cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Rise of the Drones – A Need for the Comprehensive Federal Regulation of Robot Aircraft

In Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen, weaponized flying robots project military power. As peace returns, visionaries plan to repatriate this technology for commercial use. They promise us a bright future where robotic aircraft deliver beer and burritos. Why risk a DUI, when you can use your very own Drone?Unfortunately, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 does not provide a suitable framework for us to welcome the arrival of the Drones. The Act specifically embraces the idea that Drones differ so greatly from other commercial flying machines that they can only exist in the absence of comprehensive regulation. This is a major break from deeply rooted traditions of certification and operational responsibility enshrined in current aviation law.Robotic aircraft pose additional problems. Drones do not fleet across the sky like “vagrant clouds”; they leave permanent contrails across cyberspace. Equipped with high resolution cameras, the possibility of a private or government Drone obtaining information that breaches a citizen’s “reasonable expectation of privacy” seems likely. Such a scenario triggers a visceral response among many civil libertarians.This monograph describes how robotic aircraft technology will cause existing Federalism, Commerce Power, and Fourth Amendment doctrines to collide in unexpected and consequential manners. As Drones become prevalent, their use will trigger lawsuits. Resolution of these cases and controversies, when decided upon by our Supreme Court, will broadly impact our nation’s legal fabric.
Geriatric Case Managers’ Perspectives on Suicide Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

It has been suggested that clinical screening for suicide, along with firearm assessment and safety counseling, are important in service provision to older adults. It is unclear, however, how geriatric case managers respond to these issues. This study surveyed geriatric case managers (n=161) from Area Agencies on Aging in Ohio on their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to suicide, firearm assessment, and safety counseling. Results indicated that the majority of respondents (70%) agree their clients are at risk for suicide. However, few (30%) in this study reported that they assess for firearms and less than half (48%) discuss firearms with their clients/family members when specifically assessing for suicide. Analyses identified barriers that contribute to the decreased likelihood that routine firearm assessment and safety counseling would occur, such as lack of training and time. Implications include the need for training with geriatric case managers that addresses barriers to suicide, firearm assessment and safety counseling as a means to decrease these population risks.
Sensitivity Analysis of Model Input Dependencies Using Copulas

Many important decision and risk analysis problems are complicated by dependencies between input variables. In such cases, standard one-variable-at-a-time sensitivity analysis methods are typically eschewed in favor of fully probabilistic, or n-way, analysis techniques which simultaneously model all n input variables and their interdependencies. Unfortunately, much of the intuition provided by one-way sensitivity analysis and its associated graphical output displays such as Tornado diagrams may not be available in fully probabilistic methods. It is also difficult or impossible to isolate the marginal effects of variables in an n-way analysis. In this paper, we present a dependence-adjusted approach for identifying and analyzing the impact of the input variables in a model through the use of probabilistic sensitivity analysis based on copulas. This approach provides insights about the influence of both the input variables and the dependence relationships between the input variables. A key contribution of this approach is that it facilitates assessment of the relative marginal influence of variables for the purpose of determining which variables should be modeled in applications where computational efficiency is a concern, such as in decision tree analysis of large scale problems. In addition, we also investigate the sensitivity to the magnitude of correlation in the inputs.
The Development of Writing Skills in an Italian-English Two-Way Immersion Program: Evidence from First Through Fifth Grade

ABSTRACTThis study examines the writing skills of students in grades 1 to 5 of an Italian-English two-way immersion program. Narrative writing samples were collected in both languages and scored for content, organization, grammar, mechanics, vocabulary, text length, and overall total score. The results show that writing skills improved as a function of grade. Although children from Italian-English bilingual homes obtained higher Italian scores than English-only students, both groups achieved moderate-to-advanced levels of writing proficiency in both languages by the upper grades, suggesting that the program was successful in promoting bilingualism and biliteracy. Total scores and scores for the various subcomponents were positively and significantly correlated across languages, even after controlling for grade. Associations were stronger for global components like content and organization; smaller but significant correlations were also found for language-specific measures like grammar and vocabulary. We i...
Initial Growth and Morphology of Ultrathin Magnetic Films Studied Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The room-temperature growth of Fe on Cu(100) has been studied using the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to determine low-coverage growth mode and local structures related to the FCC-BCC structural transformation. Results for submonolayer deposition demonstrate an initial interchange of deposited Fe atoms with substrate Cu. This leads to a highly rough Fe-Cu interface and growth characteristics that for different experimental techniques can resemble 3-D island growth or layer-by-layer growth. For a thickness ~14 monolayers, the FCC-BCC transition is observed to occur via the formation of fairly large martensitic grains, rather than by a change in atomic aggregation. The implications of the instability of FCC-Fe, as evident in both low- and high-coverage data, are considered.
Accuracy of superlocalization imaging using Gaussian and dipole emission point-spread functions for modeling gold nanorod luminescence

