cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
[Journal First] Lightweight, Obfuscation-Resilient Detection and Family Identification of Android Malware

The number of malicious Android apps has been and continues to increase rapidly. These malware can damage or alter other files or settings, install additional applications, obfuscate their behaviors, propagate quickly, and so on. To identify and handle such malware, a security analyst can significantly benefit from identifying the family to which a malicious app belongs rather than only detecting if an app is malicious. To address these challenges, we present a novel machine learning-based Android malware detection and family-identification approach, RevealDroid, that operates without the need to perform complex program analyses or extract large sets of features. RevealDroid's selected features leverage categorized Android API usage, reflection-based features, and features from native binaries of apps. We assess RevealDroid for accuracy, efficiency, and obfuscation resilience using a large dataset consisting of more than 54,000 malicious and benign apps. Our experiments show that RevealDroid achieves an accuracy of 98% in detection of malware and an accuracy of 95% in determination of their families. We further demonstrate RevealDroid's superiority against state-of-the-art approaches. [URL of original paper: https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3162625]
Combining the Physics of Metal/Oxide Heterostructure, Interface Dipole, Band Bending, Crystallography, and Surface State to Understand Heterogeneity Contrast in Oxidation and Corrosion

Numerous effective medium models of metal oxidation and corrosion have been proposed over the years. These models are based on the macroscopic descriptions, and the driving forces for mass transpor...
Abstract P153: Depressive Symptoms and First Hospitalization for Heart Failure: Findings From the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Introduction: Depressive symptoms are independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. It is unclear whether depressive symptoms are as...
Degradation of nitrilotris-methylenephosphonic acid (NTMP) antiscalant via persulfate photolysis: Implications on desalination concentrate treatment

Abstract Nitrilotris-methylenephosphonic acid (NTMP) has been widely used as an antiscalant in reverse osmosis (RO) desalination and other industrial processes to inhibit scaling from calcium and other hardness ions. Removal of NTMP from RO concentrate can induce the precipitation of oversaturated scale-forming substances, enable additional water recovery from RO concentrate, and reduce the risk of eutrophication after brine disposal. This study investigated the kinetics and mechanisms of oxidative degradation of NTMP by UV photolysis of persulfate at 254 nm. Results showed that NTMP was effectively degraded by persulfate photolysis and the reaction followed pseudo first-order kinetics. The degradation of NTMP was favorable at circumneutral pHs but significantly inhibited in highly alkaline conditions (e.g., pH of 11.5), mainly due to the reduced concentration of SO4•−. Using a competition reaction kinetics approach, the second-order rate constants of NTMP with SO4•− and HO• were determined to be (2.9 ± 0.6) × 107 M−1s−1 and (1.1 ± 0.1) × 108 M−1s−1, respectively. SO4•− had a predominant contribution to NTMP degradation (62%–95%), because the steady-state concentration of SO4•− was 11–54 times higher than that of HO• at pHs between 4 and 11.5. NTMP degradation rate increased with an increase in persulfate dosage and a decrease in NTMP concentration. In the real RO concentrate, NTMP degradation rate was impacted by the presence of chloride and bicarbonate. The degradation of NTMP started with the cleavage of C–N bonds, and then generated intermediates including iminodi(methylene)phosphonate, hydroxymethylphosphonic acid and aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), which were eventually mineralized into ammonia, phosphate and carbon dioxide. This study demonstrated that UV/persulfate is a promising technology to remove phosphonate antiscalants from RO concentrate.
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Hypersusceptibility and Resistance by Mutation of Residue 181 in HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase.

Substitutions at residue Y181 in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), in particular, Y181C, Y181I, and Y181V, are associated with nonnucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) cross-resistance. In this study, we used kinetic and thermodynamic approaches, in addition to molecular modeling, to gain insight into the mechanisms by which these substitutions confer resistance to nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV), and rilpivirine (RPV). Using pre-steady-state kinetics, we found that the dissociation constant (Kd ) values for inhibitor binding to the Y181C and Y181I RT-template/primer (T/P) complexes were significantly reduced. In the presence of saturating concentrations of inhibitor, the Y181C RT-T/P complex incorporated the next correct deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) more efficiently than the wild-type (WT) complex, and this phenotype correlated with decreased mobility of the RT on the T/P substrate. Interestingly, we found that the Y181F substitution in RT-which represents a transitional mutation between Y181 and Y181I/V, or a partial revertant-conferred hypersusceptibility to EFV and RPV at both the virus and enzyme levels. EFV and RPV bound more tightly to Y181F RT-T/P. Furthermore, inhibitor-bound Y181F RT-T/P was less efficient than the WT complex in incorporating the next correct dNTP, and this could be attributed to increased mobility of Y181F RT on the T/P substrate. Collectively, our data highlight the key role that Y181 in RT plays in NNRTI binding.
The Instability of Global de Sitter Space to Particle Creation

