cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embryonic, fetal, and neonatal tongue myoblasts exhibit molecular heterogeneity in vitro

Variable gene expression patterns have been shown to exist between embryonic, fetal, and neonatal lineages of limb skeletal myoblasts in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the molecular phenotype of embryonic, fetal, and neonatal tongue myoblasts in primary culture for comparison with in vivo developmental tongue myoblasts. Myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) and myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene expression were determined in culture during both growth and differentiation conditions by PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. Unlike their in vivo tongue myoblast equivalents, developmental tongue myoblast cultures featured the expression of MyoD when kept in growth conditions. Differentiation conditions in vitro induced myogenic tongue lineages to maintain characteristics of their in vivo morphologic and contractile gene phenotype. Both in vivo and in vitro, embryonic tongue lineages predominantly expressed MHC-embryonic isoforms, while fetal and neonatal tongue lineages predominantly expressed fast and perinatal isoforms of contractile genes. A notable difference from the in vivo condition that was observed in differentiated tongue myotubes in vitro was the presence of the MHC-slow protein. It was previously demonstrated that MHC-slow protein was undetectable during the in vivo development of the tongue musculature despite the abundance of slow isoform transcripts. The present characterization of primary tongue myogenic cultures indicates that murine myoblast heterogeneity exists primarily between developmental lineages at the level of contractile gene expression. Outside their native surroundings, developmental myogenic tongue populations are unable to recapitulate the determination and differentiation molecular profiles that occur in vivo.
Magnetic, Mechanical, and Optical Characterization of a Magnetic Nanoparticle-Embedded Polymer for Microactuation

We have characterized the magnetic, mechanical, and optical properties of SU-8 polymer with embedded nickel nanoparticles (SU8-Ni) of concentrations ranging from 0% to 12.5% Ni by weight. Magnetic characterization was performed using a micropolysilicon torsional actuator as well as via alternating gradient magnetometry. Mechanical properties were measured using nanoindentation, and optical measurements were acquired via spectrophotometry. This magnetic polymer offers several advantages as a micromechanical structural material, including biocompatibility, chemical resistance, thermal stability, low cost, and mechanical compliance for large deflections. It is suitable for fluidics and biomedical applications where remote low-power actuation is desired.
Fractal Dimension of Alumina Aggregates Grown in Two Dimensions

The concepts of fractal geometry are applied to the analysis of 0.4-micron alumina constrained to agglomerate in two dimensions. Particles were trapped at the bottom surface of a drop of a dilute suspension, and the agglomeration process was directly observed, using an inverted optical microscope. Photographs were digitized and analyzed, using three distinct approaches. The results indicate that the agglomerates are fractal, having a dimension of approximately 1.5, which agrees well with the predictions of the diffusion-limited cluster-cluster aggregation model.
Temperament at 5 years of age predicts amygdala and orbitofrontal volume in the right hemisphere in adolescence

Abstract It was of interest to determine if hemispheric differences in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volume would be related to behavioral inhibition observed in a peer-play setting. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out in 23 individuals (19 males and 4 females) at an average age of 14.87 ± 1.14 years who were either at high or low risk for alcohol dependence. All subjects had previously been evaluated in a preschool peer play paradigm (5.03 ± 0.78 years) assessing behavioral inhibition. Region of interest measures were traced for the OFC and the amygdala, and confirmed with voxel based morphometry. Behavioral inhibition, a behavioral tendency that often occurs in a novel setting in reaction to strangers, includes the following: greater time spent next to the mother, greater time staring at another child, and longer latency to begin play with another child. A significant relationship was seen between greater right OFC volume and indicators of behavioral inhibition including greater time spent proximal to their mother and greater time staring at the other child. Also, larger amygdala volume was associated with more time spent proximal to the mother. Behavioral control, including both over- and under-control, is likely to be subserved by neural circuitry associated with emotion regulation including the right OFC and the amygdala.
A tool for supporting Web-based empirical research: providing a basis for Web design guidelines

Current Web design guidelines are often based on little more than intuition or anecdotal evidence. When research is cited to support Web design guidelines, that research has frequently been conducted as part of a small usability study or a print-media study. Whether such sources can be validly generalized into standard Web design guidelines is questionable but the practice is widespread. Professional technical communicators may be interested in conducting experiments to determine what Web design elements most benefit their audiences, paying attention to how those users interact with their own computers at a place and time of their own choosing. Conducting such research, however, requires a level of technical expertise usually reserved for programmers. To address this problem, our research team has been developing a tool to aid non-programmers in conducting Web-based experiments of Web design features. The ultimate goal of such experiments would be the development of research-based Web design guidelines.
A Practical Method to Form Energy Efficient Connected -Coverage in Wireless Sensor Networks

