cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cyclic Nucleotide-gated Ion Channels

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels are activated by cAMP or cGMP, crucial intracellular messenger molecules that regulate a wide variety of physiological activities. In photoreceptors and olfactory neurons, CNG channels play an essential role in transducing sensory stimuli into electrical and chemical responses. CNG channels are also found in other tissues including brain and sperm, where they may contribute to physiological functions including pacemaking, synaptic transmission and chemosensation. The exquisite regulation of different CNG channels by divalent cations, calmodulin, phosphorylation and phospholipids allows these proteins to carry out disparate physiological functions with high precision. Our understanding of the structure of these channels has been greatly enhanced by the recent determination of the structures of domains of related ion channels. The powerful combination of electrophysiology, biochemistry, patch-clamp fluorometry and X-ray crystallography has begun to unravel the mystery of how CNG channels are regulated and how the binding of cyclic nucleotides lead to channel opening. Key concepts Ion channels are membrane proteins that allow ions to diffuse across cellular membranes in a regulated manner. CNG channels are ion channels regulated by the direct binding of cyclic nucleotides. Photoreceptors are retinal cells that contain a high density of ion channels regulated by the binding of cyclic nucleotides. Olfaction is the process of odour sensation, also regulated by the binding of cyclic nucleotides. Permeation describes the ability of ion channels to selectively determine which ions can move through them. Gating is the process by which ion channels open and close to control the flow of ions. Structure/function describes the relationship between the 3D structure of an ion channel and its function. Cyclic nucleotides are small ligands used to control the gating of CNG channels. Keywords: ion channels; cyclic AMP; cyclic GMP; photoreceptor; olfaction
Naming beyond the white settler colonial gaze in educational research

AbstractIn this article, I describe the ways educational research often calls us out our names, meaning that educational researchers often name communities not as they are but as the academy needs them to be along damaging logics of erasure and deficiency. I use Morrison’s concept of the White gaze, Tuck’s concepts of damage-centered and desire-based research, and other contemporary scholarship on settler colonialism, White supremacy, and education to offer ways of naming in educational research beyond the White settler gaze. Finally, I look to hashtag naming in current social movements (e.g. #BlackLivesMatter, #DearNativeYouth #NotYourModelMinority) to imagine educational research that understands the naming of the communities of our work as informed by movement speech, the sort of naming that can save lives and show us and others who we are and desire to be.
Development of Surface Morphologies on Single Crystal Tungsten Irradiated with 30 keV Helium Ions at 900ºC

AbstractSingle crystal tungsten samples with (110) and (100) surface orientations were irradiated with 30 keV He+ at 900oC to fluences of 3×1017 to 1×1019 He+/cm2 at normal incidence. The samples e...
Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program

In the early stages of my research on media representations of Miami Indian identity, I was often frustrated and overwhelmed by the number of fruitless results yielded when searching in the larger,...
Bar-shaped Magnetoelectric Gyrator

This paper reports a dual-resonance power transfer effect and a dual-resonance I-V conversion for a bar-shaped ME gyrator made from a hard Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 (PZT) ceramic bar having a transverse polarization and a Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 (Terfenol-D) magnetostrictive alloy bar having a longitudinal magnetization bonded along their cross-section areas. A bar-shaped provides several advantages to a ME gyrator; such as dual resonance frequency along its length direction, as well as half-wave and full-wave vibration modes; reduced laminate bonding area avoiding adhesive breakdown; and ease of fabrication. The reported magnetoelectric gyrator effect originates from the mechanically mediated resonance piezoelectric and magnetostrictive effects in the PZT and Terfenol-D bars, respectively. We studied the influence of the length ratio between the Terfenol-D and piezoelectric bars. A power efficiency of 69.4% was obtained at the half wavelength resonance of 21.47kHz under optimal H Bias=1000 Oe and low power conditions. Under higher power drive of 8W/in3, an efficiency of 60.2% was found. This dual-resonance ME gyrator effect offers much promise in power transfer devices for power electronic applications.
Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is the fourth leading cancer type in men and the fifth in women in the USA. It is readily curable in early stages but in the disseminated state, it carries a grave prognosis. Melanoma occurs more frequently in white adults, with peak incidence during the fourth and fifth decades of life melanoma is rare in dark-skinned races. Women have a survival advantage. Most melanomas arise de novo. They also may arise from preexisting nevi. Diagnosis is established by excisional biopsies (1- to 2-mm margin), full-thickness incisional biopsies, or punch biopsies of the thickest portion of the tumor, selected according to tumor site and size. Biopsies should be made with consideration of future definitive treatment in mind. Histological types include nodular, lentigo maligna, superficial spreading, and acral lentiginous. Primary mode of treatment for cutaneous melanoma is surgery, with full-thickness excision serving as proper staging as well as treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy, systemic biological therapy, and radiation therapy may be indicated. Survival rates have increased between the years 1995 and 2000 as compared with the 1970s, in part due to increased awareness and screening programs. Depth of invasion correlates with survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma. For stages I, II, III, and IV tumors, 15-year survival rates approximate 80, 50, 35, and 5%, respectively. Other prognostic factors include mitotic rate, ulceration, regression, host immune response, satellitosis, angiolymphatic invasion, and status of regional nodal involvement.
Mental gland secretions as a social cue in gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus): tortoise presence stimulates and maintains social behaviour with chemical cues

