cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as Spiritual Leader

The purpose of this paper is to explore Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s spiritual leadership through his “I Have a Dream” speech. The paper explores the three characteristics of spiritual leadership as posed by Fry’s (2003) spiritual leadership theory: vision, hope/faith and altruistic love. The research draws upon these characteristics through qualitative content analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to illustrate Dr. King’s leadership as that of a spiritual leader. The research advances the spiritual leadership theory by establishing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a spiritual leader. Through the illustration of Dr. King’s spiritual leadership, the characteristics of a spiritual leader are given tangible understanding.
Regulation of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Expression by Macrophages Following Mycobacterium avium Infection

Recent studies have implicated Toll-like receptors (TLR), especially TLR2 and TLR4, as sentinel receptors that signal the interaction of macrophages with bacterial pathogens via a NF-kappaB-mediated pathway. The regulation of TLR gene expression, however, has not been intensively studied. Here, we report that TLR2 mRNA was induced following infection of murine macrophages with Mycobacterium avium. The changes in TLR2 mRNA correlated with an increase in TLR2 surface expression. Infection with M. avium resulted in a concomitant decrease in TLR4 mRNA. The effect of M. avium infection on TLR2 mRNA appeared to be mediated, in part, by TLR2 because the induction of the mRNA was partially blocked by preincubation of the macrophages with an anti-human TLR2 Ab. In contrast, the effect of LPS stimulation was mediated via TLR4 because infection of macrophages from LPS(d) mice, which do not express active TLR4, resulted in an increase in TLR2 mRNA, while treatment of macrophages from these mice with LPS failed to induce TLR2 mRNA. Several cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, and GM-CSF, but not IFN-gamma, induced TLR2 mRNA. M. avium infection resulted in the induction of TLR2 mRNA by macrophages from both TNFRI knockout and NF-kappaB p50 knockout mice.
Abstract 18925: Enhanced Cellular Proliferation and Altered Collagen Deposition May Accelerate Atherosclerosis in Human Peripheral Artery Disease: Implication of Morphological Predictors in Restenotic Plaque Progression

Introduction: The mechanisms responsible for restenosis include cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) overproduction mediated by vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation. However, the role of the myofibroblast is less clear. Hypothesis: This study was designed to evaluate the role of the myofibroblast in ECM overproduction mediated by stellate cell proliferation and reparative collage III deposition in restenotic tissue from patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Methods: Fourteen de novo and seventeen restenotic superficial femoral artery plaques were obtained in-vivo and compared for cell proliferation, SMC (α-actin), fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP1), and vimentin by immunochemistry, type I and type III collagens by Picro-sirius red stain and polarization microscopy. Stellate cell morphology was graded by scoring. Cellular co-localization of α-actin with vimentin, FSP-1, percentage of apoptosis (active caspase 3) and percentage of cell proliferation (Ki67) were done by confocal microscopy. Results: See figure and table. In restenotic atheroma, increased proliferation of myofibroblasts and SMCs were associated with higher content of reparative type III collagen (p= 0.0001) compared to de novo plaques. Furthermore, percent proliferative index of actin with Ki67 and percent apoptosis of actin were increased in restenotic plaques (p= 0.0001). Conclusions: In peripheral artery disease restenosis, increased myofibroblasts, and proliferative SMC may preferentially enhance atheroma progression and may predispose to increased type III collagen deposition. This may contribute for the severity of clinical manifestation seen in PAD. The molecular pathways associated with these differences including apoptosis are under active investigation. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Capital Account Regulations and Macroeconomic Policy: Two Latin American Experiences

A new policy debate has arisen in Latin American countries after international investors’ recent reawakening to opportunities in emerging markets. Two polar positions have been defined in this policy debate. On the one hand, the ‘integrationists’ defend financial integration on the grounds that free market operation will always produce the best result for the developing economy. On the other, the ‘isolationists’ consider financial integration dangerous for macroeconomic stability, and prefer a developing world without market-determined international capital movements. The regulations that limit international financial integration have been at the centre of this policy debate, as they define the degree of financial integration and the distance between reality and these two polar positions.
Complexity-Theoretic Algebra: Vector Space Bases

In 1975 Metakides and Nerode [16] initiated the systematic study of recursion theoretic algebra. The motivation was to establish the recursive content of mathematical constructions. The novelty then was the uniform use of the finite injury priority method from recursion theory as a tool to meet algebraic requirements. Prior to that time the priority method had been limited primarily to internal applications within recursion theory in the theory of recursively enumerable sets and in the theory of degrees of unsolvability and their generalizations.
The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Scripts: pharmacy school graduates continue training in postgraduate residency programs.