In the wireless sensor networks, an important issue of area coverage is to know how many sensor nodes are needed in a deployment under a certain kind of distribution. In that way, the nodes can be dense enough to form a complete and connected cover of interest area. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the "redundancy of connectivity" caused by the use of the well known sufficient condition that "the communication range is at least twice the sensing range". In this paper, we show our result in solving these problems, a practical method to form a connected -coverage with a connected dominating set (CDS). By introducing a measure of node density called the biggest vacant square territory (BVST), we prove that the point coverage offered by a CDS implies area coverage of the area of interest. The 1-point-coverage of a CDS with a reduced R and a certain number of deploying sensors guarantees -area-coverage, or simply -coverage. Such assurance is verified via a simulation study on the CDS in [7] under random node distribution.
Photodehydrochlorination of carbon monoxide-vinyl chloride copolymer

In order to examine effect of the carbonyl group in carbon monoxide–vinyl chloride copolymer, poly(CO–VC), photoirradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp on the copolymer was carried out. Poly(CO–VC) had a rate of dehydrochlorination three times that of PVC, and the reaction involved a decrease in chlorine content. Also there was a marked change in the ultraviolet spectra of the photoirradiated films. However, no pronounced change of molecular weight was observed, but a change in Rf in TLC was observed clearly. These facts confirmed that photoirradiation of poly(CO–VC) produced a structural change by dehydrochlorination without serious decrease of molecular weight. In addition, photodehydrochlorination of the copolymer or PVC film was followed kinetically, and after ozonolysis of the dehydrochlorinated polymers, the number-average molecular weights were measured. From the results of degree of dehydrochlorination and molecular weight, the number average of conjugated double bonds or carbonyl groups was estimated. A mechanism for dehydrochlorination process by photo-irradiation is suggested.
A fingerprint marker from early gestation associated with diabetes in middle age: The Dutch Hunger Winter Families Study

Background Fetal programming of diabetes might originate in early pregnancy when fingerprints are permanently established. The mean dermatoglyphic ridge count difference between fingertips 1 and 5 (‘Md15’) varies with the early prenatal environment. We hypothesized that Md15 would be associated with adult-onset diabetes. Methods We obtained Md15 from 577 Dutch adults (aged 58.9 years, SD 1.1) whose births in 1943–47 were documented in maternity records and from 260 of their same-sex siblings for whom birth weights were not available. Of these 837 participants, complete anthropometry and diabetes status (from history or glucose tolerance test) were obtained for 819. Results After adjustment for age, sex, parental diabetes and adult anthropometry, fingerprint Md15 was associated with prevalent diabetes [odds ratio (OR) = 1.37 per 1 SD (95% confidence interval 1.02–1.84)]. This relationship held [OR = 1.40 (1.03–1.92)] for diabetic cases restricted to those recently diagnosed (within 7 years). In the birth series restricted to recently diagnosed cases, the mutually adjusted ORs were 1.34 (1.00–1.79) per SD of Md15 and 0.83 (0.62–1.10) per SD of birth weight. Further adjustments for maternal smoking, conception season or prenatal famine exposure in 1944–45 did not alter these estimates. Among 42 sibling pairs discordant for diabetes, the diabetic sibling had higher Md15 by 3.5 (0.6–6.3) after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions Diabetes diagnosed at age 50+ years was associated with a fingerprint marker established in early gestation, irrespective of birth weight. Fingerprints may provide a useful tool to investigate prenatal developmental plasticity.
Tyrosine residue in exon 14 of the cytoplasmic domain of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) regulates ligand binding specificity.

Platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1) is a cell adhesion molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily that plays a role in a number of vascular processes including leukocyte transmigration through endothelium. The presence of a specific 19– amino acid exon within the cytoplasmic domain of PECAM-1 regulates the binding specificity of the molecule; specifically, isoforms containing exon 14 mediate heterophilic cell–cell aggregation while those variants missing exon 14 mediate homophilic cell–cell aggregation. To more precisely identify the region of exon 14 responsible for ligand specificity, a series of deletion mutants were created in which smaller regions of exon 14 were removed. After transfection into L cells, they were tested for their ability to mediate aggregation. For heterophilic aggregation to occur, a conserved 5–amino acid region (VYSEI in the murine sequence or VYSEV in the human sequence) in the mid-portion of the exon was required. A final construct, in which this tyrosine was mutated into a phenylalanine, aggregated in a homophilic manner when transfected into L cells. Inhibition of phosphatase activity by exposure of cells expressing wild type or mutant forms of PECAM-1 to sodium orthovanadate resulted in high levels of cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphorylation and led to a switch from heterophilic to homophilic aggregation. Our data thus indicate either loss of this tyrosine from exon 14 or its phosphorylation results in a change in ligand specificity from heterophilic to homophilic binding. Vascular cells could thus determine whether PECAM-1 functions as a heterophilic or homophilic adhesion molecule by processes such as alternative splicing or by regulation of the balance between tyrosine phosphorylation or dephosphorylation. Defining the conditions under which these changes occur will be important in understanding the biology of PECAM-1 in transmigration, angiogenesis, development, and other processes in which this molecule plays a role.
End Loop Shorting in Nonequilibrium MHD Generators

