cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gamifying with OneUp: For Learning, Grades or Fun?

Gamifying learning is a challenging task assuming holistic thinking about the learning experience rather than focusing on specific game elements. Part of the challenges in this task stem from the fact that gamification represents a class of systems combining utilitarian and hedonic benefits. In addition, there is a lack of appropriate tools supporting gamification of learning. To bridge this gap, we developed OneUp, a course gamification platform. This paper examines the challenges associated with gamifying learning along with OneUp’s support for overcoming them. It also presents a preliminary study of the impact of utilitarian and hedonic values in the context of a gamified Data Structures course.
Conservation voltage reduction of networked microgrids

This study proposes a strategy for coordinated operation of networked microgrids (MGs), distributed energy resources (DERs), and volt-VAR control devices in the implementation of volt-VAR optimisation (VVO). The authors’ formulation is focused on implementing conservation voltage reduction, although it can be extended for any other VVO problems. They consider the voltage–power control modes of DERs contemplated in IEEE Std. 1547, namely, constant power factor, voltage–reactive power, active–reactive power, and constant reactive power. DERs are considered at the distribution network (DN) and within the MGs. The problem is formulated as a bi-level optimisation problem where the DN operator (DNO) is in the upper-level and each MG in the lower-level. The DNO and each MG are assumed to be players with their individual objective functions. Finally, they validate their formulation in two test systems: a 9-node system and a modified IEEE 33-node system. On average the proposed method can improve the efficiency of the grid by 4% compared to the economic operation scenario. The results of the study show that the different control modes of the DERs can have better performance depending on the objective of the VVO formulation. The findings of this study are compelling for the implementation of VVO in active distribution systems with networked MGs.
Relative risks of prostate cancer associated with different family cancer histories.

1505Background: Recently developed clinical guidelines have suggested that men in families with Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HPC), Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC), and Lynch Syndrome (LS...
An empirical study to investigate the efficacy of collaborative immersive virtual reality systems for designing information architecture of software systems.

Abstract The ability of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) systems to mimic the real world has made it possible to use this technology to create environments for remote collaborative work. This study aimed to understand the feasibility of immersive virtual reality when conducting a collaborative Information Architecture (IA) design task-card sorting, with geographically dispersed participants. Using a between-subjects experimental design, thirty groups of two individuals each completed a card sorting activity using conventional in-person, video screen-sharing method or immersive virtual reality methods. The dependent measures included total time, percentage match with master card set, usability, presence and perceived workload. Overall usability was found to be significantly higher for the immersive virtual reality condition when compared to conventional in-person card sorting. In addition, the new immersive virtual reality technology performed as well as the other two conditions for other dependent variables. Qualitative data from the participants also indicated a positive reaction to the use of immersive virtual reality for this task. Overall, the participants felt they were productive and enjoyed the IVR condition, indicating the potential of IVR-based approaches as an alternative to conventional approaches for IA design.
Hydrogen-induced Unzipping of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The chemisorption of atomic hydrogen on the single-walled armchair carbon nanotube is studied with ab initio calculations. A single H atom is found to be chemisorbed on both the inside and outside wall of the nanotube. The binding energy of H adsorption at the exterior of the nanotube is much greater than that at the interior of the nanotube. For the first time, we predict that two rows of H atoms chemisorbed on selective sites exterior to the nanotube can break the nearest-neighbor C-C bond of the nanotube through the concerted formation of C-H bonds, leading to the unzipping of the nanotube wall. We provide insights into the underlying electronic structure responsible for the H-induced unzipping of the nanotube, lending strong support to the recent experimental observations for the coalescence of single-walled nanotubes in the presence of atomic hydrogen. Interestingly, H atoms chemisorbed inside the nanotube do not lead to the breaking of the C-C bonds.
McHarg’s theory and practice of regional ecological planning: retrospect and prospect

Ian McHarg’s theory of regional ecological planning is a milestone in the history of planning and socio-ecological practice. The use of science—geology, physiography, soils, hydrology, and vegetation—to determine the appropriate locations for development marked a distinct departure from planning based on promoting economic growth. McHarg tested his theory in practice, most notably in three projects in the USA: The Metropolitan Open Space study of greater Philadelphia, The Plan for the Valleys in Baltimore County, Maryland, and The Woodlands, a new town outside of Houston, Texas. New challenges to regional ecological planning have arisen in the past 30 years: population growth, infrastructure needs, climate change, and social equity and environmental justice. McHarg’s emphasis on the integration of nature and the built environment is still valid, especially in urban/suburban areas, where the use of green infrastructure has gained popularity. McHarg advocated some separation of rural areas from urban/suburban areas to protect farmland and curb sprawl. But more separation is now necessary given America’s much larger and dispersed metropolitan populations. Also, greater emphasis is needed on social equity, environmental justice, and the sustainability of the built environment to provide more affordable housing and to produce more resilient, healthy, walkable, and mixed-use cities and suburbs that rely on mass transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Using the eye-tracking method to study consumer online health information search behaviour