We present a study comparing the accuracy of superlocalization imaging of plasmon-mediated emission from gold nanorods (AuNRs) using both Gaussian and dipole emission point-spread function (PSF) models. By fitting the emission PSF of single AuNR luminescence, we have shown that a 3-axis dipole PSF gives improved localization accuracy over the Gaussian PSF, especially for nonplanar AuNRs, while also allowing the AuNR three-dimensional orientation and emission wavelength to be determined. On the other hand, when a single-axis dipole PSF model is applied to the AuNR emission, the fit estimates converge to values that are inconsistent with their experimentally measured values, affecting both the localization accuracy and precision of the fitted centroid position. These results indicate that when applying superlocalization techniques to plasmonic nanostructures, care must be taken to understand the nature of the emission before a correct dipole PSF can be applied.
Chickpea Resistance to Callosobruchus maculatus in Iran

Pulse crops, because of their high protein content, are dietary staples in many developing countries (Aykroyd and Doughty 1964). Chickpea, Cicer arietinum L., one such important pulse crop, is commonly cultivated throughout Tran (Kaiser et al. 1968), where it is often severely damaged in storage by Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). To obtain information for reducing this damage, a study was undertaken to screen varieties of chickpea for resistance to this beetle.
The Arf GEF GBF1 integrates inputs from its product, Arf4·GTP, and the Golgi influx of sensory membrane cargo to activate Arf4 in ciliary trafficking

Objective Primary cilia in biology and disease are of considerable importance, however, molecular mechanisms for specific targeting of sensory receptors to primary cilia are still unknown. In the present study we wanted to determine if the small GTPase Arf4 is activated by the Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) GBF1 in ciliary trafficking, and examine the role of the ciliary cargo, rhodopsin, in the activation of Arf4.
PhotoGate microscopy: tracking single molecules in a cytoplasm(Conference Presentation)

Tracking single molecules inside cells reveals the dynamics of biological processes, including receptor trafficking, signaling and cargo transport. However, individual molecules often cannot be resolved inside cells due to their high density in the cellular environment. We developed a photobleaching gate assay, which controls the number of fluorescent particles in a region of interest by repeatedly photobleaching its boundary. Using this method, we tracked single particles at surface densities two orders of magnitude higher than the single-molecule detection limit. We observed ligand-induced dimerization of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) on a live cell membrane. In addition, we tracked individual intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains along the length of a cilium and observed their remodeling at the ciliary tip.
120 DNA HYPOMETHYLATION AND NEURONAL SURVIVAL.

DNA cytosine methylation in vertebrate animals is a major epigenetic modification involved in gene regulation, genomic imprinting, and X-inactivation during development. To understand the role of DNA methylation in CNS development, specific conditional knockout mice for the maintenance enzyme DNA methyltransferase I (Dnmt1) were previously generated using the cre/loxP system. Linking cre recombinase to the Emx-1 promoter restricted the deletion to pallial cortical precursors that give rise to the neocortex and hippocampus. Cre/LoxP-mediated Dnmt1 deletion occurred in precursor cells between E9-12, resulting in hypomethylated postmitotic cortical and hippocampal neurons during midgestation. Massive neuronal degeneration was evident upon gross observation with a dramatic reduction of cortical and hippocampal structures. TUNEL staining suggests that hypomethylated cortical neurons and precursor cells undergo apoptotic cell death at around E14. It has also been previously reported that Dnmt1 deletion in primary fibroblasts results in cell death via a p53-mediated pathway. This study sought to investigate if a similar, p53-dependent mechanism is involved in the cortical and hippocampal cell death observed in the aforementioned Dnmt1 conditional knockouts. Western blot analysis failed to show induction of an active, serine-phosphorylated (S15) form of p53 in E15 mutant cell lysate. However, preliminary data from quantitative, real-time PCR reveal that there is an induction of p53 transcript and its downstream product p21 in mutant cDNA at E13.5. Additional investigation is required to determine which active, phosphorylated form of p53 is up-regulated in Dnmt1-deficient apoptotic neurons and which additional downstream targets of p53 are involved.
Microleakage and sealant penetration using a vibrating probe.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of a vibrating probe on sealant penetration into pits and fissures. METHODS Thirty-six extracted human third molars were used. The occlusal surface of each molar was cleaned with a rubber cup and pumice slurry. Scotchbond Etchant (35% phosphoric acid gel) was applied to the occlusal fissures of each molar for 20 seconds. Fissures were then sealed as follows: Group 1: Concise Light Cured White Sealant was applied without vibration; Group 2: same as in Group 1 but with vibration; Group 3: Single Bond Adhesive was applied, then Concise Light Cured White Sealant was applied without vibration; Group 4: same as in Group 3, but sealant was applied with vibration; Group 5: Concise Light Cured White Sealant was applied without vibration, then Z-100 composite was burnished over the sealant and light-cured; Group 6: same as in Group 5, but sealant was applied with vibration. Microvibe vibrating probe was used for sealant vibration. After 24-hour immersion in 2% basic fuchsin dye solution, specimens were sectioned, and dye and sealant penetration were scored using a stereomicroscope and color slides. Selected sectioned samples were observed under the SEM. RESULTS No statistically significant differences between the groups were observed for either dye or sealant penetration scores. In all groups, sealant penetration was more influenced by the shape, depth and residual debris of fissures than by the use of a vibrating probe.
Manifesto destiny: Literary interventions from the Periferia of São Paulo

