cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voting behind bars: Explaining variation in international enfranchisement practices

Abstract Recent attention to the issue of extension of the vote to prisoners has been paramount in the form of significant court cases in South Africa, Canada and the European Court of Human Rights as well as proposed legislation in the United States to ban the practice of ex-prisoner disenfranchisement. Surprisingly, however, no systematic work in an international setting on the subject has been conducted to explore country-by-country practices or explain variation in these approaches. In this article we explore a range of probable determinants of the extension of the ballot to prisoners, including structural determinants (conditions on voter registration, availability of voting, and mandatory voting), political determinants (democratic and non-democratic countries, and levels of political freedom) and cultural determinants (race, colonial legacies, and conceptualization of crime and criminals). We find that countries that extend more political rights to their citizens (but not necessarily democracies) and those that have expanded provisions for absentee ballots are more likely to allow prisoners to vote, while countries in Latin America and Africa, as a result of colonial legacies and civil strife, are less willing to allow prisoners to vote.
Challenges in Climate Science and Contemporary Applied Mathematics

This article discusses the challenges in climate science from the emerging viewpoint of stochastic-statistical properties of turbulent dynamical systems. The mathematical topics discussed here include empirical information theory, fluctuation-dissipation theorems, reduced-order stochastic modeling, and the development of mathematically unambiguous exactly solvable test models for climate science that capture crucial features of vastly more complex scientific problems. The applied mathematics topics include the emerging development of multiscale algorithms for filtering/data assimilation and superparametrization for climate science and other problems in science and engineering, as well as suitable unambiguous mathematical test problems for their behavior. Interesting contemporary research directions and specific open problems are mentioned throughout the article. The perspective here should also be useful for applications to other complex dynamical systems arising in neural science, material science, and environmental/mechanical engineering. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Communication convergence in electronically supported discussions: an adaptation of Kincaid's convergence model

Abstract Group Support Systems (GSS) support intellectual and collaborative group work. For example, one type of GSS is Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS). EMS provide software to facilitate a group's ability to brainstorm and organize ideas, and then formulate, select, or prioritize alternatives. Accompanied by human facilitation, EMS use information technology to augment team meetings by (a) fostering independent thinking without disruption, and (b) enabling better understanding and agreement among team members. Existant models of communication do not effectively portray the communication interaction occurring in EMS (or the broader umbrella of GSS). The purpose of this article is to extend Kincaid's convergence model and present a preliminary, holistic, conceptual model of communication that includes the contributions GSS makes to communication effectiveness in group discussions. The suggested model portrays the interactivity of group participants and accounts for process losses and/or process gains (termed “noise” and “noise abatement”) which may affect the GSS process. Additionally, the model shows the connection between the communication process and the participants' contextual linkages to what has happened in the past and what will occur after the communication ends.
Nonrelativistic electron stream propagation in the solar atmosphere and type III radio bursts.

Electron streams with type III burst characteristics are numerically modeled. The electronplasma wave quasilinear interaction is assumed to be the dominant velocity diffusion process. The quasilinear equations with the addition of spontaneous emission, magnetic and collisional effects are numerically solved as an initial value and a half-space boundary value problem with time, distance and velocity as the independent variables for a solar-type background plasma and a type-III-like stream. Background density and temperature coordinate structure, spontaneous emission, magnetic fields, electron-ion collisions, stream reabsorption and wave pileup are shown to affect propagation and are incorporated into a physical description of the stream motion. The calculated electron flux-time profiles at the Earth suggest scatter-free propagation and compare well with type III stream observations.
The effects of the decay of incorporated radioactive phosphorus on the genome of bacteriophage T4.

Abstract Evidence is presented that the decay of P 32 incorporated in bacteriophage T4 produces damages localized in the genetic material as determined by recombinational studies. These damages are detected by their effect on the ability of phage to contribute genetic markers to the progeny of a mixed infection. The conclusion that the damages are genetically localized is based on the following observations: (1) phage inactivated by P 32 decay may contribute a given marker while failing to contribute others; (2) the mean burst size of surviving markers is constant for doses greater than about three lethal decays per phage, although for these doses there is a continued elimination of markers; (3) a linkage-dependent correlation exists for the elimination of markers. This conclusion is in agreement with the belief, based on biochemical evidence ( Hershey and Chase, 1952 ), that DNA is intimately associated with the genetic structure of phage. The process of reactivation of genetic markers of P 32 -inactivated phage differs from the normal process of recombination. A normal act of recombination usually gives rise to only one or a few recombinant particles, whereas a marker derived from a P 32 -inactivated parent has greater opportunity for multiplication following the reactivation act. A model is proposed which supposes that the genome of a particle is fragmented corresponding to the fragmentation of the DNA by P 32 decay. The markers on a fragment will be reactivated if the fragment is incorporated into a genome during the construction of a daughter replica belonging to the viable population. The genetic effects of X-rays on phage are similar to those of incorporated P 32 . The suggestion by Stent and Fuerst (1955) that the lethal effect of X-rays and P 32 on phage results from their similar action on DNA is thereby substantiated.
Breaking Agreements: Distinguishing Agreement and Clitic Doubling by Their Failures

