cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Student-Designed High-Throughput Assays to Assess Effects of Growth Insults in Budding Yeast.

Modern high-throughput screening is a versatile method used widely in academic and industrial labs for genetic and pharmacological testing, but is underutilized in undergraduate laboratories. We designed an open inquiry-based laboratory activity exploiting a small-scale high-throughput screening assay of the budding yeast S. cerevisiae to promote active learning and introduce students to modern data collection and analysis techniques. In this activity, students at both the high school and university levels generate growth curves of S. cerevisiae using a microplate reader after treatment with their insult of choice. This lab presents an ideal opportunity for both high school and university students to actively learn about the process of science as well as high-throughput data collection and analysis in a cost-effective manner.
Ultrastructural Analysis of Myoblast Fusion in Drosophila

Myoblast fusion in Drosophila has become a powerful genetic system with which to unravel the mechanisms underlying cell fusion. The identification of important components of myoblast fusion by genetic analysis has led to a molecular pathway toward our understanding of this cellular process. In addition to the application of immunohistochemistry and live imaging techniques to visualize myoblast fusion at the light microscopic level, ultrastructural analysis using electron microscopy remains an indispensable tool to reveal fusion intermediates and specific membrane events at sites of fusion. In this chapter, we describe conventional chemical fixation and high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution methods for visualizing fusion intermediates during Drosophila myoblast fusion. Furthermore, we describe an immunoelectron microscopic method for localizing specific proteins relative to the fusion apparatus.
Brief Report: Low Rates of Herpesvirus Detection in Blood of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Controls

Previous research indicates that infection, especially from viruses in the family Herpesviridae, may play a role in the etiology of some cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a case-control design and the polymerase chain reaction with site-specific primers, we screened newborn and childhood blood samples for the presence of eight human herpesviruses. Herpesvirus DNA was detected in 4 of 225 ASD individuals and 2 of 235 controls, with the most frequently detected virus being HHV-6B. Although this study does not detect a significant ASD-Herpesviridae association, it is limited by the use of site-specific primers. We suggest that new techniques using bioinformatics to search next-generation sequencing databases will be more revealing of possible ASD-virus associations.
Comparison of six display modes for a multi-resolution foveated laparoscope

To overcome the field of view and ergonomic limitations of standard laparoscopes, we are developing a multi-resolution foveated laparoscope that can simultaneously obtain both wide- and zoomed-in-view images through a single scope. To facilitate the effective access to the dual views of images with different resolution and field coverage acquired by our laparoscope, six different display modes have been developed. Each of the six display modes has inherent advantages and disadvantages. This study compares the six display modes through a human-subject experiment, which was conducted with an emulated laparoscope using a 4K camera. Twenty-four subjects without medicine background performed three evaluation trials of a touching task with each of the display modes. Various objective measurements including task completion time, the number of collisions, gaze position, and tooltip position, and subjective preference for the display modes were recorded. For all the measurements except for task completion time and moving speed of tooltip, there were statistically significant differences among the display modes. Although the focus plus warped context view mode was selected as one of the least preferred modes, it showed the best task performance. The unblocked wide context view was useful to provide a situational awareness even when it was severely distorted in some of the display modes, and information continuity played an important role in improving task performance. Moreover, the position change of viewing window coupled to the location of region of interest helped improve task performance, by providing an additional cue for spatial awareness.
Rapid Mapping of Dissolved Methane and Carbon Dioxide in Coastal Ecosystems Using the ChemYak Autonomous Surface Vehicle.

Coastal ecosystems host high levels of primary productivity leading to exceptionally dynamic elemental cycling in both water and sediments. In such environments, carbon is rapidly cycled leading to high rates of burial as organic matter and/or high rates of loss to the atmosphere and laterally to the coastal ocean in simpler forms, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). To better understand carbon cycling across these heterogeneous environments, new technologies beyond discrete sample collection and analysis are needed to characterize spatial and temporal variability. Here, we describe the ChemYak, an autonomous surface vehicle outfitted with a suite of in situ sensors, developed to achieve large spatial scale chemical mapping of these environments. Dissolved methane and carbon dioxide are measured by a laser spectrometer coupled to a gas extraction unit for continuous quantification during operation. The gas-powered vehicle is capable of rapidly surveying the coastal system with an endurance of ...
Bacterial-Derived, Compressible, and Hierarchical Porous Carbon for High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries

Hierarchical-structured electrodes having merits of superior cycling stability and high rate performance are highly desired for next-generation energy storage. For the first time, we reported a compressible and hierarchical porous carbon nanofiber foam (CNFF) derived from a sustainable and abundant biomaterial resource, bacterial cellulose, for boosting the electrochemical performance of potassium-ion batteries. The CNFF free-standing electrode with a hierarchical porous three-dimensional structure demonstrated excellent rate performance and outstanding cyclic stability in the extended cycling test. Specifically, in the long-term cycling-stability test, the CNFF electrode maintained a stable capacity of 158 mA h g–1 after 2000 cycles at a high current density of 1000 mA g–1, which has an average capacity decay of 0.006% per cycle. After that, the CNFF electrode maintained a capacity of 141 mA h g–1 at a current density of 2000 mA g–1 for another 1500 cycles, and a capacity of 122 mA h g–1 at a current den...
Modulation transfer function measurements of Type-II mid- wavelength and long-wavelength infrared superlattice focal plane arrays

