cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leaving Prison A Multilevel Investigation of Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disproportionality in Correctional Release

Although the vast majority of people sent to prisons will eventually be released, we know relatively little about factors affecting correctional release. This study considers the roles of race, ethnicity, and gender in correctional release. Incorporating state-level predictors, including violent crime rates and sentencing policies, we examine variation in length of time served and the proportion of sentence incarcerated across demographics. Using National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) data, we determine the extent to which differences in time and proportion of sentence served is attributable to demographic and offending differences, as well as difference in sentencing and conditional release. Identifying race, ethnic, and gender disparities subsequent to court-ordered sentencing decisions has important implications for our understanding of justice and the salience of legal and extralegal factors across multiple phases of punishment.
Burmester Lines of Spatial Five Position Synthesis from the Analysis of a 3-CPC Platform

This paper presents a new technique for determining the fixed axis for a spatial CC chain that guides a rigid body through five finitely separated positions, termed a Burmester Line. It is known that there can be as many as six Burmester lines for a given set of five spatial positions. Here we show that these six lines can be obtained from the analysis of a 3-CPC platform, constructed from relative screw axes associated with the five specified displacements. The screw axes of the displacement of this platform to each of its assemblies are the desired Burmester lines. Roth's original example is presented to verify the calculations.
Carbonate Deposition, Climate Stability, and Neoproterozoic Ice Ages

The evolutionary success of planktic calcifiers during the Phanerozoic stabilized the climate system by introducing a new mechanism that acts to buffer ocean carbonate-ion concentration: the saturation-dependent preservation of carbonate in sea-floor sediments. Before this, buffering was primarily accomplished by adjustment of shallow-water carbonate deposition to balance oceanic inputs from weathering on land. Neoproterozoic ice ages of near-global extent and multimillion-year duration and the formation of distinctive sedimentary (cap) carbonates can thus be understood in terms of the greater sensitivity of the Precambrian carbon cycle to the loss of shallow-water environments and CO2-climate feedback on ice-sheet growth.
Cooperative MetR binding in the Escherichia coli glyA control region

We determined the relative binding affinity of the MetR protein for wild-type and mutant MetR binding sites 1 and 2 in the Escherichia coli glyA control region. The results show that MetR binding site 1 has a higher affinity for the MetR protein than binding site 2. In addition, the results suggest that binding of MetR to the glyA promoter is cooperative. Mutations that decrease the ability of MetR to bind to either site 1 or site 2 have no significant effect on MetR's ability to bend DNA.
Limitations of Relaxation Kinetics on Muscular Work

AIM Positive net work produced during cyclic contractions is partially limited by relaxation kinetics, which to date, have not been directly investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of relaxation kinetics on cyclic work. METHODS Soleus muscles of four cats were isolated and subjected to a series of work loops (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 Hz cycle frequencies) during which stimulation terminated prior to the end of the shortening phase to allow for complete muscle relaxation and matched discrete sinusoidal shortening contractions during which stimulation remained on until the completion of the shortening phase. Muscle length changes during these protocols were centred on optimum length and were performed across muscle lengths that represented walking gait. RESULTS When muscle excursions were centred on L(o) relaxation kinetics decreased muscular work by 2.8 + or - 0.8%, 12.1 + or - 4.1%, 27.9 + or - 4.5% and 40.1 + or - 5.9% for 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 Hz respectively. However, relaxation kinetics did not influence muscular work when muscle excursions represented walking gait. In addition, muscular work produced at muscle lengths associated with walking gait was less than the work produced across L(o) (55.7 + or - 20.0%, 53.5 + or - 21.0%, and 50.1 + or - 22.0% for 0.5, 1 and 1.5 Hz respectively). CONCLUSION These results imply that relaxation kinetics are an important factor that limit the ability of muscle to produce work; however, the influence of relaxation kinetics on physiological function may depend on the relation between the optimum length and natural excursion of a muscle.
A parton description of the nucleus fragmentation region in heavy-ion collisions

Abstract In nucleus-nucleus collisions, the rapidity distribution of partons in the nucleus fragmentation region is highly asymmetrical. Thermalization that randomizes the momenta of partons far apart in rapidity cannot be expected. A local thermalization model is introduced which relates temperature to the range of parton interaction in rapidity. The parton number density and energy density are then calculated.
GROPG: a graphical on-phone debugger

Debugging mobile phone applications is hard, as current debugging techniques either require multiple computing devices or do not support graphical debugging. To address this problem we present GROPG, the first graphical on-phone debugger. We implement GROPG for Android and perform a preliminary evaluation on third-party applications. Our experiments suggest that GROPG can lower the overall debugging time of a comparable text-based on-phone debugger by up to 2/3.
A new approach to compute minimum time path trees in FIFO time dependent networks

