cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A middleware for gossip protocols

Gossip protocols are known to be highly robust in scenarios with high churn, but if the data that is being gossiped becomes corrupted, a protocol's very robustness can make it hard to fix the problem. All participants need to be taken down, any disk-based data needs to be scrubbed, the cause of the corruption needs to be fixed, and only then can participants be restarted. If even a single participant is skipped in this process, say because it was temporarily unreachable, then it can contaminate the entire system all over again. We describe the design and implementation of a new middleware for gossip protocols that addresses this problem. Our middleware offers the ability to update code dynamically and provides a small resilient core that allows updating code that has failed catastrophically. Our initial PlanetLab-based deployment demonstrates that the middleware is efficient.
On Segal-Wilson’s Definition of the τ-Function and Hierarchies AKNS-D and mcKP

Segal and Wilson in their well-known article [1] developed Sato’s ideas (see e.g. [8]) and devised a construction for solutions to KP hierarchy of integrable equations based on Grassmannians in Hilbert spaces. To any element of a Grassmannian a Baker function of a solution can be assigned which, in turn, enables one to find the solution itself. Segal and Wilson also suggested a construction of τ-functions based on Grassmannians, and a τ-function is connected with the Baker function by the famous Sato formula $$\hat w({t_1},{t_2}, \ldots ) = {{\tau ({t_1} - 1/z,{t_2} - 1/2{z^2},{t_3} - 1/3{z^3}, \ldots )} \over {\tau ({t_1},{t_2},{t_3}, \ldots )}}$$ This formula determines the significance of τ-functions in the theory of integrable systems.
Cancer fatty acid metabolism regulates Her-2/neu (erbB-2) oncogene expression via formation of “PEA3 transcription factor-PEA3 DNA binding site” complexes on the Her-2/neu gene promoter

1718 Cancer fatty acid metabolism may represent a previously unrecognized regulator of the Her-2/neu oncogene. Specific inhibition of Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS)-catalyzed de novo fatty acid biogenesis or exogenous supplementation with oleic acid (OA) was found to equally suppress Her-2/neu overexpression. Noteworthy reductions in the expression of Her-2/neu-coded p185Her-2/neu tyrosin kinase orphan receptor were observed following treatment of cancer cells naturally bearing Her-2/neu gene amplification with either chemical FAS blockers, silencing RNA (siRNA)-targeting FAS gene or OA. The ultimate molecular mechanisms linking cancer fatty cell metabolism and Her-2/neu expression remained, however, largely obscure. Here, transient transfection experiments established the ability of C75 (a specific inhibitor of FAS activity) and OA to specifically repress the transcriptional activity of Her-2/neu gene promoter in a panel of breast, ovarian and stomach cancer cell lines exhibiting Her-2/neu oncogene amplification. Conversely, marginal decreases on the Her-2/neu promoter activity were observed in cancer cells expressing low to undetectable levels of Her-2/neu gene. Interestingly, treatments with C75 or OA were found to exclusively induce the up-regulation of the Ets protein PEA3 (a transcriptional repressor of Her-2/neu promoter activity) in all the cancer cell lines demonstrating Her-2/neu gene amplification. Moreover, an intact PEA3 DNA-binding site on the endogenous Her-2/neu promoter was essential for C75- and OA-induced transcriptional repression of Her-2/neu gene expression. Thus, a human Her-2/neu promoter bearing a PEA3 binding site-mutated sequence was not subjected to negative regulation by C75 or OA, while treatments with C75 or OA failed to repress the expression of a full-length Her-2/neu cDNA controlled by a SV40 viral promoter. Specific depletion of FAS protein following transient transfection with siRNA-targeting FAS gene strongly antagonized the inhibitory effects of C75 and OA on Her-2/neu gene promoter activity, while C75 and OA, as single agents, were found to significantly down-regulate FAS protein expression by attenuating FAS gene promoter activity. Exogenous supplementation with the FAS substrate Malonyl-CoA dramatically decreased the promoter activity of Her-2/neu and FAS genes while concomitantly promoting the up-regulation of PEA3 expression, thus recapitulating the regulatory actions of C75 and OA. Malonyl-CoA may represent a novel signal of fuel availability able to suppress Her-2/neu overexpression via formation of inhibitory “PEA3 protein-PEA3 DNA binding site” complexes on the endogenous Her-2/neu promoter, thus supporting the notion of fatty acid metabolism as a valuable molecular target in the management of Her-2/neu-overexpressing human carcinomas.
Efficient non-linear two-photon effects from the Cesium 6D manifold