In this article, I propose a novel way to distinguish between agreement and clitic doubling. The innovation lies in examining what happens when the relation between the relevant agreement morphology and the full noun phrase fails to obtain: whether the agreement morpheme still shows up, bearing default φ-features, or disappears altogether.The workings of the proposed diagnostic are demonstrated using a family of constructions in “substandard” Basque (Etxepare 2006). Besides supporting the proposed diagnostic, the analysis of Basque provides a new perspective on the typological status of the Basque agreement system, as well as evidence against the traditional analysis of unergatives in Basque as being underlyingly transitive.
Medusae Fossae Formation: New perspectives from Mars Global Surveyor

[1] The nature and origin of the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) on Mars has been debated since the return of the first Viking images. The MFF's young age, distinctive surface texture, and lack of obvious source have prompted multiple hypotheses for its origin. This study uses data from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) mission to examine the MFF at all available scales. We discuss and quantify observations from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topography and Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images to better constrain the origin of the MFF. Topographic grid estimates yield a present extent of 2.1 × 106 km2 and a volume of 1.4 × 106 km3; however, remnant yardang deposits observed far from the thicker lobes of MFF material suggest that it may have once covered up to 5 × 106 km2. We do not find compelling evidence for extensive fluvial reworking of the MFF; however, in several regions, buried channels are apparent in the MFF because the formation is draped over underlying topography. Layering is apparent at all scales, from submeter to hundreds of meters, with variable resistance to weathering. Continuity of layers appears to be local to regional, but not likely formation-wide. Yardangs form both parallel and bidirectional patterns, with resistant layers and jointing probably influencing their orientations. A comparative study of MFF regional topography and surface expression indicates that the MFF is quantitatively dissimilar to Martian polar layered deposits. The material is most likely a friable and irregularly consolidated air fall deposit of probable volcanic origin.
Global confluence of infectious and non-communicable diseases — The case of type 2 diabetes

Globally the prevalence and public health importance of non-communicable diseases (NCD) is increasing in high-, middle-, and low-income countries alike. Concomitant to the NCD burden, control of key infectious diseases (i.e., group B Streptococcus, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and HIV) in most regions of the world remains elusive. With new epidemiologic trends in disease burden, the allocation of resources and expertise to simultaneously control infectious diseases and NCD becomes increasingly difficult. Using the case of diabetes and three co-occurring infectious diseases, we demonstrate the importance of generating innovative strategies to attack the old (infectious diseases) and new (NCD) disease agendas together.
Parent's perception of social and sexual functions in adolescents with Down's syndrome

The authors investigated parental perceptions of social interactions, interest in the opposite sex, sexual functions and issues concerning sex education in young persons with Down's syndrome. The evaluation of the data revealed that more than half of the study population showed interest in the opposite sex and are attending social gatherings. Many of the youngsters had expressed a desire to get married, however, only a few had an interest in sexual relationships. Masturbation was observed in 40% of the young men and in 22% of the young women. About half of the parents feel that their children should be sterilized or should have other forms of birth control if they would be able to reproduce. Only a limited number of adolescents had sex education. More parents who have girls with Down's syndrome than those who have boys are worried that their child may be taken advantage of sexually.
Effects of Temperature on Developmental Rate of Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

The effects of 8 constant temperatures, ranging from 15.5° to 32.2°C, on the development of Telenomus podisi Ashmead, were determined using Podisus maculiventris (Say) eggs as hosts. Likewise, the effects of 2 fluctuating temperature regimes were studied. Male parasites developed from egg to adult emergence faster than females; male parasites did not emerge at 15.5°C, while both males and females failed to emerge at 32.2°C. The average thermal requirements for development at the 4 intermediate constant temperatures used (21.1–29.4°C) were 126.5 and 139.4 Celsius degree-days for males and females, respectively, using a base of 15°C.
The Influence of Nonuniform Reionization on the CMB

