cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-frequency vibration energy harvesting from impulsive excitation utilizing intentional dynamic instability caused by strong nonlinearity

Abstract The authors investigate a vibration-based energy harvesting system utilizing essential (nonlinearizable) nonlinearities and electromagnetic coupling elements. The system consists of a grounded, weakly damped linear oscillator (primary system) subjected to a single impulsive load. This primary system is coupled to a lightweight, damped oscillating attachment (denoted as nonlinear energy sink, NES) via a neodymium magnet and an inductance coil, and a piano wire, which generates an essential geometric cubic stiffness nonlinearity. Under impulsive input, the transient damped dynamics of this system exhibit transient resonance captures (TRCs) causing intentional large-amplitude and high-frequency instabilities in the response of the NES. These TRCs result in strong energy transfer from the directly excited primary system to the light-weight attachment. The energy is harvested by the electromagnetic elements in the coupling and, in the present case, dissipated in a resistive element in the electrical circuit. The primary goal of this work is to numerically, analytically, and experimentally demonstrate the efficacy of employing this type of intentional high-frequency dynamic instability to achieve enhanced vibration energy harvesting under impulsive excitation.
Thermodynamic analysis of a novel IGCC system based on LAES technology

Liquid air energy storage(LAES)is a novel electric energy storage technology,with advantages such as excellent environmental adaptability and high capacity.This paper combined LAES technology with IGCC system.Compared to the old ones,the advanced LAES-IGCC power plant has better performance in power quality control and peak shaving.It uses LAES technology to obtain high-pressure air for power generation.In this paper,a thermodynamic analysis is presented for such a system.The mass and energy balance of the power plant was calculated,and the key process parameters of the system and all reactors got optimized.The results showed that a 150 MW LAES-IGCC power plant could work normally with thermal efficiency of 52.8%.In addition,gas turbine power and steam turbine power of this system is about 95.9MW and53.9MW,respectively.Correspondingly,power of a traditional IGCC system without LAES is about 151.4MW with the same parameters,while a simple cycle gas turbine with thermal efficiency of only 35.8%.
Cultivating a New Normal: Mood Disorders in the DSM-III to -5 Era

Contemporary diagnostic categories and various modes of treatment of mood disorders contribute to the development of a managed form of selfhood in contemporary society, particularly as articulated with management in the workplace. This produces a new iteration of the normal in relation to psychopathology; instead of the normal as an absence of disorder or distress, normalcy becomes the private management, often stemming from an external or internalized social injunction, of symptoms through various available techniques of self-care. I support this claim through an analysis of the development of the category of the mood disorder under DSM-III and the functioning of common contemporary treatments such as antidepressant medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and alternative techniques such as mindfulness meditation. A new social problematic emerges, in part out of this convergence, in which the notion of mood becomes generalized and an object of vigilance. Everyone has moods; we always have moods; and moods are in principle always subject to the need of being managed.
Transgenic mouse models for studying adult neurogenesis

The mammalian hippocampus shows a remarkable capacity for continued neurogenesis throughout life. Newborn neurons, generated by the radial neural stem cells (NSCs), are important for learning and memory as well as mood control. During aging, the number and responses of NSCs to neurogenic stimuli diminish, leading to decreased neurogenesis and age-associated cognitive decline and psychiatric disorders. Thus, adult hippocampal neurogenesis has garnered significant interest because targeting it could be a novel potential therapeutic strategy for these disorders. However, if we are to use neurogenesis to halt or reverse hippocampal-related pathology, we need to understand better the core molecular machinery that governs NSC and their progeny. In this review, we summarize a wide variety of mouse models used in adult neurogenesis field, present their advantages and disadvantages based on specificity and efficiency of labeling of different cell types, and review their contribution to our understanding of the biology and the heterogeneity of different cell types found in adult neurogenic niches.
Earthquake in the Subprime Mortgage Market

Capital is an instrument — not a profound pleasure. As executives from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Reserve, Federal Deposits Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Office of the Controller of the Currency (OCC), and Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) underlined in meetings we had in Washington and Boston, a top responsibility of senior management is the preservation of assets.1 This is true even if speculation has joined industry as one of the economy’s pillars.
ACQUIRING MULTI-VIEW VIDEO WITH AN ACTIVE CAMERA SYSTEM

For applications in human identification, activity recognition, 3D reconstruction, entertainment and sports, it is often desirable to capture a set of synchronized video sequences of a person from multiple camera viewpoints (see Figure 8-1). One way to achieve this is to set up a ring of cameras all statically aimed at a single point in space, and to have an actor perform at this fixation point while the video footage is shot. This is the method used to create spectacular special effects in the movie The Matrix, where playing back frames from a single time step, across all cameras, yields the appearance of freezing the action in time while a virtual camera flies around the scene. However, in surveillance or sports applications it is not possible to predict beforehand the precise location where an interesting activity will occur, and therefore it is necessary to dynamically adjust the fixation point of multiple camera views. We have developed a system that tracks a person in real-time and adjusts the pan, tilt, zoom and focus of each camera to acquire synchronized multi-view video of a person moving through the scene.
Childless Mothers: Personal Perspectives from Francophone Women Writers

