cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production and use of monoclonal antibodies for molecular characterization, affinity purification, and serological detection of economically significant plant viruses

Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against three isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) were established. Two monoclonal antibody preparations were generated against the MAV isolate, one against RPV and six against P-PAV. None of the monoclonal antibody preparations reacted with healthy host componentsReactions of monoclonal antibodies, or unlabelled polyclonal antisera, in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicate the presence of a common epitope on all three virus isolates. BYDV dissociated when incubated in carbonate-bicarbonate coating buffer at pH 9.6; stabilization was achieved by predialysis with either 2% formaldehyde or 2% glutaraldehyde. In indirect ELISA, unlabelled polyclonal antisera bound to both stabilized and dissociated homologous and heterologous BYDV isolates. However, conjugated polyclonal antisera were incapable of binding to any dissociated isolates or to stabilized heterologous isolates. Experiments with monoclonal antibodies in competition ELISA indicated the presence of at least two epitopes on the coat protein of P-PAV.
Interaction of helium atoms with edge dislocations in α-Fe

Abstract Formation energies, binding energies, and migration energies of interstitial He atoms in and near the core of an a/2〈1 1 1〉{1 1 0} edge dislocation in α-Fe are determined in atomistic simulations using conjugate gradient relaxation and the Dimer method for determining saddle point energies. Results are compared as a function of the proximity of the He to the dislocation core and the excess interstitial volume in regions around the dislocation. Interstitial He atoms have negative binding energy on the compression side of the dislocation and strong positive binding energy on the tension side. Even at low temperatures, interstitial He atoms in the vicinity of the dislocation easily migrate to the dislocation core, where they form crowdion interstitials oriented along the close-packed slip direction, with binding energies in excess of 2 eV. Crowdion interstitial He atoms diffuse along the dislocation core, transverse to the crowdion direction, with a migration energy of 0.4–0.5 eV.
SQS: A SECURE XML QUERYING SYSTEM

Contemporary XML database querying systems have to deal with a rapidly growing amount of data and a large number of users. As a consequence, if access control is used to protect sensitive XML data at a fine-grained level, it is inefficient when it comes to query evaluation, since it is difficult to enforce access control on each node in an XML document when the user’s view needs to be computed. We design and develop a secure XML querying system namely SQS, where caching is used to store query results and security information. Depending on whether there is a cache hit or not, user queries are rewritten into secure system queries that are executed either on the cached query results or on the original XML document. When the cache is full, the entries may be replaced with various replacement schemes. We also experimentally demonstrate the performance of the SQS system.
Marijuana use among young adult non-daily cigarette smokers over time.

Abstract Recent data regarding growth in concurrent use of nicotine and marijuana have raised concern that reductions in legal restrictions on marijuana use may increase risk for tobacco-related harms. Previous studies have shown cross-sectional links between use of both substances, but less is known about associations over time. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that there is a bidirectional relationship between use of marijuana and use of tobacco products over time, such that increasing use of either substance would predict increasing use of the other. Participants (n = 391, 52% male) were 18–24 year-old Californians who were non-daily cigarette smokers at enrollment and had never been daily smokers. They reported nicotine/tobacco and marijuana use quarterly over 2 years. Longitudinal negative binomial and logistic regression models indicated that each additional timepoint at which participants reported recent marijuana use predicted 9–11% increases in tobacco quantity and frequency. Additionally, each additional timepoint at which cigarette or tobacco use was reported predicted 19–22% greater marijuana frequency. Data suggest that young adults who use marijuana more frequently are likely at risk for greater tobacco exposure, and vice versa. These findings suggest a need for preventive measures that focus on concurrent use of both substances rather than either individually.
An Autobiographical Essay

There was no way of telling how it would turn out from the beginning, and that is the joy of the story. The stream of my life flowed around some boulders in its course, changed its path, and took off in new directions, scarcely foreseeable from its original spring. That’s the richest kind of flow, because it has its own eddies, ideas and surprises but also because it waters many banks and plains that wouldn’t be touched if it followed a concrete channel.
Prostatic Remnant After Prostatectomy: MR Findings and Prevalence in Clinical Practice

