cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematically tuning the electronic structure of gold nanoclusters through ligand derivatization

While the ability to crystallize metal nanoclusters has revealed their geometric structure, the lack of a similarly precise measure of their electronic structure has hampered the development of synthetic design rules to precisely engineer their electronic properties. We track the evolution of highly-resolved electronic absorption spectra of gold nanoclusters with precisely mass-selected chemical composition in a controlled environment. Simple derivatization of the ligands yields larger spectral changes than varying the overall atomic composition of the cluster for two clusters with similar symmetry and size. The nominally metal-localized HOMO-LUMO transition of these nanoclusters lowers in energy linearly with increasing electron donation from the exterior of the ligand shell for both cluster sizes. Very weak surface interactions, such as binding of He or N2 , yield significant state-dependent shifts, identifying states with significant interfacial character. These observations demonstrate a pathway for deliberate tuning of interfacial chemistry for chemical and technological applications.
Choreographing with Big Cats

This article describes how third-grade dance students learn about collaborative choreography with a unit on big cats. You will find many opportunities for dancing and learning as you come along on ...
Autonomous in-situ correction of fused deposition modeling printers using computer vision and deep learning

Abstract Fused deposition modeling, a widely used additive manufacturing process, currently faces challenges in printed part quality such as under-extrusion and over-extrusion. In this paper, a real-time monitoring and autonomous correction system is developed, where a deep learning model and a feedback loop is used to modify 3D-printing parameters iteratively and adaptively. Results show that our system is capable of detecting in-plane printing conditions and in-situ correct defects faster than the speed of a human’s response. The fundamental elements in the framework proposed can be extended to various 3D-printing technologies to reliably fabricate high-performance materials in challenging environments without human interaction.
An integrated web application for decision support and automation of EHR workflow: a case study of current challenges to standards-based messaging and scalability from the EMBED trial

Computerized clinical decision support (CDS) faces challenges to interoperability and scalability. Centralized, web-based solutions offer a mechanism to share the cost of CDS development, maintenance, and implementation across practices. Data standards have emerged to facilitate interoperability and rapid integration of such third-party CDS. This case report describes the challenges to implementation and scalability of an integrated, web-based CDS intervention for EMergency department-initiated BuprenorphinE for opioid use Disorder which will soon be evaluated in a trial across 20 sites in five healthcare systems. Due to limitations of current standards, security concerns, and the need for resource-intensive local customization, barriers persist related to centralized CDS at this scale. These challenges demonstrate the need and importance for future standards to support two-way messaging (read and write) between electronic health records and web applications, thus allowing for more robust sharing across health systems and decreasing redundant, resource-intensive CDS development at individual sites.
Consensus, Compassion, and Compromise? The First Step Act and Aging Out of Crime

The passage of the First Step (Act) represents an ambitious, bipartisan compromise to commence much-needed, genuine federal sentencing reform. However, as its name suggests, it is, in practice, simply one meager stride in what requires a marathon to affect true change. Its improvements fail to achieve the status of “groundbreaking.” This is particularly evident when considering its approach to reduction in sentence of elderly offenders. Since 2013, compassionate release has stood as the exclusive process available for worthy elderly offenders to request early release from prison. While the Act certainly expands access to compassionate release, it fails to do so generously. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) continues to craft and preserve implementation guidelines that render compassionate release policies ineffective. The Act also revives the Second Chance Act of 2007 by providing a vehicle for early release of certain classes of elderly offenders. While this reauthorization appears appealing, it, too, fails to realize its full potential. This is so because BOP has again apprehended the system by refusing to include good time credits in release eligibility calculations. While the Act is a product of deliberate compromise between lawmakers, consensus concerning its practical application is non-existent.
Robustness of Relational Contracts to Interruptions in Employer-Worker Gift Exchange Experiments

This paper experimentally investigates the robustness of the “two-tiered labor market” of Brown, Falk and Fehr (2004). In the experiments, relatively efficient private relational contracts emerge between firms and specific workers, as firms make worker-specific wage effors. Public contracts which any worker can accept are also made.. Robustness is tested by introducing stochastic interruptions in which firms cannot hire workers for three periods. Workers that are involuntarily laid off by the interruptions are eager to be reemployed; they are unselective about job offers and typically do not shirk. Firms prefer these laid-off “temp workers” to others who weren’t laid off. Heightened job insecurity induces all workers to compete to enter relational contracts why delivering substantial effort close to the level requested by firms. The results show that interruptions may shorten relational contracts but do not harm market efficiency (except in the last few periods when there is more shirking). A simplified equilibrium model in which fair-minded and selfish workers both exist make several predictions about the nature of contracts and dynamics which are generally consistent with the evidence.
Dipole forbidden, nuclear electric quadrupole allowed transitions and chirality: The broadband microwave spectrum and structure of 2-bromo-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane

Abstract The chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrum of the chiral molecule 2-bromo-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane has been observed in the 6–18 GHz region of the electromagnetic spectrum and is reported. Six isotopologues, including 13C isotopic substitution at each carbon atom in both the 79Br and 81Br parent species have been observed in natural abundance. All rotational constants, quartic centrifugal distortion contants, and nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor components have been experimentally determined and have been reported. In addition, spin-rotation components M a a , M b b , and M c c are also determined and reported. The theoretical structure of the species has been determined and reported. The C–C–Br backbone structure has been determined experimentally implementing both Kraitchman single and Rudolph double substitution analysis, the later being explained in the text. 3440 transitions total have been observed with 45 transitions being electric dipole forbidden. These dipole forbidden transitions have been identified as they are planned to be used in microwave three-wave mixing experiments in order to better understand their role, if any, in determining chirality. The determined nuclear electric quadrupole coupling tensor has been diagonalized and compared to similar small alkane species in order to make inferences on the effects of fluorination on the C–Br bond.
The Impact of Corequisite Math on Community College Student Outcomes: Evidence from Texas

National Science Foundation grant #1856720 (EHR/IUSE); Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant #P2CHD042849 (Population Research Center)
The Implementation of a High Fidelity Neonatal/Pediatric Simulation Program to Improve Practitioner Competency During Advanced Life Support

Background: A Well-organized advanced high fidelity neonatal/pediatric simulation education (HFNPSE) will support the respiratory care student9s development and retention of assessment and resuscitation skills. These skills will afford the student early recognition of a neonatal/pediatric patient who may require escalation in care as well as solidify their role as a respiratory care practitioner when advanced resuscitation measures are necessary. The purpose of this study is to provide graduating respiratory practitioner students with an effective HFNPSE model and evaluate the model9s effectiveness in the areas of: team dynamics, skill, and confidence levels as compared to a traditional learning model, (lecture, hands-on practice, and mock codes with low fidelity mannikins). Methods: In fall of 2017 respiratory care students received Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) credentials by way of a traditional classroom learning model. In spring of 2018, the same respiratory care students were asked to complete a perception survey about their fall 2017 mock code experience. The areas examined were, team dynamics, algorithm information retention, confidence and skill levels. Then they reinstructed using advanced HFNPSE with high fidelity mannikins in a simulation lab setting; followed by another perception survey. Results: Perception survey results revealed a 48% increase in neonatal and a 47% increase in pediatric resuscitation confidence levels. There was a 27% increase in confidence providing positive pressure ventilation for both patient populations. Neonatal intubation confidence levels increased by 36% and by 37% in pediatrics. There was well over a 50% increase in both NRP and PALS information retention. A perception survey question asked students to compare traditional vs. HFNPSE and responses favored HFNPSE on the following strengths: realism, higher level of education, increased communication and algorithm information retention. Conclusions: Perception survey results suggest moderately high confidence in NRP and PALS skills as well as closed loop communication. If respiratory care students can retain code algorithm information they can move beyond traditional roles and assist the entire code team with all procedures; improving team dynamics. Frequent high fidelity neonatal/pediatric mock codes can improve practitioner competency, increase survival rates and assist in advancing the respiratory care profession.
Altered Expression of Secreted Mediator Genes That Mediate Aggressive Breast Cancer Metastasis to Distant Organs

Heterogeneity is the characteristic of breast tumors, making it difficult to understand the molecular mechanism. Alteration of gene expression in the primary tumor versus the metastatic lesion remains challenging for getting any specific targeted therapy. To better understand how gene expression profile changes during metastasis, we compare the primary tumor and distant metastatic tumor gene expression using primary breast tumors compared with its metastatic variant in animal models. Our RNA sequencing data from cells revealed that parental cell and the metastatic variant cell are different in gene expression while gene signature significantly altered during metastasis to distant organs than primary breast tumors. We found that secreted mediators encoding genes (ANGPTL7, MMP3, LCN2, S100A8, and ESM1) are correlated with poor prognosis in the clinical setting as divulged from METABRIC and TCGA-BRCA cohort data analysis.
Career Transitions to Entrepreneurship: Through the Lens of Mid-Career African American Women