Abstract Mid-wavelength Infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) Barrier Infrared Detector (BIRD) based on Antimonides Type-II superlattice detector array material are hybridized to 640 × 512, 1024 × 1024 and 1344 × 784 pixels format read out integrated circuits. The focal plane arrays (FPAs) Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NEΔT), Quantum Efficiency (η), Dark Current Density (JD), and Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance were measured at operating temperatures. High performance 640 × 512 array format MWIR High Operating Temperature (HOT) FPA has typical NEΔT ∼ 19 mK, JD ∼ 6.2 × 10−7 A/cm2, and η ∼ 53% using 3–5 μm band pass filter at 115 K operating temperatures. Best performance 640 × 512 array format LWIR FPA has NEΔT ∼ 25 mK, JD ∼ 2.5 × 10−5 A/cm2 and η ∼ 41% using 8–9.4 μm band pass filter at 60 K operating temperatures. For MTF investigation, a novel direct one-to-one image approach of Line Spread Function (LSF) and Edge Spread Function (ESF) are patterned onto substrate-removed FPAs. The direct LSF and ESF image are produced by 1000 A° thick gold layer deposition. The direct image horizontal and vertical MTFs are compared with projected knife-edge ESF-derived MTFs and results indicate that direct image MTFs have higher values compared to projected knife-edge ESF-derived MTFs at a Nyquist frequency. However, direct image MTF requires no lens MTF correction. The only relevant requirement for the direct image MTF is for the deposited pattern and substrate to be extremely thinned in which the HOT-BIRD FPAs fulfilled for this investigation.
Characterization and Modeling of Co/BaTiO 3 /SrRuO 3 Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction Memory by Capacitance–Voltage ( ${C}$ – ${V}$ ), Current–Voltage ( ${I}$ – ${V}$ ), and High- Frequency Measurements

Ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) is a promising low power nonvolatile memory for beyond-CMOS applications. In this paper, Co/BaTiO3/SrRuO3 FTJs are fabricated, simulated, and their electrical characteristics are measured by capacitance–voltage ( ${C}$ – ${V}$ ), current–voltage ( ${I}$ – ${V}$ ), and high-frequency S-parameter measurements. Ferroelectricity of the ultrathin BaTiO3 (~3.2 nm) film is first verified by a butterfly shaped hysteresis ${C}$ – ${V}$ profile, from which saturation polarizations are calculated in the ON state and OFF state as ${P}_{ \mathrm{ON}}=+ {20}\,\,\mu {C} / {\text{cm}}^{ {2}}$ and ${P}_{ \mathrm{OFF}}=- {25}\,\,\mu {C}/{\text{cm}}^{ {2}}$ , respectively. The numerical simulation of the FTJ device is performed using experimental electronic band parameters of the heterostructure. The device structure was optimized for ON/OFF ratio, ${I}_{ \mathrm{ON}} / {I}_{ \mathrm{OFF}}= {75}$ for a depolarization field, ${E}_{{dpol}} . The calculated tunnel currents of $ {250}\,\,{nm}\times {250}\,\,{nm}$ FTJ in ON state ( ${I}_{ \mathrm{ON}}= {250}\times {250}^{- {250}}\,\,{A}$ ) and OFF state ( ${I}_{{OFF}}={{1.75}\times {250}}^{{-9}}\,\,{A}$ ) match with experimental values. From the S-parameters of RF measurements, the high-frequency small-signal device model of the FTJ in ON state ( ${C}_{ \mathrm{ON}}= {250}\,\,{fF},{R}_{ \mathrm{ON}}={0.8}\,\,{M}\Omega$ ) and OFF state ( ${C}_{ \mathrm{OFF}}={ {250}}\,\,{fF},{R}_{ \mathrm{OFF}}= {250}\,\,{M}\Omega$ ) is developed for a frequency range from 50 MHz to 5 GHz. The extracted capacitor model of Co/BaTiO3/SrRuO3 FTJ is useful for high-frequency simulation of benchmark FTJ circuits.
Abimelech the manly man? Judges 9.1-57 and the performance of hegemonic masculinity

Feminist readings have long noted the gender anxiety present in the closing portion of Judges 9.1-57 where, in his last moments, Abimelech implores his armor bearer to cut him down lest he be remem...
An analogue of Hinčin's characterization of infinite divisibility for operator-valued free probability