T characteristics of the plasma are examined in the exit region of a nonequilibrium MHD generator which is shorted axially by highly conducting gas layers alpng the electrode walls. The axial extent of the exit region is governed by conditions at the generator exit which are in turn affected by the exit region's ability to prevent shorting currents from flowing. For operating conditions of interest, this length is determined. The important parameters which govern it and the aerodynamic techniques which minimize it are delineated. Thus, if the ends of the generator play an important role in determining the characteristics of the shorting wall layers, the means identified here may be used to minimize the conductance of the exit region.
ReVOLT: radiation-enhanced viral oncolytic therapy

Viral oncolytic therapy has been pursued with renewed interest as the molecular basis of carcinogenesis and viral replication has been elucidated. Genetically engineered, attenuated viruses have been rationally constructed to achieve a therapeutic index in tumor cells compared with surrounding normal tissue. Many of these attenuated mutant viruses have entered clinical trials. Here we review the preclinical literature demonstrating the interaction of oncolytic viruses with ionizing radiation and provides a basis for future clinical trials.
Hypothermia, Metabolic Stress, and NMDA‐Mediated Excitotoxicity

: Isolated embryonic retinas were metabolically stressed by inhibition of glycolysis either with iodoacetate (IOA) or by glucose withdrawal plus 10 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and the effects of hypothermia were examined. Incubation at 30 versus 37°C during 30 min of hypoglycemia with IOA completely reduced the rapid swelling-related GABA release [6 ± 2 vs. 68 ± 10 nmol/100 mg of protein (mean ± SEM) for 30 and 37°C, respectively]. Histology of the retina immediately following 30 min of metabolic stress at 30°C appeared normal, whereas that at 37°C showed a pattern of acute edema, characteristic of NMDA-mediated acute excitotoxicity. Coincubation with a competitive or noncompetitive NMDA antagonist, respectively, CGS-19755 (10 μM) or MK-801 (1 μM), during 30 min of hypoglycemia at 37°C completely prevented tissue swelling, whereas extracellular GABA content remained at basal levels, indicating that the cytotoxic effects of IOA treatment for 30 min at 37°C were NMDA receptor mediated. Longer periods of hypoglycemia at 37° C produced acute toxicity that was only partially NMDA receptor mediated. Hypothermia delayed the onset of NMDA-mediated toxicity by 30–60 min. At 30°C, the rate of loss of ATP was slowed during the first several minutes of hypoglycemia (82 and 58% of maximal tissue levels at 30 and 37° C, respectively, at 5 min), but by 10 min, ATP levels were comparably reduced. After a transient exposure of retina to 50 μM NMDA in Mg2+-free medium, hypothermia significantly attenuated acute GABA release by 30%. At 24 h of recovery, lactate dehydrogenase release was decreased by 37%. Hypothermia had no effect when the exposure was done in medium containing physiological concentrations of Mg2+. The above results suggest that the protective effect of hypothermia during the metabolic insult is predominately directed at the cellular events that lead up to NMDA receptor involvement. Reduction in the rate of loss of ATP, however, does not fully account for the delay in involvement of NMDA receptors during metabolic stress at 30°C. The attenuation of direct NMDA-mediated toxicity in Mg2+-free medium further suggests that decreased temperature may result in altered channel properties during situations when the Mg2+ block is lifted.
Multi-level synthesis for safe replaceability

We describe the condition that a sequential digital design is a safe replacement for an existing design without making any assumptions about a known initial state of the design or about its environment. We formulate a safe replacement condition which guarantees that if an original design is replaced by a new design, the interacting environment cannot detect the change by observing the input-output behavior of the new design; conversely, if a replacement design does not satisfy our condition an environment can potentially detect the replacement (in this sense the replacement is potentially unsafe). Our condition allows simplification of the state transition diagram of an original design. We use the safe replacement condition to derive a sequential resynthesis method for area reduction of gate-level designs. We have implemented our resynthesis algorithm and we report experimental results.
Cutting Edge: Cytosolic Bacterial DNA Activates the Inflammasome via Aim2

Pathogens are detected by pattern recognition receptors that, upon activation, orchestrate an appropriate immune response. The TLRs and the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs) are prototypic pattern recognition receptors that detect extracellular and cytosolic pathogens, respectively. Listeria monocytogenes has both extracellular and cytosolic phases and is detected in the cytosol by members of the NLR family. These include two NLR members, NLRC4 and NLRP3, that, upon detection of cytosolic L. monocytogenes, induce the assembly of the inflammasome. Inflammasomes serve as platforms for the activation of the protease caspase 1, which mediates the processing and secretion of pro–IL-1β and pro–IL-18. We previously provided evidence that L. monocytogenes is also detected by a third inflammasome. We now use biochemical and genetic approaches to demonstrate that the third detector senses bacterial DNA and identify it as Aim2, a receptor that has previously been shown to detect viral DNA.
Illusory Conjunctions in the Processing of Clock Times

