cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A linear approximation for the effect of cylindrical differential rotation on gravitational moments: Application to the non-unique interpretation of Saturn’s gravity

The higher order gravitational moments of a differentially rotating planet are greatly affected or even dominated by the near surface differential flow. Unlike the contribution from rigid body rotation, this part of the gravity field can be well estimated by linear theory when the differential rotation is on cylinders and the corresponding gravity field arises from the higher order moments directly introduced by that flow. In the context of an n = 1 polytrope, we derive approximate analytical formulas for the gravity moments. We find that ΔJ_(2n) is typically at most a few times (−1)^(n+1) a q d^(5/2), where a is the amplitude of the differential rotation (as a fraction of the background rigid body rotation), q=Ω^2R^3/GM is the usual dimensionless measure of rotation for the planet (mass M, radius R), and d << 1 is the characteristic depth of the flow as a fraction of the planetary radius. Applied to Saturn, with a set by the observed surface wind amplitude, we find first that the observed signs of the ΔJ_(2n) are a trivial consequence of the definition of the corresponding Legendre polynomials, but the Cassini observations can not be explained by a simple exponentially decaying flow and instead require a substantial retrograde flow at depth and a larger d than the simple scaling suggests. This is consistent with the results reported by Iess et al. (2019). However, there is no fluid dynamical requirement that the flows observed in the atmosphere are a guide to the flows thousands of km deeper. We explore a wide range of flow depths and amplitudes which yield values for ΔJ_n that are acceptable within the error estimates and thus highlight the inherent non-uniqueness of inferences made from the higher order gravity moments.
Semantic Skeleton Thesauri for Question Answering Bots

We build a question–answering (Q/A) chatbot component for answering complex questions in poorly formalized and logically complex domains. Answers are annotated with deductively linked logical expressions (semantic skeletons), which are to be matched with formal representations for questions. We utilize a logic programming approach so that the search for an answer is implemented as determining clauses (associated with this answer) from which the formal representation of a question can be deduced. This Q/A technique has been implemented for the financial and legal domains, which are rather sophisticated on one hand and requires fairly precise answers on the other hand.
Design for additive manufacturing: cellular structures in early-stage aerospace design

The immense design freedom offered by additive manufacturing yields tremendous benefits, but it also raises the question of how to best go about designing components to exploit this design freedom. In early design phases, design tools need to utilize this freedom, but do so with low computational cost and with a good estimate of the final weight to correctly assess the part’s influence on the overall product design. This is especially important for aerospace designs. In this paper, a design methodology is devised for cellular structures to be manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques, specifically for such early design phases. This design methodology uses adaptive meshing techniques to design the topology of the cellular structure, after which the struts of that cellular structure are optimized separately to reduce the dimensionality of the problem. The method is demonstrated for a small generic bracket and an aircraft bracket design from the literature. For these problems, our method is fast enough to evaluate many thousands of design options. This results in identifying promising candidate designs for further detailed design work.
Feeling your pain, pursuing my gain: Assessing status-striving, empathy, and social entrepreneurship intent

•We examine the relationship between a self-oriented motivator, status-striving, and social entrepreneurship intent.•Status-striving has a positive and significant relationship with social entrepreneurship intent.•The interaction between status-striving and empathy has a negative relationship on social entrepreneurship intent.•Results suggest that both self- and other-oriented motivators can influence social entrepreneurship intent.
Unsupervised Learning of Nonlinear Mixtures: Identifiability and Algorithm

Linear mixture models (LMMs) have proven very useful in a plethora of applications, e.g., topic modeling, clustering, and speech / audio separation. As a critical aspect of the LMM, identifiability of the model parameters is well-studied, under frameworks such as independent component analysis and constrained matrix factorization. Nevertheless, when the linear mixtures are distorted by unknown nonlinear functions – which is well-motivated and more realistic in many cases – the associated identifiability issues are far less studied. This work focuses on parameter identification of a nonlinear mixture model that is motivated by a number of real-world applications, e.g., hyperspectral imaging and magnetic resonance imaging. A novel identification criterion is proposed and the associated identifiability issues are studied. A practical implementation based on a judiciously designed neural network is proposed to realize the criterion, and an effective learning algorithm is proposed. Numerical results on synthetic and real application data corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
“Meds-in-Hand” Intervention to Reduce Critical Process Delays in Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis is frequently indicated, but delays in medication receipt are common. Using plan-do-study-act cycles, we developed a multidisciplinary collaboration to reduce critical process delays in our pediatric emergency department. Interruptions decreased from a median 1 per month pre-intervention to zero per month during the intervention.
Why Paulo Freire is a threat for right-wing populism: Lessons for communication of hope:

Right-wing populism advances a brand of communicative politics that are antithetical to Paulo Freire’s vision of liberating, critical, and participatory communication. This essential opposition hel...
Sarcopenic Obesity in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Background Sarcopenic obesity has been observed in people with neuromuscular impairment, and is linked to adverse health outcomes. It is unclear, however, if sarcopenic obesity develops in adults with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Methods The purpose of this study was to determine if adults with FSHD meet criteria for sarcopenic obesity (appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) scores of < 7.26 or 5.45 kg/m2; % fat mass (FM) ≥ 28 or 40% in men/women). Ten people with FSHD (50 ± 11 years, 2 females) and ten age/sex-matched controls (47 ± 13 years, 2 females) completed one visit, which included a full-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Regional and whole body total mass, fat mass (FM), and lean mass (LM) were collected and body mass index (BMI) and sarcopenia measures were computed. Results People with FSHD and controls had a similar whole body total mass (84.5 ± 12.9 vs. 81.8 ± 13.5 kg, respectively, p = 0.65). Though BMI was 2% lower in the FSHD group (p = 0.77), the % FM was 46% higher in FSHD, compared with controls (p < 0.01). In addition, ALM volume was 23% lower (p = 0.02) and ALMI was 27% lower in FSHD compared with controls (p < 0.01). Whole body LM trended to be lower in FSHD vs. controls (p = 0.05), and arm and leg LM were both lower in FSHD compared with controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the % LM was 18% lower in FSHD vs. controls (p < 0.01). FSHD participants exhibited greater total body FM (p < 0.01) and total leg FM (p < 0.01), but were similar in volume of total arm FM compared with controls (p = 0.09). Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that people with FSHD, although similar in BMI and total body mass compared with controls, commonly meet the definition of sarcopenic obesity. Adults with co-existing FSHD and sarcopenic obesity may be at risk for significant impairments in quality of life, and encounter additional challenges in the management of FSHD manifestations.
Physics-Informed Graph Neural Network for Circuit Compact Model Development

We present a Physics-Informed Graph Neural Network (pigNN) methodology for rapid and automated compact model development. It brings together the inherent strengths of data-driven machine learning, high-fidelity physics in TCAD simulations, and knowledge contained in existing compact models. In this work, we focus on developing a neural network (NN) based compact model for a non-ideal PN diode that represents one nonlinear edge in a pigNN graph. This model accurately captures the smooth transition between the exponential and quasi-linear response regions. By learning voltage dependent non-ideality factor using NN and employing an inverse response function in the NN loss function, the model also accurately captures the voltage dependent recombination effect. This NN compact model serves as basis model for a PN diode that can be a single device or represent an isolated diode in a complex device determined by topological data analysis (TDA) methods. The pigNN methodology is also applicable to derive reduced order models in other engineering areas.
COMPARISON OF INFERENTIAL METHODS IN PARTIALLY IDENTIFIED MODELS IN TERMS OF ERROR IN COVERAGE PROBABILITY

This paper considers the problem of coverage of the elements of the identified set in a class of partially identified econometric models with a prespecified probability. In order to conduct inference in partially identified econometric models defined by moment (in)equalities, the literature has proposed three methods: bootstrap, subsampling, and asymptotic approximation. The objective of this paper is to compare these methods in terms of the rate at which they achieve the desired coverage level, i.e., in terms of the rate at which the error in the coverage probability (ECP) converges to zero. Under certain conditions, we show that the ECP of the bootstrap and the ECP of the asymptotic approximation converge to zero at the same rate, which is a faster rate than that of the ECP of subsampling methods. As a consequence, under these conditions, the bootstrap and the asymptotic approximation produce inference that is more precise than subsampling. A Monte Carlo simulation study confirms that these results are relevant in finite samples.
The GSK3β-β-catenin-TCF1 pathway improves naive T cell activation in old adults by upregulating miR-181a

MicroRNAs play an important role in the regulation of T cell development, activation, and differentiation. One of the most abundant microRNAs in lymphocytes is miR-181a, which controls T cell receptor (TCR) activation thresholds in thymic selection as well as in peripheral T cell responses. We previously found that miR-181a levels decline in T cells in the elderly. In this study, we identified TCF1 as a transcriptional regulator of pri-miR-181a. A decline in TCF1 levels in old individuals accounted for the reduced miR-181a expression impairing TCR signaling. Inhibition of GSK3s restored expression of miR-181a by inducing TCF1 in T cells from old adults. GSK3s inhibition enhanced TCR signaling to increase downstream expression of activation markers and production of IL-2. The effect involved the upregulation of miR-181a and the inhibition of DUSP6 expression. Thus, inhibition of GSK3s can restore responses of old T cells by inducing miR-181a expression through TCF1.
PL and HCI: better together

Collaborations between two communities have unearthed a sweet spot for future programming efforts.
Identifying Discordance of Right- and Left-Ventricular Filling Pressures in Patients With Heart Failure by the Clinical Examination

