cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Craspedocarpus humilis sp. nov. (Cystocloniaceae, Gigartinales) from North Carolina, and a reappraisal of the genus

Abstract Specimens collected in deep offshore Craspedocarpus, a genus previously known only from Australia and New Zealand. Several vegetative and reproductive characteristics of C. humilis sp. nov. are shared with a closely related genus, Calliblepharis, and a reappraisal is made of the limits of both genera and closely related taxa. As a result, Calliblepharisjolyi Oliveira F. (Brazil) is transferred to Craspedocarpus. A comparison of the features of all known species of Craspedocarpus is presented. The report of C. humilis represents the fifth genus in the Cystocloniaceae to be recorded from the Atlantic Ocean and Northern Hemisphere.
Disruption of fyn SH3 domain interaction with a proline-rich motif in liver kinase B1 results in activation of AMP-activated protein kinase

Fyn-deficient mice display increased AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) activity as a result of Fyn-dependent regulation of Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1) in skeletal muscle. Mutation of Fyn-specific tyrosine sites in LKB1 results in LKB1 export into the cytoplasm and increased AMPK activation site phosphorylation. This study characterizes the structural elements responsible for the physical interaction between Fyn and LKB1. Effects of point mutations in the Fyn SH2/SH3 domains and in the LKB1 proline-rich motif on 1) Fyn and LKB1 binding, 2) LKB1 subcellular localization and 3) AMPK phosphorylation were investigated in C2C12 muscle cells. Additionally, novel LKB1 proline-rich motif mimicking cell permeable peptides were generated to disrupt Fyn/LKB1 binding and investigate the consequences on AMPK activity in both C2C12 cells and mouse skeletal muscle. Mutation of either Fyn SH3 domain or the proline-rich motif of LKB1 resulted in the disruption of Fyn/LKB1 binding, re-localization of 70% of LKB1 signal in the cytoplasm and a 2-fold increase in AMPK phosphorylation. In vivo disruption of the Fyn/LKB1 interaction using LKB1 proline-rich motif mimicking cell permeable peptides recapitulated Fyn pharmacological inhibition. We have pinpointed the structural elements within Fyn and LKB1 that are responsible for their binding, demonstrating the functionality of this interaction in regulating AMPK activity.
Substrate Recognition in Nuclear Protein Quality Control Degradation Is Governed by Exposed Hydrophobicity That Correlates with Aggregation and Insolubility

Misfolded proteins present an escalating deleterious challenge to cells over the course of their lifetime. One mechanism the cell possesses to prevent misfolded protein accumulation is their destruction by protein quality control (PQC) degradation systems. In eukaryotes, PQC degradation typically proceeds via multiple ubiquitin-protein ligases that act throughout the cell to ubiquitinate misfolded proteins for proteasome degradation. What the exact feature of misfolding that each PQC ubiquitin-protein ligase recognizes in their substrates remains an open question. Our previous studies of the budding yeast nuclear ubiquitin-protein ligase San1 indicated that it recognizes exposed hydrophobicity within its substrates, with the threshold of hydrophobicity equivalent to that of 5 contiguous hydrophobic residues. Here, we uncover an additional parameter: the nature of the exposed hydrophobicity that confers San1-mediated degradation correlates with significant protein insolubility. San1 particularly targets exposed hydrophobicity that leads to insolubility and aggregation above a certain threshold. Our studies presented here provide additional insight into the details of misfolded nuclear protein recognition and demonstrate that there is selectivity for the type of exposed hydrophobicity.
Upconversion excitation of green fluorescence in Er : YAG

Conversion of red and infrared laser light to green fluorescence is reported in the system YAG : Er3+. Cooperative energy transfer is not very efficient in YAG : Er3+ because of the short4I11/2 lifetime; however, a two-step resonant absorption process, with the second step corresponding to a4I13/2 →4F5/2 transition, uses the long lived4I13/2 state as an effective population reservoir.
Luteinizing hormone β polymorphism and risk of familial and sporadic prostate cancer

