cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preference for a Forced-Choice Fixed-Ratio Schedule over an Equivalent Free-Choice Response Chain in the Pigeon

Three pigeons were trained on a concurrent fixed-ratio chain schedule. During the first 10 trials of each session, the birds had to satisfy a fixed-ratio x schedule. During Trials 11 to 20 each bird had to satisfy a chain schedule consisting of x links. During the last 10 trials the birds could choose to satisfy the fixed-ratio x or the chain schedule. That is, the birds could peck one key x times, or x keys once each. A different lighted key served as each link of the chain schedule. A response to any of the keys darkened that key. When all keys were darkened, a reinforcer was delivered. The fixed-ratio schedule was always satisfied on one key that never served as part of the chain. Over sessions the number of chain keys was increased to nine, i.e., a concurrent fixed-ratio 9 chain schedule, with a nine-key response chain. Each bird preferred the fixed-ratio option to the chain until the fixed-ratio value was three to five times greater than the number of required chain responses. The number of chain link keys appeared to be more influential than either overall response requirements or the time required to complete each option. Response stereotypy emerged during the chain trials.
The Community College Pathway: An Analysis of the Costs Associated with Enrolling Initially at a Community College Before Transferring to a 4-Year Institution

The study examines the direct and indirect costs of enrolling initially at a community college before transferring to a 4-year institution for baccalaureate-degree-seeking students in the USA. Using nationally generalizable data, this study employs propensity score weighting to identify the influence of initial community college enrollment on baccalaureate degree attainment, cumulative student loan debt, and time-to-degree. Our findings show that students who enrolled initially at a community college before transferring to a 4-year institution were less likely to obtain their baccalaureate degree, accrued $2221 less in cumulative student loan debt, and took about three months longer to graduate than their peers who began at 4-year colleges and universities. We provide empirical evidence of the potential trade-off associated with direct savings in cumulative loan debt and indirect costs of community college enrollment related to decreases in the likelihood of baccalaureate degree attainment and increases in time-to-degree. Given these findings, we suggest that 4-year institutions should alter their institutional policies to better accommodate vertical transfer students and ensure that these historically underrepresented students are able to succeed academically.
Terrorism in Colombia: The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN)

Colombia has been in continuous civil turmoil since gaining independence from Spain in 1810. With the inauguration of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in 2002, the past 14 years have been the longest period of sustained military action against violent extremist groups in Colombia. The goal of this study is to analyze how attack intensity values have varied over time, as well as whether high attack intensity values are becoming more spatially clustered within Colombia through time. Attack intensity values over time were measured, as well as a global Moran’s I and cluster & outlier analysis. Results indicate that the average attack intensity ratings during the period of Alvaro Uribe’s Presidency were significantly lower than before and after his presidency. It was also found that attack intensity values were randomly distributed from 2012 – 2014.
Statistical Challenges with the Advances in Cancer Therapies

Statistical challenges in designing, analyzing and interpreting the data are being encountered with the recent development of new classes of drugs to treat cancer. The existing paradigm of drug development from Phase I to Phase III clinical trials is not optimal. New and innovative trial designs and statistical methods are needed to evaluate the new classes of drugs. In this chapter we present the regulatory considerations in the evaluation of drug products, the drug development paradigm in the last century and the current time, and the statistical challenges that need to be addressed.
Lymphomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: An Update

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Certain lymphomas have a predilection for the gastrointestinal tract, including extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, mantle cell lymphoma, natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma may also be primary to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to diagnosing neoplastic conditions, it is important to differentiate lymphomas from atypical reactive proliferations. Recent research relevant to non-Hodgkin lymphomas involving this location is reviewed with an emphasis on novel and evolving areas of classification.
Yield Models - Comparative Study

Yield models have been developed, analyzed, evaluated and discussed since the early 1960’s. Despite such a long and very often hot discussion [29,30,78] until now there has been no consensus as to which of them are the best, which are accurate enough and which of them possess adequate predictive capabilities. This situation is due, among other things, to the fact that yield models are very often evaluated by using very different, and not always explicitly defined, evaluation criteria. The goal of this paper is to indicate a number of simple yield model characteristics which could be used to improve comparison of different yield models.
Holmium laser ablation and enucleation of the prostate: A pilot study of the hybrid technique

Objectives To report the initial clinical experience using a hybrid technique combining holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods A total of 18 patients with documented moderate to severe LUTS underwent the hybrid technique. Baseline characteristics were documented for all patients. Operative and resection times, as well as intra and perioperative complications, were recorded. Additionally, changes in American Urological Association symptom index (AUA-SI) and quality of life (QoL) scores and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values were recorded both pre and postoperatively. Results All patients experienced significant improvements in their AUA-SI and QoL scores, with a mean decrease in PSA of 74.6% postoperatively. There were no reported complications with this technique and the average resection time (48.2 min) was decreased in comparison to those reported for HoLAP or HoLEP monotherapies. Conclusions This is the first report of surgical therapy for BPH involving two different holmium laser therapies. This hybrid technique offers tissue for pathologic analysis in comparison to HoLAP, and an improved learning curve and decreased complication rate in comparison to HoLEP. Additional studies are warranted to validate this data.
Low Temperature Photoluminescence Spectroscopy of Defect and Interband Transitions in CdSexTe1-x Thin Films