Abstract A search task was used in two studies to investigate whether clock times are processed holistically or whether they can be formed from hour and minute components presented concurrently in different stimuli. In the first experiment, two kinds of catch trials were compared: control trials and conjunction trials. False-alarm rates were significantly higher in the conjunction condition than in the control condition, and this difference was apparent whether the distractor display contained times in the same format (either digits or words) or in a different format. In the second study, differences between the results in the distractor conditions were found to be a function of similarity between the distractor display and the target time. Control trials that included a component of the target time generated more false alarms than control trials that did not. The findings suggest that times are processed numerically in a bottom-up manner that may be consistent with feature-integration theory.
Vasculogenesis: a crucial player in the resistance of solid tumours to radiotherapy

Tumours have two main ways to develop a vasculature: by angiogenesis, the sprouting of endothelial cells from nearby blood vessels, and vasculogenesis, the formation of blood vessels from circulating cells. Because tumour irradiation abrogates local angiogenesis, the tumour must rely on the vasculogenesis pathway for regrowth after irradiation. Tumour irradiation produces a marked influx of CD11b(+) myeloid cells (macrophages) into the tumours, and these are crucial to the formation of blood vessels in the tumours after irradiation and for the recurrence of the tumours. This process is driven by increased tumour hypoxia, which increases levels of HIF-1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1), which in turn upregulates SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor 1 or CXCL12), the main driver of the vasculogenesis pathway. Inhibition of HIF-1 or of its downstream target SDF-1 prevents the radiation-induced influx of the CD11b(+) myeloid cells and delays or prevents the tumours from recurring following irradiation. Others and we have shown that with a variety of tumours in both mice and rats, the inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway delays or prevents the recurrence of implanted or autochthonous tumours following irradiation or following treatment with vascular disrupting agents or some chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel. In addition to the recruited macrophages, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are also recruited to the irradiated tumours, a process also driven by SDF-1. Together, the recruited proangiogenic macrophages and the EPCs reform the tumour vasculature and allow the tumour to regrow following irradiation. This is a new paradigm with major implications for the treatment of solid tumours by radiotherapy.
SOURCE‐RELATED DETERMINANTS OF PERCEIVED JOB SCOPE

The effect of manipulating source competence, locus of control, and social cues on perceivedjob scope was examined in an experimental study. A total of 185 business students participated in a 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial research design. The design partitions were: task level (enriched versus unenriched), social cues (positive versus neutral), source competence (high versus low), and locus of control (high versus low). Subjects were screened on a locus of control measure such that those either in the upper or lower third score range were eligible to participate. A threeway interaction was found, involving source competence x social cues x locus of control on perceivedjob scope. The results of this study are discussed in temzs of the Social In$omtion Processing Approach (SIPA) to task design.
Statistical methods to infer cooperative binding among transcription factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Motivation: Transcription factors regulate transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes by binding to specific DNA sequences in the regulatory regions of the genes. This regulation usually occurs in a coordinated manner involving multiple transcription factors. Genome-wide location data, also called ChIP-chip data, have enabled researchers to infer the binding sites for individual regulatory proteins. However, current methods to infer binding sites, such as simple thresholding based on p-values, are not optimal for a number of study objectives like combinatorial regulation, leading to potential loss of information. Hence, there is a need to develop more efficient statistical methods for analyzing such data. Results: We propose to use log-linear models to study cooperative binding among transcription factors and have developed an Expectation-Maximization algorithm for statistical inferences. Our method is advantageous over simple thresholding methods both based on simulation and real data studies. We apply our method to infer the cooperative network of 204 regulators in Rich Medium and a subset of them in four different environmental conditions. Our results indicate that the cooperative network is condition specific; for a set of regulators, the network structure changes under different environmental conditions. Availability: Our program is available at http://bioinformatics.med.yale.edu/TFcooperativity Contact: hongyu.zhao@yale.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary information is available at Bioinformatics online.
Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death influences autoantigen-driven deletion and TCR revision.

