cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gendered design bias: gender differences of in-game character choice and playing style in league of legends

Though video games have become increasingly popular among female players, competitive game genres are still dominated by male players. Research has explored the factors influencing male and female participation in competitive games, but little has focused on analysing gendered character choice and playing style preferences based on large in-game dataset. This research utilizes a mix-methods approach to examine gender differences in one of the most popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, League of Legends (LoL). The results show that gender stereotypes affect the in-game character design, players' perception of abilities, and social convention in LoL, which makes the gender differences of in-game character choice and playing style more obvious. We discuss design implications to make LoL more inclusive to female players.
A New Theory of Hunting [includes discussion]

New types of transient equations and equivalent circuits are established for the small oscillation study of synchronous, induction and other rotating machines. In the new form it is possible to interconnect the transient hunting equivalent circuits of any number and types of rotating machines, transmission lines and stationary networks in any desired combination by mere inspection of the actual system, without any previous physical or analytical study. Furthermore, from the resultant equivalent circuit it is possible to write down by mere inspection again the transient hunting equations and transfer functions of the entire complex system, to be set up and solved on a digital or analogue computer, in conjunction with connected regulators and servomechanisms.
Benchmarking of a Novel POS Tagging Based Semantic Similarity Approach for Job Description Similarity Computation

Most solutions providing hiring analytics involve mapping provided job descriptions to a standard job framework, thereby requiring computation of a document similarity score between two job descriptions. Finding semantic similarity between a pair of documents is a problem that is yet to be solved satisfactorily over all possible domains/contexts. Most document similarity calculation exercises require a large corpus of data for training the underlying models. In this paper we compare three methods of document similarity for job descriptions - topic modeling (LDA), doc2vec, and a novel part-of-speech tagging based document similarity (POSDC) calculation method. LDA and doc2vec require a large corpus of data to train, while POSDC exploits a domain specific property of descriptive documents (such as job descriptions) that enables us to compare two documents in isolation. POSDC method is based on an action-object-attribute representation of documents, that allows meaningful comparisons. We use stanford Core NLP and NLTK Wordnet to do a multilevel semantic match between the actions and corresponding objects. We use sklearn for topic modeling and gensim for doc2vec. We compare the results from these three methods based on IBM Kenexa Talent frameworks job taxonomy.
Anthropogenic Soils and Sustainability in Amazonia

Despite its great biotic concentration and diversity, the Amazon Basin (Figure 46.1) has been seen as a region capable of supporting only a low population density based upon non-intensive subsistence activities and that all attempts at intensifying the area’s food production and increasing its sustainable populations are doomed to failure (e.g., Meggers 1996). However, questions have been raised about this traditional viewpoint and it has been proposed that complex societies with large, sedentary populations were present for at least a millennium before European contact (Heckenberger et al. 1999). It appears that early aboriginal cultivators had developed field management mechanisms that mimicked the processes long operant within habitation areas where basic soil properties were radically changed through the addition of ash and other organic materials (Hecht and Posey 1989). As a result, long after the decimation of these peoples during the early historic period, their enriched soils still are a major resource for agriculture in Amazonia (Glaser et al. 2001) and a proper understanding of these soils’ properties may provide a major resource for future populations (Mann 2002). Geographers, including William Denevan, Susanna Hecht, Joseph McCann, Nigel Smith, and William Woods, have played an integral part in the interdisciplinary research investigation of the anthropogenic soils.
Escape Mechanisms from the Immune Response

Fungal pathogenesis is by definition a situation in which a fungal species is successfully surviving in host tissues and causing local destruction or toxicity. The immune system is exquisitely equipped to ward off infection, and the strategies employed by fungi to survive immune defences during pathogenesis are diverse. This review examines the diversity of mechanisms used by fungi to escape immune responses, and specifically explores the observation that these mechanisms range from clear virulence traits to more opportunistic consequences of fungal environmental growth and survival strategies
Uncertainty Quantification in Internet of Battlefield Things

Abstract Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have made considerable recent advances in commercial applications, prompting new research on their use in military applications. The Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) is the military counterpart of IoT, which is capable of leveraging mixed commercial and military technologies. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are the fundamental algorithmic building blocks of IoBT to address the decision-making problems that arise in underlying control, communication, and networking within the IoBT infrastructure in addition to the inevitable part of almost all military-specific applications developed over IoBT. Uncertainty quantification for machine learning and artificial intelligence within IoBT is critical to provide an accurate measure of error over the output in addition to precision of output. Such information on uncertainty quantification enables risk-aware decision making and control for subsequent intelligent systems and/or humans within the IoBT pipeline. This chapter provides an overview of classical and modern statistical-learning theory, and how numerical optimization can be used to solve the corresponding mathematical problems with an emphasis on uncertainty quantification.
Preventing Neighborhood Disorder: Comparing Alternative Models of Collective Efficacy Theory Using Structural Equation Modeling