We present the defect analysis by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of CdSexTe1-x thin films, grown with varying Se content by a co-sputtered deposition method. We observe a peak at 1.203 eV in the CdSexTe1-x film for x = 0.21, which shifts towards higher energies with increase in laser power. This peak was assigned to a donor-to-acceptor (DAP) transition, with a measured j-shift of ~4.7 meV/decade. Temperature dependent PL intensity measurements confirm that the observed DAP peak involves a shallow defect state of binding energy ~34.7 meV. In contrast, a free-to-bound (FB) peak at 1.294 eV involving a shallow defect of binding energy ~18.3 meV was observed in the CdSexTe1-x film for x = 0.14. Additionally, we observe band edge emission at 1.452 eV and 1.448 eV in CdSexTe1-x films for x = 0.14 and x = 0.21 respectively. Our analysis shows that the Se concentration not only changes the band gap energy of the resulting CdSexTe1-x alloy thin film, but also modifies the nature of the dominant observed defect emission.
Combining Survival and Toxicity Effect Sizes from Clinical Trials: NCCTG 89-20-52 (Alliance).

Background How can a clinician and patient incorporate survival and toxicity information into a single expression of comparative treatment benefit? Sloan et al. recently extended the ½ standard deviation concept for judging the clinical importance of findings from clinical trials to survival and tumor response endpoints. A new method using this approach to combine survival and toxicity effect sizes from clinical trials into a quality-adjusted effect size is presented. Methods The quality-adjusted survival effect size (QASES) is calculated as survival effect size (ESS) minus the calibrated toxicity effect sizes (EST) (QASES=ESS-EST). This combined effect size can be weighted to adjust for the relative emphasis placed by the patient on survival and toxicity effects. Results As an example, consider clinical trial NCCTG 89-20-52 which randomized patients to once-daily thoracic radiotherapy (ODTRT) versus twice-daily treatment of thoracic radiotherapy (TDRT) for the treatment of lung cancer. The ODTRT vs. TDRT arms had median survival time of 22 vs. 20 months (p=0.49) and toxicity rate of 39% vs. 54%, (p<0.05). The QASES of 0.18 standard deviations translates to a quality-adjusted survival difference of 5.7 months advantage for the ODRT arm over the TDRT treatment arm (22(16.3) months), p<0.05). Similar results are presented for the four possible case combinations of significant/non-significant survival and toxicity benefits using completed clinical trials. Conclusions We used a novel approach to re-analyze clinical trial data to produce a single estimate for each treatment that combines survival and toxicity data. The QASES approach is an intuitive and mathematically simple yet robust approach.
Changes in microbial communities and associated water and gas geochemistry across a sulfate gradient in coal beds: Powder River Basin, USA

Abstract Competition between microbial sulfate reduction and methanogenesis drives cycling of fossil carbon and generation of CH4 in sedimentary basins. However, little is understood about the fundamental relationship between subsurface aqueous geochemistry and microbiology that drives these processes. Here we relate elemental and isotopic geochemistry of coal-associated water and gas to the microbial community composition from wells in two different coal beds across CH4 and SO42− gradients (Powder River Basin, Montana, USA). Areas with high CH4 concentrations generally have higher alkalinity and δ13C-DIC values, little to no SO42−, and greater conversion of coal-biodegradable organics to CH4 (based on δ13C-CH4 and δ13C-CO2 values). Wells with SO42− concentrations from 2 to 10 mM had bacterial populations dominated by several different sulfate-reducing bacteria and archaea that were mostly novel and unclassified. In contrast, in wells with SO42− concentrations
Group-based transmission of fatherhood among intergenerational African American fathers: A case study

Problem Nonresidential fatherhood contributes to the fact that over 70% of African American (AA) children grow up in homes without their biological fathers. In the absence of gender-specific parental guidance, AA young men who become fathers may lack paternal-parenting preparation. Methods This secondary data analysis describes the verbal exchange of fatherhood perspectives among four experienced fathers and one adolescent father who participated in a pilot of group-based fatherhood intervention. Qualitative descriptive case study methodology guided by Social Learning Theory was used to explore the transmission of fathering perspectives between fathers. Findings Qualitative thematic analysis affirmed that adverse emotional and psychological distress may be avoided with positive parenting preparedness. Culturally-specific group-based bidirectional learning can transmit fatherhood knowledge and skills to adolescent nonresidential fathers and this new perspective can contribute to adolescent wellbeing. Conclusions There is a need to investigate channels for AA adolescent boys, young men and fathers to engage in cultural-congruent paternal modeling in the event that their biological father or other social father role models are absent from their lives.
Testing the machine heuristic: robots and suspicion in news broadcasts