Background Circulating testosterone plays an important role in maintenance and growth of prostate cells. Luteinizing hormone (LH), secreted from the anterior pituitary, signals testicular Leydig cells to secrete testosterone. A genetic variant of the LH-β protein, LH-βV, exists in up to 40% of Caucasians and is more bioactive than the wild-type protein. We hypothesized that genetically determined variation in LH function might affect susceptibility to prostate cancer via altered testosterone secretion. Methods We determined the frequency of the LH-βV polymorphism (two linked polymorphisms: Trp8 Arg and Ile15 Thr) in familial prostate cancer patients (n = 446), in sporadic prostate cancer patients (n = 388), and in population-based controls without prostate cancer (n = 510) to assess the role of this polymorphism in susceptibility to prostate cancer. Results A higher frequency of this variant genotype (LH-βV: Arg8/Thr15) was observed in familial prostate cancer patients (18.6%) than in controls (13.7%), and after taking into account the correlation of the familial cases and adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI), there was a weak positive association between the variant LH-β genotype, and risk of familial prostate cancer (OR = 1.29; 95% CI 0.96–1.75). The sporadic case group was also slightly more likely to have a variant genotype (15.2%) compared to the controls (13.7%), and after adjustment for age and BMI, a similar association with this variant was found (OR = 1.33; 95% CI 0.86–02.07). Surgical cases showed a slightly stronger association for the variant LH-β genotype compared to non-surgical cases, but among the surgical cases there was little variability in risk across nodal status, stage, and tumor grade. Conclusions These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the LH-β variant is a weak risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate 56: 30–36, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Trisomy 1q in a patient with severe aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia is a rare, serious disease characterized by hypocellular bone marrow and pancytopenia in the peripheral blood. Most cases are acquired, idiopathic, and without gross cytogenetic abnormalities. A few chromosome abnormalities have recurred among a small subset of patients, most commonly trisomy 8 and monosomy 7. Some of these chromosome abnormalities have prognostic and therapeutic significance, although for most the clinical relevance is not known. We present the case of a 40-year-old man with idiopathic severe aplastic anemia in bone marrow cells with trisomy of the whole long arm of chromosome 1 due to an unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 1 and 15 at breakpoints of q10 and 15q10. This clonal abnormality (which, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported in a patient with aplastic anemia) suggests that genes on 1q may be involved in marrow aplasia.
The predictive value of electrophysiologic studies in untreated patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome☆

The ability of invasive electrophysiologic studies to predict future arrhythmic events in patients with minimally symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is not known. To assess this ability, 42 patients with evidence of atrioventricular (AV) pre-excitation on the surface electrocardiogram underwent electrophysiologic studies and were then followed up as outpatients taking no medications. The patients were classified into three groups on the basis of prestudy symptoms: group I, 15 asymptomatic patients; group II, 10 patients with infrequent symptoms but no documented arrhythmias; and group III; 17 patients with one documented episode of supraventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, or both. At electrophysiologic study, the number of patients with short anterograde accessory pathway effective refractory periods and rapid ventricular responses during induced atrial fibrillation did not differ statistically among the three groups. During a mean follow-up period of 7.5 ± 4.9 years, 11 of the 42 patients had documented arrhythmias: 2 patients from group II and 2 patients from group III had supraventricular tachycardia and 7 patients from group III had atrial fibrillation. All nine patients from group III with subsequent arrhythmias had had clinical atrial fibrillation before study. No patient from group I had an arrhythmia during follow-up. There were no episodes of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac death during follow-up in any of the patients. The only predischarge variables that correlated with the subsequent occurrence of arrhythmias were a history of documented arrhythmias before electrophysiologic study (p < 0.01) and inducible supraventricular tachycardia at electrophysiologic study (p < 0.05). From these data it is concluded that 1) patients with AV pre-excitation and a single episode of atrial fibrillation are likely to have recurrent tachyarrhythmias and should be treated; 2) the risk of sudden death in adults with AV pre-excitation but no clinical arrhythmias is probably low; and 3) although measurements of the accessory pathway effective refractory period and minimal pre-excitation cycle length during induced atrial fibrillation have an excellent negative predictive value, the positive predictive value may be too low to warrant their routine use as screening tools in asymptomatic patients.
An efficient synthesis of two monosulfated trisaccharides with the Galβ1,3GlcNAcβ1,3Galβ-O-Allyl backbone

Abstract The GlcNAcβ(1→3) Gal linked disaccharide 7 was synthesized as key building blocks for the construction of target monosulfated trisaccharides 1 and 2 using oxazoline 3 as glycosyl donor promoted by BF 3 ·Et 2 O
On the roles of simulation, analytical modeling, and measurement in solving complex problems (panel)

A variety of tools and techniques are used in the design phase of new products. Three major techniques used both to assess preliminary designs and to monitor progress from design to fruition include Analytic Modeling, Measurement, and Simulation. The three techniques can be viewed as a tripod of evidence supporting the realizability of a design. In this view, each complements and assists the others.Measurement data provides facts from a prototype that can be extrapolated to the product. This data can also provide valuable insight to interactions that may not be predicted from either analytical or simulation models.Simulation experiments can provide better understanding of interactions and relationships among system components. These experiments can show which areas of the design need further exploration via the other techniques.Analytic modeling can provide rapid answers to certain questions. It too can point to areas needing further design refinement and study.There are facets of the design process where each technique is the most appropriate for use and provides the best results. Conversely, each of the three techniques has its own specific drawbacks and limitations. Fortunately, the techniques complement one another and can interact in a synergistic fashion to provide a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts.The purpose of this panel presentation is to explore the roles and interrelationships of the three techniques. As of the proceedings publication deadline, the participants scheduled for this session include:Ms. Edie T. Stevenson A. T. and T. Information SystemsDr. Edward D. Lazowska Digital Systems Research CenterProfessor Paul F. Roth Computer Science Department Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State UniversityDr. Domenico Ferrari Computer Science Department University of California, BerkeleyMr. Julian Reitman Norden Systems
Heat flow in the Uinta Basin determined from bottom hole temperature (BHT) data

