cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrophoretic Analysis of Genetic Variability in a Landlocked Striped Bass Population

Abstract Isozyme electrophoresis was used to assess biochemical genetic variation in spawning striped bass Morone saxatilis captured from two tributaries of Kerr Reservoir, Virginia-North Carolina in 1979 and 1980. Only 3 of 56 scorable loci were polymorphic. Average heterozygosity was estimated at 1.6%, similar to measurements made on anadromous Atlantic coast striped bass stocks, but well below typical values for either freshwater or marine fish species. Allele frequencies of polymorphic loci were independent of sex and age, with the exception of Itp, which demonstrated variation among age groups. Allele frequencies for each of the polymorphic loci differed significantly between rivers for collections made in 1979 but not in 1980. It is hypothesized that striped bass exhibit spatial as well as temporal heterogeneity in the distribution of genotypes within spawning rivers, which can influence interpretation of genetic distinctness of spawning groups. The low degree of genetic variability which is resolva...
Free Energy, Entropy, and Enthalpy of a Water Molecule in Various Protein Environments

To examine the wide variety of cavities available to water molecules inside proteins, a model of the protein cavities is developed with the local environment treated at atomic detail and the nonlocal environment treated approximately. The cavities are then changed to vary in size and in the number of hydrogen bonds available to a water molecule inside the cavity. The free energy, entropy, and enthalpy change for the transfer of a water molecule to the cavity from the bulk liquid is calculated from thermodynamic integration. The results of the model are close to those of similar cavities calculated using the full protein and solvent environment. As the number of hydrogen bonds resulting from the addition of the water molecule increases, the free energy decreases, as the enthalpic gain of making a hydrogen bond outweighs the entropic cost. Changing the volume of the cavity has a smaller effect on the thermodynamics. Once the hydrogen bond contribution is taken into account, the volume dependence on DeltaG, DeltaS, and DeltaH is small and roughly the same for a hydrophobic cavity as a hydrophilic cavity.
GOFFMAN'S LEGACY TO POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY

I don't claim that Goffman addressed the questions that animate political sociologists. He was not interested in analyzing interaction to learn how it contributed to mobilization for collective action aimed at social change. He was not interested in changing political consciousness or in how the mass media and other social institutions make such change so difficult. But for those who are interested in such questions, he is worth heeding. His is an unanticipated bequest — from the cranky uncle who we always thought had no great love or admiration for our line of work.
The University of Arizona's Gravity program in Arizona

Until recently, there were only 14 recorded [Woollard and Rose, 1963] high accuracy gravity bases in the state of Arizona. In March 1964, a regional gravity program was started by the University of Arizona. Fifty additional high accuracy stations were established with LaCoste-Romberg gravimeter DL-1, borrowed from the University of California at Los Angeles through the courtesy of L. B. Slichter. A gravity calibration range has also been established near Tucson, Arizona, over an elevation difference of more than 6600 feet, with a range of observed gravity of 431.20 mgal. To this date five different gravimeters have been read on the 11-station calibration traverse.
Nanoantenna-Enabled Midwave Infrared Detection.

We show simulation results of the integration of a nanoantenna in close proximity to the active material of a photodetector. The nanoantenna allows a much thinner active layer to be used for the same amount of incident light absorption. This is accomplished through the nanoantenna coupling incoming radiation to surface plasmon modes bound to the metal surface. These modes are tightly bound and only require a thin layer of active material to allow complete absorption. Moreover, the nanoantenna impedance matches the incoming radiation to the surface waves without the need for an antireflection coating. While the nanoantenna concept may be applied to any active photodetector material, we chose to integrate the nanoantenna with an InAsSb photodiode. The addition of the nanoantenna to the photodiode requires changes to the geometry of the stack beyond the simple addition of the nanoantenna and thinning the active layer. We will show simulations of the electric fields in the nanoantenna and the active region and optimized designs to maximize absorption in the active layer as opposed to absorption in the metal of the nanoantenna. We will review the fabrication processes.
Integrated process and product analysis: A multiscale approach to paint spray

It is known that even if process information at macroscale is fully accessible and properly utilized in manufacturing, product and process performance may be still not sufficiently assured. This may be due to the influence of phenomena at finer scales, which are normally not measurable and thus unknown in operation. Besides, even if such information is available, how to integrate it across scales is yet to be discovered. In this work, an integrated process and product analysis methodology is developed via a multiscale approach. This methodology can provide deep understanding of various interrelationships across multiple scales of length and time, which could be essential for substantial improvement of product and process performance. The methodology is successfully applied to the analysis of the paint spray operation in automotive surface coating, with the extension of the analysis from the macroscale of 10 22 –10 1 ma nd 10 0 –10 2 s to the meso-macroscale of 10 26 –10 1 m and 10 25 –10 2 s. Model-based simulation reveals various new opportunities for simultaneous improvement of coating quality, energy and material efficiencies, and environmental cleanness. 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 53: 2841–2857, 2007
Fractal Structure of Event Segmentation: Lessons From Reel and Real Events