We investigate the impact of spatial variations in the ionized fraction during reionization on temperature anisotropies in the CMB. We combine simulations of large-scale structure to describe the underlying density field with an analytic model based on extended Press-Schechter theory to track the reionization process. We find that the power spectrum of the induced CMB anisotropies depends sensitively on the character of the reionization epoch. Models that differ in the extent of the "patchy phase" could be distinguished by future experiments such as the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and the South Pole Telescope (SPT). In our models, the patchy signal peaks at l 2000, where it can be 4 times larger than the kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (kSZ)/Ostriker-Vishniac (OV) signal (ΔTtot 2.6 μK). On scales beyond l 4000 the total Doppler signal is dominated by kSZ/OV, but the patchy signal can contribute up to 30% to the power spectrum. The effect of patchy reionization is largest on scales on which the primordial CMB anisotropies dominate. Ignoring this contribution could lead to significant biases in the determination of cosmological parameters derived from CMB temperature measurements. Improvements in the theoretical modeling of the reionization epoch will become increasingly important to interpret the results of upcoming experiments.
Nested Arrays: A Novel Approach to Array Processing With Enhanced Degrees of Freedom

A new array geometry, which is capable of significantly increasing the degrees of freedom of linear arrays, is proposed. This structure is obtained by systematically nesting two or more uniform linear arrays and can provide O(N2) degrees of freedom using only N physical sensors when the second-order statistics of the received data is used. The concept of nesting is shown to be easily extensible to multiple stages and the structure of the optimally nested array is found analytically. It is possible to provide closed form expressions for the sensor locations and the exact degrees of freedom obtainable from the proposed array as a function of the total number of sensors. This cannot be done for existing classes of arrays like minimum redundancy arrays which have been used earlier for detecting more sources than the number of physical sensors. In minimum-input-minimum-output (MIMO) radar, the degrees of freedom are increased by constructing a longer virtual array through active sensing. The method proposed here, however, does not require active sensing and is capable of providing increased degrees of freedom in a completely passive setting. To utilize the degrees of freedom of the nested co-array, a novel spatial smoothing based approach to DOA estimation is also proposed, which does not require the inherent assumptions of the traditional techniques based on fourth-order cumulants or quasi stationary signals. As another potential application of the nested array, a new approach to beamforming based on a nonlinear preprocessing is also introduced, which can effectively utilize the degrees of freedom offered by the nested arrays. The usefulness of all the proposed methods is verified through extensive computer simulations.
Is There a Risk Premium Puzzle in Real Estate

∗This paper is based on my Presidential Address to the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association delivered at Washington, D.C., in January 2003. The paper asks whether there is a risk premium puzzle in real estate. I examine this question by reporting on an empirical investigation of real estate investors’ expectations over the last 15 years. The results suggest that ex ante expected risk premiums on real estate are quite large for their risk, too large to be explained by standard economic models. Further, the results suggest that ex ante expected returns are higher than average realized equity returns over the past 15 years because realized returns have included large unexpected capital losses. The latter conclusion suggests that using historical averages to estimate the risk premium on real estate is misleading.
Speculative Trading and Market Performance: The Effect of Arbitrageurs on Efficiency and Market Power in the New York Electricity Market

While the effect speculators have on forward premiums (the difference between forward and expected spot prices) has been widely studied, there has been very little focus on the effect speculators have on competition in the product market. I study the effect speculators have had on production decisions and price levels in New York's deregulated electricity market. For the past two years of its operation, the market, which opened in November 1999, restricted trade to producers and retailers of electricity. During this period, the forward price of electricity in western New York was significantly higher than the expected spot price. I show that, after the market opened to purely speculative traders the forward premium significantly decreased. In addition, the forward price of transmission (the price difference between two geographically distinct points) ceased to differ significantly from the expected spot price of transmission. I present a theoretical model to help understand these price relationships and other possible effects of speculators on market prices and firms' production decisions. Absent speculators, the model predicts that firms with market power will price discriminate between the forward and spot markets for electricity, resulting in the forward price being higher than the expected spot price. This discrimination in the market for electricity will result in the forward price of transmission under-predicting the spot price of transmission. When speculators that prevent firms from price discriminating are added to the model forward price-cost margins decrease. Using detailed data on the marginal costs of generation units in New York, I test these predictions of the model, and find that, after controlling for other market changes, the forward price-cost margins of firms in western New York did, in fact, significantly decrease after speculators were allowed to enter the market.
AC and DC Studies of Non-Exponential Relaxation Processes in Superionic Conductors: Correlation of Conductivity and NMR Studies

