cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minimally invasive approach to laryngeal cleft

Laryngeal cleft is a rare congenital anomaly that is recently being diagnosed with increased frequency. The objective of this report is to present a comprehensive description of endoscopic laser repair of a laryngeal cleft, using both the carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser via a micromanipulator (Carl Zeiss Microimaging Inc., Thornwood, NY) and the flexible CO(2) laser fiber (OmniGuide, Inc.; Cambridge, MA), from both an anesthesia and surgical perspective. Laryngoscope, 2013.
The benefits of in-group contact through physical activity involvement for health and well-being among Korean immigrants

This qualitative study is designed to examine the benefits of physical activity involvement with members of the same ethnic group. For this study, Korean immigrants who were members of Korean physical activity clubs such as badminton and tennis were selected as participants. Using a constructive grounded theory methodology, three themes were identified as benefits of physical activity involvement: (1) the experience of psychological well-being, (2) the creation of a unique cultural world, and (3) the facilitation of physical activity involvement. The findings of this study suggest that Korean immigrant participants gained various social, cultural, and psychological benefits by engaging in activities with other Korean immigrants.
Multiobjectivization via Helper-Objectives With the Tunable Objectives Problem

Multiobjectivization, the optimization of a single-objective problem by adding objectives, has recently received interest by researchers. Studying multiobjectivization on an abstract problem can assist in understanding the fundamental drivers of the improvements in performance that multiobjectivization achieves in some situations. Previously created abstract problems do not appear to provide the modeling power needed to study the benefits of this new family of optimization techniques. The tunable objectives problem (TOP) model is introduced to help demonstrate how problem features such as objective-convolution, multiple layer epistasis, the presence of local optima, and layered problem structure are related to the performance of multiobjectivization via helper objectives. Experiments using TOP demonstrate how multiobjectivization via helpers improves the signal-to-noise in a genetic algorithm and identifies several general problem difficulties that, when present, are likely to increase the need for multiobjectivization.
Cataracts and cell-phone radiation

A concern that is often expressed about microwave radiation is the induction of cataracts. The formation of lens opacities in the eyes of laboratory animals following acute microwave exposure is well established. It is generally accepted that acute exposure to higher levels of CW radiation causes various degrees of lens opacification in laboratory animals at many microwave frequencies. However, the exact conditions under which these changes may occur in human beings are a subject of debate. Nevertheless, linear extrapolations of computed results indicate that the incident density required for the human eye to reach the cataractogenic threshold may only be slightly lower than that needed for rabbits.
Protein Kinase Bα Is Required for Vesicle Trafficking and Class II Presentation of IgA Fc Receptor (CD89)-Targeted Antigen

Ag presentation stimulates Ag-specific adaptive immune responses. FcαR (CD89)-mediated capture of IgA-bound exogenous Ag leads to efficient MHC class II Ag presentation by APCs. CD89 signaling is required for trafficking of internalized Ag to specialized multivesicular bodies known as MHC class II compartments (MIIC) and subsequent class II presentation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the vesicle trafficking regulator protein kinase Bα (PKBα) is required for CD89-mediated trafficking to MIIC and Ag presentation. We observed by two independent methods (chemical inhibitors and specific RNA interference) that PKBα was required for CD89 trafficking to MIIC and class II Ag presentation. Expression of constitutively active PKBα in APCs expressing a mutant CD89 accessory signaling molecule (deficient in CD89/Ag trafficking, processing, and presentation) induced trafficking of CD89 to lamp1-containing late endocytic vesicles, but not class II-containing vesicles (MIIC), or class II Ag presentation. These studies show for the first time that PKBα is required for receptor-mediated Ag presentation and suggest the mechanism of action includes regulation of vesicle trafficking.
Acceleration techniques for dynamic vector compaction

We present several techniques for accelerating dynamic vector compaction for combinational and sequential circuits. A key feature of all our techniques is that they significantly improve the computation times without adversely affecting the quality of test sets that can be derived using state-of-the-art compaction methods. Our techniques are based on three key ideas: (1) identification of support sets, (2) target fault switching, and (3) use of dynamic equivalent and untestable fault analysis, All these techniques are useful in significantly reducing the number of faults that have to be considered by a test generator or a fault simulator in a dynamic vector compaction system. For fault simulation, support sets quickly identify a large subset of faults that are guaranteed to be undetectable by a given input sequence. For test generation, support sets identify a large subset of faults that are guaranteed to be undetectable by any extension of a partially specified test sequence. Experimental results on ISCAS 89 benchmark circuits and large production VLSI circuits are included. For full scan designs, our acceleration techniques reduce the overall computation times by a factor of 2 to 3 without adversely affecting the quality (size) of the computed test sets or their fault coverages. The improvement factors obtained are higher for larger circuits. The acceleration techniques enabled the computation of compact test sets for large production circuits that the base test generation system was unable to process in more than 2 CPU days on a Silicon Graphics MIPS 4400 workstation. Results for sequential circuits also show that our acceleration techniques significantly improve the computation times for dynamic vector compaction.
Transactions: they're not just for banking any more

The notion of a database transaction has been extended to become a viable 'interface' for the primary memory system of a multicore system. This "transactional memory" may be an important paradigm for software engineers, so they can extract high levels of performance from such multiprocessor systems. This article will describe this new paradigm - outlining its basic structure, and benefits, along with some of the many implementation variations currently in use.
Evaluation of breakfast cereals with the current nutrition facts panel (NFP) and the Food and Drug Administration's NFP proposal.