We investigated fractality in the segmentation of cinematic and live events. Four movies from distinct genres were first analyzed and found to be fractal, albeit in different regions of the fractal range. In Experiment 1, viewers parsed the films' events, attending to short or long timescales, using a button box to indicate break points. The temporal structure of film viewing was found to be fractal regardless of the scale of attention and to reflect the differing fractal editing structure of the films. Experiment 2 found event segmentation to be fractal in a natural setting, a basketball game, as well. An additional parallel between reel and real events was uncovered: fractal indices were at the higher end of the range for both the film genre intended to be anxiogenic and the more suspenseful portion of the basketball game. We argue that the fractal structure of perception reflects the fractal structure of events whether the events are in film or in nature. We speculate that fractal structure has implica...
In vivo assessment of arterial stiffness in the isoflurane anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rat

Rodent models are increasingly used to study the development and progression of arterial stiffness. Both the non-invasive Doppler derived Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and the invasively determined arterial elastance index (EaI) have been used to assess arterial stiffness in rats and mice, but the need for anesthetic agents to make these in vivo estimates may limit their utility. Thus, we sought to determine: 1) if known differences in arterial stiffness in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are detectable by PWV and EaI measurements when made under isoflurane anesthesia, and 2) if these two uniquely acquired assessments of arterial elasticity correlate. We obtained PWV and EaI measurements in isoflurane anesthetized young and old SHRs, which are known to have significant differences in arterial stiffness. Doppler pulse waves were recorded from carotid and iliac arteries and the distance (D) between probe applantation sites was recorded. Simultaneously, an EKG was obtained, and the time intervals between the R-wave of the EKG to the foot of the Doppler waveforms were measured and averaged over three cardiac cycles. Pulse-transit time (T) of the carotid to iliac artery was determined, and PWV was calculated as Distance (D)/Time (T), where D = the distance from the carotid to the iliac notch and T = (R to iliac foot) - (R to carotid foot). EaI was subsequently determined from pressure volumes loops obtained via left ventricle catheterization. PWV and EaI were found to be significantly faster in the older rats (13.2 ± 2.0 vs. 8.0 ± 0.8 m/sec, p < 0.001; 120 ± 20 vs. 97 ± 16 mmHg/μl/g, p <0.05). Bland-Altman analyses of intra- and inter-observer measures demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between readings (p < 0.0001). PWV and EaI measurements were found to be significantly and positively correlated with a correlation coefficient of 0.53 (p < 0.05). Our study suggests that isoflurane administration does not limit Doppler PWV or EaI measures in their ability to provide accurate, in vivo assessments of relative arterial stiffness in isoflurane anesthetised SHR rats. Furthermore, PWV data obtained in these rats correlate well with invasively determined EaI.
Humoral and cell-mediated immunity in mice with genetic deficiencies of prolactin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and thyroid hormone.

Prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and thyroid hormones have been proposed as critical immunoregulatory mediators, and their clinical use is being considered. The precise role played by each of these hormones in the generation of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses was assessed in a panel of mice with mutations that result in a selective reduction of PRL, GH, IGF-I, and/or thyroid hormone production. A surprising result, in view of previous studies indicating an immunoregulatory role for these hormones, was that all mice generated normal humoral and cell-mediated immune responses following challenge with T-independent and T-dependent antigens and with Listeria monocytogenes. A review of these findings in the context of previous data has resulted in the formulation of a working hypothesis proposing that these hormones act as anabolic and/or stress modulating mediators with effects on most cells, including those of the immune system. When considered in this context, it is possible to reconcile the contradictory data.
Improved logos factorization algorithm for low-to-moderate frequencies

Integral equation-based numerical models provide an important tool for the analysis and design in a variety of application areas. Traditional implementations of IE-based models lead to dense matrices, and this significantly limits the range of problems that can be addressed using such approaches. To treat more complex problems, it is necessary to use more sophisticated methods which rely on compressed representations of the underlying integral operators. Unfortunately, maintaining the advantages provided by such sparse representations of the underlying operators in turn requires the use of either fast iterative solution methods, or more complicated fast direct solution methods. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the latter class of solution methods. In particular, we present an improved version of the algorithm previously reported for integral equation formulations of low-to-moderate frequency EM phenomena.
Optimal linear filters for pyramidal decomposition