Racial and ethnic minority (REM) women are choosing entrepreneurial careers, owning over 8 million businesses in the United States. Few entrepreneurial studies exist on both women and racial/ethnic...
Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential: an Expanding Genetic Cause of Cardiovascular Disease.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a novel cardiovascular risk factor that develops as aging hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) acquire somatic mutations which confer a clonal survival advantage in their progeny. These cells confer increased leukemogenic risk but confer a greater absolute risk of cardiovascular disease—which appears to be mediated through altered inflammatory pathways. Here we review the evidence the risk of cardiovascular disease conferred by CHIP. We also review the evidence regarding risk factors associated with CHIP. The most recent evidence suggests that CHIP is associated with increased cardiovascular risk beyond atherosclerosis, which has been established in multiple studies, but also in heart failure and aortic valve stenosis. Additionally, the list of conditions associated with CHIP continues to grow including germline genetics, smoking, cancer therapies, radiation exposure, premature menopause, and unhealthy diet. CHIP is a cardiovascular risk factor of increasingly recognized importance, and new data continues to emerge about the risks it confers, which will need more prospective validation. Although risk factors for CHIP are being identified, relatively little is known about the mechanisms by which CHIP develops, which requires further study.
The Unfinished Peace after World War I: The last ‘grand bargain’ after World War I

In his first annual message to Congress on 3 December 1929, President Hoover remarked that it had been a committee of distinguished experts ‘under American leadership’ that proposed a plan ‘looking to a revision’ of the ex-allied powers' reparations claims against Germany. In his words, his administration had ‘denied itself any participation in the war settlement of general reparations’ as US claims were ‘comparatively small’, arising mainly from ‘the costs of the army of occupation’. Thus, in effect, the calibration of US interest in adopting even an informal role in the process of forging a further, final reparations settlement was distinctly different from what had informed Hughes' policy in 1924. This was underscored by the Hoover administration's original refusal, still maintained in mid-January 1929, to endorse Owen Young as chairman of the expert committee. Subsequently, Kellogg informed Ambassador Howard ‘in strict confidence’ that while Washington still saw the political responsibility for settling reparations as lying with the European powers, it desired that they should have ‘any advice or assistance’ possible from American experts. Yet he also emphasised that the new US administration desired to leave matters largely ‘in the hands of Mr. Young’, after it had finally approved his chairmanship. As Castle noted, if the European governments ‘got in a jam where they could not organise’, Young would be asked to ‘communicate confidentially with the President’. But there would be no decisive engagement. Once they had commenced, the Hoover administration took care to dissociate itself from the Paris proceedings.
Characterization of devA, a gene required for the maturation of proheterocysts in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120.

Abstract Mutant M7, obtained by transposon mutagenesis of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, is impaired in the development of mature heterocysts. Under aerobic conditions, the mutant is unable to fix N2 because of a deficiency of at least two components of the oxygen-protective mechanisms: a hemoprotein-coupled oxidative reaction and heterocyst-specific glycolipids. DNA contiguous with the inserted transposon was recovered from the mutant and sequenced. The transposon had inserted itself within a 732-bp open reading frame designated devA. The wild-type form of devA, obtained from a lambda-EMBL3 library of Anabaena sp. DNA, had the identical sequence. Directed mutagenesis of devA in the wild-type strain showed that the phenotype of the mutant was caused by insertion of the transposon. The wild-type form of devA on a shuttle vector complemented the mutation in M7. Expression of devA by whole filaments, monitored following nitrogen stepdown by using luxAB as the reporter, increased ca. eightfold during differentiation; the increase within differentiating cells was much greater. The deduced sequence of the DevA protein shows strong similarity to the ATP-binding subunit of binding protein-dependent transport systems. The product of devA may, therefore, be a component of a periplasmic permease that is required for the transition from a proheterocyst to a mature, nitrogen-fixing heterocyst.
Relationships between essential cortical language sites and subcortical pathways: Clinical article

Object Maps produced using either electrical stimulation or functional imaging have demonstrated a distributed network of cortical regions involved in expressive and receptive language tasks. The pattern of connectivity among components of this network has begun to be explored with diffusion tensor (DT) imaging, but has yet to be completely characterized. In this study the authors used DT imaging–based tractography to examine the interrelationship between cortical areas found to be essential for language by intraoperative electrical stimulation. Methods The authors localized the arcuate fasciculus (AF), a white matter fiber system connecting frontal and parietotemporal areas in 10 patients, 9 of whom subsequently underwent left hemispheric language mapping. Results The authors found that 81 (79%) of 102 essential language sites (ELSs) were closely related to the AF. Of all ELSs, 59% were located within 7.5 mm of AF fiber pathway terminations, and another 20% contained pathways terminating closer to the AF...
Atoms and Light

This chapter describes the biological properties of infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. Photons are emitted or absorbed when atoms or molecules change energy levels, leading to the techniques of infrared spectroscopy and Raman scattering. Scattering and absorption are described by the cross section. When scattering dominates, light is governed by the diffusion equation. Photons can be absorbed and emitted in a continuous range of frequencies, leading to thermal radiation. Blue and ultraviolet light are used for therapy, and can also be harmful to the skin and eyes. Lasers heat tissue, a process that is modeled by the bioheat equation. The chapter closes with a discussion of vision.
The role of the dermatologist in detecting elder abuse and neglect