Objective To compare judgements of nutrition and judgement accuracy when evaluating cereals with the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nutrition facts panel (NFP) and two new proposed NFP based on FDA guidelines. Design A between-subjects design randomly assigned participants to three NFP conditions (current NFP label and two modified NFP based on FDA proposals). Participants viewed breakfast cereals, and rated each on nutritional quality and on the likelihood of purchasing and consuming it. Participants provided demographic information and responses to questionnaires assessing nutrition/obesity knowledge, concern for healthy eating and nutrient importance. Setting USA. Subjects Two hundred and thirteen adults who completed an online survey (66·2 % female, mean age 37·31 (sd 12·56) years). Results Judged nutrition quality of cereals was positively correlated with protein, fibre and potassium and negatively correlated with sugars and sodium. This pattern appeared when using the current NFP or the modified versions. Highlighted nutrients in modified NFP formats did not affect their perceived importance. Accuracy of the nutrition quality judgements was measured in relationship to an objectively defined nutrition score, NuVal®. Nutrition judgement accuracy was highest under the current NFP (Spearman’s ρ=0·76 for the current NFP; 0·64 and 0·72 for the other formats). Regression analysis showed that nutrition judgement accuracy increased significantly (adjusted R 2=0·13) with obesity knowledge (β=0·27), age (β=0·15) and current NFP (β=0·13). Conclusions The current NFP is equally or more effective in conveying nutritional information compared with NFP formats based on the FDA proposal.
Russian Foreign Policy During the Putin Presidency

As his foreign policy priorities evolved over the course of his presidency, Vladimir Putin grew increasingly wary of Western policies and determined to exclude the United States and NATO from Russia's backyard. Dmitry Medvedev has been more inclined to a realist approach, willing to accept Western positions and to compromise on some issues.
Feasibility Study of a 3D IC Integration System-in-Packaging (SiP) from a 300mm Multi-Project Wafer (MPW)

The feasibility of a 3D IC integration SiP has been demonstrated in this investigation. The heart of this SiP is a TSV (through-silicon via) interposer with RDL (redistribution layer) on both sides, IPD (integrated passive devices) and SS (stress sensors). This interposer is used to support (with microbumps) a stack of four memory chips with TSVs, one thermal chip with heater and one mechanical chip with SS, and then overmolded on its top side for pick and place purposes. The interposer’s bottom-side is attached to an organic substrate (with ordinary lead-free solder bumps), which is lead-free solder-balled on a PCB (printed circuit board). Key enabling technologies such as TSV etching, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), thin-wafer handling, thermal management, and microbumping, assembly and reliability are highlighted.
Theoretical Investigation of the Reaction Mechanism of the Guaiacol Hydrogenation over a Pt (111) Catalyst

The reaction mechanism of the mild hydrogenation of guaiacol over Pt(111) has been investigated by density functional theory calculations and microkinetic modeling. Our model suggests that at 573 K, catechol is the preferred reaction product and that any deoxygenation to, for example, phenol or benzene is at least 4 orders of magnitude slower than the production of catechol. Slow deoxygenation of guaiacol can occur by decarbonylation and possibly by hydrogenation of the phenyl ring followed by C–OH bond cleavage. Direct −OH removal without activation of the phenyl ring is found to be at least 5 orders of magnitude slower. Overall, this study suggests that Pt(111) sites are not active deoxygenation sites and that the experimentally observed deoxygenation activity of Pt catalysts originates likely from the involvement of the catalyst support or Pt step and corner sites.
Improved preservation of fresh osteochondral allografts for clinical use.