We consider the problem of finding one to all minimum time paths for all departure times in a FIFO time dependent network with discrete arc travel times. We suggest that the problem can be viewed as a series of reoptimization of shortest path trees in static networks. This is accomplished via the concept of projection. We propose an algorithm which utilizes these projections to solve the one to all shortest path problem in a dynamic network. This algorithm is unique from an operational perspective as it only requires minimum data in advance.
The push osteotome: An alternative technique to preserve periodontal health in segmental Le Fort osteotomies: Technique and retrospective review

o r d O s s i r s a a s a a I t u t d s t c o p t s p d t i significant consideration when performing interental osteotomies for segmental Le Fort I surgery is he effect of interdental osteotomy on the adjacent eriodontium. The concern is significant enough to arrant numerous studies to investigate the effect f interdental osteotomies on the periodontium durng segmental maxillary surgery. These studies have hown that interdental maxillary osteotomies perormed with rotary instruments may cause minor, but linically insignificant complications. The greatest limiting factor to interdental osteotoies using a rotary handpiece is the available bone etween roots adjacent to the planned osteotomy. he closer the adjacent roots are to an osteotomy, ragmatic sense would presume the greater the poential risk to the overlying periodontium. An alternaive device to traditional rotary instruments is the ush osteotome. The push osteotome is a modified igid, sharp, and extremely thin straight osteotome ith a large handle used manually to accomplish the nterdental osteotomies (Figs 1-4). Gripped in the alm of the hand, the push osteotome takes advanage of the viscoelastic property of bone to be comressed and manipulated even in cases with minimal vailable bone between adjacent tooth roots. This llows for greater tactile sensation and manual control ompared with rotary instruments when performing nterdental osteotomies. In addition, unlike rotary nstruments, the push osteotome generates no heat, hich can be detrimental to bone healing and/or
Comparison and evaluation of some available methods for the analysis of lanthanide induced shift data

Some available methods for the analysis of lanthanide induced shift data have been examined. These methods are compared and evaluated using the data gathered from substituted phenyl tert-butyl carbinols.
COTTON EXPORTS: ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SALES AND SHIPMENTS

tion and consumption decisions outside its Relationships between cotton export sales borders With a Chinese decision toward selfand export shipments are exami! ad, and a sufficiency in cotton production, a major imquarter-specific lag structure is estimated. porter of U.S. cotton was lost. Furthermore, Two econometric systems are estimated, one Chinese producers overshot the selfemploying export shipments and the other us- sufficiency goal, and China became a net exing export sales. Results indicate that sales porter of cotton, again costing the U.S. a porare more sensitive to changes in economic tion of its export market variables than shipments and that stocks net The second problem is that policy decisions of outstanding export sales are more respon- are based in part on parameter estimates of sive to price and interest rate changes than U.S. (and world) production and consumption gross stocks. Sales and shipments are dif- responses to changing economic conditions. A ferent variables and cannot substitute for one decision to enhance farm income through another in econometric modelling. Use of ex- planted acreage restrictions will be effective port sales data should be considered in estima- only if there is an inelastic aggregate demand tion of export demand and stock demand response to the resulting price increase. One parameters.
Protection Against Fowl Cholera Conferred by Vaccination with Recombinant Pasteurella multocida Filamentous Hemagglutinin Peptides

Abstract Three gene fragments, derived from Pasteurella multocida strain P-1059 (serotype A:3), encoding approximately the 5′ one-third of fhaB2 were overexpressed individually in Escherichia coli. The recombinant peptides were purified, pooled, and administered to turkey poults to evaluate immunity. The results showed that turkeys immunized twice with the recombinant peptides were significantly protected against intranasal challenge with P. multocida strain P-1059. Vaccination elicited antibody responses, based on Western blotting, that were reactive with a wild-type P-1059 cellular product approximately 170 kDa in size and multiple high molecular weight products in culture supernatant. These antibodies did not react with cell or supernatant blots of a P-1059 fhaB2 isogenic mutant. Pasteurella multocida fhaB2 genes of a bovine strain (A:3) and an avian strain (F:3) are highly conserved as is the portion of P-1059 fhaB2 examined here (>99% identities). These findings suggest that broad cross-protection ag...
On Identification of Discrete Hammerstein Systems by the Fourier Series Regression Estimate

We study the identification of single-input, single-output discrete Hammerstein system. We identify the parameters of the dynamic, linear subsystem by the correlation and Newton-Gauss method. The main results concern the identification of the nonlinear, memoryless subsystem. We impose no conditions on the functional form of the nonlinear subsystem, recovering the nonlinearity using the Fourier series regression estimate. We prove the density-free pointwise convergence of the estimate. The rates of pointwise convergence are obtained for smooth input densities and for nonlinearities of Lipschitz type.
From normal cells to malignancy: Distinct role of pro-inflammatory factors and cellular redox mechanism in human malignancy

