cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Roots of Citizens’ Knowledge of State Politics:

Do citizens have the information they need to hold state politicians accountable? We consider what people know about state politics and whether knowledge of state government is rooted in the same factors that explain knowledge of national matters. We argue that while knowledge of national politics is rooted within individual dispositions like education and political interest, knowledge of state politics depends on the political climate of the state. When state political environments provide more information and greater incentives to become informed, people are more knowledgeable about state matters. Even if citizens are not always well versed in matters of state politics, they appear to monitor the business of the states. Citizens are most knowledgeable about state politics in the cases where information is arguably most important—when state governments are underperforming, when political competition is high, and when the political parties in the state are ideologically divided.
Radiogenic initiation of thyroid cancer: a common cellular event.

SummaryA transplantation system for clonogenic cells in rat thyroid was used, which allows quantitative evaluation of both the acute cytotoxicity and the late neoplastic effects of ionizing radiation at the cellular level in vivo. We have obtained direct experimental evidence that radiogenic initiation of neoplasia in vivo is a common cellular event, and that cell number influences the expression of initiation. Ten per cent of those graft sites which had received 26 clonogens surviving 5 Gy developed carcinomas, while 4 per cent of those which received 26 unirradiated clonogens developed carcinomas. By comparison, 26 per cent of the sites that were inoculated with 411 surviving irradiated clonogens developed carcinomas while none of the 38 transplant sites that received 411 unirradiated clonogens developed carcinomas. Total tumour incidence (carcinomas plus adenomas) followed the same pattern.
The Modulatory Role of Taurine in Retinal Ganglion Cells

Taurine (2-aminoethylsuphonic acid) is present in nearly all animal tissues, and is the most abundant free amino acid in muscle, heart, CNS, and retina. Although it is known to be a major cytoprotectant and essential for normal retinal development, its role in retinal neurotransmission and modulation is not well understood. We investigated the response of taurine in retinal ganglion cells, and its effect on synaptic transmission between ganglion cells and their presynaptic neurons. We find that taurine-elicited currents in ganglion cells could be fully blocked by both strychnine and SR95531, glycine and GABAA receptor antagonists, respectively. This suggests that taurine-activated receptors might share the antagonists with GABA and glycine receptors. The effect of taurine at micromolar concentrations can effectively suppress spontaneous vesicle release from the presynaptic neurons, but had limited effects on light-evoked synaptic signals in ganglion cells. We also describe a metabotropic effect of taurine in the suppression of light-evoked response in ganglion cells. Clearly, taurine acts in multiple ways to modulate synaptic signals in retinal output neurons, ganglion cells.
A Network-Centric Epidemic Approach for Automated Image Label Annotation

Automatically organizing and searching images by their content in large image datasets are major goals of Web-based search engines. Currently, these goals are accomplished by associating metadata information to each image in the database. In this paper, we investigate the use of network sciences to implement a metadata-propagation mechanism for images. We begin by creating a network of images connected by a part-based appearance-similarity measure, and propose an epidemiology-inspired model for metadata propagation. Our experiments show that organizing images as a network helps us label a large number images in the dataset in an economical way, i.e., with few manual metadata annotations.
Judicial Reviews: What Judges Write When They Write About Mediation

Judges are uniquely positioned to comment on the phenomenon of court-connected mediation. Judges design and implement court systems with mediation components; they refer or order litigants into mediation; and they often serve as mediators themselves, either as part of their judicial duties or after retiring from the bench. Yet ironically there are few formal judicial opinions commenting on the procedural, ethical, and substantive issues around court-connected mediation today. When researching mediation, therefore, legal scholars who limit themselves to traditional legal sources will not have much to work with.This Article identifies a new source of “judicial review” of mediation: judge-written scholarship. At least since the beginning of the modern alternative dispute resolution (ADR) era in 1976, judges have been writing about mediation in the courts. These articles run the gamut of narrative, audience, scope, and focus. They are neither accountable to nor constrained by the conventions and standards of academic scholarship or judicial opinions. Like wild horses, judge-written articles on mediation are intelligent and independent, socially aware yet also self-interested. Treating these articles as part of a distinct dataset — a dataset that, to my knowledge, has not previously been recognized before — uncovers a new, possibly treacherous quarry for research about front-line experiences with court-connected mediation.The Article makes the following two contributions to mediation scholarship. One, the Article maps out a (starter) dataset of judge-written scholarship on mediation intended to support research efforts around mediation, court-connected and otherwise. Two, from this mapping exercise, the Article suggests that when it comes to mediation-as-process, judges prioritize efficiency; but when it comes to mediation and professional identities, judges prioritize other values. For reformers, this preliminary finding helps clarify what court-connected mediation looks like today and suggests new discursive spaces and strategies for positive change.
Academic Remediation–Focused Alternative Schools: Impact on Student Outcomes