Abstract Let B be a finite, separable von Neumann algebra. We prove that a B -valued distribution μ that is the weak limit of an infinitesimal array is infinitely divisible. The proof of this theorem utilizes the Steinitz lemma and may be adapted to provide a nonstandard proof of this type of theorem for various other probabilistic categories. We also develop weak topologies for this theory and prove the corresponding compactness and convergence results.
Risk stratification for nonagenarians undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND There are disparate data on the outcomes of nonagenarians undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) compared with younger patients. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score can be used to identify the subset of nonagenarians that are at a significantly higher risk for poor postoperative outcomes after TAVR. METHODS A total of 425 patients above the age of 80 underwent elective TAVR between 12/2013 and 2/2018 and were included in this study. Patients were deemed intermediate or high risk based on an STS predicted the risk of surgical mortality score of 3% to 8% and more than 8%, respectively. Differences in postoperative outcomes and/or 6-month mortality between intermediate and high-risk octogenarians and nonagenarians were compared. RESULTS Of the 425 patients, 112 (26.4%) patients were nonagenarians, and 313 (73.6%) patients were octogenarians. Fifty-four (48.2%) of the nonagenarians were stratified as high-risk, while 78 (24.9%) of the octogenarians were stratified as high-risk. There were no statistically significant differences in the composite outcomes between intermediate-risk nonagenarians and intermediate-risk octogenarians. In contrast, high-risk nonagenarians were significantly more likely to experience the composite outcome of major perioperative complications and/or 6-month mortality as compared to high-risk octogenarians. CONCLUSION Intermediate-risk nonagenarians undergoing TAVR have similar postoperative outcomes compared to intermediate-risk octogenarians. However, high-risk nonagenarian patients undergoing TAVR experience significantly poorer outcomes compared to their octogenarian counterparts. Judicious patient selection for TAVR in this subgroup of patients is therefore warranted.
Toward Sustainable Development for Emerging Economies: Statistical Capacity Indicators in Chile and the Andean Region

The authors examine Chile’s development in the context of countries that comprise the emerging economies of the Andean Region. An adapted version of the Sustainable Society Index (SSI) is used to assess and to compare the countries on dimensions that coincide with the triple-bottom-line of economic, natural-environmental and societal concerns, and to discern and project the sustainability of development in Chile and the Region. The analysis and subsequent interpretations draw on extant data and research to redress social traps; the authors present considerations for the sustainable development of the region and prognoses for consumer and societal wellness. Though some measures of inequality are a concern, findings suggest Chile is well-positioned, and indeed perhaps best positioned in the region, for sustainable development. Notable are Chile’s resource allocations for policies that stimulate economic development and inclusion, lower poverty rates, enhance schooling, facilitate health and well-being, nurture public trust, and foment political stability.
Biphasic Lung Tumors

The term biphasic is most commonly applied to tumors with malignant mesenchymal (sarcomatous) and epithelial (carcinomatous) components but in the wider sense is also used for tumors with epithelial-epithelial differentiation (pleomorphic carcinoma), epithelial-myoepithelial differentiation (salivary gland-type tumors), mesenchymal-mesenchymal differentiation (malignant triton tumor), and tumors of unidirectional differentiation but with mixed sarcomatoid and epithelioid cell morphology (biphasic synovial sarcoma, biphasic malignant mesothelioma). Use of the term “biphasic” in this chapter will be limited to those tumors with epithelial and mesenchymal components. Overall, such tumors are rare in the bronchopulmonary system, representing less than 2% of all primary lung tumors. In the adult population, this group of tumors includes carcinosarcoma and pulmonary blastoma. Recently, changes in the nomenclature have generated confusion as to their specific categorization. In addition, their putative histogenesis is still controversial and unsettled.
Federal Reserve Economic Data: A History:

This article describes the contributions of the Federal Reserve System to the production and distribution of economic data. First, we present a chronological account of those contributions. Next, w...
The Evolutionary Dynamics of Influenza A Viruses Circulating in Mallards in Duck Hunting Preserves in Maryland, USA

Duck hunting preserves (DHP) have resident populations of farm-raised mallard ducks, which create potential foci for the evolution of novel influenza A viruses (IAVs). Through an eleven-year (2003-2013) IAV surveillance project in seven DHPs in Maryland, USA, we frequently identified IAVs in the resident, free-flying mallard ducks (5.8% of cloacal samples were IAV-positive). The IAV population had high genetic diversity, including 12 HA subtypes and 9 NA subtypes. By sequencing the complete genomes of 290 viruses, we determined that genetically diverse IAVs were introduced annually into DHP ducks, predominantly from wild birds in the Anatidae family that inhabit the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways. The relatively low viral gene flow observed out of DHPs suggests that raised mallards do not sustain long-term viral persistence nor do they serve as important sources of new viruses in wild birds. Overall, our findings indicate that DHPs offer reliable samples of the diversity of IAV subtypes, and could serve as regional sentinel sites that mimic the viral diversity found in local wild duck populations, which would provide a cost-efficient strategy for long-term IAV monitoring. Such monitoring could allow for early identification and characterization of viruses that threaten bird species of high economic and environmental interest.
Chapter 27 The Use of Complement-Mediated Cytolysis to Analyze Specific Cell Populations of Eukaryote Cells in Cultures