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the MR findings of prostatic remnant after prostatectomy and estimate the prevalence of prostatic remnant in patients that undergo MRI after prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Sixty-six patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy with pathologically proven benign prostatic remnant between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Pathologically proven benign prostatic remnant was determined on the basis of initial pathologic report. Of the 66 initial patients, 30 patients with biopsy-proven benign prostatic remnant without coexisting recurrent prostate carcinoma and three patients who underwent repeat resection for completion prostatectomy were enrolled. MRI characteristics including location, size, signal intensity on T2-weighted images and DWI, and contrast enhancement pattern were analyzed. Nine additional patients were found to have a prostatic remnant by imaging without biopsy. The prevalence of prostatic remnant among those undergoing MRI for suspected recurrence during the same period was estimated. RESULTS. Prostatic remnant was detected in 23 of 33 patients on MRI. The remaining 10 patients did not have any visible abnormality. The 23 detected lesions were located in three regions: under the vesicourethral anastomosis in five patients, in the bladder neck in 12 patients, and posterior to the bladder in six patients. On T2-weighted imaging, 17 of 23 lesions showed heterogeneous hyperintensity. On DWI, 14 lesions showed hyperintensity. Dedicated MRI studies were performed for suspected prostate cancer recurrence in 2466 patients during the same period. Prevalence of exclusively benign prostate remnant detectable on MRI was approximately 1% of that population (23/2466-35/2466), and overall prevalence of any prostate remnant detectable on MRI was 3% (75/2466). CONCLUSION. Benign prostate remnant after prostatectomy occurs at three common sites and typically shows heterogeneous hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. The prevalence of detectable prostatic remnant in men who undergo MRI for suspected recurrence was approximately 1-3%.
Lifetime trauma endorsement, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol dependence as a function of sexual minority status.

OBJECTIVE Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) frequently co-occur, with elevated rates of both disorders in lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) samples. Few studies have compared the strength of PTSD-AUD associations between LGB and heterosexual individuals or evaluated the role of nontraumatic LGB discrimination in these relationships among sexual minorities. METHOD The current study utilized nationally representative epidemiological data (N = 29,646) to (a) examine whether associations between lifetime trauma endorsement/PTSD and lifetime alcohol dependence (AD) differ as a function of sexual minority status and (b) evaluate the role of LGB-specific discrimination in trauma/PTSD and AD associations among LGB individuals. RESULTS Logistic regression analyses showed the association between lifetime trauma endorsement and lifetime AD was significantly greater in magnitude for LGB individuals (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17) compared to heterosexual individuals (OR = 1.32; Z = 2.51, p .05), after controlling for trauma endorsement. Among the LGB subsample, logistic regression analyses did not support a significant main effect for LGB discrimination nor an interaction between trauma endorsement and nontraumatic LGB discrimination, nor between PTSD and nontraumatic LGB discrimination, on lifetime AD (ps > .05). CONCLUSIONS LGB individuals demonstrate stronger associations between lifetime trauma endorsement and AD, relative to heterosexual counterparts; however, this association may not be accounted for or moderated by nontraumatic LGB discrimination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal glutamine supplementation alter the mTOR signaling pathway in ovine fetal cerebellum and skeletal muscle

Prenatal alcohol exposure causes fetal neurodevelopmental damage and growth restriction. Among regions of the brain, the cerebellum is the most vulnerable to developmental alcohol exposure. Despite vast research in the field, there is still a need to identify specific mechanisms by which alcohol causes this damage in order to design effective therapeutic interventions. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is known to be associated with axonal regeneration, dendritic arborization, synaptic plasticity, cellular growth, autophagy, and many other cellular processes. Glutamine and glutamine-related amino acids play a key role in fetal development and are known to alter the mTOR pathway; recent research has shown that disturbances in their bioavailability and signaling pathways may mediate adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. This study investigated the role of the mTOR signaling pathway in the fetal cerebellum and skeletal muscle after third trimester-equivalent prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal l-glutamine (GLN) supplementation using a sheep model. Fetal cerebella and skeletal muscles were sampled for Western blot analysis of mTOR and its downstream targets S6 kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-bindin protein (4E-BP1). The expression of cerebellar phosphorylated mTOR relative to the total mTOR was elevated in the alcohol+GLN group compared to the saline and GLN groups. Alcohol exposure increased the ratio of phosphorylated S6K to total S6K in fetal cerebellum, and no significant effect of GLN supplementation was observed. On contrary, maternal GLN supplementation reduced the activation of mTOR and S6K in fetal skeletal muscle, possibly to make GLN and other amino acids available for use by other organs. These findings suggest prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal GLN supplementation during the third trimester-equivalent alter the mTOR signaling cascade, which plays a possible key role in alcohol-induced developmental damage.
Rhenium versus cadmium: an alternative structure for a thermally stable cadmium carbonyl compound

An alternative description is provided for the previously reported novel tetranuclear cadmium carbonyl compound, [Cd(CO)3(C6H3Cl)]4. Specifically, consideration of single crystal X-ray diffraction data indicates that the compound is better formulated as the rhenium compound, [Re(CO)3(C4N2H3S)]4. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations predict that, if it were to exist, [Cd(CO)3(C6H3Cl)]4 would have a very different structure to that reported. While it is well known that X-ray diffraction may not reliably distinguish between atoms of similar atomic number (e.g. N/C and Cl/S), it is not generally recognized that two atoms with very different atomic numbers could be misassigned. The misidentification of two elements as diverse as Re and Cd (ΔZ = 27) is unexpected and serves as an important caveat for structure determinations.
Diagnosis and Management of Occult Hepatitis B Infection