The purpose of this study was to test the strength of the machine heuristic; specifically when suspicion is primed in a message receiver concerning the veracity of information from a robot delivering news. Results demonstrate that low suspicion led to higher credibility evaluations, which consequently increased behavioral intentions. Findings are discussed in light of the MAIN model.
Moving Into the Loop: An Investigation of Drivers' Steering Behavior in Highly Automated Vehicles.

ObjectiveThis paper investigates driver engagement with vehicle automation and the transition to manual control in the context of a phenomenon that we have termed vicarious steering—drivers steerin...
Single-Molecule Optical Tweezers Studies of Translation

Translation, the process of ribosome-mediated protein synthesis, is a key step for gene expression regulation. Single-molecule optical tweezers technique has had great success in biophysical characterization of many important molecular interactions, but its application to the translation process remained challenging until recently. The past decade witnessed fast progress of the successful application of optical tweezers technique to various aspects of the translation process, including mRNA structure disruption during translation initiation, the peptide chain elongation kinetics, and the interactions between ribosome and nascent polypeptide. In this chapter, we will give a brief introduction of the single-molecule optical tweezers technique and a comprehensive overview of its application in translation.
A Time-of-Flight On-Robot Proximity Sensing System to Achieve Human Detection for Collaborative Robots

The sensor system presented in this article demonstrates the results of designing an exteroceptive sensing device for proximity sensing for collaborative robots. The intention of this design’s application is to develop an on-robot small footprint proximity sensing device. The design was assembled and put through a number of benchmark tests to validate the performance of the time-of-flight(ToF) sensor system when used in proximity sensing: Single Sensor Characterization, Sensor Overlap Characterization, and Sensor Ranging Under Motion. Through these tests, the ToF sensor ring achieves real time data throughput while minimizing blind spots.
Kinetic Analysis on the Role of Bicarbonate in Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction at Immobilized Cobalt Phthalocyanine

The mechanism for carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) to carbon monoxide (CO) at immobilized cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) in aqueous electrolytes has been widely debated. In this work, we investigated...
Robotic Surgery: The Impact of Simulation and Other Innovative Platforms on Performance and Training.

ABSTRACT Objective To review the current status of robotic training and the impact of various training platforms on the performance of robotic surgical trainees. Data Sources Literature review of Google Scholar and PubMed. The search terms included a combination of the following: “robotic training,” “simulation,” “robotic curriculum,” “obgyn residency robotic training,” “virtual reality robotic training,” “DaVinci training,” “surgical simulation,” “gyn surgical training.” The sources considered for inclusion included peer-reviewed articles, literature reviews, textbook chapters, and statements from various institutions involved in resident training. Methods of Study Selection A literature search of Google Scholar and PubMed using terms related to robotic surgery and robotics training, as mentioned in the “Data Sources” section. Results Multiple novel platforms that use machine learning and real-time video feedback to teach and evaluate robotic surgical skills have been developed over recent years. Various training curricula, virtual reality simulators, and other robotic training tools have been shown to enhance robotic surgical education and improve surgical skills. The integration of didactic learning, simulation, and intraoperative teaching into more comprehensive training curricula shows positive effects on robotic skills proficiency. Few robotic surgery training curricula have been validated through peer-reviewed study, and there is more work to be completed in this area. In addition, there is a lack of information about how the skills obtained through robotics curricula and simulation translate into operating room performance and patient outcomes. Conclusion Data collected to date show promising advances in the training of robotic surgeons. A diverse array of curricula for training robotic surgeons continue to emerge, and existing teaching modalities are evolving to keep up with the rapidly growing demand for proficient robotic surgeons. Futures areas of growth include establishing competency benchmarks for existing training tools, validating existing curricula, and determining how to translate the acquired skills in simulation into performance in the operating room and patient outcomes. Many surgical training platforms are beginning to expand beyond discrete robotic skills training to procedure-specific and team training. There is still a wealth of research to be done to understand how to create an effective training experience for gynecologic surgical trainees and robotics teams.
Supply chain research: considering the discipline’s evolving relationship with marketing, current issues, and future research directions

The time is right for an assessment of the current and (hopeful) future states of SCM research, so that theoreticians and practitioners can increase the length of their strides as they propel the f...
Predicting and mitigating single-event upsets in DRAM using HOTH