Collective efficacy is a widely studied theoretical framework. Originally operationalized as the combination of social cohesion and informal social control, collective efficacy theory is a predictor of multiple positive outcomes. Conceptual and empirical critiques of collective efficacy theory suggest that social cohesion and informal social control should be modeled as unique constructs. Further, the current model of collective efficacy theory does not include an explicit measure of efficacy. Mutual efficacy, defined as community members' beliefs that collective action will be successful at attaining group goals, will be developed in this manuscript. The purpose of mutual efficacy was to make efficacy an explicit component within collective efficacy theory. Three models of collective efficacy theory are compared in this study: (a) a one-factor model of collective efficacy that combines social cohesion and informal social control, (b) a two-factor model of collective efficacy that models social cohesion as a predictor of informal social control, and (c) a mutual efficacy model where the relationship between social cohesion and informal social control is mediated by mutual efficacy. Results suggest that the two-factor model and the mutual efficacy model both fit the data better than the current model of collective efficacy.
Intramolecular Processes in Isolated Polyatomic Molecules

This paper deals with certain rather well known unimolecular processes which occur in isolated polyatomic molecules. These processes are (i) chemical reactions, forming fragments with identifiable internal and translational energy distributions, and (ii) the coupling of vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom, a phenomenon which is responsible for so-called radiationless transitions. The work is mainly experimental, and capitalizes on the fact that infrared lasers can be used to excite the vibrations of polyatomics in the absence of collisions. Thus, parent translational and rotational energies are near ambient, while vibrations can be excited rather easily, allowing us to measure elementary unimolecular processes of these species without interference from collisions. Although molecular excitation cannot be adjusted to yield monoenergetic species of excitation, still the “average excitation level” can be controlled, enabling us to determine effects qualitatively. Above dissociation threshold, the balance between the optical pumping rate and the dissociation rate results in a rather narrow range of energies from which dissociation occurs, and by adjusting the laser intensity the mean unimolecular rate can be controlled.
“I have no choice”: Influences on contraceptive use and abortion among women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In 2015, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recorded an estimated maternal mortality ratio of 693/100,000 live births. Strict abortion laws, high fertility rates, low contraceptive prevalence, and lack of emergency obstetric care all contribute to the high maternal mortality ratio. This study explored influences on contraceptive use and abortion in the DRC. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 women and 10 healthcare providers in four provinces. Participants were recruited at health centers and households in the study communities. Thematic analysis was used and identified that Congolese women‘s contraceptive decision-making was shaped by a range of external influences rather than their own independent decisions. Non-autonomous decisions and strict abortion laws influenced the methods used to abort a pregnancy, exposing risks of infection, complication, and fatality. These findings highlight that Congolese women‘s decisions about their fertility and family planning are constrained by policy and socio-cultural influences. (Afr J Reprod Health 2019; 23[1]: 128-138).
Haunted by Absence: espacios de ausencia y memoria silenciada en Arrebato, de Iván Zulueta

Arrebato (1979), del director vasco Ivan Zulueta, fue rodada en el periodo de la Transicion espanola con un equipo de jovenes que participaron del ideario contracultural de la Movida. En contraste con la euforia que normalmente sugiere este fenomeno en Espana, la pelicula de Zulueta retrata personajes atormentados y espacios fantasmagoricos. Este trabajo examina el subtexto vampirico-fantasmal del film y el extasis que experimentan sus personajes a causa del consumo de heroina y de la contemplacion de objetos de la infancia. Estos elementos, junto con el protagonismo que cobra el montaje en la trama de la pelicula, constituyen los que hemos llamado ‘espacios de ausencia’, y remiten al concepto de hauntology (‘hauntologia’) de Jacques Derrida. Considerando esta teoria, el articulo sostiene que el componente espectral del film y su reflexion sobre el cine evocan la traumatica construccion de la memoria en la Espana posfranquista.
The risk of active tuberculosis among individuals living in tuberculosis-affected households in the Republic of Korea, 2015.

