cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Near‐infrared probe for in situ characterization of nafion thin films

A near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing cyanine dye was used as a probe for in situ characterization of Nafion thin films. This NIR dye was very sensitive to changes in the hydrophobicity of the environment and proved to be very suitable for probing the Nafion coatings, which involve a two-Phase structure of hydrophobic and hydrophilic zones. Sorption phenomena of water and aqueous alkali salt solutions by Nafion were investigated. For our study systems of thin-coating films prepared from 5% wt alcoholic solution of Nafion 117, the absorption spectrum was dominated by higher-order aggregates when in dry form. In pure water, the absorption maximum of the monomer dye appears at 773 nm and can be used as an indication of the swelling process of the film. The water uptake reaches saturation in only a few seconds. After the swelling process, an additional absorption band with a maximum at 555 nm appears primarily at the expense of the NIR monomer dye absorption band. The peak transition process, which is a very slow process and is a strong function of the water content inside the matrix, can be used as an indication of the establishment of equilibrium between the two-phase structure due to the water uptake. Since the absorption maximum of the study system is around 800 nm, semiconductor lasers can be used. This technique shows high potential in other applications where polymers are used as support material, e.g., in situ thin-film thickness measurements. In the study, the feasibility of this approach was illustrated.
Parenteral Administration of l-Arginine Prevents Fetal Growth Restriction in Undernourished Ewes

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a major health problem worldwide that currently lacks an effective therapeutic solution. This study was conducted with an ovine IUGR model to test the hypothesis that parenteral administration of L-arginine (Arg) is effectivein enhancingfetal growth. Beginningon d 28 of gestation, ewes were fed a diet providing100% (control-fed) or 50% (underfed) of NRC-recommended nutrient requirements. Between d 60 of gestation and parturition, underfed ewes received i.v. infusions of saline or 155 mmol Arg-HCl/kg body weight 3 times daily, whereas control-fed ewes received only saline. The birth weights of lambs from saline-infused underfed ewes were 23% lower (P , 0.01) than those of lambs from control-fed dams. Administration of Arg to underfed ewes increased (P , 0.01) concentrations of Arg (69%), ornithine (55%), proline (29%), methionine (37%), leucine (36%), isoleucine (35%), cysteine (19%), and FFA (43%) in maternal serum, decreased maternal circulating levels of ammonia (18%) and triglycerides (32%), and enhanced birth weights of lambs by 21% compared with saline-infused underfed ewes. There was no difference in birth weights of lambs between the control-fed and the Arg-infused underfed ewes. These novel results indicate that parenteral administration of Arg to underfed ewes prevented fetal growth restriction and provide support for its clinical use to ameliorate IUGR in humans. The findings also lay a new framework for studying cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of Arg in regulating conceptus growth and development. J. Nutr. 140: 1242‐1248, 2010.
"Traditional" Community Agencies and the Prevention of Mental Illness

[This paper examines some of the unique problems encountered by developing nations and the impact of such problems on the provision of preventive mental health services for children and youths. Several prerequisites for effective program delivery are reviewed and synthesized in order to formulate the broad outlines of a potential prevention model for developing nations. A brief analysis of the GAIN (Group Activities for Individual Needs) Program reveals some of the parameters of such a model.]
Structuring group learning within a Web-based science inquiry program

With an increased emphasis on inquiry in science education nationwide, we examined trends in the ways science teachers organized students into groups to implement one prominent one Web-based science inquiry program, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE). Our study focused on survey and case study data that SRI International collected as part of its ongoing evaluation of GLOBE (Means et al., 2001). We hypothesized: (1) teachers who are active in implementing an inquiry-based science program more frequently employ collaboration for cognitively complex activities than teachers who are less active implementers; (2) active teachers use collaboration more over time; and, (3) active GLOBE teachers who organize learning by collaborative groups perceive greater learning benefits than active teachers who rarely used collaboration. Our study confirmed that active teachers of an inquiry-based science program use collaboration more over time, but they are no more likely than less active teachers to see collaboration as beneficial to student learning. We also found that active teachers were likely to use collaborative small groups primarily to support data collection and reporting tasks to make them fit better into the classroom schedule than for data analysis and interpretation.
Filtering error from SOLiD Output

Summary: Here, we report the development of a filtering framework designed for efficient identification of both polyclonal and independent errors within SOLiD sequence data. The filtering utilizes the quality values reported by SOLiD's primary analysis for the identification of the two different types of errors. The filtering framework facilitates the passage of high-quality data into a variety of functional genomics applications, including de novo assemblers and sequence matching programs for SNP calling, improving the output quality and reducing resources necessary for analysis. Availability: This error analysis framework is written in Perl and runs on Mac OS and Linux/Unix systems. The filter, documentation and sample Excel files for quality analysis are available at http://hts.rutgers.edu/filter and are distributed as Open Source software under the GPLv3.0. Contact: tmichael@waksman.rutgers.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data is available at Bioinformatics online.
A Comprehensive Tapered buffer optimization algorithm for unified design metrics

