cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micellar nanocomplexes for biomagnetic delivery of intracellular proteins to dictate axon formation during neuronal development

During mammalian embryonic development, neurons polarize to create distinct cellular compartments of axon and dendrite that inherently differ in form and function, providing the foundation for directional signaling in the nervous system. Polarization results from spatio-temporal segregation of specific proteins' activities to discrete regions of the neuron to dictate axonal vs. dendritic fate. We aim to manipulate axon formation by directed subcellular localization of crucial intracellular protein function. Here we report critical steps toward the development of a nanotechnology for localized subcellular introduction and retention of an intracellular kinase, LKB1, crucial regulator of axon formation. This nanotechnology will spatially manipulate LKB1-linked biomagnetic nanocomplexes (LKB1-NCs) in developing rodent neurons in culture and in vivo. We created a supramolecular assembly for LKB1 rapid neuronal uptake and prolonged cytoplasmic stability. LKB1-NCs retained kinase activity and phosphorylated downstream targets. NCs were successfully delivered to cultured embryonic hippocampal neurons, and were stable in the cytoplasm for 2 days, sufficient time for axon formation. Importantly, LKB1-NCs promoted axon formation in these neurons, representing unique proof of concept for the sufficiency of intracellular protein function in dictating a central developmental event. Lastly, we established NC delivery into cortical progenitors in live rat embryonic brain in utero. Our nanotechnology provides a viable platform for spatial manipulation of intracellular protein-activity, to dictate central events during neuronal development.
Heightened religiosity and epilepsy: evidence for religious-specific neuropsychological processes

ABSTRACTIt has been hypothesised that humans may have an innate neurologic tendency towards being religiously oriented, suggesting that we possess religious-specific neuropsychological processes. Persons with epilepsy provide a unique opportunity to study these relationships given the documented hyper-religious experiences observed with epilepsy. The current study evaluated 19 individuals with epilepsy to determine if epilepsy-related religious experiences (as measured by the Bear Fedio Inventory [BFI]) are reflective of a general increase in behaviours observed with epilepsy (e.g., philosophical thoughts, emotionality), or if they are reflective of a religious-specific orientation. Spearman correlations indicated that: (1) BFI religious-orientation scales are significantly related to philosophical concerns (i.e., nature of the universe), but not measures of emotionality and (2) BFI religious-orientation scales, but not philosophical or emotionality scales, are significantly associated with other commonly...
Blood sampling does not negatively affect apparent survival, recapture probability, or within-season site fidelity in Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla)

ABSTRACT Recent evidence suggests that blood sampling may negatively affect avian survival, which runs counter to the prevailing assumption that blood sampling, if performed properly, has little effect on survival in birds. Here, we take advantage of a long-term dataset (1986–2009) documenting the breeding biology of a population of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) in northeastern Pennsylvania, USA, to assess the influence of blood sampling on sparrow survival. This study included 2 periods when blood sampling was not performed, interspersed with a period when blood was sampled. We examined the potential influence of blood sampling on annual apparent survival using Cormack-Jolly-Seber models in Program MARK. We also examined the influence of blood sampling on within-season site fidelity, as determined by whether birds remained on territory following collection of a blood sample. Our results suggest that apparent survival was actually higher for both sampled males and females in comparison to individuals ...
Demo Abstract: Visual Analytics of Higher-order Dependencies in Sensor Data

Existing approach to model sensor movement data as pairwise connections in networks implicitly assumes the Markov property and loses higher-order movement patterns. While the higher-order network (HON) captures higher-order movement patterns, there has not yet been a visualization tool tailored for HON. Based on our prior work, in this demo we present HoNVis, a comprehensive visualization and interactive exploration framework for HON. We demonstrate domain experts' workflow for analyzing global ship movement sensor data with HoNVis.
Characterization of Hydroporphyrins Covalently Attached to Si(100)

Attachment of synthetic analogs of natural tetrapyrroles to electroactive surfaces enables physicochemical interrogation and may provide material for use in catalysis, diagnostics, and energy conversion. Six synthetic zinc chlorins and one free base bacteriochlorin, tailored analogs of chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll, respectively, have been attached to Si(100) via a high-temperature (400°C) baking method. The hydroporphyrins bear diverse functional groups that enable surface attachment (vinyl, acetyl, triisopropylsilylethynyl, pentafluorophenyl, and hydroxymethylphenyl) and a geminal dimethyl group in each reduced ring for stabilization toward adventitious dehydrogenation. The films were examined by cyclic voltammetry, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. Monofunctionalized and difunctionalized hydroporphyrins gave monolayer and multilayer films, respectively, indicating robustness of the hydroporphyrin molecules, but in each case the film was more heterogeneous than observed with comparable porphyrins. The data suggest that some amount of unattached molecules remain intercalated with surface-attached molecules. Additional molecular designs will need to be examined to develop a deep understanding of the structure-activity relationship for formation of homogeneous monolayers and multilayers of synthetic hydroporphyrins.
Peer Cultures and Their Challenge for Teaching