We report several non-linear process that occur when two-photon pumping the cesium 6D states. Cesium vapor possess some of the largest two-photon pump cross sections in nature. Pumping these cross sections leads to strong amplified spontaneous emission that we observe on over 17 lasing lines. These new fields are strong enough to couple with the pump to create additional tunable lines. We use a heat pipe with cesium densities of 1014 to 1016 cm-3 and 0 to 5 Torr of helium buffer gas. The cesium 6D States are interrogated by both high energy pulses and low power CW sources. We observe four-wave mixing, six-wave mixing, potential two-photon lasing, other unknown nonlinear processes, and the persistence of some processes at low thresholds. This system is also uniquely qualified to support two-photon lasing under the proper conditions.
The Effect of Prices on Oil Demand in the Transportation and Residental Sectors

The goal of this study is to explain the consumer response to energy price fluctuations in the United States from 1949 to the present time. I will hypothesize that in the United States, the quantity of oil demanded in all areas of the transportation sector is inelastic in the short run, and therefore changes gradually when oil prices fluctuate. In the residential sector, I hypothesize that the quantity of oil demanded will be more elastic in the short run, since natural gas is available as a substitute source when petroleum prices rise. The results of this study can help to determine what types of government policies will be effective in ensuring a positive consumer response to price changes. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol10/iss1/16
Classical biological control of ash whitefly: factors contributing to its success in California

The ash whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae, invaded California in 1988 rapidly spreading throughout the state and infesting several species of ornamental trees and shrubs. Released Encarsia inaron rapidly established populations and spread throughout areas occupied by ash whitefly. We examined whether dispersal and overwintering ability could play a role in the extraordinary success of this parasitoid and we measured the impact of released parasitoids using a new method at a single location in northern California. The dispersal ability of E. inaron was examined by releasing two hundred and fifty adults 25 July 1991 into a single tree in a 1 ha pomegranate orchard near Brentwood, California. Based on yellow sticky card traps, the adult population spread at least 45 m from the release tree within 9 weeks of release. Over the same period of time the parasitoid population increased 64 fold. Impact was determined by measuring the number of ash whitefly adults produced in the absence and presence of E. inaron over 12 months. The production of whitefly adults, measured by the number of pupae entering the adult population, was reduced to very low numbers one year following the establishment of the parasitoid. Production of E. inaron adults increased rapidly, then decreased following the drop in production of ash whitefly adults. Duff of flowering pear trees was collected from under sample trees in mid winter to determine whether ash whitefly could survive on fallen leaves. Over fifty percent of adults emerged from whitefly pupae on leaves within 12 days of collection.
C-1005: A Novel and highly efficient method for intracellular delivery and accumulation of trehalose

The presence of trehalose on both sides of the cell membrane contributes to protection against desiccation damage. Since mammalian cell membranes are naturally impermeable to trehalose, invention of novel methods for efficient intracellular trehalose delivery has been an ongoing investigation. It has been established that increasing small molecule lipophilicity enhances cellular uptake. Using this concept as a starting point, we designed a series of acetylated trehalose derivatives, with the 6-acetylated analogue (6-Ac-Tre) displaying the most promising properties in rat hepatocytes, among other cells. Once 6-Ac-Tre penetrated the cell membrane, endogenous nonspecific esterases cleave acetyl groups, resulting in release of de-acetylated trehalose in the cytoplasm. The total intracellular concentration of trehalose and its non-fully-de-acetylated variants was 5-10-fold higher than the extracellular concentration of 6-Ac-Tre, reaching concentrations as high as 300 mM within 6 h of incubation. Using a diffusion–reaction model, the permeability and reaction kinetics of 6-Ac-Tre conversion to trehalose was calculated and optimum incubation concentration and time were obtained. Further studies on cell metabolism suggest that there is only a minimal impact of intracellular trehalose on cellular function. This study demonstrates a novel and robust method for loading trehalose in primary mammalian cells. Despite the somewhat longer loading time compared to some alternative methods, it is an easy-to-perform method for trehalose loading in cells with unprecedented efficiency. The described method is especially suitable for biopreservation studies on primary cells and in cells which may not be synthetically/genetically manipulated for further therapeutic applications. This approach has been carried forward with comprehensive biopreservation studies in progress.
Toy-oriented changes during early arm movements: IV: Shoulder–elbow coordination