This paper considers the results of NMR relaxation studies of fast ion glasses in the light of variable frequency electrical conductivity measurements. We show that the low activation energy observed for relaxation processes studied at constant frequency below the temperature of the T1minimum is reproduced by the corresponding constant frequency conductivity measurements. Other characteristics of the constant frequency conductivity in this low activation energy regime, such as the unphysically low pre-exponent, match with the corresponding observations for NMR measurements. Since the activation energy observed at constant frequency in the frequency-dependent regime for conductivity depends on the characteristic departure from exponential relaxation for the conductivity process, we conclude that the NMR activation energy is likewise a simple consequence of the nonexponential character of ionic relaxation in the glass. In this case, the low activation energy attributed to processes probed by NMR relaxation is simply a misinterpretation since it is found, in the wide frequency range studies available to admittance bridge measurements, that all elements of the relaxation spectrum have essentially equal activation energies.
Robust model selection decision-making using a fuzzy supervisory Approach

Industrial machinery/assets are usually operated under different operating conditions or modes. Local empirical models can be built within specified operating condition boundaries to represent system dynamics more accurately than a global model, which is generally applicable over the entire operating regime. However, when the change of system operating regime occurs, none of local models can capture the characteristics of the system outside of the operating condition boundaries they were built upon. This paper presents a novel approach to model selection decision-making based on a fuzzy supervisory approach. The supervisory method selects local models and fuses these models to represent system dynamics as system transits from one operating regime to another. Through this fuzzy supervisory approach, the modeling errors caused by an operating regime switch can be significantly reduced. We present experimental results from the application of this approach to high bypass commercial aircraft engine.
Recapturing the Correlated Motions of Protein by using Coarse Grained Models

Long range interaction and allosteric behavior is important for many biological process, such as: metabolic mechanisms, signal transduction pathways. Increasing evidence show that internal dynamics may play an important role in such behavior. Investigating the dynamical effects of proteins is a challenging problem by using all atom molecular dynamics, because these proteins are usually large. Here we use three well-defined coarse grained model: Go, Martini and Cafemol model to examine if these coarse grained model can explore the dynamics effects efficiently, also to explore the effects of mutation. Eglin C is used as a model system. We found that both Go and Cafemol model can recapture the dynamical characteristic of proteins very well, especially for the defined secondary structures, while Martini model explore the dynamics characteristic fairly well. For coil part, three coarse grained models have higher fluctuation and correlated motions than all-atom model. Mutation effects are also discussed.
Inhibition of AMPK and krebs cycle gene expression drives metabolic remodeling of Pten-deficient preneoplastic thyroid cells

Rapidly proliferating and neoplastically transformed cells generate the energy required to support rapid cell division by increasing glycolysis and decreasing flux through the oxidative phosphorylation pathway (OXPHOS), usually without alterations in mitochondrial function. In contrast, little is known of the metabolic alterations, if any, which occur in cells harboring mutations that prime their neoplastic transformation. To address this question, we used a Pten-deficient mouse model to examine thyroid cells where a mild hyperplasia progresses slowly to follicular thyroid carcinoma. Using this model, we report that constitutive PI3K activation caused by PTEN deficiency in non-transformed thyrocytes results in a global down-regulation of Krebs cycle and OXPHOS gene expression, defective mitochondria, reduced respiration and an enhancement in compensatory glycolysis. We found that this process does not involve any of the pathways classically associated with the Warburg effect. Moreover, this process was independent of proliferation but contributed directly to thyroid hyperplasia. Our findings define a novel metabolic switch to glycolysis driven by PI3K-dependent AMPK inactivation with a consequent repression in the expression of key metabolic transcription regulators.
Cell activation by Toll-like receptors: role of LBP and CD14:

Members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family have been shown to be important in the activation of cells by a variety of microbial ligands. TLRs are thought to mediate the ‘recognition event’ that follows an encounter between a mammalian cell and a microbial agent. In the case of the response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), it is clear that the ability of these cell surface proteins to initiate the events necessary for activation of cells to produce cytokines is dependent upon ‘accessory proteins’ such as the pattern recognition protein CD14 and the lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP). While the role of these proteins in the LPS-specific response is defined, their role in other TLR responses has not been defined, but it is important in understanding these events and, potentially, in designing new therapeutic strategies. Here we report on the role of these proteins in the response to yeast zymosan. The requirements for this response (which unlike the response to LPS is a response to a particulate antigen) and the role of other serum proteins are defined.
ICE CHEMISTRY ON OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES: CARBOXYLIC ACIDS, NITRILES, AND UREA DETECTED IN REFRACTORY RESIDUES PRODUCED FROM THE UV PHOTOLYSIS OF N2:CH4:CO-CONTAINING ICES