School districts offer specialized programming for secondary students who experience high rates of course failure or low credit accumulation. While these alternative programs are meant to increase student success, little research evaluates outcomes for students attending them. In this study, we used propensity score matching (PSM) to investigate the effectiveness of secondary alternative schools on four student outcomes: school attendance, credits earned, number of office referrals, and number of suspensions. Findings from Poisson regression analyses indicate that attending an academic remediation–focused alternative school is associated with significantly lower attendance but also with earning significantly more credits than enrollment in a traditional school. In addition, enrollment in an alternative school is associated with significantly less office referrals and suspensions than enrollment in a traditional school. Implications for policy, practice, and further research are discussed.
The Confluence of Individual Autonomy and Collective Identity in India: A Narrative Ethnography Using an Indian–U.S. Sociocultural Lens

The ProblemIn India, more household resources are spent on the education of sons than daughters; access to health and education reflects gender inequalities regardless of caste; poor women in India...
Specific Ion (Hofmeister) Effects on Adsorption, Desorption, and Diffusion at the Solid–Aqueous Interface

Certain salts in aqueous solution are known to significantly increase the affinity of molecules with hydrophobic moieties for a hydrophobic interface, but the mechanism of this effect is poorly understood. We used single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to directly observe the underlying dynamic interfacial phenomena for a fluorescent fatty acid probe molecule at a self-assembled monolayer surface. Both NaF and NaSCN increased the surface affinity of the probe from that observed in pure water, and consistent with expectations, the surface affinity was greater in the presence of NaF than that with NaSCN. Notably, the primary cause of the increase in surface affinity was specifically due to an increase in the absolute rate of adsorption from solution. In contrast, the surface residence time and the surface diffusion coefficient of the probe molecules did not depend significantly on the solution conditions.
Early History of A Railway Organization

The more deeply scholars probe the evolution of management methods and structure, the earlier are antecedents of modern practice detected. The 1882 report on the Pennsylvania Railroad organization exhibits a highly refined conceptualization of big business administration and must stand as a significant milepost in the history of management. Here are to be found many of the ideas and even some of the terminology to which much more recent birth dates have hitherto been ascribed.
Under siege--the individual mandate for health insurance and its alternatives.

No provision of the health care reform law is more beleaguered than the individual mandate — the requirement that most Americans obtain health insurance or pay a penalty. If the mandate cannot be sustained politically or constitutionally, alternatives exist.
Transverse axis morphological control for tailored gold nanorod (GNR) synthesis

Over the past decade, the quest to engineer gold nanorods (GNRs) with tailorable optical properties has intensified. Modifications to the shape and size have led to unprecedented control over the optical and localized properties of gold nanomaterials. Extensive research has demonstrated GNRs of various aspect ratio can be achieved through slight chemical modifications of the fabrication procedure. However, many of these methods suffer from poor batch-to-batch reproducibility and low overall yield. Additionally, localizing the growth to one axis has proven difficult as growth occurs from all sides in a typical seed-mediated synthesis procedure, which is a critical step for fine-tuned control. In this contribution, we demonstrate a reproducible methodology to specifically and systematically tailor the GNR transverse axis, which corresponds to the GNR radial width, to control plasmonic properties over the 550–850 nm spectral region. A remarkably high reproducibility is obtained allowing for the prediction of the optical absorption within ±12 nm. Derived from the combination of two high yield GNR wet chemical synthesis methods, herein we alter the reducing agent and gold concentration during synthesis demonstrating precise control over the transverse axis morphology and subsequent plasmonic resonance peaks.
Beyond Time Discounting

The intertemporal tradeoffs made by most persons appear inconsistent when viewed through the lens of the standard time-discounting model. At different times and in different decision contexts, the same individual will often display behavior suggestive of a wide range of discount rates, from strongly positive (indicative of a lack of concern of future consequences) to strongly negative (implying greater concern for the future than the present). We argue that many of these apparent inconsistencies can be attributed to three aspects of time preference that are not part of the conventional model: decreasing impatience, a preference for sequences of outcomes that improve over time, and preference interactions between consumption and payments.
Music as Communication and Training for Children with Cochlear Implants

