cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equilibrium and Kinetic Binding Interactions between DNA and a Group of Novel, Nonspecific DNA-binding Proteins from Spores ofBacillus and Clostridium Species

Binding of α/β-type small acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP) is the major determinant of DNA resistance to damage caused by UV radiation, heat, and oxidizing agents in spores ofBacillus and Clostridium species. Analysis of several α/β-type SASP showed that these proteins have essentially no secondary structure in the absence of DNA, but become significantly α-helical upon binding to double-stranded DNAs or oligonucleotides. Folding of α/β-type SASP induced by a variety of DNAs and oligonucleotides was measured by CD spectroscopy, and this allowed determination of a DNA binding site size of 4 base pairs as well as equilibrium binding parameters of the α/β-type SASP-DNA interaction. Analysis of the equilibrium binding data further allowed determination of both intrinsic binding constants (K) and cooperativity factors (ω), as the α/β-type SASP-DNA interaction was significantly cooperative, with the degree of cooperativity depending on both the bound DNA and the salt concentration. Kinetic analysis of the interaction of one α/β-type SASP, SspCTyr, with DNA indicated that each binding event involves the dimerization of SspCTyr monomers at a DNA binding site. The implications of these findings for the structure of the α/β-type SASP·DNA complex and the physiology of α/β-type SASP degradation during spore germination are discussed.
The effect of serum and experimental variables on the transferrin and reticulocyte interaction.

Abstract The transfer of iron from transferrin to the developing erythrocyte is a research area of high interest and considerable controversy. We have found that the results of transferrin-reticulocyte incubation studies are quite sensitive to the experiemental procedures that are utilized. Reticulocytosis has been induced in rabbits by phelbotomy and phenylhydrazine inhections. While the latter gives a higher reticulocyte count, the cells appear to exhibit an altered transferrin-membrane interaction. Transferrin has been iodinated by published methods utilizing chloramine-T and molecular iodine. The iodotransferrin products exhibit the same iron donation ability, however, evidence was found that the chloramine-T treatment leads to a nonspecific binding of transferrin to the reticulocyte. The means of saturating transferrin with 59 Fe is also of prime importance. Fe(NH 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 2 and especially FeCl 3 were found to yield non-specifically bound iron when added to transferrin or serum. This artifact was reflected in an altered transferrin-reticulocyte interaction. Using what we believe to be optimal conditions, the effect of serum on the transferrin-reticulocyte system was re-examined. The results clearly indicated an enhancement of iron uptake by reticulocytes in the presence of serum, as well as an accelerated incorporation of iron by the cytoplasmic fraction.
Late-phase-transition-induced fluctuations in the cosmic neutrino distribution and the formation of structure in the Universe.

We show that late-time (${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\le}1$ eV) cosmic vacuum phase transitions which induce separation of phases and which involve a discontinuity in neutrino properties (e.g., mass) across phase boundaries could give rise to spatial inhomogeneities in the distribution of neutrinos. The nucleation physics of the phase transition would determine the spatial scale of the fluctuations. These density perturbations would be born in the nonlinear regime and could have masses in the range of ${10}^{6}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}\ensuremath{-}{10}^{13}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$. If the fluctuations are shells, as expected, and there is gravitational modification of the original phasetransition nucleation scale then the upper limit on their masses could be considerably larger ($\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{18}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$), possibly encompassing the largest structures in the Universe. The motivation for this work stems, in part, from the possibility that future experiments (i.e., solar neutrino experiments) may suggest new, low-energy-scale weak-interaction phenomena, such as neutrino flavor mixing.
RADICAL CHALLENGES IN A LIBERAL WORLD: The Mixed Success of Comparable Worth

Comparable worth is a limited remedy for occupational segregation and the wage gap: It is compatible with meritocratic values, argued for in conventional labor market terms, and may increase tensions among men and women workers. But, while it relies on liberal political discourse, it has also improved the wages of women workers, broadened public thinking about discrimination, and stimulated cross gender wage comparisons unthinkable even a few years ago. This comment explains the limitations of comparable worth, not in terms of the discourse proponents relied upon, but in relation to a specific political agenda and to a historical and political struggle over the control of the debate over comparable worth. As social science advocates for a more radical political agenda, it is our obligation to think more realistically about how we build a radical politics to accompany our discourse.
Regulation and Measurement of the Productivity Offset

Abstract Calculation of the productivity offset or the X-factor used in setting price caps has a fundamental flaw when it is based on conventional growth accounting total factor productivity analysis. The problem is.discussed in the context of incentive regulation used by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States and the appropriate correction is indicated. An example of the problem and its correction, using the access charge for interstate service in telecommunications, is provided. The correction shows that the appropriate X-factor is 9 % greater than that based on conventional growth accounting total factor productivity analysis.
A comparative study of the cerebrovascular complications of cocaine: alkaloidal versus hydrochloride--a review.