A method for determining the optimal linear filters for use in pyramidal decompositions under the minimum mean square error criterion is presented. The pyramidal structure has analysis and interpolation filters. The equations describing the optimal filters are nonlinear in the filter coefficients, making direct solution intractable. However, the optimal filters can be determined by iteratively solving for the optimal analysis and interpolation filters. This leads to a linear system of equations that can be solved using least squares or QR factorization. The optimization is valid in a data dependent or stochastic setting. Convergence and computational complexity of the algorithm are discussed. Some results of optimal linear filters applied to images are presented. >
Finite anti-plane shear of an infinite slab with a traction-free elliptical cavity: Bounds on the stress concentration factor

Abstract This paper provides an analytical approach for obtaining bounds on elastic stress concentration factors in the theory of finite anti-plane shear of homogeneous, isotropic, incompressible materials. The problem of an infinite slab with traction-free elliptical cavity subject to a state of finite simple shear deformation is considered. Explicit estimates are obtained for the maximum shear stress in terms of the cavity geometry, applied stress at infinity and constitutive parameters. The analysis is based on application of maximum principles for second-order quasilinear uniformly elliptic equations.
Voltammetric studies of poly(carbon disulfide)

Poly(carbon disulfide) was studied by cyclic voltammetry using glassy carbon and platinum macro- and microdisk electrodes. The electron transfer kinetic is significantly faster at glassy carbon electrodes than at Pt electrodes. It is chemically reversible with moderate electron transfer rates. Voltammetric results of poly(carbon disulfide) are in good agreement with our battery testing data. The k0 value measured at a Pt microdisk electrode is 7×10−3 cm/sec. Electrochemical data suggest that PCS can be a potential cathode material for low current density lithium batteries.
Cholesterol, It’s Not Just For Heart Disease Anymore

Recent studies have shown that cholesterol plays a significant role in the ability of Toxin A from Clostridium difficile to enter eukaryotic cells. The translocation process is one of three major steps during intoxication that could be targeted for intervention against the severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by C. difficile.
A Phenomenological Exploration of Reflections on Lived Space by Child Sexual Abusers

Child sexual abusers may be better understood by phenomenological exploration of reflections on childhood lived space. Child sexual abusers often suffer from child sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect in their childhood lived space. These experiences may be considered a limitation or deformation of the child's lived space, resulting in a distorted self view that contributes to adult behavior. Child sexual abuse is not a new phenomenon; it is a problem that has existed throughout history but has rarely enjoyed the publicity and concern of recent times. Child sexual abusers’ reflections on their lived space during childhood were explored by interviewing eight incarcerated child sexual abusers in a US correctional center. Van Manen's descriptive-interpretive theoretical process was used to guide abusers’ existential reflections on their childhood lived space. van Manen's phenomenological method is dynamic and was used to organize and analyze data into essential categorical themes, one of which is “failu...
EXPERIMENTAL TEST FOR PREMUNITION IN A LIZARD MALARIA PARASITE (PLASMODIUM MEXICANUM)

Premunition in Plasmodium spp. is the prevention of superinfection by novel genotypes entering an already established infection in a vertebrate host. Evidence for premunition was sought for the lizard malaria parasite, P. mexicanum, in its natural host, the fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis. Clonal diversity (= alleles for the haploid parasite) was determined with the use of 3 microsatellite markers. Both naturally infected lizards (N = 25) and previously noninfected lizards (N = 78) were inoculated intraperitoneally (IP) with blood from donor infections and followed over a 3-mo period. Compared to the success of clonal establishment in all the naive lizards (78/78 successful), clones entering preexisting infections had a significant disadvantage (9/25 successful). The number of preexisting clones (1–2 vs. 3–4) within recipient infections had no effect on the success of superinfection. Infections that excluded entering novel clones did not have higher initial asexual parasitemia, but had a higher init...
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis of Coagulation Factor Xa Requires Cell Surface-bound Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor

Coagulation factor Xa is a plasma serine protease that catalyzes prothrombin to thrombin conversion, which, in turn, leads to the generation of the fibrin clot. Of the several parameters that govern the plasma level of factor Xa, control of its catabolism is of crucial importance. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which factor Xa is catabolized. In the present study we examine the cellular basis for the uptake and degradation of factor Xa. 125I-Factor Xa was degraded by hepatoma cells and embryonic fibroblasts via a process which required cell surface-bound tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), a potent inhibitor of factor Xa. Uptake and degradation of cell surface-bound 125I-TFPI was also markedly stimulated in response to factor Xa binding. The intracellular kinetics of 125I-factor Xa and cell surface-bound 125I-TFPI display a strikingly similar pattern, suggesting that factor Xa and cell surface-bound TFPI are taken up as a bimolecular complex. Using cell lines either deficient in low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein, an endocytic receptor that mediates the degradation of uncomplexed TFPI (Warshawsky, I., Broze, G. J., Jr., and Schwartz, A. L.(1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 91, 6664-6668), or deficient in tissue factor (TF), an integral membrane protein capable of forming quarternary complexes with factor Xa, TFPI, and factor VIIa, we demonstrated that the receptor that mediates the uptake and degradation of factor Xa-TFPI complex was neither low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein nor TF. As the vascular endothelial cell surface retains a substantial pool of TFPI (Sandset, P. M., Alildgaard, U., and Larsen, M. L.(1988) Thromb. Res. 50, 803-813; Novotny, W. F., Brown, S. G., Miletich, J. P., Rader, D. J., and Broze, G. J., Jr.(1991) Blood 78, 387-393), our data suggest that endothelial cell surface TFPI may be actively involved in the clearance of factor Xa from the circulation via mediated uptake and degradation.
Ovicidal activity of three insect growth regulators against Aedes and Culex mosquitoes

