cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Out of their world: Using alien-centered design for teaching empathy in undergraduate design courses

Designing for others is a paramount focus of teaching user-centered engineering design. This paper presents a novel engineering design brief presented to undergraduate engineering students to design for extra-terrestrials scheduled to visit their collegiate campus. Through this alien-centered design approach, students are pushed to develop empathy for a group of users quite different from themselves and to conceive and design within such an given context. A detailed plan of action is described for both cases with detailed deliverables aligned to course learning objectives. Examples of the interactions students make with their extra-terrestrial users are listed and examples of student work and final deliverables are highlighted. Reflections from the end of project are also included from students and instructors alike. The work presented here may serve as a building block to these types of successful engineering design projects in the classroom.
Culture, resistance and policies of exclusion at World Cup 2014: the case of the 'Baianas do acarajé'.

During the preparations for the Confederations Cup 2013 in Brazil, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced that it would restrict the sale of an important culinary tradition of the country, known as acaraje, during the 2014 World Cup games. Acaraje, which is listed by the Brazilian Government's Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage as intangible heritage – an adored fritter of beans, sauces, and shrimp – has been sold by Afro-Brazilian women around the Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador de Bahia for 60 years, with roots that stretch back to slavery. Based on its ‘Word Cup Law’ that creates ‘zones of exclusivity’ around stadiums and prohibits the practice of street vending during matches, FIFA announced a ban on the sale of acaraje within a two-kilometer radius of the stadium. This paper describes the campaign by a street vendor association against provisions in the FIFA World Cup Law, which exclude traditional sellers and allow only licensed products from tournam...
Intensity dependence of the linewidth enhancement factor and its implications for semiconductor lasers

The linewidth enhancement factor is shown to become intensity dependent when the intraband relaxation effects responsible for nonlinear gain and index changes are incorporated in the theory of semiconductor lasers. The intensity dependence of the linewidth enhancement factor influences many laser characteristics such as the frequency chirp, the modulation response, the injection-locking range, and the phase noise. In particular, it leads to a power-independent contribution to the laser linewidth. Furthermore, for semiconductor lasers detuned to operate away from the gain peak, the nonlinear index changes can even lead to a rebroadening of the laser linewidth at high-output powers. >
Generalization of back-propagation to recurrent neural networks.

An adaptive neural network with asymmetric connections is introduced. This network is related to the Hopfield network with graded neurons and uses a recurrent generalization of the \ensuremath{\delta} rule of Rumelhart, Hinton, and Williams to modify adaptively the synaptic weights. The new network bears a resemblance to the master/slave network of Lapedes and Farber but it is architecturally simpler.
Molecular Analysis of Blood with Micro‐/Nanoscale Field‐Effect‐Transistor Biosensors

Rapid and accurate molecular blood analysis is essential for disease diagnosis and management. Field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors are a type of device that promise to advance blood point-of-care testing by offering desirable characteristics such as portability, high sensitivity, brief detection time, low manufacturing cost, multiplexing, and label-free detection. By controlling device parameters, desired FET biosensor performance is obtained. This review focuses on the effects of sensing environment, micro-/nanoscale device structure, operation mode, and surface functionalization on device performance and long-term stability.
Ion and Molecular Recognition Using Aryl–Ethynyl Scaffolding

The aryl-ethynyl linkage has been extensively employed in the construction of hosts for a variety of guests. Uses range from ion detection (e.g., of metal cations in the environment or industrial waste and of anions prevalent in nature), to molecular mimics for biological systems, and to applications targeting future safety issues (such as CO2 capture and indicators for the manufacture of chemical weapons). This Focus Review examines the utilization of the aryl-ethynyl linkage in engineering host molecules for a variety of different guests, and how the alkyne unit plays an integral part as both a rigid scaffolding section in host geometry design as well as a linker to allow conjugative communication between discrete π-electron systems.
Tissue distribution of cadmium and metallothionein as a function of time of day and dosage

Cadmium-109 chloride (1 mg or 48 ng Cd2+/kg body wt) was administered intraperitoneally to rats at one of eight selected times of day. Exactly 48 hr later each animal was sacrificed, and the cadmium content of the blood, brain, heart, kidney, liver, and testes was determined. Metallothionein levels in the liver and kidney were also measured. Distribution and retention of cadmium was very different at the different dose levels. Approximately 60% of the higher dose of cadmium was retained in the six tissues examined, while only 11.5% of the lower dose could be accounted for in these six tissues. The liver retained the largest percentage of the administered cadmium at both dose levels, but the magnitude of the retention differed by a factor of 6 (57.3% of the higher dose and 9.6% of the lower dose). The pattern of cadmium distribution among the other tissues was also different. At the 1-mg Cd2+/kg body wt level, the kidneys accumulated the second largest fraction of cadmium, followed by the blood, heart, testes, and brain. In the 48-ng Cd2+/kg body wt groups the order was kidney, testes, blood, heart, and brain. Only in the testes of animals receiving the low dose of cadmium was there an effect of time of day, and here the effect was marked. When cadmium was administered during the dark phase of the daily cycle, the testes contained an average of six times more cadmium than when cadmium was given during the light phase. Similarly, levels of metallothionein in the kidney were significantly higher when cadmium was administered during the dark phase. A trend toward higher metallothionein levels in the liver during the dark phase was also observed, but this trend was not statistically significant.
Analysis of functional status transitions by using a semi‐Markov process model in the presence of left‐censored spells

