cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Z-source inverter for motor drives

This paper presents a Z-source inverter system and control for general-purpose motor drives. The Z-source inverter system employs a unique LC network in the dc link and a small capacitor on the ac side of the diode front end. By controlling the shoot-through duty cycle, the Z-source can produce any desired output ac voltage, even greater than the line voltage. As a result, the new Z-source inverter system provides ride-through capability during voltage sags, reduces line harmonics, improves power factor and reliability, and extends output voltage range. Analysis, simulation, and experimental results will be presented to demonstrate these new features.
Black-White Differences in Job Preferences: 16 Years Later

Summary.-Replication of an analysis of nationally representative data from 19731974 showed that 16 years later there have been no significant changes in the pattern of differences between what black and white male employees (ns = 1500) say they want most in a job. In comparison to white employees, black men continued to be more Likely to prefer high income and less likely to prefer meaningful work that gives a feeling of accomplishment. This result suggests that the many considerable government efforts in recent decades to affect the economic status of blacks have had little influence on this dimension of their work attitudes. Analyzing responses to nationwide opinion surveys conducted in 1973 and 1974, Weaver (14) reported that among full-time male employees black employees were significantly different from white ones in their greater preference in a job for high income and less preference in a job for work that was important and gave a feeling of accomplishment. Weaver (14, p. 441) suggested that these differences may come from ". . . what has been learned [by black men] from a history of considerable insecurity in jobs in the less desirable occupational categories." He suggested that the black employee may sense the tenuousness of his job and focus on ". . . tangible, immediate security of income and be less mindful of the intrinsic satisfaction in his
Evidence of preferential pairing of chromosomes at meiosis in aneuploid yeast.

Meiotic pairing in homothallic S. cerevisiae was studied by tetrad analysis, using strains that were trisomic or tetrasomic for chromosome I. The disomic segregants of these strains produce tetrasomic spore colonies that can be distinguished by their phenotype. Results indicated the existence of preferential pairing and nonrandom assortment of chromosomes at meiosis I. The frequency of crossing over is apparently normal in at least some regions when non-preferred pairing occurs.
Society's Response to Differences A Sociological Perspective

This article attempts to place discussions of how individuals with disabilities are viewed in society by examining the issue of disabilities through a broader lens. sociologists have a long tradition of studying individuals and groups who are viewed as “different” from desirable social norms, such as racial minorities and women. alternative definitions and theories dealing with difference shed light on how people or groups who are so defined become accepted or marginalized. current theories, particularly those dealing with democratic community, provide a means of rethinking how we can maintain the positive aspects of acceptance of difference with the increasing urgency of creating strong communities inclusive of all members of society.
Mitigating risks, visible hands, inevitable disasters, and soft variables: Management research that matters to managers

Executive Overview Management researchers lament the fact that their work has so little impact on management practice. Practicing managers, so it is claimed, search for knowledge that will help them improve organizational performance but rarely consult the work of university-based researchers—work that they often find incomprehensible and irrelevant to their day-to-day challenges. Researchers assert that rather than being interested in systematic and long-term solutions, managers are generally infatuated with the latest fads and fashions in their search for quick fixes. We contend that management research can matter to managers, but for this to occur requires mutually beneficial partnerships involving managers and researchers, as well as the support of their organizations. To support our contention, we illustrate the importance of practice-relevant management research by drawing on four important contributions to management understanding that were prompted by the organizational experiences of a group of i...
Image Compression and Tree-Structured Vector Quantization

Vector quantization is one approach to image compression, the coding of an image so as to preserve the maximum possible quality subject to the available storage or communication capacity. In its most general form, vector quantization includes most algorithms for data compression as structured special cases. This paper is intended as a survey of image compression techniques from the viewpoint of vector quantization. A variety of approaches are described and their relative advantages and disadvantages considered. Our primary focus is on the family of tree-structured vector quantizers, which we believe provide a good balance of performance and simplicity. In addition, we show that with simple modifications of the design technique, this form of compression can incorporate image enhancement and local classification in a natural manner. This can simplify subsequent digital signal processing and can, at sufficient bit rates, result in images that are actually preferred to the originals.
Frayar, D.C., Ervin, R.B. Caloric intake from fast food among adults: United States, 2007-2010. NCHS Data Brief, No. 114, February 2013. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2013.