Publisher Summary The complement-mediated antibody cytotoxicity assay has been used in studies on the changes in cell surface antigens during neoplastic transformation, the differentiation of mammalian cells, the chromosomal localization of specific genes for cell surface antigens, the removal of specific types of cells from mixtures so that biochemical analysis can be performed, and the detection and isolation of specific populations of lymphocytes. The development of antibody cytolysis techniques allows preparing antibodies against cell surface antigens, the capability to sort cells from populations which are quantitatively or qualitatively heterogeneous for the antigen under study. This can be done without extremely complex and expensive equipment. The chapter reviews the mechanism by which activation of complement is thought to lyse cells, the techniques for the use of complement-mediated antibody cytotoxicity to analyze populations of neoplastically transformed and untransformed cells, and how other investigators have used these techniques.
Gallium Suboxide Vapor Attack of Chromium, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Tungsten, and Their Alloys at 1200°C

Our prior work elucidated the failure mechanism of furnace materials (304 SS, 316 SS, and Hastelloy C-276) exposed to gallium suboxide (Ga2O) and/or gallium oxide (Ga2O3) during plutonium–gallium compound processing. Failure was hypothesized to result from concurrent alloy oxidation/Ga compound reduction followed by Ga uptake. The aim of the current work is to screen candidate replacement materials. Alloys Haynes 25 (49 Co–20 Cr–15 W–10 Ni–3 Fe–2 Mn–0.4 Si, wt.%), 52 Mo–48 Re (wt.%), 62 W–38 Cu (wt.%), and commercially pure Cr, Co, Mo, W, and alumina were examined. Preliminary assessments of commercially pure W and Mo–Re suggest that these materials may be suitable for furnace construction. Thermodynamic calculations indicating that materials containing Al, Cr, Mn, Si, and V would be susceptible to oxidation in the presence of Ga2O were validated by experimental results. The extent of attack (oxidation, Ga uptake, and elemental redistribution) cannot be predicted based on a simple rule of elemental mixtures—alloy composition plays a strong role. In contrast to that reported previously, an alternate reaction mechanism for Ga uptake, which does not require concurrent alloy oxidation, controls Ga uptake for certain materials. Due to the lack of thermodynamic data, calculations cannot quantitatively predict Ga uptake. However, a correlation between Ga solubility and uptake was noted.
Mapping Grain Sorghum Yield Variability Using Airborne Digital Videography

Mapping crop yield variability is one important aspect of precision agriculture. Combine-mounted yield monitors are becoming widely available for measuring and mapping yields for different crops. This study was designed to assess airborne digital videography as a tool for mapping grain sorghum yields for precision farming. Color-infrared (CIR) imagery was acquired with a three-camera digital video imaging system from two grain sorghum fields in south Texas over the 1995 and 1996 growing seasons. The multispectral video data obtained during the bloom to soft dough stages of plant development were related to hand-harvested grain yields at sampling sites determined from unsupervised image classification maps of the two fields. Significant correlations were found between grain yields and the red band, the green band, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Regression equations were developed to describe the relations between grain yields and each of the three significant spectral variables using an exponential model and two segmented models. Multiple linear regression equations were also determined to relate grain yields to the three bands and NDVI. These equations were then used to estimate grain yields at each video image pixel within each field and to generate grain yield maps. Comparisons of the estimated average yields from the regression equations with the actual yields indicated that yield estimation errors from the equations ranged from 0.0 to 10.0% in 1995 and from 0.2 to 7.3% in 1996 for field 1, and from 4.0 to 11.2% in 1995 and 6.3 to 12.5% in 1996 for field 2. Although the equations developed for one field in a given year may not apply to the same field in any other year, the practical value of these relationships is for mapping within-field grain yield variations. The results from this study showed that airborne digital videography, combined with ground sampling, regression analysis, and image processing, could be a useful approach for mapping spatial crop yield variability within fields.
CaliBree: A Self-calibration System for Mobile Sensor Networks

We propose CaliBree, a self-calibration system for mobile wireless sensor networks. Sensors calibration is a fundamental problem in a sensor network. If sensor devices are not properly calibrated, their sensor readings are likely of little use to the application. Distributed calibration is challenging in a mobile sensor network, where sensor devices are carried by people or vehicles, mainly for three reasons: i)the sensing contact time, i.e., the amount of time nodes are within the sensing range of each other, can be very limited, requiring a quick and efficient calibration technique; ii)for scalability and ease of use, the calibration algorithm should not require manual intervention; iii)the computational burden must be low since some sensor platforms have limited capabilities. In this paper we propose CaliBree, a distributed, scalable, and lightweight calibration protocol that applies a discrete average consensus algorithm technique to calibrate sensor nodes. CaliBree is shown to be effective through experimental evaluation using embedded wireless sensor devices, achieving high calibration accuracy.
Turbulence in High-Frequency Periodic Fully-Developed Pipe Flow