Tapered buffers are widely used in CMOS integrated circuits to drive large capacitive loads. During the design of a tapered buffer, there are several design objectives to consider including delay, area, and power consumption. Existing methods produce suboptimal solutions considering multiple metrics, largely because they decouple different metrics during the design phase, which restricts the solution space for the combined metric. In this paper, a new algorithm is proposed to derive the optimal solution for a unified metric through comprehensive exploration of the solution space. Compared with existing methods, our method yields as high as 18.8% (9.0% on average) improvement in a unified design metric optimizing area, delay, and power simultaneously. The proposed algorithm also reduces buffer power consumption under delay constraints. The power reduction over existing alternatives is as much as 48.1% (28.7% on average).
Griselda Gámbaro's Theatre of Violence

Griselda Gambaro (b. 1928) is one of Latin America’s major writers. Her prolific work—twenty-eight plays, ten novels, many short stories, and children’s books—is the subject of extensive dramatic and literary criticism in this country and abroad. Her plays appear in numerous anthologies and are regularly produced throughout Latin America and in much of Europe. All of her plays have been produced and published in Argentina from El desatino (The Blunder), which opened in 1965 at the legendary Instituto di Tella, known in the sixties for its avant-garde arts programs, up to her most recent, a dramatic monologue adapted from Chekhov’s short story The Darling, which opened in Buenos Aires on August 8, 2003. Many of her plays have been translated into English and several have been published in the U.S., yet few have been produced here.
Consumption of Dairy Products and Risk of Parkinson's Disease

The authors prospectively investigated the association between intake of dairy products and risk of Parkinson's disease among 57,689 men and 73,175 women from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. A total of 250 men and 138 women with Parkinson's disease were identified during follow-up (1992-2001). Dairy product consumption was positively associated with risk of Parkinson's disease: Compared with the lowest intake quintile, the corresponding relative risks for quintiles 2-5 were 1.4, 1.4, 1.4, and 1.6 (95 percent confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 2.2; p for trend = 0.05). A higher risk among dairy product consumers was found in both men and women, although the association in women appeared nonlinear. Meta-analysis of all prospective studies confirmed a moderately elevated risk of Parkinson's disease among persons with high dairy product consumption: For extreme intake categories, relative risks were 1.6 (95 percent CI: 1.3, 2.0) for both sexes, 1.8 for men (95 percent CI: 1.4, 2.4), and 1.3 for women (95 percent CI: 0.8, 2.1). These data suggest that dairy consumption may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, particularly in men. More studies are needed to further examine these findings and to explore underlying mechanisms.
Standardized Screening for Suicidal Adolescents in Primary Care

OBJECTIVE: To determine if brief standardized screening for suicide risk in pediatric primary care practices will increase detection rates of suicidal youth, maintain increased detection and referral rates, and be replicated in other practices. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Physicians in 3 primary care practices received brief training in suicide risk, and 2 standardized questions were inserted into their existing electronic medical chart psychosocial interview. The questions automatically populated for all adolescents aged 12.0 to 17.9 years. Deidentified data were extracted during both intervention trials and for the same dates of the previous year. Referral rates were extracted from social work records. RESULTS: The rates of inquiry about suicide risk increased 219% (clinic A odds ratio [OR]: 2.04 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56–2.51]; clinic B OR: 3.20 [95% CI: 2.69–3.71]; clinic C OR: 1.85 [95% CI: 1.38–2.31]). The rate of case detection increased in clinic A (OR: 4.99 [95% CI: 4.20–5.79]), was maintained over 6 months after the intervention began (OR: 4.38 [95% CI: 3.74–5.02]), and was replicated in both clinic B (OR: 5.46 [95% [CI: 3.36–7.56]) and clinic C (OR: 3.42 [95% CI: 2.33–4.52]). The increase in case detection was 392% across all 3 clinics. Referral rates of suicidal youth to outpatient behavioral health care centers increased at a rate equal to that of the detection rates. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized screening for suicide risk in primary care can detect youth with suicidal ideation and prompt a referral to a behavioral health care center before a fatal or serious suicide attempt is made.
Development and Application of a Methodology for Sediment Source Identification. II: Optimization Approach

In this paper, we re-examine the question of identification of source areas using optimization methods for two Iowa water- sheds. The question of nonuniqueness is addressed first, with the result that only eight sediment contributing regions are allowed to be active simultaneously as in the companion study. Tukey's procedure is utilized to examine if the differences in erodibility of the different regions are statistically significant. Results were presented in the form of maps to obtain a spatial picture of the potential of sediment generating areas. Comparisons with physical characteristics of the watersheds showed good agreement between erosion potential and properties associated with erosion.
Modified Gold codes