ABSTRACTThis article examines three manifestos associated with the Brazilian contemporary cultural phenomenon known as literatura marginal, a movement that seeks to redress the ills of differentiated citizenship and social, economic, and political disenfranchisement. These manifestos serve as important touchstones for reading literature from the periphery given the ways they self-consciously engage with Brazil's literary history. They constitute an intervention into the way Brazilian literature has been published, consumed, historicized, and canonized. Accordingly, this article argues that these manifestos reveal a deep generative political impulse that enhances our reading of the poetry and prose identified as literatura marginal.
Digital mobile fronthaul based on delta-sigma modulation for 32 LTE carrier aggregation and FBMC signals

We first experimentally demonstrated a digital mobile fronthaul (MFH) architecture using delta-sigma modulation as the new digitization interface to replace the conventional common public radio interface (CPRI). Both one-bit and two-bit delta-sigma modulations were demonstrated, and the digitized signals were transmitted over on-off keying (OOK) or 4-level pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM4) optical intensity modulation-direct detection (IM-DD) links. 32 LTE component carriers (CCs) were digitized and transmitted over a 25-km single-λ 10-Gbaud OOK/PAM4 link, so that 32 LTE carrier aggregation (CA) specified by 3GPP release 13 can be supported. Compared with the conventional digitization interface based on CPRI, the fronthaul capacity is increased by four times. Error vector magnitude (EVM) less than 5% or 2.1% for all LTE CCs was obtained using one-bit and two-bit delta-sigma modulators, so that high-order modulations (256QAM/1024QAM) can be supported. As a waveform-agnostic digitization interface, delta-sigma modulation can digitize not only 4G-LTE but also 5G waveforms, and its 5G compatibility was verified by filter-bank-multicarrier (FBMC) signals. The tolerance to bit error ratio (BER) of the proposed delta-sigma modulation-based digital MFH was evaluated, and no significant EVM degradation was observed for BER up to 3 χ 10−5. A comparison with analog MFH reveals that the proposed digital MFH based on delta-sigma modulation can offer improved resilience against noise and nonlinear impairments, and it increases the fronthaul capacity by four times compared with the conventional CPRI-based digital MFH without significant EVM penalty.
Spotz: a location-based approach to self-awareness

This paper introduces the location-based mobile application Spotz that explores the persuasive qualities of sharing location information visually to promote behavior change. Spotz encourages users to become self-aware of the kinds of places they visit which can have motivational properties deriving from social feedback. The app displays a continually evolving graphic of relatively sized circles depicting the number and type of places at which the users check-in, including the option to upload this visual to social media.
Barrier busting yeast brew trouble in the gut

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a common yeast in the gut, induces uric acid production by intestinal epithelium, leading to decreased barrier function and increased colitis in mouse models.
Dataset of water activity measurements of alcohol:water solutions using a Tunable Diode Laser

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "RH-temperature phase diagrams of hydrate forming deliquescent crystalline ingredients" (Allan and Mauer, 2017) [1]. The data are water activity measurements of alcohol:water solutions (methanol:water and ethanol:water solutions at varying molar ratios) at different temperatures collected using the Tunable Diode Laser by Decagon Devices. The measured water activities of ethanol:water solutions were correlated to the initial volumetric ratios to produce polynomial equations that can be used to calculate the needed initial volumetric ratios for water activity controlled solutions. The data sets and polynomial equations are provided to enable extended analyses and applications of the data and calculations for generating and using controlled water activity solutions containing alcohol. An example application of these data is described in the research article mentioned above.
Use of Rifapentine and Isoniazid Directly Observed Therapy for the Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in a Military Clinic.

ABSTRACT Background: There are 8.6 million cases of active tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, and an estimated one-third of the world population has latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). In the United States, up to 80% of active cases may be caused by untreated reactivated latent infection. A case of TB can spread rapidly impacting the readiness of a unit. To prevent the development of TB, it is critical that active duty service members with LTBI complete treatment. The use of isoniazid (INH) and rifapentine (RPT) as a directly observed therapy (DOT) treatment option was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in late 2011. Since then, there have been limited studies on the use of this treatment regimen in a civilian clinic setting and to our knowledge no studies within a military setting. Methods: This study compares the completion rate of LTBI treatment in 2 military public health clinics, using a retrospective chart review of 179 subjects who attempted treatment with INH/RPT DOT and 186...
The Lost City of the Monkey God, A True Story; Jungleland