In recent years, the term peer group has increasingly been replaced by the term peer culture. This chapter begins with a discussion of these two terms and the likely reasons for this change. Next, a typology of peer cultures is presented based on three different ways in which these culture can be created. The presentation of this typology is followed by a discussion of the diversity among peer cultures generated by background characteristics of peers such as social class, gender, age, and race-ethnicity. The chapter then assesses the claims that peer cultures of children and adolescents frequently conflict with teachers’ goals and the official school culture that encompasses these goals. While not rejecting these claims, I argue that they are based on simplifying assumptions that ignore tensions and contradictions within official school cultures. In particular, I argue that it is useful to separate three strands of official school culture — academic goals, extracurricular activities, and school rules about deportment — and to show how each affects and is affected by the peer cultures students construct for themselves. Next, the influence of peer cultures on students’ opinions and behaviours is assessed directly in a section of the chapter that reviews the literature concerned with the nature and strength of peer influence. The final section of the chapter assesses the implications of peer cultures for teaching by examining what school staffs have done and might do to affect peer group processes at different levels of schooling.
COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF Al-Cu MATRIX, SiC REINFORCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS

ABSTRACT Computational mechanics has become increasingly concerned with the analysis of complex deformation processes and failure in material microstructures. In the work described in this article we use what, in light of this trend, we may call Computational micromechanics to study metal matrix composite materials, in particular materials with Al- 3 wt % Cu matrices reinforced with SiC particles. We focus on the evaluation of the performance of the microstructure, viz. deformation behavior, development of strenghtening mechanisms and failure mechanisms. We employ various methods to evaluate this performance, viz. variation of microstructural parameters such as 1) matrix properties, 2) volume fraction of reinforcement and 3) microstructural morphology; change in loading state; relation of macroscopic constitutive behavior to microscopic behavior using stress strain curves; introduction of the effects of processing, the residual stresses present due to working and temperature change. The modeling involves a detailed description of the material microstructure where individual matrix grains and reinforcing particles are represented and incorporates a physically based, rate dependent, crystallographic theory of plastic slip in the context of finite deformation kinematics. The theory is implemented using the finite element method.
Biomimicry: A Counter Response to the Red Queen

Multidisciplinary fields are incorporating biomimicry by creating technologies and ways of thinking that imitate the natural world. Specifically, material sciences are employing biomimicry to outsmart a biological challenge, the antibacterial battle. The majority of modern day antibacterial products boast a 98% kill rate when it comes to germs. Through the use of catchy slogans and user-friendly imagery, the masses generally feel safe from germ infestation after using these antibacterial products.
Multidirectional Instability of the Shoulder

Multidirectional instability (MDI) represents a wide spectrum of disease, but is defined as symptomatic, involuntary, and uncontrollable subluxation or dislocation of the glenohumeral joint in two or more directions. Instability should be differentiated from laxity, in which no symptoms are present. Due to its inconsistent definition in the literature, it is difficult to reliably determine its actual incidence. MDI likely represents a less common clinical entity than anterior traumatic instability, representing 7–10 % of all instability cases.
The Rta/Orf50 transactivator proteins of the gamma-herpesviridae.

The replication and transcription activator protein, Rta, is encoded by Orf50 in Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and other known gammaherpesviruses including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), rhesus rhadinovirus (RRV), herpesvirus saimiri(HVS), and murineherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68). Each Rta/Orf50 homologue of each gammaherpesvirus plays a pivotal role in the initiation of viral lytic gene expression and lytic reactivation from latency. Here we discuss the Rta/Orf50 of KSHV in comparison to the Rta/Orf50s of other gammaherpesviruses in an effort to identify structural motifs, mechanisms of action, and modulating host factors.
Prognostic Significance of Terminal Transferase Activity and other Factors in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) is an intracellular biochemical marker of certain types of lymphoid precursors. Clinically, TDT serves as a useful marker of malignant lymphoblasts. TDT activity is elevated in 85–95% of cases of non-B, non-T and T-marked acute lymphoblastic leukemias, 5–10% of cases of acute myelogenous leukemia, and 30–40% of cases of chronic myelogenous in blastic phase (reviewed by Coleman and Hutton, 1981). The presence of TDT in leukemic cells is correlated with a favorable response to therapy with drugs cytocidal to lymphoblasts. There is marked variation in the activity of TDT in leukemic cells at diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In our experience values ranged from 0 to 694 units/108 nucleated cells in bone marrow from 118 children and from 0 to 1790 units/108 nucleated cells in peripheral blood from 51 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Hutton et al, 1979). There are no studies testing the prognostic significance of these quantitative variations in level of TDT at diagnosis. Similarly, there are no studies testing whether quantitative measurements of TDT activity during remission of leukemia can predict relapse of disease.
Nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves to characterize microscale damage due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in full-scale, nuclear concrete specimens