Background: In ≈25% of patients with heart failure and reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction, right-ventricular (RV), and left-ventricular (LV) filling pressures are discordant (ie, one is ele...
The Impact of External Contextual Factors on Teaching Candidates

The formation of a teacher’s identity is considered a dynamic process influenced by internal and external contextual factors. This article explores the impact that external contextual factors have on teacher candidates’ identities by presenting the findings of an empirical qualitative study that investigated the relationship between teacher candidates’ beliefs and their demonstrations and representations of teaching and learning on a nationally standardised portfolio assessment. Metaphor analysis and stimulated recall were used to explore this relationship. The study found that teacher candidates’ teaching demonstrations while student teaching and representations of teaching found in a nationally standardised portfolio assessment were severely constrained by cooperating teachers and scripted curriculums. However, the study also found that candidates could articulate the differences between their beliefs about teaching and learning and their demonstrations and representations of teaching and learning. Candidates routinely made suggestions in the portfolio assessment to align their future teaching more closely to their metaphors for teaching. The study concluded that candidates did not change their beliefs but took up temporary teaching identities based on these findings. They found ways to navigate the assessment and their (teaching) context while remaining committed to their teaching identity and beliefs about good teaching. This article suggests how education system contexts impact the formation of teacher candidates’ identities and what teacher education programmes need to do to strengthen candidates’ identities in the face of negative external influences.
THE REACTIONS OF ENERGETIC TRITIUM AND CARBON ATOMS WITH ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the reactions of energetic tritium and carbon atoms with organic compounds. The chapter deals primarily with the hot-atom chemistry of tritium and carbon. There is also a huge body of work on organic halogen compounds, inorganic compounds, and organic complexes. This chapter illustrates that the reactions of atomic carbon produced with initially high kinetic energies have been studied in a variety of organic substrates. Considerable progress has been made on the reaction mechanisms involved. Many questions are now capable of solution because of (1) the flexibility in conditions of radiation intensity and substrate phase when using carbon-11 as a source of hot carbon atoms, and (2) the power of gas–liquid chromatography in allowing rapid separation and identification of organic compounds in complex mixtures. The chapter explores that new evidence on radiation effects and the availability of new techniques have opened the way for a reinvestigation of recoil work with carbon-14.
The Biological Composition of a Taxonomic Species in Gilia

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the biological composition of a taxonomic species in Gilia. Gilia inconspicua complex a flock of sibling species related more or less independently of one another to different large-flowered species of Arachnion. This pattern of sibling species diversity within a taxonomic species is not unique in Gilia but is found in some other groups of inbreeding plants, and is expected to be of widespread occurrence. The larger assemblage of the Cobwebby Gilias or Arachnion considered as a whole, can be subdivided according to flower size into a series of large-flowered forms with corollas more than twice as long as the calyx, and a series of small-flowered forms with corollas twice or less than twice as long as the calyx. The breeding system is correlated with flower size, the showy large-flowered forms being cross-pollinated by insects to a moderate or high degree and the small-flowered plants being predominantly autogamous. The large-flowered and outcrossing Cobwebby Gilias are exemplified by such species as Gilia tenuiflora, G. latiflora, and others; while the small-flowered autogamous Cobwebby Gilias comprise the Gilia inconspicua complex. The Gilia inconspicua complex (Polemoniaceae) is a group of small annual herbs with small inconspicuous flowers that occurs widely throughout the arid regions of western North America, and has a secondary center of distribution in southern South America.
Newspaper Monopolies under the Microscope: The Celler Hearings of 1963

Abstract Early in 1963, United States Representative Emanuel Celler, chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee, took a bold step. As part of his committee's long examination of monopolistic practices in major US industries, Celler called newspaper publishers to participate in a series of hearings about the concentration of ownership in the newspaper industry. Discontinued twice, the hearings have remained somewhat of a mystery, with no official documentation of the proceedings available among government records. This research sheds additional light on the Celler Hearings of 1963, characterizes the approaches congressmen and publishers used in the hearings, and contributes a new perspective on why the hearings were discontinued. The article uses press reports, the personal papers of Emanuel Celler, the files of the House Antitrust Subcommittee, government documents, and American Newspaper Publishers Association documents to piece together the narrative. From the facts uncovered, the research concludes t...
Assembly Mapping of 30 S Ribosomal Proteins from Escherichia coli FURTHER STUDIES