The genesis of many solid cancers is a complex, multistep process that includes cellular neoplastic transformation, resistance to apoptosis, loss of control of cell cycle, angiogenesis and acquisition of invasive properties. Among a number of factors, the simultaneous existence of chronic inflammatory mechanism and downregulation of antioxidant defense mechanism of cells are emerging major causes of neoplastic transformation and the progression of many solid cancers. The Longer the inflammation persists, higher the risk of developing many age related malignancies such as organs of colon, stomach and prostate etc. Concurrent occurrence of these processes that may affects DNA mutations in cells by excessive generation of free radicals, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and other active intermediates that exceed the limit of the cells ability to neutralize it. Chronic inflammatory conditions may activate a variety of pro-tumorigenic activities, such as stimulation of proliferative pathway, chemotactic activity, increased invasive potential of cells and angiogenesis. However, many of the antioxidant or cellular redox molecules play a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and response to oxidative damage but down-regulation of some of the cellular molecules of this process may leads to malignant transformation. We provide an overview of the possible mechanism(s) of interaction of pro-inflammatory factors in down-regulating the antioxidant and cellular redox mechanism(s) making cells susceptible to carcinogenesis. The elucidation of specific effects and interactions of these factors may provide the opportunity for the identification of new target molecules at early stage of human malignancies.
Robust Method of Multiple Variation Sources Identification in Manufacturing Processes For Quality Improvement

Variation source identification is a critical step in the quality and productivity improvement of manufacturing processes and draws significant attention recently. In this article we present a robust pattern-matching technique for variation source identification. In this paper, a multiple variation sources identification technique is developed by adopting the linear relationship between variation sources and product quality characteristics, which is described by a coefficient matrix. The columns of the coefficient matrix are treated as the signatures of corresponding variation sources. The matching is conducted between the signature vectors and the eigenvectors of the sample covariance matrix of the product quality measurements. Multiple faults are allowed in the matching. Further, both the perturbation of unstructured noise and the sample uncertainties are considered in this matching method. A comprehensive case study illustrates the effectiveness of this method. This robust method can be used for root cause identification of manufacturing processes. The application of this method can significantly reduce the troubleshooting time and hence improve the quality and productivity of manufacturing processes. DOI: 10.1115/1.2117447
The mangrove mesocosm of Biosphere 2: Design, establishment and preliminary results

Abstract Biosphere 2 is a specially constructed, 1.25 ha, greenhouse in southern Arizona, USA that is atmospherically and materially isolated from Biosphere 1, the Earth. Housed inside are living recreations of five natural ecosystems and an agricultural zone. Techniques were developed for the transplantation, maintenance and establishment of a diverse neotropical estuarine ecosystem model (referred to here as the mangrove mesocosm). Technical systems were designed for the simulation and control of environmental conditions including rain (0–3 1 s −1 ), wind (0–11 km h −1 ), air (5–50°C) and water temperature (15–35°C), water circulation (0–20 1 s −1 ), salinity (0–45 ppt), relative humidity (10–85% RH) and nutrient removal (up to 20 g-N d −1 ). In or near the mangrove mesocosm permanent sensors monitored and recorded at 15-min intervals the following ranges: light above (5–35.5 E m −2 d −1 and 1600 μE m −2 s −1 maximum) and below (0.5–5 E m −2 d − 1 ) the mangrove canopy; air (18–42°C) and water (16–27°C) temperature; salinity (25–35 ppt); relative humidity (50–80% RH); pH (7.6–8.1); dissolved oxygen (3.8–5.5 mg 1 −1 ); and several biogenic gasses including oxygen (20.5-14.5 ppm), CO 2 (500–4500 ppm), methane (0–50 ppm), nitrous oxide (0–80 ppm) and hydrogen sulfide (0–0.1 ppm). From November 1990 to December 1993, mangrove height increased approximately 250%v for each of the three mangrove species: Rhizophora triangle (red mangrove), Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) and Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove). The spreading mangrove average canopy area increased by 374, 533 and 647% for the red, black and white mangroves, respectively. The mangroves organized into a closed canopy, maturing forest under the unique set of conditions found inside of Biosphere 2. Concurrent litterfall and decomposition monitoring experiments were initiated in October 1992 in the mesocosm and at Florida-based analog research sites. Reproductive litterfall and total litter-fall approximated the seasonal patterns found at the field sites. Both total and reproductive litterfall production in the mesocosm exceeded field levels (except for white mangrove) but fall within reported rates for Southwest Florida. Total litterfall and total reproductive litterfall for the mesocosm red (1281.1 g m −2 yr −1 ; 178.3 g m −2 yr −1 ) and black (635.2 g m −2 y −1 ; 64.6 g m −2 yr −1 ) mangroves exceed the Florida field site red (948.3 g m −2 yr −1 ; 89.2 g m −2 yr −1 ) and black (461.7 g m −2 yr −1 ; 16.3 g m −2 yr −1 ) mangrove rates. The field white mangrove total litterfall and total reproductive litterfall (766.3 g m −2 yr −1 ; 215.9 g m −2 yr −1 ) rates were greater than that produced by the mesocosm white mangroves (654.8 g m −2 yr −1 ; 67.6 g m −2 yr −1 ). In addition to being a useful system for mangrove ecology, the mesocosm is on display for public education and awareness of the need to conserve wetland areas.
Grain determination for parallel processing systems

