.3\pm 0.06\,\mathrm {mm}\), a \(43\,\%\) improvement in localization over previous state of the art.
Matrix stiffening promotes a tumor vasculature phenotype

Tumor microvasculature tends to be malformed, more permeable, and more tortuous than vessels in healthy tissue, effects that have been largely attributed to up-regulated VEGF expression. However, tumor tissue tends to stiffen during solid tumor progression, and tissue stiffness is known to alter cell behaviors including proliferation, migration, and cell-cell adhesion, which are all requisite for angiogenesis. Using in vitro, in vivo, and ex ovo models, we investigated the effects of matrix stiffness on vessel growth and integrity during angiogenesis. Our data indicate that angiogenic outgrowth, invasion, and neovessel branching increase with matrix cross-linking. These effects are caused by increased matrix stiffness independent of matrix density, because increased matrix density results in decreased angiogenesis. Notably, matrix stiffness up-regulates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, and inhibiting MMPs significantly reduces angiogenic outgrowth in stiffer cross-linked gels. To investigate the functional significance of altered endothelial cell behavior in response to matrix stiffness, we measured endothelial cell barrier function on substrates mimicking the stiffness of healthy and tumor tissue. Our data indicate that barrier function is impaired and the localization of vascular endothelial cadherin is altered as function of matrix stiffness. These results demonstrate that matrix stiffness, separately from matrix density, can alter vascular growth and integrity, mimicking the changes that exist in tumor vasculature. These data suggest that therapeutically targeting tumor stiffness or the endothelial cell response to tumor stiffening may help restore vessel structure, minimize metastasis, and aid in drug delivery.
Determinants of Motives for Land Use Decisions at the Margins of the Corn Belt

Abstract The extent of United States Great Plains grass agriculture has ebbed and flowed over decades in response to market incentives, government policies, technological innovations and weather patterns. Our thesis is that the land most responsive to these drivers is at the economic margin between grass-based production and cropping. Much of the eastern Dakotas is such an area, primarily under crop-based agriculture although grass remains an important land use. We surveyed land operators in the area on their views about motivators for land use choices. Their views are largely consistent with the economic margin viewpoint. The importance of crop output prices, crop input prices, innovations in cropping equipment and weather patterns on land use decisions grow as one moves north toward the economic margin. Land in more highly sloped areas is more sensitive to crop prices and crop insurance policies. Consistent with human capital theory, older operators are generally less responsive to factors that affect land use. Those renting more land, being more exposed to market forces, are more responsive. As farm size increases, respondents declared higher land use sensitivity to policy issues and technological innovations, suggesting that scale effects render land units more sensitive to land use change drivers.
Ultraviolet Laser Emission Properties of Ce3+-Doped LiSrAlF6

The ultraviolet laser properties of Ce3+-doped LiSrAlFg (Ce:LiSAF) and LiCaAlF6 (Ce:LiCAF) are reported. The polarized absorption, emission and excited state absorption cross sections for both Ce:LiSAF and Ce:LiCAF were determined for the 266 nm pump and 290 nm laser emission wavelengths. The gain was found to be highest when the probe was polarized parallel to the optic axis of the crystal due to the anisotropic nature of the excited state absorption. The excited state absorption is ascribed to a transition from the 5d orbital of Ce3+ to the conduction band of the host. Laser slope efficiencies of up to 29% and 21% were measured for Ce:LiSAF and Ce:LiCAF when the 266 nm pulsed pump beam was polarized parallel to the optic axis. These are the highest laser slope efficiencies yet observed for any known solid-state ultraviolet laser material.
Evacuation zone modeling under climate change: A data-driven method

AbstractPredetermined evacuation zones can be used to estimate the demand of evacuees, which is helpful in assessing the resilience of transportation systems in the presence of natural disasters. E...
Socioeconomic measures influence survival in osteosarcoma: an analysis of the National Cancer Data Base.