The purpose of this paper is to introduce eye tracking as a method for capturing direct and indirect measures of online human information search behaviour. The unique contribution of eye-tracking data in studying information behaviour is examined in the context of health information research.,The need for multiple methods of data collection when examining human online health information behaviour is described and summarised. The nature of human eye movements in information use and reading is outlined and the emergence and application of contemporary eye-tracking technology are explained.,The paper summarises key contributions and insights that eye tracking has provided across multiple studies, with examples of both direct data on fixations and gaze durations as well as theoretical assessments of relevance and knowledge gain.,The paper provides a basic introduction to the application of a unique method for information research in general and online health information search in particular and provides readers with an awareness of how such data are captured and interpreted.
Thoracic adaptations for ventilation during locomotion in humans and other mammals.

ABSTRACT Bipedal humans, like canids and some other cursorial mammals, are thought to have been selected for endurance running, which requires the ability to sustain aerobic metabolism over long distances by inspiring large volumes of air for prolonged periods of time. Here, we tested the general hypothesis that humans and other mammals selected for vigorous endurance activities evolved derived thoracic features to increase ventilatory capacity. To do so, we investigated whether humans and dogs rely on thoracic motion to increase tidal volume during running to a greater extent than goats, a species that was not selected for endurance locomotion. We found that while all three species use diaphragmatic breathing to increase tidal volume with increasing oxygen demand, humans also use both dorsoventral and mediolateral expansion of the thorax. Dogs use increased dorsoventral expansion of the thorax, representing an intermediate between humans and goats. 3D analyses of joint morphology of 10 species across four mammalian orders also showed that endurance-adapted cursorial species independently evolved more concavo-convex costovertebral joint morphologies that allow for increased rib mobility for thoracic expansion. Evidence for similarly derived concavo-convex costovertebral joints in Homo erectus corresponds with other evidence for the evolution of endurance running in the genus Homo.
Oral Immunization: A Summary

Papers presented at this conference convincingly demonstrate that oral immunization represents an attractive and feasible alternative to systemic immunization routes particularly for the induction of specific antibodies of the IgA isotype in various external secretions. Recent technical improvement in the antigen delivery systems should further facilitate the acceptance of oral immunization as a route of choice for the prevention of mucosa-contracted diseases of viral and bacterial etiology as well as allergies.
Hand Dermatitis: Pathology, Diagnosis, and Management

Hand dermatitis is a common skin disorder that can negatively impact a patient's daily life and occupation. The necessity and frequency of hand use can expose the overlying skin to irritation, trauma, and observation from others. This can make hand dermatitis irritating to active hands and difficult to treat, as irritant exposure is often difficult to avoid. Due to the variable degrees of presentations of hand dermatitis, it is essential for dermatologists to adequately recognize the variable presentation, establish a definitive diagnosis, and develop an appropriate treatment. This review explores the pathogenesis, clinical types, diagnosis methods, treatment, and prognosis of hand dermatitis. (SKINmed. 2019;17:30-34).
Thoracic Herniated Nucleus Pulposus

The indications for minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) for the treatment of thoracic disc disease have evolved and expanded over the past decade with the development of newer technologies and refined techniques. Symptomatic thoracic disc herniations are uncommon, which provides a paucity of literature exploring common surgical treatment options. The clinical presentation is highly variable, and the diagnosis is often delayed. The most common indications for thoracic discectomy include spinal cord compression with myelopathy or refractory radiculopathy.
Mesh-Hardened Finite Element Analysis Through a Generalized Moving Least-Squares Approximation of Variational Problems

In most finite element methods the mesh is used to both represent the domain and to define the finite element basis. As a result the quality of such methods is tied to the quality of the mesh and may suffer when the latter deteriorates. This paper formulates an alternative approach, which separates the discretization of the domain, i.e., the meshing, from the discretization of the PDE. The latter is accomplished by extending the Generalized Moving Least-Squares (GMLS) regression technique to approximation of bilinear forms and using the mesh only for the integration of the GMLS polynomial basis. Our approach yields a non-conforming discretization of the weak equations that can be handled by standard discontinuous Galerkin or interior penalty terms.
Creating Common Instruments to Evaluate Education and Diversity Impacts across Three Engineering Research Centers