Large families of weakly correlated codes, much in the spirit of R. Gold (1967) and T. Kasami (1971), are constructed. More general codes than those of Gold and Kasami, generated in essentially the same way, and with a much simpler method of proof, are given. >
N-sulfonamides of benzopyran-related potassium channel openers: Conversion of glyburide insensitive smooth muscle relaxants to potent smooth muscle contractors

Abstract N-sulfonamides of the benzopyran-related class of potassium channel openers were found to inhibit KCl-induced contractions of smooth muscle preparations (rat aorta or bladder preparations) in a glyburide insensitive manner or to augment contractions. These activities were found to be a function of the nature of the sulfonamide substiutents.
Density profile of spin cast polymethylmethacrylate thin films

The density profiles of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) thin films on silicon (111) single crystal wafers were investigated via neutron reflectivity measurements. Films were prepared by spin casting PMMA onto silicon wafers from o-xylene solution followed by annealing under vacuum at 90°C for 5 h. A ∼ 45 A thick layer at the free polymer surface was observed in the as-prepared samples that has a density about half the value of bulk PMMA. After heating above 110°C, this diffuse layer disappeared and the thin film density profile was transformed to one with a sharp free polymer surface. This transition was found to be irreversible
Regression models for explaining and predicting concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in fish from streams in the United States

Empirical regression models were developed for estimating concentrations of dieldrin, total chlordane, and total DDT in whole fish from U.S. streams. Models were based on pesticide concentrations measured in whole fish at 648 stream sites nationwide (1992-2001) as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program. Explanatory variables included fish lipid content, estimates (or surrogates) representing historical agricultural and urban sources, watershed characteristics, and geographic location. Models were developed using Tobit regression methods appropriate for data with censoring. Typically, the models explain approximately 50 to 70% of the variability in pesticide concentrations measured in whole fish. The models were used to predict pesticide concentrations in whole fish for streams nationwide using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's River Reach File 1 and to estimate the probability that whole-fish concentrations exceed benchmarks for protection of fish-eating wildlife. Predicted concentrations were highest for dieldrin in the Corn Belt, Texas, and scattered urban areas; for total chlordane in the Corn Belt, Texas, the Southeast, and urbanized Northeast; and for total DDT in the Southeast, Texas, California, and urban areas nationwide. The probability of exceeding wildlife benchmarks for dieldrin and chlordane was predicted to be low for most U.S. streams. The probability of exceeding wildlife benchmarks for total DDT is higher but varies depending on the fish taxon and on the benchmark used. Because the models in the present study are based on fish data collected during the 1990s and organochlorine pesticide residues in the environment continue to decline decades after their uses were discontinued, these models may overestimate present-day pesticide concentrations in fish.
Re-conceiving the Trinity as the Mystery of Salvation

We began by wondering what it might mean to speak of the immanent and economic threefoldness of God. Rahner's axiom provided leverage on the problem by showing that trinitarian theology is meant above all to be a truth about the mystery of salvation. That is, it is a way of both narrating and conceiving the God who saves and the God who saves.The correspondence between these two emphases presented a hermeneutical problem at two methodological levels, and so the second step was to examine the meaning of the copula in Rahner's axiom in order to decide how we might (a) link up our narrative of God's history with us with God's inner history, and, having answered that, how we might (b) link up our speculation about God's ‘inner’ life with the divine reality. We replied in the case of (a) that the axiom legislates speaking of God by drafting an equivalence between the temporal history of God-with-us and the eternal history of God, and vice versa: the economic trinity is the immanent trinity, and vice versa. In the case of (b) and building on the answer to (a), we proposed an understanding of the trinity as a theological model. The model (trinity of relations) is related to the ‘modeled’ (God-in-relation) both heuristically and ontologically. The theological model of trinity therefore must incorporate imagistic as well as discursive, indirect as well as direct modes of discourse.Finally, we indicated some of the theological and methodological consequences of understanding God as being the ‘God for us’, and of re-conceiving the doctrine of the trinity to be a theological model of salvation.
Effect of Buoyancy on the Generation of a Turbulent Mixing Layer

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses visual studies of the turbulent mixing layer, with and without density stratification. At moderate Reynolds numbers, the homogeneous mixing layer grows by an orderly process of combination of the large-scale vortical lumps that are present. This process has been termed “vortex pairing.” In the presence of a statically stable density difference, turbulence again results from the basic instability of the shearing flow. This instability may closely resemble the homogeneous result, or it may be quite different depending upon the magnitude of an appropriate Richardson number. However, vortex pairing is eventually inhibited by the buoyant restoring forces, and the mixing layer returns to a laminar state. With a large, statically unstable density difference (negative Richardson number), the turbulent mixing layer grows at a greatly accelerated rate caused by the penetration of rising and falling blobs. Increasing the shear across the mixing layer has a stabilizing influence on the growth rate.
LEARNING BANKS' EXPOSURE TO SYSTEMATIC RISK: EVIDENCE FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2008