Background In the Republic of Korea (ROK), compared to other high-income countries, tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is relatively high. Active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI) surveillance of individuals living in TB-affected households has been conducted for several years. Although active case finding is an important strategy in low-prevalence, high-income countries, its effectiveness in a high prevalence setting is unclear. This study evaluated the risk of TB in household contact by calculating the incidence of TB among household contacts and comparing it with the general population of the ROK. Methods A retrospective cohort study, including 36,133 household-contacts of 17,958 TB patients reported in 2015, was conducted. The data was extracted from the Korean National TB Surveillance System (web-based TB cases notification system, KNTSS). The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate risk factors for incidence of TB. A P-value < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results In this study, 319 (0.9%) of 36,133 household-contacts were reported as having TB within 1 year, which is a higher rate than the rate for the general population in the ROK. The rate of TB reported for contacts that had completed LTBI treatment (0.6%) was lower than for the LTBI group without treatment (4.6%). In multivariate analysis, age older than 65 (p < .001), being a spouse of a TB patient (p = .007), and LTBI without treatment (p = .013) were each a risk factor for TB incidence among contacts. Younger age (p < .001), presence of a cough (p < .001), testing positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB; p < .001), and cavity on radiograph (p < .001) of the index patient were also statistically significant risk factors. Conclusions Individuals living in TB-affected households are at high risk of developing TB in the ROK and active case finding among them is a strategy effective in the early detection and prevention of TB.
Axon diameter index estimation independent of fiber orientation distribution using high-gradient diffusion MRI

Abstract Axon diameter mapping using high-gradient diffusion MRI has generated great interest as a noninvasive tool for studying trends in axonal size in the human brain. One of the main barriers to mapping axon diameter across the whole brain is accounting for complex white matter fiber configurations (e.g., crossings and fanning), which are prevalent throughout the brain. Here, we present a framework for generalizing axon diameter index estimation to the whole brain independent of the underlying fiber orientation distribution using the spherical mean technique (SMT). This approach is shown to significantly benefit from the use of real-valued diffusion data with Gaussian noise, which reduces the systematic bias in the estimated parameters resulting from the elevation of the noise floor when using magnitude data with Rician noise. We demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining whole-brain orientationally invariant estimates of axon diameter index and relative volume fractions in six healthy human volunteers using real-valued diffusion data acquired on a dedicated high-gradient 3-Tesla human MRI scanner with 300 mT/m maximum gradient strength. The trends in axon diameter index are consistent with known variations in axon diameter from histology and demonstrate the potential of this generalized framework for revealing coherent patterns in axonal structure throughout the living human brain. The use of real-valued diffusion data provides a viable solution for eliminating the Rician noise floor and should be considered for all spherical mean approaches to microstructural parameter estimation.
Socially Assistive Robots at Work: Making Break-Taking Interventions More Pleasant, Enjoyable, and Engaging

More than ever, people spend the workday seated in front of a computer, which contributes to health issues caused by excess sedentary behavior. While breaking up long periods of sitting can alleviate these issues, no scalable interventions have had long-term success in motivating activity breaks at work. We believe that socially assistive robotics (SAR), which combines the scalability of e-health interventions with the motivational social ability of a companion or coach, may offer a solution for changing sedentary habits. To begin this work, we designed a SAR system and conducted a within-subjects study with N = 19 participants to compare their experiences taking breaks using the SAR system versus an alarm-like device for one day each in participants’ normal workplaces. Results indicate that both systems had similar effects on sedentary behavior, but the SAR system led to greater feelings of pleasure, enjoyment, and engagement. Interviews yielded design recommendations for future systems. We find that SAR systems hold promise for further investigations of aiding healthy habit formation in work settings.
Parents’ Maltreatment Histories, Dimensions of Emotion Regulation, and Connections to Offspring Self-Regulation: A Sex-Specific Transmission Pathway

Parents with childhood maltreatment histories are at risk for emotion regulation (ER) problems, which are associated with reduced self-regulation among their offspring. However, gaps remain in the literature regarding this indirect transmission pathway. First, ER consists of multiple dimensions and it is unclear which dimension is most affected by childhood maltreatment. Second, less is known regarding which parental ER dimension is linked to offspring self-regulation. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the direct and indirect associations between parental maltreatment histories and child self-regulatory capacity via dimensions of parental ER. In this cross-sectional study, 101 youth (75% African American/Black; 53% female; Mage = 10.28; SD = 1.19) and their primary caregivers were recruited from a low-income community in the Southeastern United States. Structural equation modeling was used to model the effect of parents’ self-reported childhood maltreatment on youth physiological self-regulation (measured by heart rate variability reactivity [HRV-R]), via parents’ self-reported ER. Parental maltreatment history was significantly associated with five of the six components of ER. Further, the indirect effect of parents’ childhood maltreatment on child HRV-R was significant when parents reported more difficulty engaging goal-directed behaviors. Moderation analyses by sex showed that daughters had greater dysregulation regardless of parental maltreatment histories, while parents’ ER was found to play a more significant role in the intergenerational transmission of dysregulation to sons. The current study extends the literature on self-regulation development in children of low-income, maltreatment-exposed parents. Our study may inform parent-child interventions for improving self-regulation.
The presence of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura correlates with lower rate of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Platelets are important in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesize that patients with acquired thrombocytopenia such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) may have lower MI rate. Materials & method: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used for this study. We analyzed the correlation between ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and ITP utilizing ICD-9 codes. Results: STEMI rate was lower in patients with ITP. We found that, in 2002, STEMI occurred in 0.64% of patients with ITP versus 0.89 (p < 0.007) and for 2011 0.30 versus 0.48 (p < 0.005). After adjusting for tobacco use, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, gender and age, STEMI rate remained lower in ITP patients. Conclusion: ITP appears to be associated with lower STEMI rate suggesting low platelet count may exert protective effect from STEMI.
Revisiting the Role of Solutes in Grain Refinement of Hypoeutectic Alloys