This Innovative Practice Work in Progress paper presents the collaborative efforts made by three NSF-funded Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) to synthesize common tools for educational program evaluation. The aim of the NSF ERCs is to achieve transformative changes by integrating engineering research and education with technological innovation within areas at the frontiers of science and engineering (e.g., NSF’s 10 Big Ideas). Such centers across the nation study and innovate within their technical area using similar structures and implementation strategies, including the coordination of educational endeavors. Independent partners are enlisted as part of these centers to evaluate education and diversity impacts annually. Each center typically performs this task in isolation from other such centers. The effort required to create resources for such evaluation outcome can result in redundancy and an inability for psychometric analysis due to small available populations within a single center. This paper elaborates on the ongoing efforts of this collaborative research aimed at addressing these issues by creating a streamlined, customizable, and standardized set of evaluation instruments that can be applied to any ERC evaluation.
Chapter 2 – Term and volatility structures

Publisher Summary Term and volatility structures are the cornerstone to practically all valuations of fixed income financial instruments and consequently affects, or should affect, significantly the trading and the management of financial holdings; they are also used to help shape monetary policy by Central Banks. This chapter provides a review and a comparison of the methods that have been suggested to construct the term structure associated with a given collection of fixed income financial instruments. It addresses the problem of determining the (associated) volatility structure that has been given only scant attention in the literature. All valuations (discounted cash flow, instrument pricing, option pricing) and other financial calculations require an estimate of the evolution of the risk-free rates as implied by the term and volatility structures. This presumes that one has, if not perfect knowledge, at least very good estimates of these market term structures.
Effect and mechanism of Gamma knife therapy on epilepsy rats

Objective To investigate the radiobiological response and its mechanism of Gamma knife on epilepsy rats.Method The animal model of epilepsy was established with kainic acid injection.Epileptic rats were irradiated by different doses of Gamma knife with stereotactic lathe-hedd for rats.Changes of behavioral,EEG,morphological uhrastructure,MRI,concentration of amino acid and expression of GABA were detected.Results Behavior and EEG demonstrated that seizure gradually reduce after irradiation.Imaging changes of target could be observed at dose of 100Gy in 2 month but no changes at dose of 20Gy in 5 month.Concentration of excitatory amino acid after irradiation by Gamma knife is lower than that of epilepsy rats.The expression of GABA showed lower than normal but higher than epilepsy rats.Conclusions Therapeutic effect of gamma knife for epilepsy could be observed but the epileptogenic focus was destroyed at high dose(100Gy).Excitatory neurons could be inhibited by irradiation of low dose (20Gy)gamma rays due to the decrease of excitatory amino acid release. Key words: Gamma knife; Rats; Epilepsy; Kainic acid; Treatment
Evaluation of iodine supplementation on improvement of developmental quotient at the critical period of infant brain development

Objective To evaluate the effect of iodine supplementation on improvement of developmental quotient (DQ) at the critical period of infant brain development.Methods Pregnant,lactating women and infants less than 3 years old were supplemented with iodized oil in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture(Linxia Prefecture) Gansu Province in 2006-2010.Before and after the intervention(2006,2007-2010),five townships were randomly selected in the north,the south,the east,the west and the center of eight counties(cities) of Linxia.One village was chosen from each of those townships and 20 infants,20 pregnant women and 20 lactating women were randomly selected in each village(insufficient was made up from the neighboring villages).Urinary iodine(UI) level of the infants,pregnant and lactating women were determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.DQ value of infants was measured before and after supplementation of iodized oil in 2006 and 2010.UI value of pregnant,lactating women and infants was monitored every year after iodine supplementation.Results Before iodine supplementation(2006),the median UI level of pregnant,lactating women and infants was 89.28,84.85,107.3 μg/L,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the medians UI level in 2007,2008,2009 and 2010 were,respectively,pregnant women:136.0,187.8,118.2,175.8 μg/L; lactating women:135.2,159.8,187.5,163.5 μ g/L; infants:139.6,174.7,190.7,168.4 μg/L.Before iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 92.8 ± 16.3,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 93.7 ± 20.0,91.4 ± 20.0,92.4 ± 19.0,90.3 ± 20.0,96.4 ± 22.1,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 104.3 ± 13.8,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 104.8 ± 21.5,104.1 ± 17.2,104.8 ± 16.1,99.9 ± 19.1,108.0 ± 22.7,respectively,which were higher than that before iodine supplementation (t =-10.43,-10.77,-13.78,-14.28,-9.96,-15.33,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Iodine deficiency at the critical period of brain development can affect the intellectual development of infants and young children at all functional areas of intelligence.Iodine supplementation at the critical period of brain development can prevent mental retardation caused by iodine deficiency disorders. Key words: Iodine; Brain; Critical period ; Developmental quotient
Evaluating a child care-based social marketing approach for improving children’s diet and physical activity: results from the Healthy Me, Healthy We cluster-randomized controlled trial