Abstract Background While previous studies have identified low socioeconomic status as a risk factor for metastatic disease in patients with high-grade osteosarcoma, the influence of socioeconomic status on overall survival remains unclear. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between survival and socioeconomic status in patients with high-grade conventional osteosarcoma. Methods The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was queried from 1998-2012 to identify all patients Results In order of decreasing magnitude, metastatic disease (Hazard Ratio [HR] 3.28, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.82-3.82), primary site in the pelvis or spine (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.79-2.59), positive surgical margins (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.46-2.27), tumor size >8 cm (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.24-1.74), age ≥18 years (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14-1.48), lowest quartile of composite socioeconomic status (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.51), and Medicaid insurance (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.38) were predictors of decreased survival at 5 years. Conclusion Treating providers should be aware that some of their patients may have challenges unrelated to their diagnosis that make timely presentation, adherence to treatment, and continued close surveillance difficult. This investigation suggests that socioeconomic variables influence overall survival for osteosarcoma in the United States, although not as dramatically as established tumor- and treatment-related risk factors.
Transcriptional dynamics, denucleation, and gene regulation in embryonic lens development

Summary Transcription of genes occurs in apparently irregular pulses of activity termed transcriptional bursts. In contrast, cellular differentiation is marked by coordinated gene expression of batteries of genes required for cellular specialization. Ocular lens is comprised of two compartments: the lens epithelium and lens fibers. Position of individual cells within the lens is directly related to their differentiation status, marked by expression of individual crystallin genes. Another hallmark of lens fiber cell differentiation is organized degradation of their organelles. It is currently not known how transcription is terminated in the disintegrating lens fiber cell nuclei and what are the external and internal components of this process critical for lens transparency. Onset of expression of different crystallins follows the temporal pattern Cryaa > Crybb1 > Cryga in differentiating lens fibers. Surprisingly, expression of Cryaa is terminated in “normal” fiber cell nuclei while expression of Cryga persists even in highly condensed nuclei just about to be disintegrated. Differentiation influences both transcriptional burst size and frequency as well as spatial pairing of different chromosomes that carry crystallin genes.
A Conceptual Framework for Tiered Intervention in Physical Education

Our goal as physical educators is to help all students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be physically active for a lifetime. Despite efforts to address the diverse needs of students through quality physical education, the reality is that some students still need additional support beyond physical education to achieve their full potential. Response to intervention (RTI) is a proactive approach to educational-service delivery that relies on data-driven decision making to identify student needs and to tailor support. Traditionally, RTI has focused on addressing the needs of lower-performing students through tiered interventions. The purpose of this article is to review the basic principles of RTI, discuss how they have been applied in physical education thus far, and expand the conceptual framework so it can be used to address the needs of both higher- and lower-performing students.
Strengthening Systems Engineering Leadership Curricula Using Competency-Based Assessment

The National Academy of Engineering and ABET have emphasized the importance of leadership skills in engineering education. We review engineering education research, including those studies which have assessed engineering curricula using a competency-based approach. Building on this work, we analyze the technical curricula of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) to assess the extent to which technical leadership is incorporated. Our scope is broader than previous work, which has focused on a single discipline (systems engineering), or a single course (project management), by expanding the scope to five technical disciplines as well as relevant nontechnical courses. Systems engineering leadership competencies are vital in this competency-based assessment. In addition, we extend previous research by developing key competency indicators for technical leadership (several different actions over the junior, mid-level, and senior career stages for each competency), and by incorporating semantic mapping as well as keyword mapping. The results show that at the aggregate level, the DAU curricula include most of the technical leadership competencies, and that at the detailed level (i.e., the key competency indicators), there is the possibility for a higher integration of technical leadership competencies. We suggest that future curriculum assessment work continue to broaden the course scope, deepen the detail by going beyond competencies to key competency indicators, and expand the analysis from keyword mapping to semantic mapping.
Overexpression of c-Src enhances HER2/Neu/ErbB2 and HER3/ErbB3 heterocomplex formation and its function