Multimodal signalling reinforces specific messages in communication. In gopher tortoises, similar to other reptilian species, visualization of conspecific and chemical exudates from the skin may serve as a multimodal display advertising information about conspecific species, sex, or individual qualities, but this has not been fully elucidated. For gopher tortoises, one such possible source of chemical cues could be secretions from seasonally enlarged mental glands (MG). Here, we used both sexes of gopher tortoises in a paired choice presentation of MG secretions vs. distilled (DI) water on resin tortoise models to assess visual presence with tortoise-specific secretions. We examined behaviours to treatments to examine if MG secretions are recognizable olfactory cues and if visual cues alone are sufficient to maintain social interactions using a simple visual presentation vs. a complex visual and olfactory presentation. Tortoises of both sexes spent more total time (p < 0.001) and performed a greater number of behaviours (p < 0.001) towards the MG-treated model, relative to the neutral control (DI-treated model), suggesting that olfactory MG secretions are also required, along with visual presence of a tortoise, to engage in social behaviours. Our results are among the first for this species suggesting that pheromone usage may drive social interactions in social behaviours.
Exploiting Photoionization Reflectron Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry to Explore Molecular Mass Growth Processes to Complex Organic Molecules in Interstellar and Solar System Ice Analogs.

ConspectusThis Account presents recent advances in our understanding on the formation pathways of complex organic molecules (COMs) within interstellar analog ices on ice-coated interstellar nanoparticles upon interaction with ionizing radiation exploiting reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ReTOF-MS) coupled with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) single photon ionization (PI) and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of the subliming molecules during the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) phase. Laboratory simulation experiments provided compelling evidence that key classes of complex organics (aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, enols, ketones, and carboxylic acids) can be synthesized upon exposure of astrophysically relevant model ices to ionizing radiation within and throughout the ices at temperatures as low as 5 K.Molecular mass growth processes can be initiated by suprathermal or electronically excited reactants along with barrierless radical-radical recombination if both radicals hold a proper recombination geometry. Methyl (CH3), amino (NH2), hydroxyl (OH), ethyl (C2H5), vinyl (C2H3), ethynyl (C2H), formyl (HCO), hydroxycarbonyl (HOCO), hydroxymethyl (CH2OH), methoxy (CH3O), and acetyl (CH3CO) represent readily available reactants for radical-radical recombinationwithin the ices. Reactive singlet species were found to insert without barrier into carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon single bonds (carbene) leading to an extension of the carbon chain and may add to carbon-carbon double bonds (carbene, atomic oxygen) forming cyclic reaction products. These galactic cosmic ray-triggered nonequilibrium pathways overcome previous obstacles of hypothesized thermal grain-surface processes and operate throughout the ice at 5 K. Our investigations discriminate between multiple structural isomers such as alcohols/ethers, aldehydes/enols, and cyclic/acyclic carbonyls. These data provide quantitative, isomer selective input parameters for a cosmic ray-dictated formation of complex organics in interstellar ices and are fully able to replicate the astronomical observations of complex organics over typical lifetimes of molecular clouds of a few 106 to 107 years. Overall, PI-ReTOF-MS revealed that the processing of astrophysically relevant ices can lead to multifaceted mixtures of organics reaching molecular weights of up to 200 amu. Further advances in laboratory techniques beyond the FTIR-QMS limit are clearly desired not only to confidently assign detection in laboratory ice analog experiments of increasingly more complex molecules of interest but also from the viewpoint of future astronomical searches in the age of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
Carceral Tales: A Report on Prison Pedagogy

…in the language of reformers, inmates, and literary artists at large, the prison was represented as the dark house of ghosts and monsters.1–Caleb A. SmithIn a now famous scene from the Americanize...
MYC Hyperactivates Wnt Signaling in APC/CTNNB1-Mutated Colorectal Cancer Cells through miR-92a-Dependent Repression of DKK3.

Activation of Wnt signaling is among the earliest events in colon cancer development. It is achieved either via activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin, the key transcription factor in the Wnt pathway, or most commonly by inactivating mutations affecting APC, a major β-catenin binding partner and negative regulator. However, our analysis of recent Pan Cancer Atlas data revealed that CTNNB1 mutations significantly co-occur with those affecting Wnt receptor complex components (e.g., Frizzled and LRP6), underscoring the importance of additional regulatory events even in the presence of common APC/CTNNB1 mutations. In our effort to identify non-mutational hyperactivating events, we determined that KRAS-transformed murine colonocytes overexpressing direct β-catenin target MYC show significant upregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway and reduced expression of Dickkopf 3 (DKK3), a reported ligand for Wnt co-receptors. We demonstrate that MYC suppresses DKK3 transcription through one of miR-17-92 cluster miRNAs, miR-92a. We further examined the role of DKK3 by overexpression and knockdown and discovered that DKK3 suppresses Wnt signaling in Apc-null murine colonic organoids and human colon cancer cells despite the presence of downstream activating mutations in the Wnt pathway. Conversely, MYC overexpression in the same cell lines resulted in hyperactive Wnt signaling, acquisition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers, and enhanced migration/invasion in vitro and metastasis in a syngeneic orthotopic mouse colon cancer model. Implications: Our results suggest that the MYC→miR-92a-|DKK3 axis hyperactivates Wnt signaling, forming a feed-forward oncogenic loop.
Validation of Automated Segmentation Algorithms.