Child care-based interventions offer an opportunity to reach children at a young and impressionable age to support healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Ideally, these interventions engage caregivers, including both childcare providers and parents, in united effort. This study evaluated the impact of the Healthy Me, Healthy We intervention on children's diet quality and physical activity. A sample of 853 three- to four-year-old children from 92 childcare centers were enrolled in this cluster-randomized control trial. Healthy Me, Healthy We was an 8-month, social marketing intervention delivered through childcare that encouraged caregivers (childcare providers and parents) to use practices that supported children's healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. Outcome measures, collected at baseline and post-intervention, assessed children's diet quality, physical activity, and BMI as well as caregivers' feeding and physical activity practices. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used to assess change from baseline to post-intervention between intervention and control arms. No significant changes were noted in any of the outcome measures except for small improvements in children's sodium intake and select parent practices. Despite the negative findings, this study offers many lessons about the importance and challenges of effective parent engagement which is critical for meaningful changes in children's health behaviors.
FISA and the FBI: Fixing Material Omissions, Overbroad Queries, and Antiquated Technology

Debate has grown over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) after the Justice Department Inspector General's report on the flawed Carter Page FISA request and release of opinions from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on sweeping FBI queries of U.S. person information under § 702 of FISA. At the invitation of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), this paper traces four problems with the FBI's role in the FISA framework: material omissions in "traditional FISA" requests, overbroad § 702 queries, inadequate documentation, and obsolete technology. The FBI and the Justice Department's National Security Division (NSD) should have a gatekeeping role in the FISA framework, winnowing out requests and queries that pose privacy risks. But the FBI has failed to act as a diligent gatekeeper. Too often, NSD has acquiesced in that failure. These flaws undermine the FISC's relationship with the FBI and NSD. Furthermore, the FBI's overbroad queries raise questions about whether current U.S. person queries of § 702 data are reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. This concise paper outlines remedies for current FISA deficits, including a special master for technology, use of artificial intelligence (AI) to flag material omissions and overbroad queries, and a public advocate at the FISC.
A Theory of Consciousness from a Theoretical Computer Science Perspective: Insights from the Conscious Turing Machine

The quest to understand consciousness, once the purview of philosophers and theologians, is now actively pursued by scientists of many stripes. We examine consciousness from the perspective of theoretical computer science (TCS), a branch of mathematics concerned with understanding the underlying principles of computation and complexity, including the implications and surprising consequences of resource limitations. In the spirit of Alan Turing's simple yet powerful definition of a computer, the Turing Machine (TM), and perspective of computational complexity theory, we formalize a modified version of the Global Workspace Theory (GWT) of consciousness originated by cognitive neuroscientist Bernard Baars and further developed by him, Stanislas Dehaene, Jean-Pierre Changeaux and others. We are not looking for a complex model of the brain nor of cognition, but for a simple computational model of (the admittedly complex concept of) consciousness. We do this by defining the Conscious Turing Machine (CTM), also called a conscious AI, and then we define consciousness and related notions in the CTM. While these are only mathematical (TCS) definitions, we suggest why the CTM has the feeling of consciousness. The TCS perspective provides a simple formal framework to employ tools from computational complexity theory and machine learning to help us understand consciousness and related concepts. Previously we explored high level explanations for the feelings of pain and pleasure in the CTM. Here we consider three examples related to vision (blindsight, inattentional blindness, and change blindness), followed by discussions of dreams, free will, and altered states of consciousness.
Characteristics and outcomes of a multi-institution cohort of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis totalis.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the presentation, management and outcomes of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis totalis (tNEC) vs surgical non-totalis NEC (sNEC). STUDY DESIGN This retrospective study identified infants undergoing surgery for NEC through The Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database. Demographic, surgical and mortality characteristics were compared. RESULTS Of 1059 infants, 161 (15.2%) had tNEC. Perinatal characteristics did not differ. tNEC infants were older and were less likely to have pneumoperitoneum at referral (5.6% vs 13.1%, p < 0.001) or intestinal perforation at surgery (38.5% vs 66.7%, p < 0.001). Infants with tNEC were more acidotic preoperatively (7.1, [IQR 7, 7.3] vs 7.3, [IQR 7.2, 7.4], p < 0.001). Mortality was 96.9% for tNEC and 26.5% for sNEC (p < 0.001). tNEC cases varied by center, accounting for 0-43% of all surgical NEC cases. CONCLUSIONS Mortality is high for tNEC infants, who present at older age, with greater illness severity but are less likely to have intestinal perforation than sNEC infants.
Trends in management of the world's forests and impacts on carbon stocks