We show that global de Sitter space is unstable to particle creation, even for a massive free field theory with no self-interactions. The O(4, 1) de Sitter invariant state is a definite phase coherent superposition of particle and anti-particle solutions in both the asymptotic past and future, and therefore is not a true vacuum state. In the closely related case of particle creation by a constant, uniform electric field, a time symmetric state analogous to the de Sitter invariant one is constructed, which is also not a stable vacuum state. We provide the general framework necessary to describe the particle creation process, the mean particle number, and dynamical quantities such as the energy-momentum tensor and current of the created particles in both the de Sitter and electric field backgrounds in real time, establishing the connection to kinetic theory. We compute the energy-momentum tensor for adiabatic vacuum states in de Sitter space initialized at early times in global S sections, and show that particle creation in the contracting phase results in exponentially large energy densities at later times, necessitating an inclusion of their backreaction effects, and leading to large deviation of the spacetime from global de Sitter space before the expanding phase can begin.
Seasonal Flux Measurements over a Colorado Pine Forest Demonstrate a Persistent Source of Organic Acids

Forests can be both sources and sinks of volatile organic compounds to the atmosphere. The role that forests play in controlling organic acid concentrations remains poorly understood with multiple ...
Asymptotic homogenization models for pantographic lattices with variable order rotational resistance at pivots

Abstract In this paper, different asymptotic orders of torsional resistance at the pivots for linear pantographic lattices are introduced within an asymptotic homogenization of the discrete micro-beam model associated with the summation of internal forces and moments at the pivots. The small parameter is defined by the ratio of the square root of a unit cell size for the lattice and the problem domain size. The objective is to systematically identify leading order continuum field equations and to define homogenized elasticity tensors and their properties for increasing rotational torque stiffness. To measure the effect of the torsional spring stiffness on the deformation of the lattice, the torsional resistance of a beam element between pivots which compares the torque stiffness to its bending moment stiffness is introduced as a power of the small parameter. Consistent with previous models for pantographic sheets with zero (perfect) or light torsional resistance, an asymptotic expansion with the small scaling parameter shows that the leading order continuum field equations are characterized by second gradient elasticity theory. The homogenized elasticity coefficients are determined in terms of the fiber characteristics and the torque stiffness. A shear modulus is calculated proportional to the torque stiffness. By increasing the torsional resistance to order one, the resulting field equations move to first-gradient classical elasticity with a shear modulus varying as a homographic function in the torsional resistance. By increasing torsional stiffness to higher orders, the shear modulus is obtained for the limiting case of rigid connections. Numerical results are presented for standard elongation and shear bias tests. Strain energies from the first gradient and second gradient terms present for the models with different orders of torsional resistance are computed to demonstrate the zero and infinite limiting cases, and the need to move from a second-gradient continuum model with low-order torsional resistance as scaled with the small parameter, to a first-gradient model for high-orders of torsional resistance.
Functional return after implant-based breast reconstruction: A prospective study of objective and patient-reported outcomes

Abstract Background : There is sparse literature studying the functional morbidity of subpectoral implant- based breast reconstruction. We aimed to prospectively investigate this technique's impact on objective upper extremity function and patient-reported outcomes. Methods : Women undergoing mastectomy and immediate subpectoral tissue expander insertion with ADM sling were enrolled from November 2014 to August 2016. Pre-operative evaluation of shoulder range of motion, pectoralis major strength, and QuickDASH and Breast-Q surveys were conducted before surgery and at 1 month and 6 months post- operatively, or until return to baseline pectoralis major strength. Results : Eighteen women (mean age 51 years, SD 9.6, range 35-72) comprising 26 breast reconstructions completed postoperative follow-up. The average follow-up length was 9 months (range 3 -18 months; SD 144 days). At one-month follow-up, there was a statistically significant decrease in lower and non- dominant upper fiber pectoralis strength from preoperative baseline (p From preoperative to final postoperative follow-up, QuickDASH scores showed a statistically significant (p = 0.008) increase from 4.1 (range 0-20.5, SD 6.1) to 18.7 (range 0-45.5, SD 13.4). Physical Wellbeing: Chest was the only Breast-Q domain in which the average score significantly decreased (p = 0.02) between preoperative assessment and final follow- up. Conclusions : After implant-based breast reconstruction, patients achieve return of objective upper extremity function, but patient-reported outcomes do not return to baseline as shown by increased QuickDASH scores. Thus, pectoralis-sparing reconstructive strategies such as prepectoral implant insertion should be pursued.
Asymmetric Supercapacitors: Optical and Thermal Effects When Active Carbon Electrodes Are Embedded with Nano-Scale Semiconductor Dots

