cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pleiotropic chemoreceptors facilitate the maintenance of signal-receptor coupling in pheromonal communication

Diversity in pheromonal systems plays an essential role in maintaining mating boundaries between closely related species. To preserve fitness, it has been hypothesized that pheromone-receptor coupling is maintained via strong purifying selection. However, because strong negative selection antagonizes diversity, how pheromonal systems retain potential for plasticity is puzzling. Here we propose that receptor pleiotropy could represent one possible mechanism for retaining the capacity of pheromone-receptor pairs to diversify. Specifically, we demonstrate that Gr8a, a member of the gustatory receptor family in Drosophila, is a pleiotropic gene that contributes to both the perception and production of specific mating signals in the peripheral nervous system and pheromone producing oenocytes, respectively. Together, our data provide an elegant genetic solution to a long-standing evolutionary conundrum.
Improving the accuracy of satellite-based high-resolution yield estimation: A test of multiple scalable approaches

Abstract Fast, accurate and inexpensive estimates of crop yields at the field scale are useful for many applications. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, we recently developed a Scalable satellite-based Crop Yield Mapper (SCYM) that integrates crop simulations with satellite imagery and gridded weather data to generate 30 m resolution yield estimates for multiple crops in different regions. Existing versions of SCYM typically capture one-third to half of the variation in reported county-scale yields. Using rainfed maize in the US Midwest as an example, this study tested multiple approaches for improving SCYM’s accuracy, including (i) calibrating the phenology parameters of the crop model (APSIM) used to generate training samples for SCYM; (ii) using an ensemble of three crop models (APSIM-Maize, CERES-Maize, and Hybrid-Maize) instead of a single model; (iii) using simulated biomass from the crop models instead of simulated yields to train SCYM, with the former assuming a constant harvest index (HI). Results show substantial improvement in performance, as assessed using reported county yields by USDA-NASS, both from calibrating APSIM phenology parameters and from training SCYM on simulated biomass rather than yields. Using a multi-model ensemble further improves SCYM, although the benefit is limited. The proposed preferred version of SCYM on average captures 75% of the yield variation for 2001–2015 in the 3I states (i.e. Illinois, Indiana and Iowa) where SCYM is trained, with RMSE typically less than 1 t/ha, and explains 41% to 83% of multi-year yield variations when tested across nine Midwestern US states for 2008–2015. This level of accuracy is particularly notable given that only data from 2014 were used to calibrate phenology parameters. The yield estimates for multiple years in multiple states utilized 1184 Landsat tiles, but could be completed in about 2 h per year by using the GEE platform. All approaches tested in this study do not require any site-specific measurements, and thus can be readily extended to other regions and crops.
A wave-number frequency wavelet analysis of convectively coupled equatorial waves and the MJO over the Indian Ocean

Convectively coupled equatorial waves and the Madden Julian oscillation (MJO) constitute the dominant coherent modes of planetary to synoptic scale organized convection in the tropics. This work presents a space-time wavelet analysis of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data globally at wavenumbers 0-1 and isolated more closely about the Indian Ocean at higher wavenumbers. The mean power spectrum shows broad similarity to Fourier power spectra in previous works after normalization by a red background. The seasonal cycle of the power spectrum is analyzed, along with its association with the phases of an index of the MJO and background state zonal winds at a variety of pressure levels over the Indian Ocean. Results show substantial variability across the seasonal cycle and the MJO in the distribution of power above the background. Results also show that the spectral peaks associated with the MJO and Kelvin and equatorial Rossby waves lose 20-50% of their normal variance during periods of strong easterly wind in the upper troposphere over the Indian Ocean, while at the same time, fast westward-moving waves increase between wavenumbers 7 and 14 and periods of 2-6 days.
Racial/ethnic socialization for White youth: What we know and future directions

Abstract Teaching and talking about race and ethnicity with children and adults is especially important in racially diverse societies. This process has been coined racial/ethnic socialization (RES). Despite the importance of RES, we still know very little about how this process unfolds in the lives of White youth. Thus, from a social, cognitive, and developmental perspective, the authors summarize findings from empirical research and theory on RES for White youth across stages of development—early childhood through young adulthood. Since RES is linked with cross-group attitudes (e.g., less bias, prejudice, stereotyping) and behaviors (e.g., inclusion), we highlight future directions for research and discuss applications for existing findings for an increasingly diverse society.
Preparation and Optical Characterization of Thick-Film Zirconia and Titania Ormosils