Using a two-state Markov regime-switching intertemporal capital asset pricing model, we find that the exposure to systematic risk of bank stocks varies with size and the state of the economy. Across large banks, those with higher net interest margins and lower capital ratios are the most exposed to unexpected shifts in the term structure of interest rates. Small banks with higher net interest rate margins and that rely less on noninterest income are the most exposed to unexpected shifts in the stance of monetary policy. We apply the asset pricing model out of sample to assess its ability to detect troubled banks during a financial crisis.
Formation of a stable oligomer of β-2 microglobulin requires only transient encounter with Cu(II)

Beta-2 Microglobulin (beta2m) is a small, globular protein, with high solubility under conditions comparable to human serum. A complication of hemodialysis in renal failure patients is the deposition of unmodified beta2m as amyloid fibers. In vitro, exposure of beta2m to equimolar Cu(2+) under near-physiological conditions can result in self-association leading to amyloid fiber formation. Previously, we have shown that the early steps in this process involve a catalyzed structural rearrangement followed by formation of discrete oligomers. These oligomers, however, have a continued requirement for Cu(2+) while mature fibers are resistant to addition of metal chelate. Here, we report that the transition from Cu(2+) dependent to chelate resistant states occurs in the context of small oligomers, dimeric to hexameric in size. These species require Cu(2+) to form, but once generated, do not need metal cation for stability. Importantly, this transition occurs gradually over several days and the resulting oligomers are isolatable and kinetically stable on timescales exceeding weeks. In addition, formation is enhanced by levels of urea similar to those found in hemodialysis patients. Our results are consistent with our hypothesis that transient encounter of full-length wild-type beta2m with transition metal cation at the dialysis membrane interface is causal to dialysis related amyloidosis.
Transition in young adults with spina bifida: a qualitative study.

Background Adolescents and young adults with spina bifida are an at-risk population because of the complexity of their condition,developmental stage and social challenges.The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the transition to adulthood in young adults with spina bifida and to explore condition-related needs and life skills required during the transition process. Methods This qualitative study using narrative inquiry was part of a larger multi-site study of adaptation in young adults with spina bifida.Interviews were completed with 10 participants ranging in age from 18 to 25 years.The guided interview questions focused on specific dimensions of the transition experience related to the ecological model:self-management,independence and inner strength. Results Three themes capturing different dimensions of the young adults’ transition experiences emerged in the analysis.The themes included:(1) Struggling for independence,(2) Limiting social interactions and experiences with stigma,and (3) Building inner strength. Conclusion The qualitative study contributes to a better understanding of the challenges of transition to achieve self-management and social development for young adults with spina bifida. Findings in the life stories highlighted issues that necessitate increased advocacy and interventions from professionals within the health and social system.
Optimal mobile location tracking by multilayered model strategy

We developed a multilayered model for the purposes such as mobility management, mobile activity modeling, and optimal paging and mobile location tracking. A bottleneck in the forward control channel (FOCC) is caused due to constraints such as the limited bandwidth and number of radio frequency channels, and inefficiency of conventional mobile paging methods in mobile telecommunication systems. In order to minimize the paging cost and to maximize utilization of the bandwidth in the FOCC, we develop a new paging schema, based on the multilayered model, with the optimal partition of paging zones. By using the refined mobile's probability pattern stored in a statistical profile, we employ the genetic algorithm and the probabilistic cost function to generate the optimal partition of paging zones such that the paging cost to locate a mobile station as well as the bandwidth consumption in the FOCC is minimized.
VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY OF AFRICAN RUE (PEGANUM HARMALA) IN THE NORTHERN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Abstract African rue (Peganum harmala) is an herbaceous perennial plant native to arid and semiarid regions of northern Africa and Asian deserts that has spread to parts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Despite its occurrence in many geographic regions, little is known about the biology and ecology of this invasive species. We conducted field studies on 2 populations of African rue in the northern Chihuahuan Desert to describe its vegetative and reproductive phenology. Overwintering, dormant plants in both populations commenced growth in mid March, grew through May and June, and initially senesced during June and July. Shoot development was synchronous between the 2 populations, but was not related to ambient or soil temperatures or precipitation. Onset of senescence was not related to calendar date or accumulated temperature. Flower production commenced at both sites in mid April, and fruit maturation occurred in June and July. Fruit maturation was related to calendar date and ambie...
Finance, Theoretical and Applied