Purpose/Objective(s) Automated image segmentation algorithms are being introduced with limited clinical validation. The benefit of these algorithms is negated by the need for expert review and edits which can be more laborious than manual segmentation. This work introduces a systematic method for acceptance of automated segmentation including inter-organ and inter-patient variations. Materials/Methods Clinical validation of two artificial intelligence algorithms (A1-2) for computed tomography (CT) was performed. A dataset of 80 radiation therapy patients (P1-80) and contours of 34 different organs at risk (OARs) included head and neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis regions and an array of CT-scanning protocols. Nine segmentation comparisons were used including volume metrics, surface distance metrics, and statistical measures. The set of evaluation metrics were compared inter-OAR (averaged across all patients) and inter-patients (averaged across all OARs). This evaluation has the potential to identify problems in the algorithm for specific OARs and specific patients. Results Both algorithms were successful in many OARs, the inter-organ datasets successfully identified bladder, kidneys, liver, mandible, spinal canal, and stomach with above-average statistics across the population. For other organs, both algorithms consistently performed below average in most metrics including great vessels, heart, larynx, lens, optic nerves, and optic chiasm. In many of these cases, volume metrics were often 15mm. These OARs can indicate algorithm problems or institutional variations between human and AI-contours, e.g., in great vessels only the relevant region is included in human lung plans, not the entire aorta as contoured in A1. Similarly, A1 delineated the femoral head whereas institutionally femur includes contours inferiorly to the gluteal tuberosity. Based on per-organ statistics, we removed many contours for consideration including heart, esophagus, larynx, pharyngeal constrictors in A2. Inter-patient comparisons identified four inconsistent patients. P2 failed 5/9 metrics, investigation revealed the contours were generated on CTs from different timepoints. P8 failed 5/9 metrics due to A2 failures in bladder and rectum, A1 had no issues in this patient. P13 failed just one metric, investigation found lens, optic chiasm, and left optic nerve in the wrong anatomic region. P53 failed one metric: A1 failed in submandibular gland due to severe dental artifacts. Conclusion Clinical validation of automated contouring should be performed and compared to institutional data. The proposed process of per-organ and per-patient averages identified legitimate problems in algorithms in specific structures and variations with institutional norms. By identifying and removing problematic structures, AI-based segmentation may be more readily accepted clinically.
On the Equation of State of Hydrogen and Its Use in Models of Major Planets

Since Jupiter and Saturn are considered to be composed primarily of hydrogen, its pressure-density equation of state is needed for computational models of their interiors. Until recently, experimental data were limited to 20 kbar statically and 40 kbar dynamically. Since the majority of a major planet is at a pressure in excess of this, there were only theoretical calculations available for modeling.
Feshbach Resonances in Chemical Reactions

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews Feshbach theory and discusses applications that are developed to observe chemical reactions. The time-independent formulation was then applied to a model four-channel reaction involving two open channels interacting with two asymptotically closed channels. The generation of the multichannel Green function for the open channels and the solution of the bound-state problem for the interacting closed channels are discussed in detail. A perturbative analysis of two definitions of resonance parameters is presented. The dependence of the complex eigenvalues of the level operator on collision energy and on the coupling strength between the open and closed channels is also numerically investigated. Comparisons were made with energy-independent Siegert eigenvalues. Plots were presented of typical resonance states and their open channel response functions. Finally, transition probabilities for isolated and overlapping resonances were analyzed in terms of Argand diagrams, which show the energy dependence of individual S-matrix elements. Finally, the chapter concludes that resonances in chemical reactions are a beautiful class of phenomena that serve as a very sensitive probe of the dynamics and structure of the “collision complex.”
Regulation of Tyrosine α-Ketoglutarate Transaminase in Rat Liver VIII. INDUCTIONS BY HYDROCORTISONE AND INSULIN IN CULTURED HEPATOMA CELLS