Abstract There is a growing demand for using commodity memory and storage solutions to make commercial aerospace ventures economically feasible. Existing radiation-hardened computer systems cannot meet this need alone. These hardened systems provide sufficient protection against the harsh environment of the upper atmosphere and low-Earth orbit, but require dramatically increased cost and utilize commercially out of date architectures and fabrication technologies. If new aerospace systems can take advantage of the latest commodity memories, they can leverage relevant advanced fabrication processes and the economy of scale to control costs. Of course, such systems would require new strategies to maintain appropriate tolerance and/or resilience to faults from the harsh environment. In this work, we observe that single-event effects (SEEs) in recent generation DRAM memories are not entirely random, and in fact are often highly predictable under neutron radiation bombardment. We demonstrate the existence of a small number of weak cells responsible for the vast majority of single-bit, SEEs. Based on this observation, we present a memory fault mapping and tolerance approach called HOTH to mitigate these predictable fault modes in conjunction with more random/unpredictable SEEs in DDR3 memory. In HOTH, both single- and multi-bit effects can be mitigated individually at runtime using a combination of existing error-correcting code techniques in Chipkill ECC and a fault map framework. The HOTH fault map is stored in the same DRAM that is subject to SEEs and leverages a fault-tolerance approach to mitigate SEEs that might appear in that part of the storage. Using data from different memory DIMMs, form factors, and radiation incidence angles we show that with HOTH we can improve uncorrectable fault rate by at least ten orders of magnitude and increase mean-time-to-failure to thousands of years, allowing extended service times in harsh environments.
Implicit Taxes of U.S. Domestic and Multinational Firms during the Past Quarter Century

Recent research by Dyreng et al (2014) finds that the effective tax rates for both foreign and domestic firms have been steadily decreasing over recent decades and that multinational firms (MNEs) do not have a tax-based cost advantage relative to their domestic counterparts. This paper extends this research and examines implicit taxes for MNEs. We use the approach outlined by Jennings et al. (2012) and find that for both domestic and multinational firms, lower effective tax rates are only partially offset by implicit taxes. Further, we find that implicit taxes for MNEs are lower than domestic firms and have fallen over time, while implicit taxes on domestic firms have been rising. We also find that differences in implicit taxes between domestic and MNE firms widen when MNE firms derive a larger portion of their pretax income from foreign sources. Our results underscore the contention in Shackelford and Shevlin (2001) that measuring differences in explicit tax burdens without implicit taxes may lead to incomplete findings.
Burden is in the eye of the beholder: Sensitivity of yellow fever disease burden estimates to modeling assumptions.

Estimates of disease burden are important for setting public health priorities. These estimates involve numerous modeling assumptions, whose uncertainties are not always well described. We develope...
Beyond the property tax: local government revenue diversification

Local governments in the U.S. rely less on the property tax than they have historically. This long-term trend has been accompanied by important shifts in the composition of local revenues. While the property tax still serves as one primary source of local government revenue, increasingly other sources are used to pay for local government. This paper first examines that trend, the forces behind it, and its regional impact. We then explore trends in three central states - - Iowa, Nebraska, and Arkansas -- that have experienced substantial revenue shifts in recent years. A concluding section discusses the options for the future.
Structure of the human gene encoding the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase.

The beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK) specifically phosphorylates the agonist-occupied forms of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor and related G protein-coupled receptors. beta ARK is one of the best characterized members of a growing family of G protein-coupled receptor kinases. In this article we report the isolation and structural organization of the human beta ARK gene. The gene spans approximately 23 kilobases and is composed of 21 exons interrupted by 20 introns. Exon sizes range from 52 bases (exon 7) to over 1200 bases (exon 21), intron sizes from 68 bases (intron L) to 10.8 kilobases (intron A). The splice sites for donor and acceptor were in agreement with the canonical GT/AG rule. Functional regions of beta ARK are described with respect to their location within the exon-intron organization of the gene. Primer extension and RNase protection assays suggest a major transcription start site approximately 246 bases upstream of the start ATG. Sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking/promoter region reveals many features characteristic of mammalian housekeeping genes, i.e. the lack of a TATA box, an absent or nonstandard positioned CAAT box, high GC content, and the presence of Sp1-binding sites. The extraordinarily high GC content of the 5'-flanking region (> 80%) helps define this region as a CpG island that may be a principal regulator of beta ARK expression.
Stem cells and scaffolds for vascularizing engineered tissue constructs.