Like Caesar's Gaul, corporate finance is divided into three parts: theoretical, empirical, and normative. Important advances in any one of these three typically generate good ideas for the other two. I have been fortunate not to specialize in one part only. This review covers the history of capital structure theories, including the trade-off and pecking-order theories, and takes a skeptical view of how those theories have been tested so far. I give roughly equal space to normative, practical applications, including adjusted present value (APV), the valuation of real options, and the application of modern finance to regulation, insurance, the valuation of R&D, and the role of risk capital in financial institutions. Looking back, I realize that the supply of intriguing financial questions is inexhaustible.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in deep saline aquifers and formations

Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and sequestration in geologic media is one among many emerging strategies to reduce atmospheric emissions of anthropogenic CO2. This chapter looks at the potential of deep saline aquifers – based on their capacity and close proximity to large point sources of CO2 – as repositories for the geologic sequestration of CO2. The petrochemical characteristics which impact on the suitability of saline aquifers for CO2 sequestration and the role of coupled geochemical transport models and numerical tools in evaluating site feasibility are also examined. The full-scale commercial CO2 sequestration project at Sleipner is described together with ongoing pilot and demonstration projects.
The Mammalian Startle Response

One of the ultimate goals of neuroscience is to determine how the brain directs and changes behavior in man. Given the enormous complexity of this endeavor, an increasing number of neuroscientists have focused on invertebrates and lower vertebrates in an effort to simplify the problem. Eventually, however, it will be necessary to analyze the cellular basis of behavior in a complex mammalian brain. To approach the problem at this level, it would be useful to study a relatively simple behavior that can be elicited in mammals and that is sensitive to a variety of experimental treatments.
A Review of Design and Policy Interventions to Promote Nurses’ Restorative Breaks in Health Care Workplaces

The nursing profession in the United States is on the precipice of a crisis. Nurses are essential to the health care industry, and maintaining quality nursing care is a primary concern of today's health care managers. Health care facilities report high rates of staff burnout and turnover, and interest in the nursing profession among younger students is declining. Health care leaders must improve nurses' job satisfaction, performance, and retention. However, they often overlook the need for nurses' respite and underestimate the value of well-designed staff break areas. An exhaustive and systematic literature search was conducted in the summer of 2014, and all studies found on the topic were reviewed for their relevance and quality of evidence. The existing literature about the main causes of nurses' fatigue, barriers that prevent nurses from taking restorative breaks, and consequences of nurses' fatigue for staff, patient, and facility outcomes demonstrates the pressing need for interventions that improve nurses' working conditions. Additional literature on the restorative effects of breaks and the value of well-designed break areas indicates that efforts to improve breakroom design can play an important role in improving nurses' job satisfaction and performance.
Method for Portfolio Decision-Making Considering the Decision-Makers' Psychological Behaviors

Decision makers' psychological behaviors cannot be ignored in the real portfolio decision-making. In this paper,a decision analysis method based on cumulative prospect theory and mental account is proposed to solve the portfolio decision-making problem considering the decision-makers' psychological behaviors. First,decision makers' expected returns are regarded as the reference points,according to cumulative prospect theory,the gain and loss of each security's return with respect to reference points are calculated and comprehensive prospect values of all candidate securities in different market states are calculated. Then,according to the decision-makers' mental account,an optimization model for portfolio decision-making with probability constraint is constructed,whose objective is to maximize decision-makers' overall comprehensive prospect value,and whose constraints contain wealth threshold constraint and the probability constraint. After translating the probability constraint into linear constraints,portfolio alternative is obtained by solving the linear optimization model. Finally,a numerical example is used to verify the feasibility and validity of the method proposed in this paper. The results show that the method proposed in this paper can solve the securities portfolio problem considering decisionmakers' psychological behaviors.
Adopting the Network Model for Indexing in Object-Oriented Databases

Relational data model has been shown to be very suitable for implementing many object-oriented concepts. It, however, is not effective in supporting object navigation which is an important factor for access support in object-oriented applications. We propose a hybrid data model, and then an indexing technique based on it, in which the relational model is used for storage of data and the network model is used for generalized complex object indexing to exploit semantics. Such a symbiotic approach can have the advantages of both the above models.
National, International, and Inter-Professional Relations

This chapter describes the national, international, and inter-professional relations. Most institutions (as opposed to institutes) are larger, more influential, and longer-lived than the people, who found them and serve them. An institution can generally accomplish far more than an individual; even the most reclusive genius, who happens to be a composer, painter, or writer needs institutions (i.e., orchestras, museums, publishers) to bring his works into the light of public awareness. Globalization is certainly making national political barriers more permeable to economic; and therefore, also to cultural interchange, nation-states themselves are hardly relinquishing their respective political identities. In fact, they are proliferating to express such identity. Therefore, an obvious and natural way for philosophical practice to develop is through a national organization of practitioners. Several nations have already followed this path and many more are in the process of following it.
How Pronghorn Females Avoid Inbreeding Depression