Abstract Hydrocortisone addition to cell cultures of the Reuber (H-35) hepatoma initiated an 8- to 10-fold increase in tyrosine transaminase (l-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.5) levels, the response being maximal at 9 hours and persisting at this new level for at least 36 hours. The optimal concentration of hydrocortisone for this induction was 5 x 10-7 m. Insulin was also found to elevate this enzyme in H-35 cells, and caused the enzyme to rise without the lag period that is apparent after hydrocortisone. With a single addition of insulin, the increase in enzyme (5- to 6-fold) ceased after 8 hours, but a high steady state could be maintained by resupplementation with insulin. When the effect of insulin is measured at 6 hours, 1 milliunit per ml is optimal and 0.02 milliunit per ml is readily detected. The isolated A and B chains of insulin are not effective and do not compete with intact insulin. Glucagon is not effective in these cells, which appear to lack adenyl cyclase activity. Immunochemical-isotopic analyses show that both hydrocortisone and insulin specifically accelerate synthesis of the enzyme, but there may also be a stimulation of general protein synthesis after insulin treatment. Analysis of the kinetics of these inductions indicates a half-life of about 3 hours for tyrosine transaminase in the cells; this was confirmed by "chase" analysis and shown to be unaffected by insulin. Transaminases from hydrocortisone-induced, insulin-induced, and noninduced cells are immunologically identical with the rat liver enzyme.
Synthesis, Storage, and Secretion of Adrenal Medullary Hormones: Physiology and Pathophysiology

The sections in this article are: 1 Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Adrenal Medulla 2 Morphology of Adrenal Medulla 2.1 Types of Chromaffin Cells 2.2 Blood Supply of the Adrenal Gland 2.3 Innervation of the Adrenal Gland 3 Biosynthesis of Catecholamines in Adrenal Medulla and its Regulation 3.1 Tyrosine Hydroxylase 3.2 Aromatic-l-Amino Acid Decarboxylase 3.3 Dopamine β-Hydroxylase 3.4 Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase 3.5 Activity-Induced Changes in Enzyme Activity 3.6 Activity-Induced Changes in Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression 3.7 Role of Glucocorticoids in Regulation of Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase 4 Role of Adrenal Catecholamines in Regulation of Adrenal Cortical Function 4.1 Effects of Catecholamines on Adrenocortical Responses to Corticotropin 4.2 Role of Catecholamines in Compensatory Adrenal Growth 5 Neuropeptides Released from Adrenal Chromaffin Cells 6 Regulation of Catecholamine and Neuropeptide Secretion from Adrenal Medulla 7 Adrenal Medullary Responses to Stress 7.1 Ontogeny of Responses 7.2 Adrenomedullary Responses to Stressful Stimuli 7.3 Relation between Adrenal Medullary and Sympathetic Nervous System Responses to Stress 7.4 Physiological Interactions between Adrenal Cortical and Medullary Responses to Stress 7.5 Does the Adrenal Medulla Play a Role in the Activities of Daily Living? 7.6 Are Alterations in Adrenal Medullary Function Involved in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Glucose Intolerance? 8 Release of Catecholamines and Neuropeptides from Chromaffin Tumors 9 Conclusions
High Resolution and High Dynamic Range Image Reconstruction from Differently Exposed Images

In this research, we propose a method to reconstruct image of high resolution and high dynamic range from small number of low resolution images with some saturated pixels. In this method the low resolution images are captured with different exposure times and at different positions and the high resolution image is created with reconstruction based super resolution processing. The position of the CCD sensor in the camera is controlled by a piezo actuator and at each capturing position the exposure time is also controlled in specific arrangement. And in the reconstruction method a high resolution image is recursively updated by comparing simulated low resolution images which are created from high resolution image with assumed optical degradation and its exposure time and the captured images. In this paper we first describe how to capture the low resolution images and how to create high resolution image from images which have some saturated pixels and next show the evaluation of the result image created from real captured images.
Bin Laden and Awlaki: Lawful Targets

Many have challenged the legality of the 2011 United States’ operations that resulted in the deaths of Osama Bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki. Pakistan condemned the Bin Laden operation as a violation of international law; human rights advocates asserted that each man should have been captured instead of killed; and others claimed the operations were unlawful “assassinations” or, in the case of Awlaki, a violation of his constitutional rights as an American citizen. This article explains why these criticisms are all without merit and concludes that these military operations were legally justified under both international and domestic law.
Sphingomyelin fatty acid composition in human twins the effects of genotype, age, and sex

Abstract The fatty acid composition of serum sphingomyelin in 15 pairs of normal, healthy twins of varying ages was studied to determine the effects of genetic constitution, age, and sex. Monozygous twins demonstrated a higher intrapair agreement for sphingomyelin fatty acids of C18:1, C18:2, C22:0, and C23:0 (P
Development, maturation, and aging of chromatic visual pathways: VEP results