Residency training is designed to provide recent pharmacy school graduates who have the profession's terminal Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree with accelerated growth beyond entry-level professional competence. Placement into residency programs is highly competitive through an application and match process. These programs provide additional training in patient-centered care with advancement of skills in clinical judgment, pharmacy operations, clinical research, project management, and leadership. Approximately 20% of a pharmacy graduating class will apply for a residency. With increasing numbers of pharmacy schools across the country, the availability of residency programs is falling behind applicants. The establishment of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) has addressed the shortage of pharmacists within the state. In recent years, resident positions in Hawai‘i have doubled to a total of ten first year residency (PGY1) and two second year (PGY2) specialty residencies. Given the limited availability of positions in Hawai‘i, graduates continue to return to the continental US to seek positions, thus increasing the likelihood of them not returning to practice in Hawai‘i. Establishing residency programs is essential to elevate the level of pharmacy practice toward innovation and adherence to best practices, academia/teaching and scholarly research. This descriptive paper will detail the general components and types of pharmacy practice residency, the unique components of the Hawai‘i programs, the career placement of Hawai‘i's programs graduates and future challenges.
Capacity constrained routing algorithms for evacuation planning: a summary of results

Evacuation planning is critical for numerous important applications, e.g. disaster emergency management and homeland defense preparation. Efficient tools are needed to produce evacuation plans that identify routes and schedules to evacuate affected populations to safety in the event of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. The existing linear programming approach uses time-expanded networks to compute the optimal evacuation plan and requires a user-provided upper bound on evacuation time. It suffers from high computational cost and may not scale up to large transportation networks in urban scenarios. In this paper we present a heuristic algorithm, namely Capacity Constrained Route Planner(CCRP), which produces sub-optimal solution for the evacuation planning problem. CCRP models capacity as a time series and uses a capacity constrained routing approach to incorporate route capacity constraints. It addresses the limitations of linear programming approach by using only the original evacuation network and it does not require prior knowledge of evacuation time. Performance evaluation on various network configurations shows that the CCRP algorithm produces high quality solutions, and significantly reduces the computational cost compared to linear programming approach that produces optimal solutions. CCRP is also scalable to the number of evacuees and the size of the network.
Assessing the Equatorial Long-Wave Approximation: Asymptotics and Observational Data Analysis*

AbstractEquatorial long-wave theory applies where a small horizontal aspect ratio between meridional and zonal length scales is assumed. In an idealized setting, the theory suggests that (i) meridional wind is small, (ii) geostrophic balance holds in the meridional direction, and (iii) inertio-gravity waves are small in amplitude or “filtered out.” In this paper a spectral data analysis method is used to quantitatively assess the spatial and temporal scales on which each of these aspects of long-wave dynamics is observed in reanalysis data. Three different perspectives are used in this assessment: primitive variables, characteristic variables, and wave variables. To define each wave variable, the eigenvectors and theoretical wave structures of the equatorial shallow-water equations are used. Evidence is presented that the range of spatial and temporal scales on which long-wave dynamics holds depends on which aspect of the dynamics is considered. For example, while meridional winds are an order of magnitud...
Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneity of Mtdna Polymorphisms in Natural Populations of Drosophila mercatorum

Restriction endonuclease analysis of mtDNA was used to examine the genetic relatedness of several geographically separated isolines of the Drosophila mercatorum subgroup. In addition, we examined the temporal and spatial distribution of two mtDNA restriction site polymorphisms produced by the enzymes BstEII and BstNI at a single locality--Kamuela, Hawaii. Due to small sample sizes of some collections and the undesirable dependance of the estimation of polymorphism frequency on its variance, an arcsin square root transformation of the frequency data was used. We also use an Fst estimator of our transformed frequencies to demonstrate considerable spatial and temporal differentiation within the Kamuela population. In contrast, isozyme data from the same population reveals no pattern of differentiation. The temporal and geographic heterogeneity and population subdivision detected with mtDNA analysis also is consistent with the known dispersal behavior and ecological constraints of this species. The mtDNA data in conjunction with the isozyme data show that the population structure of the Kamuela D. mercatorum is close to the boundary line separating panmixia from subdivision, a conclusion that could not be made from isozyme data alone.
Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning for the Supply Chain Management of the Food and Beverage Department at Macao Entertainment Corp

One of the six gaming concession holders in Macao, Macao Entertainment Corp MEC1, undertook to centralize three casino/entertainment properties through utilization of a centralized Enterprise Resource Planning ERP in April 2010. The Supply Chain SC department was the first to apply the ERP in this centralization process. After rolling-out the new ERP system, a number of problems arose due to the organizational changes required. To identify the problems, information was collected through questionnaires and interviews in order to determine the level of agreement by staff regarding the existence of issues typical to such organizational change. The present paper aims to determine what problems and challenges occurred in this initial implementation to assist in developing recommendations to mitigate those effects in subsequent rollouts.
TURBULENT DIFFUSION BEHIND VEHICLES: EVALUATION OF ROADWAY MODELS

