cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Minimum Wage Increases Affect Organizational Performance? The Case of Skilled Nursing Facilities in the United States

Minimum wage increases have been a widely-debated topic over the past decades by scholars and policy-makers alike. While most research on minimum wage increases has focused on their consequences for labor market dynamics, this paper explores the impact of minimum wage increases on organizational performance in a healthcare setting. Namely, I argue that increases in income associated with minimum wage increases enhance employees’ ability and motivation to perform at work, and in aggregate, promote organizational performance. To examine the relationship between minimum wages and organizational performance, I use data from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare of over 13,000 skilled nursing facilities (i.e., nursing homes) in the United States and use 2015-2016 increases in the state-level minimum wage as a naturally-occurring quasi-experimental intervention. The findings demonstrate that state-level minimum wage increases between 2015 and 2016 significantly reduced the percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections. Furthermore, minimum wage increases only benefitted facilities that increased or maintained the staffing hours of their certified nursing assistants, but not those that responded to minimum wage increases by reducing their staffing over the studied period. Overall, this paper offers a framework for expanding labor-related research on minimum wage increases in organizations.
AdaPool: Multi-Armed Bandits for Adaptive Virology Screening on Cyber-Physical Digital-Microfluidic Biochips

Cyber-physical digital microfluidics is a versatile lab-on-chip technology that offers key advantages in reconfigurability, manufacturability, and sensor integration. Critical applications such as point-of-care testing (POCT) are expected to benefit the most from this technology, thus motivating a great body of literature that addresses performance, cost, and reliability using design-automation methodologies. Despite this effort, today's solutions are unable to support the most critical application in the modern era; that is, cost-effective POCT for rapid virology screening. This application poses new design challenges related to the testing capacity and adaptability to the infection distribution within target populations. To support this application, we present a reinforcement-learning method that enables a cyber-physical digital-micro fluidic platform to learn from its testing results. The proposed method, named AdaPool, uses multi-armed bandits to infer the dynamics of viral infection and hence adapt the microfluidic system to an effective testing strategy. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method at different infection conditions.
Constructing the “Gender Beat:” U.S. Journalists Refocus the News in the Aftermath of #Metoo

This exploratory, qualitative study documents how journalists working for U.S. news organizations defined and refined the concept of a “gender beat” in the aftermath of the 2017 resurgence of the #...
Ni-Ru-MgO Catalyst with High Activity and Stability for Methanation of Syngas and Producer Gas

Abstract A new catalyst composition comprised of Ni, Ru, and MgO was investigated with a focus on improving methanation performance for sub-stoichiometric H2/CO-ratio producer gas from biomass gasification. The catalyst was loaded on an alumina support by wet impregnation for testing the catalytic methanation activity for syngas (CO/H2) and producer gas (CO/CO2/H2) in a fixed-bed reactor. The optimum addition of promoters Ru and MgO to the main Ni catalyst was determined by maximizing the CO conversion and CH4 yield in the methanation reactions. The optimization experiments were conducted on a low-surface-area alumina support. With 10% Ni loading, the highest activity and stability was achieved with the addition of 1.5%MgO and 0.5-1.0% Ru as promoters. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) of Ni in pretreated Mg-Ni and Ni-Ru-Mg catalysts indicated the presence of approximately 30% of Ni in metallic state on the Al2O3 support. Bulk reduction, measured by TPR, was nearly 40% in the Mg-Ni-Ru catalysts. The MgO promoter enhanced the methanation activity, while the Ru component was mainly responsible for improvement in catalytic stability in the low H2/CO-ratio (1.82) feed gas. The effect of the presence of H2O in the feed gas showed no significant change in the methanation activity of the catalyst. The Ni-Ru-Mg catalyst showed much higher stability in comparison to a promoted Ni-based commercial catalyst. The CO in the low H2/CO-ratio feed gas was primarily responsible for catalyst deactivation due to coke formation. Experiments with high-surface-area commercial alumina supports with the Ni-Ru-Mg catalyst demonstrated CO conversion activity comparable to a commercial catalyst but eliminated deactivation due to coke formation at the low H2/CO-ratio producer gas commonly found in the gasification of biomass.
Armchair Warriors: Private Citizens, Popular Press, and the Rise of American Power – By Joel R. Davidson

To write Armchair Warriors, the author examined approximately sixty years of unsolicited advice on military matters offered by Americans to various branches of the military and federal government b...
Android provenance: diagnosing device disorders

Mobile devices are a ubiquitous part of our daily lives. Smartphones are being used in many areas where data privacy and integrity are a concern. One threat to integrity and privacy is the existence of bugs in operating system code. Little has been done to provide tools for system-wide runtime profiling and accountability. We propose operating system auditing and data provenance tracking as mechanisms for generating useful traces of system activity and information flow on mobile devices. The goal of these traces is to enable debugging and profiling of complicated system issues such as increased power drain. We contribute a prototype system for Android-based mobile devices and provide realistic examples of how our system can be used for debugging.
The Nature of Landmarks for Real and Electronic Spaces