Experimental data on grain size in hypoeutectic alloys with various solute concentrations are collected and analyzed. Curves of grain size as functions of composition are plotted and compared with the relevant phase diagrams. These curves indicate that the minimum in grain size occurs at the solubility limit of the solute on a phase diagram, and the maxima occur at the pure metal and eutectic point where the solidification range of the alloy is zero. The grain size, d, is then plotted against phase diagram variables such as the growth restriction factor, Q, and the solidification range, ΔT. Two-parameter models are proposed to correlate grain size to phase diagram variables. Regression analysis of the experimental data with the two-parameter equations suggests that there is a clear correlation between grain size and the solidification range of the alloy. The linearity of d vs. ΔT is much better than that of d vs. Q. A grain refinement mechanism based on fragmentation and multiplication of dendrites is used to explain the dependence of d on ΔT when convection exists in the melt during solidification. Mathematical analysis indicates that the solidification range, ΔT, is actually the temperature depression of the planar solid–liquid interface under steady state growth conditions. The temperature depression at the root of a dendrite is proportional to ΔT. It is such a temperature depression that causes necking formation at the root of a dendrite. Remelting and fragmentation at the necks could occur due to local temperature fluctuations in the mushy zone in a casting where convection exists in the melt during its solidification.
Patient- and hospital-related risk factors for non-routine discharge after lumbar decompression and fusion for spondylolisthesis.

Abstract Objective In various spinal surgeries, non-routine discharges have been associated with inferior outcomes. However, there exists a paucity of data regarding the relationship between non-routine discharge and quality of care among patients with spondylolisthesis. The aim of this study was to identify independent predictors for non-routine discharge following spinal decompression and fusion for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2010 through 2016. Adult patients (≥18 years old) who underwent spinal decompression and fusion for lumbar spondylolisthesis were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and CPT procedural coding systems. The study population was divided into two cohorts based on discharge disposition: routine (RD) and non-routine discharge (NRD). Patient demographics, comorbidities, adverse events, LOS, reoperation, and readmission were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent predictors of non-home discharge and 30-day unplanned readmission. Results A total of 5252 patients were identified, of which 4316 (82.2%) had a RD and 936 (18.8%) had a NRD. The NRD cohort tended to be older (p Conclusion In our study we found that on univariate analysis NRD was associated with increased adverse events, length of stay and 30-day unplanned readmission. When controlling for patient- and hospital-related factors, we found that female sex, non-Hispanic Black race, BMI, dependent functional status, malnourishment and longer LOS were independently associated with NRD. However, NRD did not independently predict an unplanned 30-day readmission.
Exposure to parent assault on a sibling as a childhood adversity.

Abstract Background Children's exposure to parental violence against another parent has been widely studied as an adverse childhood experience and source of childhood trauma. Exposure to parental violence against a sibling could be equally as traumatizing, but the literature on this exposure is sparse, by comparison. We examined the frequency of exposure to parental assault on a sibling (EPAS) and its demographic distributions. We also investigated the links between EPAS and symptoms of distress. Method From three combined surveys of the National Survey on Children's Exposure to Violence, based on telephone interviews with parents, and in the case of those 10–17 years old, adolescents, we examined children living with a juvenile sibling (N = 7, 029; 49% female). Results Lifetime EPAS was 3.7%, and sibling assault was more common by fathers (70%) than by mothers (30%). Exposure was greatest for boys and adolescents, highest for those whose parents had some college education, and for those living with other non-parental adults, single parents, and stepfamilies. Rates did not differ by ethnicity. Most exposed youth felt afraid (83%), and fear was greater when witnessing fathers than mothers assaulting a sibling. Controlling for child maltreatment and exposure to interparental violence, those exposed to EPAS showed higher current levels of mental distress (anger, depression, and anxiety; F (10, 6146) = 140.44, p = .001; R2 = 0.19). Conclusions Clinical work and parent education programs should address the occurrence of EPAS and the adverse association between EPAS and mental health to reduce its potential negative impact.
Coupling SMA Actuators with Mechanisms: Principle of Virtual Work