The clinical impact of tissue engineering depends upon our ability to direct cells to form tissues with characteristic structural and mechanical properties from the molecular level up to organized tissue. Induction and creation of functional vascular networks has been one of the main goals of tissue engineering either in vitro, for the transplantation of prevascularized constructs, or in vivo, for cellular organization within the implantation site. In most cases, tissue engineering attempts to recapitulate certain aspects of normal development in order to stimulate cell differentiation and functional tissue assembly. The induction of tissue growth generally involves the use of biodegradable and bioactive materials designed, ideally, to provide a mechanical, physical, and biochemical template for tissue regeneration. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), derived from the inner cell mass of a developing blastocyst, are capable of differentiating into all cell types of the body. Specifically, hESCs have the capability to differentiate and form blood vessels de novo in a process called vasculogenesis. Human ESC-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial cells have substantial potential for microvessel formation, in vitro and in vivo. Human adult EPCs are being isolated to understand the fundamental biology of how these cells are regulated as a population and to explore whether these cells can be differentiated and reimplanted as a cellular therapy in order to arrest or even reverse damaged vasculature. This chapter focuses on advances made toward the generation and engineering of functional vascular tissue, focusing on both the scaffolds – the synthetic and biopolymer materials – and the cell sources – hESCs and hEPCs.
Co-Occurrence of Nutrition Problems in Honduran Children

We used data from the 1996 Honduras National Micronutrient Survey to investigate the co-occurrence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD), anemia and stunting in a representative sample of Honduran children 1-5 y old. Observed frequencies of co-occurrence were compared with frequencies expected by chance in children 12-35.9 mo old (n = 633) and 36-59.9 mo old (n = 610) for the three possible two-way combinations of the problems and the three-way combination. Observed frequencies were greater than expected frequencies for all eight comparisons, and all comparisons except for that of stunting and anemia in younger children were significant. The observed frequency of the three-way co-occurrence was 8.4% compared with an expected co-occurrence of 8.1% in younger children (P: < 0.05) and 4.8% compared with 4.2%, respectively, in older children (P: < 0.001). Although there was statistical evidence for co-occurrence, differences between expected and observed prevalences were small for most comparisons. Our findings suggest that having one or two problems does not appreciably increase the probability of having another. The efficiency of nutrition interventions aimed at these conditions would not be improved by targeting children with any one of the conditions; rather, the three conditions should be treated as virtually independent when designing programs. Replication of this study in other settings is warranted.
The Rejection of Origin: Derrida's Interpretation of Husserl

Derrida's Husserl thinks of meaning as self-presence and of self-presence as transparent and complete presence of meaning to the mind. Expression and thought are but particular modes or media of the more englobing relation of a self-acquainted life. Reflection is the highest form and telos of the other forms of presence. In contrast, the — by no means complete — Husserl who has begun to appear in my interpretation does not unconditionally subscribe to the value of presence. Not only is an important part of intentional life directed towards objects which it does not possess in their plenitude — hence its emptiness —, this part of intentional life is also blind towards itself. Reflection tries to fill this gap by grasping what is not present to a life immersed in its world. But a retreat from life is the price of presence, a presence, in addition, whose power is essentially limited by the fluidity of its material and by the limits of its bearers. And yet Husserl maintains, passionately maintains, the claim and value of reflection and of a scientific attitude which Derrida rejects with equal passion. May they not have a positive function in a frame which is no longer that of presence metaphysics? As deconstruction has evolved its philosophy of anti-presence, it has brushed away the reflexive potential of Phenomenology and chosen to reject ‘its own origin”.
Computerized text editing and processing with built-in indexing

Abstract A system of text editing and processing that involves an entirely unconventional approach to the production of books with indexes is proposed. Indexing is not based on page proof, as conventionally, but rather on the author's manuscript. The index is sorted and compiled by computer by about the time the manuscript enters the production stream, and is output in type concurrently with composition of the text. Generation of the index thus becomes an integral part of the total text editing and processing system: it no longer constitutes a separate, isolated function to be performed at the end of the production cycle. Computerized concurrent indexing eliminates the great bottleneck that indexing traditionally has been in book production. It telescopes editing and typesetting time, eases proofing, correcting, and scheduling procedures, and, of course, cuts production costs. The entire book—both text and index—can be typeset in virtually one nonstop operation. The main advantage to the author is that he will no longer be required to prepare his index long after having finished his manuscript, nor will he have to undertake any clerical compilation work. The availability, further, of a preliminary index sortout will make possible the discovery and correcting of errors in the manuscript while it is yet unset, thus achieving a more greatly strengthened text. Scholarship, too, will benefit by the timeliness and effectiveness of the more speedily and economically produced book. International patents are pending on the system.
The page replacement algorithms for PRIME 400, DEC VAX-11/780, DEC TOPS-10, IBM OS/370 MVS, IBM VM/370

Page replacement algorithms are one of the most important aspects of memory management schemes. This paper presents the page replacement algorithms of the following systems: PRIME 400, DEC VAX-11/780, DEC TOPS-10, IBM OS/370 MVS, and IBM VM/370. Illustrations are provided for all systems.
Ascertainment bias in the estimation of sibling genetic risk parameters