Summary. To analyse functional status transitions in the older population better, we fit a semi-Markov process model to data from the 1992–2002 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. We used an analogue of the stochastic EM algorithm to address the problem of left censoring of spells in longitudinal data. The iterative algorithm converged robustly under various initial values for the unobserved elapsed durations of spells in progress at base-line. Results on life expectancy and recovery from functional limitations based on the semi-Markov process model differ from those based on the traditional multistate life-table method. The proposed treatment of left-censored spells has the potential to expand the modelling capability that is available to researchers in fields where left censoring is a concern.
A heuristic methodology for sizing a large-scale system of constrained, reusable resources

This paper proposes a methodology for sizing certain large-scale systems of reusable, capacity-constrained resources engaged in tasks of varying duration. A heuristic program schedules resources throughout a finite planning horizon using two decision variables: varying resource capacity for meeting demand and varying task duration. A model of the problem and heuristic scheduling program are presented. A sequential, iterative sizing procedure determines the number of system resources to meet demand at each stage of the problem. Results compare the methodology with heuristics used in practice to schedule resources and size a real-world, large-scale training system.
The top 10 reasons why general surgery is a great career.

It is an honor to stand before yoeu with the opportunity to deliver the Presidential Address for the annual meeting of the Western Surgical Association (WSA). I have gained more from the WSA than I could ever return. To serve as the secretary for 5 years and the president this year represents the peak of my professional life. It is an honor that I will always cherish, and for which I will be forever grateful.
FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS AT NASA: TWO CRITICAL ISSUES AND FAIRBANK'S PRINCIPLE

Space offers eight distinct paths to controlled laboratory-style experiments in fundamental physics beyond the reach of any Earth-based laboratory. This impressive range of opportunity has already led to important physics but we are only at the beginning. Meanwhile, NASA is in crisis. This paper follows the wisdom of a great and inspiring physicist, William Fairbank, that every setback or difficulty is an opportunity. NASA needs new science; fundamental physics can provide it and with it fascinating new technologies — and training for a new generation of imaginative physicists and engineers.
On-Line Versus Memory-Based Processing: The Role of “Need to Evaluate” in Person Perception:

Two studies are reported examining individual differences in the need to evaluate as a determinant of memory-based versus online information processing. In each study, participants read statements describing the behaviors of a hypothetical target person and reported their attitudes toward this person. Consistent with expectations, high need to evaluate individuals formed attitudes in a spontaneous, on-line fashion, whereas low need to evaluate individuals formed them in a less spontaneous, more memory-based fashion. This conclusion was supported by two kinds of evidence: attitude-recall valence relationships (Experiments 1 and 2) and response latency measures (Experiment 2). These results suggest that evaluative responding in the domain of person perception is less pervasive than concluded in prior research.
Dirhenium(II) complexes containing monodentate and polydentate nitrile ligands

Abstract The complex Re 2 Cl 4 (μ-dppa) 2 (dppa=Ph 2 PNHPPh 2 ) has been reacted with EtCN and PhCN to afford the complexes [Re 2 Cl 3 (μ-dppa) 2 (NCR) 2 ]PF 6 (R=Et or Ph), [Re 2 Cl 3 (μ-HN 2 C 2 Et 2 )(μ-dppa) 2 (NCEt)]Cl and [Re 2 Cl 3 (μ-HN 2 C 2 Et 2 )(μ-dppa) 2 (NCEt)](PF 6 ) 2 which are derivatives of the [Re 2 ] 4+ , [Re 2 ] 5+ and [Re 2 ] 6+ cores, respectively. This behaviour is similar to the reactions of Re 2 Cl 4 (μ-dppm) 2 (dppm=Ph 2 PCH 2 PPh 2 ) with monodentate nitriles. The reactions of Re 2 Cl 4 (μ-dppm) 2 with the polydentate nitrile ligands 1,4-dicyanobenzene (1,4-DCB), 1,4-dicyanobut-2-ene (1,4-DCBE) and tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine (CEP) also give complexes of this same type in which the nitrile ligand utilizes only one of its CN groups. This is confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure determination of [Re 2 Cl 3 (μ-dppm) 2 (1,4-DCB) 2 ]PF 6 , in which the ReRe bond is retained (Re–Re distance 2.2637(12) A) and the 1,4-DCB ligands are monodentate.
Audit Committee Composition and Shareholder Actions: Evidence from Voting on Auditor Ratification