From the first lullabies of infancy to the ever-present popular music of adolescence, music plays an important role in the lives of children. Because of music’s pervasiveness in every known culture, children will experience it in a variety of forms on a daily basis. To what extent are children who use cochlear implants (CI) able to accurately perceive and enjoy this ubiquitous acoustical sound? Can music be a meaningful and efficacious component of personal, social, educational, and habilitative experiences? This chapter describes (1) those aspects of music most and least effectively conveyed through a CI; (2) comparisons between pediatric CI users, adult CI recipients, and children with normal hearing (NH); (3) variance among pediatric CI users regarding music perception, enjoyment, and participation; (4) the impact of systematic training on music perception and enjoyment; (5) theoretical and empirical evidence regarding transfer of music training to speech and language; and (6) practical suggestions for clinical interventions and optimizing participation in musical experiences.
Melt‐Processing of Complementary Semiconducting Polymer Blends for High Performance Organic Transistors

Melt-processing of complementary semiconducting polymer blends provides an average charge carrier mobility of 0.4 cm2 V-1 s-1 and current on/off ratios higher than 105 , a record performance for melt-processed organic field-effect transistors.
Coupled microstrip antennas for wider bandwidth

Narrow bandwidth available from microstrip patch radiators has been recognized as the most significant factor limiting the applications of this class of antennas. Different approaches for increasing the bandwidth available from microstrip antennas include: i) use of thicker substrates with low e r [1], (ii) use of multiple patches in one plane [2], (iii) use of multiple patches stacked vertically [3], and (iv) use of broadband impedance matching networks [4], One of the configurations [2] in the group (ii) makes use of rectangular patches gap-coupled along the non-radiating edges. This particular configuration appears very attractive as the layout can be made compact [5] thus avoiding the use of large substrate area and consequential degradation in radiation pattern over the operating frequency range.
Genome sequences and SNP analyses of Corynespora cassiicola from cotton and soybean in the southeastern United States reveal limited diversity

Corynespora cassiicola attackes diverse agriculturally important plants, including soybean and cotton, in the US. It is a reemerge pathogen on cotton in southeastern US. Whole genome sequences of four cotton and one soybean isolate from Tennessee were used to develop single nucleotide polymorphism markers for cotton isolates. Cotton isolates had little diversity at the genome level and very little differentiation from the soybean isolate. Analysis of 75 isolates from cotton and soybean, using targeted-sequencing of 22 polymorphic SNP sites, revealed eight multi-locus genotypes and it appears a single clonal lineage predominates across the southeastern region. The cotton and soybean genome sequences were significantly different from the public reference genome derived from a rubber isolate and the utility of these novel resources will be discussed.
Continuous switching operation of 15 kV FREEDM super-cascode

High voltage and wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices like the 15 kV SiC MOSFET have attracted a lot of attention because of their potential applications in high voltage and high power converters. However, they are not commercially available at present and their high cost might be a hindrance to their widespread adoption in future. To address the commercial unavailability and the high cost issues of the 15 kV SiC MOSFET, the 15 kV FREEDM Super-Cascode, which is based on 1.2 kV SiC MOSFET and JFETs series connection, is designed and developed. In this paper, the high switching frequency operation of the newly developed 15 kV, 40 A FREEDM Super-Cascode is tested and reported for the first time. A 7.2 kV ac rms input, 400 V dc output, 40 kW converter is designed using the 15 kV FREEDM Super-Cascode, whose switching frequency varies from 15 to 64 kHz.
Kinetics of DMSP-Lyase Activity in Coastal Seawater

The concentration dependence of dissolved-DMSP loss and DMSP-lyase activity was determined at several locations in Monterey Bay over a period of two weeks in spring 1995. Kinetic parameters of DMSP loss and DMS production varied over a wide range and were not obviously correlated with ambient DMSP levels or overall biomass. Apparent half-saturation values of DMSP-lyase activity ranged from 480 nM to 11.3 μM, with corresponding maximal velocities of 5-156 nmol L-1 h-1. Kinetic parameters of DMSP loss were also variable, with K m , v max values of 23 nM, 4.9 nmol L-1 h-l and 900 nM, 60 nmol L-1 h-1 found in two experiments. Based on a comparison of the apparent v max of DMSP loss and DMSP-lyase activity when the kinetics of both were assessed simultaneously, the proportion of DMSP loss resulting in DMS production ranged from low to 100%. These results suggest that DMSP degradation in productive coastal waters can be mediated by extremely different microbial consortia over short temporal and spatial scales.
Cluster Life-Cycles, Entrepreneurship and Regional Economic Development with a Case Study of the Korean Shipbuilding Cluster

This paper views industrial clusters as complex systems composed of multiple interdependent dimensions, firms and enterprises, organizations. A literature review is used to construct a life-cycle framework for assessing cluster dynamics and guiding related policy development. The framework is erected on seven dimensions along with measures and development related patterns associated with the different life-cycle stages. Examples of policy guidelines are provided across all seven dimensions and by stage of cluster development. Finally, a case study of the South Korea shipbuilding cluster is provided in an effort to illustrate how the framework can be used to analyze cluster dynamics and to guide related policy responses. Conclusions and future research opportunities are presented in the final part of the paper.
A Rare Beast: Cardiac Calcified Amorphous Tumor.

Calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) of the heart is a rare non-neoplastic intracardiac mass first described in 1997 by Reynolds et al.1 Although case reports of cardiac CAT have been published since, early attempts at identifying characteristic features of this condition and distinguishing it from other cardiac masses relied on limited information.2, 3 More data on cardiac CAT are required to develop evidence-based approaches to its diagnosis, treatment, appropriate follow-up, and possibly prevention strategies.
Evaluating an Inertial Measurement Unit Based System for After-Reach Speed Measurement in Power Press Applications

The objective of this study was to measure the hand speed of eighteen (18) subjects making after-reach movements from an upper palm button (UB) and lower palm button (LB) on a simulated press. Each after-reach movement was measured with a Vicon optical motion capture system and an Xsens IMU based system. A Bland-Altman analysis of the speed measured by the two technologies demonstrated a general agreement (average bias 0.19 m/s) between the measurements and a potential for using IMUs for hand-speed measures in the future. However, the computation intensity required to manipulate the Xsens data is likely too complex and time consuming for practitioners who are busy with plant activities. A simple IMU system, designed specifically for hand speed capture, could be a viable option for measuring after-reach speed in the future.
Medical school in 2029

Dear SamanthaIt is lovely to hear from you and learn of your interest in entering academic medicine with a focus on medical education. Many things have changed since you graduated with a degree in ...
Measuring what matters and guiding policy: An evaluation of the Genuine Progress Indicator

This article examines the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), which seeks to respond to the shortcomings of GDP and the main contemporary challenges to welfare. As a monetary indicator, the GPI is uniquely suited to evaluate the impact of policy proposals and its dashboard‐like features are able to track changes in contributing variables. While the GPI is currently not available for use in cross‐country analyses, it will be measurable using a standard methodology once certain data issues have been resolved and a consensus is reached on GPI 2.0. Currently, the main obstacles to its widespread use are lack of political leadership and institutional support.
An integrative approach to symbiont-mediated vector control for agricultural pathogens

Vector-borne pathogens pose significant threats to agricultural productivity. Methods that exploit associations between insects and their symbiotic microbes, dubbed symbiont-mediated vector control, are emerging as viable alternatives to insecticides for the control of vector-borne agricultural plant pathogens. The development of methods for effective microbial manipulation, such as RNA interference and paratransgenesis, may facilitate symbiont-mediated vector control tactics aimed at either suppressing insect populations or at manipulating vector competence, an insect vector’s ability to acquire, harbor, and transmit pathogens. As suppression strategies transition from the laboratory to the field, the need for methods to evaluate their viability and predict their outcomes is apparent. Mathematical models of symbiont impact on agricultural disease can inform the development of symbiont-mediated vector control. We propose an integrative approach, combining theoretical and empirical experiments to identify the best practices for achieving meaningful improvements to crop health and productivity.
Highlights of the Round Table Discussion on Molecular Crystals at Ultra High Pressure

This panel focused its attention on the future prospects of research at high pressure for mainly molecular systems. Each panelist was asked to provide a working definition for the concept of “high pressure” as might possible be guided by their own particular interests and to present statements on what they considered to be the key experimental and theoretical issues to be faced in the immediate and perhaps more distant future.
Revolving Doors: Cross-Country Comparisons of the Relationship between Math and Science Teacher Staffing and Student Achievement

Staffing classrooms with effective teachers remains a persistent policy challenge in the U.S. Teaching positions requiringSTEM expertise are particularly difficult to fill. Scholars have identified...
Food, Ecology, and Education

This chapter touches on the other three main topics in Bishan’s practices: food, ecology and education. The author discusses the “politics of eating” based on Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma: Agriculture was invented to feed human beings, and later food production and distribution depended on political intervention (such as Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression), while it also faces moral dilemma such as food sovereignty, land justice and animal ethics; The environmental crisis in 1960s made organic agriculture a new spiritual worship in United States, and the coexistence of industrialized “big organic” and family farm’s “small organic” reached a consensus on ecology protection, which is also used by today’s capitalists to attract food buyers. When writing on education, the author takes the Nanjing-based artist Liu Xun’s children’s picture books as an example, emphasizing the cultivation of children’s sense of reality: Children can’t grow up only in the hothouses with beautiful fairy tales, but should gain their social ability in reality; The villages like Bishan have inherited their own “local knowledge” orally for thousands of years, it comes from life experience and is taught in the fields, can’t be seen in textbooks in the classrooms, and has nurtured new generations of rural community in the past, guiding the rural life and production; The so-called “life education” is not the originality of John Dewey or Tao Xingzhi – it actually has a long history in rural China and should be reintroduced into contemporary educational practice.
Treatment of Pediatric Opioid Overdose in the United States

