cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phonon-induced multicolor correlations in hBN single-photon emitters

Color centers in hexagonal boron nitride have shown enormous promise as single-photon sources, but a clear understanding of the electron-phonon interaction dynamics is critical to developing the material for quantum communications or quantum simulations. We demonstrate photon antibunching in the filtered auto- and cross-correlations ${g}_{lm}^{(2)}(\ensuremath{\tau})$ between zero-, one-, and two-phonon replicas of defect luminescence. With no background correction, we observe a single-photon purity of ${g}^{(2)}(0)=0.20$ in a phonon replica and cross-spectral correlations of ${g}_{lm}^{(2)}(0)=0.18$ between a phonon replica and the zero-phonon line. Moreover, we combine a violation of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality and a phenomenological model of the phonon-mediated emission cross section to distinguish a low quantum-efficiency defect from phonon replicas of a bright defect.
Policy Diffusion in the American States: Learning, Competition, and Conformity

The literature on the diffusion of policy innovations within the American federal system is well established and vast. That being said, there is still a great deal of work that is necessary for understanding why and how policies diffuse. This paper seeks to improve both our theoretical and empirical understanding of diffusion. First, it clearly lays out the theoretical foundation of three pathways of diffusion --- learning, competition, and conformity. Such a foundation has been lacking for the conformity pathway, in particular, and is crucial if the three are to be examined as co-equal explanations for diffusion. Second, this paper explicitly states and begins testing the empirical expectations regarding the characteristics of policies that follow each pathway. Such clarity is necessary if the mechanisms are to be sorted out. Finally, a finer method for measuring diffusion speed is presented. This is necessary as the diffusion literature has only recently begun to examine variation in the speeds by which policies diffuse and a continuous measure of speed will be far more useful to future work than the current dichotomous measure.
More Questions and Fewer Contexts: Designing Exercises for Statistics Courses

Over the past 30 years, the way in which the first course in statistics has been taught has moved away from a mathematics mode to take account of the distinctiveness of statistics. This article con...
On the Economic Significance of Stock Return Predictability

Kandel and Stambaugh (1996) demonstrate that forecasting variables with weak statistical support in predictive return regressions can exert considerable economic influence on portfolio decisions. Using a Bayesian vector autoregression framework with stochastic volatility in market returns and predictor variables, we assess the economic value of return predictability for investors and reach a complementary conclusion. Statistically strong predictors can be economically unimportant if they tend to take extreme values in high-volatility periods, have low persistence, or follow distributions with fat tails. Several popular predictors exhibit these properties such that their impressive statistical results do not translate into large economic gains.
Is intramedullary screw fixation biomechanically superior to locking plate fixation and/or tension band wiring in transverse olecranon fractures? A cadaveric biomechanical comparison study.

Abstract Objectives To compare clinically important mechanical properties of three techniques used to fix transverse olecranon fractures (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen and Orthopaedic Trauma Association class 2U1B1): (1) intramedullary (IM) screw, (2) locking plate, and (3) tension band wire in a realistic loading protocol using a cadaveric model. Methods Fresh frozen cadaveric transverse olecranon fracture models were fixed with an IM screw (n = 6), a locking plate (n = 6), or a tension band (n = 6). Compression after fixation was recorded using a pressure sensor in the fracture before samples were loaded through the triceps tendon for 500 cycles of 0–500 N, assessing implant survival. The primary outcome measure was compression force before loading. The secondary outcome was frequency of implant failure defined as breakage of the implant itself or fracture gapping >5 mm. Binary outcomes were compared with χ2, and continuous variables were compared with unadjusted analysis of variance and a multivariable regression model adjusting for age, sex, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry T-score, and testing order. Results No statistically significant difference was shown in fracture compression between IM screw (mean, 162 N; 95% confidence interval [CI], 27–297 N), locking plate (mean, 125 N; 95% CI, −9–260 N), and tension band (mean, 163 N; 95% CI, 29–298 N) in unadjusted (p = 0.89) and adjusted (p = 0.82) analyses. A 100% implant failure rate was observed with tension band compared with 0% implant failure with IM screw or locking plate (p Conclusion We found no statistically significant differences in compression across the fracture site among techniques. We did find a higher risk of implant failure with tension band compared with IM screw and locking plate during cyclic loading in cadaveric bone.
Naming Anonymous Processes Using an Optimal Number of Test-and-Set Registers