After a bottleneck in a closed population of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), some inbred matings occurred, and we detected significant inbreeding depression. But inbred matings occurred less frequently than would be expected by chance. Pronghorn females chose mates after a sampling period and had complete control of the mating decision. Therefore, to discover the behavioral mechanism by which females avoided mating with close kin, we studied female movements and courtship sequences. When females moved from one harem to another in the sampling process, they did not shift to harem males of lower coancestry as they approached estrus. Rather, females progressed more slowly through the later courtship stages when the harem male was related vs. unrelated. Also, the rates of male courtship acts were higher within unrelated vs. related pairs. Some females appeared to use multiple mating as an inbreeding avoidance strategy. Our results suggested that inbreeding avoidance by female pronghorn occurred primarily by reactions to the late stages of male courtship, rather than by spatial avoidance of related males.
Comparative Kinetic Analysis of Ethane Pyrolysis at 0.1 and 2.0 MPa

Understanding the pyrolysis of ethane over an extended pressure range can help improve the understanding of the pressure dependence of pyrolysis of higher alkanes. For this work, a variable pressure flow reactor was operated at 1073 K at pressures of 0.1 and 2.0 MPa to gain insight into the effect of pressure on the rate of ethane decomposition and formation of the major products and deposit precursors, such as benzene and toluene. Ethane conversion was achieved by sweeping through residence times over a range from 0.2 to 6 s at 0.1 MPa and from 2 to 30 s at 2.0 MPa. The results showed that, at higher pressure, more ethane is converted to benzene and toluene, species that readily lead to deposit formation; additionally, at an elevated pressure, the selectivity of hydrogen, ethylene, and methane is significantly affected. The experimental results were compared to several chemical kinetic mechanisms to gauge the performance of the mechanisms under the various test conditions. A mechanistic analysis showed t...
Gulnar and Conrad: Hegelian Master-Slave Dialectics in The Corsair

Published in 1814, “The Corsair” was one of the most well-known poetical works of Lord Byron after "The Child’s Harold Pilgrimage”. Being a narrative verse, it follows the tradition of Byron in the creation of the Byronic Hero as the manifestation of his individuality of mind and self and as the reflection of his romantic revisionary idealist spirit. The character which embodies such features is Conrad whose descriptions in terms of agony, suffering, pleasure seeking and remorsefulness, highly resemble Byron. On the other side, "Gulnar", an odalisque, the female character of this verse, contributes to the context of gender due to her role as a woman slave whose freedom is attained by Conrad. According to the theory of the Hegelian Master-Slave Dialectics, and, through consideration of the context of gender, the Byronic Hero is, primarily, the Master and the submissive female character is the slave of Sultan's Harem, in the first place and is assumed to be inferior to the pirates, afterwards. However, the close analysis of their interactions and communications shed light on an acute conclusion which presents the female character, Gulnar, as the superior, regardless of what gender specifications dictate. This reveals that the Byronic Hero is bonded. The present article attempts at elaborating this relationship through the three stages of confrontation, recognition and acceptance which are related to Master-Slave relationships and the three phases of thesis, antithesis and synthesis which are connected to the dialectical aspect of Master-Slave relationships.
Cyclopean stereo vision for depth perception

In human binocular vision, the two retinal images are unified into a single image with perception of depth through a mechanism called 'binocular sensory fusion'. The term cyclopean vision refers to the unified visual scene of the world obtained from fusion of the images projected to the two eyes. This paper describes an algorithm which simulates the fusion process for depth perception. The disparity information of the entire image is obtained by a convolution operation followed by a local maxima detection. The computation burden, and therefore, the processing time, is largely reduced.
Is metformin poised for a second career as an antimicrobial

Metformin, a widely used antihyperglycaemic, has a good safety profile, reasonably manageable side-effects, is inexpensive, and causes a desirable amount of weight loss. In 4 studies of patients with tuberculosis (1 prospective and 3 retrospective), metformin administration resulted in better outcomes. In mice with several models of endotoxemia, metformin diminished levels of proinflammatory cytokines and improved survival. Laboratory studies showed effectiveness of the drug on multiple pathogens, including Trichinella spiralis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Metformin administration in humans and mice produced major changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. These recently discovered microbe-modulating properties of the drug have led investigators to predict wide therapeutic utility for metformin. The recent easing in United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines regarding administration of metformin to patients with kidney disease, and reduced anxiety about patient safety in terms of lactic acidosis, increase the probability of broadening of metformin's usage as a treatment of infectious agents. In this text we review articles pertinent to metformin's effects on microorganisms, both pathogens and commensals. We highlight the possible role of metformin in a wide range of infectious diseases and a possible expansion of its therapeutic profile in this field. A systematic review was done of PubMed indexed articles that examined the effects of metformin on a wide range of pathogens. Metformin was found to have efficacy as an antimicrobial agent in patients with tuberculosis. Mice infected with Trypanosomiasis cruzi had higher survival when also treated with metformin. The drug in vitro was active against T. spiralis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and hepatitis B virus. In addition there is emerging literature on its role in sepsis. We conclude that metformin may have a potential role in the therapy for multiple infectious diseases. Metformin, in addition to its traditional effects on glucose metabolism, provides anti-microbial benefits in patients with tuberculosis and in a very wide range of other infections encounters in vitro and in vivo.
Ranges of Recoil Atoms from the (n,γ) Process