Introduction Fresh osteochondral allografts (OCAs) have been used clinically to treat cartilage focal defects of the knee for over 30 years. Over the last decade, significant research has been performed to develop and improve protocols for preservation of osteochondral tissue before transplantation into patients for treatment of cartilage defects. This work has resulted in preservation protocols that allow for maintenance of OCA tissues for time periods sufficient for clinical use based on disease testing requirements in the United States. However, graft quality and the window for clinical use of these tissues could be greatly enhanced from current levels. Materials and methods Femoral condyles from 14 dogs were harvested and stored in one of the three proprietary media composition (M-1, M-2, M-3) and container condition (C-1, C-2, C-3) at 25 degrees C for 63 days. Viability of the OCA was determined using a proprietary media metabolic assay and live cell fluorescent microscopy. Media biomarker concentrations were analyzed to determine the metabolic activity of tissue. Results Media protein biomarkers were detected throughout the culture period, indicating OCAs remain metabolically active at 25 degrees C, and biomarker levels correlated with tissue viability. Viable chondrocyte density was maintained at day 0 levels throughout the depth of the tissue in the M-3 media using container condition C-3 after 63 days in storage. The media metabolic assay correlated strongly to cell viability of the OCA tissue. Conclusion These data indicate that near day 0 tissue viability can be maintained for up to 63 days when OCAs are stored at 25 degrees C in the correct conditions. Further, tissue viability could be assessed nondestructively using media biomarkers and the media metabolic assay. If the preservation protocol reported here can be validated for safety and functional outcome, it could then be employed in tissue banks throughout the world, decreasing the number of grafts discarded and improving quality of life for thousands of patients affected by cartilage defects.
Effect of temperature on head rice during the period from full heading to maturity in medium Indica hybrid rice

The relationship between head rice of Ⅱ-you?7 and 4228?a/Jianghui 15 and daily mean temperature during the period of full heading to maturity in different sowing date were studied.The results indicated that negative correlation between head rice and daily mean temperature was significant or highly significant in 0-20 days after full heading.The reason of daily mean temperature affecting head rice in 0-20 days after full heading was that there were significantly positive correlation between grain-filling rate and daily mean temperature,and chalky area and grain-filling rate and significantly negative correlation between head rice and chalky area.
Component Attachment with Pressureless Sintering for 300°C Applications

With an increased demand for high-power and high-temperature electronics, Ag sintering paste has been considered a promising Pb-free die-attach material candidate for these applications. Extensive research has been carried out investigating pressure and pressureless Ag sintering for die attach. In this work, passive component (chip resistor) attachment with Ag sintering was explored. Due to termination geometry differences between resistors and dies, different processing procedures and parameters were developed. For PtAu terminated resistors, the mean shear force of as-built samples on thick-film Ag metallized substrates was 90 N, but dropped to 18.6 N after 1,500 h at 300°C. Formation of a dense Ag layer near the PtAu resistor termination and a void region near the thick-film metallization was observed in cross sections after 1,000 h at 300°C. For PdAg terminated resistors with a plated Ni/Au finish, the initial shear force results were low due to Ag diffusion along Au metallization surface. For PdAg ter...
The Purpose of Education at Harvard University——a lecture delivered at Xinghai Conservatory of Music on June 8,2004

In the violent chapters of the 20th century,especially during the Cultural Revolution,Chinese traditional culture was largely disrupted.The result may be called a "Cultural Ground Zero." China needs to recover from the ruins of destruction not only economically and politically,but also culturally and spiritually.Education plays a key role in this recovery process.The author sees a great danger in today's Chinese education reform that compromises the quality and standard of higher education for the sake of mass-producing unqualified graduates.In this article,the author presents his personal view of the American liberal education represented by Harvard University,and advocates the equal importance of "intellectual freedom" and "political freedom." A liberal education should avoid subjective,over-simplifying,extremist,irrational "nationalism" and blind "patriotisms," as a modern democratic society needs analytical and rational citizens who are concerned with the welfare of mankind.
Stability and Antibacterial Activity of Purple Cabbage Pigment

The pigment in the leaves of purple cabbage was extracted from, and its stability and antibacterial activity were measured by spectrophotometry. The pigment extracted looked carmine, the original color of purple cabbage, and was stable when exposed to acidic aqueous solution at pH 2. As pH increased, its color gradually changed from carmine to blue, then to green, with the occurrence of a red-shift of maximum absorption wavelength. The preservation rates of the pigment after illumination under natural light for 2 and 6 days were more than 91% and more than 79%, respectively, and the value after 2 hours of heating at temperatures below 70 ℃ was still more than 90%, suggesting that the pigment has good tolerance to light and heating. In the presences of some metal ions including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium or oxygen, the pigment was stable, whereas the attendance of iron would deteriorate it. The pigment had significant concentration-dependent inhibitory effect against Staphyloccus aureus and Bacillus subtilis at a concentration of 10 mg/100 mL, but no anti-E. coli effect was observed.
Framework for the integration of body sensor networks and social networks to improve health awareness