Cocaine, especially in its alkaloidal or “crack” form, has been increasingly associated with cerebrovascular disease. Before the crack epidemic, cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) was also implicated as a cause of stroke. However, less is known about the differences in stroke subtypes, age at stroke onset, or presence of underlying structural cerebrovascular disease with different forms of cocaine use. We compared 26 patients (previously reported) from our four institutions plus 16 cases reported in the literature of stroke associated with alkaloidal cocaine to 63 (57 reported in the literature and six not previously reported from our four institutions) cases of stroke associated with cocaine HCl. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are equally likely after alkaloidal cocaine use, whereas cocaine HCl is more likely (approximately 80% of the time) to cause hemorrhagic stroke, with approximately half the intracranial hemorrhages occurring from ruptured cerebral saccular aneurysms or vascular malformations. The presence of an underlying cerebral aneurysm was more common among patients with cocaine HCl-associated strokes than alkaloidal cocaine-associated strokes. Cerebral infarction was significantly more common among the alkaloidal cocaine users than in all the cocaine HCl users, and this was also true when alkaloidal cocaine users were compared with parenteral cocaine HCl (intravenous and intramuscular) users. Only hemorrhagic stroke has been reported with intravenous cocaine HCl use. We conclude that the pathogenesis of cocaine-related stroke is heterogeneous, and depends, in part, on the form of cocaine used.
Ordered mesoporous silica with large cage-like pores: structural identification and pore connectivity design by controlling the synthesis temperature and time.

FDU-1 silicas with large cage-like pores (diameter about 10 nm) were synthesized under acidic conditions from tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer template B50−6600 (EO39BO47EO39). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering provided strong evidence that FDU-1 silica synthesized under typical conditions is a face-centered cubic Fm3m structure with 3-dimensional hexagonal intergrowth and is not a body-centered cubic Im3m structure, as originally reported. Samples synthesized in a wide range of conditions (initial temperatures from 298 to 353 K; hydrothermal treatment at 333−393 K) exhibited similar XRD patterns and their nitrogen adsorption isotherms indicated a good-quality cage-like pore structure. The examination of low-pressure nitrogen adsorption isotherms for FDU-1 samples, whose pore entrance diameters were evaluated using an independent method, allowed us to conclude that...
Prediction of specific heat of organic liquids

A theoretical equation is presented for predicting the specific heat at constant volume and constant pressure of organic liquids as a function of temperature from data on the velocity of sound, infrared and Raman spectra. By use of this equation, the average deviation of the calculated from the experimental values of specific heat for 100 organic liquids at 68°F. is ±1.5%. An alternate correlation for hydrocarbon liquids based on a modified statement of the theory of corresponding states is also presented. Based on it, the average deviation of the calculated from the experimental values for 100 points representing the entire temperature range is ±0.9%.
Attached primes over noncommutative rings

Attached primes and secondary representations were introduced in 1973 by Macdonald [I.G. Macdonald, Secondary representation of modules over a commutative ring, Sympos. Math. 11 (1973) 23�43] to develop a dual theory to the associated primes and primary decomposition in commutative algebra. This article generalizes Macdonald�s theory to the noncommutative setting.
Some Effects upon Response Force and Response Rate of Variations in Amount of Sucrose Reinforcement

Two experiments were performed having in common the use of sucrose concentration and volume as amount of reinforcement variables, and in situations permitting contrast between concentrations. The f...
Genre Cycling: The Infrastructural Function of an Operational Assessment Review and Reporting Process at a Federal Scientific Supercomputing User Facility

This paper reports on the first phase of a study of technical documentation and reporting at a scientific supercomputing user facility. This paper proposes a new conceptualization of how multiple genres interrelate to coordinate and mediate the functioning of an organization. Based on the case of the operational assessment review and reporting process, this paper strives to differentiate the function of organizational genres to maintain the infrastructural operations of an organization from the function of genres to mediate the production of an organization's mission-based output. The theory-informed analytical tool proposed by this case study, the genre cycle, proposes parameters for further inquiry into the generalizability of the concept.
Noninvasive 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring: Overview of Technology and Clinical Applications

During the last 25 years, 24-hour noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has evolved from a research tool of limited clinical use into an important tool for stratifying cardiovascular risk and guiding therapeutic decisions. Until recently, clinical use of ABPM focused on identifying patients with white-coat hypertension, but accumulated evidence now points to greater prognostic significance of ABPM in determining risk for target-organ damage compared with that of office blood pressure measurements. Clinicians involved in the care of patients with hypertension should familiarize themselves with the role of this technology and how to use it in an appropriate and cost-effective manner.
Compressing SQL workloads