1456 Overexpression of HER2/Neu/ErbB2 is known as an indicator of poor prognosis in breast cancer. This suggests that the HER2 signaling pathway has a crucial role to play in a subset of breast cancers. Elevated activity of c-Src has been detected in >70% of breast cancer cases. Since c-Src and HER family members are frequently overexpressed together in human breast cancer and the HER2/HER3 heterocomplex exhibits the greatest oncogenic potential in model systems, we examined the role of c-Src in the HER2/HER3 signal transduction pathway. We found in both a murine fibroblast model and in human breast cancer cells that c-Src activity enhances heterocomplex formation of HER2 and HER3. The amount of heterocomplex found in cells is reduced by treatment with PP2, a c-Src kinase inhibitor, or overexpression of a kinase-inactive form of c-Src. PP2 treatment also reduces the amount of PI-3 kinase p85 subunit binding to the HER2/HER3 heterocomplex and phosphorylation of the Y861 residue of Focal adhesion kinase(FAK). Furthermore, cellular motility and anchorage-independent growth promoted by HER2/HER3 heterocomplex are dependent upon c-Src activity. These results suggest a mechanism whereby c-Src enhances HER2/HER3 heterocomplex which through PI-3 kinase and FAK, regulates cellular motility and/or anchorage-independent growth.
Silicon Melt Infiltrated Ceramic Composites (HiPerComp

Silicon melt infiltrated, SiC-based ceramic matrix composites (MI-CMCs) have been developed for use in gas turbine engines. These materials are particularly suited to use in gas turbines due to their low porosity, high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, high toughness and high matrix cracking stress. Several variations of the overall fabrication process for these materials are possible, but this paper will focus on “prepreg” and “slurry cast” MI-CMCs with particular reference to applications in power generation gas turbines. These composites have recently been commercialized under the name of HiPerComp™.
Strand-Specific rTth RT-PCR for the Analysis of HCV Replication.

Because of the very low level of HCV present in the serum of infected individuals, as well as the low level of replication in the host, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays are the only method suitable for the routine detection of HCV RNA. The use of RT-PCR to monitor HCV replication in vivo as well as the in vitro inoculation of cultured cells presents unique problems. The extreme sensitivity of PCR permits the detection of HCV RNA in tissues not permissive for replication of the virus, and following in vitro infections, the residual inoculum can be detected for extended time periods depending on the sensitivity of the PCR procedure. Since HCV is a positive-stranded RNA virus, the detection of negative-strand RNA should be indicative of active viral RNA replication, assuming that the inoculum contains primarily positive-strand RNA. Early attempts to detect negative-strand RNA employed a strand-specific PCR technique that utilized only one primer during cDNA synthesis, followed by inactivation of the RT and amplification of the cDNA by PCR. During the course of our studies, we found this technique to lack significant strand specificity using synthetic RNA. A series of experiments suggested that the lack of specificity was probably owing to a combination of factors, including false priming of the incorrect strand (e.g., the positive strand in a negative-strand assay) by the cDNA primer, self-priming of the RNA, and random priming by extraneous nucleic acids (illustrated in Fig. 1 A). Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of conventional strand-specific RT-PCR and rTth RT-PCR procedures. (A) The amplification of HCV negative-strand RNA using conventional strand-specific RT-PCR and the false amplification of the HCV positive-strand RNA by the same procedure A cDNA copy of the RNA is made with primer complementary to negative-strand RNA. At the reduced temperatures used for cDNA synthesis, this primer can misanneal at sites on the positive-strand RNA with partial homology to the primer. cDNA synthesis can also be primed by contaminating nucleic acids and by terminal hairpin structures that can occur anywhere in genome if the RNA is partially degraded Following cDNA synthesis, the RT activity is inactivated and PCR amplification is performed with Taq. False-primed positive-strand RNA yields the same product as negative-strand RNA provided that the cDNA produce from false priming spans the sequence encompassed by the PCR primers. (B) The amplification of HCV negative-strand RNA by rTth RT-PCR is depicted A cDNA copy of the RNA is made with a primer complementary to the negative strand of RNA using the rTth thermostable reverse transcriptase at 70°C The RT activity of rTth is inactivated by chelation of Mn(2+) with EGTA. Following the addition of Mg(2+) and the reverse primer, PCR is conducted using the thermostable DNA polymerase activity of rTth.
Defect Structure and Transport Properties of Titanates

The titanates are often described as nonstoichiometric compounds with oxygen vacancies as the principal ionic defects and accompanying electrons as the compensating electronic defect. This intrinsic defect model usually holds at low anion activities but is not adequate in characterizing the defect properties at higher anion activities (1–14). At all except the lowest anion activities the intrinsic defect concentrations are very low and are often less than 100 ppm in ambient air for oxides. This means that exceptional purities, which are very seldom achieved, are required in order to preserve intrinsic disorder at higher oxygen activities. When potential impurities are considered along with ionic size it becomes evident that the highest probability for aliovalent impurities are acceptors substituting for titanium. The acceptor impurities will be compensated by the introduction of an equivalent number of oxygen vacancies. For the introduction of a two level acceptor on a titanium site (the most probable) we may write.
Introduction to Robot Learning