The thermal resistance (or Bullard) method is used to judge the utility of petroleum well bottom‐hole temperature data in determining surface heat flow and subsurface temperature patterns in a sedimentary basin. Thermal resistance, defined as the quotient of a depth parameter Δz and thermal conductivity k, governs subsurface temperatures as follows: TB=T0+q0∑z=0BΔzk, where TB is the temperature at depth z=B, T0 is the surface temperature, q0 is surface heat flow, and the thermal resistance (Δz/k) is summed for all rock units between the surface and depth B. In practice, bottom‐hole and surface temperatures are combined with a measured or estimated thermal conductivity profile to determine the surface heat flow q0 which, in turn, is used for all consequent subsurface temperature computations. The method has been applied to the Tertiary Uinta Basin, northeastern Utah, a basin of intermediate geologic complexity—simple structure but complex facies relationships—where considerable well data are available. Bot...
Visualizing Five Equivalent d Orbitals

The five equivalent d-orbitals discussed by Pauling and McClure are presented as an exercise in three-dimensional contour mapping, with the intent of allowing students to explore the "equivalence" of these hard-to-visualize orbitals themselves.
Comparison of Multiple Agent-Based Organizations for Satellite Constellations

A comparison is made of several autonomous software architectures for multiple satellite systems. Multiple, agent-based satellite systems are envisioned because they are capable of higher performance, lower cost, better fault tolerance, recone gurability, and upgradability. Software agents are dee ned at the spacecraft and functional levels, using a wide variety of algorithms including multivariable control, linear programming, fuzzy logic, contract net protocol, negotiation, and radar placement. The agent dee nitions allow many types of agent-based software architectures to be developed. Several novel agent-based architectures with a more traditional system for a distributed space-based radar mission are compared. Agent-based simulations of several mission scenarios show the autonomous operation of different organizations of increasing autonomy and compare the benee ts and drawbacks of each.
Medicare prescription drug coverage: a very long wait for a very modest benefit.

M f n c l s Nearly every western nation except the United States has ealth insurance for all its citizens, and most have some orm of coverage for prescription drugs for its senior citiens. The struggle for universal health insurance, including ome coverage for drugs for all Americans, has been, and ill continue to be, a long and hazardous journey. In 2006, we will reach an important milestone in that ourney: because of the passage of the Medicare Prescripion Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act in 2003 MMA), the 41 million Americans who are eligible for edicare will have health insurance that will include a odest prescription drug benefit. The MMA, which was trongly supported by drug manufacturers, is a voluntary rogram that will be administered by private companies. his act has 2 features that have evoked considerable critcism. The first is that there is a very formidable gap in overage. Recipients pay for the first $250, then they have a o-pay of 25% for the next $2250 of drug expenditures per ear, and then there is no coverage until the senior has spent 5100. This gap, which has been termed “the doughnut hole”, as inserted in an attempt to keep the costs of drug coverage ess than $400 billion over a 10-year period. The second feature of this act to receive widespread riticism is that it forbids Medicare from negotiating for iscounts from drug manufacturers even though Federal egislation passed in 1990 requires drug manufacturers to ive major discounts to government agencies, including the eterans Administration, Medicaid, and the Department of efense. The average discount to federal agencies is about 0% less than the average wholesale price, the price that
Green fluorescent protein: an in vivo reporter of plant gene expression.

Protoplasts were isolated from H89, an embryogenic sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Hamlin) suspension culture, and electroporated with p35S-GFP, a plasmid carrying the gene for the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria. p35S-GFP was constructed by replacing the GUS coding sequence of pBI221 with a functional GFP gene, thereby placing the GFP gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. Protoplasts were viewed by incident-light fluorescence microscopy twentyfour h after electroporation. 20–60% of the protoplasts emitted an intense green light when illuminated with blue (450–490 nm) light.
Lactation and care for unrelated infants in forest-living ringtailed Lemurs

An adult female ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta) known not to have been pregnant showed spontaneous lactation in response to twin infants born to an unrelated female. The females had met only 7 months earlier, when they and two other unrelated adult females were released from separate locations in a forest enclosure to form a new social group. Three months after release, an adult male from an adjacent enclosure gained access to the new group for 1 day, the day of one female's estrus. No males had access to the females throughout the remainder of the breeding season. Within 2 weeks of the birth of the twins, one of the other adult females began carrying the infants frequently, typically one at a time. All three females were checked for lactation when the infants were two months old. Both their mother and the unrelated adult who had been carrying the infants were producing milk. The third adult female, who never carried either infant, had no milk. The third adult female, who never carried either infant, had no milk. This female, however, like the two maternal females, frequently attacked unfamiliar immigrating adult males when the males approached the infants. Potential implications of these observations concerning the social organization of ringtailed lemurs are discussed.
Stöber synthesis of monodispersed luminescent silica nanoparticles for bioanalytical assays.