Radiation processing of the surface ices of outer solar system bodies may result in the production of new chemical species even at low temperatures. Many of the smaller, more volatile molecules that are likely produced by the photolysis of these ices have been well characterized by laboratory experiments. However, the more complex refractory material formed in these experiments remains largely uncharacterized. In this work, we present a series of laboratory experiments in which low-temperature (15–20 K) N2:CH4:CO ices in relative proportions 100:1:1 are subjected to UV irradiation, and the resulting materials are studied with a variety of analytical techniques including infrared spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and high-resolution mass spectroscopy. Despite the simplicity of the reactants, these experiments result in the production of a highly complex mixture of molecules from relatively low-mass volatiles (tens of daltons) to high-mass refractory materials (hundreds of daltons). These products include various carboxylic acids, nitriles, and urea, which are also expected to be present on the surface of outer solar system bodies, including Pluto and other transneptunian objects. If these compounds occur in sufficient concentrations in the ices of outer solar system bodies, their characteristic bands may be detectable in the near-infrared spectra of these objects.
The Logic of Policy Inquiry

The article presents a review of the book “The Logic of Policy Inquiry,” by David C. Paris and James F. Reynolds.
Corrective Taxes and Auctions of Rights in the Control of Externalities: A Reply

Our original article noted that auctions of pollution rights could increase a tendency toward monopoly in the offending industry. Professor Oates has provided some insightful comments in arguing for auctions rather than Pigouvian taxes, but the validity of the argument in our original article is not affected. Oates's suggestions for pricing externalities in the real world are a welcome addition to the discussion, but there are some reasons to believe that his approach would not be optimal under all circumstances.
ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA AS A MODEL FOR CROSS-TALK BETWEEN INTERFERON AND RETINOIC ACID PATHWAYS : FROM MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TO CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been regarded as the paradigm for therapeutic approaches utilizing differentiating agents, due to the fact that almost 95% of patients undergo complete remission when treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). However, complete clinical remission with ATRA alone is always transient, and relapse in APL is almost invariably associated with the acquisition of resistance to ATRA. Acquired resistance to ATRA in APL cell lines and in some APL clinical cases can be partially overcome by interferons (IFNs), cytokines which have well established tumor-growth suppressive activities. APL is associated in 99% of cases with a 15;17 translocation that fuses the PML and Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha (RARa) genes. RARa is one of the Retinoic Acid (RA) nuclear receptors which mediates, at the transcriptional level, ATRA differentiating and growth suppressive activity. PML is a tumor-growth suppressor whose expression is directly regulated by IFNs. Here we review the molecular mechan...
Detecting Phylogenetic Breakpoints and Discordance from Genome-Wide Alignments for Species Tree Reconstruction

With the easy acquisition of sequence data, it is now possible to obtain and align whole genomes across multiple related species or populations. In this work, I assess the performance of a statistical method to reconstruct the whole distribution of phylogenetic trees along the genome, estimate the proportion of the genome for which a given clade is true, and infer a concordance tree that summarizes the dominant vertical inheritance pattern. There are two main issues when dealing with whole-genome alignments, as opposed to multiple genes: the size of the data and the detection of recombination breakpoints. These breakpoints partition the genomic alignment into phylogenetically homogeneous loci, where sites within a given locus all share the same phylogenetic tree topology. To delimitate these loci, I describe here a method based on the minimum description length (MDL) principle, implemented with dynamic programming for computational efficiency. Simulations show that combining MDL partitioning with Bayesian concordance analysis provides an efficient and robust way to estimate both the vertical inheritance signal and the horizontal phylogenetic signal. The method performed well both in the presence of incomplete lineage sorting and in the presence of horizontal gene transfer. A high level of systematic bias was found here, highlighting the need for good individual tree building methods, which form the basis for more elaborate gene tree/species tree reconciliation methods.
Efficient nanostructured ‘black’ silicon solar cell by copper‐catalyzed metal‐assisted etching