Optical and thermal effects in asymmetric supercapacitors, whose active-carbon (AC) electrodes were embedded with nano-Si (n-Si) quantum dots (QD), are reported. We describe two structures: (1) p-n-like, obtained by using a polyethylimine (PEI) binder for the “n” electrode and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) binder for the “p” electrode; (2) a single component binder—poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In general, AC appears black to the naked eye and one may assume that it indiscriminately absorbs all light spectra. However, on top of a flat lossy spectrum, AC (from two manufacturers) exhibited two distinct absorption bands: one in the blue (~400 nm) and the other one in the near IR (~840 nm). The n-Si material accentuated the absorption in the blue and bleached the IR absorption. Both bands contributed to capacitance increase: (a) when using aqueous solution and a PMMA binder, the optical-related increased capacitance was 20% for low n-Si concentration and more than 100% for a high-concentration dose; (b) when using ion liquid (IL) electrolyte, the large, thermal capacitance increase (of ca. 40%) was comparable to the optical effect (of ca. 42%) and hence was assigned as an optically induced thermal effect. The experimental data point to an optically induced capacitance increase even in the absence of the n-Si dots. Overall, the experimental data suggest intriguing possibilities for optically controlled supercapacitors.
Primary drivers and psychological manifestations of stress in frontline healthcare workforce during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in the United States.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to understand the physical and psychological impact of high stress clinical environments and contributory factors of burnout in multidisciplinary healthcare workforce during the initial outbreak of COVID-19. Method In-person qualitative interviews informed by an adaptation of Karasek's Job Demand-control model were conducted with a convenience sample of healthcare workforce from March to April 2020. Results Themes emerging from interviews coalesced around three main areas: fear of uncertainty, physical and psychological manifestations of stress, and resilience building. Shifting information, a lack of PPE, and fear of infecting others prompted worry for those working with Covid-infected patients. Participants reported that stress manifested more psychologically than physically. Individualized stress mitigation efforts, social media and organizational transparency were reported by healthcare workers to be effective against rising stressors. Conclusion COVID-19 has presented healthcare workforce with unprecedented challenges in their work environment. With attention to understanding stressors and supporting clinicians during healthcare emergencies, more research is necessary in order to effectively promote healthcare workforce well-being.
Understanding Urban Commercial Vehicle Driver Behaviors and Decision Making

As e-commerce and urban deliveries spike, cities grapple with managing urban freight more actively. To manage urban deliveries effectively, city planners and policy makers need to better understand...
Effects of punch geometry and grain size in micron scale compression molding of copper

Abstract Mechanical size effects at small characteristic dimensions are of intense current interest. In addition to the relevance for microfabrication, microscale compression molding provides a rich laboratory in which mechanical size effects manifest in interesting ways, especially as the characteristic molding dimension approaches the average grain size of the material being deformed. We investigate the effects of punch geometry and grain size on the mechanical response and gap filling behavior in micron scale compression molding. Micron scale long rectangular single-, double-, and triple- punch molding was conducted on polycrystalline Cu with varying grain sizes. Mechanical size effects were observed regarding the compression pressure and the material flow to fill the gaps between neighboring punches. The nominal compression pressure depended significantly on the punch width in single-punch molding and on the spacing between neighboring punches in double-punch molding. Analysis of double- and triple- punch molding data showed that both the punch geometry and the grain size of the molded Cu influence the Cu gap filling behavior in significant ways. Detailed microstructural examinations of molded Cu features were carried out to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Our findings offer new data on micron scale plasticity and test cases for validating micron scale plasticity models.
Elimination of hospital-acquired central line–associated bloodstream infection on a mixed-service pediatric unit

Introduction Hospital-acquired central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are "never events" in U.S. healthcare. Efforts to eliminate CLABSI are critically important to children with intestinal failure (IF) who depend on long-term, daily use of a central venous catheter (CVC) and often undergo extended hospitalizations. They are also vital to the safety of any patient with a CVC. We sought to describe long-term outcomes of a multidisciplinary CLABSI elimination effort on a 24-bed medical-surgical unit caring for children with IF. Methods Unit CLABSI events from 1/9/2012 to 4/16/2020 were evaluated in the context of multiple interventions aimed at preventing CLABSI; leveraging prospectively maintained clinical registries and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting data, patient and unit demographics, ethanol lock utilization, and unit CVC days. Interventions, including zinc oxide-based adhesive barriers, environmental cleaning, and simulation as part of staff education were developed utilizing consensus of hospital experts and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines with staff engagement. Descriptive statistics and tests of non-parametric data were employed for analysis. Results Ninety-five patients with IF and 862 non-IF patients experienced a total of 1,629 admissions with 20,372 CVC days during the study period. Twelve hospital-acquired CLABSI events occurred, including 7 following NHSN definition change on 1/1/2015 (0.56 per 1,000 CVC days). Following the last unit CLABSI on 12/5/2016, there were 7,117 CVC days without CLABSI through study conclusion. Conclusions Use of described interventions in the context of an enhanced culture of collaborative care and ownership is associated with hospital-acquired CLABSI elimination. Success in a specific population translated to all other unit patients with a CVC. Findings suggest that CLABSI elimination is not the result of a single new product or practice but rather an approach that supports and empowers those most closely responsible for care of the patient and their CVC is key. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Time is Now: (Re)visioning, (Re)assessing, and (Re)storing the State of Educational Research for African American Women and Girls