Over the last decade, the demand for efficient health monitoring has increased and forced the health and wellness industry to embrace modern technological advances. Body Sensor Networks, or BSNs, can remotely collect data and upload vital statistics to servers over the Internet. Advances in wireless technologies such as cellular devices and Bluetooth increase the mobility of the user while wearing a body sensor network. When connected by the proper framework, BSNs can efficiently monitor and record data while minimizing the energy expenditure of nodes in the BSN. Social networking sites play a large role in the aggregation and sharing of data between many users. Connecting a BSN to a social network creates the unique ability to share health related data with other users through social interaction. In this paper, we propose to integrate social networks and BSNs to establish a community promoting well being and great social awareness.
Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Reconstructive Transplantation: An Undefined Conundrum

Ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI), a major complication of organ transplantation, tissue resection, and hemorrhagic shock, is a dynamic process that involves two interrelated phases of local ischemic insult and inflammation-mediated reperfusion injury. This chapter highlights recent mechanistic insights into innate–adaptive immune cross talk and cell activation cascades leading to inflammation-mediated damage in IR-stressed tissues, and considers their pathophysiological relevance in the emerging field of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). The interlocked molecular signaling pathways in histologically divergent cell types, the IRI kinetics, and positive versus negative regulatory loops at the innate–adaptive immune interface are discussed. Current gaps in our knowledge and mechanistic aspects necessitating basic and translational research are stressed. Improved appreciation of cellular and molecular events, which trigger and sustain local inflammation responses in experimental models, are fundamental to developing innovative strategies for treating VCAs suffering from IR-inflammation/dysfunction following prolonged periods of ex vivo storage. Achieving these goals should pave the road to improving the clinical outcomes and possibly achieving the ultimate goal of imposing operational immune tolerance in transplant patients.
Biceps Tendon Transfer for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tear

Background: Massive rotator cuff tear can cause functional disability due to instability and degenerative changes of the shoulder joint. In patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tear, tendon transfer is often used as the salvage procedure. Latissimus dorsi and pectoris major transfer are technically demanding procedures and may incur complications. The biceps tendon transfer may provide a biologically superior tissue patch that improves the biomechanics of the shoulder joint in patients with irreparable rotator cuff tear. This study evaluated the functional outcomes of biceps tendon transfer for irreparable rotator cuff tear in 6 patients with two years and longer follow-up. Methods: Between September 2006 and October 2011, 50 patients with 50 shoulders underwent surgical repair for MRI confirmed rotator cuff tear. Among them, six patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tear were identified intraoperatively, and underwent proximal biceps tendon transfer to reconstruct the rotator cuff tear. The biceps tendon was tenodesed at the bicipital groove, and the proximal intra-articular portion of the biceps tendon was transected. The biceps graft was fanned out and the distal end fixed to the cancellous trough around the greater tuberosity with suture anchor. The anterior edge was sutured to the subscapularis and the posterior edge to the infraspinatus tendon or supraspinatus if present. Postoperative managements included sling protection and avoidance of strenuous exercises for 6 weeks, and then progressive rehabilitation until recovery. Results: The evaluation parameters included VAS pain score, UCLA score, Constant score and AHES score, and X-rays of the shoulder. At follow-up of 25.3 ± 25.0 (range 22 to 63) months, the mean VAS pain score decreased from 9.3 ± 0.8 preoperatively to 1.7 ± 1.4 postoperatively ( p Discussion: The biceps transfer provides soft tissue coverage of the humeral head, and restores the superior stability of the shoulder joint. The transferred biceps tendon also improves the mechanics and increases the compression force of the humeral head to the glenoid fossa. The results of the current study showed significant pain relief and improvement of shoulder function after biceps tendon transfer for irreparable rotator cuff tear. Conclusion: Biceps tendon transfer is effective in the management of massive irreparable rotator cuff tear. The procedure is technically accessible with minimal surgical risks.
Influence of filter supports on transport characteristics of cultured A6 kidney cells

Amphibian A6 kidney cells grown on Anocell filters developed a transepithelial potential difference of 37 mV, a short-circuit current (Isc) of 8 microA/cm2, and a resistance of 5 k omega.cm2. Other observations suggested a viable arginine vasopressin (AVP) V2 receptor-second messenger pathway in these cells: 1) AVP increased both an amiloride-sensitive Isc and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) formation, and 2) scanning electron micrographs of A6 cells cultured on Anocell and ICN Cellagen filters demonstrated increased microvilli formation on the apical surface after AVP action. However, osmotic water flow (JV) across A6 cells on filter supports was not altered by either AVP or the permeable cAMP analogue dibutyryl cAMP (osmotic permeability coefficient = 2.5 x 10(-3) cm/s). Diffusional water flow (Jdw) measured across A6 cells on Anocell filters using tritiated water (THO) ranged from 6 to 8 microliters.min-1.cm-2. Neither AVP nor the membrane-permeabilizing agents amphotericin B and digitonin were able to enhance unidirectional THO fluxes, although amphotericin B increased the Isc. These results suggested that there was an unknown barrier in series with the A6 cells limiting water flow. THO fluxes across filter supports, without an associated cellular monolayer, gave Jdw values in the range 7-30 microliters.min-1.cm-2. Jv across the bare filter support was in the range of 0.3-1.5 microliters.min-1.cm-2, similar to that measured in the presence of an A6 monolayer. These observations suggest that the filter may be rate limiting for transepithelial water flow. Chloride fluxes across Anocell filters showed a stable value of 5 mu eq.h-1.cm-2. These observations exhibit the limitations of filter supports in the study of transport phenomena in cultured cells.
Electromagnetic Theory in the STA