The sibling recurrence risk, sibling relative risk, and locus-specific sibling relative risk are fundamental quantities in genetic epidemiologic research and are often estimated without accounting for the sampling scheme. For data generated under some genetic models, bias of estimates may be large if the sampling method is incorrectly modeled. In this paper, we explore the relationship between ascertainment of sibships and estimation and interpretation of genetic risk parameters. In particular, we observe that, although traditional definitions of these population parameters are consistent with each other, implied assumptions about ascertainment and the nature of ascertainment correction differ. In the absence of ascertainment correction, unbiased estimation of sibling recurrence risk and overall sibling relative risk requires single ascertainment, while unbiased estimation of locus-specific sibling relative risk requires complete ascertainment.
Nanolithography of metal catalysts by Dip Pen Nanolithography

Nano-patterning of metals on gold film and silicon nitride membrane using Dip Pen Nanolithography (DPN TM ) is reported in this study. Using this technique, nano-particles can be delivered or nano-scale features of metals can be deposited precisely at specific locations using the unique registration capabilities of DPN. Monolayers of metal salts (FeCl 2 , FeCl 3 , PdCl 2 , etc.) are deposited with nano-scale precision using DPN. These metal salts can be subsequerntly reduced to pure metals in a reducing environment for various applications (e.g., magnetic memory storage, nano-catalysis, molecular electronics, brand protection, nano-sensors, etc.). Square nano-patterns of Palladium and Iron salts were successfully deposited using this technique with thickness of the deposited materials being less than 1 nm.
Global values shift and social work in America Making positive change

EnglishAdvanced post-industrial countries manifest values change in the direction of greater secularity and self-actualization. Since 1980, however, America has shown evidence of regression towards authoritarian and anti-democratic values. This article explores why the regression is occurring and its negative implications for social welfare policy development and practice.FrenchLes nations post-industrielles avancees manifestent des changements de valeurs dans la direction d'une plus grande secularite et de l'actualisation de son potentiel personnel. Toutefois, depuis 1980 l'Amerique fait preuve evidente de regression vers des valeurs autoritaires et anti-democratiques. Cet article explore les raisons de cette regression et ses repercussions negatives sur le developpement des politiques sociales et sur les pratiques sociales.SpanishLos paises avanzados post-industriales muestran un cambio de valores hacia mayor secularizad y autorrealizacion. Sin embargo, desde 1980 America muestra evidencia de una regres...
The impaired ventilatory response to acute hypoxemia in sleeping lambs exposed to nicotine prenatally is mediated by a dopaminergic mechanism. ♦ 1949

Maternal smoking is a major risk factor for SIDS. We have previously shown that prenatal nicotine exposure impairs the cardiorespiratory response to acute hypoxemia in sleeping young lambs (Pediatr Res 41:302A, 1997). The aim of this study was to determine whether this effect is mediated by a dopaminergic mechanism.
Gravitational wave snapshots of generic extreme mass ratio inspirals

Using black hole perturbation theory, we calculate the gravitational waves produced by test particles moving on bound geodesic orbits about rotating black holes. The orbits we consider are generic--simultaneously eccentric and inclined. The waves can be described as having radial, polar, and azimuthal ''voices,'' each of which can be made to dominate by varying eccentricity and inclination. Although each voice is generally apparent in the waveform, the radial voice is prone to overpowering the others. We also compute the radiative fluxes of energy and axial angular momentum at infinity and through the event horizon. These fluxes, coupled to a prescription for the radiative evolution of the Carter constant, will be used in future work to adiabatically evolve through a sequence of generic orbits. This will enable the calculation of inspiral waveforms that, while lacking certain important features, will approximate those expected from astrophysical extreme mass ratio captures sufficiently well to aid development of measurement algorithms on a relatively short time scale.
Formation of tyloses in felled Quercus rubra L.

Tyloses form in red oak (Quercus rubra L.) sapwood in a period of hours if the wood is cut during the active growth season and stored in green condition in the laboratory. If the wood is cut during dormancy and stored in green condition, tyloses form in a period of months. Electron microscopic examination reveals that the wall of a tylosis forms from a promonths. Electron microscopic examination reveals that the wall of a tylosis forms from a protective layer that develops inside the secondary wall of the ray cell in the vessel-ray pit-pair. Protective layers are also present in fiber-parenchyma pit-pairs. Protective layers may exhibit variable thicknesses, with light and dark layers alternating. A young tylosis wall consists of two layers: An electron-dense outer layer and an electron-transparent inner layer. Tyloses walls may attach to each other and form multilamellate tyloses. Sometimes the individual layers of tyloses walls appear lamellated. Because of the type of formation and structure, the tylosis wall in red oak apparently is a primary wall rather than a secondary. Tyloses walls have simple pits. The findings of this study enable felled hardwoods with potential for forming tyloses to be used without the destructive influence of tyloses.
Making Chemistry Relevant to the Engineering Major