The effects of high frequency organized unsteadiness on wall-bounded turbulence have been studied experimentally at higher frequencies than have been achieved in previous investigations. A detailed examination was made of the contention that non-linear resonant interactions might be found if oscillation were induced at a frequency characteristic of turbulence in the parent boundary layer. It was found that the response of turbulence to forced unsteadiness around and above the burst frequency constituted a monotonic approach to a “frozen state.” No resonant behavior was detected. However, when the period of forced oscillation reached a timescale characteristic of the lifetime of a low-speed streak in the sublayer, the streaks underwent some spatial organization with a commensurate reduction in their spanwise meandering motion. This effect is a minor one and does not appear to be a precursor to any resonant behavior.
Regulation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptor expression and signaling in pancreatic beta-cells

Activation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (alpha 2-AR) in pancreatic beta-cells inhibits insulin secretion in response to various stimuli, and acute or long-term regulation of alpha 2-AR receptor-...
Tuning polymer architecture to manipulate the relative stability of different colloid crystal morphologies

Polymers dilutely adsorbed in colloidal crystals play an underappreciated role in determining the stability of the crystal phase. Recent work has shown that tailoring the size and shape of the adsorbing polymer can help tune the relative thermodynamic stability of the face-centered cubic (FCC) and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) polymorphs [N. A. Mahynski, A. Z. Panagiotopoulos, D. Meng, and S. K. Kumar, Nat. Commun., 2014, 5, 4472]. This is a consequence of how different polymorphs uniquely distribute their interstitial voids. By engineering an adsorbent's morphology to be complementary to the interstices in a desired crystal form, other competing forms may be thermodynamically suppressed. Previous investigations into this effect focused solely on linear polymers, while here we investigate the effects of more complex polymer architectures, namely that of star polymers. We find that even small perturbations to an adsorbing polymer's architecture lead to significant, qualitative changes in the relative stability of close-packed colloidal crystal polymorphs. In contrast to the linear homopolymer case, the FCC phase may be re-stabilized over the HCP with sufficiently large star polymers, and as a result, solvent quality may be used as a polymorphic “switch” between the two forms. This suggests that star polymers can be engineered to stabilize certain crystal phases at will using experimentally accessible parameters such as temperature.
Tungsten Enzymes and Models

The chemical properties of the metals tungsten (W) and molybdenum (Mo) are very similar. Mo plays a key role in biological systems and molybdoenzymes are ubiquitous; however, it is only recently that a biological role for W has been established, and so far only in a few microorganisms. Three different types of tungstoenzyme have been purified and these are abbreviated as AOR, F(M)DH, and AH. Members of the AOR group catalyze the reversible oxidation of aldehydes and include three ferredoxin-dependent oxidoreductases that oxidize various aldehydes (AOR), formaldehyde (FOR), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAPOR). The F(M)DH group utilizes carbon dioxide as a substrate and is represented by formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and formyl methanofuran dehydrogenase (FMDH), while acetylene hydratase (AH) is the sole member of the AH class. These tungstoenzymes catalyze reduction–oxidation reactions of very low potential (less than -420 mV) except one (AH), which catalyzes a hydration reaction. All of these enzymes contain a single W atom in the +IV, +V, or +VI redox state that is coordinated to the protein via an organic moiety known as a pterin. The pterin is similar to that found in molybdoenzymes. The crystal structure of the first W-containing (or pterin-containing) enzyme, that of AOR from Pyrococcus furiosus, revealed a catalytic site with one W atom coordinated of four sulfur atoms from two pterin molecules. The two pterins are also bridged by a magnesium ion. the catalytic and spectroscopic propeties of tungstoenzymes and synthetic analogues of their active sites are discussed, together with the factors that might contribute to the biochemical utilization of W rather than Mo. Keywords: molybdenum; tungsten; archaea; aldehyde; pterin; tungstoenzyme; molybdoenzyme; redox; crystal structure; electron paramagnetic resonance EPR
Revised Role of Glycosaminoglycans in TAT Protein Transduction Domain-mediated Cellular Transduction