Douglas Preston. New York, NY: Grand Central, 2017. viii and 326 pp., photos, sources and bibliography, index. $28.00 cloth (ISBN 978-1-4555-4000-6).Christopher S. Stewart. New York, NY: HarperColl...
A case for anole territoriality

Kamath and Losos (Behav Ecol Sociobiol 71:89, 2017) address a contradiction in studies of anole lizards: the mismatch between behavioral studies classifying anoles as polygynous and modern genetic data indicating that females frequently have multiple mates. These authors argue that this mismatch comes from a historic trend in anole biology to cite poorly supported evidence of anole social behaviors (particularly territoriality) and to underemphasize observations deviating from polygyny. While we agree there is more variation in anole spatial patterns and mating behaviors than is commonly acknowledged in the literature, we feel that the authors’ main conclusion that the study of anole territoriality has been largely based on untested assumptions is overstated. Although early studies are often limited by the different scientific norms of their times, the study of anole spatial behavior has been based on a consistent and well-supported view of territoriality.
Biosynthetic Studies on the Salinamides, Depsipeptides from a Marine Streptomyces

In recent years, the field of natural products research has erupted with the emergence of combinatorial biosynthesis as a means to generate large numbers of molecules with great structural diversity (Hutchinson, 1997). These studies have provided diverse chemical structures which are required for high throughput bioassays in the discovery of new lead drug candidates. Much of the work in combinatorial biochemistry has centered on the Actinomycetes, particularly the common soil genus Streptomyces, as these microorganisms are a proven source of structurally diverse secondary metabolites possessing broad ranges of biological activities. As the frequency of novel bioactive compounds identified from terrestrial actinomycetes decreases with time, however, academic and industrial programs are increasingly screening actinomycetes from varied environments for their ability to generate novel metabolites. These studies have not only supplied new potential lead compounds, but have also revealed new biochemical pathways that can be tapped in a combinatorial fashion to produce new molecular structures.
Factors Influencing the Emergence of New (and “Old”) Diseases

Since its introduction in 1992, the paradigm that views the emergence of new human infections as a product of man-made ‘factors of emergence’ has been widely adopted. However, only some of these factors have been studied in depth. This article reviews three factors that have been characterized scientifically: changes in land use, travel and trade, and microbial adaptation and change. The introduction of new factors by the Institute of Medicine has created overlapping of domains for research. To adequately define the operation of man-made factors will require careful multidisciplinary research, and the development and testing of metrics to describe factors that operate alone and with other factors in the emergence of new infections.
Cerebral blood flow velocities modulate during cognitive tasks using vision and vision-like requirements : A TCD study

Blood flow velocities in the anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries (VACAs, VMCAs, VPCAs) of three separate groups of healthy volunteers (n = 22–24) were obtained noninvasively with a transcranial Doppler procedure during rest and during sets of 24-sec cognitive tasks that had varied visual requirements: remembering seen and heard items; generating autobiographical images; and visualizing and mentally rotating stimuli. Both global and time-course velocity values (averaged and for each of eight measures, respectively, from a thinking period) were analyzed. Global VMCA increased bilaterally over baseline during recalling; global VACA was not affected; and global VPCA increased after the subjects saw but not after they heard the items. Global VMCA and VACA elevated bilaterally during imaging, but VPCA did not. Visualizing, but not mentally rotating, stimuli increased all three global velocities bilaterally. Task-dependent time-course modulations in velocities appeared during the thinking periods. Velocities hyperelevated temporarily at the outset of all periods, except for VPCA during tasks not requiring direct vision. VACA slowed to baseline during recollection of the heard items, and all velocities slowed during the visualizing tasks but remained above baseline.
Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms

The papers in this volume were presented at the Twenty-Eighth Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, held January 16--19, 2017 in Barcelona. The Symposium was jointly sponsored by SIGACT (the ACM Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computation Theory) and by the SIAM Activity Group on Discrete Mathematics.
In Vivo Pharmacodynamic Profile of Ceftibuten-Clavulanate Combination against Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Murine Thigh Infection Model.