Occult hepatitis B infection refers to the presence of replication-competent hepatitis B virus despite the lack of hepatitis B surface antigen due to epigenetic or immune control. Risk factors for occult hepatitis B infection include sex work, blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and liver transplantation. Historically, the recognition of occult hepatitis B infection has been important in preventing reactivation of hepatitis B infection and mortality in those receiving treatment for HIV and hepatitis C virus along with those receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Recognition of occult hepatitis B infection has increased and continues to evolve with improved detection methods in both serum and liver tissue to identify HBV DNA. Advancements in the understanding of genetic variations of hepatitis B have also contributed to the differentiation of overt versus occult hepatitis B infection. More recent research has contributed to the debate that occult hepatitis B infection may play a role in clinical outcomes such as chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. With enhanced awareness of occult hepatitis B and improved methods for detection of HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen, future studies understanding the natural history will shape policy regarding therapeutics and preventive strategies to prevent occult hepatitis B–related morbidity and mortality.
Insights From the Virtual Team Science: Rapid Deployment During COVID-19.

ObjectiveTo provide insights for organizations that must rapidly deploy teams to remote work.BackgroundModern situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are rapidly accelerating the need for organi...
Dry Matter Production and Partitioning in Different Plant Parts of Rice Cultivars under Irrigation Regimes and Systems of Cultivation

Background: Growth and yield characteristics of genotypes depend on genetic and environmental factors. Among the different production factors, varietal selection at any location plays an important role. Proper crop management depends on the growth characteristics of various varieties to get maximum benefit from new genetic material. Among the different water- saving irrigation methods in rice, the most widely adopted is alternate wetting and drying (AWD). Many of the rice cultivars vary in their performance under different systems of cultivation.Methods: A field experiment was conducted on a clay loam soil at Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana during the kharif seasons of 2017 and 2018. to study the “productivity and water use efficiency of rice cultivars under different irrigation regimes and systems of cultivation” The treatments consisted of two irrigation regimes Alternate wetting and drying and Saturation as main plot treatments, three establishment methods System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Drum Seeding (DS) and Normal transplanting (NTP) as sub plot treatments and four Cultivars namely DRR Dhan 42, DRR Dhan 43, MTU-1010 and NLR-34449 as sub-sub plot treatments summing up to 24 treatment combinations laid out in split-split plot design with three replications.Result: At 60, 90 DAS/DAT and harvest significantly dry matter production (DMP) was recorded with DRR Dhan 43 cultivar (607, 4320 and 11548 kg ha-1 respectively in pooled means of both 2017 and 2018) than other cultivars. Whereas MTU-1010 and NLR-34449 recorded on par dry matter production values at all the crop growth stages during both the years of study. However, DRR Dhan 42 produced the lowest dry matter production compared to other genotypes. DRR Dhan 43 recorded higher dry matter accumulation (g m-2) in root, stem and leaves at all the crop growth stages, during both the years of the study over other cultivars. Alternative wetting and drying method of irrigation recorded significantly higher DMP at all the growth stages of rice (60, 90 DAS/DAT and at harvest) except at 30 DAS/DAT during both 2017 and 2018 as compared to saturation. SRI recorded significantly higher DMP as compared to normal transplanting; however, it was comparably at par with drum seeding at all the growth stages.
Patients and Partners in Research: Patient and Caregiver Perceptions of Research Engagement and the Role of Their Psychosocial States in Participation.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common, nontraumatic, disabling diseases diagnosed in adults. Self-empowered patients and families are valued members of the MS research team. The objecti...
Computable Contracts Project: Executive Summary