a b s t r a c t Interspecific variations in the susceptibility of freshly and embryonated eggs of Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. atropalpus and Culex pipiens were tested against three classes of insect growth regulators (IGRs) including ecdysone agonist (azadirachtin), chitin synthesis inhibitor (diflubenzuron) and juvenile hormone analog (pyriproxyfen) at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 ppm concentrations. Egg hatching inhibition was dose dependent, the highest being at 1.0 ppm concentration for freshly laid eggs of Ae. albopictus (pyriproxyfen: 80.6%, azadirachtin: 42.9% and diflubenzuron: 35.8%). Aedes aegypti showed lower egg hatching inhibition when exposed to pyriproxyfen (47.3%), azadirachtin (15.7%) and diflubenzuron (25.5%). Freshly laid eggs of Cx. pipiens were most susceptible to diflubenzuron. Aedes atropalpus eggs were tolerant to all three classes of IGRs. Embryonated eggs of Ae. albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. atropalpus and Cx. pipiens were resistant to pyriproxyfen, azadirachtin and diflubenzuron than freshly laid eggs. The median desiccation time (DT50) of Ae. atropalpus eggs was maximum (5.1 h) as compared to Ae. aegypti (4.9 h), Ae. albopictus (3.9 h) or Cx. pipiens (1.7 h) eggs. Insignificant relationship between the rates of desiccation and egg hatching inhibition suggests other factors than physical providing eggs the ability to tolerate exposures to various IGRs. Egg hatching inhibition was due to the alteration in embryonic development caused by IGRs. Changes in the egg shell morphology and abnormal egg hatching from the side of the egg wall instead of operculum, was observed at higher concentrations of diflubenzuron. Morphological and physiological variations in eggs may be the key factor to influence the ovicidal efficacy of IGRs. The present data provide a base line for the improvement of the ovicidal efficacy of the insecticide and its formulation.
The DNA Replication Checkpoint Directly Regulates MBF-Dependent G1/S Transcription

The DNA replication checkpoint transcriptionally upregulates genes that allow cells to adapt to and survive replication stress. Our results show that, in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the replication checkpoint regulates the entire G1/S transcriptional program by directly regulating MBF, the G1/S transcription factor. Instead of initiating a checkpoint-specific transcriptional program, the replication checkpoint targets MBF to maintain the normal G1/S transcriptional program during replication stress. We propose a mechanism for this regulation, based on in vitro phosphorylation of the Cdc10 subunit of MBF by the Cds1 replication-checkpoint kinase. Replacement of two potential phosphorylation sites with phosphomimetic amino acids suffices to promote the checkpoint transcriptional program, suggesting that Cds1 phosphorylation directly regulates MBF-dependent transcription. The conservation of MBF between fission and budding yeast, and recent results implicating MBF as a target of the budding yeast replication checkpoint, suggests that checkpoint regulation of the MBF transcription factor is a conserved strategy for coping with replication stress. Furthermore, the structural and regulatory similarity between MBF and E2F, the metazoan G1/S transcription factor, suggests that this checkpoint mechanism may be broadly conserved among eukaryotes.
Coaching Adult Volunteers Through the Lifespan

This chapter considers how the assumptions, principles, and overall mind-set of coaching may be useful as organizations seek to foster lifelong relationships with their volunteer constituents.
Thermal and compositional properties of cocoa butter during static crystallization

Studies were conducted using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the thermal properties and glyceride composition of cocoa butter crystals formed under static conditions. In addition to these studies, visual characterization of the crystallites was obtained with polarized light microscopy (PLM). Crystals were formed under controlled static or motionless conditions at formation temperatures of 26.0, 28.0, 30.0, 32.0 and 33.0 C. Preparatory techniques were developed using laminated polyethylene with plastic hoops in order to grow the crystals for isolation and visual identification by PLM prior to DSC assay. Cocoa butter was also crystallized from liquid oil directly in the DSC pans prior to thermal assay. At each crystal formation temperature (26–33 C), various crystallite types grew, each with varying triglyceride composition (PLiP, POO, PLiS, POP, SOO, SLiS, POS, SOS, SOA). As an example, the ‘feather’ and ‘individual’ crystals formed at 26.0 C exhibited significant increases in SOS and significant decreases in POP compared to the original butter. It was determined that the original amount of SOS significantly increased in the cocoa butter crystallite as the incubation temperature increased from 26–32 C.
High-Yield ('Junk') Bonds as Investments and as Financial Tools