The National Research Council of the National Academies defines elder mistreatment as: (1) intentional actions that cause harm or create serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder by a caregiver or other person who stands in a trust relationship to the elder; or (2) failure by a caregiver to satisfy the elder's basic needs or to protect the elder from harm. Estimates of the prevalence of elder abuse have ranged from 2.2% to 18.4%. Dermatologists are uniquely positioned to identify and manage suspected cases of elder abuse given their expertise in distinguishing skin lesions of abuse from organic medical disease and their patient populations with strong elderly representation. This article discusses aspects of both the screening and management of elder abuse with particular relevance to dermatologists. Like physicians across medical specialties, dermatologists must be familiar with those aspects of elder abuse in screening, diagnosis, management, and reporting that are unique to their field and to those aspects that are applicable to all health care providers.
Scrapie and Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy: Search for Infectious Nucleic Acid

Brain preparations from animals with scrapie or transmissible mink encephalopathy were phenol extracted and examined for the presence of pathogenic nucleic acid. Animals inoculated with various extracts remained healthy, and analysis on 2.6 to 5% polyacrylamide gels failed to detect a difference in extractable RNA species between infected and normal mink brain.
2012 Law Firm Legal Research Requirements for New Attorneys

This article collects in one place the results of previously published and unpublished surveys as they pertain to law firm research requirements of new hires. The article also summarizes results from the author's recent law firm legal research survey, which determined what research functions, and in what formats, law firms require new hires to be proficient.The article concludes that there is a need to integrate the teaching of online and print-based research resources for the following tasks: federal and state-specific legislative codes, secondary source materials, reporters, administrative codes and digests. There must also be a strong emphasis on the teaching of cost-effective research strategies.
Kinematics of birdsong: functional correlation of cranial movements and acoustic features in sparrows

The movements of the head and beak of songbirds may play a functional role in vocal production by influencing the acoustic properties of songs. We investigated this possibility by synchronously measuring the acoustic frequency and amplitude and the kinematics (beak gape and head angle) of singing behavior in the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) and the swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana). These birds are closely related emberizine sparrows, but their songs differ radically in frequency and amplitude structure. We found that the acoustic frequencies of notes in a song have a consistent, positive correlation with beak gape in both species. Beak gape increased significantly with increasing frequency during the first two notes in Z. albicollis song, with a mean frequency for note 1 of 3 kHz corresponding to a gape of 0.4 cm (a 15 degrees gape angle) and a mean frequency for note 2 of 4 kHz corresponding to a gape of 0.7 cm (a 30 degrees gape angle). The relationship between gape and frequency for the upswept third note in Z. albicollis also was significant. In M. georgiana, low frequencies of 3 kHz corresponding to beak gapes of 0.2-0.3 cm (a 10-15 degrees break angle), whereas frequencies of 7-8 kHz were associated with flaring of the beak to over 1 cm (a beak angle greater than 50 degrees). Beak gape and song amplitude are poorly correlated in both species. We conclude that cranial kinematics, particularly beak movements, influence the resonance properties of the vocal tract by varying its physical dimensions and thus play an active role in the production of birdsong.
Structure of the Rho transcription terminator: mechanism of mRNA recognition and helicase loading

Abstract In bacteria, one of the major transcriptional termination mechanisms requires a RNA/DNA helicase known as the Rho factor. We have determined two structures of Rho complexed with nucleic acid recognition site mimics in both free and nucleotide bound states to 3.0 A resolution. Both structures show that Rho forms a hexameric ring in which two RNA binding sites—a primary one responsible for target mRNA recognition and a secondary one required for mRNA translocation and unwinding—point toward the center of the ring. Rather than forming a closed ring, the Rho hexamer is split open, resembling a "lock washer" in its global architecture. The distance between subunits at the opening is sufficiently wide (12 A) to accommodate single-stranded RNA. This open configuration most likely resembles a state poised to load onto mRNA and suggests how related ring-shaped enzymes may be breached to bind nucleic acids.
Keyserling and methodology

The Atlantic Economic Journal has been established on the premise that there is a substantial need to increase communication and share constructive viewpoints between economists. In addition to formal publication of full length articles, other avenues of less formal communication should be available. A small point may not be worthy of a formal paper but is important enough to warrant dissemination to colleagues. Research in progress may be of interest to other economists. A research approach ending in negative results needs to be shared to save others from similar pitfalls. The Anthology has been established to facilitate this form of communication. It will provide a means by which short manuscripts can quickly appear in the Journal with no formal referee process. Requirements for submission are nominal: 1. Categories of manuscripts: (a) A summary of original research completed, briefly stating why it was undertaken, its methodology, and results obtained. (b) A summary of research in progress and available upon request. (c) A positive comment about a printed article. This should be of a nature that does not require formal reply. (d) A corrective comment on errors in one's own previously printed work. 2. Authors will be notified as to acceptance or rejection within one month after receipt of manuscript. 3. No backlog of accepted manuscripts will occur. Publication will be in the next available issue of the Journal. 4. (a) Total length of text must not exceed 500 words. (b) If equations are used, the number of words should be reduced accordingly. (c) Double-spaced, typewritten on 81⁄2 X 11 inch paper, with original and one copy. (d) Title, not to exceed 10 words, followed by category number of Journal of Economic Literature under which articte primarily belongs. (e) Body of the manuscript must not contain diagrams, but may include numbers and a small amount of equations. (f) References to previously published works should appear in brackets and within the body of the text. (g) No footnotes will be accepted.
Microfabricated vapor preconcentrator for portable ion mobility spectroscopy