BACKGROUND: Despite ongoing national attention on opioid crisis, little information exists about children and adolescents treated for opioid overdose in the United States. The objective was to determine the national frequency of emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric opioid overdose in the United States. METHODS: We used the most recent available 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database to identify ED treatment for opioid overdose cases in patients younger than 18 …
Small-Signal Analysis of Cascaded Multilevel H-Bridge Inverter for PV Integration

This paper presents a small-signal modeling of cascaded H-bridge converter connected to a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. By analyzing eigenvalues of state-space equations of the system, the closed-loop controller has been designed to control the DC-link voltage in each cell as well as the grid current. The sensitivity and stability margins of the system have been examined by changing the grid impedance, capacitors of DC-link, and parameters of the controller. Also, the dynamic response of the system was analyzed by applying a step change in the DC-link setpoints. To verify the performance and effectiveness of the controllers, simulation has been conducted in MATLAB/SIMULINK for a three-phase cascaded H-bridge with three cells in each phase.
Virtual strike and dip – Advancing inclusive and accessible field geology

Abstract. Accessibility and inclusivity in field geology have become increasingly important issues to address in geoscience education and have long been set aside due to the tradition of field geology and the laborious task of making it inclusive to all. Although a popular saying among geologists is “the best geologists see the most rocks”, field trips cost money, time, and are only accessible for those who are physically able to stay outside long hours. With the availability of 3D block diagrams, an onslaught of virtual learning environments is becoming increasingly viable. Strike and dip is at the core of any field geologist’s education and career; learning and practicing these skills is fundamental to making geologic maps and understanding the regional geology of an area. In this paper, we present the Strike and Dip virtual tool (SaD) with the objective of teaching the principles of strike and dip for geologic mapping to introductory geology students. We embedded the SaD tool into an introductory geology course and recruited 147 students to participate in the study. Participants completed two maps using the SaD tool and reported on their experiences through a questionnaire. The SaD tool was overall perceived positively by students. Furthermore, some individual differences among students proved to be important contributing factors to their experiences and subjective assessments of learning. When controlling for participants’ past experience with similar software, our results indicate that students highly familiar with navigating geographical software perceived the virtual environment of the tool to be significantly more realistic and easier to use compared to those with lower levels of familiarity. Our results are corroborated by a qualitative assessment of participants’ feedback to two open-ended questions, highlighting both the overall effectiveness of the SaD tool, and the effect of geographical software familiarity on measures of experience and learning.
Quantitative Analysis of the Social Costs of Road Traffic Crashes Literature

Despite recent improvements in tackling road safety challenges, particularly in developed countries, road traffic crashes account for 1.35 million deaths annually and cost over 65 us$ billion. This paper reviews the existing socio-economic costs literature, highlights research gaps, and draws attention to the lack of analysis in developing countries, which account for 90% of the fatalities. We rely on both simple descriptive analyses and formal econometric analyses. Our descriptive results show an upward trend over the recent years, mostly in high and middle-income countries. The paper focuses on the differences in estimating the socio-economic costs of road traffic crashes using two popular methodologies, the willingness-to-pay (wtp) and the human capital (hc). Our econometric analysis shows that papers that use wtp tend to compute the impact as a percentage of gdp that is on average 1% higher than those that use the hc approach. Likewise, studies using the human capital method tend to underestimate the total socio-economic costs by a factor of two compared to the cost derived from the wtp approach; this gap then reduces substantially when accounting for population density, countries' income levels, and road safety outcomes. Further, the paper stresses the underreporting problem and the inexistence of a mechanism to reasonably account for it in socio-economic costs calculations. The paper concludes by advocating for more studies focusing on low and middle-income countries using a combination of common approaches with other valuation methods.
Robust and annotation-free analysis of alternative splicing across diverse cell types in mice

Abstract Although alternative splicing is a fundamental and pervasive aspect of gene expression in higher eukaryotes, it is often omitted from single-cell studies due to quantification challenges inherent to commonly used short-read sequencing technologies. Here, we undertake the analysis of alternative splicing across numerous diverse murine cell types from two large-scale single-cell datasets—the Tabula Muris and BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network—while accounting for understudied technical artifacts and unannotated isoforms. We find strong and general cell-type-specific alternative splicing, complementary to total gene expression but of similar discriminatory value, and identify a large volume of novel isoforms. We specifically highlight splicing variation across different cell types in primary motor cortex neurons, bone marrow B cells, and various epithelial cells; and show that the implicated transcripts include many genes which do not display total expression differences. To elucidate the regulation of alternative splicing, we build a custom predictive model based on splicing factor activity, recovering several known interactions while generating new hypotheses, including potential regulatory roles for novel alternative splicing events in critical genes including Khdrbs3 and Rbfox1. We make our results available using public interactive browsers to spur further exploration by the community.
Macrophage LRP1 (Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 1) Is Required for the Effect of CD47 Blockade on Efferocytosis and Atherogenesis.