Abstract Global forests are increasingly affected by land-use change, fragmentation, changing management objectives, and degradation. In this paper we broadly characterize trends in global forest area by intensity of management, and provide an overview of changes in global carbon stocks associated with managed forests. We discuss different interpretations of “management” and highlight some important accounting and analysis issues. The area of global forests has declined by 3% since 1990 but the area of planted forest has increased in all regions of the world and now accounts for almost 7% of global forest land. The area of primary forest, which is typically defined as lacking direct human influence, is about 34% of all forest land according to country reports, but the area is declining especially in South America and Africa because of human-caused habitat fragmentation and degradation. Concurrently, the area of naturally regenerated forest that is not classified as primary forest has declined. As a result of increasing management intensity, the area of unmanaged forest, typically defined as land lacking protected status or a management plan, dropped significantly since 1990 and now comprises only 21% of global forests. There have been significant increases in areas of forest used for non-wood forest products such as protection of soil and water, conservation of biodiversity, and provision of social services. Globally, timber production has been relatively stable since 1990, but increasing areas of forest used for non-wood forest products indicates that harvesting is taking place on a smaller proportion of the total forest area. Based on trends in the area of managed forest and regional studies, it is clear that historical and current forest management has been a very significant determining factor of current carbon stocks. Established forests currently offset about 30% of global emissions of CO 2 from fossil fuel use, and there are mitigation opportunities involving forests that could increase the gross terrestrial C uptake from roughly 4.0 to 6.2 Pg C annually. However, our results suggest that a diversifying use of forest land may have significant consequences for maintaining or increasing the current rate of terrestrial carbon sequestration. In the future, indirect human influences such as increasing atmospheric CO 2 and climate change, along with the direct effects of land management and projected increasing demand for wood biofuel, are likely to become increasingly important elements that influence land management strategies and the role of forests in the global carbon cycle.
Reduced mono-molecular recombination in GaInNAsSb/GaAs lasers at 1.5 /spl mu/m

We present 1.5 /spl mu/m CW GaInNAsSb/GaAs lasers with typical room temperature threshold densities below 600 A/cm/sup 2/, external efficiencies above 50% and output powers of 200 mW. Z-parameter measurements show these improvements are primarily due to reduced monomolecular recombination.
Models for Compact X-ray Sources

A statistical analysis of the UHURU catalogue of X-ray sources leads to the following conclusions. If the weak sources are omitted, there is a strong concentration to low galactic latitude but the absence of a strong background and the presence of some strong sources at low galactic longitude indicate an appreciable number of sources of luminosity L ~ 104 L ⊙ in the vicinity of the ‘nuclear bulge’. This region generally suggests ‘stellar population II’ and therefore stars of small mass. However, there is some suggestion of a second class of sources, distributed in the galactic plane like ‘stellar population II’ and suggesting large stellar masses.
Bluetongue Virus (BTV): Propagation, Quantification, and Storage

As an obligate intracellular parasite, the genome of the Bluetongue virus (BTV) contains ten double-stranded RNA segments which are encapsidated by viral proteins, forming “transport vesicles” that can transmit the viral progeny cell-to-cell efficiently and that can also be transmitted animal-to-animal by a biting midge. BTV is a cytoplasmic virus, and its five major steps of viral infection: attachment, entry, uncoating, assembly, and release, occur only in the cytosol within the infected host cell. Viral replication, suppression of cellular processes, and subsequent pathological damage disrupt many cellular pathways, leading to cellular apoptosis. All of these steps are under very rapid, tight, and efficient control. BTV infects both domestic and wild ruminants, especially sheep, but not humans. BTV is also the prototype in the Orbivirus genus of the Reoviridae family, and has been studied very extensively for the last 25 years. The experimental protocols presented here describe most of the methods that have been used routinely and reproducibly in our lab for our studies of the BTV biosystems. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 24:15C.1.1-15C.1.18. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: Bluetongue viruses; growth and propagation; molecular cloning and expression
Diagnosis and repair of memory with coupling faults

The problem of diagnosis and spare allocation for a random access memory (RAM) with coupling faults, utilizing spare rows and columns, is examined. It is shown that a coupling fault is repaired if its coupling cell is replaced by a spare row or its coupled cell is replaced by a spare row or column. By specifying both the coupled cell and coupling cell the amount of redundancy required to repair a given set of faults can be reduced. A diagnosis procedure is provided to locate stuck-at faults as well as coupling faults. A graph model is used to describe the repair of coupling faults, and a repair procedure is implemented to allocate rows and columns for repair. >
Long-term vaccine-induced heterologous protection against H5N1 influenza viruses in the ferret model.