In this chapter we provide an overview of the field of robot learning. We first discuss why robot learning is interesting and explain what is hard about it. We then characterize the robot learning problem and point out some major issues that need to be addressed. Next we survey some established techniques which are relevant to robot learning and then go on to review some of the recent research in robot learning. Finally, we briefly summarize the contents of the rest of the chapters in this book.
Changes of plasma steroid concentrations associated with spontaneous or induced ovulation in yellow perch Perca flavescens

This study examined the changes in plasma steroids during natural (Experiment 1) and induced (Experiment 2) final maturation in yellow perch Perca flavescens. In experiment 1, ovulating yellow perch were stripped of eggs and blood samples collected to determine the concentrations of testosterone (T), estradiol-17β (E2), and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP). Eggs from individual females were weighed and fertilized. Fertilization rate was determined at the embryo eyed stage. In experiment 2, females were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: (1) saline (0.7% NaCl), (2) des-Gly10[D-Ala6] LHRH-ethylamide (100 μg LHRHa/kg), and (3) LHRHa plus 17,20βP (100 μg LHRHa/kg + 2 mg 17,20βP/kg). Fish were injected intraperitoneally with two doses at a two-day interval. Blood was collected prior to injections and at the time of ovulation/spawning and concentrations of T, E2, and 17,20βP (free and conjugated) were determined. In experiment 1, low concentrations of 17,20βP were recorded at spawning. In experiment 2, all surviving fish injected with LHRHa (5 of 5) released their eggs spontaneously during the week following injections. None of the surviving control fish (0 of 5) ovulated during this period, whereas only 1 of 3 surviving fish injected with LHRHa + 17,20βP released eggs. In the control group, concentrations of E2 and 17,20βP did not show significant differences over the experimental period, whereas plasma T concentrations increased significantly. In fish injected with LHRHa, the concentrations of T and 17,20βP increased significantly after the first injection but then declined at ovulation/spawning. It also appears that 17,20βP was conjugated to its sulfated form. Mortality reached 62.5% in the group injected with LHRHa + 17,20βP indicating that this treatment was severe. Thus, LHRHa alone appears highly effective in inducing ovulation in yellow perch.
Assessment of Mass Transfer from Poly(ethylene) Nanocomposites Containing Noble-Metal Nanoparticles: A Systematic Study of Embedded Particle Stability

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), which consist of a polymer host and a nanomaterial filler, may become useful as food packaging materials due to their enhanced properties compared to neat polymers. M...
Intimacy matters: Uruguayan women’s refusal behavior in couples talk

Abstract This chapter analyzes conflict discourse between domestic partners/couples. The interactions, recorded in Rosario, Uruguay, were part of a larger study on the refusal behavior of Uruguayan women in various spheres of life (domains). From this corpus, 41 refusal sequences were extracted in which a female participant rejected or refused her male partner in some respect (e.g. request, offer, suggestion). Refusal sequences found in couples talk positively correlated with aggravating moves and the use of upgraders, and negatively with mitigating moves and the use of downgraders. These results are discussed in terms of Wolfson’s (1988) Bulge theory of social distance.
Normativity and mechanism

This paper presents a new perspective on the Lucas-Penrose arguments, which attempt to connect Godel’s incompleteness theorems to the thesis of mechanism in the philosophy of mind. I begin by taking a close look at Hilary Putnam’s own response to Lucas-Penrose, which is widely taken to be decisive. I shall largely concur, but there is more to be learned. I will suggest that certain non-monotonic models of mathematical reasoning significantly alter the philosophical context for these arguments. I go on to describe a structural constraint on the rational coherence of the alternative cognitive evolutions allowed by these models. In the presence of that constraint, it is shown that if the evolutions allowed by such a model are mediated by an effective rule of revision, then the model is incapable of capturing certain inductive inferences of the most elementary kind.
Reproductive Senescence in Drones of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).