“Computable contracts” are contracts that computers can read, understand, and execute. This project aims to develop a general protocol for expressing computable contracts, as well as a series of open-source software tools for creating them. The protocol will be flexible, extensible, and compatible with existing technologies including blockchain and financial contracting standards. The software tools will be free, open-source and user-friendly. The overall project goal will reduce contracting transaction costs for entrepreneurs, and empower individual users and large and small businesses to engage in low-cost, electronic contracting.
A Randomized Phase 2 Study Of Nivolumab Monotherapy Or Nivolumab Combined with Ipilimumab In Patients with Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Purpose: Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are driven by KIT/PDGFRa mutations. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor benefit is progressively less after imatinib failure. This phase II trial analyzed the efficacy of nivolumab (N) or nivolumab + ipilimumab (N + I) in patients with refractory GIST. Patients and Methods: Patients with advanced/metastatic GIST refractory to at least imatinib were randomized 1:1 in a noncomparative, parallel group, unblinded phase II trial of N (240 mg every 2 weeks) or N + I (240 mg every 2 weeks + 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks). The primary endpoint was the objective response rate of N alone or N+I by RECIST 1.1 in the intent-to-treat population. Results: A total of 36 patients with a median of 3 (1–6) prior lines of therapies were enrolled. Ten of 19 (52.6%) patients had stable disease (SD) for a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 52.6% in the N arm and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.7 weeks [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.0–17.4]. In the N+I arm, 1 of 16 (6.7%) patients had a complete response (CR) and 4/16 (25.0%) had SD for a CBR of 31.3% and a median PFS of 8.3 weeks (95% CI, 5.6–22.2). The 4- and 6-month PFS were 42.1% and 26.3%, respectively for N, and 31.3% and 18.8%, respectively for N+I. The most common adverse events (AE) attributed to N and N+I were fatigue: 13.9% and 22.2%, respectively. There were nine total attributable grade 3–4 AEs. Conclusions: The primary endpoint of response rate > 15% was not observed for N or N + I. In a heavily pretreated GIST population, responses and long-term disease control with both N and N+I were observed. No new safety signals have been observed.
The Inner Heliosphere - Outer Heliosphere Comparison for Cosmic Ray Modulation

This paper summarizes cosmic ray data on both galactic and anomalous particles in the inner and outer heliosphere near the sunspot minimum in 1995 and 1996 at the end of solar cycle 22. These data come from the IMP spacecraft in the inner heliosphere and the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft in the outer heliosphere. In the inner heliosphere, the cosmic ray intensities at all energies in 1996 have recovered to almost the same maximum values they had at the last sunspot minimum in 1987 and the intensities are an even closer match to those observed two 11-year cycles earlier in 1976. In the outer heliosphere beyond 40 AU the intensity recovery is very slow and the intensities at all energies and for all species are almost constant in 1995–96 indicating that little further recovery can be expected in this cycle. The intensity of galactic cosmic rays in 1996 is only ~.0.3–0.5 of that observed at the same radius of 42 AU in 1987 and for anomalous cosmic rays this ratio is only 0.1–0.2. This suggests a dramatically different entry of particles into the heliosphere in the two cycles for both types of particles as well as significantly different particle flow characteristics in the outer heliosphere. The net result of these different characteristics is that near the Earth only a relatively small intensity difference is observed between successive II-year solar cycles whereas in the outer heliosphere the differences between cycles become very large and may even dominate the overall modulation.
Constitutionalism and experimentalist governance

This comment explores how experimentalist governance is connected to wider constitutional questions and makes two claims. First, there are good reasons to believe that experimentalist governance can only flourish in a world where the precepts of liberal democratic constitutionalism have been widely accepted and institutionalized. Experimentalist governance is part and parcel of the world of liberal democratic constitutionalism. Second, it is not only governance in Europe that can be described in experimentalist terms. The concept is also useful to describe the dynamics of European constitutionalism.
Observation of the shift of frequency chirp in two section distributed feedback semiconductor lasers

We report here on the control of frequency chirp of a two section InGaAsP-InP DFB laser by nonuniform current injection and the achievement of blue-shift optical signals from the two section DFB laser under direct current modulation. Through a measurement of the time-averaged power spectrum of the laser at 5-GHz modulation with fixed optical modulation index, the changing frequency chirp is demonstrated for various distributions of longitudinal photon density.
Transcriptome Analysis of the Interferon‐Signature Defining the Autoimmune Process of Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) of humans and SS-like (SjS-like) diseases in mouse models are characterized by chronic immune attacks against the salivary and lacrimal glands leading to exocrine dysfunction. One characteristic of SS and SjS-like diseases repeatedly observed is a strong upregulated expression of both the type I (α/β) and type II (γ) interferons (IFNs). In addition, recent global transcriptome studies have identified a variety of IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) transcripts differentially expressed in tissues of SS patients and mouse models exhibiting SjS-like disease. Analyses of these transcriptome databases indicate that the sets of differentially expressed genes are highly restricted, suggesting that there is a unique specificity in ISGs activated (or suppressed) during development and onset of disease. As a result, these observations have led to both SS and SjS-like diseases being designated as ‘interferon-signature’ diseases. While SS and SjS-like diseases may be designated as such, very little effort has been made to determine what an interferon-signature might signify relative to autoinflammation and whether it might point directly to an underlying etiopathological mechanism. Here, we review these limited data and provide a model of how the products of these genes interact molecularly and biologically to define critical details of SS pathology.
Animal Models for Central Nervous System and Disseminated Infections with Herpes Simplex Virus