Crack-free films with thicknesses of up to 30 μm were prepared by the sol-gel process using the dip-coating technique. Thick films were obtained from various starting solutions based on two, three or four components, with particular emphasis on ternary systems. The ternary systems were composed of two tetraalkoxy precursors (a silicon tetraalkoxide and a zirconium or a titanium tetralkoxide ) and a trialkoxysilane with a non-hydrolyzable group. By using these trialkoxysilanes, the tendency of the films to crack during the drying process is reduced because of the stress absorption by the network structure. The use of zirconia or titania allows for control of the refractive index of the films. Optical parameters of the films including refractive index, thickness, surface roughness and UV-Vis and IR transmission spectra were determined for each composition and the structural characteristics of the films were inferred from the IR spectra. UV cut-off and antireflective properties were also studied for some compositions.
Tikhonov Regularization and Nonlinear Problems at Resonance—Deterministic and Random

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Tikhonov regularization and nonlinear problems at resonance. It presents the questions of stochastic approximation and regularization algorithms in consideration of random linear operator equations. To study the statistical properties of random solutions of the equation, further information on the methods of solving the equation and construction of approximate solutions is required. Methods of stochastic approximation type are derived for solving improperly posed problems. The chapter also presents similar techniques for solving the deterministic analog of the nonlinear problem, thereby raising the question of obtaining results similar to those of Bakhushinskii for the random case. Also, given are the works of Khalfin and Sudakov on a probabilistic approach to improperly posed problems (cf. Lavrent'ev [22]). The similarity of these techniques for the linear case to those of the deterministic nonlinear analog of the above quoted equation form will hopefully lead to further study of the statistical properties of random solutions of the above quoted equation.
Integrating Critical Autobiography to Foster Anti-Racism Learning in the Urban Studies Classroom: Interpreting the “Race and Place” Stories of Undergraduate Students:

Planners are bound up in the reproduction of racialized exclusion. This fact inspires demands for equity, cultural competency, and anti-racism within the profession. This study examines the impacts...
Socio-economic Conflicting Issues Embedded in Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971: Coverage of the New York Times

This study explored the impacts of the coverage of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 by the New York Times. In the backdrop of the Cold War phenomena the United States reportedly took a position against Bangladesh’s liberation while the war created a humanitarian orgy of killings, rapes, and the dislocation of millions of people. The war impacts still haunt the nation as the incumbent Bangladesh government began trials of “war crimes” and already executed some opposition leaders for alleged collaboration with the Pakistani Army. As the first textual analysis of the Times’ coverage of the Bangladesh War in the postcolonial era, the study revealed that the Times played a humanitarian role but was seemed influenced by the confrontation with the Nixon Administration on secret papers and policies of wars, popularly known as “Pentagon Papers.”
Ultrahigh-Performance capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry at 35 kpsi for separation of lipids.

Abstract Improvements in sample preparation, separation, and mass spectrometry continue to expand the coverage in LC-MS based lipidomics. While longer columns packed with smaller particles in theory give higher separation performance compared to shorter columns, the implementation of this technology above commercial limits has been sparse due to difficulties in packing long columns and successfully operating instruments at ultrahigh pressures. In this work, a liquid chromatograph that operates up to 35 kpsi was investigated for the separation and identification of lipid species from human plasma. Capillary columns between 15–50 cm long were packed with 1.7 µm BEH C18 particles and evaluated for their ability to separate lipid isomers and complex lipid extracts from human plasma. Putative lipid class identifications were assigned using accurate mass and relative retention time data of the eluting peaks. Our findings indicate that longer columns packed and operated at 35 kpsi outperform shorter columns packed and run at lower pressures in terms of peak capacity and numbers of features identified. Packing columns with relatively high concentration slurries (200 mg/mL) while sonicating the column resulted in 6–34% increase in peak capacity for 50 cm columns compared to lower slurry concentrations and no sonication. For a given analysis time, 50 cm long columns operated at 35 kpsi provided a 20–95% increase in chromatographic peak capacity compared with 15 cm columns operated at 15 kpsi. Analysis times up to 4 h were evaluated, generating peak capacities up to 410 ± 5 (n = 3, measured at 4σ) and identifying 480 ± 85 lipids (n = 2). Importantly, the results also show a correlation between the peak capacity and the number of lipids identified from a human plasma extract. This correlation indicates that ionization suppression is a limiting factor in obtaining sufficient signal for identification by mass spectrometry. The result also shows that the higher resolution obtained by shallow gradients overcomes possible signal reduction due to broader, more dilute peaks in long gradients for improving detection of lipids in LC-MS. Lastly, longer columns operated at shallow gradients allowed for the best separation of both regional and geometrical isomers. These results demonstrate a system that enables the advantages of using longer columns packed and run at ultrahigh pressure for improving lipid separations and lipidome coverage.
Did the Black Panther Movie Make Blacks Blacker? Examining Black Racial Identity on Twitter Before and After the Black Panther Movie Release

The Black Panther movie release in early 2018 has been a phenomenon not only in the entertainment industry but also in American society. Film critics and major media have claimed that this award-winning movie has played significant roles in the African American community. Nevertheless, little research has been done to confirm such effects. Using publicly available data from Twitter as a proxy to measure black racial identity, we found that there were significant differences in the prevalence of Twitter users having black identifiers (i.e., African/Afro American, black, woke) in their bios before and after the Black Panther movie release, F(2, 858) = 92.097, p < .001, and between black male and female users, F(1, 858) = 19, 239, p < .001. How these findings illuminate the association between the Black Panther movie and black racial identity, which may then shed more light on how the former may affect the latter through the lens of social identity theory is discussed.
Computer science education: are we on the right track?