Our recent work on the initial emergence of reaching identified a mosaic of developmental changes and consistencies within the hand and joint kinematics of arm movements across the pre-reaching period. The purpose of this study was to test hypotheses regarding the coordination of hand and joint kinematics over this same pre-reaching period. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on hand, shoulder, and elbow kinematic data from 15 full-term infants observed biweekly from 8 weeks of age through the week of reach onset. Separate PCAs were calculated for spatial variables and for velocity variables in trials with a toy and without a toy. From the PCA results, we constructed 'variance profiles' to reflect the coordinative structure of the hand, shoulder, and elbow. By coordinative structure is meant here the relative contribution of each joint to the factors revealed by the PCA. Shifts in these profiles, which reflected coordination changes, were compared across the hand and joints within each pre-reaching phase (Early, Mid, Late) as well as across phases and trial conditions (no-toy and toy). Results identified both surprising consistencies and important developmental changes in coordination. First, over development, spatial coordination changed in different ways for the shoulder and elbow. Between the Early and Late phases, spatial coordination at the shoulder showed more adult-like coordination during both spontaneous movements and movements with a toy present. In contrast, elbow spatial coordination became more adult-like only during movements with a toy and less adult-like during spontaneous movements. Second, over development, velocity coordination became more adult-like at both joints in movements with and without a toy present. We propose that the features of coordination that changed over development suggest explanations for the differential roles and developmental trajectories of the control of arm movements between the shoulder and elbow. We propose that features that remained consistent over development suggest the presence of developmentally important constraints inherent in arm biomechanics, which may simplify arm control for reaching. Taken together, these findings highlight the critical role of spontaneous arm movements in the emergence of purposeful reaching.
A Life on Broken China: Figuring Senses of Capitalism in Late Nineteenth-Century Bogotá

This chapter addresses the intricacies of modernization in late-nineteenth-century Bogota, Colombia. Building upon recent postcolonial understanding of the complicated relationship Latin America holds with modern capitalist world-systems, this piece uncovers the particular way in which, in republican Bogota, increasingly globalized patterns of consumption melt into stubbornly colonial social structures, which gave to local expressions of modernity their distinctive, hybrid nature. It is within this context that the archaeological rediscovery of the life-story of a long-forgotten crockery merchant, who would become the mayor of the city of Bogota by the turn of the twentieth century, allows us to shed some new, provocative light on a complex process of social, political, and economic transformation that has intrigued generations of scholars so far, but which has rarely been linked to the investigation of changing patterns of consumption in the recent past.
Localized Heating in Mo'I'ei-Based Resistive Memory Devices

Layered materials like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) have been recently demonstrated as the switching layers in resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices [1]–[3], but their switching mechanisms are not yet well understood. In this work, we show resistive memory switching in MoTe2 devices and investigate the thermal origins of their switching behavior using scanning thermal microscopy (SThM). We observe localized heating due to the formation of a conductive plug, which is correlated with electro-thermal simulations, providing the first thermal insights into the operation of such RRAM devices.
The Influence of Dietary Fat and Vitamin D on Adiposity and Vitamin D Metabolism in Older Female Mice

Obesity induced by high fat diets (HFDs) has been shown to be inversely associated with vitamin D status in both humans and rodents. However, it is unclear whether obesity causes reduced vitamin D ...
Controllability and Design of Unmanned Multirotor Aircraft Robust to Rotor Failure

A new design method for multi-rotor aircraft with distributed electric propulsion is presented to ensure a property of robustness against rotor failure from the control perspective. Based on the concept of null controllability, a quality measure is derived to evaluate and quantify the performance of a given design with the consideration of rotor failure. An optimization problem whose cost function is based on the quality measure is formulated and its optimal solution identifies a set of optimal design parameters that maximizes an aircraft’s ability to control its attitude and hence its position. The effectiveness of the proposed design procedure is validated through the results of experimentation with the Autonomous Flying Ambulance model being developed at Caltech’s Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies.
The Role of Scheduling and Periodization in Competitive Tennis Players

The greater the distance between the demands of training and the resources for recovery, the greater the risk of overtraining [1].
Special issue on ‘New consideration of pricing in supply chains’

Firms communicate with their customers through a variety of channels. These communications can include information such as advertising, contracts, inventory availability, and a host of other types ...
Analysis Of Multi-energy Complementary Integration Optimization Technology

This paper studies ways to improve the capacity of renewable energy to reduce the adverse effects of renewable energy generation on the power grid system, improve energy efficiency, and implement comprehensive complementary utilization of multiple energy sources. According to different resource conditions and energy demands, the multi-energy complementary systems are constructed through comprehensive energy management and collaborative optimization control. On the basis of summarizing the technical routes of multi-energy complementary system at home and abroad, the key technologies of multi-energy complementary were discussed, including various power characteristics, complementary ways and future research directions. It provides a reference for the development and application of multi-energy complementary system
Inuring: Live Attacker-Guided Repair