Further studies were performed on the sequence of addition of proteins to 16 S RNA during the in vitro reconstitution of 30 S ribosomal subunits from Escherichia coli. Direct binding of protein S17 to 16 S RNA was studied in detail, and the following results were obtained: (a) under reconstitution conditions, a maximum of approximately 1 mole of S17 is bound per mole of 16 S RNA, either alone, or in the presence of all other 30 S proteins; (b) S17 binds only to 16 S RNA and not to 23 S RNA; and (c) radioactive S17–16 S RNA complexes are directly converted (without dissociation) to 30 S subunits by the addition of excess unlabeled total 30 S proteins. From these results, we conclude that the binding of S17 to 16 S RNA is specific. We have also determined the positions of S15, S16, S17, and S12 in the assembly map and have clarified subsequent interactions depending on these proteins. A revised assembly map is presented which incorporates the additional information obtained from these experimental results.
Architecture as an independent variable for aspect-oriented application descriptions

Software architecture researchers have long assumed that architecture independent application descriptions can be mapped to architectures in many styles, that results vary in quality attributes, and that the choice of a style is driven by consideration of such attributes. In our previous work [1], we demonstrated the feasibility of formally treating architectural style as an independent variable. Given an application description and architectural style description in Alloy [3], we map them to software architecture description that refines the given application in conformance with the given style. To represent a map, we extend a traditional architectural style description (in Alloy) with predicates for mapping application descriptions in a given style to architectural descriptions in the given style. These predicates take application descriptions as parameters and define relationships required to hold between them and computed architectural descriptions. Given an application description, and a map, Alloy computes corresponding architectural descriptions guaranteed to conform to the given architectural style. This paper extends our earlier work to aspect-oriented structures. In doing so, we describe an aspect-enabled application description style and a map taking application descriptions in this style to pipe-and-filter architectures. We use the Alloy Analyzer to compute architecture descriptions, represented as satisfying solutions to the constraints of a map given an application description. The A2A transformer application, developed in our research group, then converts the Alloy-computed architecture to an architecture description in a traditional architecture description language (ADL): here, AspectualACME[2].
Aerosol variability, synoptic‐scale processes, and their link to the cloud microphysics over the northeast Pacific during MAGIC

Shipborne aerosol measurements collected from October 2012 to September 2013 along 36 transects between the port of Los Angeles, California (33.7°N, 118.2°), and Honolulu, Hawaii (21.3°N, 157.8°W), during the Marine ARM GPCI (Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX)-Cloud System Study (GCSS)-Pacific Cross-section Intercomparison) Investigation of Clouds campaign are analyzed to determine the circulation patterns that modulate the synoptic and monthly variability of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the boundary layer. Seasonal changes in CCN are evident, with low magnitudes during autumn/winter, and high CCN during spring/summer accompanied with a characteristic westward decrease. CCN monthly evolution is consistent with satellite-derived cloud droplet number concentration Nd from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. One-point correlation (r) analysis between the 1000 hPa zonal wind time series over a region between 125°W and 135°W, 35°N and 45°N, and the Nd field yields a negative r (up to −0.55) over a domain that covers a zonal extent of at least 20° from the California shoreline, indicating that Nd decreases when the zonal wind intensifies. The negative r expands southwestward as the zonal wind precedes Nd by up to 3 days, suggesting a transport mechanism from the coast of North America mediated by the California low-coastal jet, which intensifies in summer when the aerosol concentration and Nd reach a maximum. A first assessment of aerosol-cloud interaction (ACI) is performed by combining CCN and satellite Nd values from the Fifteenth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The CCN-Nd correlation is 0.66–0.69, and the ACI metric defined as ACI = ∂ln(Nd)/∂ln(CCN) is high at 0.9, similar to other aircraft-based studies and substantially greater than those inferred from satellites and climate models.
Effects of blood and different media on the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 by Staphylococcus aureus in the tampon sac method

The use of three different agar concentrations in the tampon sac method resulted in slightly higher fluid uptake by the tampons when a 0.5% agar concentration was used. However, there was essentially no difference in the total amount of toxin produced. The largest amount of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 was produced with brain heart infusion agar, followed closely by 3% NZ-amine NAK-1% yeast extract medium. The addition of plasma and serum to the inoculum resulted in increases (62 and 73%, respectively) in toxin production. The addition of whole blood to the inoculum had a variable effect on toxin production, with an increase in the amount of toxin produced with some tampons and not with others. Over fivefold differences in the amount of toxin produced were obtained when duplicate experiments were done on successive days, whereas the differences were less than twofold for experiments done on the same day. This was related to the effect of small changes in the parameters on toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 production.
MW-scale power hardware-in-the-loop experiments of rapid power transfers in MVDC naval shipboard power systems