Recently several important relational database tasks such as index selection, histogram tuning, approximate query processing, and statistics selection have recognized the importance of leveraging workloads. Often these tasks are presented with large workloads, i.e., a set of SQL DML statements, as input. A key factor affecting the scalability of such tasks is the size of the workload. In this paper, we present the novel problem of workload compression which helps improve the scalability of such tasks. We present a principled solution to this challenging problem. Our solution is broadly applicable to a variety of workload-driven tasks, while allowing for incorporation of task specific knowledge. We have implemented this solution and our experiments illustrate its effectiveness in the context of two workload-driven tasks: index selection and approximate query processing.
A direct observation of field-enhanced evaporation of sodium chloride

Abstract The vacuum evaporation from (110) cleaved surfaces of NaCl was found to be enhanced by the application of a field parallel to the surface. The enhancement was found to be reproducible and reversible above a minimum value of a field gradient. At 809 K and a field gradient of 0.17 MV m -1 , a 30–38% enhancement in the evaporation rate was measured.
In vitro organ culture model for mucous membrane pemphigoid.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), also known as cicatricial pemphigoid, is a rare vesiculobullous disease of mucosal tissues, which involves the oral, ocular, and other mucous membranes. We have studied a group of patients with histologically and immunopathologically proven pemphigoid disease involving predominantly the conjunctiva and oral mucosa in addition to other mucosae. The purpose of our study was to (i) demonstrate the specific binding of autoantibodies present in the sera of patients with MMP to normal human oral mucosa by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and (ii) to study the role of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of subepithelial blister formation using normal human buccal mucosa in organ culture. Serum and IgG fractions from MMP patients showed homogeneous smooth linear binding along the basement membrane zone (BMZ) of the normal buccal mucosa on IIF. Serum from pemphigus vulgaris patients showed intercellular or keratinocyte cell surface staining. BMZ separation developed at 48 h after incubation of normal human buccal mucosa in organ culture, with serum or IgG from patients with MMP but not after addition of normal human serum. Addition of pemphigus vulgaris serum to the in vitro culture of normal human buccal mucosa showed acantholysis. This preliminary report suggests that circulating autoantibodies may have an important role in the pathogenesis of MMP. This in vitro organ culture model will facilitate enhancing our understanding of various molecular events during the process of blister formation in MMP and in the study of other mucosal diseases.
Model Style Guidelines for On-Target Rapid Prototyping

On-target rapid prototyping uses automatic code generation to execute embedded control software, such as powertrain control systems, on close-to-production hardware. This contrasts with rapid prototyping that typically uses much more powerful hardware than will be used in production. Rapid prototyping allows the designer to evaluate the functional behaviour of embedded software, however, it does not ensure that the final product will satisfy the performance requirements on a resource constrained, mass production embedded microprocessor. By contrast, on-target rapid prototyping additionally allows an assessment of how the automatically generated code will perform on final production hardware. On-target rapid prototyping is being widely adopted in today's automotive and aerospace development processes. The primary technology that enables this is Model-Based Design with automatic production code generation. This session introduces on-target rapid prototyping. It will also discuss modelling and code generation guidelines that help developers transition smoothly from traditional rapid-prototyping to on-target rapid prototyping. Workflow details presented include model conversion from floating-point to fixed-point, data dictionary creation, block and state machine selection, and optimal code generation settings.
Clinical alarm hazards: a “top ten” health technology safety concern

For the past several years ECRI Institute has published a list of Top Ten Health Technology Hazards. This list is based on ECRI's extensive research in health technology safety and on data provided to its problemreporting systems. For every year that the Top Ten list has been published, Alarm Hazards have been at or near the top of the list. Improving alarm safety requires a systematic review of a hospital's alarm-based technologies and analysis of alarm management policies like alarm escalation strategies and staffing patterns. It also requires careful selection of alarm setting criteria for each clinical care area. This article will overview the clinical alarm problems that have been identified through ECRI Institute's research and analysis of various problem reporting databases, including those operated by ECRI Institute. It will also highlight suggestions for improvement, particularly from a technology design and technology management perspective.
Biochemical and histological assessment of Alkali therapy during high animal protein intake in the rat