Abstract This paper presents a statistical evaluation of three highway air pollution models (CALINE3, HIWAY-2, and ROADWAY) using the tracer data from the General Motors Sulfate Dispersion Experiment. Since the models predict the ensemble mean whereas any given observation reflects a single realization or an event from a population, it should be recognized that the model predictions will almost always differ from the corresponding observations, even if the models and the input data for the models are perfect. The bootstrap resampling procedure is used to quantify the variability in the observed concentrations due to the stochastic nature of the atmosphere. The results suggest that the variability in the observations due to the random nature of the atmosphere is about 30%. Therefore, if the predicted values are within ± 30% of the measured concentrations, the differences between model predictions and observations should not be considered to be significant. Thus a ‘perfect’ air quality model should predict to within ± 30% of its corresponding observed concentrations. Comparisons of the model predictions paired and unpaired in time with measurements suggest that HIWAY-2 and ROADWAY perform best, but the performance of CALINE3 is acceptable. Application of the extreme value theory and the bootstrap resampling procedure to the modeled and measured data (unpaired) shows that all three models are capable of predicting the extreme concentrations within the model performance criteria set forth above.
Residual Statics Estimation By a Distributed Genetic Algorithm

Monte Carlo techniques, used as global optimization algorithms, can provide a robust approach for minimization of complex objective-functions. In this work I present a hybrid optimization technique in which a distributed genetic algorithm is coupled with a conjugate-gradient procedure. The distributed genetic algorithm is based on the concept of niching, wherein an initial population of trial solutions to the problem is split into several subpopulations that are optimized quasi-independently by a conventional genetic algorithm. In certain stages during the course of the optimization process, the conjugate-gradient is applied to all members of the subpopulation.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF THE NORMAL CANINE LUMBOSACRAL SPINE: A MORPHOLOGIC PERSPECTIVE

The lumbosacral spine of six normal dogs weighing 4.5 to 24.5kg was imaged by computed tomography in 5.0 mm & 10.0 mm transverse planes. The vertebral canal and thecal sac (including emerging nerve roots not distinguished as separate structures from the spinal cord) were measured along dorsoventral and transverse dimensions at cranial, middle and caudal levels within each vertebra from transverse tomographic images. Linear measurements were standardized to the dorsoventral dimension of the L6 vertebral midbody to permit comparison and averaging of the vertebral and thecal sac dimensions among different sized dogs. The dorsoventral and transverse vertebral canal size progressively increased from cranial to caudal within each vertebra from L1−L6 (p ≤ 0.05). The transverse dimension of the thecal sac image increased caudally within each vertebra from L1−L4 (p ≤ 0.05). The vertebral canal dorsoventral and transverse dimensions were largest in the midlumbar area (p ≤ 0.05). The transverse, but not the dorsoventral, imaged dimension of the thecal sac peaked in the L4 vertebra (p ≤ 0.05). The dorsoventral thecal sac image was observed to fill the vertebral canal in the cranial and middle vertebral levels in vertebrae L1 through L5 in over 60% of these normal dogs. However, epidural fat could almost always be seen lateral to the thecal sac regardless of what lumbar vertebra or vertebral level was imaged. Cranial to the lumbosacral junction, the dorsal intervertebral disk margin was almost always concave relative to the thecal sac. However, at the L7-S1 junction, some dogs had flat or even slightly convex dorsal intervertebral disk margins. The dorsal and ventral longitudinal ligaments and the ligamentum flavum could not be identified as distinct structures on the 5.0 mm transverse tomographic images.
SU-DD-A2-06: Reliability Growth of a Fully Automated Robotic IGBT System

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability growth in seed delivery by TJU's EUCLIDIAN, a fully automated robotic system, developed for image‐guidedbrachytherapy (IGBT). Method and Materials: Important steps in reliability growth analysis are: identification and isolation of failures, classification of failures, and trend analysis. For any one‐of‐a‐kind product, like EUCLIDIAN, reliability enhancement is accomplished through test‐fix‐test cycles of the product. Failure Mode, Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) were used for collection and analysis of reliability data by identifying and categorizing the failure modes. Failures were classified according to severity. Failures that occurred in EUCLIDIAN operations were considered as Non‐Homogenous Poisson Process (NHPP), and the trend was analyzed using Laplace test. For analyzing and predicting reliability growth, commonly used and widely accepted models, Duane's model and Crow's model, were applied. Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF) was used as an important measure for assessing reliability. Results: During pre‐clinical testing, 360 seeds (in 10 cases) were deposited automatically and 6 critical failures were encountered. The majority (5 failures) of which occurred during the first three cases. The Laplace test index was −1.134 (<0), indicating significant trend in failure data, and the failure interval values were gradually becoming larger. Since the failure occurrence interval was increasing, the system reliability exhibited an increasing trend. System's failures distribution followed both the Duane's and Crow's postulations of reliability growth. MTBF was 129.4 seeds, which meant that a full brachytherapy case could be performed without any critical failure. The shape parameter for MTBF was 0.4638 (<1), suggesting positive reliability growth of the EUCLIDIAN. At 0.95 confidence, the lower and upper bounds of the MTBF were 42.8 and 612.9, respectively. Conclusion:Analyses of failure mode strongly indicated a gradual improvement in EUCLIDIAN's reliability. For better consistency in MTBF and reliability prediction, more data are being collected. Acknowledgement: supported by NCI‐R01‐CA091763.
Novel role of NADPH oxidase in angiogenesis and stem/progenitor cell function.