Over the last few years Computer Science has been an enormously successful discipline. It has been intellectually rich, has produced major international industry and has reshaped life for everyone no matter where they live [1]. While the Computer science curriculum has kept up with the advances in industry, the core topics are still programming, algorithms, theory, architecture and operating systems, and software engineering. Many programs may also require courses in databases and networks. Industry, on the other hand, seems to need individuals with an expanded focus who can contribute to furthering the application of computers through interdisciplinary collaborations. For instance, the commercially successful technologies such as web design, wireless computing, cell phone services, and multimedia are not taught as part of the core CS curriculum. This panel will address the issue of how well academia can accommodate changing industry requirements while producing individuals solidly grounded in core CS disciplines.
Enhancement-/Depletion-Mode TiO 2 Thin-Film Transistors via O 2 /N 2 Preannealing

Metal-oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) promise to enable lightweight and low-power applications, such as ultrathin active matrix displays and low-cost RF identification tags. However, most reported high-performance metal-oxide TFTs contain high-cost indium and gallium elements, leading to constraints in cost-sensitive application. Herein, we present enhancement-/depletion-mode (E-/D-mode) TiO2 TFTs via $\text{O}_{{2}}/\text{N}_{{2}}$ preannealing of TiO2 channel material prior to device fabrication process. It is found that the O2-annealed TiO2 TFTs exhibit improved performances compared to N2-annealed TiO2 TFTs, including increased mobility ( $\mu $ ), higher ON-/OFF-current ratio (ION/IOFF), and lower subthreshold swing (SS). This can be attributed to the passivation effects of O2 annealing, which leads to less oxygen vacancies at the channel and channel/oxide interface. On the other hand, the ionized oxygen vacancies result in the increased electron concentration in N2-annealed films and, thus, the negative shift of ${V}_{\text {th}}$ in the TFT performance. This article delivers a possible approach to improve oxide TFT performance by passivation of oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, the controlled annealing process has a great potential in the logic inverter applications when both E- and D-mode TFTs are implemented.
Acoustic and In-Situ Observations of Deep Seafloor Hydrothermal Discharge: An OOI Cabled Array ASHES Vent Field Case Study

The Cabled Observatory Vent Imaging Sonar (COVIS) was installed on the Ocean Observatories Initiative's Cabled Array observatory at ASHES hydrothermal vent field on Axial Seamount in July 2018. The...
Application of sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics for physics-informed learning

Advances in machine learning and deep neural networks have enabled complex engineering tasks like image recognition, anomaly detection, regression, and multi-objective optimization, to name but a few. The complexity of the algorithm architecture, e.g., the number of hidden layers in a deep neural network, typically grows with the complexity of the problems they are required to solve, leaving little room for interpreting (or explaining) the path that results in a specific solution. This drawback is particularly relevant for autonomous aerospace and aviation systems, where certifications require a complete understanding of the algorithm behavior in all possible scenarios. Including physics knowledge in such data-driven tools may improve the interpretability of the algorithms, thus enhancing model validation against events with low probability but relevant for system certification. Such events include, for example, spacecraft or aircraft sub-system failures, for which data may not be available in the training phase. This paper investigates a recent physics-informed learning algorithm for identification of system dynamics, and shows how the governing equations of a system can be extracted from data using sparse regression. The learned relationships can be utilized as a surrogate model which, unlike typical data-driven surrogate models, relies on the learned underlying dynamics of the system rather than large number of fitting parameters. The work shows that the algorithm can reconstruct the differential equations underlying the observed dynamics using a single trajectory when no uncertainty is involved. However, the training set size must increase when dealing with stochastic systems, e.g., nonlinear dynamics with random initial conditions.
Approach to the Patient with Unknown Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP) is increasingly encountered in both community otolaryngology practice and the academic head and neck cancer program. A stepwise diagnostic evaluation will identify many primary sites. However, true HNCUP remains common in high-volume practices after appropriate examination, imaging, and biopsies. The prognosis for the majority of the patients is good, owing to the common association with high-risk HPV, and putative oropharyngeal primary origin. With high oncologic control rates, judicious treatment selection is essential to optimize functional outcomes.
Deepemocluster: a Semi-Supervised Framework for Latent Cluster Representation of Speech Emotions