A Medium Voltage DC (MVDC), modular multilevel converter (MMC)-type, MW-scale, power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) advanced test facility is being utilized to better understand the impact of fast power transfer between dynamic loads in a notional MVDC shipboard system. In these experiments PHIL simulations demonstrate the transfer of power between two MW-scale, MMC-based loads in a time frame of milliseconds in a 5 kV DC system. The current work also includes the first use of an AC variable voltage source (VVS) as a power source for an MMC. PHIL and controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) test results include a rest-of-system (ROS) simulation of a notional set of ship components. Results will show a distinct aspect to MVDC systems, tolerance to AC side excursions while maintaining the DC bus. Ramp rates that far exceed MIL-STD-1399 are demonstrated in an MMC-based MVDC system architecture. Comparison of CHIL and PHIL results are also presented.
Determination of the electric dipole moment of the HSO radical in its X̃2A″(000) and Ã2A′(003) electronic states

Abstract Stark shifts were measured for the zero-field-allowed 000-110, 110-000 and zero-field-forbidden 000-111, 111-000 lines of the HSO A 2 A′(003)- X 2 A″(000) transition. A single-mode dye laser is used to record the Doppler-limited fluorescence excitation spectrum as a function of applied electric field (0–11 kV/cm) for excitation polarizations parallel and perpendicular to the applied field direction. The electric dipole moment along the a axis of this near-prolate asymmetric top is determined to be μ″a = 2.20 ± 0.08 D and μ′a = 1.05 ± 0.08 D, in close agreement with recent ab initio calculations.
Estimating 3D Trajectories of Periodic Motions from Stationary Monocular Views

We present a method for estimating the 3D trajectory of an object undergoing periodic motion in world coordinates by observing its apparent trajectory in a video taken from a single stationary camera. Periodicity in 3D is used here as a physical constraint, from which accurate solutions can be obtained. A detailed analysis is performed, from which we gain significant insight regarding the nature of the problem and the information that is required to arrive at a unique solution. Subsequently, a robust, numerical approach is proposed, and it is demonstrated that the cost function exhibits strong local convexity which is amenable to local optimization methods. Experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method for reconstructing periodic trajectories in 3D.
Stripe melting and quantum criticality in correlated metals

We study theoretically quantum melting transitions of stripe order in a metallic environment, and the associated reconstruction of the electronic Fermi surface. We show that such quantum phase transitions can be continuous in situations where the stripe melting occurs by proliferating pairs of dislocations in the stripe order parameter without proliferating single dislocations. We develop an intuitive picture of such phases as ``stripe loop metals'' where the fluctuating stripes form closed loops of arbitrary size at long distances. We obtain a controlled critical theory of a few different continuous quantum melting transitions of stripes in metals. At such a (deconfined) critical point, the fluctuations of the stripe order parameter are strongly coupled, yet tractable. They also decouple dynamically from the Fermi surface. We calculate many universal properties of these quantum critical points. In particular, we find that the full Fermi surface and the associated Landau quasiparticles remain sharply defined at the critical point. We discuss the phenomenon of Fermi surface reconstruction across this transition and the effect of quantum critical stripe fluctuations on the superconducting instability. We study possible relevance of our results to several phenomena in the cuprates.
Multi-fidelity approach to dynamics model calibration

Abstract This paper investigates the use of structural dynamics computational models with multiple levels of fidelity in the calibration of system parameters. Different types of models may be available for the estimation of unmeasured system properties, with different levels of physics fidelity, mesh resolution and boundary condition assumptions. In order to infer these system properties, Bayesian calibration uses information from multiple sources (including experimental data and prior knowledge), and comprehensively quantifies the uncertainty in the calibration parameters. Estimating the posteriors is done using Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling, which requires a large number of computations, thus making the use of a high-fidelity model for calibration prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, use of a low-fidelity model could lead to significant error in calibration and prediction. Therefore, this paper develops an approach for model parameter calibration with a low-fidelity model corrected using higher fidelity simulations, and investigates the trade-off between accuracy and computational effort. The methodology is illustrated for a curved panel located in the vicinity of a hypersonic aircraft engine, subjected to acoustic loading. Two models (a frequency response analysis and a full time history analysis) are combined to calibrate the damping characteristics of the panel.
Group Sparsity Constrained Automatic Brain Label Propagation

In this paper, we present a group sparsity constrained patch based label propagation method for multi-atlas automatic brain labeling. The proposed method formulates the label propagation process as a graph-based theoretical framework, where each voxel in the input image is linked to each candidate voxel in each atlas image by an edge in the graph. The weight of the edge is estimated based on a sparse representation framework to identify a limited number of candidate voxles whose local image patches can best represent the local image patch of each voxel in the input image. The group sparsity constraint to capture the dependency among candidate voxels with the same anatomical label is also enforced. It is shown that based on the edge weight estimated by the proposed method, the anatomical label for each voxel in the input image can be estimated more accurately by the label propagation process. Moreover, we extend our group sparsity constrained patch based label propagation framework to the reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) to capture the nonlinear similarity of patches among different voxels and construct the sparse representation in high dimensional feature space. The proposed method was evaluated on the NA0-NIREP database for automatic human brain anatomical labeling. It was also compared with several state-of-the-art multi-atlas based brain labeling algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that our method consistently achieves the highest segmentation accuracy among all methods used for comparison.
Protein Kinases in Zucchini (Characterization of Calcium-Requiring Plasma Membrane Kinases)