In the face of high proportions of yearly colony losses, queen health and fecundity has been a major focus of industry and research. Much of the reproductive quality of the queen, though, is a function of the mating success and quality of the drones (males). Many environmental factors can negatively impact drone semen quality, but little is known about factors that impact the drones’ ability to successfully mate and deliver that semen, or how widely drones vary. In our study, we observed the daily variation in honey bee drone reproductive quality over time, along with a number of morphological traits. Drones were reared in cages in bank colonies, and 20 individuals were dissected and measured daily. The number of viable spermatozoa in the seminal vesicles was zero at emergence and reached an average maximum of 7.39 ± 0.19 million around 20 days of life. Decline in spermatozoa count occurred after day 30, though viability was constant throughout life, when controlling for count. Older drones had smaller wet weights, head widths, and wing lengths. We predict that this is likely due to sampling bias due to a differential lifespan among larger, more reproductively developed drones. Our study shows that drones are more highly variable than previously suggested and that they have a significant variation in reproductive physiology as a function of age.
Bot2Vec: Learning Representations of Chatbots

Chatbots (i.e., bots) are becoming widely used in multiple domains, along with supporting bot programming platforms. These platforms are equipped with novel testing tools aimed at improving the quality of individual chatbots. Doing so requires an understanding of what sort of bots are being built (captured by their underlying conversation graphs) and how well they perform (derived through analysis of conversation logs). In this paper, we propose a new model, Bot2Vec, that embeds bots to a compact representation based on their structure and usage logs. Then, we utilize Bot2Vec representations to improve the quality of two bot analysis tasks. Using conversation data and graphs of over than 90 bots, we show that Bot2Vec representations improve detection performance by more than 16% for both tasks.
Pressure-Driven Vapor Exchange With Surface Snow

Atmospheric pressure changes ranging from high-amplitude, low-frequency events caused by synoptic weather systems to smaller amplitude, high-frequency events caused by turbulence penetrate permeable snow surfaces. Fluxes driven by these pressure changes augment non-radiative processes that filter atmospheric aerosols and drive near-surface vapor flux by sublimation, condensation and deposition. We report on field experiments in which we measured the amplitude of mid-to-high frequency pressure changes as they varied with depth in a seasonal snowpack and on two empirical models that distinguish conditions that promote pressure-driven vapor exchange. We found that the standard deviation of pressure changes poorly characterizes pressure perturbation amplitudes that drive vapor exchange because many low amplitude perturbations mask the influence of less common but more consequential high amplitude perturbations. Spectral analysis of pressure perturbation energy at different snow depths revealed an empirical formula that quantifies perturbation pressure attenuation as a function of frequency and depth in snow. Model results indicated that sublimation enhancement is maximized for perturbation pressure periods between 0.2 and 10 s.
Density functional theory investigation of the interaction of water withα−Al2O3andα−Fe2O3(11̲02) surfaces: Implications for surface reactivity

Density functional theory calculations were performed in conjunction with ab initio thermodynamics, bond valence calculations, and density of states studies to investigate the chemical reactivity of \ensuremath{\alpha}-Al${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ and \ensuremath{\alpha}-Fe${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ $(1\overline{1}02)$ surfaces in a humid environment. Isostructural \ensuremath{\alpha}-Fe${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ $(1\overline{1}02)$ displays a much higher degree of surface reactivity with respect to water adsorption and aqueous heavy metal ions than \ensuremath{\alpha}-Al${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$. The reason for these differences has not been fully explained. We have found that, while both metal oxides exhibit a similar stable $(1\overline{1}02)$ surface at and below room temperature, corresponding to a stoichiometric surface with the first layer of metal ions missing, the degree of hydroxylation of the surface oxygen atoms leads to differences in the atomic layer relaxation in $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ $(1\overline{1}02)$ compared to \ensuremath{\alpha}-Fe${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ $(1\overline{1}02)$, which has also been confirmed previously by crystal truncation rod x-ray diffraction studies. Also in agreement with these experimental studies, we find the atomic layer spacing of the most energetically stable (1$\stackrel{\underline{}}{1}$02) ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ surface is relatively insensitive to the inclusion of multiple layers of physisorbed water. This is in contrast to previously reported density functional theory studies of hydrated (1$\stackrel{\underline{}}{1}$02) $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ surfaces, the results of which are confirmed in this work, that a monolayer of water is required for good agreement with experimental measurements of the atomic layer relaxation. These changes in atomic spacing result in changes in electron charge distributions and in Lewis and Br\o{}nsted acid/base properties of surface sites, which influence the relative reactivities of the two surfaces. However, the higher reactivity of the hydrated $(1\overline{1}02)$ surface of \ensuremath{\alpha}-Fe${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ can be attributed mainly to the empty $d$ states of the surface Fe atoms, which exhibit a first peak at \ensuremath{\sim}1 eV above the Fermi level and act as very strong Lewis acid sites. In comparison, the empty $p$ states of Al in the hydrated $(1\overline{1}02)$ \ensuremath{\alpha}-Al${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ surface, which are \ensuremath{\sim}5 eV above the Fermi level, should be much less reactive to potential adsorbates.
Hypodontia: genetics and future Hypodontia: genetics and future perspectives