Abstract Nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves are used to monitor the damage state due to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in full-scale reinforced concrete block specimens created as part of a full-scale testing program for concrete nuclear containment structures. The measurement technique uses a wedge/transducer source to generate and a non-contact, air-coupled receiver to detect nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves to obtain the acoustic nonlinearity parameters for three different reinforced block concrete specimens – a confined and an unconfined ASR specimen, plus a control specimen – at three different time intervals. These results further validate the utility of nonlinear Rayleigh waves to quantify the progress of microscale damage due to ASR in full-scale, concrete structures.
Graphene/hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures: Mechanical properties and fracture behavior from nanoindentation simulations

In-plane or vertically stacked heterostructures containing multiple 2D materials are promising for emerging applications, such as flexible electronics, piezoelectric sensors, and molecular separations. However, utilizing heterostructures requires a fundamental understanding of their mechanics, which is currently lacking. Here, we use reactive molecular dynamics to simulate nanoindentation of stacked hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphene structures, 2D materials with similar structures but differing electronic properties. We calculate the Young's modulus, bending rigidity, ultimate strength, and the fracture strain of monolayers, homogeneous and heterogeneous bilayers, and alternating trilayers. Their mechanics are broadly similar, although graphene provides mild reinforcement to heterostructures. Further, we characterize the puncture created by nanoindentation, where we find that graphene allows smaller pores with a rougher fracture surface and more cleaved bonds than h-BN, which we attribute to differences in toughness. Our results demonstrate that these layered heterostructures maintain their mechanical robustness regardless of stacking order and provide insight into the influence of layer ordering in separation or passivation applications.
Predicting Personalized Student Performance in Computing-Related Majors via Collaborative Filtering

The last decade has seen a significant enrollment surge in various computing-related majors. However, choosing the right computing major is vital to students' academic and career success. Personalized prediction of performance in closely related computing majors will help individual students better find the right major for them. This paper proposes a method of predicting student performance in computing majors. Our method is based on collaborative filtering using enhanced similarity and yields personalized predictions of student grades in courses required for each computing major. Prediction accuracy is enhanced by analyzing computing major-specific course characteristics, such as core courses, course prerequisites, and course levels.
Streaming Algorithm for Big Data Logistic Regression

This research proposed a novel fitting algorithm for big data logistic regression by combining Fisher Scoring and IRWLS. The algorithm enables streamed operation to fit and update the model at per-row level, without the need to store the entire dataset in RAM. The algorithm is fully parallelizable and was implemented on Spark for this study. A set of experiments were conducted on Spark and Scikit-Learn to compare its performance against existing approaches. The results showed that the proposed method can provide exact results, rather than approximate results, with significantly fewer iterations. It also converged in merely 2 iterations in terms of prediction accuracy. More importantly, the proposed algorithm has a very small memory footprint and completely broke the memory barrier problem that debilitated conventional logistic regression approaches. Compared to the SGD sampling approach in scikit-learn, the proposed approach also demonstrated a clear advantage in accuracy.
Introduction: Disease, Disability, and Psychodiagnostic Concepts in Childhood

Webster’s Dictionary defines disease as “an aberration of a living body that impairs its function.” By this definition, the concept of disease is easily applicable to physical illnesses where the optimal functioning of an organ or a system is known, and direct links can be traced between a damaged or pathological organ and various symptomatic manifestations of its deviant functioning. Thus, one can speak with relatively high levels of assurance about physical disease-entities, their distinguishing characteristics and, in most instances, their defined etiologies. When one enters the realm of aberrant psychological states and behaviors, however, the disease-concept is applied problematically at best. Behavioral abnormalities and psychiatric conditions do not have simple linear relationships with the brain and its malfunctioning. Furthermore, even though the state of physical well-being is almost universally recognizable, behavioral or psychological normalcy is a value-laden concept, varying broadly in its application from community to community and subject to changes in interpretation in different times. Psychological disorders are more aptly defined and better understood when they are conceptualized as disabilities rather than diseases. By disability, we mean failure to perform as expected in a psychological task or function that is considered essential at a given point in life by a particular cultural community.
Surfaces of revolution with moving axes and angles