It has been argued that the development and aging of the different achromatic and chromatic visual pathways may proceed independently. We review here the evidence for such independent changes with particular emphasis on electrophysiological results. Changes in chromatic and achromatic visual processing throughout the life span were studied using visual evoked potentials (VEPs). VEPs were recorded in response to the presentation of patterns designed to preferentially stimulate achromatic and S-(L+M) and (L-M) chromatic mechanisms. Recordings were made in subjects aged 1 week to 90+ years. Longitudinal measurements were obtained from several infants and cross-sectional measurements were obtained from infants and older subjects. Responses to achromatic reversing patterns at low spatial frequencies appeared early and changed rapidly. Latencies of the achromatic reversal response decreased to mature values within the first 12-15 weeks of life. Responses to chromatic pattern onsets, however, appeared later (L-M: 4 weeks; S: 6-8 weeks) and changed continuously throughout the first year of life. Chromatic waveforms from 1 year to puberty appeared inverted relative to the adult waveform. The waveforms did not appear adultlike until about 12-14 years of age. The latencies of the major negative component of the adult response reached a minimum around 17-18 years of age. Throughout the remainder of the life span, VEP latencies steadily increased and amplitudes slightly decreased. Latencies of responses to chromatic pattern onsets increased more rapidly than latencies to moderate contrast achromatic pattern reversals.
M-ary pseudorandom phase masks for spatially efficient phase encoded reference JTC

In this paper we propose the use of discrete pseudorandom phase mask for a spatially efficient phase encoded JTC. In the proposed JTC system the reference image is phase encoded using a pseudorandom phase mask to eliminate extraneous peaks cluttering or overshadowing the correlation output. The phase encoding scheme also eliminates the need for a spatial separation in the joint input image resulting in the full use of the SLM. An optoelectronic architecture of the proposed system is presented. To relax the need for a phase-only SLM with a high phase resolution we proposed the use of discrete pentary pseudorandom phase mask.
An analysis of buffer paging in virtual storage systems

Storage buffers are often used to hold temporary results or data that may be re-referenced in the near future. If these buffers are pagable, searching the buffer may cause a high number of page exceptions. A model of this phenomenon is postulated, and compared with experimental data.
Phase Separation Dynamics in a Mixture of Polystyrene and Liquid Crystal

Abstract A phase diagram for a mixture of polystyrene (PS) and monomeric liquid crystal (E7) was established on the basis of differential scanning calorimetry and cloud point measurements. An upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type phase diagram, overlapping with a nematic-isotropic transition of liquid crystals, was observed. Several deep temperature quenches were undertaken at an off-critical compositon (60/40PS/E7) from a single phase to a two-phase region. Time-evolution of the structure factor was determined by time-resolved static light scattering. Phase separation appeared to occur via spinodal decomposition (SD) with a growth exponent of 1/3 at deep quenches in conformity with the cluster dynamic theory. A nucleation and growth (NG) was discerned at a shallower temperature quench.
Discovery of a New White Dwarf in a Binary System (EUVE 0720-317) in the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Survey and Implications for the Late Stages of Stellar Evolution

A new precataclysmic binary is identified in the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) all-sky survey. The bright source EUVE 0720-317 shows a hot hydrogen-rich white dwarf optical continuum with overlying narrow Balmer-line emission. Using high signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopy in the 4100-6700 A range, we identify a late-type companion and find a 1.3d periodic modulation in the emission-line velocities and strengths. This is the signature of Feige 24-type close binary systems. We determine the components' spectral types (DAO and dM0-2), orbital velocities (K(sub DAO) = 104 +/- 12 km/s, K(sub dM) = 96 +/- 7 km/s), and systemic velocity (gamma = 15 +/- 12 km/s). A first estimate of the white dwarf gravitational redshift, gamma(sub g) = 45 +/- 20 km/s, and theoretical mass-radius relationships imply R(sub DAO) = 0.010-0.016 solar radius and M(sub DAO) = 0.55-0.90 solar mass. The orbital inclination is therefore i greater than or equal to 52 deg, consistent with the large amplitude variations found in H-alpha equivalent widths that imply i greater than or equal to 42 deg. We show that the discovery of new close WD + MS binary systems in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sky surveys has important implications for theory of common-envelope evolution, in particular for the predicted close binary birthrate and orbital and stellar parameters.
Ready-to-use-simulation: THE HIDDEN COSTS OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER

Although the costs of employee turnover to organizations are often substantial, the centralized nature of the recruiting function can make these costs difficult to recognize. THE HIDDEN COSTS OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER helps participants understand these costs, including temporary labor, recruiting, training, and the "learning curve." Participants form consulting teams whose job is to most accurately guess the organizational costs of turnover; the facilitator or facilitators are organizational representatives with prespecified information to provide, if asked. The exercise provides a strong platform for introducing a variety of human resource management topics.
The Earth's Changing Climates