We have developed a simple method to prepare bright and photostable luminescent silica nanoparticles of different sizes and narrow size distribution in high yield. The method is based on the use of Stober synthesis in the presence of a fluorophore to form bright silica nanoparticles. Unlike micro-emulsion-based methods often used to prepare luminescent silica particles, the Stober method is a one-pot synthesis that is carried out at room temperature under alkaline conditions in ethanol:water mixtures and avoids the use of potentially toxic organic solvents and surfactants. Our luminescent particles contained the transition metal complex tris(1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) chloride, [Ru(phen)3]Cl2. They showed higher photostability and a longer fluorescence lifetime compared to free Ru(phen)3 solutions. Leakage of dye molecules from the silica particles was negligible, which was attributed to strong electrostatic attractions between the positively charged ruthenium complex and the negatively charged silica. To demonstrate the utility of the highly luminescent silica nanoparticles in bioassays, we further modified their surface with streptavidin and demonstrated their binding to biotinylated glass slides. The study showed that digital counting of the luminescent nanoparticles could be used as an attractive alternative to detection techniques involving analogue luminescence detection in bioanalytical assays.
Standardized outcome evaluation of child welfare services out-of-home care: Problems and possibilities

Abstract Calls for increased accountability in child welfare services have created interest in the development of outcome measures for providers of out-of-home care services. This paper examines conceptual and practical issues that are relevant to the development of standardized evaluation of out-of-home care. An indicator-based approach to measuring success is suggested as a reasonable step in the direction of increased accountability.
Numerical calculation of transonic axial turbomachinery flows

This paper presents a numerical method and the results of a computer program for solving an exact, three-dimensional, full-potential equation that models rotating and nonrotating inviscid, absolutely irrotational, homentropic flows. Besides calculating the flows through an arbitrarily shaped rotor or stator blade row mounted on an axisymmetric hub and confined in an axisymmetric duct, the computer program is also capable of analysing flow fields about arbitrarily shaped wing-body combinations, propellers, helicopter rotors in hover, and wind turbine rotors. The governing equation is solved numerically in a fully conservative form by using an artificial time concept, a finite volume technique, rotated type-dependent differencing, successive line overrelaxation, and sequential boundary-conforming grid refinement. An artificial viscosity is added in fully conservative form; and an initial guess for the potential field is applied, as determined by a two-dimensional cascade analysis.
Compartmentalized nodes control mitotic entry signaling in fission yeast

Cell cycle progression is coupled to cell growth, but the mechanisms that generate growth-dependent cell cycle progression remain unclear. Fission yeast cells enter into mitosis at a defined size due to the conserved cell cycle kinases Cdr1 and Cdr2, which localize to a set of cortical nodes in the cell middle. Cdr2 is regulated by the cell polarity kinase Pom1, suggesting that interactions between cell polarity proteins and the Cdr1-Cdr2 module might underlie the coordination of cell growth and division. To identify the molecular connections between Cdr1/2 and cell polarity, we performed a comprehensive pairwise yeast two-hybrid screen. From the resulting interaction network, we found that the protein Skb1 interacted with both Cdr1 and the Cdr1 inhibitory target Wee1. Skb1 inhibited mitotic entry through negative regulation of Cdr1 and localized to both the cytoplasm and a novel set of cortical nodes. Skb1 nodes were distinct structures from Cdr1/2 nodes, and artificial targeting of Skb1 to Cdr1/2 nodes delayed entry into mitosis. We propose that the formation of distinct node structures in the cell cortex controls signaling pathways to link cell growth and division.
Modulation of the F-actin cytoskeleton by c-Abl tyrosine kinase in cell spreading and neurite extension

The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-Abl gene has the unique feature of an F-actin binding domain (FABD). Purified c-Abl tyrosine kinase is inhibited by F-actin, and this inhibition can be relieved through mutation of its FABD. The c-Abl kinase is activated by physiological signals that also regulate the actin cytoskeleton. We show here that c-Abl stimulated the formation of actin microspikes in fibroblasts spreading on fibronectin. This function of c-Abl is dependent on kinase activity and is not shared by c-Src tyrosine kinase. The Abl-dependent F-actin microspikes occurred under conditions where the Rho-family GTPases were inhibited. The FABD-mutated c-Abl, which is active in detached fibroblasts, stimulated F-actin microspikes independent of cell attachment. Moreover, FABD-mutated c-Abl stimulated the formation of F-actin branches in neurites of rat embryonic cortical neurons. The reciprocal regulation between F-actin and the c-Abl tyrosine kinase may provide a self-limiting mechanism in the control of actin cytoskeleton dynamics.
Solving static optimal matching problem in heterogeneous processing with generalized stable marriage algorithms