Cellular uptake of the human immunodeficiency virus TAT protein transduction domain (PTD), or cell-penetrating peptide, has previously been surmised to occur in a manner dependent on the presence of heparan sulfate proteoglycans that are expressed ubiquitously on the cell surface. These acidic polysaccharides form a large pool of negative charge on the cell surface that TAT PTD binds avidly. Additionally, sulfated glycans have been proposed to aid in the interaction of TAT PTD and other arginine-rich PTDs with the cell membrane, perhaps aiding their translocation across the membrane. Surprisingly, however, TAT PTD-mediated induction of macropinocytosis and cellular transduction occurs in the absence of heparan sulfate and sialic acid. Using labeled TAT PTD peptides and fusion proteins, in addition to TAT PTD-Cre recombination-based phenotypic assays, we show that transduction occurs efficiently in mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines deficient in glycosaminoglycans and sialic acids. Similar results were obtained in cells where glycans were enzymatically removed. In contrast, enzymatic removal of proteins from the cell surface completely ablated TAT PTD-mediated transduction. Our findings support the hypothesis that acidic glycans form a pool of charge that TAT PTD binds on the cell surface, but this binding is independent of the PTD-mediated transduction mechanism and the induction of macropinocytotic uptake by TAT PTD.
In the Context of Adult Support: The Influence of Peer Support on the Psychological Well-Being of Middle-School Students

This study examines the influence of adult and peer support on the psychological well-being of middle-school students. Using data representing 13,843 middle-school students from seven U.S. states, which were collected with the School Success Profile, hierarchical regression analysis is used to examine a hypothesis in 2 models of relationships: continuity/cognitive and compensatory/competition. Results support the continuity/cognitive model, and indicate peer support is an important contributor to middle-school students’ psychological well-being at various levels of adult support. When adult support is low, high levels of peer support do not improve psychological well-being. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Integration of protein processing steps on a droplet microfluidics platform for MALDI-MS analysis.

A droplet-based (digital) microfluidics platform has been developed to prepare and purify protein samples for measurement by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Liquid droplets are moved in air by sequentially applying an electric potential to an array of electrodes patterned beneath a hydrophobic dielectric layer. We show that a complete integrated sequence of protein processing steps can be performed on this platform, including disulfide reduction, alkylation, and enzymatic digestion, followed by cocrystallization with a MALDI matrix and analysis of the sample in situ by MALDI-MS. Proteins carbonic anhydrase, cytochrome c, and ubiquitin were used to demonstrate the digestion and postdigestion steps; insulin, serum albumin, and lysozyme were used to illustrate the complete sequence of protein processing steps available with the platform. Several functional improvements in the platform are reported, notably, the incorporation of acetonitrile in the protein droplets to...
Effect of Increased Bile Acid Synthesis or Fecal Excretion in Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Diarrhea

Effect of Increased Bile Acid Synthesis or Fecal Excretion in Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Diarrhea
Do white cells matter in white matter damage

Support is provided for the hypothesis that activated leukocytes, especially monocytes/macrophages, contribute to cerebral white matter damage in extremely low gestational age newborns. Much of the evidence is indirect and comes from analogies to brain diseases in adults, and from models of brain damage in adult and newborn animals. If the recruitment of circulating cells to the brain contributes to white matter damage in extremely low gestational age newborns, then minimizing the transendothelial migration of circulating cells by pharmacological manipulation might prevent or reduce the occurrence of neonatal white matter damage and the disabilities that follow.
Traumatic brain injury in Latin America and the Caribbean: a call for research

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a critical public health problem affecting more than 10 million people worldwide and is set to surpass many diseases as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity by the year 2020. The burden of this often neglected injury disproportionately affects low and middle income countries (LMICs) which face not only a higher preponderance of risk factors for TBI but also have less developed health systems to deal with the associated health outcomes. Thus, both the incidence of TBI and the case-fatality from TBI can be high and devastating. Given that TBI can lead to significant mortality and long term morbidity, not to mention the social and financial implications, the silently growing epidemic of this injury is a pressing public health concern. The lack of data concerning the burden of TBI within LAC should be addressed to develop a detailed epidemiological profile in order to plan comprehensive TBI prevention programs. Prioritizing and coordinating funds for the generation of appropriate evidence and research is critical to meet the need to promote evidence-based policy for TBI in the region. Language: en
Accessed Compositions in Turbulent Reactive Flows

At a given position and time in a turbulent reactive flow involving many chemical species, the thermochemical composition corresponds to a point in the multi-dimensional composition space. The union of all such points, for all positions, times and realizations, is defined to be the accessed region of the composition space. The geometry of the accessed region is investigated from several perspectives. Many existing models of turbulent nonpremixed combustion (e.g., equilibrium chemistry, the steady flamelet model, and the conditional moment closure) implicitly assume that the accessed region is a low-dimensional manifold of dimension one or two. It is shown from the conservation equations that the simultaneous actions of mixing and reaction can lead to an accessed region of significantly higher dimension than occurs when mixing and reaction act separately or sequentially. For a laminar flame, the accessed region is a curved manifold of the same dimensionality as the flow; whereas for a turbulent reactive flow it is a plane manifold, generally of higher dimension. Several processes are identified which can lead to the edge of the manifold being nonconvex.
An Open Trial of Valproate for Agitation in Geriatric Neuropsychiatric Disorders