Abstract Neovascularization is involved in normal development and wound repair as well as ischemic heart disease and peripheral artery disease. Both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis [de novo new vessel formation through mobilization of stem/progenitor cells from bone marrow (BM) and their homing to the ischemic sites] contribute to the formation of new blood vessels after tissue ischemia. Angiogenesis is dependent on cell proliferation, migration, and capillary tube formation in endothelial cells (ECs). Stem/progenitor cells have been used for cell-based therapy to promote revascularization after peripheral or myocardial ischemia. Excess amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in senescence and apoptosis of ECs and stem/progenitor cells, causing defective neovascularization. ROS at low levels function as signaling molecules to mediate cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and gene expression. NADPH oxidase is one of the major sources of ROS in ECs and stem/progenitor cells, and is a...
The agr Radiation: an Early Event in the Evolution of Staphylococci

agr is a global regulatory system in the staphylococci, operating by a classical two-component signaling module and controlling the expression of most of the genes encoding extracellular virulence factors. As it is autoinduced by a peptide, encoded within the locus, that is the ligand for the signal receptor, it is a sensor of population density or a quorum sensor and is the only known quorum-sensing system in the genus. agr is conserved throughout the staphylococci but has diverged along lines that appear to parallel speciation and subspeciation within the genus. This divergence has given rise to a novel type of interstrain and interspecies cross-inhibition that represents a fundamental aspect of the organism's biology and may be a predominant feature of the evolutionary forces that have driven it. We present evidence, using a newly developed, luciferase-based agr typing scheme, that the evolutionary divergence of the agr system was an early event in the evolution of the staphylococci and long preceded the development of the nucleotide polymorphisms presently used for genotyping. These polymorphisms developed, for the most part, within different agr groups; mobile genetic elements appear also to have diffused recently and, with a few notable exceptions, have come to reside largely indiscriminately within the several agr groups.
Effect of Host Plant on Beauveria bassiana- and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus-Induced Mortality of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Conidial suspensions of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith were tested for pathogenicity to third-instar nymphs of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) reared on cucumber and tomato plants. Nymphs were highly susceptible to infection by both fungi after a one-time application of conidia onto cucumber plants. In contrast, insects reared on tomato plants were significantly less susceptible to infection. We hypothesized that the glycoalkaloid tomatine might have been involved in antimicrobiosis on tomato leaves. Tomatine mixed with Noble agar at five concentrations was tested for its effects on germination of conidia of both fungi. Germination of conidia of B. bassiana was only slightly affected at the two highest concentrations of tomatine. In contrast, germination of conidia of P. fumosoroseus was completely inhibited at 500 and 1,000 ppm of tomatine. The in vitro tolerance of tomatine by B. bassiana contradicted our in vivo data. Sequestered tomatine by T. vaporariorum nymphs would explain, at least partially, the insect’s defense against the pathogens. That little in vitro inhibition of B. bassiana was found supported the hypothesis that B. bassiana was inhibited only in vivo, after the penetration process. Inhibition of P. fumosoroseus might have occurred on the insect’s cuticle before penetration, as evidenced by the complete inhibition of spore germination in vitro in the presence of tomatine at 500 and 1,000 ppm. An explanation for the differential in vitro sensitivity of B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus to tomatine is being sought.
You can't erase race! Using CRT to explain the presence of race and racism in majority white suburban schools

Employing a critical race analysis of contemporary suburban schooling in the US, the author challenges the ideology of colorblind racial contexts. The concepts of colorblindness, interest-convergence, racial realism, and white privilege are used to explain how federal mandates and common school policies and practices, such as tracking, traditional curricula, teacher classroom practices, and student surveillance, sustain a racially hostile environment for students of color in majority white suburban schools. Critical multicultural education is offered as a means to openly address issue of race and racism in the curriculum, school policies, and teacher practices.
Spaceflight qualification of the SEDS MIL-STD-1773 fiber optic data bus