Ranges of $^{198}\mathrm{Au}$ (estimated average energy 50 eV) recoiling from neutron capture in gold film surfaces have been estimated in deuterium, helium, neon, argon, and xenon by measuring the yield on a collector as a function of gas pressure. These ranges are 0.3, 0.54, 1.1, 0.8, and 1.2 ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{2}$, respectively. From the shape of the curve of recoil yield vs pressure in helium, the range is inferred to be largely independent of energy; this contrasts with the strong dependence known to hold at higher energies. A simple model such as that used for neutron thermalization reproduces the magnitudes and trends of the ranges reasonably well.
Abstract A120: The effect of targeted nanoemulsion on pancreatic cancer cells

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is characterized by its extreme aggressiveness and limited treatment options. This work evaluates the targeting of a nanoemulsion containing doxorubicin (DOX) to different pancreatic cancer cell lines and its mechanism of uptake. Methods: Three human pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1, BxPC-3, and MIA PACA-2, were seeded separately into 12-well plates (1.0 x 10 5 cells/well). Then the cells were treated with DOX alone or DOX in targeted or nontargeted nanoemulsions. Cells treated with culture medium only were used as negative controls. The cellular uptake of the different DOX formulations by the different pancreatic cancer cell lines was evaluated using a fluorescence microscope (EVOS) and a flow cytometer (Accuri). The cytotoxicity of different formulations was evaluated using the SRB assay. The uptake mechanism of the DOX in targeted and nontargeted nanoemulsions was evaluated by comparing the uptake when cells were incubated at 4 0 C and 37 0 C. The uptake mechanism was further evaluated by pretreatment of the cells with inhibitors: cytochalasin D (inhibits caveolin-mediated endocytosis), chlorpromazine (inhibits clathrin mediated endocytosis), amiloride (inhibits micropinocytosis), and nystatin (depletes cholesterol and affects rafts). Results: The uptake of DOX in targeted nanoemulsion by PANC-1, BxPC-3, and MIA PACA-2 cell lines was 1.4-fold, 1.2-fold, and 1.2-fold higher, respectively, compared to that of DOX in the nontargeted nanoemulsion. The IC 50 value for DOX in targeted nanoemulsion was 0.3 uM, for DOX in nontargeted nanoemulsion was 0.6 uM, and for DOX only was 1.3 uM. The uptake of DOX in targeted nanoemulsion and nontargeted nanoemulsion was higher at 37 0 C compared to that at 4 0 C. None of the inhibitors used had a significant effect on the uptake of DOX in the targeted or nontargeted nanoemulsions. Conclusion: The results show that DOX in the targeted nanoemulsion has significantly higher cellular uptake and cytotoxicity compared to that of the nontargeted nanoemulsion. The uptake of DOX in targeted and nontargeted nanoemulsion is energy dependent. However, none of the inhibitors used has a significant effect on the uptake of DOX in the targeted nanoemulsion, which requires further studies. Citation Format: QinQin Fei, Sophia O9Barr, Maria P. Lambros. The effect of targeted nanoemulsion on pancreatic cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2017 Oct 26-30; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2018;17(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A120.
The power of persistence.

After months of intense planning, I was finally ready to set up my dissertation research equipment in a patch of urban forest. It was such a perfect summer day that it was hard to imagine anything going wrong. But while installing the first of my stemflow collars—odd-looking devices that I was
Safety: Texting while Driving

