cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reflections on independence in nurse practitioner practice

Purpose: To examine factors that influence the ability of nurse practitioners (NPs) to practice as independent primary care providers. Data sources: Extensive literature search on CINAHL, OVID, MEDLINE, Internet journal sources, and professional association Web sites. Conclusions: The legal authority for NPs to practice independently is recognized; however, the ability to put that authority into practice is undermined by the historical failure of political, professional, and social entities to recognize NPs as providers capable of providing primary care autonomously. Nonrecognition is responsible for complex reimbursement policies (both federal and state) that economically and professionally restrain the NP role; hence, NPs remain in a financially dependent relationship despite 40 years of proven safe practice. NPs must articulate their independence as practitioners more vociferously in order to meet society’s healthcare requirements, as well as to attain professional fulfillment and forge collegial relationships. Implications for practice: NPs will never be seen as members of a profession by either themselves or others without the practicality of independence and autonomy. Although legal independence is a fact, real practice independence in the pragmatic sense is contingent upon reimbursement. Without fiscal sustainability, practice independence is an impossibility. And, without professional autonomy, NPs will have only an employee’s voice in the dynamic healthcare system in which they are really key players in providing healthcare services to the poor and undeserved populations.
LSI yield modeling and process monitoring

This paper describes an analytical technique for quantifying and modeling the frequency of occurrence of integrated circuit failures. The method is based on the analysis of random and clustered defects on wafers with defect monitors. Results from pilot line data of photolithographic defects, insulator short circuits, and leaky pn junctions are presented to support the practicality of the approach. It is shown that, although part of the yield losses are due to the clustering of defects, most product loss is from random failures. The yield model shows good agreement with actual product yields.
Gene's worlds: Comparing Eugene Garfield's co-citation and tri-citation image PFNets over time

The structure of Eugene Garfield's Citation Image over two time periods (1978–87 and 19982007) is explored using both “standard” Author Co-citation Analysis and Tri-citation Analysis- co-citation with Garfield included as a third cited author. A comparison of PFNets for each decade and mapping approach shows that tri-citation can bring out more specific and context-relevant author relationships than co-citation that is based on all articles citing any pair of Citation Image authors.
Numerical analysis of diffraction by periodic structures: TM polarization

The diffraction of a time harmonic wave in TM polarization by some periodic inhomogeneous material is studied in this paper. The diffraction problem is modeled by a generalized Helmholtz equation with transparent boundary conditions. Existence and uniqueness are proved for the model problem. Uniform error estimates for the finite element approximation of the solution are established. Error estimates are also obtained when the truncation of the nonlocal boundary operators takes place.
Base changes at position 792 of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA affect assembly of 70S ribosomes.

Abstract To investigate the function of base 792 of 16S rRNA in 30S ribosomes of Escherichia coli, the wild-type (adenine) residue was changed to guanine, cytosine, or uracil by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Each base change conferred a unique phenotype on the cells. Cells containing plasmid pKK3535 with G792 or T792 showed no difference in generation time in LB broth containing ampicillin, whereas cells with C792 exhibited a 20% increase in generation time in this medium. To study the effect on cell growth of a homogeneous population of mutant ribosomes, the mutations were cloned into the 16S rRNA gene on pKK3535 carrying a spectinomycin-resistance marker (thymine at position 1192), and the cells were grown with spectinomycin. Cells containing G792 or C792 showed 16% and 56% increases in generation time, respectively, and a concomitant decrease in 35S assimilation into proteins. Cells with T792 did not grow in spectinomycin-containing medium. Maxicell analyses indicated decreasing ability to form 70S ribosomes from 30S subunits containing guanine, cytosine, or uracil at position 792 in 16S rRNA. It appeared that C792-containing 30S ribosomes had lost the ability to bind initiation factor 3.
The emerging role of RNA in the regulation of gene transcription in human cells

Recent evidence suggests that particular species of non-coding RNAs can modulate gene transcription in human cells. While such observations were in the past relegated to imprinted genes, it is now becoming apparent that several different genes in differentiated cells may be under some form of RNA based regulatory control. Studies carried out to date have begun to discern the mechanism of action whereby non-coding RNAs modulate gene transcription by the targeted recruitment of epigenetic silencing complexes to homology containing loci in the genome. The results of these studies will be considered in detail as well as the implications that a vast array of non-coding RNA based regulatory networks may be operative in human cells.
The solubility of fibrinogen in dilute salt solutions