A method of parallel-program optimization called grain packing is introduced that reduces total execution time of a parallel program by balancing execution time and communication time. The new method is applicable to both extended serial and concurrent programming languages, and can be used in languages such as OCCAM, Fortran, and Pascal. It is shown by example that two misconceptions common among programmers can lead to nonoptimal use of parallel processors: (1) load balancing does not give optimal performance in all cases, and (2) explicit parallel constructions in programming languages often lead to nonoptimal partitioning of parallel programs. Grain packing, along with an optimizing scheduler, gives consistently better results than human-engineered scheduling and packing. >
Failure trends in a large disk drive population

It is estimated that over 90% of all new information produced in the world is being stored on magnetic media, most of it on hard disk drives. Despite their importance, there is relatively little published work on the failure patterns of disk drives, and the key factors that affect their lifetime. Most available data are either based on extrapolation from accelerated aging experiments or from relatively modest sized field studies. Moreover, larger population studies rarely have the infrastructure in place to collect health signals from components in operation, which is critical information for detailed failure analysis. We present data collected from detailed observations of a large disk drive population in a production Internet services deployment. The population observed is many times larger than that of previous studies. In addition to presenting failure statistics, we analyze the correlation between failures and several parameters generally believed to impact longevity. Our analysis identifies several parameters from the drive's self monitoring facility (SMART) that correlate highly with failures. Despite this high correlation, we conclude that models based on SMART parameters alone are unlikely to be useful for predicting individual drive failures. Surprisingly, we found that temperature and activity levels were much less correlated with drive failures than previously reported.
Nonbusiness Bankruptcies and the Law: Some Empirical Results

A model of risk reduction is used to analyze personal bankruptcy rates. The model shows how state and federal laws can affect the quantity of resources that lenders devote to reducing the risk of making bad loans. Unanticipated events cause changes in bankruptcy rates because they alter the costs and benefits of bankruptcy to both creditors and debtors. Results of other studies are shown to be consistent with this model. Data for 1980 are then used to test the model. Asset exemption laws have a significant impact on bankruptcy rates that is consistent with the model. Unanticipated economic events are also found to have significant effects on bankruptcy rates.
Anaerobic Pulmonary Abscesses Hematogenous Spread from Head and Neck Infections

Multiple anaerobic pulmonary abscesses in previously healthy children are rare. Two cases are presented in which the discovery and adequate drainage of infectious foci in the head and neck were key to controlling the infection.
Utilization of Routine Ophthalmologic Examinations in Pregnant Diabetic Patients

Objective: To determine the appropriate frequency of ophthalmologic examinations for retinopathy during gestation in diabetics categorized according to White's classification.Study Design: Retrospective review was performed over the period of 1989–1994. Inclusion criterion for gestational diabetics was a late second or early third trimester ophthalmologic examination. Inclusion criteria for classes B-R were a first trimester and third trimester or early postpartum examinations.Results: Of 300 charts reviewed, 100 met inclusion criteria. None of the gestational diabetics had retinopathy. Of class B patients (n = 21), 19% had retinopathy, with 11% progression in background retinopathy; none developed severe background or proliferative disease. In class C patients (n = 9), 56% had retinopathy, 33% with progression; none developed severe background or proliferative disease. Thirteen patients were class D; 92% had background retinopathy, in whom 45% showed progression, 31% with severe background retinopathy; n...
Induction and regulation of a secreted peptidoglycan hydrolase by a membrane Ser/Thr kinase that detects muropeptides

Here, we report that the model Gram-positive organism, Bacillus subtilis, expresses and secretes a muralytic enzyme, YocH, in response to cell wall-derived muropeptides derived from growing cells but not lysed cells. This induction is dependent on PrkC, a membrane Ser/Thr kinase that binds to peptidoglycan and that belongs to a broadly conserved family including the essential PknB kinase of M. tuberculosis. YocH stimulates its own expression in a PrkC-dependent manner demonstrating the presence of an autoregulatory loop during growth. Cells lacking YocH display a survival defect in stationary phase but enzymes secreted by other cells in the culture rescue this defect. The essential translation factor EF-G is an in vivo substrate of PrkC and this phosphorylation occurs in response to muropeptides. Therefore, we hypothesize that YocH is used by the bacterium to digest peptidoglycan released by other bacteria in the milieu and that the presence of these fragments is detected by a membrane kinase that modifies a key regulator of translation as well as to stimulate its own expression.
BLDC motor full-speed operation using hybrid sliding mode observer