High-yield ("junk") bonds acquired a bad name when used in the late 1980s to finance takeover transactions that left target corporations with an excessive risk of insolvency. The tarnished reputation of these instruments is largely unde- served. High-yield bonds have proved useful, as an alterna- tive to bank and other forms of financing, for "emerging" firms. Their use, as opposed to new equity financing, should be taken as a signal of optimism. Excessive debt may create perverse incentives and a high risk of insolvency with its attendant costs, but these problems should be attributed to faulty regulation or to the infirmities of our system for insolvency reorganization. If options can be thought of as junior (subordinated) equity, high-yield bonds can be thought of as senior equity. If we can tolerate the riskiness of common stock and of options, we should have no difficulty with the riskiness of high-yield bonds.
The Relationship between Advertising and Product Quality over the Product Life Cycle: A Contingency Theory:

The relationship between advertising and product quality has been a controversial topic in the literature because of conflicting empirical evidence and divergent theories about advertising's effect...
Validation of a Plasma-Facing Surface Sputtering and Deposition View Factor Model

A computational model that will be used to study sputtering, deposition, and erosion of surfaces exposed to low energy, low density plasma environments has been developed and validated. Comparisons with sputter yield curve fits and experimental data show favorable agreement and indicate that the model can accurately capture the effects of incidence angle and energy on sputtering behavior. COMSOL simulations were also used to validate view factor and shadowing calculations. This computational model will be used in the future to test the effects of surface architecturing on gross sputter yield and surface erosion rate, and will serve to drive experimental efforts at UCLA.
Finding MOFs for Highly Selective CO2/N2 Adsorption Using Materials Screening Based on Efficient Assignment of Atomic Point Charges

Electrostatic interactions are a critical factor in the adsorption of quadrupolar species such as CO2 and N2 in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and other nanoporous materials. We show how a version of the semiempirical charge equilibration method suitable for periodic materials can be used to efficiently assign charges and allow molecular simulations for a large number of MOFs. This approach is illustrated by simulating CO2 and N2 adsorption in ∼500 MOFs; this is the largest set of structures for which this information has been reported to date. For materials predicted by our calculations to have promising adsorption selectivities, we performed more detailed calculations in which accurate quantum chemistry methods were used to assign atomic point charges, and molecular simulations were used to assess molecular diffusivities and binary adsorption isotherms. Our results identify two MOFs, experimentally known to be stable upon solvent removal, that are predicted to show no diffusion limitations for adsorbed...
Rationality, Strategic Uncertainty and Belief Diversity in Non-Cooperative Games

I investigate the existence of epistemic models for complete information games that satisfy the following properties: (R) players do not rule out their opponents use rational ex ante strategies for deriving their choices, (K) they do not rule out, ex ante, that they can come to know the action profile that is ultimately played and (SU) they do not rule out strategic uncertainty. In this paper I show that for a large class of games there are no epistemic models that satisfy properties (R), (K) and (SU).
Low Labor Market Participation of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Care-Giving Intensity and Household Wealth Effects

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) occurs at a rate of approximately 40 cases per million in the United States (U.S.) Despite public policy efforts, return to employment among people with SCI has rarely exceeded 30%. When faced with a disabling health problem, traditional labor market household models postulate that housholds will attempt to smooth their income streams by increased labor market participation of the non-injured spouse. We hypothesize this household decision make be dependent on the time intensity relative to financial burden of the care-giving needs of the injured individual. We estimate a houshold model examining the effects of care-giving intensity on the individual with SCI's participation in the labor market and reliance on other sources of household income. Since these decisions are interdependent, we estimate two equations of the existance of individual earned income and other household income using bivariate probit. We test our model using one year of data for 1394 individuals with SCI between the ages of 18 and 64 living in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States. These data are the result of a 25-year longitudinal study of the life situation of individuals with SCI. These data do not allow us to separate spousal from other types of income so we create a composite income index (WDS) of accumulated wealth, disability income and spousal income. Our results show that marriage increases the probablity of having both earned income and WDS by almost 21% while significantly decreasing the likelihood of having earned income only or WDS only. With respect to care-giving intensity, one measure, being ambulatory (requiring less caregiving) increases the likelihood of having both own income and WDS by 8% and own income only by 9%. Conversely, being ambulatory significantly decreases the likelihood of WDS only by 15%. The second measure of care-giving intensity, a composite measure of 10 activities of daily living, where care-giving intensity ranges from 0 to 20, appears to have a non-linear relationship with the likelihood of having both types of income. It impacts negatively earned income only, WDS only, and both types of income. However, it impacts negatively at a decreasing rate in the likelihood of having both types of income while its negative impact on earned income alone or WDS alone is at an increasing rate. Our results appear to show that the nature of care-giving for the individual with spinal coard injury is that in general spouses do not enter the labor force if the individual with SCI is not in the labor force. This is an important finding since traditional production household models would predict spousal entry to offset the injured's lost earnings. It may be that the costs of a care-giving surrogate for the spouse in the case of the spinal cord injured are so high relative to potential labor market earnings, that households are making a rational decision to either have both individuals in the labor market or neither.
Dynamic virtual network restoration with optimal standby virtual router selection