Ceftibuten-clavulanate (CTB-CLA) is a novel β-lactam-β-lactamase combination with potential utility for the management of urinary tract infections caused by extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms. We examined the pharmacodynamics of the combination against 25 Enterobacteriaceae expressing β-lactamases (CTX-M, TEM, and SHV wild types and SHV-ESBL) in the murine thigh infection model. MIC values of CTB and CTB-CLA ranged from 1 to >32 mg/liter and 0.125 to 8 mg/liter, respectively. Human-simulated regimens of CTB and CLA equivalent to clinical doses of 400 mg orally (p.o.) every 8 h (q8h) and 187 mg q8h, respectively, were developed. CLA dose fractionation studies were undertaken to characterize the driver of efficacy. CLA dose-ranging studies were undertaken to assess the activity of the CTB human-simulated regimen in combination with escalating CLA exposures. The relationships between the percentage of the dosing interval during which the free CLA plasma concentrations remained above a threshold concentration (%fT>CT ) and the change in log10 CFU per thigh at 24 h were examined across different threshold concentrations. Additionally, the efficacy of a human-simulated regimen of CTB-CLA was assessed against isolates with various susceptibilities to the combination. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index that best correlated with the efficacy of the combination was %fT > threshold CLA plasma concentration of 0.5 mg/liter. The plasma %fT>0.5 mg/liter associated with the static endpoint was 20.59%. For isolates with CTB-CLA MICs of ≤4 mg/liter, stasis was achieved with a human-simulated regimen of CTB-CLA against 20/22 isolates (90.9%), while for isolates with MICs of 8 mg/liter, only 1/3 tested isolates (33.3%) displayed stasis. Results suggest a susceptibility breakpoint of 4 mg/liter for CTB-CLA. These data support the consideration of the CTB-CLA combination for the treatment of urinary tract infections due to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by John Sanseverino, volume 1, pp 182–184, © 2005, Elsevier Inc.
Acoustic streaming in turbulent compressible channel flow for heat transfer enhancement

Acoustic streaming in high-speed compressible channel flow and its impact on heat and momentum transfer is analysed numerically at two different Mach numbers, and 6000. An external time-periodic forcing function is implemented to model the effect of acoustic drivers placed on the sidewalls. The excitation frequency is chosen according to the linear stability analysis of the background (unexcited) flow. High-fidelity numerical simulations performed at the optimal resonant condition reveal an initially exponential growth of perturbations followed by a nonlinear regime leading to the limit-cycle oscillations. In the last stage, we observe an acoustic (steady) streaming appearing as a result of nonlinear interactions between the periodic external wave and the background flow. This causes a steady enhancement in heat transfer at a rate higher than the skin-friction augmentation. We also show that perturbations of similar amplitude, but at suboptimal frequencies, may not lead to such limit-cycle oscillations and cannot make any noticeable modifications to the time-averaged flow quantities. The present research is the first study to demonstrate the acoustic streaming in compressible turbulent flows, and it introduces a novel technique towards enhancing the heat transfer with minimal skin-friction production.
“You gotta believe in something, something, something”: Evoking literacy lives as nostalgia for the future

We render in this theoretical inquiry, informed by empirical data, understandings of how preservice teachers’ literacy lives come into curricular considerations of future teaching and learning in t...
Detection of complex genetic architecture using two-locus population differentiation: modeling epistasis

Recent advances in genetics have increased our understanding of epistasis as important in the genetics of complex phenotypes. However, current analytical methods often cannot detect epistasis, given the multiple testing burden. To address this, we extended our previous method, Evolutionary Triangulation (ET), that uses differences among populations in both disease prevalence and allele frequencies to filter SNPs from association studies to generate novel interaction models. We show that two-locus ET identified several co-evolving gene pairs, where both genes associate with the same disease, and that the number of such pairs is significantly greater than expected by chance. Traits found by two-locus ET included those related to pigmentation and schizophrenia. We then applied two-locus ET to the analysis of preterm birth (PTB) genetics. Using ET to filter SNPs at loci identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we showed that ET derived PTB two-locus models are novel and were not seen when only the index SNPs were used to generate epistatic models. One gene pair, ADCY5 and KCNAB1 5′, was identified as significantly interacting in a model of gestational age (p as low as 3 × 10-3). Notably, the same ET SNPs in these genes showed significant interactions in three of four cohorts analyzed. The robustness of this gene pair and others, demonstrated that the ET method can be used without prior biological hypotheses based on SNP function to select variants for epistasis testing that could not be identified otherwise. Two-locus ET clearly increased the ability to identify epistasis in complex traits.
Tantalum-178-Labeled Radiopharmaceutical Synthesis Via the Intermediate Tantalum Pentachloride — A Potential Myocardial Perfusion Agent

The recent development of an automated 178W/178Ta generator and multiwire gamma camera (MWGC) for first-pass cardiac imaging has demonstrated the practicality of use of the short-lived radioisotope tantalum-178 (178Ta) as a radiotracer for nuclear medicine imaging procedures. 1.2
Precocious germination of a pine cone in Eocene Baltic amber

Seed germination is a crucial stage in the development of all plants. It normally occurs in the soil after the seed has fallen from the mother plant. In some infrequent instances, precocious germin...
Free Seeds, Not Free Beer: Participatory Plant Breeding, Open Source Seeds, and Acknowledging User Innovation in Agriculture

This essay discusses the expansion of intellectual property rights in plants, plant tissues and genetic sequences in plants and problems this poses for global food supply and agriculture. The article then goes on to analyze recent treaties such as the 2001 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) and ways that such treaties create a "limited commons" in certain plant genetic resources. The article then goes on to discuss ways that open source software licenses may be adapted to the plant genetic resources context, and argues that open source seed licens may be a vehicle for leveraging greater access to plant genetic resources by farmers and public plant breeders around the world.
Euphausiid Predation on Larval Anchovy at Two Contrasting Sites off California Determined with an Elispot Immunoassay