Abstract Highly purified human fibrinogen was dialyzed versus eleven different sodium salts at ionic strengths of 0.005–0.3 and pH values of 4.5–8.0. After equilibration and centrifugation of the protein solutions, fibrinogen solubilities were determined spectrophotometrically and were analyzed as functions of pH, ionic strength, and specific anion. Bell-shaped curves are obtained when fibrinogen solubility is plotted as a function of pH. The solubility exhibits a minimum at a given pH and rises at acid and alkaline values. As the ionic strength is increased, the solubility curves shift toward more acid pH values. At constant pH values between 6 and 7, fibrinogen solubility increases with an increase in ionic strength. At constant pH values below pH 6, a decrease in solubility occurs as the ionic strength is increased. The isoionic pH of a saturated aqueous fibrinogen solution has been determined to be 6.25, meaning that fibrinogen in pure water behaves as a weak acid with a mean net charge of −0.9. At pH values acid to 6.25, the anions solubilize fibrinogen in the following order of increasing efficacy: thiocyanate, perchlorate, sulfate, citrate, bromide, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, acetate, fluoride, and formate. This order is reversed at pH values alkaline to 6.25. Anion binding parameters calculated from the solubility data indicate that those anions which most effectively solubilize fibrinogen at alkaline pH and precipitate it at acid pH have the highest apparent binding affinities for the protein. Anions with less pronounced solubility effects have lower binding affinities.
Terrigenous dissolved organic matter along an estuarine gradient and its flux to the coastal ocean

The contribution of terrigenous organic matter (TOM) to high molecular weight dissolved and particulate organic matter (POM) was examined along the salinity gradient of the Delaware Estuary. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) was fractionated by ultrafiltration into 1‐30 kDa (HDOM) and 30 kDa‐0.2 mm (VHDOM) nominal molecular weight fractions. Thermochemolysis with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) was used to release and quantify lipids and lignin phenols. Stable carbon isotopes, fatty acids and lignin content indicated shifts in sources with terrigenous material in the river and turbid region and a predominantly algal/planktonic signal in the lower estuary and coastal ocean. Thermochemolysis with TMAH released significant amounts of short chain fatty acids (C9‐C13), not seen by traditional alkaline hydrolysis, which appear to be associated with the macromolecular matrix. Lignin phenol distributions in HDOM, VHDOM and particles followed predicted sources with higher concentrations in the river and turbid region of the estuary and lower concentrations in the coastal ocean. TOM comprised 12% of HDOM within the coastal ocean and up to 73% of HDOM within the turbid region of the estuary. In the coastal ocean, TOM from high molecular weight DOM comprised 4% of total DOC. The annual flux of TOM from the Delaware Estuary to the coastal ocean was estimated at 2.010 10 g OC year ˇ1 and suggests that temperate estuaries such as Delaware Bay can be significant sources of TOM on a regional scale. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Technique for Merging Areas in Timber Mart-South Data

For over20 yr, Timber-Mart-South (TMS) has been distributing prices of various woodproducts from southern forests. In the beginning of 1988, the reporting frequency changed from monthly to quarterly, a change readily addressed through a variety of established statistical techniques. A more significant statistical challenge is Timber Mart-South's change in 1992 from (typically) three reporting regions per state to two. We developed a conversion technique to address this change in reporting areas, permitting longitudinal analyses of the current two regionsperstate but extending back to the beginning of Timber Mart-South's reports in 1976. We report conversion factors for every state's regions, verify the statistical nature of all time series created using them, and report tests of seamlessness. We find that our technique enables the creation of new, seamless series for pine sawtimber stumpage and delivered sawlogs, and pine and hardwood pulpwood stumpage and delivered logs. In only 30 out of 126 cases were we able to identify remaining regime shifts in the time-series of quarterly prices that corresponded with the 1992 boundary reconfigurations. However, these statistically significant shifts may not be related to the boundary reconfgurations. South. J. Appl. For. 24(4):219-229.
Automatic Verification of Floating Point Units