We produce low-reflectivity nanostructured ‘black’ silicon (bSi) using copper (Cu) nanoparticles as the catalyst for metal-assisted etching and demonstrate a 17.0%-efficient Cu-etched bSi solar cell without any vacuum-deposited anti-reflection coating. The concentration ratio of HF to H2O2 in the etch solution provides control of the nanostructure morphology. The solar-spectrum-weighted average reflection (Rave) for bSi is as low as 3.1% on Cu-etched planar samples; we achieve lower reflectivity by nanostructuring of micron-scale pyramids. Successful Cu-based anti-reflection etching requires a concentration ratio [HF]/[H2O2] ≥ 3. Our 17.0%-efficient Cu-etched bSi photovoltaic cell with a pyramid-texture has a Rave of 3% and an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 616 mV that might be further improved by reducing near-surface phosphorus (P) densities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of transforming growth factor beta in cancer.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is an effective and ubiquitous mediator of cell growth. The significance of this cytokine in cancer susceptibility, cancer development and progression has become apparent over the past few years. TGF-beta plays various roles in the process of malignant progression. It is a potent inhibitor of normal stromal, hematopoietic, and epithelial cell growth. However, at some point during cancer development the majority of transformed cells become either partly or completely resistant to TGF-beta growth inhibition. There is growing evidence that in the later stages of cancer development TGF-beta is actively secreted by tumor cells and not merely acts as a bystander but rather contributes to cell growth, invasion, and metastasis and decreases host-tumor immune responses. Subtle alteration of TGF-beta signaling may also contribute to the development of cancer. These various effects are tissue and tumor dependent. Identifying and understanding TGF-beta signaling pathway abnormalities in various malignancies is a promising avenue of study that may yield new modalities to both prevent and treat cancer. The nature, prevalence, and significance of TGF-beta signaling pathway alterations in various forms of human cancer as well as potential preventive and therapeutic interventions are discussed in this review.
Sensing Surrounding 3-D Space for Navigation of the Blind

This article presents a two-dimensional (2-D) vibration array for detecting dynamic changes in three-dimensional (3-D) space during navigation and provides these changes in real time to visually impaired users (in a form of vibration) to develop a 3-D sensing of the space and assist their navigation in their working and living environment. This vibration array is a part of the Tyflos prototype device (consisting of two tiny cameras, a microphone, an ear speaker mounted into a pair of dark glasses and connected into a portable PC) for blind individuals. The overall idea is of detecting changes in a 3-D space is based on fusing range data and image data captured by the cameras and creating the 3-D representation of the surrounding space. This 3-D representation of the space and its changes are mapped onto a 2-D vibration array placed on the chest of the blind user. The degree of vibration offers a sensing of the 3-D space and its changes to the user. It is concluded that the power conception will be associated with the potential of the batteries of the portable computer (notebook). Thus, the visually impaired user has to recharge the batteries after a certain time or carry additional batteries connected to notebook.
Celebrate or hold suspect? Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in Africa

When US President Bill Clinton was sworn into office in January 1993, there were already 25 400 US forces on the ground in Somalia. The forces had been ordered into that country by Clinton's predec...
Reading Comprehension Profiles of High-Functioning Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Grounded Theory

Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study sought to understand what influences reading comprehension and how meaning is made from text among high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a think-aloud procedure, 13 individuals ages 7–13 with ASD read 16 passages at their instructional reading level. Passages varied by genre, length, and picture support. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then analyzed using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The grounded theory resulted in 3 comprehension profiles including imaginative, strategic, and text bound. Future research and implications for classroom interventions are discussed.
Shared situational awareness to meet future airspace security mission needs

Airspace security is a mission that is shared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and National Airspace System (NAS) users among others including civil airspace users. Because events can unfold rapidly in the air domain, Shared Situational Awareness among the players is needed to facilitate rapid decision-making that can have life-or-death consequences. The current airspace security operation relies heavily on telephonic coordination with limited shared situational awareness, and treats potential threats in a "one-size-fits-all" manner, rather than focusing on highest risk. The future vision is the Next Generation Air Transportation system (NextGen) Secure Airspace concept, which is part of a multi-layered, adaptive security service that is risk-informed, is integrated into trajectory- based operations, and operates in a net-enabled environment. This paper describes the airspace security mission, the future concept, mission partner perspectives for information sharing, and challenges and opportunities in improving shared situational awareness.
Nonstandard imaging methods in electron microscopy.

A rigorous treatment of image formation, taking into account inelastic scattering and partially coherent illumination, is given for the CTEM. The results also hold for a STEM if the momentum vectors of the incident and outgoing waves are interchanged and the flight direction of the electrons is reversed. A generalized optical theorem is found which connects the anti-Friedel part of the elastic scattering amplitude with the squares of the elastic and inelastic scattering amplitudes. This theorem has important consequences for all approximation methods. For example, it shows that inelastic scattering influences the elastic scattering amplitude. It is further shown that the observed wings in optical diffractograms, obtained from micrographs of amorphous material taken using tilted beam illumination, can only be explained if double scattering (elastic and inelastic) is assumed. Hollow-cone illumination strongly suppresses the structural noise in the phase contrast image. The corresponding phase contrast transfer function (PCTF) is calculated for two different cone angles, assuming that no beam-limiting aperture is present. In addition, the PCTFs of a corrected microscope are calculated for two different illumination modes, one yielding negative and the other positive phase contrast. Finally, the contrast transfer has been investigated for a STEM operating with a split detector.
Brachial plexitis preceding encephalomyelitis in a patient with West Nile virus infection