Recent actions related to audit committees by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reflect the Commission's belief that the composition of audit committees can influence the monitoring of auditor‐client relationships, and thereby influence shareholder perceptions about auditor independence and overall audit performance. The SEC has also suggested that shareholder perceptions about the auditor will influence shareholder actions, including voting on ratifying the auditor selected by management. This paper examines the association between audit committee composition and shareholder actions, using auditor ratification data from 199 companies. The results indicate that, in companies with high nonaudit fee ratios, shareholders are less likely to vote against auditor ratification if the audit committee has solely independent directors. These results provide empirical support to the assertions of the SEC and others that audit committee composition can impact investors' perceptions and actions. However, th...
Anger Management Training in Incarcerated Male Offenders: Differential Impact on Proactive and Reactive Criminal Thinking

Forty-seven male federal prison inmates who completed a six-week/eight-hour anger management class were administered the 35-item short form of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) during the first class session and again during the final class session. It was hypothesized that anger management training would have an ameliorative effect on the hostile or reactive component of criminal thinking, as measured by the PICTS Reactive (R) criminal thinking scale, but have little or no effect on the instrumental or proactive component of criminal thinking, as measured by the PICTS Proactive (P) criminal thinking scale. Consistent with this hypothesis, the R scale displayed a significant pre-test/post-test decline, whereas the P scale showed no significant change between the two testings. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
RELATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY TO CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASS

The electrical conductivity of some glasses in the soda-lime-silica system was measured at 400 °C. with an apparatus which is described. The specific resistance at this temperature ranged from 0.06 to 5.0 × 105 ohms per cc. Measurements were made on other glasses containing equivalent amounts of various oxides incorporated in a parent soda-lime-silica glass. It was found that an increase in resistance was produced by additions of MnO, ZnO, B2O3, Fe2O3, BaO, PbO, TiO2, and K2O, the resistances increasing in this order. A decreased resistance was produced by Na2O, CaO, and Al2O3. Previously published data on the power factors of these glasses are reviewed.
Scaling of Fluctuating Pressures in Jet Impingement

Scaling laws for the determination of fluctuating surface pressure loads on STOL aircraft due to jet impingement have been investigated using a quarter-scale model of a boilerplate test facility at NASA Langley, in which a JT-15D engine with a rectangular outer nozzle blows over a small curved airfoil representing the upper surface of a wing with flap extended. Whereas the full-scale engine has an internal hot core nozzle, there was no internal nozzle in the model, so that, not only was a condition of perfect mixing simulated, but also, this was done with a cold jet. It is known that the overall impingement pressures should be expressible in terms of five parameters, the pressure coefficient, the Strouhal number, the jet to ambient temperature ratio, the jet Mach number, and the jet Reynolds number. Comparing surface pressure spectra on the basis of the first two parameters, it is found that the model spectra peak at pressures which are 1.6 times the values indicated by the relevant scaling laws. This is tentatively attributed to the effect of the temperature ratio. Overall pressure coefficients are found to compare well, and to be independent of either temperature ratio, Mach number, or Reynolds number. It is concluded that a scaled cold jet run at low Reynolds and Mach numbers can be used to predict full-scale impingement pressures, although some uncertainty remains over the corrections for jet temperature effects, the corrections for different noncircular nozzle geometries, the effect of a separate core nozzle, and the effect of engine noise. These can only be resolved by suitable experimental programs.
Therapeutic advances in melanoma.

Basic research into the nature of melanoma has provided many new avenues for therapeutic research. It is hoped that new information will improve treatment options and response rates for metastatic disease. Primary therapy remains surgical, but sentinel lymph node examination is now becoming a frequent adjuvant to surgical excision. Whether this examination is simply prognostic or has real therapeutic benefit is yet to be seen. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are continuing to evolve, and radiation therapy is becoming recognized as beneficial in a variety of settings. This article reviews developments in these areas.
Apical Na+ permeability of frog skin during serosal Cl- replacement.