This paper presents a full speed range control scheme for surface mount BLDC motor. The developed topology looks like field-oriented controls for sinusoidal PM motors but the fifth and seventh harmonics variables have been taken into consideration as well as the fundamental variables. The proposed method results in an increase in developed torque. Also, it shows the same controllability as in the sinusoidal PM motor over the flux weakening operation compared to the conventional six-step BLDC drive system. In this paper, the line-to-line average model of the BLDC motor in rotor multiple reference frame (MRF) first is developed. A sliding mode observer then is introduced to estimate the rotor position and speed used in the MRF. After that, a full speed range control algorithm is developed based on the line-to-line average model. Finally, simulation and experiments have been done to verify the validity of the proposed method.
Activation of the antiviral prodrug oseltamivir is impaired by two newly identified carboxylesterase 1 variants.

Oseltamivir phosphate is an ethyl ester prodrug widely used in the treatment and prevention of both Influenzavirus A and B infections. The conversion of oseltamivir to its active metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate is dependent on ester hydrolysis mediated by carboxylesterase 1 (CES1). We recently identified two functional CES1 variants p.Gly143Glu and p.Asp260fs in a research subject who displayed significant impairment in his ability to metabolize the selective CES1 substrate, methylphenidate. In vitro functional studies demonstrated that the presence of either of the two mutations can result in severe reductions in the catalytic efficiency of CES1 toward methylphenidate, which is required for hydrolysis and pharmacological deactivation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of these mutations on activating (hydrolyzing) oseltamivir to oseltamivir carboxylate using the cell lines expressing wild type (WT) and each mutant CES1. In vitro incubation studies demonstrated that the S9 fractions prepared from the cells transfected with WT CES1 and human liver tissues rapidly convert oseltamivir to oseltamivir carboxylate. However, the catalytic activity of the mutant hydrolases was dramatically hindered. The Vmax value of p.Gly143Glu was approximately 25% of that of WT enzyme, whereas the catalytic activity of p.Asp260fs was negligible. These results suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of oseltamivir could be compromised in treated patients expressing either functional CES1 mutation. Furthermore, the potential for increased adverse effects or toxicity as a result of exposure to high concentrations of the nonhydrolyzed prodrug should be considered.
Organization of the Hearsay II speech understanding system

Hearsay II (HSII) is a system currently under development at Carnegie-Mellon University to study the connected speech understanding problem. It is similar to Hearsay I (HSI) in that it is based on the hypothesize-and-test paradigm, using cooperating independent knowledge sources communicating with each other through a global data structure (blackboard). It differs in the sense that many of the limitations and shortcomings of HSI are resolved in HSII. The main new features of the Hearsay II system structure are: 1) the representation of knowledge as self-activating, asynchronous, parallel processes, 2) the representation of the partial analysis in a generalized three-dimensional network (the dimensions being level of representation (e.g., acoustic, phonetic, phonemic, lexical, syntactic), time, and alternatives) with contextual and structural support connections explicitly specified, 3) a convenient modular structure for incorporating new knowledge into the system at any level, and 4) a system structure suitable for execution on a parallel processing system. The main task domain under study is the retrieval of daily wire-service news stories upon voice request by the user. The main parametric representations used for this study are 1/3-octave filter-bank and linear-predictive coding (LPC)-derived vocal tract parameters [10], [11]. The acoustic segmentation and labeling procedures are parameter-independent [7]. The acoustic, phonetic, and phonological components [23] are feature-based rewriting rules which transform the segmental units into higher level phonetic units. The vocabulary size for the task is approximately 1200 words. This vocabulary information is used to generate word-level hypotheses from phonetic and surface-phonemic levels based on prosodic (stress) information. The syntax for the task permits simple English-like sentences and is used to generate hypotheses based on the probability of occurrence of that grammatical construct [19]. The semantic model is based on the news items of the day, analysis of the conversation, and the presence of certain content words in the partial analysis. This knowledge is to be represented as a production system. The system is expected to be operational on a 16-processor minicomputer system [3] being built at Carnegie-Mellon University. This paper deals primarily with the issues of the system organization of the HSII system.
Suppression of First Pain and Slow Temporal Summation of Second Pain in Relation to Age