Anonymous distributed systems consist of processes without names to identify them, and the goal is to assign unique names to them using a distributed algorithm. Synchronous and asynchronous communication models are considered with eight different categories based on number of test-and-set (TAS) registers available and knowledge of number of processes. Processes can only communicate through shared read/write and TAS registers. In this paper, I have developed two deterministic algorithms and one randomized algorithm for naming anonymous processes in all variations of the problem model. Proof of correctness for each algorithm is presented along with the analysis. The developed algorithms are optimal in both shared memory size requirements and namespace size. The Counting and Global Counting algorithm have a time complexity of \(O(n^2)\) steps with a space complexity of O(1) and O(2) shared registers, while Segment Shuffling algorithm has a time complexity of \(\mathcal {O}(n \lceil \log {n} \rceil )\) steps with a space complexity of \(O(2 *\lceil \log {n} \rceil ))\) shared registers.
Management of ANCA associated vasculitis

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) is a small to medium vessel vasculitis associated with excess morbidity and mortality. This review explores how management of AAV has evolved over the past two decades with pivotal randomized controlled trials shaping the management of induction and maintenance of remission. Contemporary AAV care is characterized by approaches that minimize the cumulative exposure to cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids, increasingly use rituximab for remission induction and maintenance, and consider therapies with less toxicity (for example, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil) for manifestations of AAV that do not threaten organ function or survival. Simultaneously, improvements in outcomes, such as renal and overall survival, have been observed. Additional trials and observational studies evaluating the comparative effectiveness of agents for AAV in various patient subgroups are needed. Prospective studies are necessary to assess the effect of psychosocial interventions on patient reported outcomes in AAV. Despite the expanding array of treatments for AAV, little guidance on how to personalize AAV care is available to physicians.
The Comprehensive Wealth of Older Immigrants and Natives

This article compares the retirement preparations of immigrant and native-born Americans aged 51 or older. The authors estimate the present value of future income streams in calculating measures of comprehensive wealth and an annualized equivalent. In addition to some significant differences in median annualized wealth between immigrants and natives, the authors find that the most recent waves of immigrants are more financially vulnerable in retirement than earlier immigration cohorts were at similar ages. With a decomposition analysis, the authors estimate how much of the immigrant-native wealth gap is attributable to differences in observable characteristics and how much is attributable to differences in returns to those characteristics.
Stability of the PMT and RPI for asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds foliated by IMCF

We study the stability of the positive mass theorem and the Riemannian Penrose inequality in the case where a region of an asymptotically hyperbolic manifold M3 can be foliated by a smooth solution of Inverse Mean Curvature Flow (IMCF) which is uniformly controlled. We consider a sequence of regions of asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds UTi⊂Mi3, foliated by a smooth solution to IMCF which is uniformly controlled, and if ∂UTi=Σ0i∪ΣTi and mH(ΣTi)→0, then UTi converges to a topological annulus portion of the hyperbolic space with respect to L2 metric convergence. If instead mH(ΣTi)−mH(Σ0i)→0 and mH(ΣTi)→m>0, then we show that UTi converges to a topological annulus portion of the anti-de Sitter Schwarzschild metric with respect to L2 metric convergence.
An Eight Amino Acid Segment Controls Oligomerization and Preferred Conformation of the two Non-visual Arrestins

G protein coupled receptors signal through G proteins or arrestins. A long-standing mystery in the field is why vertebrates have two non-visual arrestins, arrestin-2 and arrestin-3. These isoforms are ~75% identical and 85% similar; each binds numerous receptors, and appear to have many redundant functions, as demonstrated by studies of knockout mice. We previously showed that arrestin-3 can be activated by inositol-hexakisphosphate (IP6). IP6 interacts with the receptor-binding surface of arrestin-3, induces arrestin-3 oligomerization, and this oligomer stabilizes the active conformation of arrestin-3. Here, we compared the impact of IP6 on oligomerization and conformational equilibrium of the highly homologous arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 and found that these two isoforms are regulated differently. In the presence of IP6, arrestin-2 forms "infinite" chains, where each promoter remains in the basal conformation. In contrast, full length and truncated arrestin-3 form trimers and higher-order oligomers in the presence of IP6; we showed previously that trimeric state induces arrestin-3 activation (Chen et al., 2017). Thus, in response to IP6, the two non-visual arrestins oligomerize in different ways in distinct conformations. We identified an insertion of eight residues that is conserved across arrestin-2 homologs, but absent in arrestin-3 that likely accounts for the differences in the IP6 effect. Because IP6 is ubiquitously present in cells, this suggests physiological consequences, including differences in arrestin-2/3 trafficking and JNK3 activation. The functional differences between two non-visual arrestins are in part determined by distinct modes of their oligomerization. The mode of oligomerization might regulate the function of other signaling proteins.
A defense of abortion

David Boonin has written the most thorough and detailed case for the moral permissibility of abortion yet published. Critically examining a wide range of arguments that attempt to prove that every human fetus has a right to life, he shows that each of these arguments fails on its own terms. He then explains how even if the fetus does have a right to life, abortion can still be shown to be morally permissible on the critique of abortion's own terms. Finally he considers several pro-life arguments that do not depend on claims that the fetus has a right to life and concludes that these too are ultimately unsuccessful. This major book will be especially helpful to those teaching applied ethics and bioethics in philosophy departments or professional schools of law and medicine. It will interest students of women studies and general readers for whom abortion remains a high-profile issue.
3d printing of 2d $$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,2\right) $$ gauge theories