Gluconate substitution for serosal Cl− reduces the transepithelial short-circuit current (Isc) and depolarizes shortcircuited frog skins. These effects could result either from inhibition of basolateral K+ conductance, or from two actions to inhibit both apical Na+ permeability (PNaap) and basolateral pump activity. We have addressed this question by studying whole-and split-thickness frog skins. Intracellular Na+ concentration (CNac) andPNaap have been monitored by measuring the currentvoltage relationship for apical Na+ entry. This analysis was conducted by applying trains of voltage pulses, with pulse durations of 16 to 32 msec. Estimates ofPNaap) and CNa/c were not detectably dependent on pulse duration over the range 16 to 80 msec. Serosal Cl− replacement uniformly depolarized short-circuited tissues. The depolarization was associated with inhibition ofIsc across each split skin, but only occasionally across the whole-thickness preparations. This difference may reflect the better ionic exchange between the bulk medium and the extracellular fluid in contact with the basolateral membranes, following removal of the underlying dermis in the split-skin preparations.PNaap was either unchanged or increased, and CNa/c either unchanged or reduced after the anionic replacement. These data are incompatible with the concept that serosal Cl− replacement inhibitsPNaap and Na, K-pump activity. Gluconate substutition likely reduces cell volume, triggering inhibition of the basolateral K+ channels, consistent with the data and conclusions of S.A. Lewis, A.G. Butt, M.J. Bowler, J.P. Leader and A.D.C Macknight (J. Membrane Biol.83:119–137, 1985) for toad bladder. The resulting depolarization reduces the electrical force favoring apical Na+ entry. The volume-conductance coupling serves to conserve volume by reducing K+ solute loss. Its molecular basis remains to be identified.
Changes in human plasma catecholamines and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase produced by prostaglandin F2α

Abstract The intravenous infusion of prostaglandin F 2α to pregnant humans produces an increase in circulating norepinephrine, without significantly altering plasma epinephrine or dopamine-β-hydroxylase. Plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity at 10–16 weeks gestation is not significantly greater than that in non-pregnant controls of a similar age range, and central venous enzyme activity is not significantly different from that in arterial plasma.
Ping-pong chromatography. A novel purification of CoA-transferase.

Summary Succinyl-CoA:acetoacetate CoA transferase, which forms a covalent intermediate with CoA, can be readily purified from rat kidney, heart, brain, and skeletal muscle using an acetoacetyl-CoA-agarose column. Significant purification (20–180 fold) with low losses in activity was achieved in each case, although minor contaminants were detected by SDS-gel electrophoresis. The isolated material appears to have a mol. wt. of 55–58,000 daltons, suggesting a dimeric structure for the native enzyme. Thus, ping-pong chromatography, based on the formation of a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate on a solid support, can be used in the selective purification of certain enzymes.
Observations of Air-Sea Interaction and Intensity Change in Hurricanes

Recent enhancements to the tropical cyclone-buoy database (TCBD) have incorporated data from the Extended Best Track (EBT) and the Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) archive for tropical cyclones between 1975 and 2007. This information is used to analyze the relationships between large-scale atmospheric parameters, radial and shear-relative air‐sea structure, and intensity change in strengthening and weakening hurricanes. Observations from this research illustrate that the direction of the large-scale vertical wind shear at mid- to low levels can impact atmospheric moisture conditions found near the surface. Drier low-level environments were associated with northerly shear conditions. In a separate analysis comparing strengthening and weakening hurricanes, drier surface conditions were also found for the intensifying sample. Since SST conditions were similar for both groups of storms, it is likely that the atmospherewasprimarilyresponsibleformodifyingthenear-surfacethermodynamicenvironment(andultimately surface moisture flux conditions) for this particular analysis.
Compact zones of shear transformation in an anisotropic solid

Abstract The possible configurations of transformed regions in a material that undergoes mechanical phase change are investigated. Anti-plane shear kinematics are assumed. A constitutive law is proposed for a cubic crystal which can sustain deformations with strain discontinuities, such as twinning. It is characterized by an anisotropic stored energy function which loses ellipticity and has multiple potential wells with corresponding stress-free states, connected by transformation strains which are simple shears. The problem of a bounded transformed high-strain zone of unknown shape in an infinite body is studied. The strains must take values within different phases, i.e. disjoint subsets of the domain of strong ellipticity. This condition imposes severe restrictions on the shape of the inclusion ; its boundary cannot be smooth and cannot have corners. Only sufficiently slender regions, terminating in cusps and oriented along special directions are possible. Qualitative geometrical features of twin lamellae are thus predicted. Integral representations of the deformation and estimates of the strains in such zones are obtained.
Large electro-optic coefficient observed in ion-exchanged potassium titanyl phosphate waveguides

We report the observation of an anomalously large electro-optic coefficient in potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4, KTP) waveguides fabricated under various conditions. An interferometric method was used to measure the effective electro-optic coefficient r33 in the waveguides by measuring the phase retardation of an optical mode when a voltage is applied across the substrate. We observe that at low frequency the waveguide electro-optic coefficient can be higher than the bulk value by a factor up to about 100. Since KTP crystals are known to have a high concentration of mobile ions, a model relating the mobile charges, space charge fields, and observed enhancement in r33 is proposed to explain the mechanism of this effect. Possible device application and long term effects on system operation are also discussed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Laplace eigenvalues on regular polygons: A series in 1/N

Abstract For regular polygons P N inscribed in a circle, the eigenvalues of the Laplacian converge as N → ∞ to the known eigenvalues on a circle. We compute the leading terms of λ N / λ in a series in powers of 1 / N , by applying the calculus of moving surfaces to a piecewise smooth evolution from the circle to the polygon. The O ( 1 / N 2 ) term comes from Hadamardʼs formula, and reflects the change in area. This term disappears if we “transcribe” the polygon, scaling it to have the same area as the circle.
New results in 2-D systems theory, part II: 2-D state-space models&#8212;Realization and the notions of controllability, observability, and minimality