Floating Point Units (FPUs) pose a singular challenge for traditional verification methods, such as coverage driven simulation, given the large and complex data paths and intricate control structures which renders those methods incomplete and error prone. Formal verification (FV) has been successfully leveraged to achieve the high level of quality desired of these critical logics. Typically, FV-based approaches to verify FPUs rely on introducing higher level abstractions to allow reasoning. This however has to be done manually, and quickly becomes tedious for optimized bit level implementations on board high performance microprocessors. Automated formal methods working directly on the bit level and providing a full end-to-end check exist but are limited to single instructions (issued in an empty pipeline), hence lack in checking control aspects related to inter-instruction interactions, or pipeline control. In this paper we present an approach based on equivalence checking to overcome the single instruction limitation for automated bit level proofs in the formal verification of FPUs. The sequential execution of instructions is modeled by two instances of the design-under-test. One of the instances acts as a reference model for the other. This allows for large numbers of internal equivalences to be leveraged by equivalence checking techniques. We show that this method is capable of proving instruction sequences for industrial FPU designs. Together with a proof of correctness of individual instructions it guarantees correctness of the FPU design as a whole. In our experience this is a one of a kind approach to perform automated end-to-end verification of FPUs.
Development of an anatomically correct mechanical model of the bladder

Viscoelastic models of bladder function have been in existence for many years. Often, such models are referred to either a simple spherical geometric model of the bladder, or to a analytic (but still simplified) model. Here, the authors describe the application of an older viscoelastic model to an anatomically accurate geometry derived from the Visible Human dataset.
Distortion Simulations with the PSP Model: Common-Gate Circuits

We present extensive simulations of distortion in common-gate configured FETs, operated around Vds=0 V, using the new PSP MOSFET model Results are compared to measurements. We show that as a FET is configured into an increasingly more realistic circuit, that the PSP model's distortion performance improves correspondingly and that it can predict intermodulation distortion within ~3dB of measured data. Third, we quantify, for the first time, to what extent the intermodulation distortion, as represented by IIP3, can be improved by increasing the gate length (L) while scaling the width (W) to maintain the same Rds for constant insertion loss. We show that the magnitude of the 3rd derivative and IIP3 level off quickly with increasing L.
Geomorphic aspects of normal and accelerated erosion

The twin concepts “normal erosion” and “accelerated erosion” commonly considered to include all erosion past and present, are disarmingly simple, if interpreted literally, they suggest that accelerated erosion was unknown before the coming of man, and, conversely, that the changes brought about by man merely quickened the pace of certain normal processes. Both of these interpretations are misleading. Realizing that normal erosion was a flexible quantity varying widely with meteorological, tectonic, and other influences, Lowdermllk, in 1929, set up an idealized standard of natural erosion, aptly named the “geologic norm of erosion” [see 6 and 7 of “References” at end of paper]. Erosion was considered in the broadest possible sense and was made to include the mass-movement processes, many of which are highly effective in the natural denudation of the lands.
Lagrangian stochastic modeling of a fluctuating plume in the convective boundary layer

A Lagrangian stochastic model of dispersion in the atmospheric convective boundary layer is derived. The turbulence is assumed to be non-homogeneous and non-Gaussian in the vertical direction, homogeneous and Gaussian in the horizontal directions. The model describes the evolution of an airborne contaminant in terms of motion of its centroid and diffusion of particles relative to the centroid. The vertical motion of the centroid is simulated using non-stationary Lagrangian stochastic equations incorporating a time-dependent filter for the turbulent energy. The filtering procedure removes the contribution of turbulent eddies smaller than the cloud instantaneous size to the meandering. The instantaneous dispersion of particles relative to the centroid is parameterized using inertial range similarity formulae. The model is applied to the case of continuous stationary releases and the crosswind dispersion is calculated according to Taylor's theory. The model satisfies the well-mixed condition and is capable of calculating all moments of concentration. Mean concentration and concentration fluctuations for several source heights are simulated and compared with laboratory observations.
The Intelligence of Stupidity: Understanding Failures in Strategic Warning*

This analysis discusses the implications of some cognitive and organizational factors for the evaluation and avoidance of failures in strategic warning. It advances three major arguments. First, efforts to assess and improve warning forecasts must take into account the policy context in which they are made and used. They cannot be based on concerns with the accuracy of forecasts alone. Second, important biases are present in retrospective case studies. Therefore, we should accept post hoc explanations of warning failures with appropriate caution. Third, a pluralistic intelligence community, as it is presently proposed for some non-U.S. systems, is unlikely to resolve the problems thought to be responsible for past strategic surprises. It may in fact compound these problems.
Development and validation of the SDDS-PC screen for multiple mental disorders in primary care.