Fault-tolerance in a virtualized networking environment (VNE) requires additional efforts to provide the survivability against failures on either virtual networks (VNs) or the underlying substrate network. In this dissertation, we design a software-defined resilient VNE using a hybrid scheme of protection and restoration, where for each VN, a set of redundant virtual routers (VRs) are reserved as shared standby virtual routers (S-VRs), and any S-VR can be activated to replace a failed VR in the existed VN dynamically after the failure is identified. We first introduce a dynamic reconfiguration scheme (DRS) for node failures in a VNE, and then propose a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model with dual goals to optimally select S-VRs to restore all VNs while load balancing, and a heuristic algorithm based on the model is also presented. By considering a number of factors, the results showed that the proposed heuristics performance was close to the optimization model when there were sufficient standby virtual routers for each virtual network and the substrate nodes had the capability to support multiple standby virtual routers to be in service simultaneously. Finally, we present a prototyping design and implementation on the realistic virtual network testbeds (i.e., GpENI and GENI).
Bacterial Sugar 3,4-Ketoisomerases: Structural Insight into Product Stereochemistry.

3-Acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-d-galactose (Fuc3NAc) and 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-d-glucose (Qui3NAc) are unusual sugars found on the lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria and on the S-layers of Gram-positive bacteria. The 3,4-ketoisomerases, referred to as FdtA and QdtA, catalyze the third steps in the respective biosynthetic pathways for these sugars. Whereas both enzymes utilize the same substrate, the stereochemistries of their products are different. Specifically, the hydroxyl groups at the hexose C-4' positions assume the "galactose" and "glucose" configurations in the FdtA and QdtA products, respectively. In 2007 we reported the structure of the apoform of FdtA from Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus, which was followed in 2014 by the X-ray analysis of QdtA from Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum as a binary complex. Both of these enzymes belong to the cupin superfamily. Here we report a combined structural and enzymological study to explore the manner in which these enzymes control the stereochemistry of their products. Various site-directed mutant proteins of each enzyme were constructed, and their dTDP-sugar products were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the kinetic parameters for these protein variants were measured, and the structure of one, namely, the QdtA Y17R/R97H double mutant form, was determined to 2.3-A resolution. Finally, in an attempt to obtain a model of FdtA with a bound dTDP-linked sugar, the 3,4-ketoisomerase domain of a bifunctional enzyme from Shewanella denitrificans was cloned, purified, and crystallized in the presence of a dTDP-linked sugar analogue. Taken together, the results from this investigation demonstrate that it is possible to convert a "galacto" enzyme into a "gluco" enzyme and vice versa.
Women’s Slum Journalism, 1885–1910

In The Makers of our Clothes (1909), Clementina Black (1853–1922) and Adele Meyer (1862/1863–1930) wager that ‘[t]he average Londoner has, we believe, very little idea of the way in which the old villages of the outer ring are being transformed into slums of a peculiarly hopeless character’. The authors’ use of the word ‘slum’, as shorthand for the subject of their study, is strategic in that it efficiently conjures up a relatively new and yet fraught relationship between the classes. On the one hand, the term is clearly meant as a designation of geographical place, a noun, in reference to the ghettos on the outskirts (the ‘ring’) of what once was the ‘old’ city of London. On the other hand, the term would have also reminded readers of the verb ‘to slum’, or ‘slumming’, a fad among late Victorians interested in looking at and deriving ‘amusement’ from the urban ghetto and its residents. In keeping with today’s popular use of the term, ‘to slum’ was to engage in a self-serving and exploitative relationship with the poorer ‘Other’. In their use of the term, however, Black and Meyer aspire to a very different relationship with the city’s East End. Unlike the ‘average Londoner’, for example, Black and Meyer want to comprehend and therein actually recognize the ghetto, its people, and its ‘hopeless character’. Their turn to ‘investigative’ journalism is part of this new project in altruistic ‘slumming’: elsewhere, they write of their ‘investigation’ (‘Preface’), for example, and make repeated references to their ‘inquiry’ as well as to gathering ‘documentary evidence’.
Gender Differences in Community-acquired Meningitis in Adults: Clinical Presentations and Prognostic Factors