The Westernized diet is acidogenic due to the high content of sulfur-containing amino acids and relative deficiency of potassium organic anions. Chronic acid loads result in hypercalciuria and negative calcium balance often associated with loss of bone mineral. Alkali therapy tends to reverse the hypercalciuria but little is known regarding its effect on bone as assessed by bone histomorphometry. The present study utilized dynamic bone histomorphometry to evaluate the effects of alkali therapy on acid-induced changes in bone turnover. Serum and urine analyses and bone histomorphometry were assessed in adult rats after 2 months of either a low casein (LC) or high casein (HC) diet supplemented with either potassium chloride (KCl) or potassium citrate (KCit). Compared to animals on LC-KCl diet, HC-KCl diet delivered a substantial acid load as shown by significant increases in urinary sulfate, ammonium, and net acid excretion, and a lower urinary pH and citrate excretion without detectable changes in serum parameters. The acid load also resulted in hypercalciuria. Dynamic and static bone histomorphometry disclosed a significant reduction in cancellous bone volume and trabecular number associated with a 2.5-fold increase in eroded and a 3.5-fold increase in osteoclastic surfaces. There was also a near 2-fold increase in bone formation rate in rats on the HC-KCl diet. When animals on the HC diet were given KCit instead of KCl, all of the aforementioned changes in urine biochemistry and bone turnover were significantly attenuated or entirely prevented. These findings underscore the deleterious effects of high animal protein intake in promoting hypercalciuria and increasing bone turnover. Co-administration of potassium alkali attenuates or prevents these changes. In this animal model of high dietary animal protein intake, the major skeletal effect of alkali therapy is to reduce bone resorption, with little or no effect on bone formation.
Psychiatric consultation to internal medicine: an internist's thoughts.

Editor's note: The article below and its companion article, opposite, begin a series in which we attempt to look at the practice ofconsultation-liaison psychiatry [rom both sides o[ the [ence. Here, the experiences ofa general internist and a psychiatrist colleague are paired. Other articles in the series will contrast psychiatrists' views and experiences with those o[a gastroenterologist, an orthopedic surgeon, and other specialists. Readers with experience on consultationliaison services are invited to submit similar pairs o[articles.
Conditions for synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness in binary mixtures of surfactants

Abstract In a previous publication (1) from this laboratory, conditions at the point of maximum synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness (i.e., the point at which the surface tension of the mixture at its critical micelle concentration, γ cmc , is a minimum) were based on the assumption that the mole fraction of each surfactant in the surface monolayer at this point, X ∗ , is 0.5. This is not always true. These conditions can now be determined without this assumption. The conditions for the existence of synergism and negative synergism 1 have also been elucidated.
Some Economic Aspects of the New Long and Short Haul Clause

Early interpretation of this clause, 323. — I. Cases in which relief is granted; the general policy, 325. — Roundabout lines, 327. — Crosslines, 328. — Market competition, 330. — The parallel of a protective tariff, 332. — II. Extent of relief granted, 333. — Recent trans-continental rate cases, 334. — The zone method criticised, 335. — Conclusion: the margin of tolerance and the Commission's ideal, 336.
Computational issues in solving LMIs

Optimization methods, which have been applied to linear matrix inequality (LMI) problems are described and results are noted. Descent methods are briefly described, and one descent method approached for solving LMI problems is discussed. Convex programming methods and applications are also outlined. Interior point methods are then discussed, and recent results of applications to LMI problems are given. >
Developing a simplified consent form for biobanking.

Background: Consent forms have lengthened over time and become harder for participants to understand. We sought to demonstrate the feasibility of creating a simplified consent form for biobanking that comprises the minimum information necessary to meet ethical and regulatory requirements. We then gathered preliminary data concerning its content from hypothetical biobank participants. Methodology/Principal Findings: We followed basic principles of plain-language writing and incorporated into a 2-page form (not including the signature page) those elements of information required by federal regulations and recommended by best practice guidelines for biobanking. We then recruited diabetes patients from community-based practices and randomized half (n=56) to read the 2-page form, first on paper and then a second time on a tablet computer. Participants were encouraged to use ‘‘More information’’ buttons on the electronic version whenever they had questions or desired further information. These buttons led to a series of ‘‘Frequently Asked Questions’’ (FAQs) that contained additional detailed information. Participants were asked to identify specific sentences in the FAQs they thought would be important if they were considering taking part in a biorepository. On average, participants identified 7 FAQ sentences as important (mean 6.6, SD 14.7, range: 0–71). No one sentence was highlighted by a majority of participants; further, 34 (60.7%) participants did not highlight any FAQ sentences. Conclusions: Our preliminary findings suggest that our 2-page form contains the information that most prospective participants identify as important. Combining simplified forms with supplemental material for those participants who desire more information could help minimize consent form length and complexity, allowing the most substantively material information to be better highlighted and enabling potential participants to read the form and ask questions more effectively.
Promoción de una educación activa de la actividad física orientada a la salud en las clases de educación física