Understanding the processes affecting recruitment is a fundamental objective in fishery research. Starvation and preation are believed to be the major factors influencing survival of young fish (Hunter, 1984), and mortality due to these two factors must be quantified to understand how they control recruitment of young fish to a fish stock.
High voltage I/O FinFET device optimization for 16nm system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology

High voltage I/O FinFET device optimization for a 16nm system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology is presented. After careful optimization through high electric field (E-field) mitigation by junction engineering, I/O FinFET devices with leakage current reduction by 1∼2 orders, hot carrier injection (HCI) lifetime improvement by 2.8×/1.2× for N- and PMOS, respectively, and junction breakdown voltage (V bd ) improvement by more than 0.8V are achieved.
The Isozymes of Glutamate-Aspartate Transaminase: MECHANISM OF INHIBITION BY DICARBOXYLIC ACIDS

Abstract The binding of α-keto acids and other dicarboxylic acids to the pyridoxal form of the isozymes of pig heart glutamate-aspartate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1) can be studied spectrophotometrically because the absorption of the resultant complexes differs from that of the free enzymes. Spectroscopic and catalytic rate data indicate a correlation of the inhibition of transamination with the affinity of the dicarboxylic acids for the pyridoxal form of the enzymes. Maleate and succinate are the most effective inhibitors of mitochondrial transaminase, whereas succinate, maleate, glutarate, and adipate inhibit the supernatant isozyme. The amino acid erythro-β-hydroxy-l-aspartate forms distinctive binary complexes of unique absorption maxima with either isozyme; the equilibria between these complexes are pH insensitive. Competition of dicarboxylic acids with erythro-β-hydroxy-l-aspartate shows that inhibition by 4- or 5-carbon dicarboxylic acids is accomplished through competition with the amino acid for the pyridoxal (aldimine) and pyridoxamine forms of the supernatant isozyme. In contrast, the mitochondrial isozyme is more highly affected by 4-carbon inhibitors. They compete with the amino acid for the pyridoxal form of the enzyme and also form ternary complexes of the nature enzyme-substrate-dicarboxylic acid. Combination of the keto acid with the enzyme shifts the proton ionization (pK) of the active site chromophore (bound pyridoxal phosphate) to higher pH values in both transaminases. Oxalacetate is much more effective than α-ketoglutarate in the mitochondrial isozyme. Differences for each isozyme in the effect of the pH on the aspartate-α-ketoglutarate and glutamate-oxalacetate transaminations are explained by preferential binding of oxalacetate to the mitochondrial enzyme and of either α-ketoglutarate or oxalacetate to the supernatant isozyme.
Effects of rat strain, stilbestrol and testosterone on the occurrence of hemorrhagic diathesis in rats fed a ration containing irradiated beef.

Experiments were designed to investigate the difference between 2 strains of rats (Holtzman and Sprague-Dawley), and the effects of stilbestrol and testosterone on the ocurrence of hemorrhagic diathesis. The rats were fed ground beef exposed to 5.58 Mrad doses of Co/sup 60/ gamma radiation. Mortality was 58% for Sprague-Dawley rats, significantly higher than the 22% found for Holtzman rats. The average prothrombin rate, 50 for Sprague-Dawley rats at the end of the third week was significantly lower than 83 for Holtzman rats, prothrombin rates being expressed as 1000/sec. Sprague-Dawley rats were significantly less resistant to hemorrhigic disease than Holtzmann rats. Stilbestrol completely prevented hemorrhages and subsequent deaths, but testosterone increased both. The effect of testosterone was independent of growth. Stilbestrol decreased the prothrombin rates slightly and testosterone decreased them significantly. Stilbestrol decreased body weight gains, its effect being greater on Holtzman than on Sprague-Dawley rats. Testosterone increased growth in orchiectomized rats but had no effect on feed intake. Stilbestrol decreased the weight of seminal vesicles, prostates, and tests. Testosterone increased the weight of seminal vesicles and prostates but decreased the weight of testes. Stilbestrol was more potent than testosterone in inhibiting the secretion of hormones by the pituitary. Estrogen administrationmore » did not affect the prothrombin rate of rats fed a ration containing 2.79-Mrad irradiated beef, but increased it in those that received the 5.58-Mrad irradiated beef. It is suggested that estrogen overcame defective coagulation, but had no effect when the prothrombin rate was normal. (TCO)« less
Lagrangian minimal surfaces in Lorentzian complex plane

Flat Lagrangian minimal surfaces in the Lorentzian complex plane \({\mathbb{C}}^{2}_{1}\) are classified by B. Y. Chen and L. Vrancken in [8]. On the other hand, Vrancken proves in [11] that Lagrangian minimal surfaces of constant curvature in \({\mathbb{C}}^{2}_{1}\) are flat surfaces. In this article, we classify all Lagrangian minimal surfaces in \({\mathbb{C}}^{2}_{1}\) which are free from flat points.
Pulse trains that are characteristic of preliminary breakdown in cloud-to-ground lightning but are not followed by return stroke pulses