The electromagnetic field potential, the electromagnetic field and the currents in STA are, respectively, vector-, bivector- and vector- valued quantities. The Maxwell equations are readily written in terms of vector derivatives.
In Vivo Flow Cytometry of Circulating Tumor-Associated Exosomes

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) demonstrated the potential as prognostic markers of metastatic development. However, the incurable metastasis can already be developed at the time of initial diagnosis with the existing CTC assays. Alternatively, tumor-associated particles (CTPs) including exosomes can be a more valuable prognostic marker because they can be released from the primary tumor long before CTCs and in larger amount. However, little progress has been made in high sensitivity detection of CTPs, especially in vivo. We show here that in vivo integrated photoacoustic (PA) and fluorescence flow cytometry (PAFFC) platform can provide the detection of melanoma and breast-cancer-associated single CTPs with endogenously expressed melanin and genetically engineered proteins or exogenous dyes as PA and fluorescent contrast agents. The two-beam, time-of-light PAFFC can measure the sizes of CTCs and CTPs and identify bulk and rolling CTCs and CTC clusters, with no influence on blood flow instability. This technique revealed a higher concentration of CTPs than CTCs at an early cancer stage. Because a single tumor cell can release many CTPs and in vivo PAFFC can examine the whole blood volume, PAFFC diagnostic platform has the potential to dramatically improve (up to 105-fold) the sensitivity of cancer diagnosis.
Genome Structure and Comparative Genomics

Two genome assemblies have been generated for Setaria italica, one in the accession Yugu1 and one in the accession Zhang gu. A comparison of the two assemblies showed overall high levels of colinearity, but identified a number of likely misoriented and/or misplaced sequence scaffolds. Using available comparative information between Setaria, rice, sorghum, Brachypodium, and switchgrass, we reconstructed the structure of the 12-chromosome ancestral grass genome from which the grasses radiated some 70 million years ago. Comparing the structure of the ancestral grass genome with that of current-day Setaria and sorghum showed that the Setaria genome has undergone more rearrangements than sorghum. The reasons for the greater stability of the sorghum compared to the Setaria genome are unknown.
The Effects on Instructor Workload of Implementing Active Teaching Methods to Improve Student Enthusiasm and Performance

There is an abundance of data that suggest that implementing active teaching methods in the classroom produces a deeper, longer lasting understanding and increased enjoyment of course material. However, most engineering educators do not employ these techniques. This paper addresses three of the most common concerns these educators have: 1. “I don’t have enough time,” 2. “It is difficult to employ active teaching techniques with my course material,” and 3. “I won’t be able to cover all my material if I allow time for the activities in class.” . Active teaching was employed in two courses in order to improve student enthusiasm for course material and increase understanding of that material. In each course, specific topics were taught using active teaching methods, while others were taught using traditional teaching methods. The active teaching methods employed were simple methods that were uncomplicated to prepare, often requiring less than five minutes of preparation per lecture. The effectiveness of these teaching methods was compared in three ways. First, students’ non-verbal responses to the teaching methods were observed by an independent researcher trained in direct nonparticipation data collection. Both active and traditional lectures were observed using a modified rubric based on Ekman and Friesen’s facial measurement system, which systematized and validated the observations. Second, students’ test scores on topics taught by active teaching methods were compared to scores on topics taught by traditional methods. Third, students were surveyed on their perspective of the effectiveness of the active teaching methods. This data was compared to the time required to prepare these lectures and the amount of material covered. Results show that, without fail, students were more engaged and scored higher on topics covered using simple active teaching methods as opposed to traditional lectures. Students’ participation levels significantly increased during all aspects of lectures that included active teaching methods, including short periods of traditional lecture that followed the activity. Student surveys suggest that, although students’ perception of active teaching methods was mixed to start the semester, the acceptance of these methods by the end of the semester had increased to 100% and many students desired more active opportunities. The amount of material covered in both classes increased from the previous course offering.
Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Guide Focus Group Development of Messages Aimed at Increasing Compliance With a Tobacco-Free Policy

Purpose:This study details the persuasive message development for a theory-based campaign designed to increase compliance with a university’s tobacco-free policy.Approach:The theory of planned beha...
Developing a stable point: Evaluating the temporal and geographic consistency of Late Prehistoric unnotched triangular point functional design in Midwestern North America