Publisher Summary This chapter presents animal models for central nervous system (CNS) and disseminated infections with herpes simplex virus (HSV). The use of mice inoculated intranasally (i.n.) with HSV-1 as a model for herpes encephalitis was initially described by De Clercq and Luczak in 1976. After HSV-1 inoculation, the virus travels from the nasopharynx via olfactory and trigeminal nerve tracts to the brain, resulting in death from an acute encephalitis. In this model, treatment with ara-A initiated within 24–48 hours of infection resulted in significant protection. In the animal model infection, treatment with acyclovir (ACV) was considerably more effective than ara-A in preventing mortality. Concentrations as low as 15 mg/kg significantly reduced mortality, even when therapy began 72 hours after infection, a time when virus was replicating in the CNS. In the cerebellum, diencephalon, and pons medulla, ACV treatment was superior to ara-A in reducing the magnitude of viral replication and promoted a more rapid clearance of HSV-1 in these tissues. ACV therapy was also more effective than ara-A in reducing viral replication in lung tissue. Mice inoculated i.n. with HSV-2 is a good model for disseminated neonatal herpes with CNS involvement. After viral inoculation, replication of virus is initially detectable in lung with subsequent dissemination to visceral organs. This animal model provides a severe test of antiviral efficacy and treatment with ara-A failed to provide any protection against mortality. However, there was some reduction of virus replication in brain, lung, liver, and spleen.
Role of P2P in complex disconnected networks: applications to mobile e-business and enterprise computing

With the tremendous advances in hand-held computing and communication capabilities, rapid proliferation of mobile computing environments, and decreasing device costs, we are seeing a growth in mobile e-business in various consumer and business markets. The trend is also picking up in large enterprises where dependency on mobile e-business environments has become routine for thousands of employees conducting daily business activities. For such a large collection of users, new reliable methods of search-find-obtain-transact (SPOT) have to be devised that are decentralized and self-managing. We present the grand challenges involved in designing and implementing reliable and transparent e-business applications in a decentralized and autonomous fashion that can handle business-critical applications in enterprises and virtual organizations. We present a novel architecture and framework for end-to-end mobile e-business applications based on concepts from P2P, dynamic socio-economic networks (overlays) and resource allocation from grid computing. The architecture takes into consideration disconnection, application context, synchronization, transactions and self-managing failure recovery modes to provide mobile users with seamless and transparent access to data and resources when needed. In addition, the mechanisms designed consider decentralized resource management for providing data availability and fast access. In our architecture, we consider a business process design based on state-machines and failure event management to handle disconnection, resource limitations and failures in open dynamic networks. We consider simple cost-based P2P networks as the underlying framework for connecting millions of mobile devices to thousands computational servers. A first-version of this system was designed, implemented and deployed a network of mobile clients using open Web-services standards.
Evaluation of a time-resolved stress detection method to determine tissue optical properties

A new method to determine optical properties of biological tissue, time-resolved stress detection (TRSD), was tested on albino rat skin, heated in vitro. The TRSD method is based on the detection of pressure waves that are generated by short laser pulses. The pressure waves carry information about the optical properties (absorption and effective attenuation coefficients) of the medium. The evaluation was done in a systematic way by comparing the results of the TRSD method with results obtained using an integrating sphere. Measurements for both methods were performed on the same skin samples to minimize biological variations. The TRSD method proved to be reasonably successful to determine optical properties of tissue for the used wavelength of 355 nm: (1) The effective attenuation coefficients of both methods agreed very well; (2) The TRSD method gave absorption coefficients of a factor 2 + 0.5 times higher than the integrating sphere method; and (3) The reduced scattering coefficients were sensitive to error.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A new village in Sri Lanka: learning lessons there, sharing lessons here

Purpose – The authors have three purposes in writing this paper: to share the authors' experiences “catalyzing” reconstruction of a village in southern Sri Lanka four months after its destruction by the Indian Ocean tsunami, to suggest that what the authors learned in a “developing world” setting has relevance in the authors' “developed world” classrooms and practices, and to consider the tactics that locals took both to engage and resist the authors' assistance.Design/methodology/approach – The authors' approach was participatory (working as laborers for ten days), reflective (reconsidering the authors' experiences two years later and finding their influence in the authors' recent work with students), and theoretical (layering an autoethnographic framework over the authors' reflections).Findings – It is found that traces of the Sri Lankan project can be found in the authors' work with students in the USA and Canada, and that while it is possible to find examples of locals' resistance within the village r...
Designing Centers of Expertise for Academic Learning Through Video Games

Schools appear to be facing a crisis of engaging secondary students in meaningful learning. Many are recognizing that the learning principles embodied in computer and video games reflect the best theories of cognition, yet are underutilized as an educational resource. This article suggests an alternative model for game-based learning outside of schools. Drawing on case studies of youth participating in a year-long program, it describes an approach to bridging learners' identities in and out of school through historical simulation computer games situated within a community of practice of game experts. Participants developed both academic skills and productive identities as consumers and producers of information through these cases. We propose a model of centers of expertise, learning programs that seek to foster and develop new media literacies with pay off in schools and that lead to new identities outside of school as well.
Ku-Band Atmospheric Attenuation Model