We introduce 3d printing, a new algorithm for generating 2d $$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,2\right) $$ gauge theories on D1-branes probing singular toric Calabi-Yau 4-folds using 4d $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ gauge theories on D3-branes probing toric Calabi-Yau 3-folds as starting points. Equivalently, this method produces brane brick models starting from brane tilings. 3d printing represents a significant improvement with respect to previously available tools, allowing a straightforward determination of gauge theories for geometries that until now could only be tackled using partial resolution. We investigate the interplay between triality, an IR equivalence between different 2d $$ \mathcal{N}=\left(0,2\right) $$ gauge theories, and the freedom in 3d printing given an underlying Calabi-Yau 4-fold. Finally, we present the first discussion of the consistency and reduction of brane brick models.
Making Teams Work: Enhancing Commitment To Team And Teammates

Location: JC Room G A common problem in group work is helping undergraduate students understanding the commitment required to work successfully in teams. Over the years, I've learned that it's not enough to tell students that successful team members demonstrate trust, cooperation, support, and mutual respect. When I first began using Team-Based Learning, I developed a series of four short readings tilted Making Teams Work 1-4 that address validation (acknowledgment), integrity, commitment, personal responsibility, generosity of spirit, and being frank with people. Following the readings, students engage in discussions and in-class exercises that aim to overcome and change negative attitude and behavioral tendencies that undermine many student teams. I will provide my Making Teams Work readings and exercises to any attendees that would like to use or modify them.
Synthesis and processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses three stages in the synthesis of asparagine-linked carbohydrates: (1) synthesis of the large lipid-linked oligosaccharide, (2) glycosylation of asparagine residues by the transfer of oligosaccharide from lipid to protein, and (3) processing of protein-linked oligosaccharides to yield mature high-mannose and complex glycopeptides. The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of cell surface and extracellular glycoproteins are a heterogeneous class of molecules that can be divided in two basic types. High-mannose structures have a Man 2 GlcNAc 2 inner core at the reducing end and two to six additional mannose residues in a peripheral three-branched structure. Complex oligosaccharides also have a Man 3 GlcNAc 2 inner core and in addition contain a fucose residue and two to four terminal trisaccharide branches containing N -acetylglucosamine, galactose, and sialic acid. Both types of oligosaccharides show microheterogeneity; a number of related structures are usually found in a single purified glycoprotein preparation. The number of mannose residues in high-mannose oligosaccharides is variable, whereas complex oligosaccharides show variability in sialic acid and fucose content.
Dynamical Friction and Orbit Circularization

We study the change in shape of the orbit of a satellite sinking (because of dynamical friction) towards the center of a larger galaxy. The galaxy is assumed spherically symmetric with distribution function either isotropic or predominantly radial. The satellite is a softened point mass.
MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF CORRINOIDS. I. VITAMIN B12

Scott, W. M. (Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.), R. C. Burgus, J. B. Hufham, and J. J. Pfiffner. Microbial degradation of corrinoids. I. Vitamin B(12). J. Bacteriol. 88:581-585. 1964.-Microorganisms isolated from a variety of soil, sewage, and mud samples, and stock cultures, were examined for the ability to degrade vitamin B(12). More than 200 isolates which attack the vitamin were examined, and they all demonstrated reversible fading of the red vitamin. The color was restored by aeration. Very few microorganisms were able to degrade the vitamin to permanently colorless products, although many were able to degrade it partially, to produce new pigments. Some of these pigments appeared similar, if not identical, although they were produced by different bacteria. Radiotracer and electrophoretic mobility data are presented to show that the transformation products are derived from the vitamin. All the degradative microorganisms isolated were bacteria, and the most active was Pseudomonas rubescens.
Informalization, Economic Growth and the Challenge of Creating Viable Labor Standards in Developing Countries

Over recent decades, there has been the substantial rise in the proportion of people engaged in what is termed informal employment, generating a broad trend toward "informalization" of labor market conditions in developing countries, even when economic growth is proceeding. We consider the relationship between the rise of informalization and the corresponding ascendancy of neoliberal policies in developing countries, focusing in particular on how the decline in average per capita GDP growth associated with neoliberalism has fostered informalization. We then explore policy measures for raising the proportion of decent jobs with core social protections in developing countries - which means, as we argue, reversing the process of informalization. We examine policy measures in two areas: raising the rate of economic growth and improving the regulation of labor markets.
The Cross Contributions of Spouses to Human Capital Creation within Families: What Economic Rights Should Outlast Marriage