Alison Rice’s chapter focuses on women writers of different Francophone origins expressing “the intense emotions associated with the unrealized possibility of becoming a mother.” In strikingly personal texts, three contemporary writers evoke their imagined offspring. In “Musulman” roman, Algerian-born Zahia Rahmani explores what would have been the fate of the child she never had. In A l’enfant que je n’aurai pas, Linda Le, French writer of Vietnamese descent, uses the epistolary form to address the child she knows she will never bring into the world. In Inassouvies, nos vies, Fatou Diome from Senegal shows how the decision not to have children is often not respected in France. Together these three texts provocatively suggest that even if these women writers are childless, they are, nonetheless, mothers.
Investigating Center-of-Pressure Based Parameters to Quantify Athlete and Non-Athlete Balance

Through ground reaction (foot) forceplate-based, center-of-pressure (COP) parameters, we aimed to investigate differences in standing balance for young, healthy individuals from both athlete (soccer) and non-athlete subject populations. We investigated five, COP displacement and velocity parameters derived from the COP position time series. Soccer athlete and non-athlete subjects performed standing balance for postural tasks of increasing difficulty levels, by varying visual cues (eyes-open/eyes-closed) and base of support (wide/tandem foot placement), leading to four test conditions: 1) wide/eyes-open, 2) wide/eyes-closed, 3) tandem/eyes-open, 4) tandem/eyes-closed.By investigating position and velocity characteristics of the COP position time series, we observed that the soccer athletes had generally lower COP displacement and velocity parameters (meaning they were more stable and perhaps better able to control their body sway) than the non-athletes. This study lends new insights as to how parameters derived from the COP position can be utilized to determine differences in balance between normal subject populations (e.g., athletes versus non-athletes).Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Old Dogs, New Clicks: Digital Inequality in Skills and Uses among Older Adults

ABSTRACT Research on digital inequality tends to collapse people above a certain age into one “older adults” category, seemingly assuming that this is one homogeneous group when it comes to internet uses. Drawing on national survey data of adults in the United States, this article examines the online skills and behaviour of this group. Findings reveal diversity among older adults in internet skills and uses. Those with higher education and higher income have higher-level Web-use skills. While those of higher socioeconomic status are also more likely to use the internet for diverse types of activities from which they may benefit, once controlling for skills, these differences are less pronounced. Les travaux sur les inegalites numeriques regroupent generalement les individus au-dessus d’un certain âge dans une categorie de «personnes âgees», faisant l’hypothese qu’il s’agit d’un groupe homogene en ce qui concerne leurs usages d’Internet. A partir de donnees d’enquetes nationales aupres des adultes aux Etats-Unis, cet article examine les competences et le comportement de ce groupe sur le Web. Les resultats revelent la diversite des pratiques numeriques des personnes âgees. Ceux qui ont un niveau d’education plus eleve et un revenu plus eleve possedent des competences d’utilisation du Web de niveau superieur. Les individus ayant un statut socioeconomique plus eleve utilisent egalement Internet de facon plus diversifiee. Cependant, une fois leur niveau de competence pris en compte, ces differences sont moins prononce.
Cultural influences and symptom choice: Clay-eating customs in relation to the etiology of pica

The role of cultural influence in symptom choice was examined in a study of the etiology of pica in children. Interviews with mothers of children with and without pica showed that: (a) mothers of children with pica more frequently come from communities where clay-eating and starch-eating are a part of the culture than do mothers of children with other behavior problems; (b)mothers of children with pica more frequently have had pica themselves, as adults, than have mothers of children without pica; (c) some mothers teach pica to their children; (d) when cultural influences encourage the mother in the use of oral satisfaction as a means of coping with the child’s anxiety, this may be continued by the child in the form of pica.
Noncovalent Interactions in Molecular Crystals

Molecular crystal structure has major impacts on the physical properties of the crystal. Crystal packing is governed by a balance between inter- and intramolecular interactions. Modeling molecular crystals theoretically requires careful description of the noncovalent interactions, including exchange, electrostatics polarization, and van der Waals dispersion. This chapter discusses different electronic structure methods used to model molecular crystals, including periodic density functional theory, periodic second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory, and fragment-based methods. It then reviews various applications of these techniques to predicting a variety of molecular crystal properties. Examples include modeling finite-temperature effects on crystal volumes, thermochemistry, and mechanical properties, predicting stable crystal phases, and applications to vibrational and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies.
Kinematic differences during a jump cut maneuver between individuals with and without a concussion history