An atmospheric attenuation model has been developed at Ku-band. This model is suitable for predicting air-to-surface radar performance over a wide range of operating conditions.
Wireless Sensor Networks: Edited by C. S. Raghavendra, K. M. Sivalingam, and T. Znati

This book consists of 18 chapters dealing with the most important wireless sensor net issues from the most authoritative authors. It would be reasonable to include this book in any sensor net refer...
Remodeling a β-peptide bundle

Natural biopolymers fold with fidelity, burying diverse side chains into well-packed cores and protecting their backbones from solvent. Certain β-peptide oligomers assemble into bundles of defined octameric stoichiometry that resemble natural proteins in many respects. These β-peptide bundles are thermostable, fold cooperatively, exchange interior amide N–H protons slowly, exclude hydrophobic dyes, and can be characterized at high resolution using X-ray crystallography – just like many proteins found in nature. But unlike natural proteins, all octameric β-peptide bundles contain a sequence-uniform hydrophobic core composed of 32 leucine side chains. Here we apply rational design principles, including the Rosetta computational design methodology, to introduce sequence diversity into the bundle core while retaining the characteristic β-peptide bundle fold. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation, we confirmed the prediction that an octameric bundle still assembles upon a major remodelling of its core: the mutation of sixteen core β-homo-leucine side chains into sixteen β-homo-phenylalanine side chains. Nevertheless, the bundle containing a partially β-homo-phenylalanine core poorly protects interior amide protons from exchange, suggesting molten-globule-like properties. We further improve stability by the incorporation of eight β-homo-pentafluorophenyalanine side chains, giving an assembly with amide protection factors comparable to prior well-structured bundles. By demonstrating that their cores tolerate significant sequence variation, the β-peptide bundles reported here represent a starting point for the “bottom-up” construction of β-peptide assemblies possessing both structure and sophisticated function.
Adjustable fragmentation in laser desorption/ionization from laser-induced silicon microcolumn arrays.

Laser-induced silicon microcolumn arrays (LISMA) were developed as matrix-free substrates for soft laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SLDI-MS). When low-resistivity silicon wafers were irradiated in air, sulfur hexafluoride, or water environment with multiple pulses from a 3×ω mode-locked Nd:YAG laser, columnar structures were formed on the surface. The radii of curvature of the column tips varied with the processing environment, ranging from ∼120 nm in water, to <1 μm in SF6, and to ∼2 μm in air. In turn, these microcolumn arrays were used as matrix-free soft laser desorption substrates. In SLDI-MS experiments with a nitrogen laser, the microcolumn arrays obtained in water environment readily produced molecular ions for peptides and synthetic polymers at low laser fluence. These surfaces demonstrated the best ion yield among the three arrays. The threshold laser fluence and ion yield were comparable to those observed in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization. Low-femtomole sensitivity an...
The Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS): A Product of Ninety Years of Psychometric Evolution

This article describes the historical evolution of the Campbell Interest and Skill Inventory (CISS; Campbell, Hyne, & Nilsen, 1992), beginning with Alfred Binet's work in 1900-1905 in developing standardized methods for psychological assessment. It extends through the CISS's early roots in the publication of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank for Men by Strong in 1927, with Strong's innovative use of the Men-in-General concept to create empirical scales, continuing with Strong's publication of a similar form for women in 1933. It continues further with the addition of the homogeneous Basic Scales in the 1960s and then with the merger of the Men's and Women's form in 1974 in the publication of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, which also organized the profile into the occupational conceptual theory suggested by Holland, and culminating in the publication of the CISS in 1992, which retained the concept of empirical Occupational Scales and homogeneous Basic Scales, but which also used an improved ite...
Confusing Inequitable Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

Medicare beneficiaries enrolling in the new prescription drug coverage plans found that along with the financial relief came a dizzying array of choices inequities that result in very different coverage options and prices depending on where they live. This does not have to be the case. Taxpayers who foot 75% of the bill deserve the benefit of leveraging of public purchasing power. Medicare beneficiaries deserve a prescription drug option they can understand, that is uniform nationwide, that meets unexpected needs, and that achieves deep drug discounts.
Light scattering in antiferromagnetic chromium

The light scattering cross section by the spin-flip electron-hole pair excitation in Cr, which has a gap proportional to the amplitude of the static spin-density-wave below the Neel temperature, is calculated to be observable magnitude.
Mobile robot with retractable claws

Robots are widely used nowadays for tasks that are either impossible or hazardous for humans to perform. Search-andrescue operations are among these, especially in the hazardous environments of nuclear power, chemical and biological plants. These rescue robots are expected to operate well in cases of natural disaster, e.g earthquakes, by overcoming unpredicted obstacles, as well as rough and even slippery surfaces like those associated with oil spills and snow storms. In this paper we discuss a robot which has claws that are normally in the retractable position, and can be activated when the robot encounters slippery surfaces or wants to climb a rough terrain. This combination takes advantage of the locomotion efficiency of wheels, and at the same time uses the retractable paws as legs or even for hooking it to objects that it wants to climb. The results of our simulations have been satisfactory and our goal is to have a working prototype with further test results at the conference.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Splice variants of the CYP27b1 gene and the regulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 production.