Abstract A surface of revolution with moving axes and angles is a rational tensor product surface generated from two rational space curves by rotating one curve (the directrix) around vectors and angles generated by the other curve (the director). Here we introduce these new kinds of rational generalized surfaces of revolution, provide some interesting examples, and investigate their algebraic and geometric properties. In particular, we study the base points and syzygies of these rational surfaces. We construct three special syzygies for a surface of revolution with moving axes and angles from a μ-basis of the directrix, and we show how to compute the implicit equation of these rational surfaces from these three special syzygies. Quaternions and quaternion multiplication are used to represent these surfaces. Examples are provided to illustrate our theorems and flesh out our algorithms.
Synthesis of Unsupported d1–dx Oxido-Bridged Heterobimetallic Complexes Containing VIV: A New Direction for Metal-to-Metal Charge Transfer

Heterobimetallic complexes composed only of first-row transition metals [(TMTAA)VIV═O→MIIPy5Me2](OTf)2 (TMTAA = 7,16-dihydro-6,8,15,17-tetramethyldibenzo[b,i][1,4,8,11]tetraazacyclotetradecine; Py5Me2 = 2,6-bis(1,1-bis(2-pyridyl)ethyl)pyridine; M = MnII, FeII, CoII, NiII, CuII; OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) have been synthesized through a dative interaction between a terminal oxido and MII metal centers. This is the first series of VIV═O→MII heterobimetallic complexes containing an unsupported oxido bridge. Among these five complexes, only VIV═O→FeII (3b) has a clear new absorption band upon formation of the dinuclear species (502 nm, e = 1700 M–1 cm–1). This feature is assigned to a metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT) transition from VIV to FeII, which forms a VV—O—FeI excited state. This assignment is supported by electrochemical data, electronic absorption profiles, and resonance Raman spectroscopy and represents the first report of visible-light induced MMCT in a heterobimetallic oxido-bridged mo...
Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy versus Early Medical Thoracoscopy for Treatment of Pleural Infection. Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Rationale: Pleural infection is frequently encountered in clinical practice and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Limited evidence exists regarding the optimal treatment. Although bo...
Internal medicine residents identify gaps in medical education on outpatient referrals.

Relevant clinical information is often missing when a patient sees a specialist after being referred by another physician in the ambulatory setting. This can result in missed or delayed diagnoses, delayed treatment, unnecessary testing, and drug interactions. Residents’ attitudes toward providing clinical information at the time of referral and their perspectives toward training on referral skills are not clear. We sought to assess internal medicine residents’ attitudes toward and experiences with outpatient referrals. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in October–December 2018 of all internal medicine interns and residents affiliated with a large, urban internal medicine residency program in New York, NY. We used a novel survey instrument that included 13 questions about attitudes toward and experiences with outpatient referrals. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the results. Overall, 122 of 132 residents participated (92% response rate). Respondents were approximately equally distributed across post-graduate years 1–3. Although 83% of residents reported that it is “always” important to provide the clinical reason for a referral, only 11% stated that they “always” provide a sufficient amount of clinical information for the consulting provider when making a referral. Only 9% of residents “strongly agree” that residency provides sufficient training in knowing when to refer patients, and only 8% “strongly agree” that residency provides sufficient training in what information to provide the consulting physician. These results suggest a substantial discrepancy between the amount of information residents believe they should provide at the time of a referral and the amount they actually provide. Many residents report not receiving adequate training during residency on when to refer patients and what clinical information to provide at the time of referral. Improvements to medical education regarding outpatient referrals are urgently needed.
PET Radiotracers for CNS-Adrenergic Receptors: Developments and Perspectives.

Epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) play diverse roles in our body’s physiology. In addition to their role in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), E/NE systems including their receptors are critical to the central nervous system (CNS) and to mental health. Various antipsychotics, antidepressants, and psychostimulants exert their influence partially through different subtypes of adrenergic receptors (ARs). Despite the potential of pharmacological applications and long history of research related to E/NE systems, research efforts to identify the roles of ARs in the human brain taking advantage of imaging have been limited by the lack of subtype specific ligands for ARs and brain penetrability issues. This review provides an overview of the development of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers for in vivo imaging of AR system in the brain.
Does Perceived Quality of Care Moderate Postpartum Depression? A Secondary Analysis of a Two-Stage Survey

The purpose of this study was to examine if women’s perceptions of the quality of hospital care during childbirth moderate their risks for symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD). This cross-sectional secondary analysis analyzed data from the Listening to Mothers III (2013) series surveys with a weighted sample size of 1057 of women surveyed from across the United States. PPD symptoms were defined according the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Associations between risk factors and PPD symptoms were tested using logistic regressions with the moderating variable of perceived quality of care then added to models with significant risk factors. Of the 22 potential risk factors for PPD symptoms, 10 were found to be significantly associated with PPD symptoms in this sample of women. Very good perceived quality of care moderated the following risk factors for PPD symptoms in a protective direction: relationship status (p = 0.01), pre-pregnancy BMI (p = 0.02), and pain that interfered with routine activities 2 months postpartum (p = 0.003). These findings suggest risk factors for PPD symptoms are moderated by perceived quality of care and therefore, maternity providers can influence women’s psychological wellbeing postpartum by providing very good perceived quality of care during the hospital stay for birth. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to a lack of a direct, proven relationship between provider action and women’s perceived quality of care.
Impact of the Ananya program on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition in Bihar, India: early results from a quasi-experimental study.