Abstract The occurrence of unnotched triangular points is exceptional in the North American archaeological record. The study of these items can shed light on selective forces that influence the evolution of prehistoric weaponry, especially that which involves small stone tipped projectiles, which is itself a global phenomenon during the late Pleistocene and continuing throughout the Holocene. Following Engelbrecht’s (2015) analysis of points from the Eaton site (1550 CE) in western New York, we assessed potential functional–design characteristics of a large sample of complete and broken unnotched-triangular points from Blain Village, Ohio, an archaeological context several centuries older than, and approximately 550 km southwest of, the Eaton site. We compared our archaeological results to patterns of both experimental point breakage and practical morphometric thresholds for successfully hunting deer. Our results showed that the complete Blain points possessed on average significantly lower length-to-width ratios and significantly higher thickness-to-length ratios relative to the broken ones. Moreover, all points – complete and broken – possessed basal widths under 5 cm and maximum thicknesses under 1.1 cm. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that Late Prehistoric points were designed to effectively penetrate the thoracic cavity of a deer, as well as potentially cause greater trauma during warfare through breakage. Moreover, given that these results are fully consistent with Engelbrecht’s (2015) analysis from the Eaton site, our results indicate that there was a broad, strong selective pressure (i.e., functionally related biases) driving the design stability of unnotched triangular points across the Midwest for an extended period. The principles and methods we use are broadly applicable, especially in terms of using quantitative information derived from experiments to guide our understanding of factors influencing morphometric variation in archaeological points.
Vectorlike leptons: Muon g − 2 anomaly, lepton flavor violation, Higgs boson decays, and lepton nonuniversality

In this paper, we consider the Standard Model (SM) with one family of vectorlike (VL) leptons, which couple to all three families of the SM leptons. We study the constraints on this model coming from the heavy-charged lepton mass bound, electroweak precision data, the muon anomalous magnetic moment, lepton flavor violation, Higgs boson decay constraints, and a recently measured lepton nonuniversality observable, ${R}_{{K}^{*0}}$, along with ${R}_{K}$. We find that the strongest constraints are coming from the muon $g\ensuremath{-}2$, ${R}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}}=\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}(h\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu})/\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}(h\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}{)}_{\mathrm{SM}}$, ${R}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ and $\mathrm{BR}(\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}e\ensuremath{\gamma})$. Although VL leptons couple to all three families of the SM leptons, the ratio of electron-VL to muon-VL coupling is constrained to be $⟨{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{e}/{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}⟩\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$. We also find that this model cannot fit the lepton nonuniversality discrepancies.
DNA replication through a chromatin environment.

Compaction of the genome into the nuclear space is achieved by wrapping DNA around octameric assemblies of histone proteins to form nucleosomes, the fundamental repeating unit of chromatin. Aside from providing a means by which to fit larger genomes into the cell, chromatinization of DNA is a crucial means by which the cell regulates access to the genome. While the complex role that chromatin plays in gene transcription has been appreciated for a long time, it is now also apparent that crucial aspects of DNA replication are linked to the biology of chromatin. This review will focus on recent advances in our understanding of how the chromatin environment influences key aspects of DNA replication. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Chromatin modifiers and remodellers in DNA repair and signalling9.
Hobbseus yalobushensis, a Crayfish of Intermittent Streams: Biotic and Habitat Associations, Life History Characteristics, and New Localities

Abstract Hobbseus yalobushensis, the Yalobusha rivulet crayfish, is a species of conservation concern because it is known from only six localities in parts of three central Mississippi counties. No studies have focused on the species since its description in 1989. Our objectives were to: (1) identify additional H. yalobushensis localities within a landscape managed intensively for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) production, (2) relate stream size, water quality variables, and flow permanence to species presence or density, (3) characterize the aquatic community in relation to H. yalobushensis, (4) better define elements of the species' life history, and (5) compile unpublished H. yalobushensis localities from post-1989 collection records. During February and March 2011–2013, we made 56 samples in 24 reaches of 16 streams in Calhoun County, Mississippi. We documented captured crayfishes, fishes, and amphibians and measured habitat and water quality variables. Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE, number per 100 s elect...
A method for freeze-fracture and scanning electron microscopy of isolated mitochondria.