OBJECTIVE To develop, validate, and cross-validate a patient-completed screen for multiple mental disorders in primary care. DESIGN Comparison of a patient self-report screen with an independent diagnostic assessment by mental health professionals using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R diagnoses as criterion standard. SETTING Three Rhode Island family practices and a South Carolina family medicine residency. SUBJECTS In the initial validation study, 937 patients in Rhode Island were screened; 388 were interviewed. In the cross-validation study, 775 patients were screened in Rhode Island and South Carolina, and 257 were interviewed. SCREEN ITEMS: Sixty-two questions pertaining to nine mental disorders and suicidal ideation. RESULTS A 16-item screen remained after analysis of item and scale performance. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value, respectively, were calculated for the following scales: alcohol abuse or dependence (62%, 98%, and 54%), generalized anxiety disorder (90%, 54%, and 5%), major depression (90%, 77%, and 40%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (65%, 73%, and 5%), panic disorder (78%, 80%, and 21%), and suicidal ideation (43%, 91%, and 51%). Replication in a new sample showed attenuated but acceptable operating characteristics for cross-validation. CONCLUSIONS The Symptom-Driven Diagnostic System for Primary Care screen assesses multiple mental disorders that are common to primary care. It serves as a sensitive, valid, and patient-friendly first step in a new approach to recognizing and managing mental disorders in primary care. Finally, it aids the primary care clinician in selecting an appropriate diagnostic interview module for the disease for which the patient screened positive.
Anal cancer and human papillomaviruses in heterosexual men.

Little is known about anal hpv in men—and especially in heterosexual men. Against this backdrop of scarce data, the incidence of anal cancer has risen considerably. Although knowledge about anal hpv in msm has advanced in the last decade (important advances, given the increased rate of anal cancer in msm), the much greater number of heterosexual men and the lack of epidemiologic data describing anal hpv in heterosexual men should prompt additional research in this area.
Sensor Queries: Algebraic Optimization for Time and Energy

Sensor networks naturally apply to a broad range of applications that involve system monitoring and information tracking (e.g., airport security infrastructure, monitoring of children in metropolitan areas, product transition in warehouse networks, fine-grained weather/environmental measurements, etc.). Meanwhile, there are considerable performance deficiencies in applying existing sensornets in the applications that have stringent requirements for efficient mechanisms for querying sensor data and delivering the query result. The amount of data collected from all relevant sensors may be quite large and will require high data transmission rates to satisfy time constraints. It implies that excessive packet collisions can lead to packet losses and retransmissions resulting in significant energy costs and latency. In this paper we provide a formal consideration of a Data Transmission Algebra (DTA) that supports application-driven data interrogation patterns and optimization across multiple network layers. We use a logical framework to specify DTA semantics and to prove its soundness and completeness. Further, we prove that DTA query execution schedules have the key property of being collision-free. Finally, we describe and evaluate an algebraic query optimizer performing collision-aware query scheduling that both improve the response time and reduce the energy consumption.
Redefining Life While Forestalling Death: Living with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator after a Sudden Cardiac Death Experience

Secondary analysis is a resourceful approach for making further use of existing data sets to answer questions not previously addressed or to expand on content not specifically examined in the original study. Using Heideggerian hermeneutics, the author analyzed transcripts of the stories of individuals with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) from three of her earlier phenomenological studies to obtain a description of the experience of living with an ICD after a sudden cardiac death experience. Three related themes emerged: (a) losing control: technology as lifesaving yet changing everything; (b) getting on with living: regaining control or conditional acceptance; and (c) creating a new vision: transformation or tenuous truce. The constitutive pattern was redefining life while forestalling death.
High-temperature characteristics and tunability of long-wavelength vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers

In this study, we investigate the high-temperature characteristics and the temperature tuning of long-wavelength vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOA). The temperature shift of the peak-signal gain is shown to depend on the mirror reflectivity of the VCSOA. Experimental results of temperature tuning of a 1.3-/spl mu/m VCSOA are presented. We demonstrate 10 dB of fiber-to-fiber gain over a tuning range of approximately 8 nm.
Stratigraphy of Back-Barrier Coastal Dunes, Northern North Carolina and Southern Virginia

Abstract Ground penetrating radar studies of four representative active back-barrier dunes, combined with radiocarbon and photon-stimulated-luminescence dating techniques and soils analysis, reveal phases of alternating dune activity and stabilization along the North Carolina–Virginia coast. Two smaller dunes represent only the current phase of dune activity. Two larger dunes preserve evidence of three phases of dune development (ca. 740, 1260 and 1810 AD) and intervening phases of soil development. Climate, particularly moisture conditions, played a part in the timing of dune activity and stabilization events. All three dune phases are associated with drier conditions whereas soils formation is associated with humid conditions. Modern (phase 3) dunes are more widespread along the coast and their formation is attributed to a combination of dry conditions, increased storminess associated with the Little Ice Age, and rising sea level. Tidal inlet closing and storm overwash processes likely provided sediment...
EFFECTS OF READING GROUP ASSIGNMENT ON READING DEVELOPMENT IN FIRST AND SECOND GRADE

Placement in a reading group determines: (a) the materials a child sees during reading instruction, (b) the pace at which a child proceeds through reading materials, and (c) the peers a child interacts with during reading instruction. The current study examined these effects of reading group placement upon the individual's growth in reading during first and second grade. The study also examined how children were initially placed in reading groups. A secondary analysis of data collected by Juel, Griffith, and Gough (1986) and Juel (1988) was performed. Initial first-grade placements were found to be primarily based on standardized reading readiness tests. Children rarely changed groups. The correlations between place in basal series at the end of first grade and place in series at both the beginning and end of second grade were .77. Children with low incoming readiness test scores developed better decoding skills when placed in a basal series with fewer unique words. Initial aptitude, growth during first grade in decoding skills, and a high success rate in learning basal words influenced first grade reading achievement considerably more than sheer basal coverage or certain peer group characteristics. Only after basic reading skill was acquired did group placement begin to adversely affect reading development—if it constrained exposure to text in second grade. Grouping children for instruction in elementary schools continues to be a controversial topic (Gamoran, 1987; Hiebert, 1987; Slavin, 1987a, 1987b). In part this is due to philosophical, psychological, and political concerns over assigning children to instructional groups on the basis of so-called ability tests. In part, however, this is also due to: (a) contrary findings on the effects of ability grouping, and (b) the criticism that many studies on effects of grouping have failed to sufficiently account for instructional processes and classroom factors that accompany the grouping procedures. Two basic questions have been raised about the latter which might
The Settlers' Cattle Complex: The Etiquette of Culling Cattle in Colonial Zimbabwe, 1938

This paper examines the 1938 cattle culling and sales in Gutu and Victoria reserves, colonial Zimbabwe. What began as a routine culling very quickly became a crisis of authority for the Native Affairs Department since critics of the Department forced an inquiry into the sales. The criticism and defence of the culling facilitated a debate on state and personal justice, as well as a dialogue about the proper behaviour towards Africans, settlers and animals. The critics of the cullings as well as the colonial officers all believed themselves to be experts in African affairs. Thus what began as a criticism of cattle culling revealed tensions within white society, and in particular the need to refashion boundaries of expertise and authority within the Native Affairs Department. A close examination of the scope and development of the ensuing commission of inquiry reveals the importance of etiquette to the colonial enterprise in colonial Zimbabwe.
Is procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial use cost-effective in adult patients with suspected bacterial infection and sepsis?