As part of a campus-wide, externally funded project to increase performance in, enthusiasm for, and retention within STEM disciplines, we developed an interdisciplinary, team-taught first-year seminar course. The construction and delivery of this course was designed to show the relevance of selected general chemistry topics such as matter and energy to students in STEM disciplines outside of chemistry, particularly to pre-engineering students. Centered on a “science in space” theme, students in the course participated in a series of hands-on, open-ended activities adapted from the chemical education literature. Concept maps were used as assessment tools to measure improvement of cognition, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These instruments were also useful in evaluating the students’ grasp of relevance regarding general chemistry topics. At the end of the course, participating students have shown improvement in all targeted skill areas and articulate the relevance of chemistry to engineering, physics, and other STEM disciplines. Additionally, students participating in this program have increased academic success during their first year and beyond, as measured by retention, test performance, GPA, and progression metrics.
Induction of oral tolerance by CpG-ODNs in a murine model of asthma

Abstract Rationale Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG-ODNs), administered systemically or into the airway, protect against eosinophilic airway inflammation in murine models of asthma; in this study, we evaluated the effects of oral administration of CpG-ODNs on atopic responses. Methods CpG-ODNs (10–1,000 μg) were administered by gastric gavage to mice at various time-points relative to sensitization to and challenge with the experimental allergen, ovalbumin (OVA); to evaluate the effect of CpG-ODNs on oral tolerance, OVA was coadministered with CpG-ODNs for some studies. Outcomes assessed included cellular airway inflammation, and OVA-specific immunoglobulin levels. Results Oral administration of CpG-ODNs around the time of OVA-sensitization prevented the induction of eosinophilic airway inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Induction of oral tolerance by the daily administration of high doses (20 mg) of OVA successfully prevented airway inflammation; this was not significantly affected by coadministration of CpG-ODNs. In this model, however, while both conditions suppressed OVA-specific IgG1, only mice that received both CpG-ODNs and OVA demonstrated enhanced IgG2a. In mice with previously-established OVA-induced airway inflammation, only those treated with both OVA and CpG-ODNs (but not treated with either agent alone) demonstrated tolerance to inhaled OVA, manifested by reduced airway. This desensitization also paralleled enhanced IgG2a production Conclusions These findings provide the first indication that oral administration of CpG-ODNs is effective in preventing onset of antigen-induced eosinophilic airway inflammation in murine model of asthma. More importantly, when CpG-ODNs was administered orally with antigen, successive oral tolerance was induced in established eosinophilic airway inflammation.
Hydrogen chemisorption studies on supported platinum using the flow technique

The chemisorption of H 2 onPt/γAl 2 O 3 was studied using the flow technique to investigate the effect of the operating variables and catalyst pretreatment on the chemisorption measurements. The results indicate that the hydrogen uptake is independent of the sample volume and of the amount of catalyst used. Proper degassing of the surface with ultrahigh pure Argon is required to obtain reproducible results. When the catalyst was exposed to oxygen at 500 °C, the hydrogen uptake depended on the extent of the catalyst reduction.
Type 1 Interferons Suppress Accelerated Osteoclastogenesis and Prevent Loss of Bone Mass During Systemic Inflammatory Responses to Pneumocystis Lung Infection

HIV infection causes loss of CD4+ T cells and type 1 interferon (IFN)–producing and IFN-responsive dendritic cells, resulting in immunodeficiencies and susceptibility to opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis. Osteoporosis and bone marrow failure are additional unexplained complications in HIV-positive patients and patients with AIDS, respectively. We recently demonstrated that mice that lack lymphocytes and IFN a/b receptor (IFrag−/−) develop bone marrow failure after Pneumocystis lung infection, whereas lymphocyte-deficient, IFN α/β receptor–competent mice (RAG−/−) had normal hematopoiesis. Interestingly, infected IFrag−/− mice also exhibited bone fragility, suggesting loss of bone mass. We quantified bone changes and evaluated the potential connection between progressing bone fragility and bone marrow failure after Pneumocystis lung infection in IFrag−/− mice. We found that Pneumocystis infection accelerated osteoclastogenesis as bone marrow failure progressed. This finding was consistent with induction of osteoclastogenic factors, including receptor-activated nuclear factor-κB ligand and the proapoptotic factor tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand, in conjunction with their shared decoy receptor osteoprotegerin, in the bone marrow of infected IFrag−/− mice. Deregulation of this axis has also been observed in HIV-positive individuals. Biphosphonate treatment of IFrag−/− mice prevented bone loss and protected loss of hematopoietic precursor cells that maintained activity in vitro but did not prevent loss of mature neutrophils. Together, these data show that bone loss and bone marrow failure are partially linked, which suggests that the deregulation of the receptor-activated nuclear factor-κB ligand/osteoprotegerin/tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand axis may connect the two phenotypes in our model.
Simulation of electrophoretic stretching of DNA in a microcontraction using an obstacle array for conformational preconditioning