We are in a time and place where the lives of Black women and girls have to do more than "matter" in education; they must be researched, understood, and enhanced through transformative educational praxis. The Journal of African American Women and Girls in Education (JAAWGE) issued a call for papers for its inaugural issue that sought to elucidate Black women and girls' educational experiences across a variety of disciplines, contexts, and geographic settings. Through this work, the constituency of JAAWGE aims to illuminate Black women and girls' brilliance and resilience by placing their voices at the forefront of educational research and discourse, while leading and creating pathways that are not only attainable, but sustainable. This inaugural issue highlights research from various fields that speak directly to the multiplicity of these women and girls’ experiences in education across disciplines that utilize a vast array of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches that are humanizing and centered on Black women and girls.
Private or Public Equity? The Evolving Entrepreneurial Finance Landscape

The U.S. entrepreneurial finance market has changed dramatically over the last two decades. Entrepreneurs raising their first round of venture capital retain 30% more equity in their firm and are more likely to control their board of directors. Late-stage startups are raising larger amounts of capital in the private markets from a growing pool of traditional and new investors. These private market changes have coincided with a sharp decline in the number of firms going public—and when firms do go public, they are older and have raised more private capital. To understand these facts, we begin by providing a systematic description of the differences between private and public firms. Next, we review several regulatory, technological, and competitive changes—both at the startup and the investor level—that help explain how the trade-offs between going public and staying private have changed. We conclude by listing several open research questions.
Nalidixic Acid and the Metabolism of Escherichia coli

Nalidixic acid (NAL) is bactericidal for E. coli B. Synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid and protein was necessary to initiate the lethal effect, but only protein synthesis was necessary to sustain it. NAL inhibited DNA synthesis specifically, but this inhibition occurred even under conditions that were not lethal to the bacteria. In contrast to other inhibitors of DNA synthesis, NAL did not cause the solubilization of cellular DNA even when bacteria were exposed to it for 2 hr. A bacterial mutant deficient in DNA polymerase was much more sensitive to the lethal action of NAL than its parent strain. Moreover, inhibition of protein synthesis did not protect this mutant from NAL-induced killing. NAL inhibited neither DNA polymerase, nor thymidine or thymidylate kinases. The data are interpretated as suggesting that NAL altered the structure of DNA or a protein attached to nascent DNA and that this lesion can be partially repaired by DNA polymerase.
Measurement of the Sequence Complexity of Cloned Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus 60 to 70S RNA: Evidence for a Haploid Genome

The sequence complexity of the 60-70S RNA complex from Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) was determined by measuring the annealing rate of radioactively labeled virus-specific DNA with M-MuLV 60-70S RNA in conditions of vast RNA excess. The M-MuLV RNA annealing rate, characterized by the quantity C(r)t((1/2)), was compared with the C(r)t((1/2)) values for annealing of poliovirus 35S RNA (2.6 x 10(6) molecular weight) with poliovirus-specific DNA and Sindbis virus 42S RNA (4.3 x 10(6) molecular weight) with Sindbis-specific DNA. M-MuLV-specific DNA was prepared in vitro by the endogenous DNA polymerase reaction of M-MuLV virions, and poliovirus and Sindbis virus DNAs were prepared by incubation of viral RNA and DNA polymerase purified from avian myeloblastosis virus and an oligo deoxynucleotide primer. The poliovirus and Sindbis virus DNAs were sedimented through alkaline sucrose gradients, and those portions of the DNA with sizes similar to the M-MuLV DNA were selected out for the annealing measurements. M-MuLV was cloned on NIH-3T3 cells because it appeared possible that the standard source of M-MuLV for these experiments was a mixture of viruses. The annealing measurements indicated a sequence complexity of approximately 9 x 10(6) daltons for the cloned M-MuLV 60-70S RNA when standardized to poliovirus and Sindbis virus RNAs. This value supports the hypothesis that each of the 35S RNA subunits of M-MuLV 60-70S RNA has a different base sequence.
Cu concentration from backside contamination induced STI crack after High Temperature Stress

This study presents integrated circuit failure analysis (FA) results of reliability fail devices with high pin leakage (UHAST-“Unbiased Highly Accelerated Stress Test” and HTS-“High Temperature Storage”). FA reveals a crack along the STI (shallow trench isolation) sidewall and into Si crystallographic plane. Copper (Cu) was found by EDX analysis underneath Ni silicide layer and migrated into silicon STI edge. One main observation was that the Cu crack occurred systematically on a small active area (p-sub) defined as p-well with minimum design rule distance to n-well active area. The source of Cu is investigated in a series of DOE (design of experiments). The article will discuss different hypothesis of Cu contamination during front-end manufacturing and assembly process. A model including layout sensitivity and the thermal stress effect during HTS/UHAST has been provided.
The role of crossover in an immunity based genetic algorithm for multimodal function optimization