Background Thermal stimuli delivered to skin of the arms or legs can produce a sensation of two distinct pains. These pains have been associated with activity in A-delta (first pain) and C-fiber (second pain) nociceptive fibers, respectively. Under appropriate conditions first pain decreases in intensity (adaptation) while second pain increases in intensity (slow temporal summation). Change in first and second pain to repeated stimulation of skin has not been assessed in relation to age. Methods Ten younger (M = 25 years) and ten older (M = 65 years) subjects participated in a study of first and second pain intensity elicited by nociceptive range heat pulses (.7 second pulses; adapting temperature 39 degrees C to a stimulus temperature of 51 degrees C) delivered to skin of arms and legs. Response times to sensations of first and second pain were assessed to provide evidence that subjects were responding to first and second pain. Results Age groups did not differ on pain intensity ratings of initial stimuli to previously unstimulated skin for either first or second pain. Older subjects failed to evidence slow temporal summation of second pain at the leg. Response times to first, but not second pain from the leg were delayed in the elderly. Response times to first and second pain at the arm did not differ with age. Auditory response times were slower in the older group. Conclusions Age did not influence pain intensity to unadapted and unsensitized skin. Slow temporal summation of second pain was not observed at the leg in the older group, suggesting that mechanisms subserving C-fiber mediated sensitization of second order nociceptive neurons may fail with age. Longer response times to first, but not second pain in older subjects may represent an age effect on myelinated (A-delta; first pain) and not unmyelinated (C-fiber; second pain) nociceptive afferents and may represent a type of small fiber peripheral neuropathy.
Disruption of dynamic cell surface architecture of NIH3T3 fibroblasts by the N-terminal domains of moesin and ezrin: in vivo imaging with GFP fusion proteins

Lamellipodia, filopodia, microspikes and retraction fibers are characteristic features of a dynamic and continuously changing cell surface architecture and moesin, ezrin and radixin are thought to function in these microextensions as reversible links between plasma membrane proteins and actin microfilaments. Full-length and truncated domains of the three proteins were fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP), expressed in NIH3T3 cells, and distribution and behaviour of cells were analysed by using digitally enhanced differential interference contrast (DIC) and fluorescence video microscopy. The amino-terminal (N-)domains of all three proteins localize to the plasma membrane and fluorescence recordings parallel the dynamic changes in cell surface morphology observed by DIC microscopy of cultured cells. Expression of this domain, however, significantly affects cell surface architecture by the formation of abnormally long and fragile filopodia that poorly attach and retract abnormally. Even more striking are abundant irregular, branched and motionless membraneous structures that accumulate during retraction of lamellipodia. These are devoid of actin, endogenous moesin, ezrin and radixin, but contain the GFP-labeled domain. While a large proportion of endogenous proteins can be extracted with non-ionic detergents as in untransfected control cells, >90% of N-moesin and >60% of N-ezrin and N-radixin remain insoluble. The minimal size of the domain of moesin required for membrane localization and change in behavior includes residues 1–320. Deletions of amino acid residues from either end result in diffuse intracellular distribution, but also in normal cell behavior. Expression of GFP-fusions of full-length moesin or its carboxy-terminal domain has no effect on cell behavior during the observation period of 6–8 hours. The data suggest that, in the absence of the carboxy-terminal domain, N-moesin, -ezrin and -radixin interact tightly with the plasma membrane and interfere with normal functions of endogeneous proteins mainly during retraction.
Relationships between support and adjustment among children of divorce.

Abstract In a sample of 102 4th–6th grade urban children of divorce, low to moderate relationships were found between perceived support and child adjustment. This relationship held for several sources of support and across several types of adjustment measures. It was strongest when adjustment was assessed through child self-ratings. Thus, children of divorce who perceived themselves as having more overall support had lower scores on measures of post-divorce difficulties, anxiety, and worry, and higher scores on measures of openness about the divorce and positive resources. The relationships found between support and adjustment among children of divorce suggest a potentially useful role for support in developing preventive interventions for such youngsters
Lalande and the longitude: A little known London voyage of 1763

The reputation of the eighteenth century French astronomer Joseph Jerome Lefrancais De Lalande (F. R. S. 1763) as a travel writer is secure by virtue of his famous published guide to Italy (I). His unpublished ‘Voyage en Angleterre’ can only enhance that image. Preserved in the Bibliotheque Mazarine, this small manuscript (2)—a kind of diary of a trip to England in 1763—deserves to be much better known, particularly by historians of science. A partial translation of the document did appear in print slightly more than fifty years ago, but its preparer was less than careful in numerous ways (3). Some of his errors and/or omissions were corrected in an account of the manuscript which appeared only ten years ago (4). Unfortunately, however, that more recent treatment did little to reverse the older decision purposely to omit ‘several passages of a technical sort which are today devoid of interest’ (5). I hope to show herein how wrong that estimate was by utilizing the ‘Voyage en Angleterre’ to shed some new light on the matter of the famous No. 4 chronometer of John Harrison (6). It is my hope that this will demonstrate how useful it could be to arrange to bring out a fully annotated version of this fascinating document, of whose breadth I can give only the briefest idea here.
Comparison of Self-Contained and Departmentalized Elementary Teachers' Perceptions of Classroom Structure and Job Satisfaction