La actividad fisica es un componente clave para el optimo desarrollo fisico y saludable del cuerpo. La sustancial reduccion de actividad fisica en ninos durante las ultimas decadas ha contribuido a un incremento de la obesidad en la ninez y los problemas de salud relacionados. A nivel educativo, se espera que la asignatura de educacion fisica contribuya al crecimiento saludable de los alumnos y desarrolle y promueva estilos de vida fisicamente activos. Sin embargo, esta materia tiene dificil el cumplimentar esta expectativa dado el insuficiente tiempo, recursos, entrenamiento profesional y apoyo curricular y administrativo. El presente articulo aborda una nueva perspectiva en la contribucion de experiencias durante las clases de educacion fisica basada en el desarrollo de habilidades, el incremento de las capacidades fisicas ( fitness ) y el establecimiento de un estilo de vida saludable y activo. Se realizan recomendaciones practicas para el incremento de los niveles de actividad fisica en el colegio con minimas alteraciones del curriculo academico. Los autores introducen cuatro conceptos originales: de educacion activa, cultura personal de actividad fisica, conductas apropiadas segun el tipo de actividad fisica, y capacitacion del alumno. A partir de estos conceptos, se propone un nuevo rol de los educadores fisicos como facilitadores y promotores de una educacion activa y de una vida saludable. === Abstract Physical activity is a key component of optimal physical development and health. A substantial decline in children’s activity levels during the last few decades has contributed to a rising prevalence of childhood obesity and related health problems. Physical education programs at schools are expected to enhance students’ growth and development and promote physically active living. However, such programs have difficulty fulfilling the expectation due to insufficient time, resources, trained professional, and curricular and administrative support. A new perspective on the contributions of physical activity experiences during the physical education programs aimed at skill development, fitness enhancement and establishment of a healthy, active lifestyle is the subject of discussion in this article. Practical recommendations for increasing students’ physical activity levels at school with minimum disturbance of academic curriculum are outlined. The authors introduce four original concepts of active education, personal physical activity culture, proper demeanors for different categories of physical activity, and student empowerment. In light of these concepts, a new role of physical educators as advocates of active education and promoters of healthy living is also discussed.
Consumer Education as the Means to Attain Efficient Market Performance

In this paper the markets in which individual consumers buy goods and services are analyzed in accordance with the economic theory of market organization. The poor market performance characteristics identified by those in the consumerism movement are found to be consistent with expectations based on this theory. The possibility of achieving efficient market performance through consumer education programs is rejected. At best it would be an inefficient means to the desired end. Several alternative means are suggested for further consideration. They involve changes in the rules under which the economic system operates and therefore will not be easy to achieve.
The role of affect on the search for global and specific target information

Abstract Two experiments demonstrate that affect influences the extent to which individuals seek global versus specific target information when forming impressions. Experiment 1 relied on natural differences in individuals' moods and found that relatively happy participants were more likely than relatively unhappy ones to seek global before specific target information when forming impressions. Following an experimental mood manipulation, participants in Experiment 2 actively sought global and specific target information in an impression formation task. Overall, happy participants sought relatively more traits than behaviors, whereas sad participants sought relatively more behaviors than traits; however, these differences were significant only for participants exposed to positive trait information. These results suggest that sad participants may have been sensitive to the diagnosticity of the information they chose. The results of both experiments are consistent with the Affect–as–Information model and sug...
On the Failure of Imagination in Inclusive Schooling

Based on the first-generation attempts at inclusion described in these case studies, this analysis poses three questions: What are the bottom-line practices we ought to expect in inclusive classrooms and from all the teachers who work in them? What might the relationship look like between the classrooms themselves and the schools and the administrators who lead them? And, how can we best use these case studies to stimulate the development of the next generation of inclusive classrooms?
Oriented geminate recombination of Cl2 in solid xenon at high pressure

Photodissociation studies of Cl2-doped Xe in a diamond anvil cell are reported. Excitation of the dissociative 1Πu←X transition at 308 nm, leads to complete recombination at 100 K, and 4 GPa. The recombinant emission shows a polarization ratio of 0.95, indicating that the molecular orientation is preserved to some extent during the process.
Sexual Division of Labor in Adam Smith's Work

It is a fact universally acknowledged that a woman's work is never done and often not counted. It is a fact equally universally acknowledged that most people in the economics profession are not terribly interested in such a fact. It is my purpose to explore this lack of interest by tracing it to the place of sexual division of labor in Adam Smith's work.
Modeling QCA for area minimization in logic synthesis