When genetic algorithms are employed in multimodal function optimization, identifying multiple peaks and maintaining subpopulations of the search space are two central themes. In this paper, we use an immune system model to explore the role of crossover in GAs with respect to these two issues. The experimental results reported here shed more light into how crossover affects the GA's search power in the context of multimodal function optimization. We also show that an adaptive crossover strategy successfully achieves the two goals simultaneously. These results on the effects of crossover are a step toward a deeper understanding of how GAs work, and thus how to design more robust GAs for solving multimodal optimization problems.
Post-translational modification of proteins by arginine and lysine following crush injury and during regeneration of rat sciatic nerves.

Following crush injury to rat sciatic nerves, a crude fraction of the 150,000 g supernatant can post-translationally incorporate [3H]Arg and [3H]Lys into endogenous proteins in amounts approximately 10 times uninjured control nerves. These increases occur in the proximal nerve stump within 2 h of injury and 2 weeks later in a distal segment of nerve containing the tips of the regenerating axons. In the present experiments, the endogenous nerve proteins modified by Arg or Lys in these nerve segments have been identified using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The fraction used to assay for protein modification, the void volume of a Sephacryl S-300 column, was found to contain only a few proteins visible by Coomassie blue staining, one of which is likely to be albumin (68 kDa, pI 6.4). While this protein was modified by both Arg and Lys, the majority of label was found in areas not showing Coomassie blue staining. This indicates that of the many potential targets of post-translational arginylation and lysylation, most are proteins of relatively low abundance. A variety of proteins were modified by Arg or Lys alone while others were modified by both Arg and Lys. A high molecular weight protein (175 kDa, pI 9.0) was modified only by Lys and only at 2 h post crush. Of a variety of modified proteins of approximately 17 kDa one (pI 6.3) was modified by both Arg and Lys and at both time points, while another (pI 9.0) was modified at both time points, but only by Lys. The results show that Arg and Lys can be added post-translationally to a large number of low abundance, soluble sciatic nerve proteins, and that some of those proteins are modified only by Arg or Lys while others are modified by both Arg and Lys. Also, the modification of certain proteins appears to be associated specifically with the immediate response of a nerve to injury (e.g. 88 kDa, pI 7.1) while others are associated with the regenerative period (e.g. 56 kDa, pI 7.4).
Exploring and developing a college’s community of interest: an appreciative inquiry

Abstract This study examined what the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education identifies as a college of nursing’s internal and external “community of interest.” Using “appreciative inquiry” in this study of a college campus, we examined the parts of the historical past that the community believed should be maintained, its vision of excellence for the college, the ways in which the vision could be realized, and its part in fulfilling the expectations of a shared, co-created vision. Investigators collected data using a self-developed, one-on-one interview and focus-group format and analyzed the data using content analysis. The findings suggest that the community shared values of preserving the college’s past and of its vision for the college’s future. However, it differed in the means of putting its cocreated vision into practice and in defining its contributions in realizing the vision it created for the college.
Controlling Crystallinity during Processing of Nanocrystalline Titania

The present study shows that an extremely high water: alkoxide ratio during the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide results in a partially crystalline precipitate (5-nm anatase crystallites); however, when these crystallites are rinsed with ethanol, the precipitate becomes amorphous. The degree of crystallinity of the precipitate determines its subsequent thermal decomposition characteristics and, ultimately, the crystallite size of the calcined powder.
A murky portrait of human cruelty

In this commentary, I review diverse lines of research conducted at both the macrosocial and microbehavioral level that dispute the view that cruelty is inherently gratifying. Expressions of pain and suffering typically inhibit rather than reinforce cruel conduct in humans. With regard to functional value, cruelty has diverse personal and social effects, not just the alluring benefits attributed to it.
Molecular analysis of rat dentin sialoprotein.