Landmarks are significant in one's formation of a cognitive map of both physical environments and electronic information spaces. Landmarks are defined in physical space as having key characteristics that make them recognizable and memorable in the environment. The challenge of defining measurable features of landmarks that can be used in designing and recognizing landmarks in information spaces is explored. By drawing on diverse areas such as urban planning, architecture, cognitive science and hypertext, a coherent definition of a landmark is proposed, which is relevant to both physical and electronic spaces. It is argued that landmarks can be classified in terms of visual, cognitive and structural dimensions, which has implications for how environments can be designed or built in such a way that landmarks will emerge appropriately for unique situations.
Subcellular segregation of distinct heteromeric NMDA glutamate receptors in the striatum

Functional N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors are composed of heteromeric complexes of NR1, the obligatory subunit for channel activity, and NR2 or NR3 family members, which confer variability in the properties of the receptors. Recent studies have provided evidence for the existence of both binary (containing NR1 and either NR2A or NR2B) and ternary (containing NR1, NR2A, and NR2B) receptor complexes in the adult mammalian brain. However, the mechanisms regulating subunit assembly and receptor localization are not well understood. In the CNS, NMDA subunits are present both at intracellular sites and the post-synaptic membrane of neurons. Using biochemical protein fractionation and co-immunoprecipitation approaches we have found that in rat striatum binary NMDA receptors are widely distributed, and can be identified in the light membrane, synaptosomal membrane, and synaptic vesicle-enriched subcellular compartments. In contrast, ternary receptors are found exclusively in the synaptosomal membranes. When striatal proteins are chemically cross-linked prior to subcellular fractionation, ternary NMDA receptors can be precipitated from the light membrane and synaptic vesicle-enriched fractions where this type of receptor complex is not detectable under normal conditions. These findings suggest differential targeting of distinct types of NMDA receptor assemblies between intracellular and post-synaptic sites based on subunit composition. This targeting may underlie important differences in the regulation of the transport pathways involved in both normal as well as pathological receptor functions.
Efficient expression of small RNA polymerase III genes from a novel Simian virus 40 vector and their effect on viral gene expression

In the past, simian virus 40 (SV40) has been used as a cloning vehicle to clone foreign genes by substituting portions of the viral genome vital for viral replication. Propagation of these defective viruses required a helper virus and the recombinant viruses obtained could be grown only as a mixture. In this study, we describe a novel nondefective SV40 vector to clone small RNA polymerase III genes. Two small RNA polymerase III genes, an amber suppressor human serine tRNA gene and the adenovirus (Ad) VAI RNA gene, were cloned in the intron region of the large-T antigen gene of SV40 after deleting DNA sequences coding for the small-t polypeptide. The recombinant viruses grew to wild type levels and showed no growth defects. When CV-1p cells were infected with these viruses, the cloned RNA polymerase III genes were expressed at high levels at late times. Interestingly, large amounts VAI RNA in CV-1p cells infected with SV40-VA recombinant virus, did not enhance translation of viral mRNAs significantly but did lead to a 3 to 4 fold increase in the steady state levels of large-T mRNA suggesting a novel function for VAI RNA in SV40 infected monkey cells. Furthermore, VAI mutants which fail to function in Ad infected human cells also failed to enhance the levels of large-T mRNAs in monkey cells infected with SV40. The simple SV40 vector described here may be useful to study the structure and function of small RNA polymerase III genes in the context of a eucaryotic chromosome. In addition, the nondefective recombinant SV40 which expresses the suppressor tRNA gene at high levels may provide a useful helper system to propagate animal viruses with amber mutations in essential genes.
The ATP Synthase—A Splendid Molecular Machine

An X-ray structure of the F1 portion of the mitochondrial ATP synthase shows asymmetry and differences in nucleotide binding of the catalytic β subunits that support the binding change mechanism with an internal rotation of the γ subunit. Other structural and mutational probes of the F1 and F0 portions of the ATP synthase are reviewed, together with kinetic and other evaluations of catalytic site occupancy and behavior during hydrolysis or synthesis of ATP. Subunit function as related to proton translocation and rotational catalysis is considered. Physical demonstrations of the γ subunit rotation have been achieved. The findings have implications for other enzymatic catalyses.
Router support for fine-grained latency measurements