Recently our group has reported experiments using an obstacle array to precondition the conformations of DNA molecules to facilitate their stretch in a microcontraction. Based upon previous successes simulating electrophoretic stretching in microcontractions without obstacles, we use our simulation model to study the deformation of DNA chains in a microcontraction preceded by an array of cylindrical obstacles. We compare our data to the experimental results and find good qualitative, and even quantitative, agreement concerning the behavior of the chains in the array; however, the simulations overpredict the mean stretch of the chains as they leave the contraction. We examine the amount of stretch gained between leaving the array and reaching the end of the contraction and speculate that the differences seen are caused by nonlinear electrokinetic effects that become important in the contraction due to a combination of field gradients and high field strengths.
End of Life Curriculum in an Internal Medicine Residency Program: Curriculum Reevaluation (777)

Result. 91 consecutive patients with advanced cancer were included. The median age was 58 years, 55% were female, and 70% were white. The most common pain type was nociceptive pain (68%). 62% had incidental pain, 52% had psychological distress, and 2/91 (<1%) had cognitive impairment. The median MEDD was 45 and the CAGE score was positive in 7.8% of patients. There were no associations between pain intensity and age, gender, race or cancer type. ECS-CP psychosocial distress (r 1⁄4 0.18, P 1⁄4 0.07), addictive behavior (r 1⁄4 0.09, P 1⁄4 0.28), and cognitive function (r 1⁄4 0.02, P 1⁄4 0.8) were also not associated with pain intensity. There was however significant association between pain intensity and ECS-CP pain type (r 1⁄4 0.29, P 1⁄4 0.005), incidental pain(r 1⁄4 0.21, P 1⁄4 0.04), MEDD(R 1⁄4 0.23, P 1⁄4 0.02), and opioid rotation(r 1⁄4 0.32, P 1⁄4 0.002).
It’s a Matter of Principle: The Role of Personal Values in Investment Decisions

We investigate the role of personal values in an investment decision in a controlled experimental setting. Participants were asked to choose an investment in a bond issued by a tobacco company or a bond issued by a non-tobacco company that offered an equal or sometimes lower yield. We then surveyed the participants regarding their feelings toward tobacco use to determine whether these values influenced their investment decision. Using factor analysis, we identified investment- and tobacco-related dimensions on which participants’ responses tended to load. Two of these factors, relating to the societal impact of investment decisions and the health effects of tobacco, were highly significant in determining whether participants selected a tobacco or non-tobacco related investment. More importantly, we found that when the rate of return on a tobacco-related investment exceeds the rate of return on an investment not involving tobacco by 1%, the intensity of participant concerns about the societal effects of their investment decisions was especially important in determining investment choices. This finding indicates that traditional wealth-maximization approaches, which do not consider the personal values of the investor, omit an important factor that affects investment decisions.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S PERCEPTIONS OF EFFORT DURING PROGRESSIVE-RESISTANCE STRENGTH TRAINING

Previously sedentary adult men (M age=34.3 yr.) and women (M age =41.8 yr.) participated in a 25-wk., 7-station circuit-training program designed to evaluate the effects of a low-volume (1 set) and a high-volume (3 set) exercise regimen on the development of muscular strength. Participants completed the Borg scale of perceived exertion immediately following a chest-press exercise and a leg-extention exercise. Neither exercise volume nor sex classification was related to participants' ratings of exertion; however, exertion ratings for both exercises increased over the course of training.
Ovomucoid intervening sequences specify functional domains and generate protein polymorphism.

Abstract Two thirds of the natural chicken ovomucoid gene has been sequenced, including all exons and the intron sequences surrounding all fourteen intron/ exon junctions. The junction sequences surrounding four of the introns are redundant; however, the sequences surrounding the other three introns contain no redundancies and thus the splicing sites at either end of these three introns are unambiguous. The splicing in all cases conforms to the GT-AG rule. The ovomucoid gene sequence around intron F can be used to predict the cause of an internal deletion polymorphism in the ovomucoid protein, which is an apparent error in the processing of the ovomucoid pre-mRNA. We also compare the structural organization of the ovomucoid gene with the ovomucoid protein sequence to examine theories of the evolution of ovomucoids as well as the origin of intervening sequences. This analysis suggests that the present ovomucoid gene evolved from a primordial ovomucoid gene by two separate intragenic duplications. Furthermore, sequence analyses suggest that introns were present in the primordial ovomucoid gene before birds and mammals diverged, about 300 million years ago. Finally, the positions of the introns within the ovomucoid gene support the theory that introns separate gene segments that code for functional domains of proteins and provide insight on the manner by which eucaryotic genes were constructed during the process of evolution.