Please cite this paper as: Ducatez et al. (2012) Long-term vaccine-induced heterologous protection against H5N1 influenza viruses in the ferret model. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(4), 506–512. Background Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses reemerged in humans in 2003 and have caused fatal human infections in Asia and Africa as well as ongoing outbreaks in poultry. These viruses have evolved substantially and are now so antigenically varied that a single vaccine antigen may not protect against all circulating strains. Nevertheless, studies have shown that substantial cross-reactivity can be achieved with H5N1 vaccines. These studies have not, however, addressed the issue of duration of such cross-reactive protection. Objectives To directly address this using the ferret model, we used two recommended World Health Organization H5N1 vaccine seed strains – A/Vietnam/1203/04 (clade 1) and A/duck/Hunan/795/02 (clade 2.1) – seven single, double, or triple mutant viruses based on A/Vietnam/1203/04, and the ancestral viruses A and D, selected from sequences at nodes of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene phylogenies to represent antigenically diverse progeny H5N1 subclades as vaccine antigens. Results All inactivated whole-virus vaccines provided full protection against morbidity and mortality in ferrets challenged with the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain A/Vietnam/1203/04 5 months and 1 year after immunization. Conclusion If an H5N1 pandemic was to arise, and with the hypothesis that one can extrapolate the results from three doses of a whole-virion vaccine in ferrets to the available split vaccines for use in humans, the population could be efficiently immunized with currently available H5N1 vaccines, while the homologous vaccine is under production.
BLACK WOMEN IN STATE LEGISLATURES: THE VIEW FROM OKLAHOMA

Over the past 20 years the number of black women elected to public office has increaseddramatically. However, beyond the act of holding office comes the ability to directly affect change in public policy. In order to bring about policy change, elected officials have to becomean integral part of the policy-making process. This article examines the level of incorporation black women have achieved within the Oklahoma State Legislature. Through interviews conducted with members of the legislature, we attempt to see how well black women have adjusted to the legislative process. The results show that black women appear to have becomeeffective members of the Oklahoma Legislature.
On the magnetic resonance of spinach ferredoxin.

Abstract These observations show that reduced spinach ferredoxin possesses an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum qualitatively similar to that observed in many other non-heme iron proteins. We would thus like to suggest that there is no fundamental difference between the ferredoxins and the so called g = 1.94 iron proteins.
In Brief: Rita Colwell receives National Medal of Science

Colwell, director of the U.S. National Science Foundation from 1998 to 2004, was awarded a U.S. National Medal of Science in a White House ceremony on 27 July 2007. Colwell, currently a professor of microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Maryland at College Park and a professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, received the award for her research on global infectious diseases and marine microbes, specifically the bacterium that causes pandemic cholera. The National Medal of Science is the United States' highest honor for scientific achievement. Colwell currently serves on AGU's development board.
Transgenic zebrafish for studying nervous system development and regeneration

a1 tubulin gene expression is induced in the developing and regenerating CNS of vertebrates. Therefore, a1 tubulin gene expression may serve as a good probe for mechanisms underlying CNS development and regeneration. One approach to identify these mechanisms is to work backwards from the genome. This requires identification of a1 tubulin DNA sequences that mediate its developmental and regeneration-dependent expression pattern. Therefore, we generated transgenic zebrafish harboring a fragment of the a1 tubulin gene driving green fluorescent protein expression (GFP). In these fish, and similar to the endogenous gene, transgene expression was dramatically induced in the developing and regenerating nervous system. Although transgene expression generally declined during maturation of the nervous system, robust GFP expression was maintained in progenitor cells in the retinal periphery, lining brain ventricles and surrounding the central canal of the spinal cord. When these cells were cultured in vitro they divided and gave rise to new neurons. We also show that optic nerve crush in adult fish re-induced transgene expression in retinal ganglion cells. These studies identified a relatively small region of the a1 tubulin promoter that mediates its regulated expression pattern in developing and adult fish. This promoter will be extremely useful to investigators interested in targeting gene expression to the developing or regenerating nervous system. As adult transgenic fish maintain transgene expression in neural progenitors, these fish also provide a valuable resource of labeled adult neural progenitor cells that can be studied in vivo or in vitro. Finally, these fish should provide a unique in vivo system for investigating mechanisms mediating CNS development and regeneration.
Optimal Growth in Phrase Structure

This article claims that some familiar properties of phrase structure reflect laws of form. It is shown that optimal sequencing of recursive Merge operations so as to dynamically minimize c-command and containment relations in unlabeled branching forms leads to structural correlates of projection. Thus, a tendency for syntactic structures to pattern according to the X-bar schema (or other shapes exhibiting endocentricity and maximality of ‘non-head daughters’) is plausibly an emergent epiphenomenon of efficient computation. The specifier-head-complement configuration of X-bar theory is shown to be intimately connected to the Fibonacci sequence, suggesting connections with similar mathematical properties in optimal arboration and optimal packing elsewhere in nature.
On quantization and optimal control of dynamical systems with symmetries