An increasing number of datacenter network applications, including automated trading and high-performance computing, have stringent end-to-end latency requirements where even microsecond variations may be intolerable. The resulting fine-grained measurement demands cannot be met effectively by existing technologies, such as SNMP, NetFlow, or active probing. We propose instrumenting routers with a hash-based primitive that we call a Lossy Difference Aggregator (LDA) to measure latencies down to tens of microseconds even in the presence of packet loss. Because LDA does not modify or encapsulate the packet, it can be deployed incrementally without changes along the forwarding path. When compared to Poisson-spaced active probing with similar overheads, our LDA mechanism delivers orders of magnitude smaller relative error; active probing requires 50-60 times as much bandwidth to deliver similar levels of accuracy. Although ubiquitous deployment is ultimately desired, it may be hard to achieve in the shorter term; we discuss a partial deployment architecture called mPlane using LDAs for intrarouter measurements and localized segment measurements for interrouter measurements.
Energy measurement and virial theorem for confined universal Fermi gases

Optically trapped two-component Fermi gases near a broad Feshbach resonance exhibit universal thermodynamics, where the properties of the gas are independent of the details of the two-body scattering interactions. We show that the measured cloud profiles of both species determine the total energy of universal gases for any trapping potential $U$ and any spin mixture, without assuming either the local density approximation or harmonic confinement. A global proof of the virial theorem yields the total energy of the gas at all temperatures in the scale-invariant form $E=⟨ϵ\ensuremath{\partial}U/\ensuremath{\partial}ϵ⟩$, where $ϵ$ is an arbitrary energy scale in terms of which all length and energy scales that appear in the confining potential are written. This result enables model-independent energy measurement in any trap by observing only the cloud profiles, and provides a consistency check for many-body calculations in the universal regime.
Monoclonal antibodies reactive with human breast or ovarian carcinoma: In vivo applications

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) are unique and useful bioprobes that allow in vivo targeting of membrane-associated or circulating antigens. Most of the clinical trials to date have used low dosages of radiolabeled MoAb given in a single dose. Newer studies have included antibody fragments, repeated injections, intraperitoneal (IP) administration, and other labels such as 90 Y. Clinical MoAb trials are often arduous, expensive, and time-consuming to perform. Before human use, animal studies and extensive MoAb characterization are required. The production of pharmaceutical grade, radiolabeled MoAb is technically difficult and costly. Clinical trials require administrative and patient consent as well as extensive written protocols. These studies necessitate interdepartmental and intradepartmental cooperation and coordination. Furthermore, the use of in vivo radiolabeled probes impacts many levels of health care providers from janitorial, nursing, and technical staff to laboratories and physicians. Simple blood tests or disposal of body excretions may concern nursing or technical staff with the possibility of radiation exposure. The responsibility for study design, personnel involvement, and prospective use in patients without a definitive cancer diagnosis ultimately rests with the physician. While many issues have been addressed, additional clinical trials, consideration of safety issues, and standardization between institutions will be necessary before the use of radiolabeled MoAb for diagnosis, management, or therapy of human tumors becomes routine. Continued cooperation and funding should ensure its achievement.
Blood vessels form a migratory scaffold in the rostral migratory stream

In adult mice, new neurons born in the subventricular zone (SVZ), lining the lateral ventricles, migrate tangentially into the olfactory bulb along a well-delineated path, the Rostral Migratory Stream (RMS). Neuroblasts in the RMS migrate tangentially in chains, without a recognized migratory scaffold. Here, we quantitatively examine the distribution of, and relationships between, cells within the RMS, throughout its rostral-caudal extent. We show that there is a higher density of blood vessels in the RMS than in other brain regions, including areas with equal cell density, and that the orientation of blood vessels parallels the RMS throughout the caudal to rostral path. Of particular interest, migratory neuroblast chains are longitudinally aligned along blood vessels within the RMS, with over 80% of vessel length in rostral areas of the RMS apposed by neuroblasts. Electron micrographs show direct contact between endothelial cells and neuroblasts, although intervening astrocytic processes are often present. Within the RMS, astrocytes arborize extensively, extending long processes which are parallel to blood vessels and the direction of neuroblast migration. Thus, the astrocytic processes establish a longitudinal alignment within the RMS, rather than a more typical stellate shape. This complementary alignment suggests that blood vessels and astrocytes may cooperatively establish a scaffold for migrating neuroblasts, as well as provide and regulate migratory cues.
A collision complex model for the reaction CH2(1A1)+X→CH2(3B1)+X

Abstract A collision complex model has been used to calculate the rate of the inert gas catalyzed singlet to triplet transition of methylene. It is assumed that the transition occurs via the spin-orbit coupling in methylene when the catalyst atom induces a degeneracy between adiabatic vibronic levels of the two electronic states. The calculations are based upon accurate estimates of the bending mode vibrational energy levels and upon Gordon-Kim potential energy surfaces. Calculations have been performed for the three values, 8.0, 9.2, and 9.7 kcal mole−1, of the singlet-triplet splitting of the methylene electronic states.
Historical and Theoretical Perspectives in Language Policy and Planning.