Most elementary schools adhere to a self-contained format to deliver student instruction. This case study explored the implementation of a nontraditional format typically used in middle and high schools known as departmentalized instruction. Twelve of 29 first through third grade teachers were asked by their administration to implement departmentalized instruction for a trial year. This study compares levels of perceived stress and morale in relation to job satisfaction between the departmentalized teachers and self-contained teachers within the same school. This case study utilized focus group interviews as well as data collected from pre- and post-surveys comprised of Likert-scaled items and open-ended questions. The survey responses informed the study about various dimensions of teacher morale and job satisfaction and the focus groups informed the study about departmentalized teachers’ own comparison between the two models of instruction. Consistent with related literature, findings revealed departmentalized teachers experienced higher morale, lighter workload, and increased overall job satisfaction in comparison to self-contained teachers in the same school. Further, in comparison to their prior self-contained teaching experiences, departmentalized teachers overwhelmingly preferred the new structure.
Characterising the reproducibility and reliability of dietary patterns among Yup'ik Alaska Native people

Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data can be used to characterize dietary patterns for diet-disease association studies. Among a sample of Yup’ik people from Southwest Alaska, we evaluated three previously defined dietary patterns: “subsistence foods” and market-based “processed foods” and “fruits and vegetables”. We tested the reproducibility and reliability of the dietary patterns and tested associations of the patterns with dietary biomarkers and participant characteristics. We analyzed data from adult study participants who completed at least one FFQ with the Center for Alaska Native Health Research 9/2009–5/2013. To test reproducibility we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of a hypothesized model using 18 foods to measure the dietary patterns (n=272). To test the reliability of the dietary patterns, we used CFA to measure the composite reliability (n=272) and intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability (n=113). Finally, to test associations we used linear regression (n=637). All CFA factor loadings, except one, indicated acceptable correlations between foods and dietary patterns (r > 0.40) and model fit criteria were greater than 0.90. Composite and test-retest reliability of dietary patterns were respectively 0.56 and 0.34 for subsistence foods, 0.73 and 0.66 for processed foods, and 0.72 and 0.54 for fruits and vegetables. In the multi-predictor analysis, dietary patterns were significantly associated with dietary biomarkers, community location, age, sex, and self-reported lifestyle. This analysis confirmed the reproducibility and reliability of the dietary patterns in this study population. These dietary patterns can be used for future research and development of dietary interventions in this underserved population.
Are leaf breakdown rates a useful measure of stream integrity along an agricultural landuse gradient

Biological indicators often are used to assess and manage water quality in anthropogenically altered stream systems. Leaf breakdown has the potential to be a good indicator of stream integrity because it integrates a variety of biological, chemical, and physical conditions. Red maple (Acer rubrum L.) leaf breakdown rates were measured along a gradient of agricultural land use in southern Appalachian streams to assess the use of leaf breakdown rates as a measure of stream integrity. Landuse categories included forested, light agriculture, moderate agriculture, and heavy agriculture. Leaf breakdown rates were related to landuse category but did not differ significantly among landuse categories. Nutrient concentration, temperature, and sedimentation increased, and dissolved O2 decreased along the landuse gradient from forest to heavy agriculture. Macroinvertebrate richness, macroinvertebrate density, and shredder density were the only significant predictors of leaf breakdown rates. We conclude that leaf breakdown rates may not be a useful indicator of stream integrity because of the confounding effects that agricultural land use has on breakdown rates.
Scattering of /sup 4/He atoms grazing the liquid-/sup 4/He surface

Measurements of the scattering of /sup 4/He atoms grazing the surface of liquid /sup 4/He show that the reflectivity approaches unity as the perpendicular wave vector tends to zero, in agreement with theoretical predictions.
K(l) ---> 2mu, k(l) ---> 2gamma, and quark masses in gauge models

Experimental knowledge of the decay rates for ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\mu}$ and ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\gamma}$ is combined with theoretical understanding of strangeness-changing neutral-current effects in unified gauge models of the weak and electromagnetic interactions for a determination of quark masses. Given that the Weinberg parameter ${sin}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}$ is between 0.3 and 0.4, the mass of the proton quark becomes roughly 900 MeV, while that of the "charmed" quark is about 5 GeV.
Research ethics committees in the regulation of clinical research: comparison of Finland to England, Canada, and the United States

The aim of this paper is to compare common features and variation in the work of research ethics committees (RECs) in Finland to three other countries – England, Canada, the United States of America (USA) – in the late 2000s. Several approaches and data sources were used, including semi- or unstructured interviews of experts, documents, previous reports, presentations in meetings and observations. A theoretical framework was created and data from various sources synthesized. In Finland, RECs were regulated by a medical research law, whereas in the other countries many related laws and rules guided RECs; drug trials had specific additional rules. In England and the USA, there was a REC control body. In all countries, members were voluntary and included lay-persons, and payment arrangements varied. Patient protection was the main ethics criteria, but other criteria (research advancement, availability of results, payments, detailed fulfilment of legislation) varied. In all countries, RECs had been given administrative duties. Variations by country included the mandate, practical arrangements, handling of multi-site research, explicitness of proportionate handlings, judging scientific quality, time-limits for decisions, following of projects, role in institute protection, handling conflicts of interests, handling of projects without informed consent, and quality assurance research. The division of work between REC members and secretariats varied in checking of formalities. In England, quality assurance of REC work was thorough, fairly thorough in the USA, and not performed in Finland. The work of RECs in the four countries varied notably. Various deficiencies in the system require action, for which international comparison can provide useful insights.
Endogenously Chosen Boards of Directors and Their Monitoring of Management