Background The most recent statistics released by the CDC estimate that more than one third of US adults are obese. Likely our most pressing public health concern, obesity represents a major risk factor for several of our nation’s leading causes of preventable death including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. To compoundmatters, the annual medical cost burden associated with obesity is nearly $150 billion, with estimated expenditure being $1429 more for obese Americans each year compared with their nonobese counterparts. Although obesity affects all ages, socioeconomic strata, and racial/ethnic groups, incidence is highest in non-Hispanic blacks, followed by Mexican Americans.
Exploiting Phosphate Dependent DNA Immobilization on HfO2, ZrO2 and AlGaN for Integrated Biosensors

A significant challenge for high throughput nucleic acid analysis and sequencing is to increase both throughput and sensitivity. Electrical detection methods are advantageous since they can be easily scaled to high density arrays, are highly sensitive, and do not require bulky optical equipment for readout. A focus of most nucleic acid based sensors is the detection of sequence-specific hybridization events between complementary strands of DNA or RNA. These hybridization events can be detected electrically, due to the intrinsic negative charge associated with the phosphate-rich nucleic acid backbone. Field effect transistors (FETs) and high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are ideal devices for detecting such hybridization events, due to their high sensitivity to changes in electrical field strength. A key concern for the construction of DNA-based FET and HEMT biosensors is the immobilization of probe oligonucleotides on the active region of the sensor. In previous work, our group has shown that single stranded DNA can be directly immobilized onto semiconductor materials without the need for complex surface chemistry or crosslinking strategies. In the present work, we have shown that the immobilization of single stranded DNA onto these materials is influenced by the terminal phosphate group of the DNA molecule, independent of backbone phosphates. This agrees with previous studies in which phosphates and phosphonates exhibited strong attachment to a variety of metal oxides. We have also shown that surface-immobilized DNA is available for hybridization and that hybridization is sequence specific. Phosphate-dependent immobilization was demonstrated for HfO 2 , AlGaN, and ZrO 2 surfaces using optical detection of DNA-DNA hybridization, as well as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of DNA-modified surfaces.
Hormonal regulation of gene expression in barley aleurone layers : Induction and suppression of specific genes.

As part of our investigation of the mode of action of plant hormones in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) aleurone layers, we have studied the expression of five identified and three unidentified mRNA species in the presence of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA3) and abscisic acid. Three of the mRNAs are GA3-inducible, three are suppressed by GA3, and two are constitutive. The extent of the GA3 effect differs considerably for both inducible and suppressible mRNAs. For example, a ten-fold higher concentration of GA3 (10-8 M) is required for full induction of the high-pl group α-amylase mRNA than is required for the low-pI α-amylase mRNA (10-9 M). Temporal regulation of mRNA abundance also varies between the two α-amylase isoenzyme groups. The three GA3-suppressible mRNA species studied, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1), a probable amylase and protease inhibitor, and an unidentified barley mRNA species also varied in response to GA3. The ADH1 mRNA decreased drastically within 8 h of GA3 treatment, whereas the other two began to decrease in abundance only after 12–16 h of GA3 treatment. Abscisic-acid treatment counteracted the GA3 effects for both the inducible and suppressible mRNA species. Comparison of α-amylase-mRNA levels and α-amylase-synthesis rates showed a strong correlation between the two parameters, the only exception being a lack of α-amylase synthesis in the presence of α-amylase mRNA at low GA3 concentrations. Therefore, the expression of α-amylase seems to be regulated primarily by its mRNA levels.
Passive Mitigation of Noise in a Duel Fuel Combustor Using Porous Inert Media

In the past, we have utilized porous inert media (PIM) to suppress noise and thermo-acoustic instabilities in swirl-stabilized combustion systems operated on gaseous fuels. The same concept will also be shown to work in liquid fueled combustion systems. This study presents experimental results to evaluate the PIM concept for suppressing combustion noise in a duel fuel combustor. Experiments for gaseous fuel combustion are performed using natural gas premixed with air upstream of the combustor dump plane. Experiments for liquid fuel combustion are performed using kerosene fuel supplied through a commercial air-blast atomizer. In this combustor, the flame stabilizes downstream of the dump plane by central and corner recirculation zones. Multiple ring shape PIM pieces are inserted into the combustor to alter the flow field in an advantageous manner. Each PIM piece has the same outer diameter but different inner diameters. Results are presented to investigate the effects of equivalence ratio and heat release rate for gaseous fuel combustion and air to liquid mass ratio and heat release rate for liquid fuel combustion. Attempts were also made to create thermo-acoustic instabilities by positioning four loudspeakers radially around the primary air flow upstream of the combustor. Measurements of sound pressure levels (SPL), and CO and NOx emissions were taken to characterize the combustion process. Results show that PIM can passively mitigate combustion noise in a duel fuel combustor without adversely affecting the emissions.© 2012 ASME
Freight Rail Costing and Regulation: The Uniform Rail Costing System