We present inuring, an attack-guided repair method for software vulnerabilities in n-variant systems. N-variant systems detect attacks that cause divergence in variant behavior, converting severe vulnerabilities (such as those that enable remote code execution) into less severe denial-of-service vulnerabilities. Inuring is a general technique for n-variant systems that uses information gleaned from an attack to perform a "live'' field repair of the underlying vulnerability, thereby obviating the denial-of-service attack. We present a case study of the use of inuring to protect against a powerful class of memory-corruption exploits in the Apache web server. Our demonstration leverages dappling, a new technique for provably secure memory layout in n-variant systems. With inuring and dappling we are able to guarantee strong protection and remediation for a class of write-what-where vulnerabilities in n-variant systems. Our case study illustrates the efficacy and efficiency of these techniques.
Implementation of a Novel Remote Physician SBRT Coverage Process during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Abstract INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, alternative methods of care are needed to reduce the relative risk of transmission in departments. Also needed is the ability to provide vital radiation oncological care if radiation oncologists (RO) are reallocated to other departments. We implemented a novel remote RO SBRT coverage practice, requiring it to be reliable, of high audio and visual quality, timely, and the same level of specialty care as our current in-person treatment coverage practice. METHODS All observed failure modes were recorded during implementation over the first 15 sequential fractions. The time from CBCT to treatment was calculated before and after implementation to determine timeliness of remote coverage. Image quality metrics were calculated between the imaging console screen and the RO’s shared screen. Comfort levels with audio/visual communication as well as overall comfort in comparison to in-person RO coverage was evaluated using Likert scale surveys after treatment. RESULTS Remote RO SBRT coverage was successfully implemented in 14/15 fractions with 3 observed process failures that were all corrected before treatment. Average times of pre-treatment coverage before and after implementation were 8.74 and 8.51min, respectively. The cross correlation between the imaging console screen and RO’s shared screen was r=0.96 and lag was 0.05s. The average value for all survey questions was above 4.5, approaching in-person RO coverage comfort levels. CONCLUSIONS Our novel method of remote RO SBRT coverage permits reduced personnel and patient interactions surrounding RT procedures. This may help to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in our department and provides a means for SBRT coverage if ROs are reallocated to other areas of the hospital for COVID-19 support.
Drivers' visual attention during the onset of the circular yellow indication at high-speed signalized intersections.

Objective: Drivers have difficulty deciding whether to stop at the stop line or proceed through the intersection at the onset of the circular yellow (CY) indication. The purpose of this study was t...
Accelerated Optimization in the PDE Framework Formulations for the Active Contour Case.

Following the seminal work of Nesterov, accelerated optimization methods have been used to powerfully boost the performance of first-order, gradient based parameter estimation in scenarios where se...
Prevalence and prediction of kindergarten-transition difficulties

Abstract The transition to formal schooling is a large contextual change, which for many children in U.S. begins with the year of kindergarten. To better understand the challenges of this transition, the present study examines the extent to which children experience transition difficulties in five salient areas: making friends, following schedules, meeting academic demands, working within groups, and being organized. Using a sample of 688 kindergarteners from 45 classrooms, we found that challenges in the transition to kindergarten were prevalent based on teacher report. More than 70% of the children were reported to have difficulty in at least one area, and over 30% of children had challenges in all five areas. Meeting academic demands and being organized were two of the most common challenges kindergarteners experienced. Gender and IEP status consistently predicted transition difficulties, in that boys struggled more than girls, and children with disabilities (on the basis of IEP provision) were more likely to have difficulties than those without IEPs. Overall, this work highlights the need to support children during the transition to kindergarten.
Optimization: From Its Inception

Optimization has been one of the most fundamental and extensive contributions of management science/operations research, with an enormous number of contributions and subfields developed by many res...
The Role of Evaluative Thinking in the Teaching of Evaluation

In this practice note, I share some reflections on the role of evaluative thinking in the teaching of evaluation. I teach an introductory graduate-level evaluation course to Master’s and Doctoral students and also provide ECB workshops to various community-based education organizations, non-governmental organizations, non-profits, foundations, and groups of emerging evaluators. In this practice note I use a reflective case study augmented with analysis against salient theoretical frameworks to reflect on evaluative thinking as a way: (1) to balance teaching theory and practice; (2) to infuse adult education principles and practices, which can also help learners hone in on the potential for evaluation for social justice; and (3) to equip students for continuing professional development—to help them become life-long learners in evaluation.
Controls on Interspecies Electron Transport and Size Limitation of Anaerobically Methane-Oxidizing Microbial Consortia.