OBJECTIVEProcalcitonin has emerged as a promising biomarker of bacterial infection. Published literature demonstrates that use of procalcitonin testing and an associated treatment pathway reduces duration of antibiotic therapy without impacting mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the financial impact of utilizing a procalcitonin-guided treatment algorithm in hospitalized patients with sepsis.DESIGNCost-minimization and cost-utility analysis.PATIENTSHypothetical cohort of adult ICU patients with suspected bacterial infection and sepsis.METHODSUtilizing published clinical and economic data, a decision analytic model was developed from the U.S. hospital perspective. Effectiveness and utility measures were defined using cost-per-clinical episode and cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Upper and lower sensitivity ranges were determined for all inputs. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses assessed the robustness of our model and variables. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated and compared to predetermined willingness-to-pay thresholds.RESULTSBase-case results predicted the use of a procalcitonin-guided treatment algorithm dominated standard care with improved quality (0.0002 QALYs) and decreased overall treatment costs (46), days of antimicrobial reduction (<1.6 d), incidence of nephrotoxicity and rate of nephrotoxicity reduction.CONCLUSIONThe combination of procalcitonin testing with an evidence-based treatment algorithm may improve patients’ quality of life while decreasing costs in ICU patients with suspected bacterial infection and sepsis; however, results were highly dependent on a number of variables and assumptions.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;00(0): 1–8
Mental health problems among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths ages 14 to 21.

The mental health problems of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (lgb) youths were studied using a sample of 542 youths from community settings. Information about the development of sexual orientation, problems related to sexual orientation, parents’ reactions, and victimization based on sexual orientation was related to mental health symptoms and suicidality. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths were found to demonstrate more symptoms than a comparison group of adolescents. Over one- third of the sample reported a past suicide attempt. More symptoms were related to parents not knowing about youths’ sexual orientation or with both parents having negative reactions to youths’ sexual orientation. More than three-quarters had been verbally abused because of their sexual orientation, and 15 percent reported physical attacks. More than one-third said they had lost friends because of their sexual orientation. Youths who had experienced more victimization and who had lost friends reported more mental health symptoms. Menta...
Boric Acid Bait Kills Adult Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

The toxicity of boric acid solutions to adult Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, Culex nigripalpus Theobald, and Aedes albopictus Skuse was evaluated in the laboratory. Median lethal concentrations (LC50 in %) at 24-h exposure for male and female An. quadrimaculatus were 0.317 and 0.885, respectively; for Cx. nigripalpus, 0.273 and 0.560, respectively; and for Ae. albopictus, 0.174 and 0.527, respectively. The LC50 values at 48-h exposure for male and female An. quadrimaculatus were 0.101 and 0.395, respectively; for Cx. nigripalpus, 0.098 and 0.255, respectively; and for Ae. albopictus, 0.078 and 0.244, respectively. In laboratory tests, access for 48 h to sucrose (10%) water containing 1% boric acid (boric acid bait) resulted in 98% mortality in blood fed, gravid, and parous Ae. albopictus. When offered a choice between boric acid bait and sucrose water, 52% of male and 33% of female Ae. albopictus ingested sufficient boric acid bait in 24 h to cause death; after 48 h, respective percent mortalities were 88 and 58%. In outdoor tests, in a walk-in screened cage (156 m3) containing 1,250 female Ae. albopictus, mosquito biting rates on the exposed forearm of a human subject in 3-min exposure were reduced > or = 78% for the boric acid bait treatment, compared with a sucrose water control.
Lessons for a Rural Female Superintendent: Gender, Leadership, and Politics

Two years before my coauthor and I began this narrative inquiry, as the school superintendent of a rural community, I failed to fire a malicious football coach and resigned shortly thereafter. I floundered for a few months and then decided to pursue a doctorate in educational administration. Soon I met a professor, now my coauthor, who offered me the opportunity to explain what had happened in terms of socially constructed gender roles. We investigated 40 post-World War II urban, suburban, and rural female superintendents whom my coauthor and other scholars had interviewed. After theming their stories into five prototypes we wove these collective representations into my personal narrative and found that operationalizing any political agenda necessitated being aware of how a school community views acceptable womanhood, because it determined how the female superintendent was received. Had I adopted my stakeholders’ notion of female demeanor, more school patrons may have heard me. Yet, for me and other superintendents the feasibility and ethics of what might be seen as outright manipulation will forever loom on the horizon of politics, gender and the superintendency
A Noncausal Framework for Model-based Feedback Control of Spatially-developing Perturbations in Boundary Layers (Invited)