Peripheral CD4+Vβ5+ T cells are tolerized to an endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus superantigen either by deletion or TCR revision. Through TCR revision, RAG reexpression mediates extrathymic TCRβ rearrangement and results in a population of postrevision CD4+Vβ5− T cells expressing revised TCRβ chains. We have hypothesized that cell death pathways regulate the selection of cells undergoing TCR revision to ensure the safety and utility of the postrevision population. In this study, we investigate the role of Bcl-2–interacting mediator of cell death (Bim)-mediated cell death in autoantigen-driven deletion and TCR revision. Bim deficiency and Bcl-2 overexpression in Vβ5 transgenic (Tg) mice both impair peripheral deletion. Vβ5 Tg Bim-deficient and Bcl-2 Tg mice exhibit an elevated frequency of CD4+ T cells expressing both the transgene-encoded Vβ5 chain and a revised TCRβ chain. We now show that these dual-TCR–expressing cells are TCR revision intermediates and that the population of RAG-expressing, revising CD4+ T cells is increased in Bim-deficient Vβ5 Tg mice. These findings support a role for Bim and Bcl-2 in regulating the balance of survival versus apoptosis in peripheral T cells undergoing RAG-dependent TCR rearrangements during TCR revision, thereby ensuring the utility of the postrevision repertoire.
Segmentation of Single-Figure Objects by Deformable M-reps

This paper describes the basis and behavior of segmentation of single figures in 3D by deformable m-reps models. Results are given for the segmentation of kidneys from CT and of hippocampi from MR images. Special focus is made on multi-scale-level stages of segmentation, on intrinsic correspondences under deformation that are provided by m-reps, and on the match against model-relative templates provided by both theoretical edge strength templates and templates derived from training images.
Optoelectronics experiments for first-year engineering students

This paper describes a set of experiments in optoelectronics for first-year engineering students. This laboratory experience is comprised of five inexpensive and transportable modules that provide a hands-on introduction to optoelectronics, these modules include different types of emitters, light-emitting diode (LED) colors, optical voice link, total internal reflection and waveguiding. Designed by a senior electrical engineering student, these modules appeal to students with various learning styles. Two hundred eight-five first-year engineering students at Bucknell University and the University of San Diego (USA) have performed these experiments. Student response to the laboratories has been enthusiastic with 80% of the students rating the lab as very good or excellent overall. Further assessment of the experiments by the instructor and the students is also discussed.
Mobile music touch: using haptic stimulation for passive rehabilitation and learning

Hand rehabilitation after injury or illness may allow a patient to regain full or at least partial use of a limb. However, rehabilitation often requires the patient to perform multiple repetitions of motions. While absolutely essential to regaining usage, such exercises are not always mentally engaging or enjoyable for the patient. The loss or degradation of the use of the hands can cause considerable loss of independence. In this dissertation, we present Mobile Music Touch (MMT), a wireless glove paired with a computing device, such as a laptop, smart phone, or MP3 player. The MMT system plays a song, while also “tapping” the fingers using vibration motors to indicate the correct finger to use to play the song on a piano keyboard. Learning a new skill or activity without active focus, an idea called Passive Haptic Learning (PHL) may allow an individual to learn one skill through their sense of touch while performing another, unrelated activity. Most rehabilitation activities are active in nature, requiring the focused participation of the injured person. Passive rehabilitation is the idea that some technologies and activities may bring about beneficial changes without the active engagement of the injured person. In order to study the concepts of PHL and PHR, we propose the Mobile Music Touch (MMT) system. We show that using passive rehabilitation in conjunction with the active rehabilitation of piano playing will bring about a greater degree of improvement in the hands than that achieved using only active rehabilitation. This dissertation research makes three unique contributions. First, we demonstrate that Passive Haptic Learning (PHL) using just the sense of touch is feasible and provides a form of learning and reinforcement of learned skills and tasks. Second, we identify the attributes and design features of a glove suited for long term wear by persons who use a manual wheelchair for mobility. Third, we show that Passive Haptic Rehabilitation (PHR) is possible using vibrotactile stimulation of the hands in persons classified as tetraplegic due to incomplete spinal cord injury.
An experiment in collaborative learning using a game and a computer mediated conference in accounting courses

The accounting profession has criticized schools for failing to provide graduates who know how businesses function. For over fifty years educators have tried new methods to improve delivery of this education. This paper describes field experiments combining the use of a game and the availability of a computer mediated conference (CMC) to improve learning in accounting courses. Results suggest a significant increase in learning with participation in the game and to a lesser extent suggest that the game in combination with the CMC may have a synergistic effect leading to collaborative learning. >
Calculated noise performance of a form of frequency hopping with applications to low altitude satellite communication systems

The author has recently proposed use of a form of frequency hopping (FH) called frequency hop sequence (FHS) for a low-altitude satellite communication system. The problem of interest is the noise performance of FHS in the presence of interference in the form of multipath and jamming. The effect of synchronization error is also considered. In FHS, a group of bits is transmitted simultaneously and these groups or symbols are distinguished during transmission by assigning a unique time sequence of carrier frequency to each symbol. In the case of interference, some nonsignal subsystems have an interference signal in addition to the noise input to the system. Two cases of interference are considered: interference in all nonsignal subsystems and interference in only one nonsignal subsystem. >
Looking back: examining the trends of driver distraction from 2007-2011