Objective: Antibody blockade of the do not eat me signal CD47 enhances efferocytosis and reduces lesion size and necrotic core formation in murine atherosclerosis. TNF (Tumor necrosis factor)-α exp...
Unravel and gravel: A study of Hunter River mudstone and silcrete gravels, an archaeological perspective

The Hunter River is a source of mudstone and silcrete raw material utilised in the manufacture of stone implements in the Central Lowlands of the Hunter Valley. The innate differences in the physical properties of these materials provide a potential source for raw material variability in lithic assemblages. The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate this variability and identify any patterning. A limited survey of the Hunter River channel was undertaken to determine the occurrence of the materials. Samples were taken from two locations where both mudstone and silcrete occur in the gravel deposits. A controlled experiment was devised to objectively test the differences in the materials' physical properties, as expressed by their flakability and heat induced variation. To produce results in a consistent manner, and to eliminate subjective human input in the flaking process, a flaking machine was designed to simulate the human model of hard hammer percussion flaking. Also, similarly shaped rectangular cores were used. Experimental data suggests that the differences in the physical properties of the two materials can account for some of the variability in artefact form, and even assemblage variation. Heat treatment provided the Aboriginal stone worker with a lithic reduction strategy to effectively minimise the behaviour differentials of the two materials, and significantly enhance the flaking properties of one of the materials, silcrete. Experimentally heat treated mudstone and silcrete also exhibited macroscopically distinct colour change.
Quantum Conversion in Chloroplasts

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses quantum conversion in chloroplasts. The primary quantum conversion process involves the most important case of radiation catalysis. The reduction of the carbon dioxide by a reducing agent to produce carbohydrate is a separate and independent reaction, independent at least of the primary light absorption and conversion process. The other half of the photosynthesis process—the primary quantum conversion—has been associated with the photolysis of water. In addition, the primary quantum conversion act of photosynthesis in chemical terms is an ionization occurring in a charge transfer complex. However, this cannot occur in isolated charge transfer molecules in solution or in a homogeneous single-phase crystal because the products cannot escape from each other. The primary quantum conversion act, as it occurs in modern photosynthesis, can only take place in a laminated structure where the electrons and holes can escape from each other by electron migrations and not by atomic migration.
Gene expression profile differences in left and right liver lobes from mid-gestation fetal baboons: a cautionary tale.

Interpretation of gene array data presents many potential pitfalls in adult tissues. Gene array techniques applied to fetal tissues present additional confounding pitfalls. The left lobe of the fetal liver is supplied with blood containing more oxygen than the right lobe. Since synthetic activity and cell function are oxygen dependent, we hypothesized major differences in mRNA expression between the fetal right and left liver lobes. Our aim was to demonstrate the need to evaluate RNA samples from both lobes. We performed whole genome expression profiling on left and right liver lobe RNA from six 90-day gestation baboon fetuses (term 180 days). Comparing right with left, we found 875 differentially expressed genes – 312 genes were up-regulated and 563 down-regulated. Pathways for damaged DNA binding, endonuclease activity, interleukin binding and receptor activity were up-regulated in right lobe; ontological pathways related to cell signalling, cell organization, cell biogenesis, development, intracellular transport, phospholipid metabolism, protein biosynthesis, protein localization, protein metabolism, translational regulation and vesicle mediated transport were down-regulated in right lobe. Molecular pathway analysis showed down-regulation of pathways related to heat shock protein binding, ion channel and transporter activities, oxygen binding and transporter activities, translation initiation and translation regulator activities. Genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis and oxygen transport were also differentially expressed. This is the first demonstration of RNA differences between the two lobes of the fetal liver. The data support the argument that a complete interpretation of gene expression in the developing liver requires data from both lobes.
Stochastic Volatility Filtering with Intractable Likelihoods