We describe the case of a 54-year-old woman with West Nile virus infection presenting with painful brachial plexitis and radiculitis that preceded the more typically associated symptoms of meningoencephalitis. Physicians should be aware that West Nile virus infection can present with painful brachial plexitis.
Late onset of necrotizing enterocolitis in the full-term infant is associated with increased mortality: Results from a two-center analysis

Abstract Purpose The effect of timing of onset of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) on outcomes has not been determined for the full-term infant. In this study we aimed to characterize the full-term NEC population and to evaluate onset of NEC. Methods We performed a two-center retrospective review of all full-term infants (≥ 37 weeks) with a diagnosis of NEC between 1990 and 2012. Patients were identified by ICD-9 and age. Early onset for NEC was ≤ 7 days and late onset after 7 days of life. Demographics, comorbidities, maternal factors, clinical factors, surgical intervention, complications, and mortality were evaluated. Wilcoxon’s test was performed on continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test on categorical data. A p-value Results Thirty-nine patients (24 boys, 15 girls) with median EGA of 39 weeks were identified. Overall mortality was 18%. Univariate predictors of mortality included congenital heart disease and placement of an umbilical artery (UA) catheter. Multivariate analysis revealed late onset of NEC to be an independent predictor of mortality (OR 90.8, 95% CI 2.6–3121). Conclusion Full-term infants who develop NEC after 7 days of life, have congenital heart disease, and/or need UA catheterization have increased mortality.
Analysis of Process Variation's Effect on SRAM's Read Stability

In this paper we analyze the effect of manufacturing process variations on the SRAM stability in the read operation. We analyze the SRAM's read operation and the DC voltage-transfer characteristics (VTCs). Based on the VTCs, we define the read margin to characterize the SRAM cell's read stability. We calculate the read margin based on the transistor's current model using the BSIM3v3 model. Experimental results show that the read margin accurately captures the SRAM's read stability as a function of the transistor's threshold voltage and the power supply voltage variations.
Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): spatial relationship between trap catch and distance from a source of emerging adults.

The Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), was selected as a representative stored-product moth to test the validity of contour mapping of trap catch for pest monitoring in warehouses and retail stores. Three experiments, each replicated five times, were conducted in a 3.2 by 9.0-m aluminum shed. Each experiment involved placing pupae at a single release point (source) and recording the numbers of emerging adult males captured after 24, 48, and 72 h in each of four pheromone-baited sticky traps. The experiments differed only with respect to the point of release. Distribution of trap catch reflected the general distribution of moths in the shed; and consecutive contour maps tracked their dispersal from the source. As emergence and dispersal progressed, cumulative trap catch increased throughout the shed, but it remained highest near the source. The observed spatial patterns of trap catch relative to sources of infestation and the inverse relationship of trap catch to distance from a source support the validity of contour mapping as a means of monitoring stored-product moths and locating foci of infestation. The relationship between trap catch and distance from a source of infestation was well described by two-parameter exponential decay, both in P. interpunctella and in the previously studied Lasioderma serricorne (F.). Analysis of data from retail pet stores also showed exponential decline in trap catch of P. interpunctella with distance from centers of infestation.
Derivation of the buck-boost PWM DC-DC converter circuit topology

The derivation of the buck-boost PWM DC-DC converter circuit is presented. The buck and boost converter circuits are cascaded through an inverting stage. Circuit theory and manipulation will be used to simplify the cascaded circuit into the familiar inverting buck-boost PWM DC-DC converter topology.
MAJOR GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS OF BOVINE-ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANES

Glycosphingolipids of bovine erythrocyte membranes differ considerably from that of rhesus monkey and human. We have studied the glycolipids of the bovine erythrocyte membrane in great detail. The following neutral glycosphingolipids have been isolated and characterized
Placing technique before judgment

From the Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Anton Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Aug 25, 2015; accepted for publication Aug 25, 2015; available a 2015. Address for reprints: John H. Calhoon, MD, Department of Surgery, University of Texas H San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229 (E-mail: calhoon@uthscsa.e J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2015;150:e81-2 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The American Association for http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.08.074
Concentration Characterization of Encapsulated Macromolecules in Electrospun Alginate Fibers Using Image Analysis