In this part, a comparison between the different state-space models is presented. We discuss proper definitions of state, controllability and observability and their relations to minimality of 2-D systems. We also present new circuit realizations and 2-D digital filter hardware implementation of 2-D transfer functions.
Sex ratio responses to other parasitoid wasps : multiple adaptive explanations

In an effort to distinguish among adaptive models and to improve our understanding of behavioral mechanisms of sex ratio manipulation, this study examines sex ratio responses to other wasps in the solitary parasitoid wasp Spalangia cameroni. Relative to when alone, females produced a greater proportion of sons in the presence of conspecifics, regardless of whether the conspecifics were female or male. In addition, females produced a greater proportion of sons after a day with a conspecific male, and after a day with a conspecific female, but only if the females had been ovipositing. Relative to when alone, females did not produce a greater proportion of sons in the presence of females of the confamilial Muscidifurax raptor or in response to hosts that had already been parasitized by a conspecific. A combination of evolutionary models may explain S. cameroni’s sex ratios. An increased proportion of sons in response to conspecific females is common among parasitoid wasps and is usually explained by local mate competition (LMC) theory. However, such a response is also consistent with the perturbation model, although not with the constrained females model. The response to conspecific males is not consistent with LMC theory or the perturbation model but is consistent with the constrained females model.
Links in the Complex of Separable Graphs

We determine the homotopy type of the link of a nonempty face in the complex of not 2-connected graphs on n vertices. Corollaries of our main result are that the complex of not 2-connected 3-uniform hypergraphs on n vertices has the homotopy type of a wedge of spheres of dimension n?4 and that the lattice of block-closed graphs on n vertices is Cohen?Macaulay.
Idiographic goals and methods in the study of lives

Learning what is true of persons-in-general and of groups of people often has severe limitations in enabling us to understand and predict the behavior of individuals. There are many important problems in describing, explaining, making predictions about, and intentionally changing the course of experience in individual lives that cannot be adequately addressed without the use of idiographic methods. The purposes of this paper are to contribute to a conceptual clarification of the idiographic approach and its place within psychology, to review and respond to a number of common criticisms of the idiographic approach, and finally, to update and extend Allport's survey of available idiographic methods.
Studies of the role of water in the electrocatalysis of methanol oxidation

Abstract The oxidation of methanol has been carried out on electrodes prepared by evaporating Pt directly onto a Nafion membrane and then introducing the methanol either in the gas-fed mode or directly from the electrolyte in the electrolyte-fed mode. It was found that the oxidation carried out using a gas-fed electrode was shifted 100–150 mV more cathodic than the electrolyte-fed electrode. A similar set of experiments was carried out using hydrophobic gas-diffusion electrodes and similar results were obtained. These results suggest that the mechanism of the methanol oxidation reaction depends on the nature of the surroundings and the orientation of the methanol with respect to the electrode surface. In the electrolyte-fed configuration the methanol will be in a hydrogen-bonded water cluster allowing the carbon end of the molecule to more readily approach the catalyst surface. While in the gas-fed configuration the methanol will interact with the water or oxidic surface through the hydroxyl end of the molecule. Clearly, these two possible mechanisms will lead to different products and one may enhance the rate of the direct oxidation of methanol as observed in this work.
Quantum mechanical/quantum mechanical methods. I. A divide and conquer strategy for solving the Schrödinger equation for large molecular systems using a composite density functional–semiempirical Hamiltonian

Herein we describe a new combined quantum mechanical/quantum mechanical (QM/QM) method for solving the Schrodinger equation for large molecular systems. The new method uses the divide and conquer (D&C) strategy to partition a large molecular system into subsystems and a composite density functional theory (DFT)–semiempirical (SEM) Hamiltonian to describe the molecular interactions. The DFT and SEM subsystems are coupled through the chemical potential and are equilibrated by exchanging electronic charge. Calculations performed with the DFT, SEM, and composite (DFT/SEM) methods on diatomic, triatomic, and polyatomic molecules show that as one moves away from the QM/QM boundary region the Mulliken charges converge to the values that would be obtained using the “pure” Hamiltonian. In other words, we find that the quality of each SEM and DFT wave function is largely conserved, which strongly suggests that this type of approach could be applied to study chemical reactivity much in the same way combined quantum ...
Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs

[1] The Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity investigated the physical properties of Martian regolith in 7 wheel trenches and 20 wheel scuffs distributed along traverses at Gusev crater and Meridiani Planum. Specialized wheel-trenching sequences allowed analysis of wheel motor and suspension telemetry to determine regolith friction angle ϕ and cohesion c at trench sites. Friction angles were 30°–37°, and cohesions were 0–2 kPa. Simpler wheel-scuff maneuvers were analyzed for cohesion by assuming the range of ϕ determined from trenches; cohesions in wheel-scuffed regoliths were from 0 to 11 kPa. Regolith ϕ and c can be related to regolith origins. Grain sorting, compaction, shape, size, and angularity influence ϕ. Impact cratering and aeolian processes have affected grain angularity and sorting of Martian regolith at both Mars Exploration Rover (MER) landing sites and contend in opposing ways to determine grain characteristics in the regolith. Friction angles are consistent with dry, rigid, nonplaty grains with particle size frequencies dominated by very fine sand (as seen by the Microscopic Imager or MI) with at least some grain rounding (unresolved by MI), reflecting physical weathering from aeolian saltation. Friction angle results from MER trenches therefore indicate that regolith states are between fully mature aeolian materials and impact debris. MI and color Pancam views show trench tailings and trench floors are redder, brighter, and have more intermixed extremely fine (unresolved) grains than regolith closer to the surface disturbed and exposed only by rolling tracks.
Improved Algorithms for Minimum Distance Navigation

This paper presents formulae that can be used to generate the navigation parameters (e.g., true course) required for surface navigation along a spherical and oblate spheroidal geodesic (first-order perturbation) as an analytic set of functions of a single, continuous variable. It is the mathematical treatment, and the use of parametric analysis, which distinguishes the results presented in this paper from earlier work in the area of minimum distance (or geodesic) surface navigation.
The Research of Dynamic Optimization Method on Automobile Shock Absorption Twist Bar Spring Design

This paper presents recent developments in the study of optimization methods for industrial product design, and provides a method of dynamic optimization design to calculate the optimal loading property of automobile twist bar spring system. This is a different approach to traditional systems that is based on dynamic and random load, applying the basic theory and methods of dynamic design, according to the multi-goal characteristic of automobile twist bar spring. This paper presents a thorough analysis dynamic quadratic fuzzy optimal method of double-goal and the method to determine paper optimal gene. This method is used to automobile twist bar spring design, the result shows that the ability of spring loading is improved; the weight of structure is reduced. The new approach makes the vibration absorbing system more reliable and comfortable. The results presented in this paper are not only applicable to automobile twist bar spring systems but all systems that possess dynamic, random and fuzzy characteristics. This work finds applications in automobile components design and dynamic character analysis.
Endogenous catabolism is the major source of toxic metabolites in isovaleric acidemia

A patient with isovaleryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency was given a synthetic oral feed containing L-(2H3-methyl)-leucine of high isotopic purity as the only dietary precursor to the defective enzyme. Metabolites derived from this source were readily distinguished from their unlabeled endogenous counterparts by mass spectrometry. During 6 consecutive days of labeled leucine ingestion, the average daily excretion of labeled metabolites was only about 10% of the total derived from leucine. It is suggested that therapy should be directed toward the control of endogenous protein turnover rather than the restriction of dietary protein intake.
Correlative microXRF and optical immunofluorescence microscopy of adherent cells labeled with ultrasmall gold particles

Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (microXRF) is a powerful tool to study the two-dimensional distribution of a wide range of biologically relevant elements in tissues and cells. By growing mouse fibroblast cells directly on formvar-carbon coated electron microscopy grids, microXRF elemental maps with well-defined subcellular resolution were obtained. In order to colocalize the elemental distribution with the location of specific cellular structures and organelles, we explored the application of a commercially available secondary antibody conjugated to FluoroNanogold, a dual-label that combines a regular organic fluorophore with a 1.4 nm Au-cluster as xenobiotic label for microXRF imaging. Adherent mouse fibroblast cells were grown on silicon nitride windows serving as biocompatible XRF support substrate, and labeled with FluoroNanogold in combination with primary antibodies specific for mitochondria or the Golgi apparatus, respectively. Raster scanning of the in-air dried cells with an incident X-ray energy of 11.95 keV, sufficient to ensure excitation of the Au Lalpha line, provided two-dimensional maps with submicron resolution for Au as well as for most biologically relevant elements. MicroXRF proved to be sufficiently sensitive to image the location and structural details of the Au-labeled organelles, which correlated well with the subcellular distribution visualized by means of optical fluorescence microscopy.
Volcanosedimentary paleoenvironments of Ediacaran fossils in Newfoundland