The small explorer (SMEX) project at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) launched the first spaceflight implementation of the MIL-STD-1773 fiber optic data bus on the Solar Anomalous Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) in July of 1992. The Small Explorer Data System (SEDS), of which the MIL-STD-1773 data bus is a part, has been successful. The MIL-STD-1773 bus is the implementation of the MIL-STD-1553 protocol using fiber optics. Advantages of the fiber optic bus over the electrical bus include lower power, lower weight, and immunity from EMI/RFI. It does not radiate electrical or magnetic fields. It is a nonconductor so it cannot conduct electrical noise into or from a subsystem. This is particularly advantageous on a spacecraft with very sensitive instruments which are often susceptible to electrical interference. Although the MIL-STD-1773 bus is a 1 Mbps bus like the MIL-STD-1553 bus, the fiber optics also provide a path to the much higher rate systems required in upcoming NASA missions.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Emotional Communication in Instant Messaging

In spite of rapid growth of text-based instant messaging (IM) in diverse settings, emotion communication in IM has received limited empirical scrutiny, especially inside casual settings. The main goal of my dissertation project is to, through design research, critically examine how users communicate their emotions in IM and to establish user-centered design solutions to comprehensively support emotional communication via this medium.
Determination of the quiet time current sheet thickness using Geotail CPI data and nonlinear dynamics modeling

[1] In this paper we present a survey of the quiet (Kp < 1+) current sheet thickness for X GSE between -20 R E and -80 R E as determined from an ion distribution function signature of nonlinear particle dynamics in current sheet-like magnetic fields. The signature manifests itself as a series of peaks in the ion distribution function whose separation depend on the fourth root of the energy and parameters that describe the current sheet structure. We have found clear evidence of the distribution function signature throughout the entire region of interest. Analysis of the data shows that the current sheet thickness is remarkably uniform in the region under study with an average thickness of 0.76 ± 0.56 R E . This result is consistent with measurements of the quiet time current sheet thickness made using other techniques.
Eserine and other tertiary amine interactions with Torpedo acetylcholine receptor postsynaptic membrane vesicles.

Interaction of the tertiary amines, arecolone, eserine (physostigmine), (+)-epibatidine, and (±)-epibatidine, with Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-enriched membrane vesicles was investigated to characterize their action on the receptor, using stopped-flow thallium (I)-flux spectrofluorimetry. Arecolone, (+)-epibatidine, and (±)-epibatidine were agonists with activation constants of 390, 19, and 39 μM, respectively. Eserine was not an agonist but rather an antagonist for agonist-induced activation of the receptor with an inhibition constant of ∼150 μM. The choice of the fluorescent dye used (entrapped within the membrane vesicles) was critical for interpretation of the effects of eserine. With 1,3,6,8-pyrene tetrasulfate (PTS), eserine appeared to act as an agonist. However, it was shown that such an effect was caused by rapid diffusion of the uncharged form of the amine across the membrane followed by direct interaction with PTS rather than eserine-induced cation transport. The use of a different...
Use of Resins Containing Mixed Sulfonic-Acetic Anhydrides as Acylating Agents

Abstract Cross-linked polystyrene resins containing acetyl-benzene-sulfonate units were prepared by refluxing acetyl chloride with a commercial sulfonated polystyrene resin. Use of preswelled resin in the acetylation step affords resin in which 50% of the sulfonic acid groups have been acetylated. Although such resins are expected to be powerful acylating agents, they reacted slowly with alcohols larger than ethanol and not at all with aniline. Resins with macro-re ticular backbones are likely to be more effective as acylating agents than those utilized in the present study.
Practical models for light distribution in laser-irradiated tissue.

Comparaison de quatre modeles d'etude sur la distribution de la lumiere dans l'irradiation laser des tissus biologiques: calcul de l'attenuation par la loi de Beer, theorie de Kubelka-Munk, approximation de la diffusion et modele du septieme flux. Discussion sur les conditions d'utilisation de chaque modele
Chloroquine inhibits HIV-1 replication in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Chloroquine has inhibitory effects on human immunodeficiency deficiency virus (HIV)-1 replication in human lymphocytes with an ED50 of 15 microM, which approximates the chloroquine plasma concentration generated in the acute treatment of malaria. Chloroquine has a parallel inhibitory effect on DNA replication in human lymphocytes, although the inhibitory effect on DNA replication is not as pronounced as is the drug inhibition of HIV-1 replication in the cells.
Nanoimprint of dehydrated PEDOT:PSS for organic photovoltaics