Concepts and algorithms from a generalization of the stable marriage problem are used to optimally match machine features to task computational requirements in heterogeneous processing. Given a bilateral group-to-group linear preference order and a linear objective function, we can always find a one-to-one matching of machines and tasks in which no machine and task jointly prefer each other to their current assignments (stability). Among such matchings, there is one which is optimal with regard to the objective function. The algorithms to find it have polynomial-time complexity. Goals such as the majority assignment Pareto efficiency and static load-balancing are achieved simultaneously. >
Cognitive and Situated Learning Perspectives in Theory and Practice

In their recent exchange, Anderson, Reder, and Simon (1996 Anderson, Reder, and Simon (1997) and Greeno (1997) frame the conflicts between cognitive theory and situated learning theory in terms of issues that are primarily of interest to educational psychologists. We attempt to broaden the debate by approaching this discussion of perspectives against the background of our concerns as educators who engage in classroom-based research and instructional design in collaboration with teachers. We first delineate the underlying differences between the two perspectives by distinguishing their central organizing metaphors. We then argue that the contrast between the two perspectives cannot be reduced to that of choosing between the individual and the social collective as the primary unit of analysis. Against this background, we compare the situated viewpoint we find useful in our work with the cognitive approach advocated by Anderson et al. by focusing on their treatments of meaning and instructional goals. Finall...
Sexual homologies and intercalation between parts of the male and female genital discs of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract To compare the homologies in distribution of positional values within the male and female genital discs, bilaterally symmetrical (horizontally cut) fragments were isolated and combined by mixing them together with tungsten needles. The combinations were then cultured in adult hosts before transfer to larvae for metamorphosis. Fragments that showed no regeneration when cultured intact or when mixed with identical fragments could be induced to regenerate by mixing them with different parts of the same disc. Fragments that showed occasional regeneration in controls were induced to regenerate at higher frequencies in such mixtures. Regeneration could also be induced or increased in frequency by mixing with certain fragments of the genital disc of the opposite sex. It is argued that the extra cases of regeneration in the mixed combinations are due to intercalation between the two components in the combination, and a detailed model is presented to account for the results. It is suggested that the male and female genital discs begin development with identical arrays of positional information, but that different parts of the field grow in the two sexes. The part which does not grow might be retained in the disc to provide a continuous field of positional information, although it would not produce any adult derivatives.
Effects of ethanol on startle responding in alcohol-preferring and -non-preferring rats.

Abstract The objectives of the present study were to determine (a) if differences exist between the selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) and -non-preferring (NP) lines of rats in the acoustic startle response (ASR) and prepulse inhibition (PPI), and (b) the effects of ethanol on these measures. Alcohol-naive adult female P and NP rats received a single i.p. injection of saline or ethanol (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 g/kg) and were placed in the startle apparatus 10 min later. After a 5-min acclimation period, rats received five alternating trials of a startle stimulus alone (SSA) (115-dB white noise) or a PPI trial (90-dB white noise preceding a 115-dB white noise). Analysis of the ASR revealed that P rats exhibited higher startle amplitudes than did NP rats with saline injections. The 0.5-g/kg ethanol dose reduced the startle amplitude in P, but not NP, rats. The 1.0- and 1.5-g/kg ethanol doses nearly abolished the ASR in the NP line, whereas only the highest ethanol dose had this effect in the P line. Vehicle-treated P and NP rats exhibited comparable PPI levels, but only P rats showed a significant disruption (30%) at the 0.50-g/kg ethanol dose. Neither P nor NP rats were affected by ethanol treatment at the 0.25-g/kg dose. Overall, the results suggest that: (a) the difference in baseline ASR may indicate line differences in the neurocircuitry mediating this response, possibly reflecting higher innate levels of emotional reactivity in the P line; (b) the P line may be more sensitive than the NP line to the effects of ethanol in reducing emotional reactivity; and (c) low-dose ethanol may have a greater disruptive effect on sensorimotor gating mechanisms in the P than NP rat.
Native Plant Growth and Seedling Establishment in Soils Influenced by Bromus tectorum

Abstract The invasion of 40 million hectares of the American West by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) has caused widespread modifications in the vegetation of semi-arid ecosystems and increased the frequency of fires. In addition to well-understood mechanisms by which cheatgrass gains competitive advantage, it has been implicated in reducing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and taxa diversity. We evaluated this possibility at a high elevation site in a two-pronged approach. To test whether cheatgrass changed native AMF communities in ways that affected subsequent native plant growth, we grew cheatgrass and native plants in native soils and then planted native plants into these soils in a greenhouse experiment. We found that cheatgrass-influenced soils did not inhibit native plant growth or AMF sporulation or colonization. To test whether soils in cheatgrass-dominated areas inhibited establishment and growth of native plants, cheatgrass was removed and six seeding combinations were applied. We f...
Precautions in the calculation of impedance in FDTD computations