Dentin sialoprotein (DSP) is a noncollagenous protein originally isolated from rat dentin. Because it is made by odontoblasts that are actively synthesizing dentin, DSP may play an important role in dentinogenesis. We have isolated a full length DSP cDNA from a rat odontoblast/dental pulp cDNA library (Ritchie et at. [1994] J. Biol. Chem. 269: 3698–3702) which codes for a 17 residue signal peptide and a 366 residue, 53 kDa mature protein. In situ hybridization revealed DSP mRNA expression by odontoblasts, but no other cells, in jaws from newborn rat. Northern analysis of various rat tissues demonstrated the presence of DSP transcripts in newborn tooth germs and 21 day old rat incisors. Moreover, multiple transcripts of 4.6 kb and 1.5 kb were found in these two tissues. To better understand the origin of these DSP mRNA multiple transcripts, we have isolated two rat genomic clones. Digestion of each clone with EcoRI followed by Southern analysis revealed that DSP cDNA hybridized to a 4 kb fragment in a lamb...
Enhanced cortical connectivity in absolute pitch musicians: A model for local hyperconnectivity

Connectivity in the human brain has received increased scientific interest in recent years. Although connection disorders can affect perception, production, learning, and memory, few studies have associated brain connectivity with graded variations in human behavior, especially among normal individuals. One group of normal individuals who possess unique characteristics in both behavior and brain structure is absolute pitch (AP) musicians, who can name the appropriate pitch class of any given tone without a reference. Using diffusion tensor imaging and tractography, we observed hyperconnectivity in bilateral superior temporal lobe structures linked to AP possession. Furthermore, volume of tracts connecting left superior temporal gyrus to left middle temporal gyrus predicted AP performance. These findings extend previous reports of exaggerated temporal lobe asymmetry, may explain the higher incidence of AP in special populations, and may provide a model for understanding the heightened connectivity that is thought to underlie savant skills and cases of exceptional creativity.
Microstructure and ordering in cellulose acetate and reverse osmosis membranes

The performance of cellulose acetate reverse osmosis membranes for desalination or purification is greatly affected by the microstructure of the membrane. It is, therefore, highly desirable to characterize the microstructure and its dependence on preparation conditions and past history. In this study, various types of cellulose acetate powders, flakes, and solvent cast films have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermo-optical analysis. It is shown that ordered microstructures exist in many of these samples and that this ordering can be intensified or diminished by suitable treatments. It is conjectured that a similar microordering occurs in the dense layer of asymmetric cast membranes as a result of solvent evaporation, gelation and annealing and that the extent of orientation and chain packing in the ordered regions greatly affects the performance of reverse osmosis membranes.
Profiler instrumentation using metaprogramming techniques

Software developers are frequently required to address evolving stakeholder concerns, which often result in changes to the source code of an application. Manually performing invasive modifications across a large code base can be tedious, time consuming, and error prone. Metaprogramming techniques assist a developer in specifying the changes needed to an application in a manner that does not require manual adaptation of source files. Various forms of metaprogramming exist, including compile-time metaobjects, load-time structural reflection, and aspect-oriented programming. In this paper, a profiler is implemented as a common case study using three different approaches to demonstrate the various mechanisms and benefits offered by metaprogramming.
Drug Allergies and Implications for Dental Practice

Adverse reactions to medications prescribed or administered in dental practice can be worrying. Most of these reactions are somewhat predictable based on the pharmacodynamic properties of the drug. Others, such as allergic and pseudoallergic reactions, are generally unpredictable and unrelated to normal drug action. This article will review immune and nonimmune-mediated mechanisms that account for allergic and related reactions to the particular drug classes commonly used in dentistry. The appropriate management of these reactions will also be addressed.
Micro optical fiber display switch based on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) principle

This paper reports on a research effort to design, microfabricate and test an optical fiber display switch based on magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) principal. The switch is driven by the Lorentz force and can be used to turn on/off the light. The SU-8 photoresist and UV light source were used for prototype fabrication in order to lower the cost. With a magnetic field supplied by an external permanent magnet, and a plus electrical current supplied across the two inert sidewall electrodes, the distributed body force generated will produce a pressure difference on the fluid mercury in the switch chamber. By change the direction of current flow, the mercury can turn on or cut off the light pass in less than 10 ms. The major advantages of a MHD-based micro-switch are that it does not contain any solid moving parts and power consumption is much smaller comparing to the relay type switches. This switch can be manufactured by molding gin batch production and may have potential applications in extremely bright traffic control,, high intensity advertising display, and communication.
Skeletal muscle calcium channel ryanodine binding activity in genetically unimproved and commercial turkey populations

The biochemical basis for the incidence of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) turkey meat was investigated by conducting ryanodine binding experiments on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles prepared from genetically unimproved and commercial turkeys. Ryanodine binding to the Ca2+ channel protein in SR vesicles from both populations of turkeys was activated at a threshold concentration of approximately 0.2 microM Ca2+, reached a plateau over the range of 3 to 30 microM free Ca2+, and was only slightly inhibited at 1 mM Ca2+. The SR fractions, enriched in the Ca(2+)-channel protein, from commercial turkeys exhibited a higher (P < 0.05) mean affinity for ryanodine when compared to that from unimproved turkeys (Kd = 12.2 vs 20.5 nM, respectively). A fourfold difference (P < 0.05) in mean Ca(2+)-channel protein content or Bmax (1.10 pmol/mg vs 4.01 pmol/mg) was observed between commercial and unimproved turkey SR fractions. The apparent difference in channel protein content between the two populations may be partially accounted for by the high abundance of a 75-kDa protein, as yet unidentified, observed in most commercial turkey samples on SDS polyacrylamide gels. The differences in ryanodine binding activity between these two populations of turkeys suggest that altered SR calcium channel protein activity, or altered channel regulation, may be associated with the increased incidence of PSE meat from turkeys selected for growth characteristics.
Self-alignment and instability of waveguides induced by optical forces