The authors assessed the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of open valproate administration in a group of elderly patients with agitation and neuropsychiatric disorders (N = 13), most of whom had dementia (n = 12). Dosing was individualized according to the response of target symptoms and side effects. Clinical Global Impression of Change (vs. baseline) measured efficacy. This open treatment suggested that valproate reduced agitated behaviors in some patients, and is well tolerated; thus, results warrant a larger, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
OFDM Peak to Average Power Ratio reduction using sparse bit-plane coding

A novel Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) reduction method leveraging the rare occurrence of large magnitude Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols is proposed. A distinct innovation of this approach is the exploitation of the sparseness structure of a bit-plane binary number representation of time domain OFDM symbols. By encoding the sparsely populated non-zero entries in the binary bit plane matrix, the dynamic range of OFDM symbols to be transmitted can be significantly reduced without increasing bit error rate. Smaller dynamic range of OFDM symbols implies reduced PAPR, and hence better performance. This method incurs no data rate reduction penalty which may occur when side information must be transmitted via some data subcarriers. Simulation results reveal that this proposed new method out-performs current PAPR reduction methods by wide margins.
Formaldehyde emissions from carbonless copy paper forms

Formaldehyde released to the air from carbonless copy paper forms is suspected of causing eye, skin and respiratory irritation among office workers. Significant levels of HCHO emanating from the multi-page forms have been measured. There is evidence that the residual formaldehyde dissipates to the air as a result of handling and storage.
BIOSENSORS: BLESSING OR BANE?

Biosensor technology is changing the methodology used to detect or characterize many microorganisms and/or their metabolites of importance to food microbiologists and the food industry. Biosensors have been developed to monitor the freshness of meat and fish. ATP and glucose concentrations have been monitored as well as continuous control operations in food processing. Enzyme-substrate transformations, DNA or RNA hybridizations and antibody-antigen interactions are examples of the types of molecules used in biosensor systems. Instrumentation coupled to the biological molecules and measuring the changes that occur include reactions on simple ion-sensing electrodes, as well as complex chips, optical fibers or piezoelectric crystals. In most cases, data can be obtained within a few minutes on very small amounts of compounds. However, the long term stability of the biological molecules involved in these procedures presents a major stumbling block. Partially or completely disposable devices are under consideration.
Galois realizability of a central C4-extension of D8

Abstract Given a finite group G, what are the necessary and sufficient conditions on a field K for it to have an extension field with Galois group G over K? A large body of research has accumulated concerning this question, particularly in regard to small 2-groups. Specifically, conditions have been determined for all but one of the groups of order 32. In this work, we solve the problem for this last group. With these new results, complete conditions are now known for all 2-groups of order less than 64.
Reading Pliocene Bones

The human ability to make complex tools is unparalleled in the animal kingdom and is a key character of Homo sapiens . Flaked stone tools and cut-marked bones are the first traces of this behavior. Yet the interpretation of bone modifications is complicated by similar traces left, for example, by carnivorous animals (see the figure). Given the scarcity of butchered bones from the Pliocene (5.3 to 2.6 million years ago) and Early Pleistocene (2.6 to 0.76 million years ago), even a single misidentification can have profound effects on the interpretation of early hominid behavior.
Lukasiewicz Negation and Many-Valued Extensions of Constructive Logics

This paper examines the relationships between the many-valued logics G~ and G~n of Esteva, Godo, HAijek, and Navara, i.e., GA¶del logic G enriched with Łukasiewicz negation, and neighbors of intuitionistic logic. The popular fragments of Rauszer's Heyting-Brouwer logic HB admit many-valued extensions similar to G which may likewise be enriched with Łukasiewicz negation, the fuzzy extensions of these logics, including HB, are equivalent to G~, as are their n-valued extensions equivalent to G~n for any n ≥ 2. These enriched systems extend Wansing's logic I4C4, showing that Łukasiewicz negation is a species of Nelson's negation of constructible falsity and yielding a Kripke-style semantics for G~ and G~n to complement the many-valued semantics.
Security for Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the technology that provides the unified business function to the organization by integrating the core processes. ERP now is experiencing the transformation that will make it highly integrated, more intelligent, more collaborative, web-enabled, and even wireless. The ERP system is becoming the system with high vulnerability and high confidentiality in which the security is critical for it to operate. Many ERP vendors have already integrated their security solution, which may work well internally; while in an open environment, we need new technical approaches to secure an ERP system. This paper introduces ERP technology from its evolution through architecture to its products. The security solution in ERP as well as directions for secure ERP systems is presented.
Analysis of Probability of Misleading Information for LAAS Signal in Space