Semi-supervised learning (SSL) is an appealing approach to resolve generalization problem for speech emotion recognition (SER) systems. By utilizing large amounts of unlabeled data, SSL is able to gain extra information about the prior distribution of the data. Typically, it can lead to better and robust recognition performance. Existing SSL approaches for SER include variations of encoder-decoder model structures such as autoencoder (AE) and variational autoecoders (VAEs), where it is difficult to interpret the learning mechanism behind the latent space. In this study, we introduce a new SSL framework, which we refer to as the DeepEmoCluster framework, for attribute-based SER tasks. The DeepEmoCluster framework is an end-to-end model with mel-spectrogram inputs, which combines a self-supervised pseudo labeling classification network with a supervised emotional attribute regressor. The approach encourages the model to learn latent representations by maximizing the emotional separation of K-means clusters. Our experimental results based on the MSP-Podcast corpus indicate that the DeepEmoCluster framework achieves competitive prediction performances in fully supervised scheme, outperforming baseline methods in most of the conditions. The approach can be further improved by incorporating extra unlabeled set. Moreover, our experimental results explicitly show that the latent clusters have emotional dependencies, enriching the geometric interpretation of the clusters.
Inconsistent seduction: Addressing confounds and methodological issues in the study of the seductive detail effect.

Introduction The inclusion of interesting but irrelevant details in instructional materials may interfere with recall and application of the core content. Although this seductive detail effect is well researched, recent research highlights factors that may influence the effect size. Objectives The current study discusses confounds and methodological issues in the study of seductive details and outlines strategies for overcoming them. These practices were then applied in a study that examined the role of learning objectives on the seductive detail effect. Methods Seductive details were selected on the basis of interest and importance level and matched for word count and reading level. The 3 × 2 between-subjects design presented 132 undergraduate students with a lesson on plate tectonics; participants completed tests on both recall and transfer. Results Results did not reveal a consistent detrimental effect of high-interest details on core content recall and transfer. On the recall test, contrary to expectation, the seductive detail effect obtained only when objectives were provided. A similar pattern emerged on the transfer task. Conclusion These findings highlight the difficulty of consistently eliciting the seductive detail effect. We discuss outstanding issues that must be addressed in order to develop practical guidelines on the inclusion of seductive details in educational materials.
Validation of the Electronic Cigarette Expectancy Scale for Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION Expectancies of costs and benefits can be predictive of tobacco use, as well as cessation attempts and success. Measuring electronic cigarette (ECIG) expectancies is in its infancy, particularly among adolescents. However, the popularity of adolescent ECIG use demonstrates the need to understand better these contributing factors. Our aim was to evaluate the factor structure and initial psychometric properties of an ECIG expectancies questionnaire adapted from an existing validated scale for conventional cigarette smoking (Smoking Expectancy Scale for Adolescents; SESA). METHODS Five-hundred sixty-nine adolescents (14-18 years; 60.1% female; 84.1% White) were recruited from high schools and an adolescent medicine clinic. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures, including the ECIG Expectancies Scale for Adolescents (EESA). Exploratory factor analyses were used to examine the underlying factor structure, and convergent validity was evaluated using variables conceptually related to ECIG expectancies. RESULTS A three-factor solution was chosen based on statistical evidence and conceptual relevance. All three factors - Costs, Social Benefits, and Affective/Weight Benefits - had strong internal consistencies and demonstrated convergent validity via significant associations with peer ECIG use and Conscientiousness. The Costs and Affective/Weight Benefits factors also demonstrated convergent validity with sensation-seeking, intention to use ECIGs, and ECIG use status (current, lifetime, nonuser). CONCLUSION Results support the initial reliability and validity of the EESA scores. This factor structure is related to, yet different from, that observed not only for the SESA but also for other ECIG-expectancy measures among adult populations.
ENHANCEMENT OF DIRECTIONAL WAVE SPECTRUM ESTIMATES

Determination of the directional distribution of ocean surface waves is of practical importance and analytical schemes for it are developed and discussed here. Based on a generalized representation of wave properties such as surface elevation, subsurface pressure or horizontal components of water particle velocity, acceleration or wave force, two general schemes of analysis are developed. In one scheme the predictive equations for the directional distribution of both the amplitude and phase of waves are derived. Distribution of energy as a function of direction for random waves is obtained in the other scheme. Fourier series parameterization is used to represent directional spectrum. The truncation of the series dictated by data limitations introduce directional spread and negative side lobes for the estimated directional spectrum. A procedure to remove these undesirable side lobes by a non-negative smoothing function is described. The smoothing causes further directional spread. Methods for obtaining better directional resolution are discussed. Data adaptive spectral analysis techniques such as Maximum Likelihood Method and Maximum Entropy Method are suggested.
Corn Belt soil carbon and macronutrient budgets with projected sustainable stover harvest