The laws of most American states require consideration of the contributions of each marital partner to the marital property of the family in the division of property and allocation of maintenance and child support that occur in the event of divorce. In most marriages, however, the most important form of property possessed by the marital unit exists in the form of human capital. Individuals bring to their marriages both labor market and nonmarket service forms of human capital, which then becomes incorporated within the marriage to produce both external income and nonmarket services for the marital unit. During marriages, major new investments in human capital of the marital partners may be made and the couple may also produce new human capital agents in the form of children. In the process, based on the best interests of families, human capital investments possessed before marriage by the marital partners may also be allowed to atrophy. These human capital changes that occur during marriages become very important in divorce circumstances. This paper looks at four types of human capital issues that must be resolved at the time of divorce: (1) Handling circumstances in which the wife has foregone the development of her earning capacity; (2) Pension issues related to the fact that labor market work normally creates annuity rights while household work does not; (3) The impact of divorce on the parental value of human capital in the form of children; and (4) the impact of marriages on the future marital potential of the divorcing partners. The paper pays special attention to the debate over whether professional licenses of a primary wage earner should be treated as marital property, as required in the State of New York by the O'Brien decision.
Temperature Measurement as a determinant of Tissue Heating During Radiofrequency Catheter ablation: An Examination of Electrode Thermistor Positioning for Measurement Accuracy

Thermometry and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation. Introduction: Temperature monitoring has been proposed as a control for lesion occurrence and dimension during radiofrequency transcatheter ablation. Effective temperature measurement depends on thermistor positioning relative to the heated cardiac tissue and the convective cooling effects of the circulation. But the accuracy of a single tip thermistor as a measure of peak electrode-tissue interface temperature is unknown. Methods and Results: A standard 8-French, 4-mm electrode catheter with 5 thermistors (1 tip thermistor, 4 radial thermistors) was used to deliver radiofrequency energy in vitro to 3 porcine right ventricles and in vivo to 7 mongrel dogs. In vitro, the catheter orientation was varied. In vivo the catheter was positioned under fluoroscopy at a variety of atrial, tricuspid annular, and ventricular sites, with no attempt to adjust catheter orientation. In both cases varied discrete power levels were used so that a wide temperature range was attained. Lesions created in vivo with a standard, single thermistor tipped electrode were compared to those of a catheter with a thermistor extending 1 mm from the tip. Power was varied and tip thermistor temperatures recorded. All lesions were examined pathologically. Comparisons of radial thermistor temperature to tip thermistor temperature for 3 catheter orientations in vitro resulted in tip thermistor underestimation of peak electrode-tissue interface temperature by a median of 0.5°C in 35% of the perpendicular orientations, 1.9°C in 82% of the 45 orientations, and 5°C in 83% of the parallel orientations. During in vivo trials, the tip thermistor underestimated the peak electrode-tissue interface temperature during 2 of 51 lesions by 1.2°C and 7.6°C. There was a sudden rise in electrical impedance in 17 of 51 radiofrequency energy deliveries. Only one case was observed where the peak electrode-tissue interface temperature was below 95°C. The normal to extended tip thermistor configurations analysis showed similar relationships between lesion size and temperature. Conclusions: Accuracy of a single tip thermistor was found to be dependent upon catheterlissue orientation. With routine catheter positioning in vivo, the tip thermistor was a good indicator of peak electrode-tissue interface temperature. Thus with power regulation to avoid temperatures greater than 90°C, a single flush-mounted tip thermistor is probably adequate for temperature monitoring of lesion formation and avoidance of impedance rises.
Letter by Ayalloore and LeLorier regarding article, "Relationship between nonsustained ventricular tachycardia after non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death: observations from the Metabolic Efficiency with Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 36 (MERLIN-TIMI 36) randomized controlled trial".

To The Editor: The strategy of suppressing ventricular ectopy by pharmaceutical means in the peri-infarct period has been fraught with disappointment and has tinted our view of the approach, as can be seen in the accompanying editorial by Patton.1 The Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial showed that premature ventricular beat suppression did not prevent sudden cardiac death, but rather increased the risk secondary to the proarrhythmic effects of the antiarrhythmic drugs used.2 Several other trials have reaffirmed these results. In the European Myocardial …
Interferon induced inhibition of queuine uptake in cultured human fibroblasts.