This paper outlines some progress in the study of quantized control systems. We consider the dynamical systems arising from robotics and autonomous vehicles applications and describe a procedure to transcribe their dynamics into finite-state automata. The transcription procedure extends known previous results. We consider optimal control problems and present conditions under which linear programming algorithms are helpful in trajectory planning.
Whitehead Meets Feynman and the Big Bang

Historical quantum cosmology (HQC) is based not on matter but on a chain of local history—a chain lengthened by many local steps in each global step that expands a double-cone spacetime. The universe’s forward-lightcone lower bound corresponds to the big bang while its backward-lightcone upper bound corresponds to the present. (All history occurs after the big bang and before the present.) HQC adapts continuous string-theoretical and Feynman-graphical notions to discrete Whiteheadian process. While standard physics-cosmology posits a spatially-unbounded universe of matter that (continuously) carries conserved energy-momentum, angular momentum and electric charge, in HQC only a tiny “rigid” component (“enduring process” in Whitehead’s terminology) of a discrete and finite history corresponds to matter. The huge majority of history is “nonrigidly meandering” in time as well as in space and carries none of the above conserved quantities. Dense “vacuonic” history, unobservable by the scientific method, nevertheless carries conserved magnetic charge, contacts material history and participates in magnetodynamic action at a distance. One outcome is zitterbewegung for most standard-model elementary particles, leading to rest mass and collapse of material wave function. Another is probabilistic nature of predictions based solely on past material history. There is prospect of understanding gravity as outcome of interplay between magnetically polarized vacuum and matter. Origin of the standard model’s 3 colors, 3 generations and (approximately) 30-degree Weinberg angle will be sketched and related to the internal structure of the photon and other “elementary” particles.
Monte Carlo Detectors

In analog Monte Carlo transport, the physical processes involved in the transport of particles are modeled and, on the basis of these models, particles are tracked through the problem geometry. Tracking particles through a geometry based on a specified source is analogous to performing an experiment involving the same source and geometry. In an experiment it is necessary that the experimenter have in mind a quantity to measure, and to make provisions to place a detector with the appropriate sensitivity and response characteristics in a location that will provide the desired answer. In the same way the Monte Carlo practitioner must determine what quantities to sample and, in analogy with experiment, place detectors of appropriate size and energy response in a location that will provide the desired result.
High power wide bandwidth inverter output filter design for various operating frequencies and diverse waveforms

An output filter design is presented for high bandwidth high power inverter in this paper. Various filter topologies are compared to eliminate the switching frequency components effectively while generating various output voltage waveforms up to 10 kHz without distortion. This ultimate design consists of an R-C series branch connected in parallel with the C of conventional L-C filter resulting in the lowest THD at the output voltage for sinusoidal waveform generations compared to other conventional filter techniques. For non-sinusoidal waveforms, e.g., triangular signals, and square signals, the proposed filter follows the shape of the commanded waveform very closely. Analysis and experimental verifications of the system are provided with high bandwidth (60 Hz to 10 kHz) inverter where switching frequency is set to 150 kHz using silicon carbide devices. Experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the ultimate filter design in generating sinusoidal, square and triangular wave-shapes at wide range of frequency with the fixed value of filter components. Furthermore, the designed filter helps in limiting the current through the inverter within a tolerable boundary. The ultimate filter design is an outstanding candidate in high bandwidth converter applications operating at high power levels.
Mahogany discoloration of the skin due to the defensive secretion of a millipede.

Abstract: An 8-year-old boy developed a sudden mahogany discoloration of his skin after exposure to defensive secretions of a miliipede. The mechanisms and the composition of the secretion and other clinical features are briefly reviewed.
Measurements of molar heat capacity at constant volume: CV, m{xCH4 + (1 − x)C2H6, T = 100 to 320 K, p ⩽ 35 MPa}

Abstract Measurements of the molar heat capacity at constant volume CV, m{xCH4 + (1 − x)C2H6, x = 0.35, 0.50, 0.68} at temperatures from 100 K to 320 K and at pressures to 35 MPa are reported. Heat capacities have been measured for 626 state conditions and these measurements complement thermodynamic and transport-property measurements previously reported for the same mixtures. The measurements were made on samples of constant mass contained by a calorimeter vessel of nearly constant volume. Uncertainties of the heat-capacity measurements are estimated to be less than 2.0 per cent. Critical enhancement of heat capacity for each mixture is apparent in the critical-temperature region for constant density and similarly in the critical-density region for constant temperature. Liquid heat capacities at saturation, obtained by extrapolation at constant density, have a minimum for each composition occurring at twice the estimated critical density. Reduced configurational heat capacities at saturation {C V, m (T sat )−C V, m, ideal (T sat )} R , examined as functions of reduced density ρ ρ c , fall into a family of parallel curves that have minima at ρ ρ c = 2.0 .
Numerically Stable Design Optimization With Price Competition