Abstract Electron microscopy as a methodology for the study of mitochondria based on morphological features is a standard technique that has experienced little evolution over the course of several decades. This technology has identified heterogeneity of mitochondria populations across both whole tissues, as well between individual cells, using primarily ultrathin sections for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, this technique constrains the evaluation of a sample to a single two-dimensional plane. To overcome this limitation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been successfully utilized to observe three-dimensional mitochondria structures within the complex microenvironment containing total cellular components. In response to these dual technical caveats of existing electron microscopy protocols, we developed a methodology to evaluate the three-dimensional ultrastructure of isolated mitochondria, utilizing a freeze-fracture step and rigorous preservation of sample morphology. This protocol allows for a more high-throughput analysis of mitochondria populations from a specimen of interest, as the sample has been previously purified, as well as a finer resolution of complex intra-mitochondrial structures, using the depth of field created by SEM. • Protocol designed for SEM of isolated mitochondria samples. • SEM visualizes mitochondria ultrastructure in 3-D. • Freeze-fracture creates cross-sectional plane for view of interior organelle structures.
Overview of high-speed direct injection diesel engines

Abstract: This chapter traces the historical development of the high-speed direct injection (HSDI) diesel engine and reviews some of today’s engines. The European passenger car diesel market share rose rapidly over the last decade to reach above 50% at present. This has been due to significant improvements in performance and refinement, demonstrated by premium luxury manufacturers offering diesel engines for their top of the range models. Performance has been increased by higher fuel injection pressures, improvements in turbocharger design and efficiency, and more sophisticated electronic controls. Complex exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems and exhaust after-treatment have facilitated keeping pace with emissions legislation. Greater flexibility of injection timing and number of injections have greatly improved noise levels. HSDI engine designs and development are reviewed from the first production eight-valve four-cylinder engines with pump-line-nozzle fuel systems in the mid-1980s to the typical 16-valve four-cylinder common rail engines of the present day. A survey of some of today’s notable engines is covered, including a 48-valve 12-cylinder engine with a 2000 bar common rail fuel system producing 368 kW and 1000 Nm torque. The chapter concludes with a contemplation of the future.
The Relationship between Nutrition and Income in Developing Countries

Health and nutrition are important as ends in themselves and often are emphasized as critical components of basic needs in LDCs. In addition, they may be channels through which the productivity and distributional goals of LDCs may be pursued effectively if, as is often emphasized, the productivity of low-income individuals in work (such as agricultural labor) and in human capital formation (such as schooling) is enhanced with good health and nutrition.
Flexible Software Framework for Collaboration Systems

CollabFramework (CFW) is a flexible framework that we have created to modularize the development of a thin client collaborative system. The construction of modules is simplified by providing programming abstractions that are common across modules. Multiple views and dataflow between modules is also supported. Clients provide shape input and this information is passed to the server using the internet. The server coordinates the operation of collaboration, assembly, feature modeling, solid modeling and generates the 3D boundary representation. The boundary representation is converted to a faceted representation which is then sent to the clients. The faceted representation allows for a thin client that has lower computing and memory requirements compared to standalone systems. All collaborations can be associated to the product being designed, stored and retrieved from the server for later re-use. This paper describes the CFW design and three experimental modules we have developed using CFW: assembly, feature modeling and 3D markup modules. We claim to be the first to develop a framework for distributed collaborative product design systems.
Structural Specificity in the Engineering of Biological Function: Insights from the Dynamics of Calmodulin

The goals of molecular biotechnology to modulate, modify, and mimic biological processes for a specific technological aim, rest on our current understanding of the structural specificity of the molecular mechanisms underlying biological function. We use the current insights we obtained from molecular dynamics simulations of Calmodulin (CAM) to illustrate how they can guide experimental engineering of the molecular structure. CAM is a modulatory protein that regulates cellular activity by binding to and activating a large number of macromolecules, and the key elements in the structure-function relations are the selectivity for calcium ions, and the mechanism of the calcium-dependent conformational changes.
John Hunter's Directions for preserving animals

Directions for preserving animals, an undated anonymous pamphlet, privately published by the famous anatomist John Hunter (1728–1793), has not been a subject of a dedicated study so far in spite of...
Publication and Teacher Empowerment

AbstractComputer literacy for teachers involves modeling attitudes as well as teaching skills. Learner empowerment can be built into computer instruction by providing experiences and assignments that allow and encourage personal involvement. A computer literacy course incorporating projects that draw on students’ creativity is outlined. The culminating project, the creation of a learner-designed book, is described. Also discussed are changes in educational emphases involving technology that may facilitate learning. The issues addressed are: education versus training, empowerment versus competency, demonstration versus evaluation, confidence versus certification, initiative versus obedience, and creativity versus conformity.
L-Band Radar Experiment and Modeling of a Corn Canopy Over a Full Growing Season