[1] In this study, we identify and examine electric field pulse trains that are characteristic of preliminary breakdown in negative cloud-to-ground discharges but are not followed by return stroke waveforms. We assume that such trains are manifestations of the initiation of downward negative stepped leaders that fail to propagate all the way to the ground and refer to these events as ‘‘attempted first cloud-to-ground leaders,’’ although some of them were followed by full-fledged cloud discharges. We examined a total of 2475 electric field records of lightning events acquired in Gainesville, Florida, in 2006, and waveforms in 33 of them were found to satisfy criteria set for attempted cloud-to-ground leaders. In addition to pronounced bipolar pulses with positive (atmospheric electricity sign convention) initial half cycle, negative unipolar and negative (initial half cycle) bipolar pulses were sometimes seen toward the end of the train. We also observed that at the beginning and at the end of the pulse train, there were narrower pulses, often having durations in the range of 1–2 ms, which are more than an order of magnitude shorter than for ‘‘classical’’ preliminary breakdown pulses. The arithmetic mean of total pulse train durations is 2.7 ms, and the weighted arithmetic means of individual pulse durations and interpulse intervals are 17 and 73 ms, respectively. Some of the attempted cloud-to-ground leaders, which should belong to the cloud discharge category, can be misclassified as negative cloud-to-ground discharges by lightning locating systems such as the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network.
Think before you prep: Defining the terms of change in american healthcare

United States physicians are grappling with a fundamental reorganization of the healthcare system. Although many remain skeptical of governmental efforts at reform, they seem to take as given an industrial efficiency model of change, including large and integrated managed care arrangements and performance measurement based on outcomes such as quality. This uncharacteristic acquiescence seems to derive in part from a confounding of concepts. This article makes three distinctions: among knowledge about practice, knowledge about quality, and outcomes research; between outcomes research and the outcomes movement; and between the outcomes movement and other options for healthcare reform. The suggestion that statistical measurement of specific variables ought not to have a priori precedence over other ways of thinking—and doing something—about healthcare is made.
Deconstructing angular correlations in ZH, ZZ, and WW production at CERN LEP 2

We apply a generalized spin-basis analysis to associated Higgs production and gauge boson pair production at LEP. This framework allows us to identify a choice of spin axes for the processes e+ e- --> ZH,ZZ which leads to strikingly different correlations among the decay products, even well above threshold. This spin basis optimizes the difference in the angular correlations for these two processes. In contrast, the same distributions display little contrast when the helicity basis is used. We also apply this technique to the case of W boson pair production.
White ethnic residential segregation in historical perspective: US cities in 1880.

Investigating immigrant residential patterns in 1880 offers a baseline for understanding residential assimilation trajectories in subsequent eras. This study uses 100% count information from the 1880 Census to estimate a multilevel model of ethnic isolation and exposure to native whites in 67 cities for individual Irish, German and British residents. At the individual level, the key predictors are drawn from assimilation theory: nativity, occupation, and marital status. The multilevel model makes it possible to control for these predictors and to study independent sources of variation in segregation across cities. There is considerable variation at the city level, especially due to differences in the relative sizes of groups. Other significant city-level predictors of people’s neighborhood composition include the share of group members who are foreign-born, the disparity in occupational standing between group members and native whites, and the degree of occupational segregation between them.
Linear programming based decomposition approach in evaluating priorities from pairwise comparisons and error analysis

One of the most difficult issues in many real-life decisionmaking problems is how to estimate the pertinent data. An approach which uses pairwise comparisons was proposed by Saaty and is widely accepted as an effective way of determining these data. Suppose that two matrices with pairwise comparisons are available. Furthermore, suppose that there is an overlapping of the elements compared in these two matrices. The problem examined in this paper is how to combine the comparisons of the two matrices in order to derive the priorities of the elements considered in both matrices. A simple approach and a linear programming approach are formulated and analyzed in solving this problem. Computational results suggest that the LP approach, under certain conditions, is an effective way for dealing with this problem. The proposed approach is of critical importance because it can also result in a reduction of the total required number of comparisons.
Speciation Studies of Zn and Mg in body Fluids Using Interfaced HPLC and Ultrasonic Nebulizer Flame AA

Abstract The Need for Speciation The beneficial or deleterious effect of a metal on an industrial, environmental, physiological or other type of sample is usually well known and often significant. To the total concentration of the metal is assigned the degree of the noted effect. Consequently a common task of the analytical chemist is to determine the total concentration of that metal presented in the sample.
A reinforcement learning-based architecture for fuzzy logic control