Researchers in Decision-Based Design have asserted that business objectives, e.g. profits, should replace engineering requirements or performance metrics as the objective for engineering design. Using profits as the objective for engineering design, however, requires modeling consumer preferences and competition between firms. Game theoretic “design-then-pricing” models—i.e. product design with price competition—provide an important framework for integrating consumer preferences and competition when design decisions must be made before prices are decided by a firm or by its competitors. This article proposes a method for solving design-then-pricing problems that exhibits improved efficiency and reliability, relative to existing methods. Numerical results for a vehicle design example using three solvers—matlab, KNITRO, and SNOPT—to validate this claim. We also highlight the importance of checking the Second-Order Sufficient Conditions in design-then-pricing problems that use Mixed Logit models of demand.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Cleavage of the sarcin–ricin loop of 23S rRNA differentially affects EF-G and EF-Tu binding

Ribotoxins are potent inhibitors of protein biosynthesis and inactivate ribosomes from a variety of organisms. The ribotoxin α-sarcin cleaves the large 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) at the universally conserved sarcin–ricin loop (SRL) leading to complete inactivation of the ribosome and cellular death. The SRL interacts with translation factors that hydrolyze GTP, and it is important for their binding to the ribosome, but its precise role is not yet understood. We studied the effect of α-sarcin on defined steps of translation by the bacterial ribosome. α-Sarcin-treated ribosomes showed no defects in mRNA and tRNA binding, peptide-bond formation and sparsomycin-dependent translocation. Cleavage of SRL slightly affected binding of elongation factor Tu ternary complex (EF-Tu•GTP•tRNA) to the ribosome. In contrast, the activity of elongation factor G (EF-G) was strongly impaired in α-sarcin-treated ribosomes. Importantly, cleavage of SRL inhibited EF-G binding, and consequently GTP hydrolysis and mRNA–tRNA translocation. These results suggest that the SRL is more critical in EF-G than ternary complex binding to the ribosome implicating different requirements in this region of the ribosome during protein elongation.
A quantitative method for representing balance strategies of goal-directed human motions

A movement index termed balance strategy vector (BSV) was developed as a research tool for studying human balance strategies during goal-directed motions. For a given motion (motion capture data), the BSV index quantitatively represents its balance strategy by computing how available body joint DoFs' angular motions affect the formation of the wholebody center-of-mass trajectory. The index facilitates easy and intuitive understanding of balance strategies of various human motions and can assist scientific investigations on human balance strategies. As an example demonstrating the utility of the index, the index was used to explore balance strategies of free-style, sagittal-plane load lifting motions.
Autoradiographic studies of estrogen target cells in the forebrain of larval lamprey, Petromyzon marinus

The distribution of estrogen target neurons is assessed in the forebrain of larval sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, by the use of thaw-mount autoradiography. Following the injection of [3H]estradiol-17 beta, radioactively labeled neurons are found in the ventral telencephalon and in the ventral and dorsal diencephalon, including preoptic, central hypothalamic, and thalamic regions. In the pallium no labeled cells exist. Pituitary glands, obtained from two of the animals, contain no labeled cells. The topographical distribution of estrogen target neurons in larval lamprey is similar to that of adult animals. The number of target neurons in larval lamprey, however, is lower than in the adult. The presence of target cells indicates that gonadal steroids act on the brain at this early stage of development. The lack of concentration of estrogen in pituitary cells suggests an absence of feedback regulation of estrogen at the pituitary level.
High-Q lithium niobate microring-resonators on silicon

Submicron lithium niobate waveguides and resonators are demonstrated on silicon by a novel and reliable ion implantation and wafer bonding technique. Waveguide ridges are formed by selective oxidation of tantalum to avoid etching lithium niobate.
The dynamics of an optimally controlled tumor model: A case study

We present a phase-space analysis of a mathematical model of tumor growth with an immune response and chemotherapy. We prove that all orbits are bounded and must converge to one of several possible equilibrium points. Therefore, the long-term behavior of an orbit is classified according to the basin of attraction in which it starts. The addition of a drug term to the system can move the solution trajectory into a desirable basin of attraction. We show that the solutions of the model with a time-varying drug term approach the solutions of the system without the drug once traatment has stopped. We present numerical experiments in which optimal control therapy is able to drive the system into a desirable basin of attraction, whereas traditional pulsed chemotherapy is not.