Abstract This paper reports on the design, simulation, fabrication and performance of 6.65 mm × 6.65 mm micromachined vapor preconcentrator devices. The devices are composed of sorbent-coated dual serpentine platinum heaters supported by a 6 μm thick layer of polyimide suspended over a silicon frame. The preconcentrators are designed to allow analyte flow normal to the surface through a 10 × 23 array of 375 μm × 125 μm perforations in the polyimide heater support. This facilitates relatively large airflow through the device while providing intimate contact with the sorbent layer with low pressure drop. In preliminary experiments, the device is demonstrated by interfacing to the front end of a commercial ion mobility spectrometer for trace explosives detection. Samples of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene from a NESTT (non-hazardous explosives for security training and testing) source were collected on the preconcentrator for 15 min at a concentration adjusted to be just above the detector's noise floor. The results show at least an order of magnitude signal enhancement.
Latest Chesterian (Carboniferous) initiation of Gondwanan glaciation recorded in facies stacking patterns and brachiopod paleocommunities of the Antler foreland basin, Idaho

Stacking patterns of facies and brachiopod communities of Latest Chesterian (Middle Carboniferous) units of east-central Idaho record an increase in the frequency and amplitude of sea level changes. Water depth, as inferred from lithology and paleoecology, provides the basis for quantifying sea level fluctuations. The Surrett Canyon Formation is dominated by thick sequences of subtidal carbonates. The Arco Hills Formation consists of thin parasequences of mixed carbonate and siliciclastic lithologies, representing sea level changes up to 50 m in amplitude, bounded by flooding surfaces. Overlying the Arco Hills, the Bluebird Mountain Formation (very fine-grained quartz arenite, dolomite, and unfossiliferous limestone) records a major lowstand just below the mid-Carboniferous boundary. Increased amplitude and frequency of sea level changes in the Antler foreland basin initiated at the C. naviculus/A. unicornis conodont zone boundary which occurs at the base of the Arco Hills Formation. These are interpreted as 4th-order glacio-eustatic sea level changes related to the onset of Gondwana glaciation comparable to those seen in the Illinois Basin, Alaska, and elsewhere.
Stain intensity of human nucleolus organizer region reflects incorporation of uridine into mature ribosomal RNA.

Abstract The stain intensity of the nucleotus organizer regions (NORs) of acrocentric chromosomes was correlated positively with incorporation of [3H]uridine into 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA from cultured diploid human skin fibroblasts. An analysis of these data from twins by a path model indicated that no other common genetic or environmental parameters were required to explain the relationship between NOR scores and uptake of [3H]uridine into mature rRNA species.
Beyond autonomy. Physicians' refusal to use life-prolonging extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Three years ago we noted that the literature on physicians' refusal to provide requested treatment was sparse1. Since that time the issue has fueled an intense, two-pronged debate -- on futility and on the limits of patient autonomy. The debate over patient autonomy is a genuinely philosophical dispute; that over futility seems to be a relapse into nominalism. It is not the meaning of a word but the moral basis for the actions of the participants that ought to be the focus of our attention. The fractious debate on the meaning of futility, evidenced in a spate of recent . . .
Synthesis, thermal properties and applications of polymer-clay nanocomposites

Abstract Polymer-clay nanocomposites constitute a new class of materials in which the polymer matrix is reinforced by uniformly dispersed inorganic particles (usually 10 wt.% or less) having at least one dimension in the nanometer scale. Nanocomposites exhibit improved properties when compared to pure polymer or conventional composites, such as enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, reduced gas permeability, and improved chemical stability. In this work, the synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/clay nanocomposites is described via two methods: in situ and emulsion polymerization. The in situ technique follows a two-step process: ion-exchange of the clay to make it hydrophobic, and polymerization after dispersing the functionalized clay in the monomer. The emulsion technique combines the two steps of the in situ method into one by conducting ion-exchange and polymerization in an aqueous medium in the same reactor. The clay (montmorillonite, MMT) is functionalized with a zwitterionic surfactant, octadecyl-dimethyl betaine (C18DMB). Partially exfoliated nanocomposite, observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), was obtained by emulsion polymerization with 10 wt.% clay. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of this nanocomposite was 18 °C higher than pure PMMA. With the same clay content, in situ polymerization produced intercalated nanocomposite with Tg 10 °C lower than the emulsion nanocomposite. The storage modulus of partially exfoliated nanocomposite was superior to the intercalated structure and to the pure polymer. Using nanocomposite technology, novel PMMA nanocomposite gel electrolytes were synthesized exhibiting improved ionic conductivity and stable lithium interfacial resistance. Nanocomposites can also be used for gas storage and packaging applications as demonstrated by high barrier polymer-clay films.
Biologically inspired reversible osmotic actuation through voltage-gated ion channels:

This study focuses on the development of a novel high-energy density actuator based on biomimicry principles. The system proposed here draws inspiration from plant motor cells and provides proof of concept for a highly configurable reversible osmotic actuator through the application of voltage-gated ion channels and action potentials. Computational methods are employed to measure the effectiveness of the proposed system in comparison to similar novel actuators.
Detour problem-solving behavior in rats with early lesions to the “general learning system”

Recent studies involving visual and nonvisual discrimination habits suggest that the components of the rodent’s general (nonspecific) learning system (a group of brain structures essential for normal acquisition of a wide range of laboratory tasks) include the regions of the globus pallidus, lateral thalamus, substantia nigra, midbrain central gray, median raphe, and pontine reticular formation. To determine whether these regions play a role in more complex kinds of learning, young rats previously subjected to selective lesions to these brain sites received five trials on each of three “climbing” detour problems. Performance on Trial 1 (a measure of response flexibility) as well as performance on Trials 2–5 (a measure of detour habit formation) of each problem was significantly impaired in those groups with damage to the globus pallidus, substantia nigra, median raphe, or pontine reticular formation. On the other hand, those groups with damage to the lateral thalamus or midbrain central gray failed to display consistent deficits in detour problem-solving behavior. This pattern of results suggests that the latter two structures can no longer be grouped with the globus pallidus, substantia nigra, median raphe, and pontine reticular formation as components of the rodent’s general learning system.
On the Relationship Among Social Anxiety, Intimacy, Sexual Communication, and Sexual Satisfaction in Young Couples

This study was conducted to better understand why socially anxious individuals experience less sexual satisfaction in their intimate partnerships than nonanxious individuals, a relationship that has been well documented in previous research. Effective communication between partners is an important predictor of relationship satisfaction. Sexual communication, an important aspect of communication between romantic partners, is especially sensitive for couples given the vulnerability inherent in being open about sexual issues. Because socially anxious individuals characteristically report fear of evaluation or scrutiny by others, we hypothesized that the process of building intimacy by sharing personal information about oneself with one’s partner, including when this information relates to one’s sexuality and/or the sexual domain of the relationship, would be particularly difficult for socially anxious individuals. The present study examined fear of intimacy and sexual communication as potential mediators of the relationship between higher social anxiety and lower sexual satisfaction. Self-report data were collected from 115 undergraduate students and their partners in monogamous, heterosexual, committed relationships of at least 3 months duration. Multilevel path modeling revealed that higher social anxiety predicted higher fear of intimacy, which predicted lower satisfaction with open sexual communication, which, in turn, predicted lower sexual satisfaction. Additionally, there was evidence of mediation as there were significant indirect effects of the antecedent variables on sexual satisfaction. The path model had excellent fit. Implications for social anxiety, intimate relationships, and couples therapy are discussed.
Polymeric Micellar Co-delivery of Resveratrol and Curcumin to Mitigate In Vitro Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR) have free radical scavenging ability and potential chemosensitizing effects. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DH) is a potent chemotherapeutic with severe cardiotoxicity. We hypothesize that RES and CUR co-loaded in Pluronic® micelles and co-administered with DH will result in cardioprotective effects while maintaining/improving DH anti-proliferative effect in vitro. RES–CUR at a molar ratio of 5:1 in F127 micelles (mRC) were prepared and characterized for size, drug loading, and release. In vitro cell viability and apoptosis assays in ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) and cardiomyocytes (H9C2) with either individual drugs or RES–CUR or mRC in combination with DH were conducted. Combination index (CI) analysis was performed to determine combination effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified in H9C2 for DH, and combinations. The mRC solubilized 2.96 and 0.97 mg/mL of RES and CUR, respectively. Cell viability and CI studies indicated that the combinations were synergistic in SKOV-3 and antagonistic in H9C2 cells. Caspase 3/7 activity in combination treatments was lower than with DH alone in both cell lines. ROS activity was restored to baseline in H9C2 cells in the micelle combination groups. Co-administration of mRC with DH in vitro mitigates DH-induced cardiotoxicity through reduction in apoptosis and ROS while improving DH potency in ovarian cancer cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2315–2322, 2014
Effects of gate-to-body tunneling current on PD/SOI CMOS latches

This paper presents a detailed study on the effect of gate-to-body tunneling current on PD/SOI CMOS latches. The physical mechanism and its impact on the initial quiescent states and performance of the latches are analyzed. It is shown that the effect on latch setup time is particularly significant due to the compounding effect of the master-slave configuration.
An intermediate in the pH-induced dissociation of glutamate dehydrogenase.