1. Tierra D. Burrell, MD* 2. Kamila B. Mistry, PhD, MPH*,† 1. *Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 2. †Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations, Rockville, MD The number of wireless devices in the United States surpasses the US child and adult population combined: close to 396 million wireless devices are used, and most (262 million) are smartphones. As smartphones have become more ubiquitous, text messaging has grown in acceptance. More than 70% of wireless mobile device users text at least once per day. However, among American teens, the prevalence is significantly higher, with 1 in 3 sending greater than 100 text messages per day. Moreover, recent trends indicate text messaging to be the primary method of communication between teens, thereby making texting while driving (TWD) a growing cause for concern. Teen drivers are novice drivers and are already at heightened risk for motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and motor vehicle–related deaths. On average, 6 teens die every day from MVAs in the United States, making it the leading cause of death in this age range. Novice teen drivers lack experience and ability to perform complex driving tasks, have lower proficiency in detecting and responding to hazards, and are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors on the road. Teen drivers also represent the highest proportion of distracted drivers. Distractions occur when drivers move their attention from the task of driving to focusing on another activity. Distracted driving contributes to approximately 10% of all motor vehicle fatalities and 17% of all motor vehicle injuries in the United States. Among teens, TWD is a growing contributor to distracted driving, and it is especially dangerous because it involves 3 types of distractions—visual, manual, and cognitive attention. Texting …
Sun-Safe Practices in U.S. Youth and Their Parents Role of Caregiver on Youth Sunscreen Use

Abstract Background There is a limited understanding of the social influences, such as the role of parents on youth sun-safe practices, that may reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Methods This study examined the degree of correlation in sun-safe practices between youth and their parents and assessed independent parental factors of youth sunscreen use in a 1998 cross-sectional, population-based telephone survey of U.S. youth (11- to 18-year-olds) and their parents/caregivers (N=1192 pairs of youth and parents). Results Sunscreen-use practices between youth and their parents were significantly correlated, albeit small. Youth were significantly more likely to use sunscreen frequently if their parents applied it frequently on themselves. Multivariate analysis revealed three independent parental factors associated with frequent youth sunscreen use: Their parent reported to insist frequently that the child uses sunscreen (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [aPOR]=2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–3.8); parent reported no difficulty with protecting their child from the sun (aPOR=1.4, 95% CI, 1.1–1.9); and parent's own frequency of sunscreen use (aPOR=1.3, 95% CI, 0.9–1.8). Conclusions Sun-safe practices were correlated between parent–child pairs and parental factors exerted a positive role on youth sunscreen-use frequency. These data may guide further sociobehavioral and intervention research for the design of skin cancer prevention programs in schools and communities to improve levels of sun-safe practices.
CENTRAL NERVOUS REPRESENTATION OF SALIVARY SECRETION.

ABSTRACT The lower brain stem of cats has been stimulated with the aid of a stereotaxic instrument. It was found that a copious salivary flow is readily elicited from the ipsilateral submaxillary and parotid glands when certain regions of the pons and medulla are stimulated. Analysis of the responsive locations reveals that salivary secretion can be obtained by stimulation of the intramedullary visceral afferent system, such as the solitary fasciculus and its nucleus and certain portions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract (mandibular division). On the efferent side, the distribution suggests that the salivatory nuclear masses might be either in the medial position caudal to the facial genu or, more likely, in the dorso-lateral region of the lateral reticular formation, dorso-medial to the spinal trigeminal nucleus, and dorsal to and at the level of the facial nucleus. In the latter case, the efferent fibers must travel dorso-medially before they turn and make their exit in the ventro-lateral portion of the medulla. The rostral portion supplies the submaxillary glands and the caudal portion the parotid. There exists an intermediate portion, stimulation of which yields both submaxillary and parotid secretion. Reflex excitation of the salivary secretion can be obtained in the midcollicular decerebrate preparation, indicating that the basic central mechanism for salivation resides in the lower brain stem. However, this salivary mechanism is regulated by other neural structures in the hypothalamus, amygdala and the cortex.
Total Counts: Microscopy

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by C.D. Zook, Frank F. Busta, volume 3, pp 2176–2180, © 1999, Elsevier Ltd.
Enterprise-Wide Management of Intellectual Property

To make continuous development of enterprise-wide Intellectual Property (IP) part of the enterprise’s strategic goals, employees and external partners need to believe that ideas matter and the enterprise will create value from them. To create this value, enterprises need to integrate all of the stages of IP management into their information technology architecture to facilitate development of unique and original innovations. To integrate IP, the enterprise needs to transform its knowledge development processes from capturing & reusing information to one of developing & revising its knowledge base.
Chemical rationales: another triplet for chemical thinking

One of the central goals of modern science and chemistry education is to develop students’ abilities to understand complex phenomena, and productively engage in explanation, justification, and argu...
Functional Neurosurgery for Sequelae of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury represents a significant public health problem in the USA as well as worldwide. Post-TBI disability can include both motor (tremor, dystonia, paresis) and cognitive (depression, memory, epilepsy, disorders of consciousness, and arousal) domains. Current therapies include physical, occupational, and cognitive rehabilitation, but pharmacologic and surgical treatments are lacking and are areas of intense interest. In this chapter, we will explore the functional treatments for TBI, both noninvasive and invasive, the underlying pathologic mechanisms, and future directions and applications of functional technology for augmentation of recovery after TBI.