We demonstrate the fabrication of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) nanogratings by a dehydration-assisted nanoimprint lithographic technique. Dehydration of PEDOT:PSS increases its cohesion to protect the nanostructures formed by nanoimprinting during demolding, resulting in the formation of high quality nanogratings of 60 nm in height, 70 nm in width and 70 nm in spacing (aspect ratio of 0.86). PEDOT:PSS nanogratings are used as hole transport and an electron blocking layer in blended poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT):[6,6]-penyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester (PCBM) organic photovoltaic devices (OPV), showing enhancement of photocurrent and power efficiency in comparison to OPV devices with non-patterned PEDOT:PSS films.
Creating a Critical Thinker

A college education is expected to improve students’ critical thinking skills. Keeping students active in class—through writing activities and class discussion—has been shown to help students think critically. In this article, creative hands-on activities, which are common in engineering courses, are shown to improve students’ critical thinking skills in a general education course. The activities were sandwiched between pre-writing, reflecting, and writing assignments. Improvements in critical thinking skills were evaluated by comparing student pre-writing with the final paper. Overall, carefully developed hands-on activities increased student critical thinking, especially when students wrote reflections in a journal shortly after completing an activity.
Factors Affecting Joint Efficiency of Roller-Compacted Concrete Pavement Joints and Cracks

The mechanism of joint efficiency for roller-compacted concrete (RCC) pavement joints and cracks is affected primarily by aggregate interlock or friction at the vertical interface of the joint. Current U.S. Army Corps of Engineers design procedures for RCC pavements make the conservative assumption that no joint efficiency is achieved at RCC pavement joints and cracks. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of joint efficiency achieved at RCC pavement joints and cracks; to determine the factors that affect the joint efficiency, and to what degree; and to develop a regression model to predict the joint efficiency using those factors. The heavy weight deflectometer (HWD) and other devices were used to conduct nondestructive joint efficiency tests at 12 different RCC pavement sites around the United States. The joint efficiency results ranged from 22 percent to 89 percent, depending on the type of joint or crack tested. The joint efficiencies decreased significantly with increasing crack width...
Matching mechanisms and their application to school choice

The talk will be an overview of mechanisms for the one-sided matching problem, also called the house-allocation problem. This and related problems serve as useful models for many allocation problems that arise in practice: prominent recent examples include organizing kidney exchanges and assigning students to schools. We'll briefly discuss these applications, and discuss a recent result that establishes the equivalence of a broad class of mechanisms to the uniform lottery mechanism (also called the random priority mechanism).
Long-Life Europa Geodesy Orbits Accounting for Navigation Uncertainties

This work investigates the properties of phase space near a periodic orbit and their applications to orbit design and orbit determination. A low-altitude, near-polar periodic orbit is computed and an error covariance is generated by processing range-rate and altimetry measurements over seven days. The resulting covariance is used to disperse the orbit initial conditions in a Monte Carlo simulation. The distribution of the Monte Carlo run is biased toward longer orbit lifetimes, due to the stable and unstable manifolds associated with the periodic orbit. The orbit determination covariance is mapped into manifold coordinates and long lifetime orbits are shown to be aligned with the stable manifold. Periodic orbit continuation is used to generate a family of orbits with similar phase-space characteristics to understand the variation of manifold structure with orbit elements and Jacobi energy. The effect of Europa eccentricity on the phase-space location of long lifetime orbits is discussed and conclusions ar...
Engineering enzymatic cascades on nanoscale scaffolds

Scaffold proteins are involved in many enzyme cascades in signaling pathways and metabolic processes. The study of scaffolds occurring in biological systems advances at a rapid pace and recently developed engineered synthetic scaffolds enable the precise placement of components of an enzymatic cascade within nanometer distances. Recent experimental results demonstrate significantly increased throughput of enzymatic cascades as a result of the utilization of a scaffold, but our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for this increase is not complete. We discuss the physics of diffusive transport processes relevant for these unique reaction–diffusion systems.
Kinetic and Structural Insights into the Mechanism of AMPylation by VopS Fic Domain

The bacterial pathogen Vibrio parahemeolyticus manipulates host signaling pathways during infections by injecting type III effectors into the cytoplasm of the target cell. One of these effectors, VopS, blocks actin assembly by AMPylation of a conserved threonine residue in the switch 1 region of Rho GTPases. The modified GTPases are no longer able to interact with downstream effectors due to steric hindrance by the covalently linked AMP moiety. Herein we analyze the structure of VopS and its evolutionarily conserved catalytic residues. Steady-state analysis of VopS mutants provides kinetic understanding on the functional role of each residue for AMPylation activity by the Fic domain. Further mechanistic analysis of VopS with its two substrates, ATP and Cdc42, demonstrates that VopS utilizes a sequential mechanism to AMPylate Rho GTPases. Discovery of a ternary reaction mechanism along with structural insight provides critical groundwork for future studies for the family of AMPylators that modify hydroxyl-containing residues with AMP.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Correlates of Exercise Capacity in Patients With Surgically Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Objective exercise testing in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot frequently identifies gross deficiencies in exercise capacity. These findings are typically attributed to right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary valve regurgitation, and pulmonary artery stenosis and are used to justify referrals for surgical or transcatheter interventions. However, the relation between right-sided cardiac abnormalities and exercise capacity in this patient group is poorly understood. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging correlates of exercise capacity in 37 patients with repaired TOF were retrospectively examined. In conclusion, on multivariate analysis, right ventricular ejection fraction was the only cardiac magnetic resonance imaging predictor of percentage of predicted peak oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption at ventilatory anaerobic threshold, and oxygen pulse.
Characterization of antithrombin levels in pregnancy