Abstract Corn (Zea mays L.) stover has been identified as a prime feedstock for biofuel production in the U.S. Corn Belt because of its perceived abundance and availability, but long-term stover harvest effects on regional nutrient budgets have not been evaluated. We defined the minimum stover requirement (MSR) to maintain current soil organic carbon levels and then estimated current and future soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) budgets for various stover harvest scenarios. Analyses for 2006 through 2010 across the entire Corn Belt indicated that currently, 28 Tg or 1.6 Mg ha−1 of stover could be sustainably harvested from 17.95 million hectares (Mha) with N, P, and K removal of 113, 26, and 47 kg ha−1, respectively, and C removal for that period was estimated to be 4.55 Mg C ha−1. Assuming continued yield increases and a planted area of 26.74 Mha in 2050, 77.4 Tg stover (or 2.4 Mg ha−1) could be sustainably harvested with N, P, and K removal of 177, 37, and 72 kg ha−1, respectively, along with C removal of ∼6.57 Mg C ha−1. Although there would be significant variation across the region, harvesting only the excess over the MSR under current fertilization rates would result in a small depletion of soil N (−5 ± 27 kg ha−1) and K (−20 ± 31 kg ha−1) and a moderate surplus of P (36 ± 18 kg ha−1). Our 2050 projections based on continuing to keep the MSR, but having higher yields indicate that soil N and K deficits would become larger, thus emphasize the importance of balancing soil nutrient supply with crop residue removal.
Mathematics: The mercurial mathematician

Michael Harris relishes a biography of the playful, complicated group theorist John Horton Conway.
Effects of short periods of abstinence from cigarette smoking on swimming endurance of chronic smokers.

Abstract This study investigated the effects of 15 minutes, 2 hours, and 12 hours abstention from cigarette smoking on the swimming endurance of male college students who had been smoking regularly for at least one year. The subjects were divided into three groups which rotated through the three periods of abstinence for six successive testing days. During the first three testing days each period of abstinence was followed by a 100-yard swim which was timed and recorded to the nearest second. This same procedure was followed for the additional three testing days using a distance of 200 yards. The difference between the means of the swimming times for each distance was treated statistically by analysis of variance. None of the differences was significant at the .05 percent level of significance.
Observer Based Identification of Nonlinear Vehicle Suspension Parameters

This paper deals with an observer-based nonlinear system parametr identification method utilizinlg repetitive excitation. Although methods for physical parameter identification of both linear and nonlinear systems are already available, they are not attractive from a practical point of view since the methods assume that all the system states. x, and the system input are available. The proposed method is based on a "sliding observer" and a least-square method. A sufficient condition for the convergence of the parameter estimates is provided in the case of "Lipschitz" nonlinear systems. The observer is used to estimate signals which are difficult or expensive to measure. Using the estimated states of the system with repetitive excitation. the parameter estimates are obtained. The observer based identification method has been tested on a half car simulation and used to identify the parameters of a half car suspension test rig. The estimates of nonlinear damping coefficients of a vehicle suspension, stiffness, pitch moment inertia. equivalent sprung mass and unsprung mass are obtained by the proposed method. Simulation and experimental results show that the identifier estimates the vehicle parameters accurately. The proposed identifier will he useful for parameter identification of actual vehicles since vehicle parameters can be identified only using vehicle excitation tests rather than component testing.
Representation at Many Levels: A Theory of Multilevel Representative Bureaucracy

Research on representative bureaucracy finds a connection between the presence of minority group members within the agency (passive representation) and the actual representation of the minority group by the agency (active representation). However, research has predominately explored this connection by focusing on the representation of groups by street-level bureaucrats. We argue the connection between passive and active representation may be larger than scholars propose if we consider representation in other parts of the agency. Specifically, we look at passive representation of middle managers, support staff, and street-level bureaucrats to examine the complexities of the passive-active representation linkage. Using a large n dataset that focuses on school districts, we examine the effect of minority teachers, principals, and support staff on minority school performance.
Quantifying security risk by measuring network risk conditions

Software vulnerabilities are the weaknesses in the software that inadvertently allow dangerous operations. If the vulnerability is in a network service, it poses serious security threats because a cyber-attacker can exploit it to gain unauthorized access to the system. Hence, rapid discovery and remediation of network vulnerabilities is critical issues in network security. In today's dynamic IT environment, it is common practice that an organization prioritizes the mitigation of discovered vulnerabilities according to their risk levels. Currently available technologies, however, associate each vulnerability to the static risk level which does not take the unique characteristics of the target network into account. This often leads to inaccurate risk prioritization and less-than-optimal resource allocation. In this research, we introduce a novel way of quantifying the risk of network vulnerability by augmenting the static risk level with conditions specific to the target network. The method calculates the risk value of each vulnerability by measuring the proximity to the untrusted network and risk of the neighboring hosts. The resulting risk value, RCR is a composite index of the individual risk, network location and neighborhood risk conditions. Thus, it can be effectively used for prioritization, comparison and trending. We tested the methodology through the network intrusion simulation. The results shows average 88.9% the correlation between RCR and number of successful attacks on each vulnerability.
Sacrificing Diversity for “Quality”: How Judicial Performance Evaluations are Failing Women & Minorities