In Chap.7, we covered the basics of SMA wire and spring design for dead loading conditions. We noted that if the stroke required is very large, a simple SMA wire may be unfeasible.Thus, successful design of a shape memory wire actuator depends upon the ability to combine it with a mechanism to achieve the desired force and stroke when actuated.
Encouraging Greater Student Inquiry Engagement in Science Through Motivational Support by Online Scientist‐Mentors

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) call for integrating knowledge and practice in learning experiences in K-12 science education. PlantingScience (PS), an ideal curriculum for use as an NGSS model, is a computer-mediated collaborative learning environment intertwining scientific inquiry, classroom instruction, and online mentoring from scientists. With implementation in hundreds of classrooms across the United States, science teachers have noted PS as successful in motivating their students to engage in classroom inquiry investigations. To investigate the role of the online scientist-mentors in motivating students in the PS learning environment, we used self-determination theory (SDT) to guide a multiple case study of 10 student inquiry teams engaged in PS in a rural public school in a large Southwestern U.S. state. We used online dialogues between scientist-mentors and their assigned student inquiry teams to answer research questions about the motivational support provided by scientist-mentors and the association between this support and students' engagement in scientific inquiry. Analyses revealed a general relationship between scientist-mentor motivational support and student inquiry engagement. Differences were observed in the specific ways in which scientists supported autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Student inquiry engagement corresponded to high support in relatedness, whereas correspondence with autonomy support was low.
Subsystems of Second Order Arithmetic

List of tables Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Part I. Development of Mathematics within Subsystems of Z2: 2. Recursive comprehension 3. Arithmetical comprehension 4. Weak Konig's lemma 5. Arithmetical transfinite recursion 6. pi11 comprehension Part II. Models of Subsystems of Z2: 7. ss-models 8. omega-models 9. Non-omega-models Part III. Appendix: 10. Additional results Bibliography Index.
Imaging the Viscoelastic Properties of Tissue

Elasticity and viscosity of soft tissues are often related to pathology. These parameters, along with other mechanical parameters, determine the dynamic response of tissue to a force. Tissue mechanical response, therefore, may be used for diagnosis. Measuring and imaging of the mechanical properties of tissues is the aim of a class of techniques generally called elasticity imaging or elastography. The general approach is to measure tissue motion caused by a force or displacement and use it to reconstruct the elastic parameters of the tissue. The excitation stress can be either static or dynamic (vibration). Dynamic excitation is of particular interest because it provides more comprehensive information about tissue properties in a spectrum of frequencies. In one approach an external stress field must pass through the superficial portion of the object before reaching the region of interest within the interior. An alternative strategy is to apply a localized stress directly in the region of interest. One way to accomplish this task is to use the radiation force of ultrasound. This approach offers several benefits, including: (a) safety—acoustic energy is a noninvasive means of exerting force; (b) adaptability — existing ultrasound technology and devices can be readily modified for this purpose; (c) remoteness — radiation force can be generated remotely inside tissue without disturbing its superficial layers; (d) localization — the radiation stress field can be highly localized, thus allowing for precise positioning of the excitation point; and (e) a wide frequency spectrum. Several methods have been developed for tissue probing using the dynamic radiation force of ultrasound, including: (a) transient methods which are based on impulsive radiation force; (b) shear-wave methods which are based on generation of shear-waves; and (c) vibro-acoustography, recently developed by the authors, where a localized oscillating radiation force is applied to the tissue and the acoustic response of the tissue is detected by a hydrophone. Here, we focus on vibro-acoustography and present a detailed description of the theory and the experimental results. We conclude with the capabilities and limitations of these radiation-force methods.
A new class of optical fibers for high capacity transmission

Linearity-enhanced pure-silica-core fiber with low attenuation of 0.16dB/km and large Aeff of 130µm2 has been developed to enhance OSNR for enabling high capacity and long haul transmission with beyond 100Gb/s signals.
Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus mutants altered in type 5 capsule production

Abstract Most clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus produce microcapsules (uronic acid-containing extracellular polysaccharides) that are detectable by serologic methods but are not visible by negative staining. Among the 11 reported serotypes, capsule types 5 and 8 comprise approximately 75% of all isolates. Transposon mutagenesis was performed on S. aureus to create mutants altered in capsule expression. Tn918 was introduced into the capsule type 5 strain Reynolds by filter mating, and a capsule-deficient transconjugate, JL236, was isolated. The wild-type strain was transformed with JL236 chromosomal DNA to confirm that transfer of the appropriate-size chromosomal fragment containing Tn918 generated a capsule-deficient transformant. Strain Reynolds was mutagenized with ethyl methanesulfonate to obtain a capsule-negative mutant (strain JL240). Capsular phenotypes were determined by colony immunoblots, antibody adsorption experiments, and transmission electron microscopy. The virulences of the parental and mutant strains in mice were compared. The 50% lethal doses for strains Reynolds, JL236, and JL240 were similar (10(8.59), 10(8.98), and 10(8.93) CFU, respectively). Animals injected intraperitoneally with either wild-type or mutant strains had comparable levels of bacteremia at 3 and 24 h after challenge. Quantitative cultures of blood and kidneys from animals challenged intravenously with sublethal doses of the S. aureus strains also showed no differences in bacterial clearance or renal abscess formation. These studies indicate that the type 5 S. aureus microcapsule does not promote bacterial virulence in the animal models tested.
Site of Covalent Labeling by a Photoreactive Batrachotoxin Derivative near Transmembrane Segment IS6 of the Sodium Channel α Subunit