Abstract Objective To characterize antithrombin (AT) levels in normal pregnancy. Methods We performed secondary analyses with data from 3 studies. Using a single measurement from each subject in the first analysis (cross-sectional), we correlated AT levels with gestational age from the middle of the second trimester throughout the third trimester of pregnancy. Using serial measurements in a second analysis (cohort), we compared AT levels between the late first and second trimesters of pregnancy and baseline (the level at 6 weeks postpartum). Using serial measurements in a third analysis (cohort), we analyzed the pattern of change in AT levels in the immediate postpartum period. Assays of AT activity were performed using the Dade Behring (Siemens) Berichrom Antithrombin III Chromogenic Assay. AT levels were correlated with gestational age using the Pearson correlation coefficient and compared between the different time points using one-way ANOVA. Results Overall, AT levels were 20% lower than baseline during pregnancy (p Conclusion It appears that antithrombin (AT) is consumed at the time of delivery. Our findings have implications for AT replacement or even anticoagulation at the time of delivery.
The Body Broken: Medieval Europe, 1300–1520. By Charles F. Briggs

The Body Broken: Medieval Europe, 1300–1520. By Charles F. Briggs (London: Routledge, 2011), xi + 350 pp. $35.95 paper. This beautifully written new textbook, which incorporates revisionist scholar...
Solitary colonic ulcer in a spinal cord injured patient.

Abstract Bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract is rarely reported in spinal cord injured patients. A case is reported of such bleeding in a quadriplegic man with a solitary colonic ulcer diagnosed by flexible sigmoidoscopy and biopsy. The diagnosis of solitary colonic ulcers is difficult to make in spinal cord injured persons because presenting features may be masked by the neurologic deficits caused by the injury or may be falsely attributed to problems associated with the injury or to iatrogenic trauma. Solitary colonic ulcer should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in persons with spinal cord injury. Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is recommended for visualization and biopsy of the bleeding lesion.
Adaptation of diaphyseal structure with aging and increased mechanical usage in the adult rat: A histomorphometrical and biomechanical study

The experimental increase in mechanical usage or overloading of the left hindlimb was produced by immobilization of the contralateral hindlimb. The right hindlimb was placed in a flexed position against the body and was immobilized using an elastic bandage. Some control animals were sacrificed initially at time zero and increased mechanical usage and age-matched control animals were sacrificed after 2, 10, 18, and 26 weeks of treatment. All animals received double bone fluorochrome labeling prior to sacrifice. Cortical bone histomorphometry and cross-sectional moments of inertia were determined. Marrow cavity enlargement and total cross-sectional area expansion represented the age-related cortical bone changes. Increased mechanical usage enhanced periosteal bone modeling in the formation mode and dampened endocortical bone remodeling and bone modeling in the resorption mode (resorption drift) to create a slight positive bone balance. These observations are in general agreement with Frost's postulate for mechanical effects on bone modeling and remodeling. The maximum moment of inertia did not change significantly in either control or overloaded tibial shafts. The minimum and polar moment of inertias in overloaded bones increases over those of controls at 18 and 26 weeks of the experiment.
Observation of a unique case of metastatic basal cell carcinoma found by radiographic evaluation in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism.

Background: Basal cell carcinoma is one of the more common cancers worldwide; 2.8 million are diagnosed annually in the USA. However, the rate at which it metastasizes is considered very low, between 0.0028 and 0.5%. For those rare cases in which metastases occur, approximately one third metastasize to the lung. Case: Presented is a 62-year-old Caucasian male with oculocutaneous albinism and a history of basal cell carcinomas occurring in multiple anatomic sites, most recently at the bilateral forearm and back. Surveillance PET/CT imaging led to the discovery of no less than 30 lung nodules which were consistent with basal cell carcinoma on biopsy. Histological features were remarkably similar in both the primary tumor and in the metastases. Conclusion: An unusual case of a non-head and neck primary basal cell carcinoma metastatic to the lung was discovered on surveillance PET/CT imaging, in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism.
Isolation of a Catenated Organotelluride Anion in the Sodium Borohydride Reduction of Diphenylditelluride