This paper explores the evolution of language policy and planning (LPP) as an area of research from the end of World War II to the present day. Based on analysis of the LPP literature, three types of factors are identified as having been instrumental in shaping the field. These factors – macro sociopolitical, epistemological, and strategic – individually and interactively have influenced the kinds of questions asked, methodologies adopted, and goals aspired to in LPP research. Research in LPP is divided into three historical phases: (1) decolonization, structuralism, and pragmatism; (2) the failure of modernization, critical sociolinguistics, and access; and (3) the new world order, postmodernism, and linguistic human rights. The article concludes with a discussion of current research trends and areas requiring further investigation.
Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy: Application To The Photosynthetic Cycle Of Bacteriorhodopsin

Several techniques for time-resolved Raman spectroscopy covering timescales from 10-8 to 10-1 sec are discussed. These methods are used to obtain the Raman spectra of several intermediates in the photosynthetic cycle of bacteriorhodopsin. Using these spectra and their temporal dependences, attempts are made at determining where deprotonation occurs, and if there is a cis-trans isomerization step in the cycle. Extension of the technique to other systems and shorter timescales is discussed.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Circulating Angiogenesis Biomarkers Are Associated With Disease Progression in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background Dysregulation of angiogenesis is known to be associated with tumorigenesis and metastatic progression in multiple carcinomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of circulating angiogenesis biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma progression. For that, we hypothesize that circulating levels of biomarkers characteristic for discrete processes within angiogenesis are associated with specific phases of disease progression. Appreciation of these profiles may have important implications for disease detection and prognostication. Methods Patients with lung adenocarcinoma enrolled in the study were grouped as follows: node negative (T1a–3N0M0; n = 69), node positive (T1a–4N1–2M0; n = 60), and disseminated disease (TxNxM1; n = 68). All serum specimens were assayed for 17 angiogenesis biomarkers on the Luminex platform and statistically evaluated by analysis of variance for median differences in biomarker concentration at distinct phases of disease progression and by log rank methods for associations with clinical outcome. Results We found circulating hepatocyte growth factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor-C levels significantly elevated ( p p p Conclusions Angiogenesis is a process central to lung adenocarcinoma progression. We describe the modulation in serum angiogenesis biomarker concentrations through the various phases of non-small cell lung cancer progression. Additional refinement efforts are under way to enhance test performance, followed by additional validation studies.
Effect of heating time below the melting temperature on polyphenylene sulfide adhesive joint development

Abstract A long heating time below the melting temperature ( T m ) was found to be detrimental to subsequent polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) adhesive joint development above T m . This was found to be due to curing reactions below T m and consequent reduced mass flow response above T m . A high heating rate (small heating time) enhanced the bonding more than a high pressure. The study was conducted by measurement of the contact electrical resistance of the joint, and was supported by calorimetry.
Uranium transport in Topopah spring tuff; An ion-microscope investigation

We investigated the effect of different methods of surface preparation on ion-microscope profiles of uranium concentration (added to the sample by diffusion from an aqueous solution) vs depth in a welded, devitrified, tuffaceous rock from Yucca Mountain. The concentration profiles were used to study transport of uranium in the tuff. Four wafers of rock were prepared from primary drill core material and finished by polishing with increasingly finer abrasive material. Final polishes were made with 400 grit SiC, 600 grit SiC, 0.3 um alumina, and 0.05 um alumina. The polished tuff wafers were exposed for eight hours to a solution of groundwater doped with 2 ppM 235-U. The wafers were then examined by SEM and the ion microscope was used to measure the lateral and depth distributions of 235-U and other isotopes in the wafer. No systematic correlation of the measured 235-U concentration- vs-depth profiles with the degree of surface finish was observed, indicating that the polishing does not affect the measurable transport of U in the tuff. A zone of enhanced 235-U concentration was observed in the upper few microns, which we attribute to sorption onto surfaces of exposed pores. Concentrations of 235-U were elevated above background to depths >15 um, indicating that rapid transport paths exist. When the uranium distribution near the surface of the wafer was modelled by an error function, an upper limit for a slower transport path was defined by an apparent diffusion coefficient of approximately 10{sup {minus}13} cm{sup 2}/s. 5 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Decision delegation: A conceptualization and empirical investigation

This paper examines a purchase context in which consumers, instead of deciding on their own, delegate either a part of or the entire purchase decision to a surrogate. A path model linking the antecedent variables and delegation is tested in the context of personal computer purchases. It was found that the factors that ensure decision quality emanating from the surrogate's expertise differentials, trustworthiness, accountability, and willingness to customize increase the likelihood of decision delegation. In addition to its direct positive effect on delegation, trustworthiness mediates the effect of expertise difference, surrogate accountability, and customization on delegation. Perceived loss of control inhibits delegation, but only at the stage when the final choice decision is made. Also, if a decision task is repeatable, the high return on effort has a negative effect on delegation, but only at attribute set and choice set delegations. Contributions of the study and directions for future research are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prenatal diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure is associated with uterine leiomyoma development.