Other investigations contributing to our knowledge of ancient climates have been based on studies of the fossil remains of certain climatically-sensitive animals, such as the warmth-loving alligators and manatees or the coldtolerant musk-oxen and walruses. Among the marine invertebrates various groups, such as reef-building corals and certain foraminifera, have been used as reliable indicators of temperature conditions below sea level. Other studies have been based on the ratio in ancient shell-fish remains of isotopic Oxygen 18 to Oxygen 16, which is controlled by the temperature of the sea water in which the shells grew. Even the rocks themselves, as exemplified by glacial till or tillite, red-beds, and evaporites, have been useful as climatic indicators. The results of all these studies indicate that our present world climate is rather unusual and is basically a cold "glacial"' climate. It has further been shown that during more than three quarters of the time since the beginning of the Cambrian Period climates have been much warmer and more uniform than they are today. Glacial climatic epochs have interrupted the warm, uniform climates several times before the onset of our present "ice age". The last optimum of warm, non-glacial climate occurred in the Eocene Epoch, which began about 55,000,000 years ago. Near the end of this Epoch lush subtropical forests are recorded as far north as southeastern Alaska, Washington, Oregon and northern Wyoming, In the succeeding Oligocene and Miocene Epochs there was a gradual, fluctuating, southward shifting of these subtropical forests due to the slow cooling of the climate. As a result the subtropical forests were gradually replaced by temperate forests until the close of the Pliocene Epoch, about 1,000,000 years ago, when climatic conditions in North America were not very different from those of today. Since that time, some of the most rapid and most significant, yet least understood, climatic changes have taken place. Numerous plant fossils, mainly of pollen grains, indicate a shifting of forest belts southward in front of slowly advancing ice sheets and subsequent northward reoccupation by forests as the ice sheets melted away, — not only once, but four successive times during the course of the Pleistocene Epoch. The magnitude of the southward shifting of forest zones is at present controversial.
Carnitine decarboxylase of Phormia regina

Abstract Carnitine decarboxylase was purified from the larvae of Phormia regina which were raised under aseptic conditions on a chemically defined media in which carnitine was substituted for choline. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this purified enzyme after DEAE Sephadex column chromatography showed a single protein band. Amino acid analysis has revealed the apparent absence of cysteine and the presence of an unknown amino acid peak following ammonia.
A Chloride Pump at Atomic Resolution

In Halobacterium salinarum , a family of four archaeal rhodopsins performs several different signaling and cross-membrane transport functions. In this Perspective, Spudich discusses recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanism by which these homologous proteins perform this range of functions. A high-resolution structure of halorhodopsin (Kolbe et al. , page 1390) provides insights into the relation between proton and chloride transport, representing an important step toward understanding the unifying principles in the archaeal rhodopsin family.
Optical properties of the surface plasmon of n+ silicon

The optical properties of the surface plasmon of n+ silicon are determined by a least-squares curve fit of the Drude intraband model to the ATR reflection spectra. The surface plasmon resonance of n+ silicon is highly damped ( ωpτ = 2.69), and causes the ATR dispersion curve calculated on the real frequency axis to exhibit back-bending for its complex frequency-like solutions; whereas the theoretical dispersion curve exhibits the standard wave vector divergence at the surface plasmon frequency. This discrepancy is rectified by converting the optical properties of n+ silicon into functions of complex frequency, and using them to calculate the ATR dispersion curve in the complex frequency plane. A comparison of the Drude dielectric function as a function of real and complex frequencies is analyzed. The comparison shows that the difference between their values is small at high frequencies and deviate the largest in the region near the surface plasmon resonance. Die optischen Eigenschaften des Oberflachen-Plasmons von n+ - Silizium werden bestimmt, indem fur das Drude-Intraband-Modell die Methode der kleinsten Quadrate fur das Verfahren der stochastischen Kurvenermittlung an die abgeschwachten Totalreflexions-Spektren benutzt wird. Die Oberflachen-Plasmonresonanz von n+- Silizium ist stark gedampft (ωpτ = 2,69) und bewirkt, das die auf der wirklichen Frequenzachse berechnete, abgeschwachte Totalreflexions-Dispersionskurve eine Zuruckbiegung fur deren komplexe frequenzartige Losungen aufweist, wohingegen die theoretische Dispersionskurve die Standard-Wellenvektor-Divergenz bei der Oberflachen-Plasmon-frequenz aufweist. Diese Unstimmigkeit wird korrigiert, indem die optischen Eigenschaften von n+-Silizium in Abhangigkeit von der komplexen Frequenz umgewandelt werden, und indem diese benutzt nerden, um die Kurve der abgeschwachten Totalreflexion in der Ebene der komplexen Frequenz zu berechnen. Ein Vergleich der dielektrischen Funktion nach Drude in Abhangigkeit von wirklichen und komplexen Frequenzen wird analysiert. Der Vergleich ergibt, das der Unterschied zwischen den Werten bei hohen Frequenzen niedrig ist, und das die Werte am meisten im Bereich nahe der Oberflachen-Plasmonresonanz abweichen.
Faces as light probes for relighting

A light probe is commonly used for measuring the illumination of a real scene. Instead of equipping a man-made light probe such as a mirror ball, we propose to use a face in images as a natural light probe. To that end, we construct a statistical reflectance model for faces and use this model to extract the lighting and the reflectance field of an input face. With an iterative procedure, we can obtain the lighting condition from an unknown face image. As a byproduct of this procedure, we also estimate the reflectance field of the same face. By identifying the lighting condition of scene, we can provide an effective solution for various practical appli- cations. First, we can insert a virtual object seamlessly into a real scene by illuminating the virtual object under the lighting present in the real scene. Second, we can relight a face under an arbitrary lighting condition using the estimated reflectance fields. Third, we can swap two unknown faces using the estimates of both lighting and reflectance fields. Based on var- ious experiments, we show that the proposed algorithm is an effective tool for many practical applications: inserting a virtual object into a real scene, face relighting, and face swapping. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
Deflection evaluation using time-resolved radiography