Far more complex than anticipated is the widely utilized reductive cleavage of diorganoditellurides with sodium borohydride. The isolation and characterization of [Pn(C6H5)4][(TeC6H5)3] (Pn = P, As) suggests that diphenylditelluride is reactive toward the hydride as well as to the phenyltellurolate anion.
Real-space dynamic renormalization group. III. Calculation of correlation functions

The real-space dynamic renormalization group method developed in previous papers is applied to the kinetic Ising model defined on a square lattice. In particular we extend the formalism to the calculation of space- and time-dependent equilibrium averaged correlation functions. We find that conventional methods for implementing the real-space renormalization group via cumulant expansions in terms of the intercell coupling lead to correlation functions which decay algebraically in space at large distances in the disordered phase in qualitative disagreement with the known exponential decay. We indicate how one can develop new perturbation theory expansion methods which lead to the proper exponential decay at large distances and also lead to good quantitative results for other observable quantities like the magnetization, susceptibility, and single spin time autocorrelation function. As the result of a first-order calculation we obtain excellent results for the static critical exponents and a value of $z=1.79$ for the dynamic critical exponent. The critical exponents obtained from the correlation functions calculated using this method satisfy the proper static and dynamic scaling relations.
Nitric oxide synthase activity of the taste organ of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

Abstract The constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity of the catfish taste organ (barbel) was characterized, using the conversion of l -[3H]arginine to l -[3H]citrulline as the index of enzyme activity. The enzyme was dependent on Ca2+ (but not calmodulin) and NADPH (but not FAD). Activity was moderately enhanced by tetrahydrobiopterin. Kinetic parameters were Km = 22 μM and Vmax = 25 pmol/min/mg. The enzyme was inhibited by N G - monomethyl- l -arginine (half-maximally at 3 μM) and N G - nitro- l -arginine (half-maximally at 50 μM), and also by sodium nitroprusside and superoxide dismutase. In the presence of millimolar levels of the taste stimulus l -alanine, nitric oxide synthase activity was increased by up to 3-fold, with activation of the enzyme being reversed by N G -monomethyl- l -arginine . There was no activation of guanylyl cyclase by l -alanine. These data indicate that a constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity is present in the catfish taste organ and that, therefore, nitric oxide may have a role in the biochemical mechanisms underlying taste perception.
Open architecture, inventory pooling and maintenance modules

Abstract The adoption of open architecture has several economic implications in the life of an asset, including developmental, production, storage, training and maintenance costs. This research responds to an inquiry by the Program Executive Officer—Integrated Weapons System (US Department of the Navy) regarding the value of open architecture (OA) in the design of complex assets. With this intent, we evaluate how the inventory allocation of spare engines for the F-16 operations in the continental United States would be affected with and without the adoption of open architecture, focusing on the benefits of inventory pooling to meet the demand of many users from a small number of storage sites. We use a distance-constrained version of the Ardalan heuristic for solving the facility location problem, responding to practical limitations exposed by the model. This article shows that open architecture may provide substantial supply chain cost reduction, and simplification of the distribution network when combined with proper inventory storage policies.
Brain imaging reveals neuronal circuitry underlying the crow’s perception of human faces

Crows pay close attention to people and can remember specific faces for several years after a single encounter. In mammals, including humans, faces are evaluated by an integrated neural system involving the sensory cortex, limbic system, and striatum. Here we test the hypothesis that birds use a similar system by providing an imaging analysis of an awake, wild animal’s brain as it performs an adaptive, complex cognitive task. We show that in vivo imaging of crow brain activity during exposure to familiar human faces previously associated with either capture (threatening) or caretaking (caring) activated several brain regions that allow birds to discriminate, associate, and remember visual stimuli, including the rostral hyperpallium, nidopallium, mesopallium, and lateral striatum. Perception of threatening faces activated circuitry including amygdalar, thalamic, and brainstem regions, known in humans and other vertebrates to be related to emotion, motivation, and conditioned fear learning. In contrast, perception of caring faces activated motivation and striatal regions. In our experiments and in nature, when perceiving a threatening face, crows froze and fixed their gaze (decreased blink rate), which was associated with activation of brain regions known in birds to regulate perception, attention, fear, and escape behavior. These findings indicate that, similar to humans, crows use sophisticated visual sensory systems to recognize faces and modulate behavioral responses by integrating visual information with expectation and emotion. Our approach has wide applicability and potential to improve our understanding of the neural basis for animal behavior.
Autoionization reaction of phosgene (OCC12) studied by electron paramagnetic resonance/spin trapping techniques

The reaction of phosgene with ni-trone spin traps was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/spin trapping techniques. Evidence for the intermediacy of a carba-moyl monochloride intermediate was obtained. Isotopic substitution of 13C-phosgene was employed to verify the hyperfine coupling constant assignments. The implications of these observations on pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of phosgene are mentioned.