Background The Government of Bihar (GoB) in India, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and several non-governmental organisations launched the Ananya program aimed to support the GoB to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition (RMNCHN) statewide. Here we summarise changes in indicators attained during the initial two-year pilot phase (2012-2013) of implementation in eight focus districts of approximately 28 million population, aimed to inform subsequent scale-up. Methods The quasi-experimental impact evaluation included statewide household surveys at two time points during the pilot phase: January-April 2012 ("baseline") including an initial cohort of beneficiaries and January-April 2014 ("midline") with a new cohort. The two arms were: 1) eight intervention districts, and 2) a comparison arm comprised of the remaining 30 districts in Bihar where Ananya interventions were not implemented. We analysed changes in indicators across the RMNCHN continuum of care from baseline to midline in intervention and comparison districts using a difference-in-difference analysis. Results Indicators in the two arms were similar at baseline. Overall, 40% of indicators (20 of 51) changed significantly from baseline to midline in the comparison districts unrelated to Ananya; two-thirds (n = 13) of secular indicator changes were in a direction expected to promote health. Statistically significant impact attributable to the Ananya program was found for 10% (five of 51) of RMNCHN indicators. Positive impacts were most prominent for mother's behaviours in contraceptive utilisation. Conclusions The Ananya program had limited impact in improving health-related outcomes during the first two-year period covered by this evaluation. The program's theories of change and action were not powered to observe statistically significant differences in RMNCHN indicators within two years, but rather aimed to help inform program improvements and scale-up. Evaluation of large-scale programs such as Ananya using theory-informed, equity-sensitive (including gender), mixed-methods approaches can help elucidate causality and better explain pathways through which supply- and demand-side interventions contribute to changes in behaviour among the actors involved in the production of population-level health outcomes. Evidence from Bihar indicates that deep structural constraints in health system organisation and delivery of interventions pose substantial limitations on behaviour change among health care providers and beneficiaries. Study registration ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02726230.
An Examination of Classic Twinning in Aragonite

Aragonite Twins that appear to be hexagonal prisms are classic mineral specimens found in many locations around the world, but they are particularly well known from Molina de Aragon and Minglanilla...
From Electronic Structure to Phase Diagrams

A first-principles statistical mechanics theory of alloy phase stability is presented. The theory incorporates ab-initio electronic total energies, configurational entropies and vibrational modes into the total free energy of disordered systems and intermetallic compounds. Applications of the theory are given for all three binary alloys in the Ru-Zr-Nb system using the Linear Muffin-Tin Orbital method for the total energy calculations, the Cluster Variation method for the description of the configurational entropy, and the Debye-Gruneisen approximation for the vibrational modes. The results are used to compute the equilibrium phase diagram for the Zr-Nb system and to assess current experimental data on phase stability in the Ru-Nb system. In the latter case, the calculations strongly suggest the DO19 structure as a likely candidate structure for the experimentally observed hexagonal-based compound Ru3Nb, and the L10 structure as a likely candidate for the observed tetragonal phase near 1:1 stoichiometry.
Runtime predictability of loops

To obtain the benefits of aggressive, wide-issue, architectures, a large window of valid instructions must be available. While researchers have been successful in obtaining high accuracies with a range of dynamic branch predictors, there still remains the need for more aggressive instruction delivery. Loop bodies possess a large amount of spatial and temporal locality. A large percentage of a program's entire execution can be attributed to code found in loop bodies. If we retain this code in a buffer or the cache, we do not have to refetch this code on subsequent loop iterations., Loops tend to iterate multiple times before exiting, thus providing us with the opportunity to speculatively issue multiple iterations. While some loops can be unrolled by a compiler many contain conditional branches. The number of times a loop iterates may be dependent on a program variable. These issues can hinder our ability to speculatively issue multiple iterations of a loop. If we are able to profile loops during runtime, we can use this information to more accurately issue speculative paths through loop bodies. In this paper we present a characterization of loop execution across the SPECint2000 benchmark suite. We intend for this study to serve as a guide in the selection of design parameters of a loop path predictor We characterize the patterns exhibited during multiple visits to a loop body. We present the design of a table that records path-based loop execution history and allows us to predict multiple loop iterations dynamically.
Factors Affecting Survival, Migration of Spermatozoa and Onset of Oviposition in Instrumentally Inseminated Queen Honeybees