Concerned by the wall that Moore's Law is expected to hit in the next decade, the integrated circuit community is turning to emerging nanotechnologies for continued device improvements. While significant advancements in nanotechnology devices have been achieved, much work is required to integrate these technologies into the existing design methodologies. Given that the physical design paradigm of each nanotechnology will be significantly different than that of traditional silicon circuits, the underlying cost functions used in optimization algorithms throughout the design abstraction hierarchy must be altered. Because nanotechnologies are not as well developed and understood as silicon devices, abstraction will initially result in less accurate models. However, if models are developed and augmented as nanotechnologies continue to evolve, the transition from CMOS-based design to nano-based design will be relatively seamless.This paper details the logic-level abstraction process for area minimization for one promising nanotechnology - quantum cellular automata (QCA). The model abstracts relative area costs, including interconnect area, for QCA devices, and it is integrated within existing multi-level logic synthesis techniques. Results validate the proposed approach of designing nano-based circuits with the traditional abstraction-based design methodology.
Hyperbaric Oxygen in Cardiovascular Disease Potential Usages and Hazards

In summary, hyperbaric oxygenation produces remarkable physiologic increases in oxygen transport to body tissues. However, potential benefit from hyperoxygenation in the treatment of ischemic disease appears dependent upon the presence of a partially intact capillary circulation. Improved means for prevention of oxygen toxicity and better technics of oxygen delivery to specific sites are required, if hyperbaric oxygenation is to fulfill present hopes for therapeutic application.
Clusters and stellar angular-momentum evolution

The origin and evolution of stellar rotation has proven to be both important and challenging. Data obtained in star clusters has already provided key constraints on the role of protostellar disks and the timescales for angular-momentum loss and internal transport. Recent data sets also provide empirical support for the idea that a wide range of rotation rates converge on the main sequence. We evaluate the prospects for rotation–mass–age relationships and the role of open clusters in calibrating them.
Fpga interconnect delay fault testing

Interconnection networks consume the majority of the die area in an FPGA. Presented is a scalable manufacturing test method for all SRAM-based FPGAs, able to detect multiple delay and/or bridging interconnection faults. This method achieves an adjustable, maximum sensitivity to resistive open defects of several kilo-ohms. Bridging faults modeled as either wired-AND or wired-OR are detectable. Finally, fast and simple fault localization is presented.
Spherical modifications and the strong category of manifolds

Using the notion of spherical modification and results from Morse theory a general technique is described for constructing manifolds whose strong category is small (≦ 3) but whose homological structure is complex.
Children's judgements about intentionally and unintentionally broken promises.

Astington (1988) found that seven- to nine-year-olds often fail to distinguish between promises and predictions when judging the utterances of characters in simple stories. Instead, these children attend only to the outcome of the story (i.e. whether the promised event occurred) when deciding whether a promise has been made and, to a lesser extent, when deciding whether the speaker is responsible for the outcome. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether seven- to nine-year-olds (a) vary their judgements of responsibility according to the reason that the promised action was not completed, and (b) recognize that an unfulfilled promise is a promise regardless of whether the speaker's failure is unavoidable or intentional. Seven-year-olds, nine-year-olds, and adults were asked to make promise and responsibility judgements for two story types: stories in which the promiser intentionally failed to fulfil his or her promise and stories in which an unforeseen event prevented the promiser from fulfilling the promise. Participants at all ages assigned responsibility correctly across both story types. In making promise judgements, however, the seven-year-olds' decisions about promises reflected a misguided attention to the outcome of a promise or the obstacle to its fulfilment. The nine-year-olds recognized that an unfulfilled promise is a promise but only when there was a clear reason for the speaker's failure to fulfil his or her obligation. We suggest that children consider only sincere promises to be instances of promising and make inferences about speaker sincerity by looking to external factors in the communicative context.
Upper Carboniferous ostracode assemblages from a mixed carbonate–terrigenous-mud environment

The Upper Carboniferous Beil Limestone Member (Lecompton Formation; Virgilian) from the Midcontinent of North America was deposited in a tropical, shallow-marine environment in which varying amounts of terrigenous mud were mixed with carbonate sediment. Shallowing of the sea occurred during deposition so that the upper part of the Beil was deposited much nearer to shore than the lower part. Mean relative abundances of 24 species of ostracodes in 51 samples differed among three stratigraphical subdivisions of the Beil and allowed recognition of two assemblages. Most species of the Cryptobairdia seminalis–Bairdia pompilioides assemblage, characteristic of the lower part of the Beil, were negatively correlated with percent terrigenous mud. On the other hand, abundant species of the Moorites minutus–Bairdia beedei assemblage, consisting of the C. seminalis and the Cavellina nebrascensis subassemblages, respectively, of the middle and upper parts, were positively correlated with percent terrigenous mud. Ordinations by non-metric multidimensional scaling showed similar groupings of species. Species diversity was negatively correlated with content of terrigenous mud.
Structural design sensitivity analysis with generalized global stiffness and mass matrices