Railroad regulation in the post-Staggers Act regime compares the revenues earned to a measure of the “variable cost” of the shipment. While revenues are readily observed, the “variable cost” is calculated using the “Uniform Rail Costing System” (URCS) that was developed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. We characterize the properties of the URCS rail costing methodology and its role in rate regulation, and we assess whether it produces an economically valid estimate of the cost caused by a rail shipment. We find that the URCS methodology is an accounting cost allocation procedure that does not recover an estimate of the cost of a rail shipment that a rational railroad operator would use to make pricing or operating decisions. We then explain why in the post-Staggers Act regime, even if an economic meaningful shipment cost measure were available, this information would not come any closer to solving the problem of determining what is an unreasonable price for a railroad to charge. We conclude by arguing that the use of the URCS methodology should be abandoned in railroad rate reasonableness regulation and replaced with a price benchmarking approach.
A giant Permian fusulinid from east-central Alaska with comparisons of all giant fusulinids in western North America

The discovery of a new locality yielding giant Guadalupian (Lower Permian) fusulinids in east-central Alaska extends the range of these forms much farther north than previously known, and into a tectonostratigraphic terrane from which they previously had not been reported. The number of areas from which giant parafusulinids are known in North America is thus raised to eight. Three of these localities are in rocks that previously had been referred to the allochthonous McCloud belt arc, and one, West Texas, is known to have been part of Paleozoic North America. Comparison of species from all areas suggests that there are two closely related species groups: one represented in Texas and Coahuila, and the other represented in Sonora, northern California, northeastern Washington, southern and northern British Columbia, Alaska, and apparently in Texas. These groups may differ because they are of slightly different ages or because interchange between the faunas of Texas-Coahuila area and the other regions was somewhat inhibited during the Early Permian.
In vitro differentiation of human granulocyte/macrophage and erythroid progenitors: comparative analysis of the influence of recombinant human erythropoietin, G-CSF, GM-CSF, and IL-3 in serum-supplemented and serum-deprived cultures.

The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (Ep), granulocyte/macrophage (GM) and granulocyte (G) colony-stimulating factors (CSF), and interleukin-3 (IL-3) on erythroid burst and GM colony growth have been studied in fetal bovine serum (FBS)- supplemented and FBS-deprived culture. Sources of progenitor cells were nonadherent or nonadherent T-lymphocyte-depleted marrow or peripheral blood cells from normal humans. G-CSF, in concentrations up to 2.3 X 10(-10) mol/L, induced only the formation of neutrophil colonies. In contrast, GM-CSF and IL-3 both induced GM colonies and sustained the formation of erythroid bursts in the presence of Ep. However, the activities of these growth factors were affected by the culture conditions. IL-3 induction of GM colonies depended on the presence of FBS, whereas the degree of GM-CSF induction of GM colonies in FBS- deprived cultures depended on the method by which adherent cells were removed. GM-CSF increased colony numbers in a concentration-dependent manner only if the cells had been prepared by overnight adherence. Both GM-CSF and IL-3 exhibited erythroid burst-promoting activity in FBS- deprived cultures. However, some lineage restriction was evident because GM-CSF was two- to threefold more active than IL-3 in inducing GM colonies but IL-3 was two- to threefold more active in promoting erythroid burst growth. Furthermore, in FBS-deprived cultures, the number of both erythroid bursts and GM colonies reached the maximum only when Ep, GM-CSF, and IL-3 or GM-CSF, IL-3, and G-CSF, respectively, were added together. These results suggest that the colonies induced by IL-3, GM-CSF, and G-CSF are derived from different progenitors.
New developments in biological markers in prostate cancer.

The use of biological markers in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer was pioneered by the work of Gutman et al. in 1936. In the intervening 50 years refinements in techniques and in the understanding of the physiological function of these normally occurring enzymes and proteins have enabled us to understand the potential and the problems associated with the use of these markers in clinical medicine. A review of biological markers in the prostate published previously by me (Pontes 1983) gave an extensive analysis of the value of specific and nonspecific markers in prostate cancer.
[Sero-epidemiological survey on general community population to understand the infection status after the first wave of pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza in Guangdong province].

Objective To understand the infection status of pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza after the first epidemic wave and to estimate the infected population. Methods Multi-stage stratified random sampling was introduced with 4500 subjects chosen in Guangdong province. 1500 people were selected from 5 districts (3 streets were selected in every district) in Guangzhou city which was representing the large cities. 1500 people were respectively selected from medium-sized city and rural areas, including 20 cities (1 county or district was selected in every city, at least 1 street or town was selected in every county or district respectively and then 1-2 residential area or county was selected in every street or township, respectively). Every sample was selected in accordance with the principle of random sampling, excluding those who had injected with novel H1N1 vaccine. We used hemagglutination inhibition test to understand the serum antibody level of novel H1N1, with title of 1∶40 as positive. Results A number of 4319 specimens, distributed in 21 cities, 25 counties, 85 streets or townships, 144 residential areas, were tested, with an overall positive rate as 22.82% (985/4319). The positive rate of those who had no symptoms of cold since June was 23.47% (471/2007).The positive rate of those who had fever, cough or sore throat was 26.25% (714/2720). The positive rate of those who had influenza-like illness (ILI) was 29.69% (337/1135 ). Conclusion The infection rate in the first epidemic wave of the novel influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Guangdong province was 22.82%(985/4317). Based on the number of residonts in Guangdong province, the number of natural was estimated to have reached 21.78 million. Key words: Influenza A (H1N1 ); Pandemic; Seroepidemiology
The Effects of Climate Change on Seasonal Snowpack and the Hydrology of the Northeastern and Upper Midwest United States