Because voters rely on judicial performance evaluations when casting their ballots, it is important that policymakers work diligently to compile valid, reliable and unbiased information about our sitting judges. This paper analyzes attorney surveys of judicial performance in Nevada from 1998-2008. The survey instrument is similar to those used throughout the country for judicial evaluation programs. Unfortunately, none of the readily-obtainable objective measures of judicial performance can explain away difference in scores based on race and sex. Minority judges and female judges score consistently and significantly lower than do their white male counterparts, all other things equal. These results are troubling, but consistent with the hypothesis that judicial performance evaluation surveys carry with them unexamined and unconscious gender/race biases.
Emerging privacy issues

Because of the essential nature of information in the affairs of society, governments, and institutions, computer- and communications-based systems are creating new aspects of personal privacy threats. Because people and organizations will tend to carry forward established expectations derived from old systems and their characteristics to new systems and their procedures, it can be expected that new privacy threats will frequently not be perceived, (e.g. the transition from physical mail to electronic mail). Moreover, things which are not a privacy threat in the small (e.g. a single telephone number) can pose threats in the large (e.g. a year's worth of telephone billings). The networking of information systems will tend to aggregate information invisibly and create privacy threats (e.g. automatic check verification information blended with financial transaction information). Matching of computer files and the diversification of established industries (e.g. banks providing general accounting services to small business) also will create new dimensions of privacy. The future world will be so tightly stitched together by its information threads that a combination of approaches to protecting privacy will be essential. Technical security safeguards can contribute; privacy laws will surely afford protections. But for some situations, perhaps many, the individual will have to take care of himself. To do so, he will have to be well-informed about information systems and their impact on himself; and he must have a legal standing to recover damages and compel remedial actions by offending organizations.
In vitro maintenance of differentiation marker synthesis by subpopulations of mouse thymocytes.

Mouse thymocyte populations enriched in functionally incompetent, “immature” cells on the one hand, or in competent “mature” cells on the other hand, express different steady-state levels of certain surface antigens and marker enzymes. In the cases of the glycoproteins H-2 (K and D), Qa, and TL, and the DNA polymerase terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), these levels reflect different rates of de novo synthesis in the two populations. Thus each population appears to manifest a characteristic pattern of synthetic rates for the various products relative to total protein synthesis. To investigate the maintenance of these patterns, enriched pools of “immature” and “mature” thymocytes were incubated in vitro for 24 h, and the rates of product synthesis before and after culture were compared. H-2 synthesis, initially most rapid in the mature cells, continued to be made at the highest rate in this population. TdT synthesis, a characteristic activity of the immature cells, was not induced in the mature cells, but proceeded at an increased relative rate in the immature population. Therefore, the differences between the rates of H-2 and TdT synthesis were stable properties of the two thymocyte populations. Another marker of immature cells, TL, did not continue to be produced in parallel with TdT. Rather, its synthesis was selectively curtailed in relation to the continuing protein synthesis in the immature cultures. This non-coordinate regulation of TL and TdT production in immature thymocytes may be due to several mechanisms. These are discussed with regard to their implications for pathways of thymocyte maturation.
Formation of Metal-Poor Globular Clusters in Lyman alpha Emitting Galaxies in the Early Universe

The size, mass, luminosity, and space density of Lyman-alpha emitting (LAE) galaxies observed at intermediate to high redshift agree with expectations for the properties of galaxies that formed metal-poor halo globular clusters (GCs). The low metallicity of these clusters is the result of their formation in low-mass galaxies. Metal-poor GCs could enter spiral galaxies along with their dwarf galaxy hosts, unlike metal-rich GCs which form in the spirals themselves. Considering an initial GC mass larger than the current mass to account for multiple stellar populations, and considering the additional clusters that are likely to form with massive clusters, we estimate that each GC with a mass today greater than 2x10^5 Msun was likely to have formed among a total stellar mass ~3x10^7 Msun, a molecular mass ~10^9 Msun, and 10^7 to 10^9 Msun of older stars, depending on the relative gas fraction. The star formation rate would have been several Msun/yr lasting for ~10^7 yrs, and the Lyman-alpha luminosity would have been ~10^42 erg/s. Integrating the LAE galaxy luminosity function above this minimum, considering the average escape probability for Lyalpha photons (25%), and then dividing by the probability that a dwarf galaxy is observed in the LAE phase (0.4%), we find agreement between the co-moving space density of LAEs and the average space density of metal-poor globular clusters today. The local galaxy WLM, with its early starburst and old GC, could be an LAE remnant that did not get into a galaxy halo because of its remote location.
Internal structure of the potato starch granule revealed by chemical gelatinization