First- and second-order derivatives of measures of structural response with respect to design variables are calculated using the generalized global stiffness and mass matrix formulation of structural equations. The adjoint variable method is extended for first-order design sensitivity calculation and a mixed direct differentiationadjoint variable method is employed to calculate second derivatives of static structural response measures. The variational or virtual work form of the structural equations is shown to be well suited for design sensitivity analysis with generalized global stiffness and mass matrices, avoiding the requirement for explicit reduction of the matrices. The method is illustrated using a simple structure with a multipoint constraint.
Mobile awareness and participation in community-oriented activities

We describe the iterative design of a location-sensitive mobile application for community engagement and its use at two consecutive community-oriented "First Night" (New Year's Eve) events. Based on initial analysis of personal status posts, blog posts, and semi-structured interviews, we show that providing users with mobile tools relevant to time and locational contexts in their community can scaffold engagement within a community. In the second year of the study we draw from server log data after the event was promoted for public use. Enhancements to the design are discussed to further support civic participation in distributed community contexts, and design lessons are drawn.
On the approximation rate of hierarchical mixtures-of-experts for generalized linear models

We investigate a class of hierarchical mixtures-of-experts (HME) models where generalized linear models with nonlinear mean functions of the form ψ(α + xTβ) are mixed. Here ψ(·) is the inverse link function. It is shown that mixtures of such mean functions can approximate a class of smooth functions of the form ψ(h(x)), where h(·) e W∞2;k (a Sobolev class over [0, 1]s, as the number of experts m in the network increases. An upper bound of the approximation rate is given as O(m−2/s) in Lp norm. This rate can be achieved within the family of HME structures with no more than s-layers, where s is the dimension of the predictor x.
Visualizing computer lab usage at Indiana University, Bloomington

Understanding usage patterns of various university resources is important when making budget and departmental allocations. Computer labs are one of the most highly used classrooms on campus. In order to best make use of them, IT professionals must know how the variables of platform, seat count, lab location, and departmental association might influence usage patterns. After conducting user studies and developing and getting feedback on several iterations of visualizations the client's goals were discussed. Key goals in this process include seeing trends over time, detailed usage reports, aggregate data viewing, and being able to detect outliers. Four visualization techniques, consisting of geospatial maps, tree maps, radial maps, and spectrum maps were created to handle these goals. It is evident that a number of different visualizing techniques are needed, including static and interactive versions.
Unconfined compressive strength of brittle material containing multiple cracks

This study presents an investigation designed to understand the mechanics of crack propagation and interaction under uniaxial compression of a brittle material containing nine pre-existing cracks. These cracks have varying degrees of inclination. The brittle material used was a stiff kaolinite clay. The laboratory investigation indicated that the samples under compression developed secondary tensile cracks that propagated from the tips of the pre-existing cracks in a direction parallel to the uniaxial compressive load. The interaction of the secondary cracks with the pre-existing cracks produced the failure of the samples. The samples containing all the pre-existing cracks inclined at 45° with the horizontal were found to be the weakest under compression.
Effects of Socioeconomic and Racial Residential Segregation on Preterm Birth: A Cautionary Tale of Structural Confounding

Confounding associated with social stratification or other selection processes has been called structural confounding. In the presence of structural confounding, certain covariate strata will contain only subjects who could never be exposed, a violation of the positivity or experimental treatment effect assumption. Thus, structural confounding can prohibit the exchangeability necessary for meaningful causal contrasts across levels of exposure. The authors explored the presence and magnitude of structural confounding by estimating the independent effects of neighborhood deprivation and neighborhood racial composition (segregation) on rates of preterm birth in Wake and Durham counties, North Carolina (1999-2001). Tabular analyses and random-intercept fixed-slope multilevel logistic models portrayed different structural realities in these counties. The multilevel modeling results suggested some nonsignificant effect of residence in tracts with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation or racial residential segregation on adjusted odds of preterm birth for white and black women living in these counties, and the confidence limit ratios indicated fairly consistent levels of precision around the estimates. The results of the tabular analysis, however, suggested that many of these regression modeling findings were off-support and based on no actual data. The implications for statistical and public health inference, in the presence of no data, are considered.
Review: The Book of Beetles: A Life-size Guide to Six Hundred of Nature's Gems, edited by Patrice Bouchard