The cytochrome P450 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-hydroxylase (CYP27b1) plays a pivotal role in vitamin D physiology by catalyzing synthesis of active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. In common with other P450s, CYP27b1 is known to exhibit alternative splicing. Here we have cloned and sequenced several novel intron 2-containing, noncoding splice variant mRNAs for CYP27b1 in 1,25(OH)2D3-producing HKC-8 human proximal tubule and THP-1 monocytic cells. Regulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 synthesis in these cell lines by calciotropic and noncalciotropic factors was associated with altered expression of the CYP27b1 splice variants. To assess the functional significance of this, HKC-8 cells were transfected with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to inhibit mRNAs containing sequences from intron 2. This resulted in a significant increase in the expression of CYP27b1 protein and synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 by HKC-8 cells compared with control cells for two different intron 2-containing shRNAs (both P < 0.001). shRNA to intron 2 had ...
Festival tourism and the entertainment age: interdisciplinary thought on an international travel phenomenon

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to define the success and growth of the modern festival tourism industry as a manifestation of the Entertainment Age, coupled with the repercussions of increasing globalization on global tourism markets. This definition highlights the interdisciplinary fissure between tourism and other social sciences. Additionally, the paper aims to address how modern festivals become successful by matching the proclivities of Entertainment Age consumers.Design/methodology/approach – Redefining festival tourism as a manifestation of a social trend is achieved by reviewing pertinent literature in several academic disciplines and by examining current examples. This approach is meant to inspire further discussion of the trend and provides a solid basis for future research.Findings – This discussion is important in that it demonstrates the socio‐philosophical impacts of the Entertainment Age on the tourism industry. It stages festival tourism as a viable mechanism for increased tourism ...
Comparison of current-voltage characteristics of n- and p-type 6H-SiC Schottky diodes

Current-voltage (I–V) characteristics of n- and p-type 6H−SiC Schottky diodes are compared in a temperature range of room temperature to 400°C. While the room temperature I–V characteristics of the n-type Schottky diode after turn-on is more or less linear up to ∼100 A/cm2, the I–V characteristics of the p-type Schottky diode shows a non-linear behavior even after turn-on, indicating a variation in the on-state resistance with increase in forward current. For the first time it is shown that at high current densities (>125 A/cm2) the forward voltage drop across p-type Schottky diodes is lower than that across n-type Schottky diodes on 6H−SiC. High temperature measurements indicate that while the on-state resistance of n-type Schottky diodes increases with increase in temperature, the on-state resistance of p-type Schottky diodes decreases with increase in temperature up to ∼330 K.
Extrusion‐based differences in two types of nylon 6 capillary‐channeled polymer (C‐CP) fiber stationary phases as applied to the separation of proteins via ion exchange chromatography

Nylon 6 capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers used as the stationary phase in high-performance liquid chromatography protein separations have been investigated. A difference in chromatographic behavior between two (presumably identical) nylon 6 C-CP fibers, designated simply as nylon 6A and nylon 6B, reveals unknown differences in their chemical and physical nature as proteins are less retained on the latter. The possible differences are evaluated through several test methods, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mechanical testing, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, an organic reaction with ninhydrin, and dilute solution viscometry. Nylon 6B is shown to be a larger perimeter, stronger fiber, yet in a 200 mm, 0.8 mm i.d. column having an interstitial fraction of ∼0.6, it has an available surface area of ∼189 cm2, while nylon 6A is almost double that at ∼374 cm2. It is revealed that when in amorphous form, the base polymers have very comparable FTIR and DSC characteristics. When in their solid, extruded fiber form there are significant differences found in crystallinity, tensile strength, molecular weight distribution, and end group density. Nylon 6A is a lower molecular weight fiber, which results in ∼1.3× more amine end groups than nylon 6B. It is the end group density that ultimately determines the separation qualities. These results imply that both a difference in base nylon 6 molecular weight and also the fiber extrusion process have a significant influence on the performance of nylon 6 C-CP fiber separation of proteins via ion exchange chromatography. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
A simple method for gene phasing using mate pair sequencing