We present a noncausal framework for model-based feedback stabilization of a large class of spatiallydeveloping boundary-layer flo w systems. The systems considered are (approximately) parabolic in the spatial coordinate x. This facilitates the application of a range of established feedback control theories which are based on the solution of differential Riccati equations which march over a finite horizon in x (rather than marching in t, as customary). However, unlike systems which are parabolic in time, there is no causality constraint for the feedback control of systems which are parabolic in space; that is, downstream information may be used to update the controls upstream. Thus, a particular actuator may be used to neutralize the effects of a disturbance which actually enters the system downstream of the actuator location. A numerically-tractable feedback control strategy is formulated which takes advantage of this special capability of feedback control rules in the spatially-parabolic setting in order to minimize a globally-defined cost function in an effort to maintain laminar boundary-layer flo w. We compute the state-feedback control gains at several spanwise wavenumbers β. We then inverse transform the result to obtain spatial convolution kernels for determining the control feedback. The effectiveness of the controls computed using these feedback kernels, which are well resolved on the computational grid and spatially localized in the spanwise direction, is tested using direct numerical simulation of the boundary-layer flo w system. A significant damping of the flo w perturbation is observed, which is of the same order as the damping that arises when applying significantly more expensive iterative adjoint-based control optimization schemes.
Advances of Research on Early Senescence of Rice Leaf and Phytohormones Regulation

The effects of early-senescence indexes of rice leaf on yield were reviewed in this paper.The change of physiological indexes in leaf senescence process,including chlorophyll,the content of protein,activities of some enzymes and content of MDA were summarized.Research advances in external phytohormones were analyzed to prevent the rice leaf senescence.Finally some advices on the future study of rice leaf senescence were put forward.
Eicosanoids modulate apical Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels in cultured rabbit principal cells

Patch clamp technology was utilized to study the effects of apical phospholipase A2 (PLA2) metabolites on “maxi K” channels in the principal cell apical membrane of rabbit cortical collecting tubul...
Low‐Temperature Ionic Conductivity of an Acceptor‐Doped Perovskite: I. Impedance of Single‐Crystal SrTiO3

Low temperature conductivity mechanisms were identified in acceptor-doped BaTiO3 single crystals equilibrated and quenched from high temperature under different oxygen partial pressures. A range of acceptor ionization states were quenched into samples doped with manganese or iron. Using an appropriate equivalent circuit to interpret impedance spectroscopy data, room temperature conductivity mechanisms in the single crystal samples were identified, and the permittivity/temperature dependence was also shown to be self-consistent with the nature of a first-order ferroelectric phase transition. The primary, low temperature, conduction mechanism in acceptor-doped BaTiO3 was determined to be dominated by the migration of oxygen vacancies. The activation energy for oxygen vacancy migration was experimentally determined to have a value of nearly 0.7 eV. This activation energy represents an intrinsic value for vacancy hopping and confirms our previous work that revealed minimal interaction between acceptor dopants and oxygen vacancies in BaTiO3 in contrast to the well-documented evidence of defect association in SrTiO3.
Management in Perspective

Reports on the shortage of engineers and managers in the United States. Discussion on managerial competence; Ratio of management-labor ratio and the statistics of managers as of 1960; Information o...
Electrode design of AlN Lamb wave resonators

The impact of electrode configurations, materials, thicknesses and interdigital transducer (IDT) duty factor (DF) on performance of aluminum nitride (AlN) Lamb wave resonators is analyzed and summarized for the first time in this study. By careful design and selection of the transducer and bottom electrodes, the effective electromechanical coupling coefficient (k2 eff ) of the AlN Lamb wave resonator can be boosted from ∼2% to values close to 7%. The results reported in this paper lay the foundation for transducer designs of AlN Lamb wave resonators.
Biophysical characterization of organelle-based RNA/protein liquid phases using microfluidics.

Living cells contain numerous membrane-less RNA/protein (RNP) bodies that assemble by intracellular liquid–liquid phase separation. The properties of these condensed phase droplets are increasingly recognized as important in their physiological function within living cells, and also through the link to protein aggregation pathologies. However, techniques such as droplet coalescence analysis or standard microrheology do not always enable robust property measurements of model RNA/protein droplets in vitro. Here, we introduce a microfluidic platform that drives protein droplets into a single large phase, which facilitates viscosity measurements using passive microrheology and/or active two-phase flow analysis. We use this technique to study various phase separating proteins from structures including P granules, nucleoli, and Whi3 droplets. In each case, droplets exhibit simple liquid behavior, with shear rate-independent viscosities, over observed timescales. Interestingly, we find that a reported order of magnitude difference between the timescale of Whi3 and LAF-1 droplet coalescence is driven by large differences in surface tension rather than viscosity, with implications for droplet assembly and function. The ability to simultaneously perform active and passive microrheological measurements enables studying the impact of ATP-dependent biological activity on RNP droplets, which is a key area for future research.
Naturaleza, lenguaje y virtud en el origen de la Polis