We introduce a fundamental property of waveguides induced by the forces of the guided light, namely, the ability to self-align or be in instability. A nanoscale waveguide broken by an offset and a gap may tend to self-align to form a continuous waveguide. Conversely, depending on the geometry and light polarization, the two parts of the waveguide may be deflected away from each other, thus, being in an unstable state. These effects are unique as they rely on the presence of both the guided mode and the scattered light. Strong self-alignment forces, in both the transverse and longitudinal directions, may be facilitated by near field interaction with polarization surface charges.
Humans and robots: hand in grip.

Abstract As we move boldly forward into the 21st century, there has rarely been a more exciting time in which to contemplate the future of space exploration. The President of the United States has made a new and ambitious commitment to exploration of the solar system and beyond. Robotic partners will play a vital role in ensuring that the Vision is truly “sustainable and affordable”. Relevant science and technology will be discussed with particular emphasis on expertise from NASA Ames Research Center of which the author is Director. The likely evolution of the balance between human explorers and robotic explorers will be addressed.
Human factors and quality: Integration and new directions

Interactions between the quality movement and the human factors profession have been discussed in a number of recent papers. This article defines a basis for interaction based on the beliefs and techniques of both fields, and provides recent examples of cooperative efforts. Two specific challenges, one in manufacturing quality and one in service quality, are presented to demonstrate that human factors analyses of quality problems lead to new and useful insights. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Methyl bromide soil fumigation: Effect on grass yields

Abstract Annual herbage yields of grasses grown on sandy soils on Henderson Research Station seldom exccecif 10 000 kg/ha dry matter, while on heavy clay soils yields of 18 000 kg/ha are consistently obtained with similar amounts of applied fertilizers. Eight grass species were established in sandy soil that had either not been fumigated or been fumigated with methyl bromide against soil nematodes. In the following season herbage dry matter yields increased from 13 280 kg/ha to 15 690 kg/ha due to fumigation, ou the average, while increases of 50% or more were obtained for three grasses. Yield reductions in two species may have been due to phytoloxic residues. Fumigation reduced the number of nematodes in the soil and in the grass roots.
Stable two-allele polymorphisms maintained by fluctuating fitnesses and seed banks: protecting the blues in Linanthus parryae.

Abstract Motivated by data demonstrating fluctuating relative and absolute fitnesses for white- versus blue-flowered morphs of the desert annual Linanthus parryae, we present conditions under which temporally fluctuating selection and fluctuating contributions to a persistent seed bank will maintain a stable single-locus polymorphism. In L. parryae, blue flower color is determined by a single dominant allele. To disentangle the underlying diversity-maintaining mechanism from the mathematical complications associated with departures from Hardy-Weinberg genotype frequencies and dominance, we successively analyze a haploid model, a diploid model with three distinguishable genotypes, and a diploid model with complete dominance. For each model, we present conditions for the maintenance of a stable polymorphism, then use a diffusion approximation to describe the long-term fluctuations associated with these polymorphisms. Our protected polymorphism analyses show that a genotype whose arithmetic and geometric mea...
DOES ACQUIESCENCE BIAS THE “INDEX OF POLITICAL EFFICACY?”

The Survey Research Center's well-known "Index of Political Efficacy" is a four-item "agree-disagree" attitudinal scale designed to measure sense of political powerlessness. Research on sense of political efficacy is enormous: Easton and Dennis, for example, list more than forty studies,' and that could easily be doubled. Most of this literature has been based on the SRC index. Hence, its proper evaluation requires assessment of the methodological adequacy of the SRC measure. This article presents evidence on one problem that may be particularly bothersome: acquiescent response set biases. Acquiescence refers to the tendency to agree to an item regardless of its content. As an example, Jackman2 has shown that in Selznick and Steinberg's study of antiSemitism,3 approximately 15 per cent of the total sample agreed both that "Jews are more willing than others to use shady practices to get ahead" and that "Jews are just as honest as other businessmen." Such simultaneous agreement to two apparently contradictory statements is an obvious overt instance of the acquiescent bias. In the Selznick and Steinberg case, however, the substantive problems are alleviated because the direction-of-wording of the questions assigns acquiescers to the middle of any resulting attitudinal scale, where their methodological havoc is minimized. More serious problems arise when the acquiescing or "agree" response is for every item a sign of the presence of the trait being measured-as in the well-known F-Scale measure of authoritarianism (agreement with any of the F-Scale items indicates the presence of authoritarianism); or in the equally well-known Srole anomia scale (where agreement with the items again indicates the presence of anomia); or, of course, in the SRC political efficacy
DIFFERENTIAL KINETICS OF THERMAL RESISTANCE (THERMOTOLERANCE) BETWEEN MURINE NORMAL AND TUMOR TISSUES