The FAA’s Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) is said to be providing misleading information when integrity checks at the LAAS ground facility (LGF) and a vertical protection level (VPL) computed in the user aircraft allow the navigation system error to exceed acceptable limits without removing erroneous information or generating an alert. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the probability of misleading information (P MI ) in case of failure of one or two ground reference receivers. Performance is computed as a function of the size of the position error due to using corrections from a failed receiver. Results show that the aircraft VPL check alone provides a P MI which peaks at the design value and is significant only over a narrow range of position errors, independent of satellite geometry. Thus, a simpler previous analysis is conservative and aircraft VPL parameters documented in the LAAS MASPS [1] actually provide significant P MI performance margin. Consequently, the tolerable a priori probability of LGF reference receiver failure may be larger than originally assumed. P MI margin is also provided at good geometries by LGF integrity monitoring, which limits differential correction errors to a level lower than the effective threshold of the aircraft VPL check.
Impact of Wireless Power Transfer in transportation: Future transportation enabler, or near term distraction

While the total liquid fuels consumed in the U.S. for transportation of goods and people is expected to hold steady, or decline slightly over the next few decades, the world wide consumption is projected to increase of over 30% according to the Annual Energy Outlook 2014 [1]. The balance of energy consumption for transportation between petroleum fuels and electric energy, and the related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced consuming either, is of particular interest to government administrations, vehicle OEMs, and energy suppliers. The market adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) appears to be inhibited by many factors relating to the energy storage system (ESS) and charging infrastructure. Wireless power transfer (WPT) technologies have been identified as a key enabling technology to increase the acceptance of EVs. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been involved in many research areas related to understanding the impacts, opportunities, challenges and costs related to various deployments of WPT technology for transportation use. Though the initial outlook for WPT deployment looks promising, many other emerging technologies have met unfavorable market launches due to unforeseen technology limitations, sometimes due to the complex system in which the new technology was placed. This paper will summarize research and development (R&D) performed at ORNL in the area of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT). ORNL's advanced transportation technology R&D activities provide a unique set of experienced researchers to assist in the creation of a transportation system level view. These activities range from fundamental technology development at the component level to subsystem controls and interactions to applicable system level analysis of impending market and industry responses and beyond.
Holocene glacier fluctuations in Alaska

Abstract This review summarizes forefield and lacustrine records of glacier fluctuations in Alaska during the Holocene. Following retreat from latest Pleistocene advances, valley glaciers with land-based termini were in retracted positions during the early to middle Holocene. Neoglaciation began in some areas by 4.0 ka and major advances were underway by 3.0 ka, with perhaps two distinct early Neoglacial expansions centered respectively on 3.3–2.9 and 2.2–2.0 ka. Tree-ring cross-dates of glacially killed trees at two termini in southern Alaska show a major advance in the AD 550s–720s. The subsequent Little Ice Age (LIA) expansion was underway in the AD 1180s–1320s and culminated with two advance phases respectively in the 1540s–1710s and in the 1810s–1880s. The LIA advance was the largest Holocene expansion in southern Alaska, although older late Holocene moraines are preserved on many forefields in northern and interior Alaska. Tidewater glaciers around the rim of the Gulf of Alaska have made major advances throughout the Holocene. Expansions were often asynchronous with neighboring termini and spanned both warm and cool intervals, suggesting that non-climatic factors were important in forcing these advances. However, climatic warming appears to have initiated most rapid iceberg-calving retreats. Large glaciers terminating on the forelands around the Gulf of Alaska may have had tidewater termini early in the Holocene, but have progressively become isolated from the adjacent ocean by the accumulation and subaerial exposure of their own sediments.
The Interaction between Two Instructional Treatments of Algebraic Structures and Spatial-Visualization Ability.

AbstractAn attempt was made to detect an aptitude-treatment interaction between instructional treatment and spatial-visualization ability. Two groups of elementary education majors were given instruction on the fundamental properties of algebraic structures. The treatments given to the groups (verbal and verbal-spatial) were designed to differ as much as possible in the amounts of spatial visualization they required. It was expected that the slope of the regression line for the verbal-spatial group would be greater than that for the verbal group. However, no significant ATI was found. A rationale is provided that explains the present results and predicts that such an ATI will exist for some topics in mathematics but not for others.
Mariner Jupiter/Saturn 1977 mission design tradeoffs

The considered MJS77 project involves the launching of two spacecraft during a one-month launch period which opens on August 20, 1977. Each Mariner craft will perform a flyby mission through the Jupiter and Saturn planetary systems. The targets of the missions are discussed and a spacecraft description is presented. The mission design factors are considered, taking into account details concerning the trajectory selection process, the MJS77 mission module, the remote sensing capability of MJS77 science instruments, and the targeting option of a possible continuation of the mission to Uranus. Attention is given to the search for attractive trajectory candidates, the relationship between Saturn arrival data and Jupiter arrival dates of special interest, and observation sequences.
HEIGHTENING Our Awareness of Gender Stereotypes

(2008). HEIGHTENING Our Awareness of Gender Stereotypes. Strategies: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 28-34.
Electronic transitions in InAs nanocrystals using Wannier function method

A Wannier function method is employed to compute electronic transitions in InAs nanocrystals. Our calculations agree well with experimental results, in contrast to the predictions of multiband k p theory. This success results from our accurate treatment of the bulk band structure. We also predict the energies of higher electronic transitions.