A new perspective on paleoenvironments of Ediacaran fossils of the upper Conception Group (Newfoundland) comes from geochemical and sedimentological study of volcanic tuffs and sedimentary rocks. Tuffs in the Conception Group have major- and trace-element compositions and U-Pb ages comparable with those of source volcanics on the nearby Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas and the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. Loss of silica and alkalies in some ashes indicates weathering on land, not marine diagenesis. Volcanic crystal and lapilli tuffs fail to show grading and have lapilli and highly vesicular scoria scattered in a fine-grained matrix, and so they were deposited on land, not in water. These as well as block-and-ash flows, volcanic spindle bombs, and degassing features are evidence of eruptions from nearby subaerial volcanic edifices. The fossiliferous Conception Group accumulated within a forearc basin, formed on continental crust, inboard of the Holyrood horst, and uplifted as part of an ancient subduction complex or accreted terrane. Like analogous forearc basins in Oregon-Washington, southern Chile, and Japan, the Conception Group includes not only marine bay turbidites, but also a variety of intertidal and terrestrial tsunamites, seismites, tempestites, and paleosols. Traditional marine turbidite models explain deposition of the Mall Bay, lower Drook, and lower Briscal Formations of the Conception Group, but the Gaskiers, upper Drook, upper Briscal, and Mistaken Point Formations were deposited in coastal plains and intertidal zones. Paleoenvironments of vendobiont fossils preserved in life position in Newfoundland were terrestrial to marginal marine, not deep sea.
Assembly of thick, thin, and titin filaments in chick precardiac explants

De novo cardiac myofibril assembly has been difficult to study due to the lack of available cell culture models that clearly and accurately reflect heart muscle development in vivo. However, within precardiac chick embryo explants, premyocardial cells differentiate and commence beating in a temporal pattern that corresponds closely with myocyte differentiation in the embryo. Immunofluorescence staining of explants followed by confocal microscopy revealed that distinct stages of cardiac myofibril assembly, ranging from the earliest detection of sarcomeric proteins to the late appearance of mature myofibrils, were consistently recognized in precardiac cultures. Assembly events involved in the early formation of sarcomeres were clearly visualized and accurately reflected observations described by others during chick heart muscle development. Specifically, the early colocalization of alpha-actinin and titin dots was observed near the cell periphery representing I-Z-I-like complex formation. Myosin-containing thick filaments assembled independently of actin-containing thin filaments and appeared centered within sarcomeres when titin was also linearly aligned at or near cell borders. An N-terminal epitope of titin was detected earlier than a C-terminal epitope; however, both epitopes were observed to alternate near the cell periphery concomitant with the earliest formation of myofibrils. Although vascular actin was detected within cells during early assembly stages, cardiac actin predominated as the major actin isoform in mature thin filaments. Well-aligned thin filaments were also observed in the absence of organized staining for tropomodulin at thin filament pointed ends, suggesting that tropomodulin is not required to define thin filament lengths. Based on these findings, we conclude that the use of the avian precardiac explant system accurately allows for direct investigation of the mechanisms regulating de novo cardiac myofibrillogenesis.
Professor Ernest Kuh's talk

I very much appreciate the honor given to me at this conference and wish to thank the organizers for their kindness. According to the preliminary program the invited talks include placement, routing, clock distribution, etc by well-known authors. Their contributions to the field have made a great impact to the advancement of physical design. Some of them are my former students. I want to thank all of them for coming to the beautiful city of Santa Barbara for this meeting. In addition there are other related areas which could have been included at this meeting. For example, floor-planning, timing and performance driven layout, the power and ground problem are all important areas which have been studied. Also, interconnect is certainly of current and future interest. The multi-dimensional problem which makes placement, routing more interesting. As technology advances active layers will provide more possibility for efficient design. We are now in the deep sub-micron stage, there are limitations as to what one can do. Also, nano-devices and circuits are within our reach. In essence, the field of Physical Design has enormous opportunity for researchers in universities and industry to make contributions. Collaborative efforts and joint work are needed to speed up the advances in this field. I am certain that these topics will be covered in future ISPD meetings. I look forward to seeing you and many others at the next meeting. Finally, many thanks to all the sponsors and especially to Prof. Yao-Wen Chang for inviting me.
Liquid distribution in trickle‐bed reactors: Part II. Tracer studies

An aqueous solution of potassium chloride tracer was introduced at a central location in the water feed to a trickle bed, and the tracer concentration was measured at various radial positions and bed depths. From the model and parameters of liquid distribution proposed in Part I, tracer concentrations can also be predicted. The predicted and experimental concentrations usually agreed within a few percent, providing an independent evaluation of the flow distribution model.
The exoribonuclease Polynucleotide Phosphorylase influences the virulence and stress responses of yersiniae and many other pathogens