Recessive genes cause disease when both copies are affected by mutant loci. Resolving the cis/trans relationship of variations has been an important problem both for researchers, and increasingly, clinicians. Of particular concern are patients who have two heterozygous disease-causing mutations and could be diagnosed as affected (one mutation on each allele) or as phenotypically normal (both mutations on the same allele). Several methods are currently used to phase genes, however due to cost, complexity and/or low sensitivity they are not suitable for clinical purposes. Long-range amplification was used to select and enrich the target gene (CYP21A2) followed by modified mate-pair sequencing. Fragments that mapped coincidently to two heterozygous sites were identified and used for statistical analysis. Probabilities for cis/trans relationships between heterozygous positions were calculated along with 99% confidence intervals over the entire length of our 10 kb amplicons. The quality of phasing was closely related to the depth of coverage and the number of erroneous reads. Most of the error was found to have been introduced by recombination in the PCR reaction. We have developed a simple method utilizing massively parallel sequencing that is capable of resolving two alleles containing multiple heterozygous positions. This method stands out among other phasing tools because it provides quantitative results allowing confident haplotype calls.
Transverse fusion of the renal pelves and single ureter

We present a case of a rare renal anomaly in which the 2 kidneys (separate or fused across the midline) are drained by a common renal pelvis and ureter. Previously reported cases have been reviewed and are classified in 3 groups according to their anatomical features. The lesion is associated with some frequency with imperforate anus, sacral and other vertebral defects, neurogenic bladder, vesicoureteral reflux, upper tract dilatation, and urinary tract infections.
The Synergy Between PAV and AdaBoost

Schapire and Singer's improved version of AdaBoost for handling weak hypotheses with confidence rated predictions represents an important advance in the theory and practice of boosting. Its success results from a more efficient use of information in weak hypotheses during updating. Instead of simple binary voting a weak hypothesis is allowed to vote for or against a classification with a variable strength or confidence. The Pool Adjacent Violators (PAV) algorithm is a method for converting a score into a probability. We show how PAV may be applied to a weak hypothesis to yield a new weak hypothesis which is in a sense an ideal confidence rated prediction and that this leads to an optimal updating for AdaBoost. The result is a new algorithm which we term PAV-AdaBoost. We give several examples illustrating problems for which this new algorithm provides advantages in performance.
Frequency response of the surface state admittance in weakly inverted thin SiO2–Si MOS capacitors

The frequency response of surface states in the weak inversion region has been studied using MOS capacitors with very thin oxide on p-type silicon. To account for the conductance and capacitance data, an exact formula is derived for the Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) centers having interaction not only with the majority carrier band but also with the minority carrier band located at the surface of the semiconductor. The energy distribution of surface states and the random spatial variation of the surface potential are taken into account. Accurate data are obtained on devices fabricated on p-type silicon substrates with a very thin oxide (about 35 A) in the energy range of 0.32 to 0.73 e V at room temperature. Good agreement between the experimental and the theoretical conductance- and capacitance-frequency characteristics is obtained. The time constant for the SRH transitions of holes in the weak inversion region is evaluated by the exact formula, and shown to be exponentially dependent on the surface potential precisely as in the depletion region. Das Frequenzverhalten von Oberflachenenergieniveaus im Bereich schwacher Inversion wurde untersucht. Dabei wurden MOS-Kapazitaten mit sehr dunnem Oxid auf p-Silizium verwendet. Das Kapazitats- und Leitwertsverhalten wird mit einer exakten Gleichung erklart, die die Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) Zentren beschreibt, die nicht nur an das Majori-tatstragerband, sondern auch an das Minoritatstragerband an der Oberflache des Halb-leiters gekoppelt sind. Die Energieverteilung der Oberflachenniveaus und die raumliche Verteilung des Oberflachenpotentials werden berucksichtigt. Es werden genaue Daten fur MOS-Kapazitaten im Energiebereich von 0,32 bis 0,73/eV bei Zimmertemperatur angegeben, die auf p-Silizium mit sehr dunnem Oxid (etwa 35 A) hergestellt wurden. Das theoretische Frequenzverhalten von Leitwert und Kapazitat stimmt gut mit dem Experiment uberein. Die Zeitkonstante fur SRH-Ubergange von Lochern im Bereich schwacher Inversionen wird aus der exakten Gleichung abgeleitet. Es wird gezeigt, das sie exponentiell vom Oberfla-chenpotential abhangt, genau wie im von Ladungstragern entleerten Bereich.
Practice Makes Perfect: Using Computer-Assisted Instruction in a College Course:

Two lines of empirical evidence have led me to include computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in two of four components in my college classes. The “Question Mark” software program is designed to develop mastery of basic concepts, facts and information in the course while the other software program, called “Think Fast,” is used to develop fluency with basic concepts. This article presents a brief rationale for using these two software programs, outlines the structure of the course, and highlights some of the features of both programs. I close with some personal observations about using computer-assisted instruction.