AbstractThe potential effects of climate change on the snowpack of the northeastern and upper Midwest United States are assessed using statistically downscaled climate projections from an ensemble of 10 climate models and a macroscale hydrological model. Climate simulations for the region indicate warmer-than-normal temperatures and wetter conditions for the snow season (November–April) during the twenty-first century. However, despite projected increases in seasonal precipitation, statistically significant negative trends in snow water equivalent (SWE) are found for the region. Snow cover is likely to migrate northward in the future as a result of warmer-than-present air temperatures, with higher loss rates in northern latitudes and at high elevation. Decreases in future (2041–95) snow cover in early spring will likely affect the timing of maximum spring peak streamflow, with earlier peaks predicted in more than 80% of the 124 basins studied.
Algebraic Families of Néron Functions

It is a general problem to estimate the difference between the Neron-Tate height h c and the height h φ coming from a projective embedding φ of A, where c is the class of the linear system containing the inverse image of a hyperplane by cp. Estimates for elliptic curves have been given by Manin [Man 4], Demjanenko [De 1], Zimmer [Zi]; and arising from local considerations by Lang [L 7], see also [L 15], Conjecture 5.
TRPML1-Dependent Processes as Therapeutic Targets

Abstract TRPML1 is a cation channel belonging to the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily whose localization is commonly assigned to late endosomes and lysosomes due to the presence of the lysosomal localization signals on its C- and N-termini. Because mutations in the TRPML1-coding gene MCOLN1 are responsible for the lysosomal storage disease mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV), the majority of research into this ion channel has been focused on its role in preventing the buildup of undigested material in the endolysosomal pathway. Recent data suggest that TRPML1 contributes to processes beyond the degradative, recycling, and sorting functions of late-endosomes and lysosomes. Indeed, modulation of endolysosomal function using TRPML1 activators and inhibitors promises new approaches to such conditions as cancer, immune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. This chapter is focused on processes shown or inferred to depend on TRPML1 and predicting new uses for modulating activity of this interesting channel.
Seeing Cells in a New Light: A Renaissance of Brillouin Spectroscopy

Over the years, inelastic light scattering from acoustic waves has grown to be increasingly important remote imaging and sensing. This type of scattering, known as Brillouin scattering, has already seen a plethora of applications in physics and engineering. However, the potential for Brillouin scattering for medical imaging and diagnostics has only recently been considered. In this presentation, I summarize most of the recent advancements in instrumentation and outline some of the most exciting potential applications.
Collar Sign in Incompletely Occluded Aneurysms after Pipeline Embolization: Evaluation with Angiography and Optical Coherence Tomography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Flow diversion with the Pipeline Embolization Device has emerged as an attractive treatment for cerebral aneurysms. Processes involved in aneurysm occlusion include changes in intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics and endothelialization of the device. Here, we call attention to a radiographic sign not previously reported that is detected in incompletely occluded aneurysms after treatment with the Pipeline Embolization Device at angiographic follow-up and referred to as the “collar sign.” MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent placement of a Pipeline Embolization Device for cerebral aneurysms between January 2014 and May 2016 was performed. All aneurysms found to show the collar sign at follow-up were included. Optical coherence tomography was performed in 1 case. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five aneurysms were treated in 115 patients. At angiographic follow-up, 17 (10.7%) aneurysms were found to be incompletely occluded. Ten (58.8%) of these aneurysms (average diameter, 7.9 ± 5.0 mm) were found to have the collar sign at angiographic follow-up (average, 5.5 ± 1.0 months). Four (40.0%) of the aneurysms underwent a second angiographic follow-up (average, 11.0 ± 0.9 months) after treatment, and again were incompletely occluded and showing the collar sign. Two patients underwent retreatment with a second Pipeline Embolization Device. Optical coherence tomography showed great variability of endothelialization at the proximal end of the Pipeline Embolization Device. CONCLUSIONS: The collar sign appears to be indicative of endothelialization, but continued blood flow into the aneurysm. This is unusual given the processes involved in aneurysm occlusion after placement of the Pipeline Embolization Device and has not been previously reported.
The unclosing premature mortality gap in gout: a general population-based study