Microbes are incessantly challenged by both biotic and abiotic stressors threatening their existence. Therefore, bacterial pathogens must possess mechanisms to successfully subvert host immune defenses as well as overcome the stress associated with host-cell encounters. To achieve this, bacterial pathogens typically experience a genetic re-programming whereby anti-host/stress factors become expressed and eventually translated into effector proteins. In that vein, the bacterial host-cell induced stress-response is similar to any other abiotic stress to which bacteria respond by up-regulating specific stress-responsive genes. Following the stress encounter, bacteria must degrade unnecessary stress responsive transcripts through RNA decay mechanisms. The 3 pathogenic yersiniae (Yersinia pestis, Y. pseudo-tuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica) are all psychrotropic bacteria capable of growth at 4˚C; however, cold growth is dependent on the presence of an exoribonuclease, polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). PNPase has also been implicated as a virulence factor in several notable pathogens including the salmonellae, Helicobacter pylori, and the yersiniae (where it typically influences the type three secretion system). Further, PNPase has been shown to associate with ribonuclease E (endoribonuclease), RhlB (RNA helicase), and enolase (glycolytic enzyme) in several Gram-negative bacteria forming a large, multi-protein complex known as the RNA degradosome. This review will highlight studies demonstrating the influence of PNPase on the virulence potentials and stress responses of various bacterial pathogens as well as focusing on the degradosome- dependent and -independent roles played by PNPase in yersiniae stress responses.
General Nitrogen Regulation of Nitrate Assimilation Regulatory Gene nasR Expression in Klebsiella oxytoca M5al

Klebsiella oxytoca can assimilate nitrate and nitrite by using enzymes encoded by the nasFEDCBA operon. Expression of the nasF operon is controlled by general nitrogen regulation (Ntr) via the NtrC transcription activator and by pathway-specific nitrate and nitrite induction via the NasR transcription antiterminator. This paper reports our analysis of nasR gene expression. We constructed strains bearing single-copy F(nasR-lacZ) operon fusions within the chromosomal rhaBAD-rhaSR locus. The expression of DrhaBS::[F(nasR-lacZ)] operon fusions was induced about 10-fold during nitrogen-limited growth. Induction was reduced in both ntrC and rpoN null mutants, indicating that Ntr control of nasR gene expression requires the NtrC and s N (s 54 ) proteins. Sequence inspection of the nasR control region reveals an apparent s N -dependent promoter but no apparent NtrC protein binding sites. Analysis of site-specific mutations coupled with primer extension analysis authenticated the s N -dependent nasR promoter. Fusion constructs with only about 70 nucleotides (nt) upstream of the transcription initiation site exhibited patterns of b-galactosidase expression indistinguishable from F(nasR-lacZ) constructs with about 470 nt upstream. Expression was independent of the Nac protein, implying that NtrC is a direct activator of nasR transcription. Together, these results indicate that nasR gene expression does not require specific upstream NtrC-binding sequences, as previously noted for argT gene expression in Salmonella typhimurium (G. Schmitz, K. Nikaido, and G. F.-L. Ames, Mol. Gen. Genet. 215:107‐ 117, 1988).
Engineering lepidopteran insect cells for sialoglycoprotein production by genetic transformation with mammalian β1,4-galactosyltransferase and α2,6-sialyltransferase genes

Recombinant mammalian glycoproteins produced by the baculovirus-insect cell expression system usually do not have structurally authentic glycans. One reason for this limitation is the virtual absence in insect cells of certain glycosyltransferases, which are required for the biosynthesis of complex, terminally sialylated glycoproteins by mammalian cells. In this study, we genetically transformed insect cells with mammalian beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase and alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase genes. This produced a new insect cell line that can express both genes, serve as hosts for baculovirus infection, and produce foreign glycoproteins with terminally sialylated N-glycans.
Consistent model selection and data-driven smooth tests for longitudinal data in the estimating equations approach

Summary. Model selection for marginal regression analysis of longitudinal data is challenging owing to the presence of correlation and the difficulty of specifying the full likelihood, particularly for correlated categorical data. The paper introduces a novel Bayesian information criterion type model selection procedure based on the quadratic inference function, which does not require the full likelihood or quasi-likelihood. With probability approaching 1, the criterion selects the most parsimonious correct model. Although a working correlation matrix is assumed, there is no need to estimate the nuisance parameters in the working correlation matrix; moreover, the model selection procedure is robust against the misspecification of the working correlation matrix. The criterion proposed can also be used to construct a data-driven Neyman smooth test for checking the goodness of fit of a postulated model. This test is especially useful and often yields much higher power in situations where the classical directional test behaves poorly. The finite sample performance of the model selection and model checking procedures is demonstrated through Monte Carlo studies and analysis of a clinical trial data set.
First Impressions and Last Resorts How Listeners Adjust to Speaker Variability

Perceptual theories must explain how perceivers extract meaningful information from a continuously variable physical signal. In the case of speech, the puzzle is that little reliable acoustic invariance seems to exist. We tested the hypothesis that speech-perception processes recover invariants not about the signal, but rather about the source that produced the signal. Findings from two manipulations suggest that the system learns those properties of speech that result from idiosyncratic characteristics of the speaker; the same properties are not learned when they can be attributed to incidental factors. We also found evidence for how the system determines what is characteristic: In the absence of other information about the speaker, the system relies on episodic order, representing those properties present during early experience as characteristic of the speaker. This "first-impressions" bias can be overridden, however, when variation is an incidental consequence of a temporary state (a pen in the speaker's mouth), rather than characteristic of the speaker.