Early life exposure to DES causes uterine leiomyomata in laboratory animals. We examined the relationship between prenatal DES exposure and development of uterine leiomyomata in women. Among randomly selected study participants (819 black women, 504 white women), leiomyoma status was determined by ultrasound screening (70%) or surgical record review (7%). We relied on self-report of prior diagnosis in 13%. Leiomyoma status could not be ascertained for 10% and they were excluded from analyses. Prenatal DES exposure was assessed by interview. All five of the black women who reported DES exposure had leiomyomata. Among white women, 76% who reported prenatal DES exposure had leiomyomata compared with 52% of the unexposed (adjusted odds ratio for whites: 2.4; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.1–5.4). Exposed women tended to have larger tumors. Results were robust to sensitivity analyses. Findings support experimental animal data and indicate a role for prenatal estrogen exposure in the etiology of human uterine leiomyoma.
Effect of film size on human observer detection of nodules on chest CT images

The effect of displayed CT image size and observer viewing protocol on human observer ability to detect nodules was measured. Synthetic nodules (3.0 to 5.0 mm) were added to random locations within the lungs of 80 CT images from spiral CT scans of 13 patients. Each test set consisted of 160 images. Each CT image was presented twice in a trial, once with nodule present and once without nodule present. The images were rendered as film transparencies using 6 pixel sizes (0.074 to 0.259 mm). Four observers read the films using two viewing protocols. In one protocol, the observers could vary their viewing distance and were provided with a magnification lens. In the second protocol, the observers viewing distance was fixed at 55 cm. Observers rated the likelihood that a nodule was present in the image and indicated the lung most likely to contain a nodule. The ratings were used to estimate an ROC curve for each trial. Detectability was better using the variable distance viewing protocol compared to the fixed viewing distance protocol. The area under the ROC curve was constant as a function of pixel size for the variable viewing distance protocol (0.881 plus or minus 0.007) and decreased (0.894 plus or minus 0.013 to 0.668 plus or minus 0.053) as a function of pixel size for the fixed viewing distance protocol. Radiologists should be encouraged to vary their viewing distance when reading CT images rendered as films. In order to reduce costs, some radiology departments may be tempted to reduce the CT image size on the film and there by increase the number of CT images on each film. Our study suggests that this manipulation could impair the radiologist's ability to detect lung nodules on CT images of the chest.
On Storage Behavior Under Imperfect Competition, with Application to the American Cheese Market

This paper investigates the economic implications of storage behavior under imperfect competition. It evaluates the economic dynamics implied by a storage firm under alternative market structures. This includes perfect competition as well as imperfect competition under Cournot behavior. The conceptual analysis is used to specify and estimate a model of storage behavior, with an econometric application to the U.S. American cheese market. The empirical results provide statistical evidence of non-competitive storage behavior. They show how the exercise of market power can contribute to reduced stock fluctuations and increased price instability in the U.S. cheese market.
Interrogating “They”: A Pedagogy of Feminist Pluralism in the International Relations Classroom

This essay discusses a pedagogical approach to the teaching of international relations grounded in both a pluralist approach to the study of politics and post-modern feminism. Whereas pluralism helpfully draws attention to the wide range of actors that play a role in world politics and the multiplicity of factors that shape the motivations, identities, and behaviors of these actors, post-modern feminism underscores the fact that actors—and their identities, norms, and interests—are constructed rather than given. In combination, these perspectives encourage students and teachers to focus not only on diversity within and across societies but also on the possibilities for constructing alternative models of politics and for building coalitions across presumed divisions of politics, ideology, culture, gender, and other social markers. The essay provides an overview of strategies for integrating a pedagogy of feminist pluralism in the international relations classroom.
LOCALIZED INCREASE IN NODULE ACTIVITY BUT NO COMPETITIVE INTERACTION OF COWPEA RHIZOBIA DUE TO PRE-ESTABLISHMENT OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA

SUMMARY Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] plants were grown in a split-root system using a calcined montmorillonite clay (Turface) as the growth medium. At transplanting, either the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus macrocarpum Tul. & Tul. and 100 mg hydroxyapatite (HAP) or 100, 200 or 400 mg HAP kg−1 without the VAM fungus were mixed into side 1 of the split-root system. Side 2 received only 100 mg HAP kg−1. After 30 d, a combined inoculum of four Rhizobium isolates (TAL169, TAL173, TAL658 and IRC256) was applied to the surface of all pots. At harvest (60 d), root systems were separated from shoots, and nodule activity (acetylene reduction), plant dry weight, nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) content and the percentage of VAM colonization were determined. There was no significant effect of treatment on either the N or P content of leaves or roots. The VAM fungus, however, significantly (P < 0.01) increased shoot dry weight. Root dry weight and nodule activity were significantly increased only on the VAM side of the split-root system. Rhizobia from 30 nodules per half-root system were identified using fluorescent antibody techniques. Strain TAL 173 was detected from 95% of the nodules and neither the VAM fungus nor P application affected competitive interaction by rhizobia for nodulation sites. Our work suggests the existence of a localized, non-systemic, non-P-mediated influence of a VAM fungus on root dry weight and nodule activity in cowpea.
Enabling and scaling biomolecular simulations of 100 million atoms on petascale machines with a multicore-optimized message-driven runtime