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method has been widely used in the modeling of microwave integrated circuits and interconnects in electronics packaging. One of the most important properties computed for a transmission line is its characteristic impedance, which is often used in the extraction of the equivalent circuit model of an interconnection discontinuity. The calculation of the characteristic impedance from FDTD numerical results seems to be trivial it can simply be obtained by the ratio of the Fourier transformed voltage and the Fourier transformed current. However, it is shown that, if the characteristic impedance is not calculated properly, significant amount of error can be introduced in its numerical solution.
Ontology driven data integration for autism research

Autism Spectrum Disorder is an inherently complex phenomenon requiring large studies of many different types to further understanding of its causes. The National Database for Autism Research (NDAR) is being constructed to aid in this effort by providing a means for researchers to share and integrate data. An autism ontology drafted by a group at Stanford is being incorporated for use by NDAR to allow semantic data integration. The architecture upon which NDAR is built — the UCSD Developed Data Integration Environment — supports the use of this autism ontology, including annotation of data with ontological concepts and ontology enhanced queries on databases, both central and federated.
A study of information seeking and retrieving. I. background and methodology

The objectives of the study were to conduct a series of observations and experiments under as real-life a situation as possible related to: (i) user context of questions in information retrieval; (ii) the structure and classification of questions; (iii) cognitive traits and decision making of searchers; and (iv) different searches of the same question. The study is presented in three parts: Part I presents the background ot the study and describes the models, measures, methods, procedures, and statistical analyses used. Part II is devoted to results related to users, questions, and effectiveness measures, and Part III to results related to searchers, searches, and overlap studies. A concluding summary of all results is presented in Part III.
Latent Variable Models for Predicting File Dependencies in Large-Scale Software Development

When software developers modify one or more files in a large code base, they must also identify and update other related files. Many file dependencies can be detected by mining the development history of the code base: in essence, groups of related files are revealed by the logs of previous workflows. From data of this form, we show how to detect dependent files by solving a problem in binary matrix completion. We explore different latent variable models (LVMs) for this problem, including Bernoulli mixture models, exponential family PCA, restricted Boltzmann machines, and fully Bayesian approaches. We evaluate these models on the development histories of three large, open-source software systems: Mozilla Fire-fox, Eclipse Subversive, and Gimp. In all of these applications, we find that LVMs improve the performance of related file prediction over current leading methods.
Pressure-dependent DLTS Experiments on Si-DOPED AlGaAs

Pressure dependent Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) experiments are used to measure the properties of the deep donors (DX-centers) responsible for the persistent photoconductivity effect in Si-doped AlGaAs. The sample dependence of the DLTS spectra shows evidence for a defect complex involved in the DX-center.
TRP channel mediated neuronal activation and ablation in freely behaving zebrafish

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a useful vertebrate model system in which to study neural circuits and behavior, but tools to modulate neurons in freely behaving animals are limited. As poikilotherms that live in water, zebrafish are amenable to thermal and pharmacological perturbations. We exploit these properties by using transient receptor potential (TRP) channels to activate or ablate specific neuronal populations using the chemical and thermal agonists of heterologously expressed TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPA1.
The Uprooting of Meaning

When we are asked to describe our roots, we talk most naturally of the past—of parents, teachers, friends, the experiences which influenced us—and perhaps of ancestors whose lives more remotely formed the setting of our childhood. But asked what we mean by uprooting, we think rather of the grief of exiles, of people being torn from the contemporary setting which sustained them. We conceive our roots as both what we have grown from and what we grow into; as both the setting and the attachments which bind us to that setting. Let me try to unravel this evocative but ambiguous metaphor, to understand more exactly what the experience of being uprooted is, why it can be so painful, and why we have condemned ourselves to a form of society which seems constantly to threaten us with it.
Crossing Boundaries: Intergovernmental Records Cooperation, 1987-1997

In the Information Age, traditional organizational and geographical barriers are falling. While overlapping jurisdictions and historical accidents occasionally led to the scattering and fragmentation of documentation in the past, modern federalism has accelerated and systematized problems with decentralization and fragmentation of government records in the United States. During the past decade, federal, state, and local government archivists and records managers have worked together on pilot projects to address problems with historic and modern records fragmentation. These projects offer new approaches and experiences in the documentation of intergovernmental records and the development of a national perspective on the management of government records in the twenty-first century.
Mycobacterium and Aerobic Actinomycete Culture: Are Two Medium Types and Extended Incubation Times Necessary?