ABSTRACT About 382 Tg yr−1 of methane rising through the seafloor is oxidized anaerobically (W. S. Reeburgh, Chem Rev 107:486–513, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1021/cr050362v), preventing it from reaching the atmosphere, where it acts as a strong greenhouse gas. Microbial consortia composed of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria couple the oxidation of methane to the reduction of sulfate under anaerobic conditions via a syntrophic process. Recent experimental studies and modeling efforts indicate that direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is involved in this syntrophy. Here, we explore a fluorescent in situ hybridization-nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry data set of large, segregated anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) consortia that reveal a decline in metabolic activity away from the archaeal-bacterial interface and use a process-based model to identify the physiological controls on rates of AOM. Simulations reproducing the observational data reveal that ohmic resistance and activation loss are the two main factors causing the declining metabolic activity, where activation loss dominated at a distance of IMPORTANCE Anaerobic oxidation of methane is a globally important, microbially mediated process reducing the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In this study, we investigate the mechanism of how a microbial consortium consisting of archaea and bacteria carries out this process and how these organisms interact with each other through the sharing of electrons. We present a process-based model validated by novel experimental measurements of the metabolic activity of individual, phylogenetically identified cells in very large (>20-μm-diameter) microbial aggregates. Model simulations indicate that extracellular electron transfer between archaeal and bacterial cells within a consortium is limited by potential losses and suggest that a flexible use of electron donors can provide energetic advantages for syntrophic consortia.
Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements (CPEM 2020)

The biennial Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements (CPEM) was held in webcast format during August 24-28, 2020, under the auspices of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and in collaboration with NCSL International (NCSLI). The conference was originally planned to be held at the Gaylord Rockies Hotel and Convention Center in Aurora, CO, USA, jointly with NCSLI’s annual workshop and symposium, but owing to the coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it was reformatted as a virtual conference.
Asymmetric desorption of lipid oxidation products induces membrane bending

Lipid oxidation, detected in metabolic processes, is induced in excess when the cellular membrane suffers extra oxidative stress. Lipid oxidation can compromise biomembrane function in part through perturbations of lipid packing, membrane permeability, and morphology. Two major types of oxidation products, one with a partially truncated lipid tail with a hydrophilic group at the tail-end, and secondly, a lysolipid (with one of the chains completely truncated) can disturb the membrane bilayer packing significantly. However, they also have an increased tendency to desorb from the membrane. In this study we investigated desorption kinetics of two characteristic lipid oxidation products (PAzePC and 18 : 1 LysoPC) from a model membrane system, and we evaluated the consequences of this process on membrane shape transitions. Using a microfluidic chamber coupled with micropipette aspiration, we observed the incorporation of the two lipids into the membrane of a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) and further determined their desorption rates, association rates and flip-flop rates. For both lipids, the desorption is on the time scale of seconds, one to two orders of magnitude faster than their flipping rates. Dilution of the outer solution of the GUVs allowed asymmetric desorption of these two lipids from the GUVs. This process induced lipid number asymmetry and charge asymmetry, specifically for PAzePC containing GUVs, and caused membrane tubulation. Our results indicate that the desorption of lipid oxidation products can alter the local structure of biomembranes and result in morphological changes that may relate to membrane function.
A Proper Reading: Willa Cather’s Introductions to My Ántonia

This chapter examines the introduction to Willa Cather’s My Antonia (1918) and surveys the critical response to the revisions the author made to that introduction in 1926. The introductions are markedly different, with Cather’s treatment of narrator Jim Burden the primary revision. But unlike many prefaces, Cather’s introduction to My Antonia has been the subject of scholarly focus. I investigate Cather as editor in control of her novel and the impact of the 1926 revisions to the introduction, as well as the ways in which critics and scholars have accounted for the revisions she made to the introduction. The two versions of the introduction to My Antonia and the attention they have received proves, partially, the value of engaging with prefaces as zones of control.
Handbook of Iron Overload Disorders

A practical, clinically-oriented handbook of iron overload disorders giving a compact guide to normal iron metabolism, iron-related pathobiology, and the diagnosis and management of heritable and acquired iron overload disorders. Many of these disorders were discovered and characterized only in the last decade, and are unmentioned or inadequately described in most texts. Written by clinicians for clinicians, this handbook summarizes information on diverse iron overload conditions, including their history, signs, symptoms, physical examination findings, genetics, genotype-phenotype correlations, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and treatment. Most physicians, regardless of specialty, encounter patients with systemic or organ-specific iron overload conditions. This book contains essential information for practising adult and pediatric medical specialists in the fields of hematology, gastroenterology, hepatology, rheumatology, endocrinology, diabetology, neurology, oncology, dermatology and internal medicine. Pathologists, pharmacologists, geneticists, genetic counselors and epidemiologists will also find substantial, up-to-date sections in this handbook that are pertinent to their respective fields of interest.
The effect of using computer simulations as self-directed learning on critical thinking levels in entry-level athletic training students