A 100-million-atom biomolecular simulation with NAMD is one of the three benchmarks for the NSF-funded sustainable petascale machine. Simulating this large molecular system on a petascale machine presents great challenges, including handling I/O, large memory footprint and getting good strong-scaling results. In this paper, we present parallel I/O techniques to enable the simulation. A new SMP model is designed to efficiently utilize ubiquitous wide multicore clusters by extending the Charm++ asynchronous message-driven runtime. We exploit node-aware techniques to optimize both the application and the underlying SMP runtime. Hierarchical load balancing is further exploited to scale NAMD to the full Jaguar PF Cray XT5 (224,076 cores) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, both with and without PME full electrostatics, achieving 93% parallel efficiency (vs 6720 cores) at 9 ms per step for a simple cutoff calculation. Excellent scaling is also obtained on 65,536 cores of the Intrepid Blue Gene/P at Argonne National Laboratory.
VISUAL ACCEPTABILITY AND CONSUMER PURCHASE INTENT OF ENHANCED PORK LOIN ROASTS

Pork loins were pumped to 0, 6, 12 or 18% over initial weight (0.4% sodium tripolyphosphate, 0.4% sodium chloride), and vacuum-packaged. In retail supermarkets, consumers (n = 196) evaluated acceptability of color, purge in the package, texture appearance, overall appearance acceptability, and purchase intent. Seventy percent of these consumers were 26 to 55 years of age; 70% were female; 70% consumed pork at least twice per month, usually at home (>88%). More than 36% of the consumers would purchase “enhanced” pork, but expressed concern about ingredients on the label: phosphate (60%), salt (74%), and water (26%). Based on visual evaluation, 57% of the consumers “probably” or “definitely would buy” the unpumped product. The percentage of consumers rating loins in the higher two purchase intent categories decreased as pump level increased from 57% for 0% pump to 46% for 18% pump. Percentages of the ratings falling in the higher two categories for acceptability of liquid in the package decreased from 58% for 0% pump to 42% for 6% pump, and <37% for 12% and 18% pump.
Pairing human and machine-vision in industrial inspection tasks

Abstract The traditional job of a quality control inspector, whether a human or a machine- vision device, is to discriminate products into “acceptable” and “rejectable” items. Acceptable items are those which confirm to a set of predetermined standards or quality characteristics. The performance of inspectors can be measured in terms of rejecting conforming items (type I error) or classifying non-confirming items as acceptable (type II error). Such inspection systems tend to be error prone. Reinspection is often used as a final means to remedy this situation and ensure higher outgoing quality. Effectiveness is limited by the fault rate effect, which shows decreasing defect detection performance with successive stages of reinspection. This paper uses a model of the inspector as a conservative signal detector to examine the various ways in which the positive attributes of human and machine-vision inspection systems can be combined to achieve enhanced system performance.
Functional characterization of a human histone gene cluster duplication

Histones are the major protein component of nucleosomes, and de novo histone synthesis is essential for packaging newly replicated DNA into chromatin. As a result, histone gene expression is exquisitely and functionally coupled with DNA replication. Vastly divergent organisms such as yeast, fly and human all demonstrate the phylogenetically conserved propensity to maintain clustering of histone genes at one or more genomic loci. Although specific mechanisms are unclear, clustering is presumed to be important for common stringent transcriptional control of these genes at the G1/S phase transition. In this study, we describe a genomic duplication of the human histone gene cluster located at chromosome 1q21, which effectively doubles the previously known size and gene number of that cluster. The duplication persists in all examined tissues and cell lines, and the duplicated genes are transcriptionally active. Levels of messenger RNAs for duplicated histone H4 genes are high relative to those for non-duplicated H4 genes. Our data suggest that transcriptionally robust histone H4 genes may have been preferentially duplicated during evolution.
Adhesion of micro-cantilevers subjected to mechanical point loading: modeling and experiments

This paper presents experimental and theoretical results that characterize the adhesion of MEMS cantilevers by means of mechanical actuation. Micro-cantilever beams are loaded at various locations along the freestanding portion of the beam using a nanoindenter. Transitions between three equilibrium configurations (freestanding, arc-shaped, and s-shaped beams) and the response to cyclic loading are studied experimentally. The resulting mechanical response is used to estimate the interface adhesion energy (using theoretical models), and to quantify the energy dissipated during cyclic loading. The experiments reveal interesting behaviors related to adhesion: (i) path dependence during mechanical loading of adhered beams, (ii) history dependence of interfacial adhesion energy during repeated loading, and (iii) energy dissipation during cyclic loading, which scales roughly with estimated cyclic changes in the size of the adhered regions. The experimental results are interpreted in the context of elementary fracture-based adhesion and contact models, and briefly discussed in terms of their implications regarding the nature of adhesion and future modeling to establish adhesion mechanisms.
Signals for the execution of Th2 effector function.