Advances in both vehicle and roadway technologies prevent vehicle fatalities; however, this also allows a wider availability of secondary activities that can be performed while driving. Fatalities caused by distraction have increased while overall vehicle fatalities have decreased. Although, driver distraction has been thoroughly researched, few studies have concentrated on the overall trends. Examining the trends of previous studies allows researchers to identify deficiencies within this field in order to focus future efforts in those areas. This paper identifies the research trends regarding the topic of driver distraction as published in four journals between the years of 2007 and 2011. Keywords: Driver distraction; Language: en
Randomized interpolation: a crossover operator producing children at a constraint transition

We introduce a type of genetic crossover operation between an arbitrary feasible solution and any infeasible solution to a constrained optimization model (COModel). This crossover operator produces a feasible-infeasible pair on the boundary, that is, the individuals in the resulting pair of solutions are minimally different.
International Transmission Afloat

Almost eleven years ago to the day, Anna Schwartz and we began a detailed study of inflation under the Bretton Woods System and in the year that immediately followed its breakdown. At the time, the consensus view among economists and in a sizeable portion of the financial community was that floating exchange rates, though perhaps not a panacea, certainly were to be welcomed rather than avoided.
Empty Promises: Settlor's Intent, the Uniform Trust Code, and the Future of Trust Investment Law

Many trust documents contain specific investment management directives, such as a mandate that the trustee retain a specific investment. Whereas trust investment law historically has honored the intent of the settlors who impose such restrictions, some would read the Uniform Trust Code (the UTC) to codify a very different rule. Under this emerging rule, the enforceability of a trust investment restriction would hinge upon objective notions of prudence and efficiency, without regard to a settlor's subjective intent. Although the UTC is now the law in nearly half of the states, this potentially revolutionary change has received almost no scholarly attention. The scant literature on this subject emphasizes the potential benefits of the emerging rule, predicting that it will liberate trust beneficiaries from irrational investment restraints and promote the most efficient deployment of trust investment resources. However, the literature completely lacks a critical analysis of the emerging rule's potential effect on future trust settlors. This Article fills that void, revealing how the emerging rule would produce a series of undesirable consequences and would weaken trust law by incentivizing trust settlors to avoid its undesirable provisions. Viewed from this perspective, the emerging benefit the beneficiaries rule simply cannot achieve its desired impact, and the promises it offers trust beneficiaries prove to be empty ones. As such, trust investment law would be better served by expansion of what some might consider less ambitious doctrines - ones which seek to aid the beneficiaries of settlors who have made mistakes or failed to anticipate changed circumstances but provide no aid in cases where a settlor intentional and thoughtfully impaired beneficiaries' economic rights. Trust investment law cannot meaningfully redress those latter cases. It should not destroy itself by trying.
Robust Moderation Analysis Using a Two-Level Regression Model

Moderation analysis has many applications in social and behavioral sciences. Classical estimation methods typically assume that errors are normally distributed and homoscedastic. When these assumpt...
The American Farm Economic Association as Viewed by a Sample of Its Members

This article summarizes portions of a mail survey conducted by the Extension Affairs Committee of the American Farm Economic Association during January and February 1964. A profile of the general characteristics and professional habits of AFEA members includes age, educational level, and membership and participation in professional associations with particular emphasis on the AFEA. Member reactions and suggestions for improvement of AFEA include (1) more concern with practical problems, and issues and proposals for action with less technical sophistication and mathematics in JFE articles; (2) more workshops; (3) expansion of the awards program; (4) more special sessions programmed for broad areas of interest; and (5) more informal seminars devoted to problems in research, teaching, extension, and industry at the annual meetings.
Film-evaporation microthruster for cubesats

This paper describes a novel MEMS thermal valving system which exploits surface tension as a control mechanism to produce thrust in the sub-millinewton range at less than 1 Watt power at 2 to 5 Volts and using pure liquid water as a green propellant. Over 120 functional field-evaporation devices of different nozzle throat geometries were microfabricated and tested. The throat width was around 8 microns to initiate evaporation at about 50°C with length varying from about 15 to 60 microns to realize different capillary aspect ratios. The thermal and thrust measurements revealed two distinct performance modes for short and long capillaries. The short capillary with a throat aspect ratio up to 2 results in high rates of bulk water cooling beneficial for thermal control. For aspect ratios > 4, the film-evaporation device gives a stable and lower mass flow rate with higher propulsion performance. The measured specific impulse (Isp) exceeds most cold gas micropropulsion systems, due to low atomic mass, and requires no high pressure propellant containment nor massive and power exhaustive conventional valves. Total dry system mass including propellant tank can be as low as 1 ½ grams to hold 1 gram of propellant and occupy less than 2 cm3 volume.
Molecular Mechanisms for Photodetachment in Water

Threshold electron ejection processes, such as photodetachment via optical charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) excitation, provide very simple models for understanding solvent-controlled electron transfer (ET). In previous work, we have demonstrated that ejection from the prototypical CTTS system, the aqueous iodide anion, is to short range into a caged pair [1]. The electron subsequently either diffuses out of the cage, an activated process due to the attractive interaction between the nascent electron and the polarizable iodine neutral, or undergoes reverse electron transfer to reform I− [2]. In the current experiments, our goal was to gain additional insight into the molecular mechanism of ejection by exploring the effect of a large increase in the excitation energy and by isotopic substitution of the solvent. The results are rather unexpected and an ab initio characterization of the vertically prepared bulk CTTS wavefunction turns out to be particularly useful in rationalizing the dynamics of the electron.
Salsa Steps toward Intercultural Education.