This paper is concerned with particle filtering for -stable stochastic volatility models. The -stable distribution provides a flexible framework for modeling asymmetry and heavy tails, which is useful when modeling financial returns. An issue with this distributional assumption is the lack of a closed form for the probability density function. To estimate the volatility of financial returns in this setting, we develop a novel auxiliary particle filter. The algorithm we develop can be easily applied to any hidden Markov model for which the likelihood function is intractable or computationally expensive. The approximate target distribution of our auxiliary filter is based on the idea of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). ABC methods allow for inference on posterior quantities in situations when the likelihood of the underlying model is not available in closed form, but simulating samples from it is possible. The ABC auxiliary particle filter (ABC-APF) that we propose provides not only a good alternative to state estimation in stochastic volatility models, but it also improves on the existing ABC literature. It allows for more flexibility in state estimation while improving on the accuracy through better proposal distributions in cases when the optimal importance density of the filter is unavailable in closed form. We assess the performance of the ABC-APF on a simulated dataset from the -stable stochastic volatility model and compare it to other currently existing ABC filters.
Performance of BPSK/BPSK and OQPSK/BPSK spread spectrum communication systems in the presence of multiple-tone jammer

The error probability of BPSK/BPSK (binary phase-shift keying to binary phase-shift keying) and OQPSK/BPSK (offset quadrature phase-shift keying to binary phase-shift keying) direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication systems in the presence of the multiple-tone jammer is developed using a simple analytical technique. To measure the bit error probability, it is necessary to know the statistics of the data, jammer, and noise signals at the output of the correlator. If the power of jammer signal is much higher than that of noise signal at the output of the integrator, then the noise can be ignored. Coherent synchronization is assumed throughout. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the analytical results. According to the resulting curves, BPSK/BPSK and OQPSK/BPSK have the same performance, This result is not surprising because it has been shown previously; however, the authors' technique for computing the performance is much simpler than the previous methods and is computationally inexpensive. >
A Staggered Mesh Finite Difference Scheme for the Computation of Hypersonic Euler Flows

Over the last decade, a successful methodology has developed for solving nonlinear systems of hyperbolic conservation laws based on second order, TVD extensions of Godunov’s well known first order scheme. While many of these schemes have proved to yield fine numerical results, they are limited in a certain sense by their reliance on Riemann problem solvers. Generally speaking, for the nonexpert Riemann solvers (either exact or approximate) are difficult to formulate and implement. Moreover, there is a considerable computational overhead required to compute the necessary numerical fluxes. CPU timings for Godunov type schemes, either first order or second order extensions, typically exceed twice the time compared to non-Godunov schemes.
Optimization and large scale computation of an entropy-based moment closure

We present computational advances and results in the implementation of an entropy-based moment closure, M N , in the context of linear kinetic equations, with an emphasis on heterogeneous and large-scale computing platforms. Entropy-based closures are known in several cases to yield more accurate results than closures based on standard spectral approximations, such as P N , but the computational cost is generally much higher and often prohibitive. Several optimizations are introduced to improve the performance of entropy-based algorithms over previous implementations. These optimizations include the use of GPU acceleration and the exploitation of the mathematical properties of spherical harmonics, which are used as test functions in the moment formulation. To test the emerging high-performance computing paradigm of communication bound simulations, we present timing results at the largest computational scales currently available. These results show, in particular, load balancing issues in scaling the M N algorithm that do not appear for the P N algorithm. We also observe that in weak scaling tests, the ratio in time to solution of M N to P N decreases.
A system for mounting end caps on ice specimens

This short note describes the equipment and procedures we have developed to mount end caps on ice-core specimens. The system typically achieves end-plane parallelism within 0.5 μm/mm of specimen diameter (i.e. a total indicator run-out of 0.002 in for a 4.0 in diameter specimen). The essential elements of the system are a holder and an alignment fixture. The holder firmly grips the ice core about its circumference by the compression of two series of O–rings. The alignment fixture clamps the holder to align the ice core precisely with the end caps. To bond the ice to the end cap we form a layer of 0°C water on the end cap; the water freezes immediately upon contact with the ice and forms a strong intimate bond. To date, we have used this system to install phenolic end caps on 101.6 mm diameter cores and aluminum end caps on 76.2 mm diameter cores of saline ice. We obtained a somewhat better tolerance with the aluminum caps (0.33 μm/mm of end-cap diameter), due primarily to the geometric stability of that material under the prevailing conditions. These specimens have been successfully tested in uniaxial and triaxial compression, and we expect that with appropriate end caps the system will be suitable for preparing tension specimens as well.
Effect of diet on triolein absorption in weanling rats.