Objective Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis, is associated with premature mortality. Whether this mortality gap has improved over time, as observed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is unknown. Methods Using an electronic medical record database representative of the UK general population, we identified incident gout cases and controls between 1999 and 2014. The gout cohort was divided based on year of diagnosis into early (1999–2006) and late (2007–2014) cohorts. We compared the mortality rates and HRs, adjusting for potential confounders between the cohorts. We conducted sensitivity analyses among patients with gout who received at least one prescription for urate-lowering therapy, which has been found to have a validity of 90%. Results In both cohorts, patients with gout showed similar levels of excess mortality compared with their corresponding comparison cohort (ie, 29.1 vs 23.5 deaths/1000 person-years and 23.0 vs 18.8 deaths/1000 person-years in the early and late cohorts, respectively). The corresponding mortality HRs were 1.25 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.30) and 1.24 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.29), and the multivariable HRs were 1.10 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.15) and 1.09 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.13), respectively (both p values for interaction >0.72). Our sensitivity analyses showed similar findings (both p values for interaction >0.88). Conclusions This general population-based cohort study indicates that the level of premature mortality among patients with gout remains unimproved over the past 16 years, unlike RA during the same period. This unclosing premature mortality gap calls for improved management of gout and its comorbidities.
HIV Prevention Among Youth: Designing Effective Evidence-Based HIV Risk-Reduction Programs for Adolescents

The purpose of this chapter is to describe both primary and secondary prevention efforts among youth. The HIV epidemic among adolescents in the United States is inherently tied to individual, psychosocial, and cultural phenomena. Expanding intervention development and implementation to incorporate a broader spectrum of determinants of adolescents’ risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV acquisition may provide an opportunity to more effectively prevent disease transmission. This chapter will first highlight adolescents’ sexual risk behavior followed by a review of evidence-based high-impact HIV prevention programs. Future directions for research in the area of primary and secondary HIV prevention also will be discussed.
Cap-dependent translational control of oncolytic measles virus infection in malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma has a poor prognosis for which there remains an urgent need for successful treatment approaches. Infection with the Edmonston vaccine strain (MV-Edm) derivative of measles virus results in lysis of cancer cells and has been tested in clinical trials for numerous tumor types including mesothelioma. Many factors play a role in MV-Edm tumor cell selectivity and cytopathic activity while also sparing non-cancerous cells. The MV-Edm receptor CD46 (cluster of differentiation 46) was demonstrated to be significantly higher in mesothelioma cells than in control cells. In contrast, mesothelioma cells are not reliant upon the alternative MV-Edm receptor nectin-4 for entry. MV-Edm treatment of mesothelioma reduced cell viability and also invoked apoptotic cell death. Forced expression of eIF4E or translation stimulation following IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor 1) exposure strengthened the potency of measles virus oncolytic activity. It was also shown that repression of cap-dependent translation by treatment with agents [4EASO, 4EGI-1] that suppress host cell translation or by forcing cells to produce an activated repressor protein diminishes the strength of oncolytic viral efficacy.
Life and its molecules: a brief introduction

To appreciate bioinformatics, it is necessary to understand some of the basic concepts and terminology of molecular biology. This article is a brief introduction to the extraordinarily complex phenomenon of life and to its molecular basis, we begin with the amazing diversity of life forms and the equally amazing unity in the molecules underlying life's processes. The challenge of accounting for both the variety and the commonalities among organisms is met by evolutionary theory; despite controversies, all scientific approaches to understanding life build on a shared core that can briefly be stated. One of the great insights of the last generation of biologists was the chemical instantiation of these evolutionary theories, whose discovery has driven biology toward the study of the structure and function of biological molecules; After an introduction to some of these key molecules and to the central dogma of molecular biology, we can begin to see the outlines of how such molecules can accomplish the tasks required of simple and then more complex life forms. The introduction concludes with a brief account of some of the new instruments and model systems that are now so rapidly advancing scientific understanding of life.
Polymeric Precursors to Boron Nitride Ceramics

Studies of the syntheses, properties and ceramic conversion reactions of the new processable borazine-derived polymer systems, poly(vinylborazine), poly(vinylborazine/styrene) and poly(borazylene), along with selected applications of these polymer precursors for the formation of boron nitride ceramics are described.
Myth and its Denial in a Secular Age: The Case of Behaviorist Psychology:

Behaviorist psychology, especially as expressed in the philosophical and social psychological writings of B. F. Skinner, has consistently rejected traditional social values, such as freedom and aut...
Abstract P200: Elevated Triacylglycerols and Diacylglycerols Had Association With Increased Carotid Arterial Stiffness, Independent of Cvd Risk Factors, in Women With or at High Risk of HIV Infection