Recent evidence suggests that athletes are at a higher risk of lower-body injuries in the months and years following a concussion. However, little is known about how people modify their movements post-concussion. This study examined kinematics during a jump cut motion in young adults with a concussion history (n=9; 4 males, 5 females; 3.1years' post-injury) and 10 controls (6 males, 4 females). Peak center of mass and peak knee angles during the landing phase of a jump-cut maneuver were evaluated. Participants with a concussion history demonstrated decreased knee varus (left: Mconc=-0.5±1.0°, Mctrl=3.6±1.0°; right: Mconc=5.1±1.2°, Mctrl=7.8±1.12°) and external rotation (left: Mconc=2.5±1.6°, Mctrl=13.0±1.5°; right: Mconc=7.7±1.6°, Mctrl=12.8±1.5°) regardless of whether the cut was oriented towards to the left or right. The kinematic patterns demonstrated in individuals with a concussion history may be suggestive of increased knee injury risk. This study adds to the growing body of literature linking orthopedic injury in those no longer displaying the acute signs and symptoms of concussion.
Realizing a Clearer View: New Augmented Reality Systems Provide Medical Students with a Surgeon?s Sight

In March 2017, Dr. Marc Tewfik performed a delicate operation to remove cancerous tissue from a patient's sinus cavity, something that he has done many times before at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in Montr?al, Canada. But this time, things were a bit different. Before performing such a minimally invasive surgery using a thin laparoscopic device inserted through the nose, the exact surgical plan was worked out in meticulous detail. Tewfik (Figure 1) used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to plot a pathway for the surgical tools to reach the target tissue without endangering arteries or nerves in an area just fractions of an inch from the optic nerve and from the brain itself.
Speech perception in complex acoustic environments: Developmental effects

Purpose The ability to hear and understand speech in complex acoustic environments follows a prolonged time course of development. The purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of th...
Endoscopic Cyanoacrylate Glue Injection in Management of Gastric Variceal Bleeding: US Tertiary Care Center Experience.

Background/Aims Although endoscopic cyanoacrylate glue injection (ECGI) is recommended as first-line treatment for bleeding gastric varices (GV) there is still limited experience with this method in the US. Our aim was to analyze our 10-year experience of ECGI for treatment and prophylaxis of gastric variceal bleeding. Methods Records of patients undergoing ECGI of GV at our US tertiary care center between 6/2005 and 5/2015 were reviewed. Assessed outcomes were primary hemostasis, early rebleeding during hospitalization, recurrent bleeding during follow-up, eradication and recurrence of GV. Results Prophylactic ECGI was performed in 16 patients with large GV. Eradication was achieved in 15 (94%). During the median follow-up of 27 (IQR 7–47) months, 4 patients (26.6%) had variceal bleeding; all were treated successfully with ECGI. Fifty-seven patients underwent ECGI for GV bleeding. Primary hemostasis was achieved in all. Early rebleeding occurred in 2 (3.5%) and durable hemostasis could not be achieved. Follow-up beyond initial hospitalization was available in 41 patients. Bleeding recurred in 8 (19.5%) patients during a median follow-up of 12 (IQR, 3–51) months. Eradication of GV was achieved in 92% of patients but recurrent varices were found in 44% during a median follow up period of 33 months. Conclusion ECGI is effective in achieving hemostasis of bleeding GV and their eradication. Recurrent bleeding and recurrence of varices after complete obliteration however are not infrequent and continued surveillance is advisable.
Understanding the Intention of Using Mobile Social Networking Apps Across Cultures

Understanding the user acceptance of mobile social networking apps in different cultures can provide powerful insights for managers and marketers of social networking apps to develop effective glob...
Ordinary Cities and Milieus of Innovation

Author(s): Hancock, M; Srinivas, S | Abstract: This introduces a roundtable on the articulations of religious practices and imaginaries with the creation and remaking of urban landscapes in Bangalore (India), Vinh City (Vietnam), and Houston and New Orleans (United States). While recognizing that urban expressions of religion are articulated with political and economic forces, this collection shifts the focus to the spatial, material, and sensory media with which the religious and the spiritual are enacted within urban life worlds. We aim to advance a critical intervention in the analysis of religion and spirituality, but also to map the ways that different publics create designs for and of urban life through religious and spiritual practices that may celebrate, interrogate, or challenge modernist, liberal, or postcolonial/postsocialist programs and geographies.
Activation and polarization of circulating monocytes in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The ability of circulating monocytes to develop into lung macrophages and promote lung tissue damage depends upon their phenotypic pattern of differentiation and activation. Whether this phenotypic pattern varies with COPD severity is unknown. Here we characterize the activation and differentiation status of circulating monocytes in patients with moderate vs. severe COPD. Blood monocytes were isolated from normal non-smokers (14), current smokers (13), patients with moderate (9), and severe COPD (11). These cells were subjected to analysis by flow cytometry to characterize the expression of activation markers, chemoattractant receptors, and surface markers characteristic of either M1- or M2-type macrophages. Patients with severe COPD had increased numbers of total circulating monocytes and non-classical patrolling monocytes, compared to normal subjects and patients with moderate COPD. In addition, while the percentage of circulating monocytes that expressed an M2-like phenotype was reduced in patients with either moderate or severe disease, the levels of expression of M2 markers on this subpopulation of monocytes in severe COPD was significantly elevated. This was particularly evident for the expression of the chemoattractant receptor CCR5. Blood monocytes in severe COPD patients undergo unexpected pre-differentiation that is largely characteristic of M2-macrophage polarization, leading to the emergence of an unusual M2-like monocyte population with very high levels of CCR5. These results show that circulating monocytes in patients with severe COPD possess a cellular phenotype which may permit greater mobilization to the lung, with a pre-existing bias toward a potentially destructive inflammatory phenotype.
Comments on the Detection and Classification of Compact Emission-Line Galaxies