This paper introduces a new method for learning to refine a rule-based fuzzy logic controller. A reinforcement learning technique is used in conjunction with a multilayer neural network model of a fuzzy controller. The approximate reasoning based intelligent control (ARIC) architecture proposed here learns by updating its prediction of the physical system's behavior and fine tunes a control knowledge base. Its theory is related to Sutton's temporal difference (TD) method. Because ARIC has the advantage of using the control knowledge of an experienced operator and fine tuning it through the process of learning, it learns faster than systems that train networks from scratch. The approach is applied to a cart-pole balancing system.
Use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis to compare quantity and stability of isolated murine DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be extracted from different tissue sources for genotyping of mice. Methods of collecting tissue vary with respect to their perceived invasiveness, and in some cases, tissue is collected multiple times in order to verify a genotype. The authors' goal was to refine and optimize tissue collection methods with quantitative measures for subsequent genotyping. To do this, the authors used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis to quantify DNA extracted from fecal pellets, hair, buccal swab samples, ear punch samples and tail biopsy samples and then compared the quantities of DNA obtained by using either previously published protocols or commercial kits to extract DNA. They found that 2-mm tail biopsy samples yielded significantly more DNA than did the other sources and that commercial extraction kits generally yielded more DNA than did published protocols. The authors also assessed the stability of DNA extracted from the various tissue sources by repeating the qPCR analysis after the samples had been frozen and stored for 44 months. Although the quantities of DNA in the stored samples had decreased, all the samples could still be used for PCR-based genotyping. The authors' work supports the collection of a single minimal biopsy sample of 2 mm of tail or ear tissue, above other sources, for highest yield of DNA for genotyping. With appropriate storage, DNA remains usable for PCR-based genotyping for years without a need for repeated animal sampling.
Additional, physically ordered markers increase linkage signal for bipolar disorder on chromosome 18q22.

Abstract Background We recently reported evidence of linkage of bipolar disorder to chromosome 18q, with a paternal logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 4.67 ( p = .004) in a clinically defined subset of families. Like other linkage studies, we had to rely on imprecise genetic maps to establish the marker order. Here, we test for linkage in the same sample with a denser set of markers, now physically ordered according to the draft sequence of the human genome. Methods Families were ascertained through probands with bipolar I disorder and diagnosed with reliable methods. Genotypes were generated for 12 microsatellite markers within an 11-centimorgan (cM) region of chromosome 18q22. Multipoint affected sib-pair linkage analysis was performed in a set of 16 nuclear families. Results The additional markers significantly increased the total genetic information extracted from our sample. We also observed an increase in the LOD score (to 5.42, p = .0066) and linkage resolution. The approximate 1-LOD support interval is now 9 male cM. Conclusions The results strengthen our previous findings and further define a region suitable for genetic fine-mapping analysis on chromosome 18q. Our data suggest that a dense set of markers, when physically ordered, can increase the informational value of genetic linkage signals.
Global perspectives on poverty research for social justice

The special issue of QSE includes five articles from an interdisciplinary and international group of qualitative researchers who describe their experiences conducting qualitative research with impoverished women and families. The articles focus on how qualitative approaches such as focus group interviews, participatory action research, team interviewing, video‐making, and feminist methodology can increase understandings about poverty, contribute to policy‐making, education, or activism and inspire ethical responsibilities. In this introduction, I review several global agreements aimed at fostering economic human rights to end poverty and several reports that assess how well international communities are doing to achieve economic human rights. This introduction is intended to be read as a backdrop – or perhaps a yardstick – against which to measure the conditions of poverty described in the special issue articles.
Feedforward spectral shaping technique for clock-jitter induced errors in digital-to-analogue converters

A simple feedforward spectral shaping technique for the pulsewidth jitter induced errors in digital-to-analogue converters (DACs) is presented. The proposed technique features a feedforward combination of the conventional rectangular-pulse switched-current DAC and a discrete-time switched-capacitor DAC to achieve spectral shaping for the jitter induced error. The benefit of this hybrid DAC solution using error specral shaping is illustrated in the context of feedback DACs used in continuous-time ΔΣ modulators. Simulation results show that the jitter tolerance of the proposed DAC solution is equivalent to that of the commonly used jitter-tolerant exponentially-decaying waveform switched-capacitor-resistor DAC structure, but at much more relaxed slew-rate requirement on the op-amp used in the DAC load circuit, which translates into significant power savings.
Total and Differential Sputter Yields of Boron Nitride Measured by Quartz Crystal Microbalance

We present differential sputter yield measurements of boron nitride due to bombardment by xenon ions. A four-grid ion optics system is used to achieve a collimated ion beam at low energy (<100 eV). A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is used to measure differential sputter yield profiles of condensable components from which total sputter yields can also be determined. We report total and differential sputter yields of three grades of boron nitride due to bombardment by xenon ions for ion energies in the range of 60-500 eV and ion incidence angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° from normal. We also present preliminary results of the temperature dependence of the sputter yield. Comparisons with published values are made where possible.