Abstract Interferon inhibits uptake of the radiolabeled queuine analog, rQT3, into cultured human fibroblasts. Simultaneous exposure to 10 nM phorbol-12, 13-didecanoate (PDD) potentiates interferon-induced inhibition of rQT3 into cultured fibroblasts. All three major classes of human interferon tested affected uptake similarly, with fibroblasts derived beta-interferon being more effective in dose response than gamma or alpha interferons. This suggests that endogenous production of interferon by cultured cells, such as that observed during a low grade viral infection, inhibits queuine uptake and may subsequently lead to a decreased level of queuine modified transfer RNA. Queuine-hypomodified transfer RNA has been implicated in growth control, differentiation and neoplastic transformation.
The relative toxicity of alternative therapies for rheumatoid arthritis: Implications for the therapeutic progression

The traditional pyramid for the therapeutic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is based on assumptions that RA is a mild disease, that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have low toxicity, and that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are extremely toxic. This article reviews data from ARAMIS (Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Aging Medical Information System), casting strong doubt on these assumptions. NSAIDs result in 1.3% excess gastrointestinal hospitalizations per year. Mortality rates in RA are far above those expected from age- and sex-matched populations. Individual NSAIDs show widely different overall quantitative toxicity indices, as do individual DMARDs. However, the ranges of toxicity of the two classes of drugs show nearly complete overlap. It is suggested that the new therapeutic progression in RA should emphasize initial use of DMARDs, beginning with the least toxic.
Marketing Ecotourism through the Internet: An Evaluation of Selected Ecolodges in Latin America and the Caribbean

The advance of Internet technology worldwide has contributed to the growing impacts of online marketing of ecotourism destinations. Despite much discussion devoted to defining ecotourism conceptually, knowledge regarding how ecotourism is actually practiced and how it is marketed through the Internet is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to address these issues by exploring how ecotourism is marketed through the Internet. A sample was selected from ecolodge operators listed on the website of The International Ecotourism Society. Content analysis was used to examine the online marketing information of these ecolodges. The study findings suggest that ecolodge operators sampled in this study provided a variety of ecotourism products to meet the diverse interests of the ecotourist market. The online marketing messages of these ecolodges also indicated that most of them only partially aligned with ecotourism principles. Recommendations are made regarding social marketing and ecolabelling for online e...
Evolution of char chemistry, crystallinity, and ultrafine structure during pulverized-coal combustion☆☆☆

Abstract The carbonaceous structure of partially reacted char samples, generated by direct injection of pulverized coal into a laboratory entrained flow reactor, was characterized by four techniques: elemental analysis, carbon dioxide vapor adsorption, x-ray diffraction, and fringe-imaging using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It is observed that the early stages of heterogeneous oxidation proceed in parallel with the latter stages of carbonization, leading to preferential loss of hydrogen, a reduction in surface area, and the development of crystalline order. Typical combustion times and peak temperatures are insufficient to bring about true (three dimensional) graphitization for most coals, but rather, lead to the growth of regions of turbostratic order. This ordering is seen to occur over a time scale comparable to the combustion process itself—here, on the order of 100 ms at particle temperatures of 1800 K and oxygen concentrations of 12 mol%. This work presents evidence that the reactivity of chars in the latter stages of burnout, which is critically important to the explanation and prediction of unburned carbon in flyash, is significantly impacted by the evolution of the carbonaceous matrix. Although significant evolution of internal surface area and hydrogen content (indicative of aromatic ring coalescence) occurs during early char combustion, these two phenomena do not play a major role in the char deactivation noted in previous investigations. Among the four indicators of carbon structure evaluated herein ( H C ratio, carbon dioxide surface area, crystallite dimensions by x-ray diffraction, and HRTEM images), the volume fraction of ordered material as determined by HRTEM fringe-imaging correlates best with the observed reactivity loss for Illinois #6 coal chars.
Asians in the United States: substance dependence and use of substance-dependence treatment

Clinicians have often observed that Asians are unlikely to utilize substance-dependence treatment services but few have reported empirical data examining this phenomenon. This study used data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 2000–2002, and tested whether Asians in the United States have relatively low rates of drug and alcohol dependence and whether substance-dependent Asians use treatment services less than Caucasians. Subsequent analyses were undertaken to identify factors that explained these racial differences. Of the 5,118 Asians, 159 met criteria for past-year drug or alcohol dependence. Asians with past-year substance dependence were significantly less likely than substance-dependent Caucasians to report past-year treatment (odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.19–0.96). Differences in past-year substance-dependence prevalence appear to be partially explained by between-group differences in ever using substances; differences in past-year treatment use appear to be in part related to differences in levels of acculturation and education.
Disruption of lipid order by short-chain ceramides correlates with inhibition of phospholipase D and downstream signaling by FcϵRI