Using an in situ phosphorylation assay with zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. cv Dark Green) seedling tissue, we have identified numerous polypeptides that are capable of acting as protein kinases. Total protein preparations from different organs contain different kinase profiles, but all are within the range of 55 to 70 kD. At least four kinases are associated with highly purified plasma membranes from etiolated zucchini hypocotyls. The major phosphorylated polypeptides from plasma membranes range in apparent molecular mass from 58 to 68 kD. The plasma membrane kinases are activated by micromolar concentrations of calcium and phosphorylate serine, and, to a lesser extent, threonine residues. These characteristics are similar to those of a soluble calcium-dependent protein kinase that has been purified to homogeneity from soybean suspension cultures. Three of the zucchini plasma membrane kinases share antigenic epitopes with the soluble soybean kinase. The presence of kinase activity at different apparent molecular masses may be indicative of separate kinases with similar characteristics. The zucchini hypocotyl protein kinases are not removed from plasma membrane vesicles by 0.5 M NaCl/5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate or by detergent concentrations below the critical micelle concentration of two types of detergent. This indicates that the plasma membrane protein kinases are tightly associated with the membrane in zucchini seedlings.
Joseph angus and the Use of Autograph Letters in the Library at Holford House, Regent’s Park College, London

Joseph Angus and Thomas Raffles both collected autographs. For Angus the signatures of authors were a means of enhancing the academic dignity of the college collection. Transcripts of his letters to Raffles are included.
Christian Metz : entre sémiologie et esthétique

On a maintes fois accuse Christian Metz de vouloir faire de la linguistique avec le cinema et de laisser pour compte toute forme de preoccupation esthetique liee au 7e art. Or rien n’est plus faux. Jamais le projet metzien n’a fait l’economie de l’esthetique; bien au contraire cette derniere assure une continuite souterraine, partiellement refoulee, qui travaille neanmoins cette autre continuite parallele et plus visible, plus assumee en surface, plus ‘scientifique’, qu’est le theme langagier. Ce sont les deux trames qui se rejoignent dans l’idee que Metz a defendue, soit celle du cinema comme art logomorphique.
Prospective measurement of a problem-based learning course sequence.

Objective. To measure the effect, over time, of a 2-year problem-based learning (PBL) sequence on the skills, knowledge, and abilities it was designed to develop and enhance.Design. At the start of...
An active specification switching strategy that aids in solving nonlinear sets and improves a VNS/TA hybrid optimization methodology

Abstract A method to aid in convergence of nonlinear equations by relocating the solver is introduced. Deactivating known variables and activating intelligently chosen unknown variables at predicted values efficiently formulates initial conditions. This repair strategy is integrated into an optimization procedure. The repair algorithm has the ability to (1) relocate the solver for non-converged models caused by poor initial conditions and (2) utilize points formulated in relocating non-converged models caused by infeasible sets of decision variables as a perturbation phase of a stochastic optimization algorithm. To show the effectiveness of the proposed repair strategy, a hybrid metaheuristic of a Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) and Threshold Accepting (TA) is tested on the optimization of a large-scale industrial process, the primary units of a crude oil refinery. The performance of the hybrid VNS/TA Metaheuristic with repair is compared to the algorithm without the repair technique.
Cataloging Theory in Search of Graph Theory and Other Ivory Towers Object: Cultural Heritage Resource Description Networks

Working paper summarizing research into cataloging theory, history of science, mathematics, and information science.
No-core shell model in an effective-field-theory framework

We present a new approach to the construction of effective interactions suitable for many-body calculations by means of the no-core shell model (NCSM). We consider an effective field theory (EFT) with only nucleon fields directly in the NCSM model spaces. In leading order, we obtain the strengths of the three contact terms from the condition that in each model space the experimental ground-state energies of 2 H, 3 H and 4 He be exactly reproduced. The first (0 + ;0) excited state of 4 He and the ground state of 6 Li are then obtained by means of NCSM calculations in several spaces and frequencies. After we remove the harmonic-oscillator frequency dependence, we predict for 4 He an energy level for the first (0 + ;0) excited state in remarkable agreement with the experimental value. The corresponding 6 Li binding energy is about 70% of the experimental value, consistent with the expansion parameter of the EFT. PACS numbers: 21.30.-x,21.60.Cs,24.10.Cn,45.50.Jf The microscopic description of quantum systems, from nuclei to atoms and molecules, is a very difficult task that often involves solving numerically the many-body �
Mixed-signal circuit simulation system with behavioral modeling capability