Four methods for finding emission-line galaxies have been compared. Method (a) uses the ultraviolet excess, as found either by filter photography (Haro 1956) or by objective prism spectra (Markarian 1967). glanco (1974) introduced a thin prism with the CTIO Schmidt (1740 A mm -1 at Hβ) which with IIIa-J plates [Method (b)] gave enough resolution for Smith (1975) and MacAlpine et al. (1977a, 1977b) to detect and classify galaxies by strong emission lines. Following a suggestion by McCarthy that even higher dispersion might be useful, I have used the CTIO Schmidt with [Method (c)] the 4° prism, a GGl+55 filter and IIIa-J emulsion and with [Method (d)] the 10° prism, an RG630 filter and IIIa-F emulsion. These latter give about 400 A mm -1 at Hβ and Hα respectively which improves the visibility of emission lines against the galaxy continuum so that [0111] 5007 and 4959 and Hβ can be seen on the green plates and Hα and [SII] 6725 can be seen on the red plates.
Transactional Lawyers and Inadvertent Disclosure

The problems associated with inadvertent disclosure are often thought to be unique to litigators. The American Bar Association and most states seem to subscribe to that view. Model Rule of Professional Conduct 4.4(b) and equivalent rules in a majority of states provide that if a confidential document is inadvertently disclosed, the receiving lawyer is only obligated to notify the lawyer who made the mistake. Whether the receiving lawyer must return the document or take other steps, the Rule’s comment provides, “is a matter of law beyond the scope of these Rules.” In other words, if the disclosing lawyer wants the document returned, the lawyer should go to court and seek a ruling on the legal issue. A transactional lawyer is unlikely to do this, of course, because there is no pending litigation and thus no court from which to seek a ruling. The bottom line is that in most jurisdictions, professional conduct rules provide no real protection to transactional lawyers who inadvertently disclose confidential information. Why not? Perhaps rule makers believe that you “can’t unring the bell,” so a rule requiring the inadvertently disclosed document’s return would be of little value. They may think such relief is only needed in litigation to prevent the document being introduced into evidence, and a court can provide that relief by ruling on the issue of privilege waiver. Transactional lawyers, rule makers may believe, have no need for such a remedy because they do not care about admissibility at trial. Further, rule makers may be reticent to impose obligations (beyond notice) on innocent recipients of inadvertent disclosures, opting instead to make the careless sending lawyer bear the consequences of the mistake. This article refutes these misconceptions currently embodied in the professional conduct rules of most jurisdictions. Transactional lawyers need an inadvertent disclosure solution, even if it is one they create themselves on an ad hoc basis.
Attitudes of Washington State physicians toward health care reform.

Attitudes of Washington State physicians about health care reform and about specific elements of managed competition and single-payer proposals were evaluated. Opinions about President Clinton's reform plan were also assessed. Washington physicians (n = 1,000) were surveyed from October to November 1993, and responses were collected through January 1994; responses were anonymous. The response rate was 80%. Practice characteristics of respondents did not differ from other physicians in the state. Of physicians responding, 80% favored substantial change in the current system, 43% favored managed competition, and 40% preferred a single-payer system. Of physicians responding, 64% thought President Clinton's proposal would not adequately address current problems. Reduced administrative burden, a central element of single-payer plans, was identified by 89% of respondents as likely to improve the current system. Other elements of reform plans enjoyed less support. More procedure-oriented specialists than primary care physicians favored leaving the current system unchanged (28% versus 8%, P < .001). While physicians favor health care reform, there is no consensus on any single plan. It seems unlikely that physicians will be able to speak with a single voice during the current debates on health care reform.
Landing at PSI

This chapter recounts how Senator Carl Levin became the senior Democrat on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) and assembled an investigative team. It lists a dozen Levin Principles on effective oversight and explains how those principles informed his investigations. In addition, the chapter traces PSI’s history and evolution, including its promising origin under Senator Harry Truman, disastrous experience under Senator Joe McCarthy, and recovery under a line of leaders who turned it into the Senate’s most powerful investigative body with strong bipartisan traditions.
Evaluating the catalytic importance of a conserved Glu97 residue in triosephosphate isomerase.