SummaryQueen honeybees instrumentally inseminated with 8 μl semen during narcotization with one application of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100% CO2 or low temperature (1–3°C), contained a mean of 2·05, 3·28, 3·39, 3·19, 3·33, 2·53 and 2·76 million sperm, respectively, whereas naturally mated queens had 47middot;96 million. The mean oviposition onset was 117middot;8, 17·6, 15·6, 21·7, 11·4, 28·3 and 19·3 days, respectively, after insemination and 3·4 days after natural mating. With queens inseminated with 8 μl semen, one application of 50, 75, or 100% CO2 gave oviposition after means of 12, 12·3, and 28·3 days, respectively, whereas two applications gave 12·2, 3·7, and 5·8 days.With a single narcosis with 75% CO2 and 8 or 16 μ1 semen, flight experience gave, respectively, oviposition onset 16·3 and 10 days after insemination and 2·02 and 3·33 million sperm in the spermathecae, whereas similar queens without flight experience began oviposition after 12·3 and 5·6 days and had 3·05 and 4·64 million sperm. Naturall...
Flow and Internet shopping behavior: A conceptual model and research propositions

Abstract Researchers have acknowledged that flow is a useful construct for explaining consumer behavior in the context of computer-mediated environments. However, the issue of how flow can actually facilitate particular Internet shopping behaviors has not been adequately investigated. This article will explore conditions under which different dimensions of flow facilitate different aspects of Internet shopping behaviors (browsing, one-time purchases, and repeat purchases) and how this relationship is moderated by consumer-related factors (perceived risk, willingness to buy, consumer self-confidence), the nature of the product (goods vs. service), and the nature of the purchase occasion (planned vs. impulse). We offer managerial implications and future research directions resulting from our research.
Production of granular activated carbons from select agricultural by-products and evaluation of their physical, chemical and adsorption properties

Representative samples of soft, low density, group 1 (rice straw, rice hulls, sugarcane bagasse) and hard, high density, group 2 agricultural by-products (pecan shells) were converted into granular activated carbons (GACs). GACs were produced from group 1 and 2 materials by physical activation or from group 2 materials by chemical activation. Carbons were evaluated for their physical (hardness, bulk density), chemical (ash, conductivity, pH), surface (total surface area), and adsorption properties (molasses color removal, sugar decolorization) and compared with two commercial reference carbons. The results show that the type of by-product, binder, and activation method determine the properties of GACs. Regardless of the binder, sugarcane bagasse showed a better potential than rice straw or rice hulls as precursor of GACs with the desirable properties of a sugar decolorizing carbon. Pecan shells produced GACs that were closest to the reference carbons in terms of all the properties investigated.
The President's Address

(1916). The President's Address. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 201-203.
Asymptotic Derivation of the Multigroup P1 and Simplified PN Equations with Anisotropic Scattering

The multigroup and P{sub 1} and Simplified P{sub N} equations are shown to be a family of asymptotic approximation to the multigroup transport equation with anisotropic scattering. The physical assumptions are that the material system is optically thick, the probability of absorption is small, and the mean scattering angle {anti {mu}}{sub o} is not close to unity.
Exciton valley relaxation in a single layer of WS 2 measured by ultrafast spectroscopy

We measured the lifetime of optically created valley polarization in single-layer ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$ using transient absorption spectroscopy. The electron valley relaxation is very short ($l1$ ps). However, the hole valley lifetime is at least two orders of magnitude longer and exhibits a temperature dependence that cannot be explained by single-carrier spin/valley relaxation mechanisms. Our theoretical analysis suggests that a collective contribution of two potential processes may explain the valley relaxation in single-layer ${\mathrm{WS}}_{2}$. One process involves direct scattering of excitons from $K$ to ${K}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ valleys with a spin flip-flop interaction. The other mechanism involves scattering through the spin-degenerate $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ valley. This second process is thermally activated with an Arrhenius behavior due to the energy barrier between the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ and $K$ valleys.
Thermal tides in the dusty martian atmosphere - A verification of theory

Major features of the daily surface pressure oscillations observed by the Viking landers during the two great dust storms on Mars in 1977 can be explained in terms of the classical atmospheric tidal theory developed for the earth's atmosphere. The most dramatic exception is the virtual disappearance of only the diurnal tide at Viking Lander 1 just before the second storm. This disappearance is attributed to destructive interference between the usually westward-traveling tide and an eastward-traveling diurnal Kelvin mode generated by orographically induced differential heating. The continuing Viking Lander 1 pressure measurements can be used with the model to monitor future great dust storms.
Tachycardia caused by swallowing: mechanisms and treatment.