Abstract We have carried out light-scatter and spectrophotometric stopped-flow studies on the acid induced dissociation of bovine liver L-glutamate dehydrogenase. The light-scatter intensity and the absorbance due to chromophore exposure follow the same time dependence, both changing only after a time lag of about 40 msec. The kinetics are consistent with a simple consecutive, two-step, irreversible reaction in which the first step converts β subunits into other forms identical in molecular weight and degree of folding and is followed by a second step in which these altered forms are converted into random coil, fully dissociated peptide chains.
A NEW DIRECT METHOD FOR SELECTIVE DEMETHYLATION OF N(+)‐METHYL QUATERNARY AMMONIUM IODIDES

Abstract N+-Methyl quaternary ammonium salts occur naturally in several families of alkaloids1 and occur occasionally as undesired by-products in some reactions of tertiary amines.2 Three general methods have been developed for demethylation of these ammonium salts:3 transfer of the quaternary methyl group to ethanolamine used as solvent, pyrolysis of the salts, and tertiary amine displacement by attack of an external nucleophile on the quaternary methyl group. Each of these methods has been used successfully in certain cases, but each also has some limitations. Methyl group transfer to ethanolamine, for example, is often accompanied by side reactions such as O-demethylation of methoxyl groups.4 Pyrolysis of methochlorides requires high (e.g., 200° or higher) temperatures;5 methacetates are pyrolyzed to the corresponding tertiary amines, but methacetates are usually highly hygroscopic and therefore hard to handle;6 pyrolysis of heteroaromatic methiodides occurs in dimethylformamide solution, but this deme...
CHANGES OF DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY DURING TRANSNEURONAL ATROPHY.

ALTHOUGH the cytology of transneuronal atrophy in the lateral genieulate nucleus is well documented in cat1, cytochemical studies of transneuronal atrophy are lacking. In the cat there are 3 laminae in each nucleus. Following unilateral enucleation, the neurones of the middle lamina of the ipsilateral lateral genieulate nucleus and the first and third lamina of the contralateral lateral genieulate nucleus undergo transneuronal atrophy. The opportunity of observing normal and atrophied laminse side by side permits an immediate appreciation of any cytochemical changes in the atrophied lamina with respect to the adjacent normal control lamina.
IMMUNOTOXICITY OF SODIUM BROMATE IN FEMALE B6C3F1 MICE: A 28-DAY DRINKING WATER STUDY

Bromate is one of the water disinfection by-products (DBPs) produced during the process of ozonation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunotoxic potential of sodium bromate (SB) in female B6C3F1 mice. SB was administered in the drinking water for 28 days at doses of 80–800 mg/l. There was no difference in drinking water consumption between the animals exposed to SB and the tap water controls. Exposure to SB did not produce any signs of overt toxicity. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in body weight, body weight gain, or the weights of thymus, liver, kidneys or lungs. No gross pathological lesions were observed in SB-treated animals. However, animals exposed to SB had a significant increase in absolute (28%) and relative (26%) spleen weights. The erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelet count, total leukocyte count, and counts of differential leukocytes were unaffected by SB. A dose-related increase in reticulocytes was observed ...
The Quality of Discussion on the Economy in UK Political Blogs in 2008

In the early years of the twenty-first century, things look bleak for the political journalists of large newspapers—squeezed by the demands of celebrity culture, bullied by politicians and their aides, untrusted by the public and, now, displaced by a horde of amateur bloggers—or do they? This study is based upon an in-depth, comparative analysis of the quality of debate, on economic issues, in a selection of the UKs most popular, ‘independent’, political blogs and of their equivalents hosted by established newspaper writers and suggests a much more positive prognosis for the future of professional political journalists and, more importantly, for the public sphere, than has been commonly asserted elsewhere.
Comparison of Fluorescence Energy Transfer Primers with Different Donor–Acceptor Dye Combinations☆