Background: Metabolomics has provided new insights into mechanistic knowledge of CVD. However, this approach has limited use for studying arterial disease in high-risk women with and without HIV in...
A Raf-competitive K-Ras binder can fail to functionally antagonize signaling

Mutated in approximately 30% of human cancers, Ras GTPases are the most common drivers of oncogenesis and render tumors unresponsive to many standard therapies. Despite decades of research, no drugs directly targeting Ras are currently available. We have previously characterized a small protein antagonist of K-Ras, R11.1.6, and demonstrated its direct competition with Raf for Ras binding. Here we evaluate the effects of R11.1.6 on Ras signaling and cellular proliferation in a panel of human cancer cell lines. Through lentiviral transduction, we generated cell lines that constitutively or through induction with doxycycline express R11.1.6 or a control protein YW1 and show specific binding by R11.1.6 to endogenous Ras through microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Genetically encoded intracellular expression of this high-affinity Ras antagonist, however, fails to measurably disrupt signaling through either the MAPK or PI3K pathway. Consistently, cellular proliferation was unaffected as well. To understand this lack of signaling inhibition, we quantified the number of molecules of R11.1.6 expressed by the inducible cell lines and developed a simple mathematical model describing the competitive binding of Ras by R11.1.6 and Raf. This model supports a potential mechanism for the lack of biological effects that we observed, suggesting stoichiometric and thermodynamic barriers that should be overcome in pharmacologic efforts to directly compete with downstream effector proteins localized to membranes at very high effective concentrations. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1773-80. ©2018 AACR.
Purification of Lipin and Measurement of Phosphatidic Acid Phosphatase Activity from Liposomes.

Abstract The lipin family of enzymes are phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphatases responsible for converting PA to diacylglycerol (DAG). Lipins therefore occupy a central node in the synthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) and phospholipids, and may play a role in regulating the levels of PA and DAG as signaling molecules. Some enzymatic assays used to measure PA phosphatase activities use detergents above their critical micelle concentration to present substrate; however, these methods do not represent the physiological membrane bilayers found in cells and these conditions can drastically alter phosphatase activities. Other assays use poorly defined mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC), PA, and high concentrations of BSA to present substrate. In this chapter, we describe methods for affinity purification of FLAG-tagged lipin proteins, and an alternative enzymatic assay using small unilamellar vesicles, also known as liposomes, to investigate specific activities of PA phosphatases. These activities are measured using an acidified Bligh–Dyer extraction to separate the water-soluble, radiolabeled, inorganic phosphate released during the assay from the chloroform-soluble PA.
Charge effects regulate reversible CO2 reduction catalysis.

Modular but geometrically constrained ligands were used to investigate the impact of key ligand design parameters (charge and bite angle) on CO2 hydrogenation and formic acid dehydrogenation activity. These studies yielded an optimized catalyst that achieved over 118 000 turnovers in CO2 hydrogenation, 247 000 turnovers in HCO2H dehydrogenation, was applied in a hydrogen storage device used for 6 cycles of hydrogen storage/release without requiring changes in pH or solvent, and generated H2/CO2 gas at a pressure of 190 atm from formic acid.
Adverse outcomes in younger rib fracture patients.

Background: Recent studies on the impact of rib fractures after blunt trauma have shown a linear relationship between age, increasing number of rib fractures, and complications, including mortality. Others have documented that age-related morbidity increases before age 65 in trauma patients. We hypothesize that patients as young as age 45 demonstrate increased morbidity with injuries similar to older patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study involving all blunt trauma patients with rib fractures, excluding those with severe head and abdominal injuries and those dying within 24 hours, admitted between January 2001 and December 2004. Outcome parameters included pulmonary complications, ICU length of stay, hospital and ICU length of stay, Injury Severity Score (ISS), number of vent days, number of rib fractures, mechanism of injury, and discharge disposition. Results: Of the 3,094 patients admitted, 307 met the inclusion criteria (9.9%). Based on statistical analysis of age, number of rib fractures, and adverse outcome variables, patients were separated into 4 groups: Group 1: younger than 44 years old with 1 to 4 rib fractures, Group 2: younger than 44 years with greater than 4 rib fractures, Group 3: 45 years or older with 1 to 4 rib fractures, and Group 4: 45 years or older with more than 4 rib fractures. Age groups and outcome variables were compared with chi-square, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. Respiratory failure, pneumonia, and associated thoracic injuries were increased in Group 4 patients compared with other groups (P < 0.05). Mortality and length of stay were not different between groups. Conclusions: Patients as young as 45 with more than 4 rib fractures are at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Efforts to improve outcomes in rib fracture patients should focus not only on elderly patients, but on those as young as 45 years. Based on these data, we established a rib fracture clinical pathway focusing on patients 45 years and older with more than 4 rib fractures.
Materials Processing Systems Control and Competition