Modeling L-band backscatter from a corn canopy continues to be a challenge due to the complex dynamics in both plant phenology and the underlying soil. An experiment has been conducted to better understand the relationship between L-band backscatter and canopy parameters such as soil moisture, vegetation water content, dew, and periodic rows. The experiment consists of field measurements that take into account plant phenology and are concurrent with L-band backscatter returns from a corn canopy over a full growing season. The field measurements of the corn plants’ constituents highlight modeling complexities, such as an inhomogeneity in the dielectric constant of the stalk and cobs. A simple method to replace the stalk and cob with a homogeneous dielectric constant is validated. Using the field measurements in a scattering model developed at George Washington University (GW), both coherent and incoherent backscatter are computed. The results show coherent effects contributing to enhanced backscatter by up to 2.7 dB for both HH-pol and VV-pol. The coherent model and the detailed measurements, especially, the dielectric constant of the stalks, resulted in good agreement with the measurements. These measurements have an average root mean square difference (RMSD) with the results from the coherent model of around 1 dB for both HH-pol and VV-pol over the entire growing season. The incoherent mode does not perform as well.
Distributed Constraint Optimization Problem for Coordinated Response of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Ground Vehicles

While there has been significant progress on statistical theories in the information community, there is a lack of studies in information-theoretic distributed resource allocation to maximize information gain. With advanced technologies of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in response to corresponding revised FAA regulations, this study focuses on developing a new framework for utilizing UAVs in incident management. As a result of new computing technologies, predictive decision-making studies have recently improved ERV allocations for a sequence of incidents; however, these ground-based operations do not simultaneously capture network-wide information. This study incorporates a real-time aerial view using UAVs with three key improvements. First, aerial observations update the status of the freeway shoulder, allowing an ERV to safely travel at full speed. Second, observing parameters of the congestion shockwave provides accurate measurements of the true impact of an incident. Third, real-time information can be gathered on the clearance progress of an incident scene. We automate UAV and ERV allocation while satisfying constraints between these vehicles using a distributed constraint optimization problem (DCOP) framework. To find the optimal assignment of vehicles, the proposed model is formulated and solved using the Max-Sum approach. The system utility convergence is presented for different scenarios of grid size, number of incidents, and number of vehicles. We also present the solution of our model using the Distributed Stochastic Algorithm (DSA). DSA with exploration heuristics outperformed the Max-Sum algorithm when probability threshold p=0.5 but degrades for higher values of p.
Minimizing Escalation by Treating Dangerous Problem Behavior Within an Enhanced Choice Model

To address dangerous problem behavior exhibited by children while explicitly avoiding physical management procedures, we systematically replicated and extended the skill-based treatment procedures described by Hanley, Jin, Vanselow, and Hanratty (2014) by incorporating an enhanced choice model with three children in an outpatient clinic and two in a specialized public school. In this model, several tactics were simultaneously added to the skill-based treatment package to minimize escalation to dangerous behavior, the most notable of which involved offering children multiple choice-making opportunities, including the ongoing options to (a) participate in treatment involving differential reinforcement, (b) “hang out” with noncontingent access to putative reinforcers, or (c) leave the therapeutic space altogether. Children overwhelmingly chose to participate in treatment, which resulted in the elimination of problem behavior and the acquisition and maintenance of adaptive skills during lengthy, challenging periods of nonreinforcement. Implications for the safe implementation of socially valid treatments for problem behavior are discussed.
Utilization of tofu processing wastewater as a source of the bioactive peptide lunasin

Abstract The goal of our study was to design a simple and feasible method to obtain lunasin, a naturally-occurring bioactive peptide, from tofu whey wastewater. A combination of alcoholic precipitation of high-molecular weight proteins from the whey, isoelectric precipitation of lunasin enriched material, and purification via gel filtration chromatography was selected as the best approach using tofu whey prepared at the laboratory scale. This process was applied to tofu whey produced by a local tofu factory and 773 mg of 80% purity lunasin was obtained per kg of dry tofu whey. Significant reduction of nitric oxide, and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 over lipopolysaccharide activated murine macrophages demonstrate its biological activity. Our three-step process is not only simpler and faster than the previously reported methods to obtain lunasin but provides a sustainable approach for the valorization of a waste product, promoting the better utilization of soybean nutrients and active compounds.
Toll-like receptor 2 induces pathogenicity in Th17 cells and reveals a role for IPCEF in regulating Th17 cell migration

Pathogenic Th17 cells drive inflammation in autoimmune disease, yet the molecular programming underlying Th17 cell pathogenicity remains insufficiently understood. Activation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) increases Th17 cell inflammatory potential, but little is known regarding the mechanistic outcomes of TLR2 signaling in Th17 cells. Here, we demonstrate that TLR2 is comparable to IL-23 in inducing pathogenicity and increasing the migratory capacity of Th17 cells. We perform RNA sequencing of Th17 cells stimulated though the TLR2 pathway and find differential expression of several genes linked with the Th17 genetic program as well as genes not previously associated with pathogenic Th17 cells, including Ipcef1. Enforced expression of Ipcef1 in Th17 cells abolishes the TLR2-dependent increases in migratory capacity and severely impairs the ability of Th17 cells to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. This study establishes the importance of the TLR2 signaling pathway in inducing Th17 cell pathogenicity and driving autoimmune inflammation.