Specialized plasma membrane domains known as lipid rafts participate in signal transduction and other cellular processes, and their liquid-ordered properties appear to be important for their function. We investigated the possibility of using amphiphiles to disrupt lipid rafts and thereby inhibit IgE-FcepsilonRI signaling. We find that short-chain ceramides - C2-ceramide and C6-ceramide - decrease plasma membrane lipid order and reduce the extent of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between lipid-raft-associated molecules on intact cells; by contrast, biologically inactive C2-dihydroceramide does neither. Structural perturbations by these ceramides parallel their inhibitory effects on antigen-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization in RBL mast cells in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca2+. Similar inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization is caused by n-butanol, which prevents phosphatidic acid production by phospholipase D, but not by t-butanol, which does not prevent phosphatidic acid production. These results and previously reported effects of short-chain ceramides on phospholipase D activity prompted us to compare the effects of C2-ceramide, C2-dihydroceramide and C16-ceramide on phospholipase D1 and phospholipase D2 activities in vitro. We find that the effects of these ceramides on phospholipase D1 activity strongly correlate with their effects on antigen-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization and with their disruption of lipid order. Our results indicate that phospholipase D activity is upstream of antigen-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization in these cells, and they demonstrate that ceramides can serve as useful probes for investigating roles of plasma membrane structure and phospholipase D activity in cellular signaling.
Integrating human observer inferences into robot motion planning

Our goal is to enable robots to produce motion that is suitable for human---robot collaboration and co-existence. Most motion in robotics is purely functional, ideal when the robot is performing a task in isolation. In collaboration, however, the robot's motion has an observer, watching and interpreting the motion. In this work, we move beyond functional motion, and introduce the notion of an observer into motion planning, so that robots can generate motion that is mindful of how it will be interpreted by a human collaborator. We formalize predictability and legibility as properties of motion that naturally arise from the inferences in opposing directions that the observer makes, drawing on action interpretation theory in psychology. We propose models for these inferences based on the principle of rational action, and derive constrained functional trajectory optimization techniques for planning motion that is predictable or legible. Finally, we present experiments that test our work on novice users, and discuss the remaining challenges in enabling robots to generate such motion online in complex situations.
Reflections on the early days of the department

The paper contains the reminiscences of the founding director of the Mathematical Sciences Department in IBM Research. It is interspersed with a number of anecdotes about his friend and colleague, John von Neumann. It attempts in a short space to recapitulate the history of a distinguished department of mathematics in an industrial environment in an informal and hopefully humorous manner.
The solubility of hydrophobic compounds in aqueous droplets

Abstract Hydrophobic compounds in aqueous solution adsorb at the air-water interface, and this adsorption can influence their solubility in systems with large surface-to-volume ratios, such as rain or fog droplets. A thermodynamic treatment is employed to derive an expression for the “relative solubility”, RS, of a hydrophobic compound, defined as the ratio of its solubility in a droplet to its solubility in a solution with a planar surface, and negligible surface adsorption. The value of ln(RS) is found to be inversely proportional to the droplet radius and linearly dependent upon d γ /d ξ 2 , the change in surface tension with mole fraction of hydrophobic compound. Values of RS, corresponding to a droplet radius of 10 μm, are reported for several compounds. The implications of these results for fog water composition are also discussed. It is found that for compounds with highly negative values of d γ /d ξ 2 , the average value of RS is strongly dependent upon the drop-size distribution of the sample.
Determination of the third-order nonlinear optical coefficients of germanium through ellipse rotation.

We describe the first reported direct determination of the 10-μm nonlinear susceptibility in intrinsic Ge through time-resolved ellipse rotation. We found that χ31111=2.5×10-11esu and χ31221=1.3×10-11esu, significantly below previous estimates.
Modeling of Spacecraft Advanced Chemical Propulsion Systems

This paper outlines the development of the Advanced Chemical Propulsion System (ACPS) model for Earth and Space Storable propellants. This model was developed by the System Technology Operation of SAIC-Huntsville for the NASA MSFC In-Space Propulsion Project Office. Each subsystem of the model is described. Selected model results will also be shown to demonstrate the model's ability to evaluate technology changes in chemical propulsion systems.
Rapid Communication: A cis‐Acting Element, Tα‐1, in the Upstream Region of Rod α‐Transducin Gene that Binds a Developmentally Regulated Retina‐Specific Nuclear Factor

The G protein transducin (T) is an integral component of the signal transduction pathway in photoreceptors. We have identified a cis-acting element, T alpha-1, in the upstream region of the mouse rod alpha-T (Tr alpha) gene that may be important for tissue-specific expression. T alpha-1 binds a retina-specific nuclear factor of apparent molecular mass of 90 kDa. Binding to the T alpha-1 site is developmentally regulated and peaks between postnatal days 6 and 9. This corresponds to the time of rod photoreceptor maturation and the rise in Tr alpha gene expression. The sequence of T alpha-1 shows homology with RET-1, a cis-acting element in the proximal promoter of opsin gene that binds a distinct retina-specific factor. T alpha-1 and RET-1 sequences may have been derived from a prototype T alpha-1/RET-1 sequence, evolved to confer photoreceptor specificity on retina-specific genes.
An experimental assessment of effects associated with alternative tensile price claims