Fluorescence energy transfer (ET) primers are far superior to single dye-labeled primers as labels for DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction amplification. We compare here ET primers with different donor and acceptor dye combinations with respect to the relative acceptor fluorescence emission intensity and the amount of residual donor fluorescence emission. Primers with the following donor/acceptor pairs were synthesized: 6-carboxyfluorescein/6-carboxy-X-rhodamine (FAM-ROX), 3-(epsilon-carboxypentyl)-3'-ethyl-5,5'-dimethyloxacarbocyanine/ 6-carboxy-X-rhodamine (CYA-ROX), and the 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3 alpha,4 alpha-diaza-s-indacene-3-propionic acid (BODIPY) derivatives, 5,7-dimethyl-BODIPY/5-(4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl) BODIPY (BODIPY503/512-BODIPY581/591). Variables examined included the length of the 5'-amino linker arm, the number of base pairs between the donor and acceptor, and the excitation wavelength (488 or 514 nm). Of the primers examined, CYA-ROX primers offer the best combination of acceptor fluorescence emission intensity and spectral purity.
Increasing the experimentation of theoretical computer science with new features in JFLAP

JFLAP is an educational software tool for experimenting with several types of automata, grammars and proofs related to the area of theoretical computer science. For example, one can create an NFA, convert it to a DFA, minimize the number of states in the DFA, convert it to a regular expression or convert it to a regular grammar. Once created, one can simulate test strings. JFLAP includes a large number of topics and proofs to experiment with from the regular languages, context-free languages, recursively enumerable languages and l-systems. This poster describes several new features in a redesign of JFLAP that includes a more flexible grammar representation, explicit formal definitions, basic set theory tools, and new algorithms.
Spatiotemporal exploratory models for broad-scale survey data

The distributions of animal populations change and evolve through time. Migratory species exploit different habitats at different times of the year. Biotic and abiotic features that determine where a species lives vary due to natural and anthropogenic factors. This spatiotemporal variation needs to be accounted for in any modeling of species' distributions. In this paper we introduce a semiparametric model that provides a flexible framework for analyzing dynamic patterns of species occurrence and abundance from broad- scale survey data. The spatiotemporal exploratory model (STEM) adds essential spatiotem- poral structure to existing techniques for developing species distribution models through a simple parametric structure without requiring a detailed understanding of the underlying dynamic processes. STEMs use a multi-scale strategy to differentiate between local and global- scale spatiotemporal structure. A user-specified species distribution model accounts for spatial and temporal patterning at the local level. These local patterns are then allowed to ''scale up'' via ensemble averaging to larger scales. This makes STEMs especially well suited for exploring distributional dynamics arising from a variety of processes. Using data from eBird, an online citizen science bird-monitoring project, we demonstrate that monthly changes in distribution of a migratory species, the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), can be more accurately described with a STEM than a conventional bagged decision tree model in which spatiotemporal structure has not been imposed. We also demonstrate that there is no loss of model predictive power when a STEM is used to describe a spatiotemporal distribution with very little spatiotemporal variation; the distribution of a nonmigratory species, the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis).
Differing effect of systemic anti psoriasis therapies on platelet physiology - a case report and review of literature

Background Psoriasis is a common, chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Lately, there is increasing evidence that psoriasis is more than "skin deep". Epidemiological studies showed that severe psoriasis might have also important systemic manifestations such as metabolic deregulations, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and increased mortality. Moreover, recently psoriasis patients were found to have platelet hyperactivity.
Radiometric calibration of satellite sensors in the visible and near infrared: History and outlook

Abstract Documentation for radiometric calibration of visible and near infrared sensors viewing the earth has been quite limited in the past. Recent quantitative use of satellite radiometry suggests the need for better information concerning instrumentation, estimation of atmospheric effects, and ground verification of satellite measured radiances. An example from the thermal infrared spectral region illustrates that analysis algorithms provide the link between satellite-derived results and the required accuracy of satellite calibration.
Medical education: The training of ethical physicians

This paper suggests that medical education be revised to assist in diffusing potential ethical dilemmas that arise during health care provision. A revised medical education would emphasize the role of the humanities in the training of physicians, especially in light of recent critiques of the canonical scientific model in general, and more specifically in the use of that model for medical training and practice.
APPROACH TO EQUILIBRIUM OF QUANTUM MECHANICAL GIBBSIAN ENSEMBLES

The approach to equilibrium of an arbitrary physical system in contact with a thermal reservoir is described when the internal dynamics of the system is described by its Hamiltonian and the interaction with the reservoir can be described by a linear stochastic kernel which in general can be time dependent. A generalization of the Markov process represented by the master equation to the space of density matrices is found, and it is proved that the necessary and sufficient condition that any solution of an equation of the general structure approach equilibrium monotonically is that equilibrium is a stationary solution. It is also proved that the Helmholtz free energy is a minimum as a functional of the density matrix and thus is a suitable measure of deviation from canonicity. Another measure of deviation is found which is equally good and easier to use. It is shown, as an example, that Bloch's microscopic density matrices fulflll the criteria and thus approach equilibrium monotonically. Finally, the results for the thermal reservoir are extended to more general reservoirs. (auth)