Abstract Potato starch was separated into four different size groups. The starch of a uniform granular size with diameters between 30 and 52 μm was chemically gelatinized at the periphery of the granules with aqueous calcium chloride (4 m) at 23°C. Chemically gelatinized starch at the periphery was mechanically removed from the granule by using a blender. The gelatinized starch and the remaining granular starch were subjected to iodine titration, gel permeation chromatography, amylopectin branch-chain-length, and phosphorus analyses. The results showed that amylose was more concentrated at the periphery than at the core of the granule. Amylose at the core had larger molecular size than that at the periphery. Amylopectin at the core had longer long B-chains than that at the periphery. Starch phosphate esters were more concentrated at the core than at the periphery.
Interlayers for Efficient Electron Injection in Polymer LEDs

Considerable efforts have been devoted to realize efficient electron injection in polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) for better charge balance and higher efficiencies. Efficient electron injection can be achieved through interfacial engineering such as modification of electrodes using self-assembled monolayers and introduction of polymer interlayer. The focus of this paper is to review the materials, device structures and performance of PLEDs incorporating polymer interlayers.
Risk assessment for invasiveness differs for aquatic and terrestrial plant species

Predictive tools for preventing introduction of new species with high probability of becoming invasive in the U.S. must effectively distinguish non-invasive from invasive species. The Australian Weed Risk Assessment system (WRA) has been demonstrated to meet this requirement for terrestrial vascular plants. However, this system weights aquatic plants heavily toward the conclusion of invasiveness. We evaluated the accuracy of the WRA for 149 non-native aquatic species in the U.S., of which 33 are major invaders, 32 are minor invaders and 84 are non-invaders. The WRA predicted that all of the major invaders would be invasive, but also predicted that 83% of the non-invaders would be invasive. Only 1% of the non-invaders were correctly identified and 16% needed further evaluation. The resulting overall accuracy was 33%, dominated by scores for invaders. While the overall accuracy increased to 57% when the points assigned to aquatic life forms were removed, 57% of the non-invaders required further evaluation rather than were identified as having low probability of naturalizing. Discrimination between non-invaders and invaders would require an increase in the threshold score from the standard of 6 for this system to 19. That higher threshold resulted in accurate identification of 89% of the non-invaders and over 75% of the major invaders. Either further testing for definition of the optimal threshold or a separate screening system will be necessary for accurately predicting which freshwater aquatic plants are high risks for becoming invasive.
PTRN-1, a microtubule minus end-binding CAMSAP homolog, promotes microtubule function in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons.

In neuronal processes, microtubules (MTs) provide structural support and serve as tracks for molecular motors. While it is known that neuronal MTs are more stable than MTs in non-neuronal cells, the molecular mechanisms underlying this stability are not fully understood. In this study, we used live fluorescence microscopy to show that the C. elegans CAMSAP protein PTRN-1 localizes to puncta along neuronal processes, stabilizes MT foci, and promotes MT polymerization in neurites. Electron microscopy revealed that ptrn-1 null mutants have fewer MTs and abnormal MT organization in the PLM neuron. Animals grown with a MT depolymerizing drug caused synthetic defects in neurite branching in the absence of ptrn-1 function, indicating that PTRN-1 promotes MT stability. Further, ptrn-1 null mutants exhibited aberrant neurite morphology and synaptic vesicle localization that is partially dependent on dlk-1. Our results suggest that PTRN-1 represents an important mechanism for promoting MT stability in neurons. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01498.001
Nonpalmitoylated human asialoglycoprotein receptors recycle constitutively but are defective in coated pit-mediated endocytosis, dissociation, and delivery of ligand to lysosomes.

The hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) internalizes desialylated glycoproteins via the clathrin-coated pit pathway and mediates their delivery to lysosomes for degradation. The human ASGP-R contains two subunits, H1 and H2. Cytoplasmic residues Cys36 in H1, as well as Cys54 and Cys58 in H2 are palmitoylated (Zeng, F.-Y., and Weigel, P. H. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 32454). In order to study the function(s) of ASGP-R palmitoylation, we mutated these Cys residues to Ser and generated stably transfected SK-Hep-1 cell lines expressing either wild-type or nonpalmitoylated ASGP-Rs. Compared with wild-type ASGP-Rs, palmitoylation-defective ASGP-Rs showed normal ligand binding, intracellular distribution and trafficking patterns, and pH-induced dissociation profiles in vitro. However, continuous ASOR uptake, and the uptake of prebound cell surface ASOR were slower in cells expressing palmitoylation-defective ASGP-Rs than in cells expressing wild-type ASGP-Rs. Unlike native ASGP-Rs in hepatocytes or hepatoma cells, which mediate endocytosis via the clathrin-coated pit pathway and are almost completely inhibited by hypertonic medium, only ∼40% of the ASOR uptake in SK-Hep-1 cells expressing wild-type ASGP-Rs was inhibited by hyperosmolarity. This result suggests the existence of an alternate nonclathrin-mediated internalization pathway, such as transcytosis, for the entry of ASGP-R·ASOR complexes into these cells. In contrast, ASOR uptake mediated by cells expressing palmitoylation-defective ASGP-Rs showed only a marginal difference under hypertonic conditions, indicating that most of the nonpalmitoylated ASGP-Rs were not internalized and processed normally through the clathrin-coated pit pathway. Furthermore, cells expressing wild-type ASGP-Rs were able to degrade the internalized ASOR, whereas ASOR dissociation was impaired and degradation was barely detectable in cells expressing nonpalmitoylated ASGP-Rs. We conclude that palmitoylation of the ASGP-R is required for its efficient endocytosis of ligand by the clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway and, in particular, for the proper dissociation and delivery of ligand to lysosomes.
Utilisation analysis and comparison for multimedia wireless networks