The Book of Beetles: A Life-size Guide to Six Hundred of Nature's Gems . Edited by Patrice Bouchard. 2014. University of Chicago Press. (ISBN 9780226082752). 656 pp. Hardback. $55.00. Population geneticist J. B. S. Haldane wrote, in his book What Is Life? , that “The Creator would appear as endowed with a passion for stars, on the one hand, and for beetles on the other, for the simple reason that there are nearly 300,000 species of beetle known, and perhaps more, as compared with somewhat less than 9,000 species of birds and a little over 10,000 species of mammals. Beetles are …
Instructional Design Methods and Practice

The rapid introduction of powerful digital technologies in the last 20 years has made it possible to create innovative and engaging learning activities in nearly every subject domain at nearly every education level. As a consequence, however, the task of designing, developing, and deploying effective instruction has become ever more challenging. While the basic instructional planning competencies and skills remain about the same, the emphasis in instructional design has shifted to the technologies used to support specific learning goals and objectives. This shift in emphasis has had consequences that have yet to be properly addressed. For example, the prior emphasis in the instructional design community on evaluation and empirical research has declined while there has been increasing emphasis on innovation and specific technologies. Doctoral programs in instructional design have also experienced a shift in emphasis from research and scholarship to development and practice. Overall, instructional design is becoming more and more a craft industry and less and less a scientific enterprise. These generalizations might be overstated but they raise concerns with regard to how best to link together the design of instruction, educational research, and the deployment of technologies aimed at improving learning, performance, and instruction. This chapter presents an elaboration of these claims and a possible path to resolution that builds on emphasizing formative evaluation and fidelity of implementation studies.
Bioactivation of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl phenol (BHT) and hydroxylated analogues to toxic quinoid metabolites.

Phenolic antioxidants produce a variety of effects in animals. For example, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) has either anticarcinogenic or tumor promoting activity, depending on the dosing regimen (Malkinson, 1983). BHT also produces acute pulmonary toxicity in mice (Witschi et al., 1989) and hepatotoxicity in rats (Mizutani et al., 1987), and these effects are believed to be due to its oxidative biotransformation to reactive metabolites. As shown in Figure 1, mouse liver and lung cytochrome P-450’s catalyze the metabolism of BHT along three pathways: (A) hydroxylation of the 4-methyl group (forming BHT-MeOH), (B) hydroxylation of a tert-butyl group (forming BHT-OH) and (C) oxidation of the pi-electron system to a phenoxy radical that leads to quinoid products (Thompson et al., 1987). Loss of a second electron from this radical generates the quinone methide (BHT-QM), and combination with molecular oxygen yields the peroxyquinol (BHT-PQ) that is rapidly degraded by P-450 to a variety of products (Wand and Thompson, 1986).
Study of Usability of Security and Privacy in Context Aware Mobile Applications

Mobile devices, such as smart phones, are becoming increasingly powerful with more memory, processing capacity and interface to several hard and soft sensors, making it possible to easily develop and use context aware applications on them. Context aware applications make use of context from several sources including location, light, sound, as well social context and users’ behavioral patterns to make more informed decisions for the user. Since these applications are indeed aware of all the user’s personal information and context, it is important that they be designed with security and privacy in mind. In this paper, we discuss a study conducted to understand user perception of security and privacy features implemented in context aware mobile applications, improvements that can be made and design guidelines that will help improve the usability of these features.
Quantitation of hypertensive nephrosclerosis on an objective rational scale of measure in adults and children.

The development of a precise, mathematical relationship between blood pressure and renal microvascular abnormalities would be highly desirable. Such a relationship would require that abnormalities be quantitative on a rational scale. The dominant abnormality in nephrosclerosis occurs in arcuate and cortical arteries of 50 to 400 μ m outer diameter. This abnormality consists of acquired inner layers of fibroplastic tissue accompanied by variable fibrosis or withering of the preexisting vessel wall. It is this pathologic variable of interest, the amount of fibroplasia, that can be measured by its thickness in a direction perpendicular to the arterial axis. A method for quantitating the fibroplasia is described. Use of this method in a series of 93 autopsies suggests two tentative conclusions. (1) The outer diameter of 141 μ m marks the size of artery in which fibroplasia best correlates with blood pressure. (2) The linear function, mean blood pressure = 1.60 × microvascular lesions + 79.7, with correlation coefficient 0.698, governs a relationship similar at all ages. This relationship can be used to compute expected blood pressure from measurements of microvascular abnormalities in kidneys obtained at autopsy. Because all ages include ages 14 to 21 years, the observations imply that the initial tissue changes of hypertensive disease occur early in life.
From Complicit Citizens to Potential Prey: State Imaginaries and Subjectivities in US War Resistance

The movements against the Vietnam and Iraq wars gave rise to analogous resistance efforts, in the form of draft resistance and counter-recruitment, respectively. Despite their many similarities, th...