Tooth development is a complex process of reciprocal interactions that we have only recently begun to understand. With the large number of genes involved in the odontogenic process, the opportunity for mutations to disrupt this process is high. Tooth agenesis (hypodontia) is the most common craniofacial malformation with patients missing anywhere from one tooth to their entire dentition. Hypodontia can occur in association with other developmental anomalies (syndromic) or as an isolated condition (non-syndromic). Recent advances in genetic techniques have allowed us to begin understanding the genetic processes that underlie the odontogenic process and to identify the mechanisms responsible for tooth agenesis. Thus far two genes have been identified by mutational analysis as the major causes of non-syndromic hypodontia; PAX9 and MSX1. Haploinsufficiency of either has been observed to cause the more severe forms of hypodontia whilst point mutations cause hypodontia to varying degrees of severity. With the prevalence of hypodontia having been observed to have increased during the 20th century, the future identification and analysis of its genetic basis is essential to allow us to better treat the condition. The clinician can facilitate this process by collaborating with the human geneticist and referring patients/families with familial hypodontia for investigative research.
Cameralism and the production of space in the eighteenth-century Romanian Banat: the grid villages of the ‘Danube Swabians’

Abstract This article addresses the origin, morphology and significance of planned villages associated with the Habsburg colonization of the Romanian Banat, a region in east-central Europe comprising parts of present day Serbia, Romania and Hungary, in the eighteenth century. In an effort to repopulate and bring into agricultural production a territory that had been devastated by warfare, the Habsburg state under Maria Theresa and Joseph II devised and directed a series of large scale, systematic efforts to colonize the region, primarily with German speaking farmers from the upper Rhine valley. One of the most distinctive features of the cultural landscape produced by this colonization was dozens of centrally planned agricultural villages featuring Baroque architectural elements. Most of these villages adhered to a regular, rectilinear form, but other forms, such as street villages and circular hamlets, were employed as well. Together, these town and village morphologies comprise a planned, systematic settlement pattern that is found in few other places in Europe, and as such sets the region apart. Employing fieldwork and archival research, the paper describes the characteristic elements of these villages and uses ideas of the production of space as a framework for understanding the distinctive historical-political discourses encoded in this cultural landscape.
Dynamic action of DNA repair proteins as revealed by single molecule techniques: Seeing is believing

DNA repair is a highly dynamic process in which the actual damage recognition process occurs through an amazing dance between the DNA duplex containing the lesion and the DNA repair proteins. Single molecule investigations have revealed that DNA repair proteins solve the speed-stability paradox, of rapid search versus stable complex formation, by conformational changes induced in both the damaged DNA and the repair proteins. Using Rad4, XPA, PARP1, APE1, OGG1 and UV-DDB as examples, we have discovered how these repair proteins limit their travel on DNA, once a lesion is encountered through a process of anomalous diffusion. We have also observed how PARP1 and APE1, as well as UV-DDB and OGG1 or APE1, co-localize dynamically at sites near DNA damage. This review highlights how our group has greatly benefited from our productive collaborations with Sam Wilson's research group.
Die wissenschaftliche Grundhaltung und die Sozialwissenschaften

In den letzten beiden Kapiteln haben wir verschiedene Beispiele diskutiert, in denen das Fehlen der wissenschaftlichen Grundhaltung erkennbar wurde. Ob der Grund nun Betrug, Leugnung oder Pseudowissenschaft heist: Viele, die von sich behaupten, um empirische Belege bemuht zu sein, schaffen es nicht, den hohen Standards der wissenschaftlichen Forschung gerecht zu werden. Ein wichtiger Faktor, den wir in diesem Zusammenhang in unsere Uberlegungen einbeziehen mussen, ist die Motivation.
Cleft Palate in Newborns Diagnosed With Prematurity.