In this paper, the development of a mixed-signal circuit simulation system with behavioral modeling capability is discussed. In this context, mixed-signal simulation refers to the simulation of circuits and systems containing both analog and digital cells excited with signals of either an analog or digital nature. The background information regarding circuit simulation is given along with a discussion of device and system modeling for analog and digital cells. In addition, the numerical methods and programming techniques along with how these relate to the internal data structure are analyzed. Finally, the scenarios used for testing the simulator are discussed and the results compared to results obtained from the SPICE simulator using device based models. The development of this simulation system has provided a seamless method for developing behavioral models given a cell which has been well characterized. These behavioral models are developed utilizing object-oriented programming techniques and are capable of providing highly accurate results. Behavioral cells, once developed, can then be simulated with signals and cells of an analog or digital nature to provide significant improvements in simulation times of large systems.
Morphometric Variation and Function in the Baculum, with Comments on Correlation of Parts

Probable functions of the baculum are reviewed. Consideration of vectors of resistance of the vaginal orifice and of forces of the baculum reveals possible reasons for the specialization of the bacular tip in some carnivores and rodents. Coefficients of variation of length and some other measurements of some bacula of adult mammals are compared, and measures for Procyon and Rattus are correlated. Variations of length of baculum and width of tip are often exceeded by other bacular variations. The length is usually less variable than its components; this pattern of variation can be explained in part by (1) lack of correlation of the subsidiary measures, and (2) algebraic considerations. The ossicles of complex bacula show an increase in variation distally. The influence of sex on the baculum, and the function, form, and variation of the os clitoridis in several kinds of mammals are discussed.
Influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the meiobenthic-copepod community of a Louisiana salt marsh

Abstract The influence of sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the meiobenthic copepod community of a Louisiana salt marsh was examined with microcosms of sediment containing natural faunal assemblages. Microcosms were dosed with PAH-contaminated sediment that ranged in concentration from 0.3 (controls) to 27 mg PAH/kg dry sediment, and effects were followed for 28 days. Data suggest that highest doses (High-PAH) elicited avoidance behavior by Pseudostenhelia wellsi (Coull and Fleeger) copepods and nauplii, particularly 12 h after contaminants were added (Day 0). Weaker avoidance behavior was indicated in non-P. wellsi species that was manifested as increases in nauplius copepod ratios. Nematode copepod ratios were calculated for each of 4 species (P. wellsi, Coullana sp., Enhydrosoma sp., and Onychoeamptus mohammed (Blanchard and Richard)); only nematode/P. wellsi ratios were significantly affected by PAH. High-PAH treatments also lead to a higher proportion of females in P. wellsi and Coullana sp. This effect was only observed from Day 7 on and is interpreted as an indication of disproportionately high mortality of males. Collectively, our data demonstrate that relatively low-level PAH contamination may cause many ecologically important impacts on copepod community structure that may not be detected at the level of higher taxon.
Are All Diseases Infectious

The complex interactions between microorganisms and human hosts include the well-known, traditional infectious diseases and the symbiotic relation we have with our normal flora. The media have brought to the public's attention many newly described infectious diseases, such as Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever, that were not part of common medical parlance a decade ago. While flooding us with interesting and often dramatic reports of so-called emerging infectious diseases, the media have largely ignored a more fundamental change in our appreciation of human-microorganism interactions: the discovery that transmissible agents may play important roles in diseases not suspected of being infectious in origin. A well-known example is ulcer disease; other examples include neurodegenerative disease, inflammatory disease, and cancer. These fascinating instances of host-pathogen interaction open new prospects for the prevention of disease through immunization.
Aorta—left renal vein fistula syndrome caused by rupture of a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm: Novel pathologic mechanism for a unique clinical entity

Spontaneous aorta-left renal vein fistula (ALRVF) caused by abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a rare form of intravascular aneurysm rupture. The literature series of ALRVF, updated here to 19 reported cases, demonstrates that patients with ALRVF present with a unique clinical syndrome characterized by abdominal or left flank pain (84%), a pulsatile abdominal mass (63%), abdominal bruit or murmur (63%), hematuria (100%), and nonfunction of the left kidney on functional imaging studies (100% of patients studied). Operative findings in ALRVF syndrome have included a large AAA (mean diameter 9.2 cm), with frank rupture in only three; in 17 of 19 patients (89%) the ALRVF was associated with a retroaortic left renal vein anomaly. The patient presented here had a large juxtarenal AAA with rupture into the left retroperitoneal space. The wide aneurysm neck and expanding hematoma created an avulsion of the second left lumbar vein from its junction with an anatomically normal (preaortic) left renal vein; the resulting renal vein tear allowed development of an arteriovenous communication that was responsible for the clinical presentation of ALRVF syndrome. The disease found here demonstrates a novel mechanism for the production of ALRVF syndrome in patients with juxtarenal AAA and otherwise normal pararenal venous anatomy.
Synthesis of α,ω-long chain disubstituted sexithiophenes