Arguably the world’s most popular partnered social dance form, salsa attracts devotees far beyond the Latino communities in which this pungent “sauce” was brewed. The cross-cultural appeal of salsa...
Abstract 1089: Spontaneous formation of sarcomas in Usp18 knockout mice.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and leimyosarcoma are two of the most common adult soft tissue sarcomas. Their etiology is unknown hence the need for new models to elucidate the biology of these diseases. We report here a spontaneously occurring mouse model of sarcoma in Usp18 knockout mice. Usp18 is the deconjugase for isgylation. Isgylation is the ubiquitin-like protein modification in which ISG15 is conjugated to proteins. Usp18 removes ISG15 from the target proteins, thus reversing the functional consequences of ISG15 conjugation. Usp18 knockout mice on a C57Bl6 background developed neurological abnormalities and exhibited 100% mortality within 5 months. These mice were also hypersensitive to Type I IFN stimulation, which was attributed to an increased JAK-STAT signaling. We now report that Usp18 knockout mice in a FVB background developed subcutaneous tumors in the neck and trunk regions from ages ranging from 6 months to 16 months. Tumor formation to date shows a penetrance of 77%. Immunohistochemical analysis characterized the tumors as either UPSs or leimyosarcomas. About 30% of these tumors displayed stabilization of p53, a common event also seen in human sarcomas. We derived two cell lines (KHC-1, KHC-2) from the sarcomas of separate mice, and analyzed the levels of STAT family proteins in these cell lines. Stat3 was noted to be constitutively activated in these sarcoma cell lines. Persistent activation of Stat3 is seen in diverse human malignancies such as breast and head and neck cancers. To determine if restoring Usp18 activity reverses tumorigenicity in these cells, human USP18 was introduced retrovirally. Cells re-expressing USP18 versus empty vector showed a substantial decrease in anchorage independent growth in soft agar and also had reduced levels of activated Stat3 (pStat3). Furthermore, treatment of the parental cell lines with a Stat3 inhibitor, JSI-124, led to decreased cell growth, apoptosis and reduced levels of pStat3. In summary, Usp18 knockout mice spontaneously develop sarcomas, whose tumorigenicity can be partially reversed by reintroduction of Usp18. Thus, this new and tractable model should prove useful to elucidate the activity of Stat3 targeting and other agents to treat sarcomas. Citation Format: Fadzai Chinyengetere, Andrew Giustini, David Sekula, Sarah Freemantle, Vincent A. Memoli, Paul Jack Hoopes, Ethan Dmitrovsky. Spontaneous formation of sarcomas in Usp18 knockout mice. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1089. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1089
The Role of Intraoperative Pathologic Assessment in the Surgical Management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

Re-excision surgeries for the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) put a strain on patients and healthcare resources; however, intraoperative pathologic assessment of DCIS may lead to a reduction in these additional surgeries. This study examined the relationship between intraoperative pathologic assessment and subsequent operations in patients with a diagnosis of DCIS. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results—Medicare patients diagnosed with DCIS from 1999 to 2007 who initially underwent partial mastectomy, without axillary surgery, were included in this study. Use of intraoperative frozen section or touch preparation during the initial surgery was assessed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe the relationship between the use of intraoperative pathologic assessment and any subsequent mastectomy or partial mastectomy within 90 days of the initial partial mastectomy. Of 8259 DCIS patients, 3509 (43 %) required a second surgery, and intraoperative pathologic assessment was performed for 2186 (26 %). Intraoperative pathologic assessment had no statistically significant effect on whether or not a subsequent breast surgery occurred (adjusted odds ratio 1.07, 95 % confidence interval 0.95–1.21; p = 0.293). Patient residence in a rural area, tumor size ≥2 cm, and poorly differentiated tumor grade were associated with a greater likelihood of subsequent surgery, while age 80 years and older was associated with a lower likelihood of subsequent surgery. The use of intraoperative frozen section or touch preparation during partial mastectomy from 1999 to 2007 was not associated with a reduction in subsequent breast operations in women with DCIS. These results highlight the need to identify cost-effective tools and strategies to reduce the need for additional surgery in patients with DCIS.
Abstract SS01-01: Using genomic technologies to improve cancer risk assessment