In this paper, we consider a homogeneous wireless multimedia system with both priority and non-priority calls. The resources of the system are either as the nominal channels assigned evenly to each of the coved cells or reserved in the control centre exclusively for priority calls. Different classes of calls may request different bandwidths for a satisfactory connection. We investigate how the utilisation depends on the channel allocation schemes and whether a buffer space affects the performance of the system in terms of the utilisation of the system. Our observation is expected to provide technical guidance for the design of channel allocation of multimedia wireless systems.
A Founder Mutation as a Cause of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation in Hispanic Americans

Background Cerebral cavernous malformation is a vascular disease of the brain causing headaches, seizures, and cerebral hemorrhage. Familial and sporadic cases are recognized, and a gene causing fa...
Cancer: Damage prevention targeted

The MTH1 protein prevents oxidized nucleotides from being misincorporated into DNA. Two studies find that selective inhibition of MTH1 by small molecules suppresses tumour growth. See Articles p.215 & p.222 Mutations in the Ras oncogene are associated with poor prognosis. It was known that overexpression of MTH1, a protein involved in preventing the incorporation of damaged bases into DNA, prevents Ras-induced senescence. In seeking to understand how damaged deoxynucleotides (dNTPs) promote cancer, Thomas Helleday and colleagues found that MTH1 activity is essential for the survival of transformed cells, and isolated two small-molecule MTH1 inhibitors, TH287 and TH588. In the presence of these hydrolase inhibitors, damaged nucleotides are incorporated into DNA only in cancer cells, causing cytotoxicity and eliciting a beneficial response in mouse xenograft cancer models. In a second study, Giulio Superti-Furga and colleagues sought to identify the target of a small molecule, SCH51344, that had been developed for use against Ras-dependent cancers and found that it inactivates MTH1. This allowed them to identify a new potent inhibitor of MTH1 that is enantiomer-selective, (S)-crizotinib. In the presence of this drug, tumour growth is suppressed in animal models of colon cancer.
Vegetative cover for low level radioactive waste sites

Abstract Low level radioactive waste (LLRW), hazardous, and mixed waste disposal sites normally require some form of plant material to prevent erosion of the soil cover cap. Waste disposal sites are closed and capped in a complex scientific manner to minimize water infiltration and percolation down into the waste material. Turf type grasses are normally used as the principal vegetative cover for most sites. Consequently, the sites require periodic mowing and other expensive annual maintenance practices. The purpose of this 5 year study was to evaluate alternative plant material for use on LLRW sites that can be quickly and easily established and economically maintained, retards water infiltration, provides maximum year-round evapotranspiration, is ecologically acceptable and does not harm the closure cap. The results of the study suggest that two species of bamboo ( Phyllostachys bissetii and Phyllostachys rubromarginata ) could be utilized to quickly establish a long lived, low maintenance, final vegetative cover for the waste sites.
PRESERVATION OF TRACE FOSSILS AND MOLDS OF TERRESTRIAL BIOTA BY INTENSE STORMS IN MID–LAST INTERGLACIAL (MIS 5c) DUNES ON BERMUDA, WITH A MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGICAL CONDUITS

Abstract We document massive deposition of carbonate sands along the south shore of Bermuda that were emplaced during one or two great storms during the last interglacial. As determined by their stratigraphic position and geochronological data, these deposits formed during marine isotope substage (MIS) 5c ca. 100 ka ago. Within a leeward set of eolian beds, evidence of a living landscape was preserved that includes delicate footprints of a shorebird (Scolopacidae, Catoptrophorus) preserved in frothy dune foreset beds. In the same stratigraphic unit, outlines of a standing forest of palm trees (Sabal bermudana), some evidently with fronds in place, were molded in the fine carbonate dune sand. All available evidence points to an MIS 5c sea level positioned several meters below the present datum, which would require great intensity of storms to transport such voluminous deposits well above present sea level. Waves and storm currents transported loose sediments from the shallow shelf onto the shore, where hur...