Abstract Investigating enzyme activity is central to our understanding of biological function, and the design of biocatalysts continues to find applications in synthesis. While a role for active site residues can be proposed based on structure and mechanism, our understanding of the catalytic importance for residues surrounding the active site is less well understood. In triosephosphate isomerase (TIM), Glu97 is situated adjacent to the active site and is found in essentially all sequences. Prior studies reported mutation of Glu97 to Asp and Gln in TIM from Plasmodium falciparum (PfTIM) led to a 100- and 4000-fold decrease in activity, respectively, while the E97D mutation in TIM from Gallus gallus (cTIM) had no effect on activity. To investigate further the question of how mutations in essentially superimposable structures give different effects, we mutated E97 in TIM from Trypanosoma brucei brucei (TbbTIM), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yTIM), and human (hTIM). The E97D, E97A, and E97Q mutations led to a ∼three-tenfold decrease in activity, a modest effect compared to the 102–103-fold effect in PfTIM. CD and fluorescence studies showed the overall structures for the mutants were essentially unchanged. Structural analysis shows that several residues surrounding E97 differ between PfTIM and TIM from the other organisms, and rearrangements or mispositioning of residues in PfTIM may lead to the different rate effects. The results illustrate the interplay of active site and surrounding residues in affecting catalysis and highlight that understanding of the role of residues surrounding the active site may aid in the incorporation of favorable or avoidance of unfavorable interactions when designing enzymes.
Coverage of Abortion in Select U.S. Newspapers.

Abstract Background and Objectives News coverage can shape public understanding of policy issues in important ways. In the last decade, many new state-level abortion restrictions have been passed, often based on claims about the safety of abortion care, yet little is known about recent news coverage of abortion. This study analyzes a sample of news on abortion in the United States and explores the implications for reproductive health policymakers, practitioners, and advocates. Methods We analyzed a sample of news and opinion articles containing the term “abortion” published in three major U.S. newspaper sources in 2013 and 2016. The total sample was 783 unique pieces. We coded for story topics, references to fetal personhood, women's stories, and basic abortion facts. Three trained coders conducted the coding, with intercoder reliability rates ranging from 0.777 to 1.0. Findings Most of the time abortion appears in the news, it is merely mentioned, rather than discussed substantively. Abortion is covered as a political issue more than a health issue. The personal experiences of people who get abortions are present in only 4% of the sample, and language personifying the fetus appears more often than women's abortion stories. State abortion restrictions are newsworthy, yet basic facts on the commonality and safety of abortion are virtually absent. Conclusions This study suggests that the news does not support public understanding of abortion as a common, safe part of reproductive health care. Such framing may undermine public support for policies that protect access to this common health care service.
Development of S-Substituted Thioisothioureas as Efficient Hydropersulfide Precursors

Because of their inherent instability, hydropersulfides (RSSH) must be generated in situ using precursors, but very few physiologically useful RSSH precursors have been developed to date. In this work, we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel S-substituted thiosiothioureas as RSSH precursors. These water-soluble precursors show efficient and controllable release of RSSH under physiological conditions.
Thyrotoxicosis: Diagnosis and Management

Thyrotoxicosis is the clinical manifestation of excess thyroid hormone action at the tissue level due to inappropriately high circulating thyroid hormone concentrations. Hyperthyroidism, a subset of thyrotoxicosis, refers specifically to excess thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion by the thyroid gland. We performed a review of the literature on these topics utilizing published data in PubMed and MEDLINE. In this review, we discuss the more common etiologies of thyrotoxicosis, focusing on the current approach to diagnosis and management, new trends in those directions, and potential upcoming changes in the field.
Systems Approach to Cotton Insect Pest Management

Cotton is a major world agricultural crop cultivated for the harvest of lint fibers utilized extensively in the manufacture of apparel and household and industrial goods. Although linked biologically to the production of cotton fibers, cottonseeds are more than a mere byproduct of the cotton harvest. Seeds ginned from the lint fibers are processed commercially for use in animal feeds, foods for human consumption, and concoctions used in the preparation of these foods as well as numerous other home and industrial products.
A Brief Measure of Interpersonal Interaction for 2-Player Serious Games: Questionnaire Validation.