Technological and, subsequently, economic leadership in communication, transportation, information processing, and other high tech systems is directly dependent upon advances in materials processing and manufacturing technologies. It is for this reason that the firms, industries, academic institutions, and governments of various nations are competing to develop and promote advanced materials technologies. At the heart of their efforts are systems performance and reliability which can be either constrained or enhanced by the quality of available materials. For example, the quality of the silica in fiber optics, gallium arsenide in electronic circuitry, or advanced ceramics in adiabatic engines determine how well these high tech systems will function. In this context, it is important to recognize that control of the microstructure of a material is critical in determining its engineering properties and subsequent performance in use. Ultimately, technical and economic competitive advantage is determined by the efficiency with which scientific information based on materials characterization and analysis is generated and applied to process control and commercialization of technology.
Data Sharing and Engineering Faculty: An Analysis of Selected Publications

Funding agency mandates have issued memorandums requiring applicants to submit a data management plan as well as the inclusion and support for public access to research data. This inclusion and acc...
An Optimal Distributed Algorithm for Best AP Selection and Load Balancing in WiFi

The ubiquitous use of IEEE 802.11 has aggravated the need to make efficient use of available bandwidth. Currently handoff decision in IEEE 802.11 is made based on the received signal strength but these results in poor connectivity specifically when an access point is overloaded. Overlapping regions where users can be connected to multiple access points, switching to less loaded access point can improve overall network capacity. In this article, we propose a decentralized approach for best access point selection which also prevents an access point to get overloaded. We propose an algorithm for handover strategy to improve network capacity via load balancing and it also minimizes switching overhead. We perform detail analysis on publically available dataset which consists of millions of Wi-Fi sessions with multiple access points.
Voetsek! Get[ting] lost: African sportswomen in ‘the sporting black diaspora’:

In this article, I revisit the women’s 800-meter track final during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in order to revise normative constructions of “the black athlete,” black women’s masculinit...
What, How, and Why? A Comparative Analysis of 12 Goal-Free Evaluations

Background: Goal-free evaluation (GFE) is any evaluation in which the evaluator conducts the evaluation without reference to predetermined goals or objectives. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine GFE in actual practice focusing on what GFE is, how it is conducted, and why the evaluators use it. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention: Not applicable. Research Design: Document analysis. Data Collection and Analysis: The researcher collected data from a non-random sample of 12 cases of GFE found in published and non-published papers, reports, and guidebooks. The researcher analyzed the documents using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Findings: The findings suggest that goal-free evaluators consider GFE an outcome evaluation that supplements GBE. These goal-free evaluators typically used an ex post facto evaluation design, non-random sampling of stakeholders, and semi-structured interviewing to collect data. The evaluators described using GFE to improve the evaluand, to find side-effects, and to evaluate highly complex evaluands.
Cell wall glycoproteins of Chlamydomonas reinhardii: Negative stain electron microscopy and epitope mapping of the molecules

Abstract The cell wall glycoproteins of Chlamydomonas reinhardii have been fractionated by FPLC ion exchange chromatography. The purified 2BII glycoproteins have been visualized by the technique of pleated-sheet negative staining (Smith and Seegan, 1984) . The method has allowed us to map epitopes on the glycoproteins recognised by a variety of antibodies. Using the nomenclature of Goodenough et al. (1986) for the purified glycoproteins, we have found that GP1 shows a very similar morphology to that reported by Goodenough et al. using rapid-freeze, deep-etch methods. However we have found that GP2 and GP3 show rather different morphologies from those reported by Goodenough et al. The epitopes recognised by the antibodies studied were localised to the head regions of the various molecules. A study of the 2BI glycoprotein wall component shows a complex ‘fish-bone’ type of structure.
‘Never Let a Good Crisis Go To Waste’: The Impact of the 2014 Ebola Epidemic on West African Science

Relationships with more prominent affiliates can be crucial to the success of a scientist’s career. In practice, relationships with those more elite are limited to high achieving or high potential ...
Adaptive Learning Rate Tuning Algorithm for RF Self-Interference Cancellation

Future wireless systems that take advantage of in-band full-duplex (IBFD) technology require that the consequential self-interference (SI) be sufficiently mitigated for successful operation. Many IBFD designs utilize a multitap RF cancellation stage that necessitates the optimal configuration of multiple weights to accurately replicate real-world multipath SI channels. The nonconvex error surfaces generated by these channels present different features that can be challenging to navigate for canceller tuning algorithms. This article introduces a novel adaptive learning rate approach that utilizes a target error and a gradient estimation that is progressively forgotten over time to accelerate convergence speed and maximize cancellation performance. The tuning characteristics of a prototype system using this algorithm to set the weights of a two-tap canceller were measured over a 20-MHz bandwidth centered at 2.5 GHz and produced an average of more than 35 dB of cancellation for various SI channels with tuning times that are significantly less than previous approaches. The performance of this unique method was also studied against other tuning techniques, and results indicate that it could supplant traditional adaptive learning approaches for future IBFD systems.
Manipulation of Massive Objects in Space Using Flexible Joint Manipulators