One goal of healthcare educators is to help students think critically to solve problems. Problem-based learning (PBL) is a process that promotes active learning using critical thinking (CT). An assumption is that athletic training students learn CT skills by engaging in the elimination process to correctly answer multiple-choice questions. The purpose of this study is to answer whether implementing a PBL self-directed learning method via computer simulations effects entry-level athletic training students' performance on computer simulations related to physical evaluation of athletic injuries. The California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) was used to evaluate participants' CT. Participants were divided into two groups, higher level CT (M=72.65%) and lower level CT (M=33.06%). Participants then completed the Computerized-Traditional Athletic Training Simulation Instrument prior to and after completing four weeks of self-directed learning. A repeated measures ANOVA within and between subjects revealed no significant difference between pre-test and post-test performance by their CT level, Wilks' Lambda=.975, F(1,30)=.775, p=.386, multivariate η p2=.025. Participants received unlimited access to computer case simulations from www.higherlevelthinking.com as the treatment measure. A repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant effect of students' CT level on their performance on five computer simulations, F(2.03, 60.92)=.447, p=.645. A repeated measures ANOVA test of between-group effect was conducted F(1, 30)=1.84, p=.186, and revealed no significant difference in mean performance scores between the two groups. Participants appeared to score better on the computer simulation 3 BOC Mock Exam compared to the other four computer simulations. Using pairwise comparisons, it was found that participants' performed significantly better on computer simulation 3 (M=77.12%), p<.01 than on all other cases. Additionally, a repeated measures ANOVA determined that a significant difference occurred between participants' grade point average (GPA) in athletic training classes and their performance on the CCTST, F(2.58, 77.49)=4.68, p=.007. Based on this study, computer simulations do not evaluate the decision making thinking process, and thus, should not be used as an evaluation tool for assessing CT in athletic training students regarding physical evaluation of athletic injuries. However, it was determined that participants' cumulative GPA and GPA in athletic training classes do reflect their ability to think critically.
Network Design: Planning a Network with Different Users, Hosts, and Services

This chapter illustrates the basics of designing a network and emphasizes on the users, services, and locations of the hosts. It is noted that optimizing the design of a network is a major issue. Simulations are usually required to analyze the conceptual design of the network. The initial conceptual design is usually refined several times until a final decision is made to implement the design. The objective is to have a design that maximizes the network performance, taking into account the cost constraints and the required services to be offered to different types of users. After the network has been implemented, network optimization should be performed periodically throughout the lifetime of the network in order to ensure maximum performance of the network and to monitor the utilization of the network resources. The chapter also explores how different design decisions can affect the performance of the network.
Dietary patterns and risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review (628.14)

USDA’s Nutrition Evidence Library, in collaboration with a Technical Expert Collaborative, conducted a series of systematic reviews to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease (CVD). PubMed, Embase, Navigator and Cochrane were searched for original research articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals from January 1980 to November 2012. Studies with subjects who were healthy or at elevated chronic disease risk from countries with high or very high human development were considered. Studies were required to have 蠅30 subjects per arm and a follow-up of 蠅80%. 7000 titles were screened, 1500 abstracts underwent dual review, and 101 articles were included (84 from prospective cohorts, 17 from randomized controlled trials (RCT)). Articles were reviewed based on methods used to assess dietary patterns: index analysis, factor/cluster analysis (F/C), reduced rank regression (RRR) or other. Limited conclusions could be drawn from the F/C and RRR reviews due to inconsis...
Academic Freedom on the Rack: StretchingAcademic Freedom Beyond Its ConstitutionalLimits in FAIR v. Rumsfeld

Table of ContentsI. Introduction 1132II. Overview of Academic Freedom 1138A. Historical Academic Freedom 1138B. Professional Academic Freedom 1139C. Why Academic Freedom Matters 1141III. Constitutional Academic Freedom 1145A. The Teacher 1145B. The Student 1148C. The University 1152D. Understanding Academic Freedom 1154IV. Academic Freedom and the Law Schools 1158A. Setting the Stage 1158B. What May Be Taught 1159C. How It Shall Be Taught 1160D. University Autonomy 1162V. Stretching Academic Freedom 1163A. Academic Freedom & Public Policy 1163B. First Amendment Principles 1166C. Academic Freedom case Law 11681. The Public-Private Distinction 11682. The Essential Freedoms of a University 11713. The Academic Environment 11734. Deference 11765. Academic Freedom of the Student 1178D. Summary of Arguments 1181VI. Conclusion 1182I. IntroductionAcademic freedom and religious freedom have one root in common: both are based upon the freedom of conscience, hence neither can flourish in a community that has no respect for human individuality.2In 1990, the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy, setting the stage for a battle between America's law schools and the United States military.3 Members of AALS must conform to this nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits law schools from assisting recruiters who screen student applicants by their sexual orientation.4 The military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy" brings Judge Advocate General (JAG) recruiters under this ban.5 Alarmed by law schools' attempts to deny JAG officers access to the career services offered to other legal employers, Congress passed legislation, known as the Solomon Amendment, to remedy this perceived discrimination against military recruiters.6The Solomon Amendment denies federal funds to universities that refuse to provide military recruiters the same access to students and career services that they grant to other employers.7 Covering funding from a wide range of government entities, the Solomon Amendment may cost universities a significant amount of federal money.8 Agencies covered by the Solomon Amendment include the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Homeland security, and Transportation.9 If any part of a university, such as a law school, fails to provide military recruiters the access and services it provides to other employers, the entire university becomes ineligible to receive these federal funds. …
Evolution of Visual Performance-associated Genes in Drosophila