Electrospun fibers made of biocompatible polymers have been used as scaffolds in tissue engineering to mimic the fibrous environment found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of biological tissue; and bioactive macromolecules can also be encapsulated in the electrospun fibers. In order to control the release of these encapsulated macromolecules, it is of great interest to understand how the release rate is affected by the sizes of molecules, cross-linking as well as electrospinning configuration (single axial versus co-axial). Fluorescein imaging technique has been applied in quantifying molecular transport phenomena. This paper presents an image analysis method to establish a baseline correlation between the fluorescent intensity and the macromolecule concentration in the electrospun fibers. In this study, alginate and Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend polymer aqueous solution (1:1 ratio, 3% w/v) was used to electrospin fibers and fluorescein-isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-dextran) with different molecular weights was chosen as the encapsulated macromolecule. Linear correlation was established based on the statistical analysis of electrospun fiber images, and imaging parameters effects were also identified.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Dynamics Modeling of a Mars Tumbleweed Rover

A Mars Tumbleweed Rover is a spherical, wind driven, planetary rover. Compared with conventional rovers, a tumbleweed rover can travel longer distances and gain access to areas such as valleys and chasms that previously were inaccessible. This paper will present results of mathematical modeling and computer simulation of a tumbleweed rover as it encounters obstacles, such as large rocks and shallow gulleys, and will study how varying the location of the center of mass will aect the motion of the tumbleweed. Varying the location of the mass imbalance is one of the methods currently under consideration for controlling the motion of wind-blown tumbleweed rovers.
Insecticide Resistance in the Adult Western Corn Rootworm in Nebraska

Adults of the western corn rootworm. Diabrotica virgifera LeConte, collected from two widely separated areas in Nebraska, were assayed for susceptibility to aldrin, Diazinon® ( O,O -diethyl O -(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate), and heptachlor. Dosage-mortality curves and LD50 values were determined for each insecticide. Results indicated that adults of D. virgifera collected from the central part of the State required about 100 times as much aldrin or heptachlor per insect to produce an LD50in 2 hours as adults collected in eastern Nebraska. LD50 values for Diazinon tested on beetles from the two areas were virtually the same. The reasons for such differential resistance are considered.
Instability and Transition in the Mach-6 Quiet Tunnel

Laminar-turbulent transition is critical for vehicles which fly significant distances at hypersonic speeds. To improve on existing correlations, prediction methods that incorporate knowledge of the transition mechanisms are necessary and now feasible. Purdue continues to develop the Boeing/AFOSR Mach-6 Tunnel to seek quiet flow at high Reynolds number, with noise levels comparable to flight. Measurements of the fluctuations in the contraction entrance are reported, along with measurements of the effects of disturbances introduced downstream. Progress towards conventional-noise measurements at high unit Reynolds number is also described, along with preliminary hot-wire measurements on a cone at angle of attack.
Oxygen sensitivity of mitochondrial metabolic state in isolated skeletal and cardiac myocytes.

In striated muscle the coupling of blood flow to changes in tissue metabolism is hypothesized to be dependent in part on release of vasodilating metabolic by-products generated when mitochondrial m...
Hygienic Investigation on High-risk Projects in Catering Units in Futian District of Shenzhen City

[Objective]To understand the sanitary situation of high risk projects in catering units,to regulate the conduct of catering trades operators,to control the hazard risk,to reduce the risk of food poisoning and protect the people’s food safety.[Methods]The field hygienic investigation,surveillance of sanitary situation in high risk workshop and high risk food were conducted in 32 catering units.[Results]The result showed the eligible rate of object surface and operators’ hands was 21.9% and 31.3%,respectively;the eligible rate of ultraviolet light intensity of ultraviolet light was only 6.25%;the eligible rate of food in high risk workshop was higher ( above 90%).[Conclusion]The sanitary situation in high risk workshop of catering units are not optimistic.The hygienic supervision must be enhanced,once the cross-contamination of hygienic environment and food occurs,it will greatly increase the risk of food poisoning.
Effect of Anticoagulant on Biocompatibility in Membrane Plasmapheresis

The effect of heparin or citrate anticoagulation on blood cellular, complement pathway and coagulation pathway was investigated in a membrane plasma exchange procedure. Two membrane plasma separators constructed of cellulose di-acetate (CA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were evaluated with heparin or citrate alone for anticoagulation in a 26 year old male with myasthenia gravis. Maximum white blood cell counts decrease was 21% at 30 min for the CA with heparin while no decrease was observed for the other schemes. Platelet counts changes were comparable between heparin and citrate, while the PVC groups showed less changes than the CA groups. The CA groups, regardless of the type of anticoagulant used, indicated that complement activation occurred via the classical pathway within the module in addition to the activation via alternative pathway for the CA with heparin. In the PVC groups, complement activation was noted to occur only when heparin was used for anticoagulation. PT and PTT showed slight increases with citrate, while they were remarkably prolonged with heparin. Citrate showed less changes in cellular and humoral factors compared to heparin. CA with heparin was the most activating combination of membrane material and anticoagulant, while the PVC with citrate was the least activating combination.