Abstract Effects associated with three methods that are used by retailers to advertise a given range of savings (ie, stating a minimum, maximum, or range of savings) are examined across two different retailer types (ie, a department and a discount store) in a between subjects experimental design. Effects of the various ways to advertise the range of savings are compared to an objective discount claim offered at the midpoint of the savings range. Predictions are offered based on rationales drawn from an anchoring and adjustment conceptual framework and the perceived objectivity of the advertised discount claims. Results indicate that stating the maximum level of savings in the range or an objective claim at the midpoint of the range is perceived more favorably than stating the minimum level or full range of savings. Implications of these results for retailers are addressed.
Targeting ALK : a promising strategy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and neuroblastoma

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a tyrosine kinase receptor that affects a number of biological and biochemical functions through normal ligand-dependent signaling. It has oncogenic functions in a number of tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and neuroblastoma when altered by translocation or amplification or mutation. On August 2011, a small molecule inhibitor against ALK, crizotinib, was approved for therapy against NSCLC with ALK translocations. As we determine the molecular heterogeneity of tumors, the potential of ALK as a relevant therapeutic target in a number of malignancies has become apparent. This review will discuss some of the tumor types with oncogenic ALK alterations. The activity and unique toxicities of crizotinib are described, along with potential mechanisms of resistance and new therapies beyond crizotinib.
Use of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in Pediatric Infections: Relative Merits of Intravenous Administration

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) has traditionally been employed as an oral formulation for infections in ambulatory pediatric patients. However, therapeutic concentrations of TMP and SMZ in serum and CSF are more consistently attained after intravenous administration. Serum half-life increases with the age of the child, and few significant toxic effects are observed with intravenous administration. Either the necessity to optimize bioavailability because of the underlying seriousness of disease or a desire to avoid other drugs that may be responsible for adverse reactions or hypersensitivity should direct the clinician to administer an intravenous preparation. Serious pediatric infections that might warrant the consideration of intravenous TMP-SMZ include shigellosis, salmonellosis, typhoid fever, nocardiosis, gram-negative bacillary septicemia or meningitis, and infections due to Pneumocystis carinii and malarial parasites. Infections due to Listeria will respond to TMP-SMZ, and infections due to Citrobacter diversus, Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Flavobacterium meningosepticum are especially susceptible to TMP-SMZ.
Performance Prediction in Symbolic Scheduling of Partitioned Programs with Weight Variation

In this paper we consider the symbolic scheduling of partitioned loop programs which are modeled as iterative task graphs (ITGs). Each task in such a graph is coarse grained and contains a large chunk of computations. The weights of computation and communication vary from one iteration to another depending on the index value of the loop. The goal of scheduling such graphs is to incorporate the symbolic variables in weight functions and loop bounds and provide an asymptotically optimal schedule and predict its performance accurately. We provide a lower bound for optimal scheduling when weights of iterative task graphs change monotonically in the course of iterations and there is a sufficient number of processors. We present a technique that devises a valid symbolic schedule without searching all task instances and examine the asymptotic performance of this schedule compared to an optimal solution. Finally, we present case studies and experimental results on nCUBE-2 to verify our solutions.
Ethnic Coalitions and Public Health: Delights and Dilemmas with the Afghan Health Education Project in Northern California

Working with ethnic coalitions is new in public health. The Afghan Health Education Project was funded by the California State Health Department to establish an Afghan coalition, do a community health assessment and plan culture/language appropriate health education. We describe attempts to balance the contract expectations with the cultural/political realities of the Afghan community, e.g., the dilemma of "empowering" people who refuse to take power because of potential political repercussions.
Reconstitution of a T cell receptor-stimulated plasma membrane calcium transporter : lack of dependence on inositol phosphates

The activation of T lymphocytes, like many cells, requires a rapid rise in intracellular Ca2+ secondary to both an influx and a release from intracellular stores. The latter is activated by inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. It is controversial if inositol phosphates can also stimulate a plasma membrane Ca2+ channel in T cells. We have studied the human T cell line HPB-ALL which, upon stimulation of its antigen receptor, does not generate detectable levels of Ins(1,4,5)P3 or internal Ca2+ release, but does have a Ca2+ influx. We have reconstituted a receptor-activated Ca2+ transporter from plasma membranes from these cells which has properties similar to the transporter observed in vivo and does not require inositol phosphates for activation. These data show that mitogens may activate more than one type of ligand-gated Ca2+ transport mechanism in T lymphocytes.
Is RXJ1856.5-3754 a strange quark star?