The heritable fraction of human cancers, estimated from genetic and epidemiologic approaches, is 21–42%. Heritable cancers include common adult onset malignancies (e.g. prostate, colon, breast cancers) as well as rarer cancers. During past decades, genetic approaches (e.g. linkage analysis and positional cloning) identified rare genetic mutations associated with markedly elevated cancer risk, with subsequent translation of these findings into effective preventive interventions. Recently genomic approaches (e.g. genome wide association studies [GWAS] exploiting linkage disequilibrium between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human genome) have identified common variants of lower disease risk, as well as common variants which modify the risk of high-penetrance rare alleles. Ongoing studies are utilizing next-generation massively parallel sequencing (NGS) of whole exomes and genomes to identify the “missing heritability” of human cancer. The status GWAS and NGS approaches to cancer risk assessment will be reviewed. The large sample sizes required for GWAS will be emphasized; a case example of our recent consortium effort to identify genomic modifiers of BRCA2 penetrance will be cited. While the methods of identification of genomic variants are distinct, the principles of biomarker identification and clinical translation to preventive oncology are shared. These similarities include: the use of clinically validated variants that may not be functionally characterized; the segregation of these variants in non-Mendelian as well as Mendelian patterns; the role of gene–environment interactions; the dependence on evidence for clinical utility; the critical translational role of behavioral science; and common ethical considerations. It will be emphasized that during the current period of transition from investigation to practice, consumers must also be protected from harms of premature translation of research findings, while encouraging the innovative and cost-effective application of genomic discoveries that improve personalized oncologic care. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):SS01-01.
“The Military Taught Me How to Study, How to Work Hard”: Helping Student-Veterans Transition by Building on Their Strengths

ABSTRACTCommunity colleges are experiencing growing numbers of student veterans. Unfortunately, much training for faculty and staff tends to stem from a deficit mindset: the focus is on remediating what student veterans lack rather than building on their unique strengths. Training programs, courses, and college interventions that acknowledge and build on the strengths student veterans bring from the military to the academy will likely be more effective than those that focus solely on lack. This article identifies three key strengths characteristic to student veterans, connects them to current research on student success, and recommends ways colleges can build upon these strengths to support student-veterans’ transition to college.
High strain-rate ductile to brittle transition in nanoporous zeolite

Synthetic nanoporous zeolite was investigated by nanoindentation at low strain-rates and laser-generated stress waves at high strain-rates. Under quasi-static conditions zeolite has enhanced ductility and resilience. Under high strain-rate conditions zeolite undergoes a ductile to brittle transition. Compressive, uniaxial strain loading was achieved with an acoustically matched windowing material to prevent tension in the zeolite. Stresses as low as 400 MPa resulted in multiple fractures not originating from a single flaw. Under tension the spallation strength of zeolite was measured as 215 MPa with transgranular fracture observed as the dominant spallation feature, further indicating the brittle failure at high strain-rates.
CONTROLS ON CHANNEL FORM ALONG BEDROCK-INFLUENCED ALLUVIAL STREAMS IN SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA

The controls imposed by bedrock geology on cross-sectional channel morphology and local channel gradients were examined along bedrock-influenced alluvial streams in south-central Indiana. The streams were separated into two classes on the basis of the underlying strata: those underlain by siliciclastic (SC) rocks, and those developed primarily in carbonate (CC) lithologies. The controls imposed by bedrock geology on channel form (width, depth, width-depth ratio, and slope) were assessed by: (1) examining the relationships between bedrock geology and channel sedimentology, and (2) identifying statistical relationships between variable descriptors of channel sedimentology and form. Differences in bedrock geology exhibited by SC and CC basins affect channel sedimentology, and subsequently the parameters controlling both local channel gradients and width-depth ratios. For example, streams within SC basins exhibit short ( 2 m)...
Recreating the Cresta Run

Bobsledding is notoriously expensive – it typically costs $15–30m to create a worldclass track and over $25 000 to design and test a competitive sled. Moreover, bobsled teams in the US and Asia can run up large travel bills since all but four of the tracks certified by the International Bobsledding and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT) for worldcup competition are in Europe.
Modified vertical bridgman growth of Cd 1−x Zn x Te detector grade crystal in a 4 inch EDG furnace

Achieving a high yield of detector grade CdZnTe single crystals is one of the greatest challenges in CdZnTe crystal growth. Over 85, 3.5-4 inch long CdZnTe crystals were grown in a 43 zone modified low pressure Vertical Bridgman Electro-Dynamic Gradient (EDG) Freeze 3 in. Mellen Sunfire furnace. The diameter of the grown ingots has been increased using a new Electro-Dynamic Gradient (EDG) Freeze 4 in. Mellen Sunfire Platinum coil furnace to visualize the effects of increased ampoule diameter on the grain structure and spectroscopic properties of CdZnTe. The reproducibility of detector grade crystals using the 4 in. furnace is discussed and some properties of the fabricated detectors are presented.