Abstract The binding site for batrachotoxin, a lipid-soluble neurotoxin acting at Na channel receptor site 2, was localized using a photoreactive, radiolabeled batrachotoxin derivative to covalently label purified and reconstituted rat brain Na channels. In the presence of the brevetoxin 1 from Ptychodiscus brevis and the pyrethroid RU51049, positive allosteric enhancers of batrachotoxin binding, a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 240 kDa corresponding to the Na channel α subunit was specifically covalently labeled. The region of the α subunit specifically photolabeled by the photoreactive batrachotoxin derivative was identified by antibody mapping of proteolytic fragments. Even after extensive trypsinization, an anti-peptide antibody recognizing an amino acid sequence adjacent to Na channel transmembrane segment IS6 was able to immunoprecipitate up to 70% of the labeled peptides. Analysis of a more complete digestion with trypsin or V8 protease indicated that the batrachotoxin receptor site is formed in part by a portion of domain I. The identification of a specifically immunoprecipitated photolabeled 7.3-kDa peptide containing transmembrane segment S6 from domain I restricted the site of labeling to residues Asn-388 to Glu-429 if V8 protease digestion was complete or Leu-380 to Glu-429 if digestion was incomplete. These results implicate the S6 transmembrane region of domain I of the Na channel α subunit as an important component of the batrachotoxin receptor site.
Tower reflector for solar power plant

A method is proposed for transfering the energy from the top of the tower to the power plant at the bottom of the tower by using a reflector. Preliminary estimates appear favorable, and it is recommended that a detailed systems analysis be performed comparing the tower reflector with the power tower. (WDM)
On the origin of power laws in Internet topologies

Recent empirical studies [6] have shown that Internet topologies exhibit power laws of the form y = xα for the following relationships: (P1) outdegree of node (domain or router) versus rank; (P2) number of nodes versus outdegree; (P3) number of node pairs within a neighborhood versus neighborhood size (in hops); and (P4) eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix versus rank. However, causes for the appearance of such power laws have not been convincingly given. In this paper, we examine four factors in the formation of Internet topologies. These factors are (F1) preferential connectivity of a new node to existing nodes; (F2) incremental growth of the network; (F3) distribution of nodes in space; and (F4) locality of edge connections. In synthetically generated network topologies, we study the relevance of each factor in causing the aforementioned power laws as well as other properties, namely diameter, average path length and clustering coefficient. Different kinds of network topologies are generated: (T1) topologies generated using our parametrized generator, we call BRITE; (T2) random topologies generated using the well-known Waxman model [12]; (T3) Transit-Stub topologies generated using GT-ITM tool [3]; and (T4) regular grid topologies. We observe that some generated topologies may not obey power laws P1 and P2. Thus, the existence of these power laws can be used to validate the accuracy of a given tool in generating representative Internet topologies. Power laws P3 and P4 were observed in nearly all considered topologies, but different topologies showed different values of the power exponent α. Thus, while the presence of power laws P3 and P4 do not give strong evidence for the representativeness of a generated topology, the value of α in P3 and P4 can be used as a litmus test for the representativeness of a generated topology. We also find that factors F1 and F2 are the key contributors in our study which provide the resemblance of our generated topologies to that of the Internet.
The vertical dimension: A significant cue in the preschool child’s concept of “bigger”

The hypothesis tested is that 5- and 6-year-old preschool children when asked to choose between geometric solids will select as “bigger” those objects having greater verticality. For each pair of solid three-dimensional objects in eight displays, the 5- and 6-year-olds (N = 25) indicated the “bigger” figure to be the solid having the greater vertical dimension (p <.001). For all of the displays the choice patterns differed significantly from those of a control group of 25 college freshmen. The results suggest that the vertical dimension may be the salient misleading perceptual cue in studies of conservation.
The reproductive cycle of male uinta ground squirrels: some anatomical and biochemical correlates.