Time-resolved radiography is the creation of an x-ray image for which both the start-exposure and stop-exposure times are known with respect to the event under study. The combination of image and timing are used to derive information about the event. We have applied time-resolved radiography to evaluate motions of explosive-driven events. In the particular application discussed here, our intent is to measure maximum deflections of the components involved. Exposures are made during the time just before to just after the event of interest occurs. A smear or blur of motion out to its furthest extent is recorded on the image. Comparison of the dynamic images with static images allows deflection measurements to be made. 2 figs.
A comparison of objective measures of sexual arousal and interest: visual reaction time and penile plethysmography

This study assessed the reliability and validity of a visual reaction time (VRT) measure of sexual interest (G. G. Abel, J. Huffman, B. Warberg, & C. L. Holland, 1998) and the penile plethysmograph (PPG) with audio stimuli. A sample of 57 sex offenders incarcerated at a high-security military prison completed physiological and self-report measures of sexual interest, including the VRT and the PPG. Results indicated adequate internal consistency for both measures. Convergent validity and an assessment of clinical usefulness for both measures indicated that (a) both measures accurately identified offenders against young boys; (b) the VRT, but not the PPG, significantly identified offenders against adolescent girls; (c) neither measure reached statistical significance in identifying offenders against adult women; and (d) the VRT did not reach statistical significance in identifying offenders against young girls and the PPG did reach statistical significance but in the opposite direction as was expected (i.e., men with female child victims had significantly lower arousal to female child stimuli than did men in other victim choice categories).
Large pericardial effusion as a complication in adults undergoing SCT.

Large pericardial effusion (LPE) leading to cardiac tamponade is a rare complication described in patients undergoing SCT. This complication is considered to be a manifestation of chronic GVHD; however its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Currently, there are no published data systematically describing the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of LPEs in adult stem cell transplant recipients. We retrospectively evaluated 858 adult patients (512 autologous, 148 related and 198 unrelated donor) who underwent hematopoietic stem cell and BM transplants at our institution from 2005 to 2008 for the development of post transplant LPE. Seven patients (0.8%) were found to have LPEs and all these patients had undergone unrelated allografts. The median day of diagnosis post transplant was 229 (range 42–525). None of these patients had active manifestations of GVHD other than serositis at the time of LPE detection. Pericardial window (PW) was successfully placed in all patients who developed cardiac tamponade and most patients with LPE were effectively treated by increasing immunosuppression. We conclude that LPE is a rare late complication after allogeneic transplant in adults and in our study developed only after unrelated transplant. PW can be safely performed in these patients and LPEs can be successfully treated with intensification of systemic immunosupression.
Static and kinetic geometric spanners with applications

It is well known that the Delaunay Triangulation is a spanner graph of its vertices. In this paper we show that any bounded aspect ratio triangulation in two and three dimensions is a spanner graph of its vertices as well. We extend the notion of spanner graphs to environments with obstacles and show that both the Constrained Delaunay Triangulation and bounded aspect ratio conforming triangulations are spanners with respect to the corresponding visibility graph. We also show how to kinetize the Constrained Delaunay Triangulation. Using such time-varying triangulations we describe how to maintain sets of near neighbors for a set of moving points in both unconstrained and constrained environments. Such nearest neighbor maintenance is needed in many virtual environments where nearby agents interact. Finally, we show how to use the Constrained Delaunay Triangulation in order to maintain the relative convex hull of a set of points moving inside a simple polygon.
Overcoming SiN film stress limitations for high quality factor ring resonators

We overcome stress limitations of thick SiN films using termination trenches to isolate the device area from crack propagation. We measure an unprecedented quality factor of 6.5 million in a high confinement SiN ring resonator.
3D-confocal structural analysis of bone marrow-derived renal tubular cells during renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Bone marrow cells (BMC) have been shown to migrate into injured sites for parenchymal repair. However, the extent of BMC involvement is controversial. To determine whether and to what extent BMC contribute to renal parenchymal repair, we employed three-dimensional (3D) fluorescent confocal microscopy/video in renal warm and cold ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury using enhanced green fluorescent protein transgenic rats and their radiation chimeras. After induction of renal warm I/R injury in chimeras, BM-derived renal tubular cells were found in 2D microscopy as isolated single cells or clusters of 2–3 cells. Likewise, cold I/R injury resulted in host-derived tubular cells with frequencies ∼0.2%. However, stringent confocal microscopic analysis and 3D image construction revealed that BM-derived tubules identified in 2D images were frequently artifacts of overlapping cells separately stained with different markers. The actual frequency in 3D analysis was approximately one-fourth of that seen in 2D analysis. 3D confocal imaging precisely detected BM-derived tubular epithelial cells and could be useful to study BMC contribution to tissue repair.
A minimal descriptor of an ancestral recombinations graph