This paper develops a model in which the effectiveness of the board's monitoring of the CEO depends on the board's independence. The independence of the new directors is determined through negotiations (implicit or explicit) between the existing directors and the CEO. The CEO's bargaining position, and thus his influence over the board- selection process, depends on an updated estimated of the CEO's ability based on his prior performance. Many empirical findings about board structure and performance arise as equilibrium phenomena in this model. We also explore the implications of this model for proposed regulations of corporate governance structures.
Representing the past: memory traces and the causal theory of memory

According to the Causal Theory of Memory (CTM), remembering a particular past event requires a causal connection between that event and its subsequent representation in memory, specifically, a connection sustained by a memory trace. The CTM is the default view of memory in contemporary philosophy, but debates persist over what the involved memory traces must be like. Martin and Deutscher (Philos Rev 75:161–196, 1966) argued that the CTM required memory traces to be structural analogues of past events. Bernecker (Memory: A philosophical study. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010) and Michaelian (Philos Psychol 24:323–342, 2011), contemporary CTM proponents, reject structural analogues in favor of memory traces as distributed patterns of event features. The proposals are understood as distinct accounts of how memory traces represent past events. But there are two distinct questions one could ask about a trace’s representational features. One might ask how memory traces, qua mental representations, have their semantic properties. Or, what makes memory traces, qua mental representations of memories, distinct from other mental representations. Proponents of the CTM, both past and present, have failed to keep these two questions distinct. The result is a serious but unnoticed problem for the CTM in its current form. Distributed memory traces are incompatible with the CTM. Such traces do not provide a way to track the causal history of individual memories, as the CTM requires. If memory traces are distributed patterns of event features, as Bernecker and Michaelian each claim, then the CTM cannot be right.
Electron localization and radiation chemistry of amides.

Alkylamides (such as N,N′-dimethylformamide, N,N′-diethylformamide, and N,N′-dimethylacetamide) are aprotic solvents that are widely used in organic synthesis. These polar molecules have no electron affinity, and it is believed that irradiated liquid and solid amides stabilize excess electrons as cavity-type species analogous to hydrated and ammoniated electrons. In this study, we use isotope substitution and EPR spectroscopy to demonstrate that, in frozen amides, the suspected “cavity electron” is, in fact, a solvent-stabilized monomer anion. Our observations call into question other attributions of such features in the literature, both in low temperature solids and room temperature liquids. We also provide a general scheme describing amide radiolysis, as the related amides are used as metal ion extracting agents in nuclear separations.
Joanna Masel: Bypass Wall Street: A biologist’s guide to the rat race

Joanna Masel is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who dabbles in behavioral economics. Bypass Wall Street: A Biologist’s Guide to the Rat Race is her attempt to bring a biologist’s perspective to retirement planning. In particular, she believes that the “economic mindset” is biased toward assuming that competition results in greater prosperity over time, rather than simply redistributing the gains, or worse, diminishing the sum total of value in society. The book has an admirable goal: to use insights from evolutionary theory to help bamboozled investors overcome the alleged blindness of economists. There is little in the book having to do with biology per se, however, or with the author’s specialty in evolution. The well-known behavioral foibles of investor irrationality or myopia— status quo bias, confirmation bias, loss aversion, and so on—are not addressed in this volume. Instead, the link between finance and evolution rests on the author’s concern with “relative competition,” the notion that success merely means beating the other guy, not necessarily improving absolute fitness. Her overall conclusion is that the push of competition does not result in optimal outcomes. The invisible hand is no elixir, which astute followers of Adam Smith have known for some time. Appropriate institutions are also needed for competition to work well. Yet the biologist’s emphasis on competition at all costs seems overstated in some contexts, given the growing interest in social cooperation as one explanation for species success (Sober and Wilson 1999; Bowles and Gintis 2013) and the accumulating experimental evidence on Smith’s moral sentiments operating at the microeconomic level. Nevertheless, the book offers insights into financial markets and suggestions that are valuable, if not always accessible, to the average saver.
Moving from PCB design to physical engineering

This paper discusses the trends, challenges, and constraints of PCB design. We should engineer a physical solution to shorten and make design cycle predictable as constraints grow, improve chances of first pass success, reduce/eliminate physical prototype iterations that can be caused by signal integrity issues, foster team work between hardware designers, SI engineers and PCB layout designer, reduce end product costs, and improve product performance. (30 pages)