Abstract 1. 1. Maximum testicular development and plasma testosterone levels occurred at spring emergence from aestivation-hibernation (A-H), followed by a regression to basal state in June. 2. 2. A slight testicular recrudescense occurred just prior to immergence into A-H, but this development was not accompanied by a definitive increase in plasma testosterone levels or seminal vesicle weights. 3. 3. Four lines of evidence were consistent with the hypothesis that FSH stimulates testicular MAO activity. 4. 4. Changes in pituitary and hypothalamic MAO activity suggested a functional role for this enzyme in controlling releasing factor and gonadotropin production by these organs.
Possible gabapentin and ketamine interaction causing prolonged central nervous system depression during post-operative recovery following cervical laminoplasty: a case report

The drugs gabapentin and ketamine are used frequently in the peri-operative setting. There is poor documentation whether or not gabapentin and ketamine interact to cause prolonged depression of the central nervous system. The following is a case report in which a patient, a 58-year-old African-American man, with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain underwent a cervical laminoplasty procedure. The patient presented post-operatively in a dissociative state with paralysis, anarthria and preservation of consciousness. All organic causes were excluded, with the exception of prolonged central nervous system depression from a gabapentin/ketamine drug interaction. A new onset conversion disorder could also not be excluded. Although this case by itself is not enough evidence to substantiate a true adverse reaction between gabapentin and ketamine, it is enough to warrant further investigation.
Relations between pigments and proteins in the photosynthetic membranes of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides.

We have isolated from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides a pigment-protein complex of apparent weight 9 kdaltons that bears more than 60% of the light harvesting bacteriochlorophyll. The isolation procedure involved exposure to 1% lauryl dimethyl amine oxide (LDAO). The purified 9-kdalton fraction showed the light harvesting bacteriochlorophyll components B800 and B850, plus carotenoids. The ratio of bacteriochlorophyll to protein was 17%. This protein is probably the same as the “band 15” protein of Fraker and Kaplan. It may exist in vivo as characteristic aggregates of higher molecular weight. LDAO added to Rps. spheroides chromatophores converted the bacteriochlorophyll component B870 to a form absorbing at 770 nm but had little effect on the “B800 + B850” system, causing only a reversible shift of the 850-nm band to 845 nm. Anti-reaction center serum, added to subcellular fractions from Rps. spheroides with 1% LDAO, precipitated reaction center chromoprotein unaccompanied by light harvesting bacteriocholorophyll. Other antisera precipitated light harvesting components and left the reaction center chromophores in solution. A major protein of apparent weight 45 kdaltons was found in relatively nonpigmented fractions from Rps. spheroides, associated with cell wall fragments. The 45-kdalton protein showed considerable interstrain variability, whereas the 9-kdalton and reaction center proteins appeared constant.
Fatigue crack growth under continuous radiation

Abstract This paper examines the possibility that a drastic reduction of the rate of propagation of a fatigue crack can occur if a sample undergoing failure is simultaneously irradiated with high energy particles. For an effect to exist it is necessary that the rate of irradiation damage and the frequency of the cyclic stress are such that appreciable irradiation hardening occurs within the plastic crack tip zone during each stress cycle. The analysis is based on a fatigue crack growth theory of one of the authors (JW) that considers the true stress intensity factor at a fatigue crack tip. Although in a post-irradiation fatigue experiment appreciable irradiation hardening will not necessarily produce a decrease in the fatigue crack growth rate, a decrease in the fatigue crack growth rate should always occur in material with a Paris law exponent larger than two if the irradiation takes place continuously during a fatigue test that is carried out at temperatures at which annealing processes are relatively slow.
Don Lope Garrido and the Persistence of Decrepit Values in Tristana

Abstract The figure of Don Juan Lopez Garrido, known as Don Lope, who dominates the novel, is less deserving of sympathy than he is often accorded. His whole life is an exercise in calculating deception, countenanced by the compliant narrator. Apparently a pseudo-Quixotic figure, Don Lope is more of an inauthentic and antiquated Don Juan, now engaged in a battle against time. He exercises from the outset a despotic authority over his ward Tristana, treating her as a puppet, and playing the hypocritical and incompatible roles of lover and father: a complete negation of conventional values. He resists with cunning and perseverance her efforts to free herself through her developing relationship with Horacio. As the latter's love for Tristana evaporates after the amputation of her leg, Don Lope succeeds in maintaining control over her. By agreeing to marry her with the financial support of his pious relatives, he secures for himself a protected old age he does not deserve and a continuity of the old patriarch...
Long term evolution and revival structure of Rydberg wave packets

Abstract It is known that, after formation, a Rydberg wave packet undergoes a series of collapses and revivals within a time period called the revival time, trev, at the end of which it is close to its original shape. We study the behavior of Rydberg wave packets on time scales much greater than trev. We show that after a few revival cycles the wave packet ceases to reform at multiples of the revival time. Instead, a new series of collapses and revivals commences, culminating after a time period tsr ⪢ trev with the formation of a wave packet that more closely resembles the initial packet than does the full revival at time trev. Furthermore, at times that are rational fractions of tsr, the square of the autocorrelation function exhibits large peaks with periodicities that can be expressed as fractions of the revival time trev. These periodicities indicate a new type of fractional revival occurring for times much greater than trev. A theoretical explanation of these effects is outlined.
Precise control of the Pt nanoparticle size by seeded growth using EO13PO30EO13 triblock copolymers as protective agents.