ObjectiveCleft lip and/or palate (CLP) is the most common major congenital malformation of the head and neck. Although numerous genetic features, syndromes, nutritional deficiencies, and maternal e...
Factors Influencing Information Source Utilization among Maize Farmers in Edo State, Nigeria

This study identified determinants of constraints to information sources utilization among maize farmers in Edo state, Nigeria. In agriculture, the role of information cannot be over emphasized in enhancing the agricultural development. Information is crucial for increasing agricultural production and improving marketing & distribution strategies .Data were collected from 150 randomly selected maize farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire validated by expert judgment, and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and Chi-square for hypothesis testing. Results showed that majority (66.0%) (59.3%) (53.3%) and (50.7%) of the respondents had farm size of < 1 hectare, were married and males and household heads, respectively. Most preferred information sources were radio (M = 2.69) fellow farmer (M = 2.60), posters and bill board (M = 2.59), and books and leaflets (M = 2.58). Most serious constraints faced in the use of information sources were poor radio and television signals (M = 3.42), inadequate rural electrification and constant power interruption (M = 3.23), agriculture information and radio aired at odd hours (M = 3.15), lack of time to listen to agriculture information (M = 3.10), agriculture information is not broadcast on radio and television in my area (M = 2.99). There was a significant relationship between access to credit (R2 = 7.416), farm ownership (R2 = 12.497) sex (X2 = 13.759) of respondents and constraints encountered in information sources utilization at 0.05 level of significance. It was recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture should study time for broadcasting agriculture information in understandable language to attract maize farmers to listen, Radio and television signals needs to reach rural areas to improve audience level of farmers for increased proven technologies information utilization.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Compose the Second Pillar of the State

The role of civil society organisations (CSO) is often undervalued, and yet CSOs are vital for development, disarmament, conflict resolution and the rule of law. Experience from many African nations --- as well as Europe, America and Asia --- provides compelling evidence that civil society plays a fundamental role in social progress. Social capital in Africa is found in and expressed in social organisation: starting with the family, the village community and traditional social organisations such as women's associations, age-groups, hunter initiation associations --- organisations through which Africa was governed for millennia, and which provided forms of democratic governance that have nothing to do with the colonial experience. Civil society also provides some of the basic building blocks that promote good governance. Our recent personal experience of working with CSOs includes India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cambodia; Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Liberia and Sierra Leone in West Africa; Cameroon, Kenya, Burundi, DRC and other countries. In the present document we provide a few select examples --- particularly from West Africa --- to illustrate the importance of CSOs and their collective role as Second Pillar of the State in countries where institutions are weak and threat of military rule is real. Structure: What are Civil Society organisations? Traditional and Modern CSOs Civil Society is especially important for expressing the voice of women. Civil society and Social Capital The Social Economy Civil Society is an integral structure – and Second Pillar – of the Nation State Civil Society plays a key role promoting peace and DDR Civil society strengthens good governance Conclusion
Malignant catarrhal fever

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a disease of cattle, buffalo, American bison, and deer caused by a herpesvirus. The disease can occur in one or in a combination of 4 forms - peracute, head and eye, intestinal and mild. The most commonly recognized natural disease is the head and eye form. Generally MCF has a low morbidity and high mortality.
COEFFICIENTS OF CONSERVATISM FOR THE FLORA OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE FLOODPLAIN

Coefficients of Conservatism (C-values) are used in Floristic Quality Assessment to evaluate the level of anthropogenic disturbance of a given natural area and exist for much of the United States; however, there is a gap in the southwestern United States. We aim to close this gap by establishing C-values for the flora of the Middle Rio Grande floodplain in New Mexico. We compiled a list of species found in the floodplain (n = 621), and two regional botanists assigned C-values on a scale from 0 to 10 (0 reserved for nonnative taxa and the least conservative native taxa, and 10 being the most conservative). We used correlation analysis to examine the relationship of C-values assigned between botanists as well as shared species between Colorado and New Mexico. There was a significant, but weak, positive correlation between C-values for the two states, highlighting ecoregional similarities and providing a basis of comparison for our C-values. Descriptive statistics indicate the range of C-values assigned are consistent with the disturbance history of the region.
Reply to Critics of the Problematics of Moral and Legal Theory