To determine the effect of altered dietary fat intake on the rate of fat absorption in the intact animal, we fed male weanling rats either a high fat-low carbohydrate (HF-LC) (calories: 67% fat, 10% carbohydrate, 20% protein) or low fat-high carbohydrate (LF-HC) (calories: 10% fat, 67% carbohydrate, 20% protein) diet for 8 days. Absorption of [14C]triolein was estimated by determining 1) 14CO2 expiration in breath, 2) intestinal triglyceride output using Triton WR-1339, an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase, and 3) quantitating the disappearance of labeled triolein from the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in the activity of pancreatic lipase and amylase confirmed the adaptation to altered fat and carbohydrate intake. Animals fed the HF-LC diet exhibited approximately twofold greater triolein disappearance, oxidation, and intestinal triglyceride output compared with animals fed LF-HC. There was also a highly significant linear relationship between 14CO2 excretion and intestinal triglyceride output in both die...
Fiber spinning of viscoelastic liquid

The fiber spinning process of viscoelastic liquid is successfully analyzed by means of a nonlinear integral constitutive equation, finite-element discretization, and Newton iteration. The process is cast and studied both as an initial value problem, which requires the specification of the drawing force, and as a two-point boundary value problem, which requires the specification of the draw ratio. Solutions are obtained up to high elasticity, high draw ratio, and large drawing force. The results agree with the analytic asymptotic solution for Newtonian liquid, with existing numerical solutions in the limiting case of the upper-convected Maxwell liquid, and with available experimental data on spinning of polystyrene melt at 170°C and low-density polyethylene at 150°C.
A model for the catalytic site of F1-ATPase based on analogies to nucleotide-binding domains of known structure.

An updated topological model is constructed for the catalytic nucleotide-binding site of the F1-ATPase. The model is based on analogies to the known structures of the MgATP site on adenylate kinase and the guanine nucleotide sites on elongation factor Tu (Ef-Tu) and theras p21 protein. Recent studies of these known nucleotide-binding domains have revealed several common functional features and similar alignment of nucleotide in their binding folds, and these are used as a framework for evaluating results of affinity labeling and mutagenesis studies of the β subunit of F1. Several potentially important residues on β are noted that have not yet been studied by mutagenesis or affinity labeling.
A unifying approach for the identification of application-driven stealthy attacks on mobile CPS

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) employing mobile nodes rely on wireless communication in many critical applications. Due to interference and intentional jamming by adversaries, mobile nodes may fail to communicate with each other causing severe performance consequences. In this paper, we present a unifying approach for identifying attacks that target Mobile CPS applications. The attack policies are obtained as solutions to Markov Decision Process (MDP) problems, in which a decision to interfere with a signal on a given link is based on the current state of the system. Through applying approximate policy iteration methods, efficient attack policies that only interfere with a selective set of signals between the mobile nodes are derived to maximize damage while minimizing exposure and detection. The proposed approach is instantiated on pheromone-based coordination methods that are used in reconnaissance, surveillance, and search missions in military operations. The identified attack policies are shown to be more potent than other attack policies, including myopic, heuristic, and Denial of Service (DoS) policies.
Campaigning in the Digital World: Obama's Use of Dynamic Advertisements

ABSTRACT In 2008, Barack Obama made history as the first politician to advertise in video games, but this was overlooked by political scientists and received little media coverage. Obama's decision marked a major turning point in campaign strategy because he used the new technology of dynamic advertising to target voters in specific states and only in the month before Election Day. He was able to speak directly to young voters for a small cost compared to his expenditures on traditional media. This article explores Obama's use of dynamic advertising and shows why other candidates are likely to emulate him by running their own virtual campaigns.
A Radiation Hybrid Map of 95 STSs Spanning Human Chromosome 13q

Abstract We have constructed a high-resolution physical map of the long arm of human chromosome 13 using a panel of 94 radiation hybrids. A comprehensive map of 95 chromosome 13-specific sequence tagged sites (STSs) spanning 13q from the presumed centromere at D13Z1 to the known telomere was obtained by multipoint maximum likelihood statistical methods. The 95 markers have an average retention frequency of 10%, with markers closer to the centromere having much greater retention frequencies (22-49%) than distal 13q markers (2-12%) The most likely radiation hybrid map localized the 95 STSs into 54 unique map positions, 34 with odds of 1000:1 or greater; the comprehensive map localized all but 17 STSs with odds exceeding 10:1. The total map length of 13q was 1302 cR 9000 (range 6.4-94.4 cR 9000 ) and a physical distance of 98 Mb, so that 1% breakage in the RH panel corresponds to 75 kb. A comparison of the comprehensive RH map to genetic maps of chromosome 13q shows identical locus orders for the common markers, with two exceptions over 1-cM distances. We discuss the possible relationships between the genetic and the radiation hybrid maps.
Subtangents—An Aid to Visual Calculus

(2002). Subtangents—An Aid to Visual Calculus. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 109, No. 6, pp. 525-533.