Community-acquired meningitis is a serious disease that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender differences involved with the clinical presentations of and prognostic factors for this disease. We conducted a retrospective study of 619 adults diagnosed with community-acquired meningitis in Houston, Texas, who were hospitalized between 2005 and 2010. Patients were categorized as male or female. Those who were evaluated to have a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of four or less were classified to have an adverse clinical outcome. Males consisted of 47.2% (292/619) of the total cohort, and more often presented with coexisting medical conditions, fever, abnormal microbiology results, and abnormalities on head computed tomography. Females more often presented with nuchal rigidity. On logistic regression, fever, CSF glucose <45 mg/dL, and an abnormal neurological examination were predictors of an adverse outcome in male patients, while age greater than 60 years and an abnormal neurological examination were associated with a poor prognosis in female patients. Thus, community-acquired meningitis in males differs significantly from females in regards to comorbidities, presenting symptoms and signs, abnormal laboratory and imaging analysis, and predictors of adverse clinical outcomes.
Ring based voice mixing method for sharing atmosphere in interactive distance learning

Providing a shared atmosphere, in which the participants can feel the existence of others, greatly enhances the efficiency of interactive distance learning (IDL). We propose a ring-based voice mixing method for creating a shared atmosphere in IDL. In this method, mixing devices called mixing units are logically connected to form a ring over a network. Each mixing unit mixes the voice signals received such that the output reflects the distance from the unit to the speakers on the ring. A software-based prototype system is realized by using common PC technology. Several experiments show that the method well supports medium size classes.
Traceable Beginnings: Reading and Writing Memoir in the First-Year Humanities Classroom

This essay explores the process one teacher and her university students undergo as they study the reading and writing of memoir in the context of a course titled, ‘Truth-telling in American Culture’. Exploring the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction, engaging the critical tools of introspection and revision, Blumberg parses the links that might be forged between personal memoir and historical understanding. Building reading and composition skills via a technical vocabulary for narrative allows students in all fields to see more independently, whether they are considering their own pasts or the social and political world they currently inhabit.
Temporal profiles of plasma proteome during childhood development

Human blood plasma proteome reflects physiological changes associated with a child's development as well as development of disease states. While age-specific normative values are available for proteins routinely measured in clinical practice, there is paucity of comprehensive longitudinal data regarding changes in human plasma proteome during childhood. We applied TMT-10plex isobaric labeling-based quantitative proteomics to longitudinally profile the plasma proteome in 10 healthy children during their development, each with 9 serial time points from 9months to 15years of age. In total, 1828 protein groups were identified at peptide and protein level false discovery rate of 1% and with at least two razor and unique peptides. The longitudinal expression profiles of 1747 protein groups were statistically modeled and their temporal changes were categorized into 7 different patterns. The patterns and relative abundance of proteins obtained by LC-MS were also verified with ELISA. To our knowledge, this study represents the most comprehensive longitudinal profiling of human plasma proteome to date. The temporal profiles of plasma proteome obtained in this study provide a comprehensive resource and reference for biomarker studies in childhood diseases. Biological significance: A pediatric plasma proteome database with longitudinal expression patterns of 1747 proteins from neonate to adolescence was provided to the research community. 970 plasma proteins had age-dependent expression trends, which demonstrated the importance of longitudinal profiling study to identify the potential biomarkers specific to childhood diseases, and the requirement of strictly age-matched clinical samples in a cross-sectional study in pediatric population.
Phosphorus doping of polycrystalline CdTe

Phosphorus (P) doping of polycrystalline CdTe films deposited by Elemental Vapor Transport is being investigated. The structure and morphology have been studied using XRD and SEM. XRD studies indicated highly oriented CdTe films along with the presence of hexagonal CdTe. SEM images revealed that the grain size of the films varies in the range of 2–5 μm. Solar cells and junctions are being fabricated in order to measure the doping levels achieved with P, and assess the transport properties and doping efficiency using SIMS for dopant concentration and TRPL for minority carrier lifetimes; these findings will be presented at the conference.
Predicted phototoxicities of carbon nano-material by quantum mechanical calculations

Abstract The purpose of this research was to develop a predictive model for the phototoxicity potential of carbon nanomaterials (fullerenols and single-walled carbon nanotubes). This model is based on the quantum mechanical (ab initio) calculations on these carbon-based materials and comparison of the triplet excited states of these materials to published work relating phototoxicity of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to their predictive triplet excited state energy. A successful outcome will add another tool to the arsenal of predictive methods for the U.S. EPA program offices as they assess the toxicity of compounds in use or coming into commerce. The basis of this research was obtaining the best quantum mechanical structure of the carbon nanomaterial and was fundamental in determining the triplet excited state energy. The triplet excited state, in turn, is associated with the phototoxicity of the material. This project relies heavily on the interaction of the predictive results (physical chemistry) and the experimental results obtained by biologists and toxicologists. The results of the experiments (toxicity testing) will help refine the predictive model, while the predictions will alert the scientists to red flag compounds. It is hoped that a guidance document for the U.S. EPA will be forthcoming to help determine the toxicity of compounds. This can be a screening tool that would rely on further testing for those compounds found by these predictions to be a phototoxic danger to health and the environment.
Post-dispersal seed removal by rodents in Ranomafana rain forest, Madagascar