Abstract A rare form of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia ( schlucktachykardie , or tachycardia on swallowing) is described. In a normal adult male, tachycardia producing cardiac palpitation and light-headedness occurs only after swallowing. Clinical evidence suggests a reflex mechanism, originating at or near the superior esophageal sphincter, but the reflex pathway has not been identified and the exact mechanism of the initiation of the tachycardia remains enigmatic. Some aspects of the behavior of the arrhythmia, particularly its initiation by late PAD's after therapy, suggest an ectopic pacemaker focus rather than a re-entrant circuit.
High incidence of optic canal involvement in clinoidal meningiomas: rationale for aggressive skull base approach

Introduction Literature specifically focusing on clinoidal meningiomas is scant, particularly with regards to the postoperative visual outcome. In this study, we aimed to document the incidence of optic canal involvement (OCI) by the tumor, its management using a skull base technique, and its significance with relation to the visual outcome.
'Giving Plants a Civil Status': Scientific Representations of Nature and Nation in the Costa Rica and Venezuela, 1885-1935

In a 1924 essay, the botanist Henri Pittier worried that many of Latin America's tropical products—particularly its plants—lacked a ‘civil status.’ By this, Pittier meant that they had not yet been identified and named scientifically. He likened the plants’ lack of a botanical ‘civil status’ to a person's lacking a passport or credentials that proved their citizenship. This was more than a casual analogy. Over the previous half-century, many states in Latin America had begun to take inventories of their plants, just as they had begun taking censuses of their citizens, and surveying and mapping their national territories. These botanical inventories helped states establish control over the natural world, just as censuses helped the state establish control over civil society. Between 1885 and 1935, governments throughout Latin America began to fund botanical research institutions and to finance the publication of national floras. Pittier had been actively involved in this process: he had helped establish national natural history museums in Costa Rica and Venezuela, and wrote or edited three national flora: the Primitiae Florae Costaricensis (1891-1901), the Ensayo sobre las plantas usuales de Costa Rica (1908), and the Manual de las plantas usuales de Venezuela (1926). National floras such as these were not simply ‘entertainment for intellectuals’ but also part of broader programs by Latin American governments to incorporate the natural world into the national political and economic order.
Episodes of psychiatric care and medical utilization.

This study examines the reduction in medical care utilization after mental health treatment, also known as the offset effect. With data from a computerized ambulatory care information system, an episode-of-care method is used to characterize the mental health care received by patients in a prepaid g
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration in idiopathic abdominal masses and miscellaneous nongastrointestinal lesions

Advancement in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), particularly fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, has further increased the diagnostic capability of endosonography. Well-established indications of EUS-guided FNA have included confirmation of suspected malignancy of pancreatic lesions, submucosal tumors, and lymph node metastases (gastrointestinal lesions). Recently, the application of FNA technology also has proved beneficial in the evaluation and diagnosis of nongastrointestinal diseases. The most promising area is staging of non-small-cell lung cancer, which is much superior to computed tomography (CT) scan and similar to mediastinoscopy. Other potential areas of application include lesions of the kidney and adrenal glands, pelvic organs (prostate, ovaries), as well as idiopathic abdominal and mediastinal masses. Furthermore, these results have been shown to assist in guiding subsequent therapy and establishing prognosis in most patients studied.
Pancreatic duct: A suitable route to oxygenate tissue during pancreas hypothermic preservation?

Abstract The effectiveness of Two-Layer Method has been questioned recently. In this study we hypothesized that pancreatic duct might be an appropriate route to oxygenate the organ and prevent cold ischemic injury. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were employed for the pancreas procurement. Pancreata were removed after 20 ml ductal injection of cold Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), or pre-oxygenated solutions of HBSS (O-HBSS), perfluorocarbon (O-PFC), and emulsified PFC (O-ePFC) and then preserved in HBSS for 24 h. Spectrophotometric analysis was performed to measure ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). To standardize metabolite data, values were reported in terms of ‘per gram protein of pancreatic tissue’. Protein was measured according to Lowry et al. ADP/ATP ratio, total adenylates and energy charge (EC) were calculated. There was a significant decrease in tissue ATP after hypothermic preservation. Pancreatic tissues lost 47.8% of their ATP values just in the first hour of preservation and 98.5% of their ATP values within 12 h of preservation and ductal oxygenation could not prevent the ischemia. Unlike the other groups, ductal injection of oxygenated PFC could slow the total adenylates reduction rate that no significant difference was detected (9.6 ± 2.9 vs. 14.8 ± 2.1 mol/g protein, NS) after 12 h of preservation. Ductal injection of oxygenated PFC significantly reduced ADP/ATP ratio (8.57 ± 0.6 vs. 14.2 ± 2.4, p p
A Dual-Channel, Fiber-Optic-Coupled Direct Reader with Gated Integration for Transient Radiation Measurements