Background: Competitive and cooperative serious games have become increasingly popular in areas such as rehabilitation and education and have several potential advantages over single-player games. However, they are not suitable for everyone, and the user experience in competitive and cooperative serious games depends on many factors. One important factor is the verbal interaction between players, but the effect of this factor has not been extensively studied because of the lack of a validated measurement tool. Objective: This paper aimed to validate a brief questionnaire that measures the verbal interaction between 2 players of a serious game. The questionnaire consists of 8 questions pertaining to the amount of conversation, its valence (positive or negative emotion), and its game relatedness. Methods: The questionnaire was validated with 30 pairs of participants who played a competitive serious game for 10 min while being recorded with cameras. The questionnaire was filled out by both participants, an in-person observer, and 2 members of our research group who watched the videos. Results from these raters were used to develop questionnaire instructions, and the finalized questionnaire was given to 2 additional raters who were trained on 5 videos and then rated the other 25 videos independently. Results: The questionnaire’s interrater reliability is excellent for the amount of conversation and its game relatedness (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] above 0.9). Interrater reliability is fair to good for conversation valence (ICCs between 0.4 and 0.7). We believe that the lower interrater reliability for valence is primarily because of a limited spread of valence values in our sample. Furthermore, questionnaire ratings were significantly correlated with players’ personality characteristics (eg, amount of conversation was correlated with extraversion) and pressure/tension experienced in the competitive game. Conclusions: The validated questionnaire has the potential to be a useful tool for studying user experience in competitive and cooperative serious games. Furthermore, it could be adapted for other applications such as entertainment games. However, it has only been validated with unimpaired university students in a 2-player competitive serious game and should next be validated with different target populations (eg, stroke survivors) and different game designs (eg, cooperative games).
Phylotranscriptomic Analyses Reveal Asymmetrical Gene Duplication Dynamics and Signatures of Ancient Polyploidy in Mints

Ancient duplication events and retained gene duplicates have contributed to the evolution of many novel plant traits and, consequently, to the diversity and complexity within and across plant lineages. Although mounting evidence highlights the importance of whole-genome duplication (WGD; polyploidy) and its key role as an evolutionary driver, gene duplication dynamics and mechanisms, both of which are fundamental to our understanding of evolutionary process and patterns of plant diversity, remain poorly characterized in many clades. We use newly available transcriptomic data and a robust phylogeny to investigate the prevalence, occurrence, and timing of gene duplications in Lamiaceae (mints), a species-rich and chemically diverse clade with many ecologically, economically, and culturally important species. We also infer putative WGDs-an extreme mechanism of gene duplication-using large-scale data sets from synonymous divergence (KS), phylotranscriptomic, and divergence time analyses. We find evidence for widespread but asymmetrical levels of gene duplication and ancient polyploidy in Lamiaceae that correlate with species richness, including pronounced levels of gene duplication and putative ancient WGDs (7-18 events) within the large subclade Nepetoideae and up to 10 additional WGD events in other subclades. Our results help disentangle WGD-derived gene duplicates from those produced by other mechanisms and illustrate the nonuniformity of duplication dynamics in mints, setting the stage for future investigations that explore their impacts on trait diversity and species diversification. Our results also provide a practical context for evaluating the benefits and limitations of transcriptome-based approaches to inferring WGD, and we offer recommendations for researchers interested in investigating ancient WGDs in other plant groups.
The Knowing Model: Facilitating Behaviour Change in Organisations

It is incumbent upon leadership to encourage member behaviour that is beneficial to both the organisation and the members themselves. This paper outlines a context-based model — utilising the exist...
Validation of qTGW1.1,a Quantitative Trait Locus for 1000-grain Weight in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

This study was conducted to validate a quantitative trait locus(QTL)for 1000-grain weight(TGW)which was previously mapped in a 3.7 Mb region on the long arm of rice chromosome 1,and to locate this QTL more precisely.A plant carrying a heterozygous segment extending from RM11448to RM11615 was selected from the Zhenshan 973/Milyang 46BC2F5 population.The resulting BC2F6 and BC2F7 populations were assayed with SSR markers.Three BC2F7 plants were identified,carrying heterozygous segments covering the intervals RM11448-RM11522,RM11448- RM11549 and RM1232- RM11615,respectively.Non-recombinant homozygotes were identified from the BC2F8populations,from which three sets of near isogenic lines(NILs)in the BC2F8∶9generation were produced,consisting of two parental genotypes in the intervals RM11448-RM11522,RM11448-RM11549and RM1232-RM11615,respectively.Field trials were conducted to measure heading date(HD),TGW,and grain shape traits including grain length and width.Two-way analysis of variance was performed to test the phenotypic differences between two genotypic groups in each NIL set using SAS program.No significant variations were observed on TGW and grain shape in the NIL which was heterogeneous in the interval RM11448-RM11522,whereas significant genotypic effects were detected in the remaining two NILs in which the enhancing alleles were all derived from Zhenshan 97.For HD,no significant effects were detected in the three NILs.Based on comparison among genomic locations of the three heterogeneous regions,qTGW1.1 was delimited to a 688.8kb region flanked by RM11522and RM11554.
Multiple mechanisms determine the effect of warming on plant litter decomposition in a dryland