Abstract Deep Chandra LETGS observations of the isolated neutron star candidate RXJ1856.5-3754 have demonstrated that, to within the accuracy of the observations, the X-ray spectrum is consistent with a blackbody with a temperature of 7 × 105 K and a radiation radius R∞ ∼ 5 km—much too small for current neutron star equations of state. The small apparent radius, lack of X-ray pulsations down to a level of 3%, and failure to explain the observations in terms of current neutron star models, lead to the suggestion that RXJ1856.5-3754 might be a strange quark star. We discuss some issues associated with this interpretation and look briefly at RX J1856.5-3754 in the context of other have smooth featureless spectra. Both X-ray and optical spectra of some of these objects might be explained by “naked” crusted neutron stars or strange quark stars with thin coronae. RX J1856.5-3754 remains an interesting strange quark star candidate.
Choroidal neovascularization as a late complication of ocular toxoplasmosis

Macular detachment caused by choroidal neovascularization in eyes with previous toxoplasmic infections is one possible explanation of sudden loss of visual acuity. Three patients with quiescent chorioretinal scars, presumed to be toxoplasmic in origin, developed choroidal neovascular membranes that caused sudden loss of visual acuity. In none of the three cases was there any ophthalmoscopic evidence of intraocular inflammation. In two patients, the choroidal neovascularization was subfoveal and, therefore, not suitable for photocoagulation. However, visual acuity in each of the affected eyes was only partially impaired (6/15 [20/50] in one patient and 6/30 [20/100] in the other). In the third patient, the choroidal neovascular membrane was treated with argon-laser photocoagulation. Two months after treatment, visual acuity in that eye was 6/9 (20/30), and there was angiographic evidence that the neovascular membrane had closed.
Differential regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) revealed by RNA interference: interactions of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in endothelial cell signaling.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a central role in vascular homeostasis. VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) include several subtypes that may have a differential role in endothelial signal transduction, but interactions among these receptors are incompletely understood. In these studies, we designed small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes that targeted specific VEGFR subtypes in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). siRNA-mediated downregulation of VEGFR-2 by its cognate siRNA resulted in a significant attenuation of VEGF-mediated signaling. Compared to control siRNA-treated cells, VEGFR-2 siRNA markedly inhibited VEGF-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt/GSK3-β as well as MAP kinase and PKC pathways. VEGFR-2 siRNA also blocked VEGF-stimulated phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at Ser1179 and Ser116, respectively. VEGFR-2-specific siRNA had no effect on the abundance of VEGFR-1 protein. By contrast, VEGFR-1-specific siRNA markedly not only downregulated the a...
Individual differences in power functions for a 1-week intersession interval

Two experiments examined correlations of the power function exponents of individual Ss obtained in each of two sessions. Half the Ss for any task performed second sessions immediately after the first, the other half after a week’s delay. In Experiment I, groups of 16 Ss gave magnitude estimations of apparent area, or else of area and loudness. In Experiment II, groups of 16 Ss made cross-modality matches of apparent time duration to area. Significant correlations in all cases indicated consistent and persisting S differences in exponents. The results are related to the findings of other studies of such individual differences.
Paleoatmospheric consequences of CO2 released during early Cenozoic regional metamorphism in the Tethyan orogen

The Eocene was the warmest epoch of the Cenozoic, with published estimates of Eocene atmospheric CO2 content ranging from two to six times the current value. Calculations of CO2 consumption by silicate weathering show that CO2 fluxes to the atmosphere of ca. 1018/Myr could account for inferred Paleocene/Eocene atmospheric CO2 contents, and the resulting greenhouse effect would have contributed to Eocene warmth. Extensive portions of the Tethyan orogen underwent regional metamorphism culminating in the Eocene. Prograde metamorphism may have been contemporaneous with the Late Paleocene global warming. We calculated the amount of metamorphic CO2 produced at depth in the Himalayan orogen with data on the timing of the India/Asia collison, duration of prograde regional metamorphism, and proportions and bulk compositions of metamorphic CO2 source rocks. If CO2 was generated at a constant rate over a 10 Myr period of prograde metamorphism in the Himalayan orogen, we estimate that ca. 1018–1019 moles/Myr of metamorphic CO2 were produced at depth. Significant expulsion of metamorphic CO2 to the atmosphere may have occurred by focused fluid flow along shear zones such as the extensive Main Central Thrust in the Himalayan orogen. An additional ca. 1018/Myr could have been contributed by Eocene regional metamorphism in the Mediterranean Tethys (i.e., from the Alps to Turkey). The extensive metamorphism associated with the India/Asia collision, and the closing of Tethys, may have contributed to CO2-greenhouse warming in the early to mid Cenozoic.
Percolation problems and the Potts model

Abstract The relation between the s component Potts model and percolation problems is investigated. The s = 1 limit corresponds to the usual percolation problem (Fortuin and Kasteleyn). It is shown that the s = 0 limit corresponds to a different percolation problem in which the connected clusters have the form of trees. Critical exponents for the Potts model are obtained near six and near one dimension to leading order in 6− d and d −1.