The leading model of insect vision, the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, is a representative of the higher Diptera (Brachycera), which excel by swift flight abilities, one of the fastest photoresponse mechanisms known and a unique form of neural superposition optics. Recent gene-specific as well as comparative genomic investigations have begun to yield first insights into the genetic origins of Drosophila visual organisation and performance. These studies suggest discrete stages in the molecular evolution of Drosophila vision culminating in changes that enhanced the speed and versatility of diurnal vision specifically during the early evolution of the higher Diptera. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that gene duplication played an unusually important role during this final stage of Drosophila vision evolution. Select gene-specific studies, however, also uncovered specific cis-regulatory and coding region changes that were of key importance in the evolution the Drosophila phototransduction and retinal organisation. Key Concepts: The shared deployment of the phototransduction protein machinery in the photoreceptors of highly diversified visual organs in Drosophila (the larval eyes, ocelli and the adult compound eye) may impose adaptive constraints. In contrast to the detailed mechanistic understanding of irradiance and color vision in Drosophila, the ecological role and significance of these sophisticated visual capacities is still little known in Drosophila and the related Diptera. The complex retinal organisation of Drosophila is representative of all members of the species-rich higher Diptera suggesting strong functional or developmental constraints. Phylogenetic evidence indicates a correlation of significant structural and molecular changes in the visual system of Drosophila and the higher Diptera the cause of which requires further comporative research. Gene duplication played a critical role in the early visual evolution of the higher Diptera. The evolution of the Drosophila visual system is a paradigm example of the combined effects of cis-regulatory and coding sequence evolution. Select mechanisms of the Drosophila photoresponse are likely to differ in insect species outside the higher Diptera complicating functional gene orthology inferrences and warranting further research in other models of insect vision. Keywords: opsin; Inac; Lazaro; Drosophila; phototransduction; gene duplication; adaptation; vision; behaviour; evolution
Assembly of Shotgun Sequencing Data

We present a simple algorithm for construction of the DNA sequence from a set of fragments generated in a shotgun sequencing project. The algorithm is based on rigorous detection of overlaps among fragments. We report assembly results of the algorithm on two genomic data sets.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Knowledge of Personal and Target Levels of Cardiovascular Health Indicators

This study aimed to examine ethnic differences in knowledge of personal and target levels of cardiovascular health indicators between non-Hispanic whites and African Americans. A secondary objective was to evaluate the associations between knowledge of cardiovascular health indicators and health promotion behaviors. Participants (66.7 % female) consisted of 265 whites and 428 African Americans, ages 18 and older recruited from primary care clinics and churches. Respondents completed a brief survey on blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol, blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), diet, and physical activity. Whites were more likely than African Americans to report knowing their personal and target levels of cardiovascular health indicators. Knowledge of personal BP and/or BMI was positively associated with actual physical activity, and awareness of personal blood glucose was positively associated with healthy dietary practices for participants in both groups. Among whites, awareness of personal BP and knowledge of target levels for BP, total cholesterol, and BMI were also associated with healthy diet. Results suggest there are racial/ethnic disparities in knowledge of personal and ideal levels of cardiovascular health indicators, and that this knowledge is related to health promotion behaviors. Targeted educational efforts are warranted to enhance knowledge of personal risk indicators among African Americans.
SoC or SoP? A balanced approach!