Here, we report an efficient way to produce homogeneous Pt nanoparticles within a well-defined size range (3.5−6.6 nm) as a result of the seeded growth procedure using Pluronic L64 polymer capping agent. First, small seeds (3.5 nm) were prepared by the reduction of H2PtCl6·6H2O in water with NaBH4 in the presence of the capping poly(ethylene oxide)13−poly(propylene oxide)30−poly(ethylene oxide)13 triblock copolymer at room temperature. Additional anionic Pt salt was then introduced under flowing H2 to obtain larger nanoparticles.
Chromosomal location and structural organization of the human deoxycytidylate deaminase gene.

Abstract Deoxycytidylate deaminase is an allosteric enzyme whose impairment can lead to deoxynucleotide imbalances that affect the fidelity of DNA synthesis. A DNA fragment encompassing the gene for deoxycytidylate deaminase has been isolated from a human lung fibroblast genomic library and sequenced in both directions through 26,764 base pairs. The previously isolated cDNA, which was used to establish the amino acid sequence for this enzyme (Weiner, K. X. B., Weiner, R. S., Maley, F., and Maley, G. F.(1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 12983-12989) was instrumental in isolating this gene. The gene consists of five exons of about 100 base pairs each, separated by four introns. The most striking feature of the genomic structure is that the second and third exons are separated by an intron of about 20 kilobases. The chromosomal location of the deaminase gene was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization as 4q35, which is the extreme end of this chromosome. The position of this gene on chromosome 4, in addition to the role of its product in limiting potentially detrimental mutations, suggests that the normal operation of both the gene and its product is important to the well being of the organism.
Adoption of Electronic Health Record System: Multiple Theoretical Perspectives

This paper investigates the adoption of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems by US health providers with multiple theoretical perspectives. In particular, it argues that the fit between EHR systems and clinical activities interacts with social contagion from peer healthcare providers, which influences the valence to EHR systems of focal provider, and organizational valence finally impacts the adoption intention of focal provider. The data analysis on the surveys on practitioners supported the research model.
A tactile-thermal display for haptic exploration of virtual paintings

To enable individuals who are blind and visually impaired to participate fully in the world around them, it is important to make all environments accessible to them. This includes art museums which provide opportunities for cultural education and personal interest/enjoyment. Our interest focuses on the portrayal of paintings through refreshable haptic displays from their digital representations. As a complement to representing the structural elements (i.e., objects and shapes) in a painting, we believe it is also important to provide a personal experience of the style and expressiveness of the artist. This paper proposes a haptic display and display methods to do so. The haptic display consists of: (1) a pin matrix display to the fingers to relay tactile texture information about brushstroke, (2) a thermal display on which the warm-cold spectrum of colors is mapped, and (3) the sensing of location within the painting used to change tactile and thermal feedback to create contrasts within a painting.
Site-Resolved Hydration Dynamics of Staphylococcal Nuclease in Reverse Micelles

Measurements of water dynamics and protein-water interactions are essential to understanding protein folding, structure, function, and dynamics. However, protein-water interactions have historically been difficult to study and have mostly been limited to indirect methods that are unable to measure transient and short-lived interactions. We recently developed a novel method for studying protein-water interactions using NMR spectroscopy by encapsulating proteins of interest in reverse micelles. Appropriate amphiphilic surfactant molecules spontaneously form nanoscale bubbles in the presence of a small volume of water and bulk organic solvent, resulting in reverse micelles with aqueous protein in the interior and organic solvent on the exterior. The removal of bulk water and the effects of nanoconfinement slow protein hydration waters allowing for site-resolved measurement of protein-water interactions and dynamics via the nuclear Overhauser effect. Staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) is an extensively studied 16 kD protein with a large number of mutants that have been well classified using standard biophysical techniques. Here we use a pseudo wild-type hyperstable variant (Δ+PHS) and V66E mutant to study surface protein-water dynamics and overall protein hydration. High resolution NOESY-HSQC and ROESY-HSQCs were collected for SNase encapsulated in reverse micelles. Site-specific ratios of NOE and ROE signal intensity at the water chemical shift describe longevity of interacting waters, and can therefore be mapped to the protein structure to determine areas of slow and fast hydration dynamics. Supported by NSF grant MCB 0842814 and NIH postdoctoral fellowship GM087099 to N.V.N.