Abstract The synthesis and electrochemistry of three new symmetrical α,ω-disubstituted sexithiophene derivatives 1–3 substituted by heptadecyl, hexadecyloxymethyl, and trans -heptadecenyl groups is described.
Determining Cutoff Scores on a Developmental Screening Measure: Use of Receiver Operating Characteristics and Item Response Theory:

Two different theoretical approaches were compared to determine the optimal cutoff scores for the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ: SE), a social-emotional screening test. Cuto...
Gamma-ray spectroscopy using small, cooled bismuth germanate scintillators and silicon photodiodes

Abstract Gamma-ray scintillation spectra were measured using a 3 × 3 × 3 mm 3 bismuth germanate (BGO) crystal and a 4 mm diam. silicon photodiode (SPD) at temperatures from +20°C to −190°C. At +20°C, using an amplifier peaking time τ = 2 μ s, the 662 keV photopeak pulses had 3200 electrons (e − ) and a full-width at half-maximum (fwhm) of 27%. For τ = 1 μ s, the minimum fwhm was 20% at −75°C. The narrowest 662 keV photopeak seen in this work had 7.2% fwhm at −150°C using τ = 10 μ s. Cooling from +20°C to −100°C increased the photopeak amplitude by a factor of 2.4 and reduced amplifier noise by a factor of 1.9. Relative to photomultiplier tubes, SPDs can be made smaller, and in a wider variety of shapes; they have higher quantum efficiencies, and are insensitive to magnetic fields. This work describes the factors that enable small BGO crystals and SPDs to detect gamma rays with an unprecedented combination of detection efficiency, spatial resolution, and energy resolution.
Prognostic validation of an algorithm to convert myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging data from a 12-segment model to a 17-segment model

Background A 17-segment model has become the standard for interpreting myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Methods for converting pre-existing databases from 12-segment models to the 17-segment model are needed for ongoing prognostic studies.
Containerless Study of Metal Evaporation by Laser Induced Fluorescence

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection of atomic vapors was used to study evaporation from electromagnetically levitated and CW CO 2 laser heated molydenum spheres and resistively heated tungsten filaments. Electromagnetic (EM) levitation in combination with laser heating of tungsten, zirconium, and aluminum specimens was also investigated. LIF intensity vs temperature data were obtained for molybdenum ( 7 S 3 ) atoms and six electronic states of atomic tungsten, at temperatures up to the melting point of each metal. The detected fraction of the emitted radiation was reduced by self-absorption effects at the higher experimental temperatures.Vaporization enthalpies derived from data for which less than half the LIF intensity was self-absorbed were ΔH o 0 = -636 ± 24 kJ/g-mol for Mo and 831 ± 32 kJ/g-mol for W. Space-based applications of EM levitation in combination with radiative heating are discussed.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM AND AIRWAY

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cardiovascular system has overcome artifacts generated by complex cardiac contraction and respiratory motion to become an increasingly important and versatile diagnostic tool in children with congenital heart disease. Newer software and electronics have enabled acquisition of high-quality diagnostic images in pediatric patients with a variety of cardiovascular and respiratory abnormalities. Although the noninvasive imaging of patients with congenital heart defects has relied predominantly on echocardiography, MR imaging has a complementary and unique role in cases in which the examination is limited because of difficulty in achieving an adequate acoustic window. The precise role of MR imaging in this patient population continues to be defined, particularly in the context of the increasing use and refinement of transesophageal echocardiography. This article highlights the most widely used MR techniques and the most common clinical indications for imaging.
Genetic Variation, β-Blockers, and Perioperative Myocardial Infarction

Perioperative myocardial infarction is a common and potentially fatal complication after noncardiac surgery, particular among patients with cardiovascular risk factors. β-blockers have been considered a mainstay in prevention and treatment of perioperative myocardial infarction, yet recent evidence suggests that β-blockers may have an unfavorable risk profile in this setting and the use has become controversial. What seems conspicuously absent from the current discussion is the appreciation of how much interindividual genetic variation influences the clinical response to β-blocker therapy. Genetic variation in the adrenergic signaling pathway is common, and has a major impact on adrenergic receptor function and β-blocker efficacy in other cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and hypertension. Genetic variation in the cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme, which is responsible for the metabolism of most β-blockers, is also important and can lead to poor metabolizing of β-blockers (potential toxicity) or their ultra-rapid degradation (decreased efficacy). Here, we review the molecular, cellular and physiologic consequences of polymorphisms in the adrenergic signaling pathway and CYP2D6 gene, and show that these are likely relevant factors influencing efficacy, safety and toxicity of β-blocker therapy in prevention and treatment of perioperative myocardial infarction.