Ancestral Recombinations Graph (ARG) is a phylogenetic structure that encodes both duplication events, such as mutations, as well as genetic exchange events, such as recombinations: this captures the (genetic) dynamics of a population evolving over generations. In this paper, we identify structure-preserving and samples-preserving core of an ARG G and call it the minimal descriptor ARG of G. Its structure-preserving characteristic ensures that all the branch lengths of the marginal trees of the minimal descriptor ARG are identical to that of G and the samples-preserving property asserts that the patterns of genetic variation in the samples of the minimal descriptor ARG are exactly the same as that of G. We also prove that even an unbounded G has a finite minimal descriptor, that continues to preserve certain (graph-theoretic) properties of G and for an appropriate class of ARGs, our estimate (Eqn 8) as well as empirical observation is that the expected reduction in the number of vertices is exponential. Based on the definition of this lossless and bounded structure, we derive local properties of the vertices of a minimal descriptor ARG, which lend itself very naturally to the design of efficient sampling algorithms. We further show that a class of minimal descriptors, that of binary ARGs, models the standard coalescent exactly (Thm 6).
The dissolved organic iodine species of the isotopic ratio of 129I/127I: A novel tool for tracing terrestrial organic carbon in the estuarine surface waters of Galveston Bay, Texas

Variations in 129I/127I ratios were used to trace terrestrial organic carbon (tDOC) across an estuary because (1) iodine is biophilic, up to 75% of total iodine in fresh and coastal marine waters partitions into organic iodine; (2) 129I/127I ratios in tDOC are greatly elevated over those from marine systems because atmospheric emissions of 129I from European nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities were mixed more quickly in the surface ocean, up to 500 m in a decade, than the terrestrial system, which mixed approximately 10 cm in 10 to 50 y; and (3) the oceanic contribution of 127I (50 to 65 ppb) to the ratio has a greater dilution effect than 127I from freshwater (0.5 to 40 ppb). Analytical techniques were developed for 129I/127I ratio determination in dissolved organic iodine (DOI) and the other iodine species, using dehydrohalogenation, anion chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and accelerator mass spectrometry, to be applied to samples from Galveston Bay, Texas. Results indicate that 129I/127I ratios in DOI from terrestrial sources are elevated in the upper estuary up to salinity of about 20, similar to a behavior previously described for this estuary for stable isotopic signals for dissolved organic matter. 129I/127I ratios in the other iodine species, e.g., iodide and iodate, did not show this feature, indicating fast isotopic and chemical equilibration between the two isotopes among the different inorganic species in the estuary. These results thus provide proof of concept that 129I/127I-DOI can serve as a tracer for tDOC in the coastal zone.
Beta2-Agonist Induced Ventricular Dysrhythmias Secondary to Hyperexcitable Conduction System in the Absence of a Long QT Syndrome

Background The use of inhaled beta 2 -agonists for bronchodilation in the treatment of lower airway obstruction is accepted worldwide. These agents are used for symptomatic relief of lower airway obstruction and, as well, can be employed prophylactically in exercise-induced bronchospasm. Cardiac dysrhythmias, specifically the long QT syndrome, have been associated with cardiac events precipitated by sympathomimetics. There are reports of documented long QT syndrome in association with syncope in children; however, there are no reports of beta 2 -agonist-induced syncope in the absence of long QT syndrome. Objective To determine predisposing cardiac factors resulting in syncope associated with inhaled beta 2 -agonist use. Method Case report. The index case was evaluated for cardiac pathology through non-invasive techniques, cardiac catheterization, and electrophysiologic studies. Electrophysiologic studies included provocative challenge with parenteral adrenergic agents. Results Non-invasive studies were unremarkable. There was no evidence of prolonged QT syndrome or support for vasopressor syncope. Electrophysiologic studies revealed reproducible polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. This predisposition required a ventricular stimulation program of higher intensity while on mexilitine. Conclusion This case of syncope associated with inhaled, short-acting beta 2 -agonist resulted from a hyperexcitable conduction system rather than the presence of a long QT syndrome.
Dysfunctional Career Thoughts and Attitudes as Predictors of Vocational Identity among Young Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract This study examined dysfunctional career thoughts and attitudes as predictors of vocational identity among high school students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Regression analysis results indicated that dysfunctional career thoughts and attitudes were significant predictors of vocational identity, accounting for 42% of the explained variance. Dysfunctional career thinking, measured by the Career Thoughts Inventory ( Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, & Saunders, 1996 ) and the Career Maturity Inventory — Revised ( Crites & Savickas, 1996 ), displayed important predictive relationships with vocational identity as measured by the Vocational Identity Scale ( Holland, Daiger, & Power, 1980 ). Implications for interventions and further research in vocational psychology and career counseling with ADHD students are discussed.