System-on-a-Chip (SoC) is being touted by the semiconductor industry as a means for incorporating all of the important electronic functions required for a product onto a single die. The rest of the system unit would consist of cheap pedestrian parts from other vendors. The beauty of this well hyped concept is that all the value-add and revenue would go to the semiconductor companies while other technology providers will be left with low margin scraps. In some cases, this assertion from the semiconductor companies will be correct. On the other hand, there will be cases where SoC will not be the best business case because of excessively complex process requirements and oversized low yielding chips. For these cases, partitioning the SoC functions and placing them onto small few-chip-modules (FCMs) can result in a lower system cost with no performance sacrifice. It is the goal of this paper to justify this premise.
The Fluorescent Protein Color Palette

Advances in fluorescent protein development over the past 10 years have led to fine-tuning of the Aequorea victoria jellyfish color palette in the emission color range from blue to yellow, while a significant amount of progress has been achieved with reef coral species in the generation of monomeric fluorescent proteins emitting in the orange to far-red spectral regions. It is not inconceivable that near-infrared fluorescent proteins loom on the horizon. Expansion of the fluorescent protein family to include optical highlighters and FRET biosensors further arms this ubiquitous class of fluorophores with biological probes capable of photoactivation, photoconversion, and detection of molecular interactions beyond the resolution limits of optical microscopy. The success of these endeavors certainly suggests that almost any biological parameter can be investigated using the appropriate fluorescent protein-based application.
Non-union of minimally displaced low transcondylar fracture of the distal humerus: a report of three patients

Minimally displaced extra-articular bicolumnar fractures of the distal humerus at the level of the base of the olecranon fossa (sometimes referred to as transcondylar fractures) are uncommon. Good results after both operatieve and non-operative treatment have been described, whereas other studies suggest that these fractures have a high risk to non-union. We describe three patients with non-union after a nondisplaced or minimally displaced low transcondylar (extra-articular) fracture of the distal humerus. Three relatively unique non-union cases are described with the aim of increasing awareness of the potential pitfalls associated with these fractures, suggesting that these fractures merit caution and additional study.
Intergovernmental Organization Memberships: Examining Political Community and the Attributes of International Organizations

Why are states jointly members in certain intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) but not others? Despite the proliferation of IGOs and renewed interest in this topic, we lack systematic research to...
Monte-Carlo Simulation of Ion Transport at the Polymer-Metal Interface

The transport of charge due to electric stimulus is the primary mechanism of actuation for a class of polymeric active materials known as ionomeric polymer transducers. Continuum-based models of ion transport have been developed for the purpose of understanding charge transport due to diffusion and migration. In this work a two dimensional ion hopping model has been built to describe ion transport in ionomeric polymer transducer (IPT) with Monte-Carlo simulation. In the simulation, cations are distributed on 50nm × 50nm × 1nm (or 50nm × 10 nm × 1nm) lattice cells of IPT while the same number of negative charges are uniformly scattered and fixed as background. In the simulation, thermally activated cations are hopping between multiwell energy structures by overcoming energy barriers around with a hopping distance of 1nm during each time step. A step voltage is applied between the electrodes of the IPT. In one single simulation step, coulomb energy, external electric potential energy and intrinsic energy of the material are calculated and added up for the energy wells around the cations. And then hopping rates in every potential hopping direction are obtained. Due to the random nature of the ion transitions, a weighting function from Monte-Carlo algorithm is added in to calculate the ion hopping time. Finally hopping time is compared, the minimum hopping time is chosen and one hopping event is completed. Both system time and ions distribution are updated before the next simulation loop. Periodic boundary conditions are applied when ions hop in the direction perpendicular to the electric field. The influence of the electrodes on both faces of IPT is presented by the method of image charges. The charge density at equilibrium state is compared with the result from a continuum-based model. The property of charge density has charge neutrality over the central part of the membrane and the charge imbalance over boundary layers close to the anode and cathode. Electric field distribution is obtained after charge distribution. After it is demonstrated that ion hopping model leads to the results qualitatively matching the property of IPT, the paper uses the model to analyze the polymer-metal interface when the electrode shape inside transducer varies.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Tailoring Groupware: The Cooperative HypermediaApproach

Tailoring groupware has to deal with adapting properties of a shared information space as well as with adapting properties of the cooperation support to the group's needs. In this paper, an approach for tailoring both aspects of groupware in an integrated fashion is proposed. This approach uses cooperative hypermedia as a unifying representation of shared information structures, functionality, and the coordination medium of a shared application. It enables cooperative definition of shared information structures, shared process models and their access models not only before collaboration starts, but also on the fly, when emergent processes evolve. The proposed approach addresses tailoring at all stages of the development and use of a groupware application. A prototype system called CHIPS is presented and different possibilities of tailoring in CHIPS are discussed. Examples of CHIPS demonstrate that the cooperative hypermedia approach to tailoring groupware can support the adaptation to different evolving tasks and processes performed by changing teams.
Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs)

As a result of extensive research and development during the last ten years, holographic optical elements (HOEs) are now considered to be practical. Key parameters and basic prop-erties of HOEs are briefly reviewed, and characteristics of various hologram types and recording materials are discussed. HOE design and fabrication approaches are also discussed.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.