Abstract In drylands, where soil fertility is typically low, plant litter decomposition provides particularly critical carbon and nitrogen inputs into soil. Although climate change is projected to increase the already large global extent of drylands, it is unknown how warmer temperatures will affect core ecosystem processes, such as plant litter decomposition, in these systems. To address this key unknown, we conducted a litterbag study in a long-term dryland warming experiment in southeastern Utah, USA. Unexpectedly, we did not find an overall effect of warming on leaf litter mass loss over time. Instead, our results indicated both positive and negative effects of warming on mass loss which offset one another. In particular, our findings suggested that a warming-induced degradation of biological soil crusts (soil surface community of mosses, lichens, and/or cyanobacteria that live in drylands worldwide) increased soil-litter mixing, thereby accelerating decomposition. Results also suggested that a warming-induced reduction in litter moisture slowed decomposition. In addition, we found that warming lowered the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the decomposing litter. These results showed that warming did not alter the total litter mass-loss rates in this ecosystem, but that decomposition patterns were affected through more nuanced changes to both the biological and physical environment of dryland soils.
Developing a Stopover-CORT hypothesis: Corticosterone predicts body composition and refueling rate in Gray Catbirds during migratory stopover

Abstract Migratory flight is energetically challenging, requiring alternating phases of fuel catabolism and fuel accumulation, accompanied by dramatic changes in body composition and behavior. Baseline corticosterone (CORT; the primary glucocorticoid in birds) is thought to underlie transitions between fuel catabolism during flight, fuel deposition during stopover, and the initiation of migratory flight. However, studies of CORT on stopover physiology and behavior remain disparate efforts, lacking the cohesion of a general hypothesis. Here we develop a Stopover-CORT hypothesis formalizing the relationships among CORT, body condition, and refueling rate in migratory birds. First we expect body mass to increase with triglycerides (TRIG) as birds refuel. Second, based on a synthesis of previous literature, we predict a U-shaped CORT curve over the course of stopover, postulating that elevated CORT at arrival is reactive, responding to poor body condition, while CORT elevation before departure is preparative, driving changes in behavior and body condition. We tested these predictions in Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) following a trans-Gulf flight during spring migration. We found baseline CORT was negatively correlated with body condition and TRIG, corresponding with our predictions for arriving and refueling—but not departing—birds. It is possible catbirds undergo regional habitat translocations rather than complete the entire stopover phase at our study site. We propose the Stopover-CORT hypothesis as a useful predictive framework for future studies of the mechanistic basis of stopover physiology. By studying the regulation of stopover refueling and departure, we may better understand physiological limitations to overall migration rate and improve assessments of habitat quality for refueling birds.
Experiences with pharmacological methods for the lateralization of temporal epileptic foci.

Of 96 temporal lobe epileptics treated since 1950, only 55% responded favorably to medication (before carbamazepine). Of the rest, 75% had bilateral temporal spikes (independent or synchronous), 23% had unilateral spikes and 2% had a normal record, wake and sleep. Since the bilateral spike cases respond most poorly to medication, they would need most a new approach, such as surgery, to rehabilitate them. However, they are not doing as well after temporal lobectomy when compared to those who had unilateral spikes. Falconer 1 (1963) found the operation successful in only one out of ten bitemporal cases while two out of three of his unilateral spike patients did well. He concluded that it is best to exclude from surgical consideration all cases of bilateral temporal spikes approaching a 50/50 parity. The idea of bitemporal lobectomy including the hippocampus is generally discarded because of its predictable catastrophic effect on recent memory.
Towards efficient discovery of green synthetic pathways with Monte Carlo tree search and reinforcement learning

Computer aided synthesis planning of synthetic pathways with green process conditions has become of increasing importance in organic chemistry, but the large search space inherent in synthesis planning and the difficulty in predicting reaction conditions make it a significant challenge. We introduce a new Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) variant that promotes balance between exploration and exploitation across the synthesis space. Together with a value network trained from reinforcement learning and a solvent-prediction neural network, our algorithm is comparable to the best MCTS variant (PUCT, similar to Google's Alpha Go) in finding valid synthesis pathways within a fixed searching time, and superior in identifying shorter routes with greener solvents under the same search conditions. In addition, with the same root compound visit count, our algorithm outperforms the PUCT MCTS by 16% in terms of determining successful routes. Overall the success rate is improved by 19.7% compared to the upper confidence bound applied to trees (UCT) MCTS method. Moreover, we improve 71.4% of the routes proposed by the PUCT MCTS variant in pathway length and choices of green solvents. The approach generally enables including Green Chemistry considerations in computer aided synthesis planning with potential applications in process development for fine chemicals or pharmaceuticals.
The 40-year debate: a meta-review on what works for juvenile offenders.