Appropriate control of infection depends on the generation of lymphocytes armed with a particular array of cytokine and chemokine effector molecules. The differentiation of naive T cells into functionally distinct effector subsets is regulated by signals from the T cell receptor (TCR) and cytokine receptors. Using gene knock-out approaches, the initiation of discrete effector programs appears differentially sensitive to the loss of individual TCR signaling components; likely due to differences in the transcription factors needed to activate individual cytokine genes. Less well understood however, are the signal requirements for the execution of effector function. With a focus on Th2 cells and the kinase ITK, we review recent observations that point to differences between the signals needed for the initiation and implementation of cytokine programs in CD4+ T cells. Indeed, Th2 effector cells signal differently from both their naive counterparts and from Th1 effectors suggesting they may transduce activation signals differently or may be selectively receptive to different activation signals. Potential regulation points for effector function lie at the level of transcription and translation of cytokine genes. We also discuss how provision of these execution signals may be spatially segregated in vivo occurring at tissue sites of inflammation and subject to modulation by the pathogen itself.
Periodic properties in a family of common semiconductors: Experiments with light emitting diodes

The prevalence of LED's and their low cost make LED's ideal for classroom demonstrations or laboratory experiments showing the connection between periodic trends in physical/chemical properties and...
BUILDING SOCIETAL CAPITAL: CHINESE IN THE US

Since the late 1980s, closely following the economic boom of the four tigers of Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Korea) Chinese language programs have begun to take a foothold in the educational system of the US (Rhodes and Lucinda, 1997; Welles, ADFL Bulletin 35 (2004) 2). The rapid rise of the PRC as an emerging superpower in the past decade commands unprecedented attention from the international communities (World Bank (2002). Globalization, Growth, and Poverty: A World Bank Policy Research Report. Oxford University Press; Friedman (2005) The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux). This desire to establish Chinese programs is clearly demonstrated from a 2004 College Board survey, in which 2,400 US high schools indicated that they would be interested in offering Chinese programs that lead students to take the Advanced Placement Course and Examination for college credits (College Board (2004) http://www.collegeboard.com/press/article/0,,51453,00.html). While the survey reveals a fascination with Chinese which presents an opportunity for future expansion, the inadequacy of the entire Chinese language teaching field in the U.S. in responding to this demand is simultaneously exposed. This article analyzes the Chinese case specifically from the perspective of the presence of HL speakers and links between the HL reality of Chinese and the demand for Chinese as a foreign language. The outlines of a new paradigm for language planning in the US using the Chinese case emerge from this discussion.
Race to the top: Project Muse, JSTOR, and the quest for ebook supremacy

Purpose – This article aims to describe the Project Muse and JSTOR e‐book services. Design/methodology/approach – The article highlights some of the differences between the two competitors. Findings – The article exposes the drawbacks related to JSTOR's single‐user model, including the prohibition of printing and the limits on downloads. Originality/value – The article provides assistance in understanding at a high level the approach of each company to the provision of e‐books.
Lipid body accumulation alters calcium signaling dynamics in immune cells

There is well-established variability in the numbers of lipid bodies (LB) in macrophages, eosinophils, and neutrophils. Similarly to the steatosis observed in adipocytes and hepatocytes during hyperinsulinemia and nutrient overload, immune cell LB hyper-accumulate in response to bacterial and parasitic infection and inflammatory presentations. Recently we described that hyperinsulinemia, both in vitro and in vivo, drives steatosis and phenotypic changes in primary and transformed mast cells and basophils. LB reach high numbers in these steatotic cytosols, and here we propose that they could dramatically impact the transcytoplasmic signaling pathways. We compared calcium release and influx responses at the population and single cell level in normal and steatotic model mast cells. At the population level, all aspects of FcɛRI-dependent calcium mobilization, as well as activation of calcium-dependent downstream signaling targets such as NFATC1 phosphorylation are suppressed. At the single cell level, we demonstrate that LB are both sources and sinks of calcium following FcɛRI cross-linking. Unbiased analysis of the impact of the presence of LB on the rate of trans-cytoplasmic calcium signals suggest that LB enrichment accelerates calcium propagation, which may reflect a Bernoulli effect. LB abundance thus impacts this fundamental signaling pathway and its downstream targets.
A new interpretation of the “F-center” luminescence in CaO crystals

Abstract Additively colored CaO crystals exhibit persistent phosphorescence over a broad band at 600 nm. This emission has been attributed to luminescence of F-centers in the crystals. Investigation of neutron-irradiated crystals, along with data from time-dependent luminescence, thermoluminescence, and infrared absorption spectra indicate that the luminescence is due to recombination emission at hydrogen impurity related trap sites in these crystals, and not to that of the F-center.
Hemoglobin increases endothelin-1 in endothelial cells by decreasing nitric oxide.