Abstract The kinetics of thermotolerance were studied in mouse normal and tumor tissues. Early generation isotransplants of a spontaneous fibrosarcoma, FSa-II, were used. Tumor cell suspension was transplanted into the C3Hf/Sed mouse foot. Hyperthermia was given by immersing animal feet into a water bath. The TG (tumor growth) time, the time required for half the treated tumors to reach 1000 mm 3 from the first treatment day, was the end point. Foot reaction was studied as a normal tissue response. The RD 50 , the treatment time that induces a loss of one toe or greater reaction in half the treated animals, was analyzed. Thermotolerance developed rapidly and extensively in normal and tumor tissues. A significant difference was observed in the decay of thermotolerance between these tissues. The decay of thermal resistance was incomplete in the murine foot tissue, even at 14 days after the initial heat treatment. Although some experimental difficulties were involved in the tumor study, present results suggest a complete decay of thermotolerance in the FSa-II tumor in 8 days after a 7.5 min treatment of 45.5°C. Thermal resistance again developed in both tissues following the second heat treatment, which was given 7 or 8 days after the first heat treatment. The development, maximum magnitude and decay of the second thermal resistance was comparable to those of the first thermal resistance in each tissue.
An Analysis of Pollution and Community Advocacy in ‘Cancer Alley’: Setting an Example for the Environmental Justice Movement in St James Parish, Louisiana

Abstract This study evaluates environmental justice issues in St James Parish, Louisiana. This parish is located along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River which hosts over 100 chemical, petrochemical, refining and industrial plants and is often referred to as ‘Cancer Alley’. With the use of geographic information system (GIS) mapping, it was found that polluting industries are located in the sections of the parish that have the highest percentages of African Americans, the lowest average household income and the most residents without a high school diploma. It was also found that the areas of the parish that have the highest percentage of residents who are employed in the manufacturing industry tend to be the wealthiest in the parish, have the least number of African American residents and have the most residents with the highest levels of education. Second, the levels and types of community advocacy that have occurred in response to the pollution and disproportionate environmental impacts in the ...
Novel tailor-made diols for polyurethane coatings using a combination of controlled radical polymerization, ring opening polymerization, and click chemistry

Novel dihydroxy functional 3-arm star polymers were synthesized using a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization, ring opening polymerization, and click chemistry. The diols were characterized using gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The diols were incorporated into polyurethane coatings, which were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, pendulum hardness, water contact angle, and methyl ethyl ketone double rubs. The coatings showed an increase in the water contact angle values as the percentage of the polystyrene-based diol was increased. Similarly, the coatings with the poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-based diols showed a decrease in the glass transition temperature values with an increase in the diol content. It is expected that the use of controlled radical polymerization would allow for the synthesis of novel tailor-made functional polymers to achieve tunable coatings properties.
Controversy, Constraints, and Context: Understanding Family Violence Through Family Systems Theory

This article discusses the controversies surrounding the use of family systems theory as a framework for understanding family violence. The author examines potential implications for the exclusion of family systems approaches in the research and treatment of family violence. In addition, the author describes several opportunities that may arise through the application of family systems theory to family violence for theory, practice, and research.
Effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate, guanidine hydrochloride, urea, and heat on denaturation of sulfur rich protein in soybeans (Glycine max L.)

Soybean sulfur-rich protein (SRP) has a stable hydrophobic interior that is resistant to denaturation and unfolding. About half of the tryptophan residues in native SRP are inaccessible to acrylamide quenching. Maximum unfolding, as assessed by fluorescence quenching experiments, was afforded by 2 M urea, 6 M guanidine HCl and 30 min moist heat. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) did not improve tryptophan accessibility to acrylamide quenching. SRP tryptophan residues were minimally accessible to the iodide quenching indicating a nonionic environment around the majority of the tryptophan residues in SRP.
Seismicity patterns and the `characteristic' earthquake in the Central Mississippi Valley, USA

Abstract The magnitude-frequency distribution of the Armbruster–Seeber (1992) catalog of the Central Mississippi valley earthquakes from 1811 to 1985 can be well described as a linear combination of three earthquakes populations each of which fits a normal distribution with respect to magnitude. The mean magnitudes of the lower magnitude populations are consistent with previous work based on a 1974–1991 catalog of the same area. The presence of the high magnitude population, mean M=7.2, accounts for the development of a characteristic earthquake pattern. This pattern is very dependent on the assumed activity of the 7.2 population. The operating basis earthquake (144 years) of interest to structural engineers occurs in the region of greatest sensitivity to those assumptions about activity, thus complicating matters for design.