This meta-review integrates the findings of meta-analyses and systematic reviews to explore the effect of intervention programs on recidivism for juvenile offenders. The systematic literature search gathered 48 meta-analyses and systematic reviews from 53 research reports, contributing 56 independent effect sizes for analysis. These effect sizes were statistically integrated, and five moderators of theoretical and methodological importance were tested using meta-regression. On average, intervention programs are associated with a significant reduction in recidivism (rΦ = −0.09, p < 0.001) for juvenile offenders who participate in a program compared to those who do not. However, reductions in recidivism significantly vary between the levels of criminal justice system, characteristics of juvenile offenders, types of program modalities, and methodological quality. Results indicate that intervention programs can be an effective approach to reducing recidivism for juvenile offenders, especially when combined with a rehabilitative program modality.
An Energy Service Interface for Distributed Energy Resources

Renewable energy resources, particularly wind and solar photovoltaic, are becoming significant contributors to electric power generation. These re-sources will contribute towards achieving sustainable electric power systems. However, renewable resources will dramatically increase the demand for flexible power system operations. This paper proposes an energy service interface that will allow aggregated distributed energy resources, such as residential loads and inverter-based systems, to participate in NERC-defined smart energy reliability services. Such cyber-physical systems will increase system flexibility by ensuring match between energy supply and energy demand.Aggregation and coordinated dispatch of millions of distributed energy resources will require development of large-scale computing networks. Several smart grid interface-enabling technologies, including IEEE 2030.5, Common Smart Inverter Profile, SunSpec Modbus, and CTA 2045, are discussed. Residential loads are categorized by their static and dynamic energy characteristics to identify services in which they can participate. The business model for the energy services interface as well as probabilistic modeling for resource estimation are highlighted as future considerations.
Key Players in the Regulation of Fungal Secondary Metabolism

Secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by filamentous fungi are well known for having a broad range of bioactivities that have detrimental, as well as beneficial, impacts on human affairs. With the grouping of SM biosynthetic genes into clusters it is possible for regulatory elements, such as individual transcription factors or multiprotein complexes, to modulate metabolite expression individually or at a larger, more global scale. In this chapter, we survey some key transcriptional players in the regulation of secondary metabolism including cluster-specific Zn(II)2Cys6, Cys2His2, and winged helix proteins, bZIP factors associated with stress and SM, environmental monitoring Cys2His2 proteins (AreA, CreA, and PacC) and two global regulatory complexes—the velvet complex and the CCAAT-binding complex.
Dietary Antioxidants in Relation to Serum CRP in Mid-Life and Older African Americans

Serum CRP is an indirect marker of inflammation and is prominent in the etiology of chronic disease. Racial/ethnic differences in serum CRP may contribute to disparities for chronic disease prevale...
Strain differences in response to escapable and inescapable novel environments and their ability to predict amphetamine-induced locomotor activity

Rationale Locomotor response to novelty predicts locomotor and reinforcing effects of psychostimulant drugs in outbred rats. Among Lewis and Fischer 344 (F344) inbred rats this association is less clear, perhaps due to strain-selective differences in responses to novelty.
Analysis of analyte-receptor binding kinetics for biosensor applications: an overview of the influence of the fractal dimension on the surface on the binding rate coefficient.

An overview of fractal analysis is presented for analyte-receptor binding kinetics for different types of biosensor application. Data taken from the literature can be modelled by using (1) a single-fractal analysis, (2) a single- and a dual-fractal analysis, and (3) a dual-fractal analysis. Cases (2) and (3) represent a change in the binding mechanism as the reaction progresses on the surface. Predictive relationships developed for the binding rate coefficient as a function of the analyte concentration are of particular value because they provide a means by which the binding rate coefficients can be manipulated. Relationships are presented for the binding rate coefficients as a function of the fractal dimension, D f , or the degree of heterogeneity that exists on the surface. The binding rate coefficient is rather sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity, D f , that exists on the biosensor surface. For the examples analysed, the order of dependence of the binding rate coefficient on D f ranges from 1.4770 (k 1 ), for the binding of intercalators and metabolites in solution to DNA immobilized at a positively charged surface, to 4.9434 for the binding of 5 nM nucleotide+GroEL in solution to GroES immobilized on a Ni 2+ -nitriloacetic acid sensor chip [Nieba, Nieba-Axmann, Persson, Hamalainen, Edebratt, Hansson, Lidholm, Magnusson, Karlsson and Pluckhun (1997) Anal. Biochem. 252, 217-228]. GroEl and GroES are two proteins (chaperones) which facilitate protein folding in the cell in an ATP-dependent manner [Hemmingson, Woolford, van der Vies, Tilly, Dennis, Georgopoulos, Henfrix and Ellis (1988) Nature (London) 333, 330-334]. The overview provides an overall analysis of the reaction parameters of importance observed and how they are influenced in antigen-antibody-binding kinetics for different biosensor applications. The predictive relationships presented provide further physical insights into the binding reactions on the surface, and should assist in enhancing biosensor performance. In general, the technique and the overview presented are applicable for the most part to other reactions occurring on different types of surface, for example cell-surface reactions.