Robotic manipulators used in space applications are often lightweight, exhibit significant joint flexibility, and have limited joint torques. Many applications of space manipulation involve the tra...
A review of high energy density beam processes for welding and additive manufacturing applications

High-energy density beam processes for welding, including laser beam welding and electron beam welding, are essential processes in many industries and provide unique characteristics that are not available with other processes used for welding. More recently, these high-energy density beams have been used to great advantage for additive manufacturing. This review of the literature serves to provide an overview of the evolution of the laser and electron beam processes including the fundamental nature of the beam itself and how such a high-energy density beam has been applied for welding. The unique nature of each process regarding weld bead formation and penetration, and metallurgical considerations are covered in detail. In addition, the evolution of monitoring systems for both characterization and control of these beam processes is reviewed. Over 500 references have been cited in this comprehensive review that will allow the reader to both understand the current state-of-the-art and explore in more detail the fundamental concepts and practical applications of these processes.
Online data analysis and reduction: An important Co-design motif for extreme-scale computers:

A growing disparity between supercomputer computation speeds and I/O rates means that it is rapidly becoming infeasible to analyze supercomputer application output only after that output has been w...
Quality improvement studies in nursing homes: a scoping review.

Background Quality improvement (QI) is used in nursing homes (NH) to implement and sustain improvements in patient outcomes. Little is known about how QI strategies are used in NHs. This lack of information is a barrier to replicating successful strategies. Guided by the Framework for Implementation Research, the purpose of this study was to map-out the use, evaluation, and reporting of QI strategies in NHs. Methods This scoping review was completed to identify reports published between July 2003 through February 2019. Two reviewers screened articles and included those with (1) the term "quality improvement" to describe their methods, or reported use of a QI model (e.g., Six Sigma) or strategy (e.g., process mapping) (2), findings related to impact on service and/or resident outcomes, and (3) two or more NHs included. Reviewers extracted data on study design, setting, population, problem, solution to address problem, QI strategies, and outcomes (implementation, service, and resident). Vote counting and narrative synthesis were used to describe the use of QI strategies, implementation outcomes, and service and/or resident outcomes. Results Of 2302 articles identified, the full text of 77 articles reporting on 59 studies were included. Studies focused on 23 clinical problems, most commonly pressure ulcers, falls, and pain. Studies used an average of 6 to 7 QI strategies. The rate that strategies were used varied substantially, e.g., the rate of in-person training (55%) was more than twice the rate of plan-do-study-act cycles (20%). On average, studies assessed two implementation outcomes; the rate these outcomes were used varied widely, with 37% reporting on staff perceptions (e.g., feasibility) of solutions or QI strategies vs. 8% reporting on fidelity and sustainment. Most studies (n = 49) reported service outcomes and over half (n = 34) reported resident outcomes. In studies with statistical tests of improvement, service outcomes improved more often than resident outcomes. Conclusions This study maps-out the scope of published, peer-reviewed studies of QI in NHs. The findings suggest preliminary guidance for future studies designed to promote the replication and synthesis of promising solutions. The findings also suggest strategies to refine procedures for more effective improvement work in NHs.
Neurodualism: People Assume that the Brain Affects the Mind more than the Mind Affects the Brain

People commonly think of the mind and the brain as distinct entities that interact, a view known as dualism. At the same time, the public widely acknowledges that science attributes all mental phenomena to the workings of a material brain, a view at odds with dualism. How do people reconcile these conflicting perspectives? We propose that people distort claims about the brain from the wider culture to fit their dualist belief that minds and brains are distinct, interacting entities: Exposure to cultural discourse about the brain as the physical basis for the mind prompts people to posit that mind-brain interactions are asymmetric, such that the brain is able to affect the mind more than vice versa. We term this hybrid intuitive theory neurodualism. Five studies involving both thought experiments and naturalistic scenarios provided evidence of neurodualism among laypeople and, to some extent, even practicing psychotherapists. For example, lay participants reported that "a change in a person's brain" is accompanied by "a change in the person's mind" more often than vice versa. Similarly, when asked to imagine that "future scientists were able to alter exactly 25% of a person's brain," participants reported larger corresponding changes in the person's mind than in the opposite direction. Participants also showed a similarly asymmetric pattern favoring the brain over the mind in naturalistic scenarios. By uncovering people's intuitive theories of the mind-brain relation, the results provide insights into societal phenomena such as the allure of neuroscience and common misperceptions of mental health treatments.