A dual-channel, fiber-optic-coupled direct reader attachment for a spectrometer is described which uses bundles of 200-μm diameter quartz optical fibers as spectrometer exit slits and as a means of isolating the photomultiplier tubes from the region of the radiation source. The bandpass of the fiber exit slits is reduced by the coating of the fiber ends with an opaque Al film, leaving a 75-μm-wide clear region. The ends of the fibers are located in the focal plane of the spectrometer, with a fixed bundle positioned to correspond to the wavelength readout of the spectrometer and the other bundle adjustable on the focal plane to provide a simultaneous background correction at an adjacent wavelength. A dual-channel time-gated integrator based on an Evans 4130 integrator board is used with the fiber-optic-coupled photoelectric detector to obtain background-corrected, time-gated radiation measurements on transient, nonrepetitive radiation sources. Preparation techniques and optical properties of the quartz optical fiber bundles are discussed. Amplifier and timing circuits for the gated integrator are presented. Electrical and analytical performance data for the system are presented with the use of the high-intensity radiation pulse from an electrically vaporized thin-film plasma source.
Forskolin mimics and blocks a serotonin-sensitive decreased K+ conductance in tail sensory neurons of Aplysia

Facilitation of synaptic connections between sensory neurons and motor neurons mediating the tail-withdrawal reflex in Aplysia is produced by sensitizing stimuli. These effects can be mimicked by perfusing the pleural and pedal ganglia of a semi-intact preparation with serotonin (5-HT). In addition to the synaptic facilitation, 5-HT produces a depolarization associated with an increase in input resistance in the sensory neurons. The 5-HT-induced changes appear to be mediated by an elevation in cAMP levels. To examine further the role of cAMP in mediating the 5-HT response we utilized the potent cyclase activator forskolin. Forskolin mimics the 5-HT response and blocks the response to subsequent 5-HT applications indicating that both 5-HT and forskolin act through a common saturable mechanism. Voltage clamp and ion substitution experiments indicate that the 5-HT response is due, at least in part, to a decrease in a resting K+ conductance.
37.4: MPEG based Image Enhancement for People with Low-Vision

A new MPEG based image enhancement algorithm for people with low-vision is presented. Contrast enhancement is performed by modifying the Inter and Intra quantization matrices in the decoder. The algorithm has low computational complexity and does not affect the existing MPEG compressibility of the original image.
Construction of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement in the Fayetteville Shale Play Area, Arkansas:

In 2012, roller-compacted concrete (RCC) pavement was used to rehabilitate a deteriorated section of roadway in the Fayetteville Shale Play Area (FSPA), Arkansas. As the result of recent heavy truck traffic related to natural gas exploration efforts in Arkansas, the FSPA has experienced significant pavement distresses that typical maintenance activities cannot sufficiently address. RCC pavement was selected as a potential solution to repair failing pavements in this area because that pavement could be constructed more quickly than conventional concrete pavements and could provide adequate structure for truck traffic. Two sections of RCC pavement were constructed on a rural, two-lane highway. The first was a 7-in. section placed on a cement reconstructed base course, and the second was an 8-in. section placed as an overlay. The RCC mixture contained a nominal, maximum aggregate size of 3/4 in. and was designed to meet a minimum, 28-day compressive strength of 5,000 psi. Although some difficulties were enco...
Sensitivity of predicted irrigation-delivery performance to hydraulic and hydrologic uncertainty

Abstract A stochastic simulation model is developed which treats selected hydraulic and hydrologic input parameters as random variables in predicting the performance of an irrigation-water-delivery system. The model is applied to a hypothetical earthen canal network representative of field conditions in the upper Nile valley in Egypt to investigate the sensitivity of the relative variability in predicted system performance to the relative variability in the input parameters. The methodology combines a model of steady spatially-varied canal network flow with statistical models that generate possible realizations of the random hydraulic and hydrologic parameters through Monte Carlo simulation. System performance is assessed by statistical analysis of predicted performance measures for adequacy, efficiency, dependability and equity of water delivery. Though the magnitude of the relative variability will vary for the particular system conditions, results from this study indicate the degree to which the coefficient of variation, CVω in predicted system performance is sensitive to changes in the CVω of the respective input parameters. Results show that sensitivity to the CVω in Manning hydraulic resistance and channel bed slope was low; sensitivity to the CVω in irrigation application efficiency was low to moderate; sensitivity to the CV in upstream water supply level was moderate to high; and sensitivity to the CV, in channel cross-section geometry and potential crop evapotranspiration was high. These results provide insight into the stochastic nature of irrigation canal network flows and indicate the comparative value of data describing the statistical space-time variability of selected parameters.