ABSTRACT Mycobacterial cultures are historically performed using a liquid medium and a solid agar medium with an incubation period of up to 60 days. We performed a retrospective analysis of 21,494 mycobacterial and aerobic actinomycetes cultures performed over 10 months to determine whether two medium types remain necessary and to investigate whether culture incubation length can be shortened. Specimens were cultured using Bactec MGIT liquid medium and Middlebrook 7H11/S7H11 solid medium with incubation periods of 42 and 60 days, respectively. Time-to-positivity and the identity of isolates recovered from each medium were evaluated. A total of 1,205/21,494 cultures (6%) were positive on at least one medium. Of the 1,353 isolates recovered, 1,110 (82%) were nontuberculous mycobacteria, 145 (11%) were aerobic actinomycetes, and 98 (7%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Assessing medium types, 1,121 isolates were recovered from solid medium cultures, 922 isolates were recovered from liquid medium cultures, and 690 isolates were recovered on both media. Liquid cultures were positive an average of 10 days before solid cultures when the two medium types were positive ( P
Increasing resiliency to substance abuse in recovering women with comorbid depression.

1 Nurses must recognize that substance abusing women with a comorbid depression are likely to view the present, past, and future negative| ly, hold distorted views of the world, hold irrational false beliefs, and have a low self-esteem. 2 Assisting women to recognize and own their feelings and accept responsibility for controlling them are crucial to changing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to low self-esteem and depression. 3 Affirmations can be used to increase one's self-esteem through changing one's view of self and the world, and behavioral strategies can be used to change behavior and subsequently one's feelings.
Effect of Training and Level of External Auditory Feedback on the Singing Voice: Pitch Inaccuracy

One of the most important aspects of singing is the control of fundamental frequency.The effects on pitch inaccuracy, defined as the distance in cents in equally tempered tuning between the reference note and the sung note, of the following conditions were evaluated: (1) level of external feedback, (2) tempo (slow or fast), (3) articulation (legato or staccato), (4) tessitura (low, medium, or high), and (5) semi-phrase direction (ascending or descending).The subjects were 10 nonprofessional singers and 10 classically trained professional or semi-professional singers (10 men and 10 women). Subjects sang one octave and a fifth arpeggi with three different levels of external auditory feedback, two tempi, and two articulations (legato or staccato).It was observed that inaccuracy was greatest in the descending semi-phrase arpeggi produced at a fast tempo and with a staccato articulation, especially for nonprofessional singers. The magnitude of inaccuracy was also relatively large in the high tessitura relative to the low and the medium tessitura for such singers. Contrary to predictions, when external auditory feedback was strongly attenuated by the hearing protectors, nonprofessional singers showed greater pitch accuracy than in the other external feedback conditions. This finding indicates the importance of internal auditory feedback in pitch control.With an increase in training, the singer's pitch inaccuracy decreases.
AN of Single Heavy Flavor Decay Muon in the PHENIX Experiment at RHIC

Transverse single-spin asymmetries provide valuable information about the spin structure of the nucleon. At RHIC energies, heavy-flavor production is dominated by gluon-gluon fusion, and the subsequent decay into high pT electrons or muons can be observed statistically in a collider detector like PHENIX. The transverse single-spin asymmetry in heavy-flavor production originates from the initial state correlation between the internal transverse momentum of the parton and the transverse spin of the nucleon (similar with the known Sivers effect). The measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetry of single muons from heavy flavor decay at RHIC serves as a clean probe and would provide important information on the gluon Sivers function. In 2012, the PHENIX experiment collected 9.2 pb−1 integrated luminosity in transversely polarized p + p collisions at s = 200 GeV with a polarization of 60%. The signal-to-background ratio was improved by a factor of two compared to the previous RHIC 2006 and 2008 results in high transverse momentum region (pT > 3GeV). The recent PHENIX preliminary results of transverse single-spin asymmetries of single heavy flavor decay muon at forward-rapidity will be shown and the possible improvement on this measurement in 2015 with the help of the FVTX detector will be discussed.
Imperfect Monitoring and Fixed Spreads in the Market for IPOs

Characteristics of the investment banking industry, particularly the extreme concentration of spreads at exactly 7%, seem consistent with some form of collusion through which underwriters can extract surplus from the IPO. I present a model of investment banking that, under the assumption of optimal collusion, generates a distribution of spreads similar to that observed. The model is extended to show that underpricing and spread rigidity may arise together, each one reinforcing incentives to engage in the other.
Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment Modules for Probing Gold Nanoparticle Interfacial Phenomena

Three gold-nanoparticle (AuNP) undergraduate experiment modules that are focused on nanoparticles interfacial phenomena have been developed. Modules 1 and 2 explore the synthesis and characterization of AuNPs of different sizes but with the same total gold mass. These experiments enable students to determine how particle size affects the AuNP optical properties and ligand binding capacities. Module 3 investigates the fundamental mechanism governing organothiol self-assembly onto AuNPs and explores the fate of the sulfur-bounded hydrogen (RS–H) for organothiols on the AuNP surface. A benchtop centrifuge, a UV–vis spectrophotometer, and pH strips are needed. The depth of required chemistry knowledge is appropriate for upper-level chemistry students.
WIDE COMPLEX TACHYCARDIA AFTER EXERTION: FINDING THE RIGHT CAUSE

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an under-recognized cause of ventricular arrhythmias. Appropriate identification and treatment for this disease is essential, as it is an important cause of sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis of ARVC can be challenging and requires a
270 INHIBITION OF NUCLEAR FACTOR κB INDUCES REGRESSION OF CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY IN MICE LACKING NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE RECEPTOR A.