Seed-consuming rodents are increasingly recognized for their roles in the maintenance of tree species diversity, by acting on crucial post seed-dispersal processes. Yet, studies examining the extent to which rodents may act as secondary seed dispersers and/or predators in Madagascar's forests are limited. Thread-marking seed experiments were run to address this, using the seeds of two native large-seeded, frugivore-dispersed tree species (Abrahamia thouvenotii and Cryptocarya crassifolia), in disturbed and less-disturbed habitats in the rain forests of Ranomafana National Park, during the dry season. Data show that post-dispersal handling of seeds by rodents (predation and removal) was significantly lower in disturbed than in less-disturbed habitats (1.31–3.78 times lower; n = 2200). Also, seeds were more likely to be predated or left on the forest ground after removal than being larder- or scatter-hoarded: 27–78% of the removed seeds were found on the ground, <12% found in burrows and there was no evidence of scatter-hoarding (n = 132). Based on pictures from camera traps, the native rodent species, Nesomys rufus, was potentially responsible for seed predation and/or removal in the less-disturbed habitat; but no indication of the rodent species active in the disturbed habitat was obtained. The lack of scatter-hoarding suggests a limited role of rodents in secondary seed dispersal in this system. These findings form a preliminary account of the potential roles of rodents in post seed-dispersal processes in Madagascar's forests, but this warrants further study.
Femtosecond Dynamics of Semiconductor Nonlinearities: Theory and Experiments

Ultrafast transmission changes in semiconductors are computed and measured for different pump-probe conditions. The optical Stark effect of excitons and continuum states is observed for nonresonant femtosecond excitation. Differential transmission oscillations are seen as precursers of the Stark effect. They occur also as precursers of spectral hole burning when the excitation pulse is tuned into the region of resonant interband transitions. The experimental results agree well with calculations using the generalized semiconductor Bloch equations. The theory shows that the commonly used adiabatic approximation is correct only for pulses which are longer than the coherence decay time. For shorter times the semiconductor response is dominated by the coherent interaction of the pulses with the medium polarization.
Roads to ruin: conservation threats to a sentinel species across an urban gradient

Urbanization poses a global challenge to species conservation. This is primarily understood in terms of physical habitat loss, as agricultural and forested lands are replaced with urban infrastructure. However, aquatic habitats are also chemically degraded by urban development, often in the form of toxic stormwater runoff. Here we assess threats of urbanization to coho salmon throughout developed areas of the Puget Sound Basin in Washington, USA. Puget Sound coho are a sentinel species for freshwater communities and also a species of concern under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Previous studies have demonstrated that stormwater runoff is unusually lethal to adult coho that return to spawn each year in urban watersheds. To further explore the relationship between land use and recurrent coho die-offs, we measured mortality rates in field surveys of 51 spawning sites across an urban gradient. We then used spatial analyses to measure landscape attributes (land use and land cover, human population density, roadways, traffic intensity, etc.) and climatic variables (annual summer and fall precipitation) associated with each site. Structural equation modeling revealed a latent urbanization gradient that was associated with road density and traffic intensity, among other variables, and positively related to coho mortality. Across years within sites, mortality increased with summer and fall precipitation, but the effect of rainfall was strongest in the least developed areas and was essentially neutral in the most urbanized streams. We used the best-supported structural equation model to generate a predictive mortality risk map for the entire Puget Sound Basin. This map indicates an ongoing and widespread loss of spawners across much of the Puget Sound population segment, particularly within the major regional north-south corridor for transportation and development. Our findings identify current and future urbanization-related threats to wild coho, and show where green infrastructure and similar clean water strategies could prove most useful for promoting species conservation and recovery.
Epidural abscess and paraplegia: Delayed sequela of tracheoesophageal puncture

Abstract We report the case of a patient who developed an epidural abscess several months following primary TEP. Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is a common procedure used for speech rehabilitation in total laryngectomy (TL) patients. Epidural abscess after TEP placement is a rare complication but there are several cases reported in the literature. Patients typically present with neck pain and/or dysphagia, in addition to signs and symptoms of infection. Her case was unusual in that she presented initially with paraplegia without neck pain or dysphagia. Surgical evacuation of the abscess was performed urgently, however the patient developed osteomyelitis of the cervical spine with persistent cord compression and irreversible paraplegia. She subsequently expired from sepsis. Epidural abscess after TEP placement is a serious but rare complication. Early detection and treatment are imperative to avoid poor long-term outcomes.