We determined whether ferrous hemoglobin increases endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion from bovine cerebral artery endothelial cells and the mechanisms involved. Exposure of endothelial cells to hemoglobin caused dose-dependent increases in pre-proET-1 mRNA and peptide. The increase in ET-1 peptide was inhibited by cycloheximide or actinomycin D whereas only cycloheximide decreased basal ET-1 release. N(G)-nitro-l-arginine significantly increased ET-1 concentration and reduced hemoglobin stimulation of ET-1 release. 8-Bromo-cGMP did not alter basal ET-1 concentration but suppressed hemoglobin-induced ET-1 production. Methemoglobin and S-nitrosylated methemoglobin were less potent inducers of ET-1 release. In summary, hemoglobin increases ET-1 in cerebral endothelial cells by mechanisms that involve transcription and translation. Nitric oxide production inhibits ET-1 production. Ferrous hemoglobin increases ET-1 by binding nitric oxide and abolishing this inhibitory pathway although other mechanisms are involved since N(G)-nitro-l-arginine reduces hemoglobin-induced ET-1 release.
Psychological aspects of hematologic diseases

This article focused on two hematologic diseases that have received significant attention in the pediatric literature: sickle cell anemia and hemophilia. As the data indicate, these illnesses present lifelong challenges to individuals afflicted. With advances in medical interventions, many children with these hematologic diseases are living longer and with fewer serious complications. Intervention efforts only recently have begun to consider issues related to quality of life and increased psychological adjustment, including active coping strategies by children and their parents and necessary social support for all family members. Theoretical models [54] have highlighted the multiple factors that play a role in illness adjustment and the complex interactions of these factors. Individual, family, and community characteristics are impacted by and, in turn, impact on illness-related characteristics. The notion that illness severity is predictive of psychological adjustment has been discarded in favor of a model that recognizes multiple influences and multiple outcomes. Child coping, parent coping, social support, adaptive functioning, treatment compliance, and illness severity are being considered to better understand and influence overall psychological functioning. The field of pediatric psychology has made tremendous advances in improving knowledge of illness and its impact on development. Even with these advances, however, there remains much to be discovered. To date, pediatric psychology research has focused primarily on individual illness categories, making comparisons across illness types difficult. By considering different illnesses within the same study, characteristics that are crucial to improved adjustment and common across illnesses can be identified. As we continue to work for cures for these debilitating illnesses, our goal remains to improve quality of life for children.
Lifetime blinking in nonblinking nanocrystal quantum dots

Nanocrystal quantum dots are attractive materials for applications as nanoscale light sources. One impediment to these applications is fluctuations of single-dot emission intensity, known as blinking. Recent progress in colloidal synthesis has produced nonblinking nanocrystals; however, the physics underlying blinking suppression remains unclear. Here we find that ultra-thick-shell CdSe/CdS nanocrystals can exhibit pronounced fluctuations in the emission lifetimes (lifetime blinking), despite stable nonblinking emission intensity. We demonstrate that lifetime variations are due to switching between the neutral and negatively charged state of the nanocrystal. Negative charging results in faster radiative decay but does not appreciably change the overall emission intensity because of suppressed nonradiative Auger recombination for negative trions. The Auger process involving excitation of a hole (positive trion pathway) remains efficient and is responsible for charging with excess electrons, which occurs via Auger-assisted ionization of biexcitons accompanied by ejection of holes.
Evidence-based or Biased? The Quality of Published Reviews of Evidence-based Practices

Abstract Objective To assess methods used to identify, analyze, and synthesize results of empirical research on intervention effects, and determine whether published reviews are vulnerable to various sources and types of bias. Methods Study 1 examined the methods, sources, and conclusions of 37 published reviews of research on effects of a model program. Study 2 compared findings of one published trial with summaries of results of that trial that appeared in published reviews. Results Study 1: Published reviews varied in terms of the transparency of inclusion criteria, strategies for locating relevant published and unpublished data, standards used to evaluate evidence, and methods used to synthesize results across studies. Most reviews relied solely on narrative analysis of a convenience sample of published studies. None of the reviews used systematic methods to identify, analyze, and synthesize results. Study 2: When results of a single study were traced from the original report to summaries in published reviews, three patterns emerged: a complex set of results was simplified, non-significant results were ignored, and positive results were over-emphasized. Most reviews used a single positive statement to characterize results of a study that were decidedly mixed. This suggests that reviews were influenced by confirmation bias, the tendency to emphasize evidence that supports a hypothesis and ignore evidence to the contrary. Conclusions Published reviews may be vulnerable to biases that scientific methods of research synthesis were designed to address. This raises important questions about the validity of traditional sources of knowledge about “what works,” and suggests need for a renewed commitment to using scientific methods to produce valid evidence for practice.