Guanylyl cyclase A/natriuretic peptide receptor A (GC-A/NPRA) is the principal receptor for the cardiac hormones atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP). Mice carrying targeted disruption of Npr1 gene (encoding for GC-A/NPRA) exhibit hypertension, marked cardiac hypertrophy, and congestive heart failure with sudden death. The objective of the present study was to determine whether disruption of NPRA activates the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and further to evaluate whether the inhibition of NF-κB signaling can attenuate cardiac hypertrophy in mice lacking NPRA. We analyzed hypertrophy marker genes expression, NF-κB nuclear translocation, IKK-kinase activity, and IκB-α phosphorylation status in the ventricular tissues of 16-week-old male Npr1 gene-disrupted (Npr1−/−) and wild-type (Npr1+/+) mice. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed with NF-[203}B-specific oligonucleotides in the nuclear extracts isolated from the ventricular tissues of Npr1−/−and Npr1+/+mice. NF-κB subunits (p65 and p50) protein levels and IκB-α phosphorylation status were analyzed using specific antibodies. Heart weight/body weight ratio and hypertrophy marker genes c-fos (p
Rhinoplasty and the male patient.

A review of male patients undergoing rhinoplasty indicates a surprising diversity of anatomy and especially skin coverage. When compared with rhinoplasty in the female adolescent, the goal must be more of a “balanced rhinoplasty” rather than a reductive rhinoplasty, and the techniques required are more diverse. Careful screening of patients is essential to eliminate a subgroup of men with severe psychologic obsessions.
Tunneling FET Fabrication and Characterization

Since the early demonstration of the conventional p + −i − n + Tunneling FETs (TFETs), various tunneling junction designs as well as the introduction of new material systems enabled the performance of TFETs to improve by orders of magnitude. Different properties and considerations of the material systems require well designed processes and novel processes rarely seen in the CMOS technology also emerged. The technology of TFET fabrication has been evolving dramatically ever since. This chapter introduces a number of techniques in the previous studies on the fabrication technology for the TFETs. In addition, some characterization methods on the fabricated devices are also discussed for more efficient diagnosis and optimization on the TFETs.
Gangs and Delinquency in Developmental Perspective

Gang membership has long been understood to have a disruptive influence on adolescent development and to contribute disproportionately to the rate of delinquent crime. The nature of the impact, and the long-term effects on individuals, have not been well understood. This book uses longitudinal data to examine the developmental consequences of gang membership, and its longer term influence on the life course. This longitudinal approach is made possible by data from a study of antisocial behavior, The Rochester Youth Development Study, which followed one thousand adolescents through their early adult years. The subjects include delinquents who were gang members and others who were not, allowing the authors to compare motives, patterns of behavior, and recurring problems with caregivers and the law, education, peer relations, and career paths. The findings indicate that multiple developmental deficits lead to gang membership and that membership leads to an increase in delinquency.
From Thought to Action: Bridging the Gap in Early Childhood for Our Most Vulnerable Children and Families

The importance of early care and education has received significant attention from researchers, policy makers, advocates, and state and local programs. This chapter reviews the unique needs of the vulnerable young children and families brought to the attention of child welfare and provides evidence of the benefits of early care and education programs. Federal initiatives are reviewed including research and demonstration projects targeted at increasing access to early childhood programs for vulnerable families. The chapter highlights federal policies for strengthening the connections between early care and education, child welfare, and parent, family, and community engagement. A review of the prior lessons learned, ongoing challenges, and future opportunities to promote shared well-being outcomes are discussed. The final section provides recommendations for a systemic and collaborative approach that links policy, research, practice, and family engagement to bridge the gap in early care and education for all children and families.
A computational model that predicts behavioral sensitivity to intracortical microstimulation.

Objective Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) is a powerful tool to investigate the neural mechanisms of perception and can be used to restore sensation for patients who have lost it. While sensitivity to ICMS has previously been characterized, no systematic framework has been developed to summarize the detectability of individual ICMS pulse trains or the discriminability of pairs of pulse trains. Approach We develop a simple simulation that describes the responses of a population of neurons to a train of electrical pulses delivered through a microelectrode. We then perform an ideal observer analysis on the simulated population responses to predict the behavioral performance of non-human primates in ICMS detection and discrimination tasks. Main results Our computational model can predict behavioral performance across a wide range of stimulation conditions with high accuracy (R 2 = 0.97) and generalizes to novel ICMS pulse trains that were not used to fit its parameters. Furthermore, the model provides a theoretical basis for the finding that amplitude discrimination based on ICMS violates Weber's law. Significance The model can be used to characterize the sensitivity to ICMS across the range of perceptible and safe stimulation regimes. As such, it will be a useful tool for both neuroscience and neuroprosthetics.