The Review is to be commended for having assembled so formidable an array of distinguished scholars well qualified to criticize my Holmes Lectures. Nussbaum is a leading normative moral philosopher (what I call in the Lectures an "academic moralist"), with a side interest in law. Dworkin is also a distinguished academic moralist, but in addition he is the leading scholar of jurisprudence in the Englishspeaking world and a prominent constitutional theorist. Dean Kronman has a background in moral philosophy that has informed most of his influential academic writings. And Justice Fried and Judge Noonan are probably the most distinguished living judges who, before ascending the bench, made important contributions as academics to both jurisprudence and moral theory. Those who think, as I do, that John Stuart Mill was correct when he said in the second essay in On Liberty that no position can be confidently affirmed until it has been tested in the fires of hostile criticism' will understand the importance of my five critics' Responses and of this Reply to a proper evaluation of my Lectures. Having now read the Responses, I am more confident of the position taken in the Lectures, although willing to concede the need for amplification or correction in several particulars. The many disagreements among the five critics, their own criticisms of academic moralism and its applicability to law, the vulnerability (which I shall try to demonstrate) of their arguments, the defensive cast of some of the Responses and the scornful tone of the others, their sheer length, and their failure (with the very partial exception of Dworkin's Response) even to attempt to demonstrate how moral reasoning can actually convince doubters or aid judges reinforce my belief in the essential soundness of the Lectures.
Properties of Padé approximants to stieltjes series and systems theory

The fact that Pade approximants of certain orders to a matrix Stieltjes series are realizable as open-circuit impedance matrices of RC-ideal transformer multiports is used to derive properties of such approximants. These properties include coefficient inequalities, the univalent nature of the approximants in a specified region of the complex plane and the coprimeness properties of the polynomial matrices in the matrix fraction description of the rational matrix approximants to a matrix Stieltjes series. Some known results will be shown to follow through network theory interpretations and new results concerning the rational approximants considered are derived.
Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

Cyst initiation and expansion during polycystic kidney disease is a complex process characterized by abnormalities in tubular cell proliferation, luminal fluid accumulation and extracellular matrix formation. Activity of ion channels and intracellular calcium signaling are key physiologic parameters which determine functions of tubular epithelium. We developed a method suitable for real-time observation of ion channels activity with patch-clamp technique and registration of intracellular Ca2+ level in epithelial monolayers freshly isolated from renal cysts. PCK rats, a genetic model of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), were used here for ex vivo analysis of ion channels and calcium flux. Described here is a detailed step-by-step procedure designed to isolate cystic monolayers and non-dilated tubules from PCK or normal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, and monitor single channel activity and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics. This method does not require enzymatic processing and allows analysis in a native setting of freshly isolated epithelial monolayer. Moreover, this technique is very sensitive to intracellular calcium changes and generates high resolution images for precise measurements. Finally, isolated cystic epithelium can be further used for staining with antibodies or dyes, preparation of primary cultures and purification for various biochemical assays.
Gene synthesis, expression, and processing of human ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins.

Abstract In order to study 1) the mechanisms responsible for generating free ubiquitin monomer and 2) the function of ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins in eukaryotes, we have developed a system for expression of human ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. When expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the intact ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins were rapidly processed to free ubiquitin monomer and extension protein. Furthermore, expression in this host conferred a slow growth phenotype mediated by the extension protein. Expression in Escherichia coli did not result in processing of the fusion proteins. However, when the expressed fusion proteins were purified from E. coli and incubated with a rabbit reticulocyte extract, the proteins were rapidly processed to free ubiquitin monomer and extension protein. These results show that human ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins are processed to ubiquitin and extension protein when expressed in eukaryotic but not prokaryotic cells and that pre- and co-translational events are not necessary for their processing. Establishment of this system will allow for large scale purification of these proteins which will aid future studies on the function and structure of ubiquitin carboxyl extension proteins, as well as the mechanisms responsible for their processing.