La pregunta pro el origen de las diversas formas de organizacion politica, sean ellas el imperio, la polis o el Estado trae consigo inevitablemente tres problemas del maximo interes.
Trajectories Near Equilibria

In this chapter we relate the flow of an ODE \(\mathbf{x}^{{\prime}} = \mathbf{F}(\mathbf{x})\) near an equilibrium b∗ to the flow of the linearization, by which we mean the equation w′ = Aw, where A = DF(b∗). There are two main theoretical results. (i) In Section 6.1, we assume \(\mathfrak{R}\lambda _{j}(A) <0\), which guarantees that all solutions of the linearization converge to the equilibrium; Theorem 6.1.1 shows that under this hypothesis, the full equation shares a version of this behavior, which is called asymptotic stability. (ii) In Section 6.6, the stable-manifold theorem (Theorem 6.6.1) characterizes the behavior of solutions when the Jacobian DF(b∗) has eigenvalues with both positive and negative real parts.
Comment on ``Pulsar Velocities and Neutrino Oscillations''

A Comment on the Letter by Alexander Kusenko and Gino Segr{grave e}, Phys.thinspthinspRev.thinspthinspLett.thinspthinsp{bold 77}, 4872 (1996). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Imaging of the Carpal Tunnel and Median Nerve

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is primarily a clinical diagnosis; however, recent advances in diagnostic imaging have increased the relevance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) in the clinical evaluation. There are a variety of imaging findings of CTS that are well depicted on both modalities that have varied sensitivities and specificities. In MRI, the most commonly used criteria for CTS are increased median nerve size, median nerve flattening, median nerve signal change, and flexor retinaculum bowing. In ultrasound, measuring the cross-sectional area of the nerve at the level of the pisiform or carpal tunnel inlet detects CTS with a sensitivity and specificity that is similar to electrodiagnostic tests (EDTs). Both CT and ultrasound can aid in identifying alternative causes of nerve compression, such as ganglion cysts, masses, or flexor tenosynovitis. Future research in CTS imaging will include the use of MRI diffusion tensor imaging and ultrasound elastography.
Chlorella minutissima cultivation with CO2 and pentoses: Effects on kinetic and nutritional parameters

CO2 emissions and the large quantity of lignocellulosic waste generated by industrialized nations constitute problems that may affect human health as well as the global economy. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of using CO2 and pentoses on the growth, protein profile, carbohydrate content and potential ethanol production by fermentation of Chlorella minutissima biomass. CO2 and pentose supplementation can induce changes in the microalgal protein profile. A biomass production of 1.84g.L-1 and a CO2 biofixation rate of 274.63mg.L-1.d-1 were obtained with the use of 20% (v.v-1) CO2. For cultures with 20% (v.v-1) CO2 and reduced nitrogen, the carbohydrate content was 52.3% (w.w-1), and theoretically, 33.9mL.100g-1 of ethanol can be produced. These results demonstrate that C. minutissima cultured with the combined use of CO2 and pentoses generates a biomass with high bioenergetic potential.
Comprehensive T‐cell immunophenotyping and next‐generation sequencing of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive and HPV‐negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

The success of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibition in achieving a clinical response in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients emphasizes the need to better understand the immunobiology of HNSCC. Immunophenotyping was performed for 30 HCSCC patients [16 human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive; 14 HPV-negative] on matched tissue from the primary tumour site, locally metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs), uninvolved local cervical LNs, and peripheral blood. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell lymphocytes obtained from tissue were analysed for expression levels of the inhibitory receptors PD-1, TIM-3 and CTLA-4. Next-generation sequencing of the T-cell receptor (TCR) β chain was performed on patients (n = 9) to determine receptor repertoire diversity and for clonality analysis. HPV-negative HNSCC patients, particularly those with stage IV disease, had significantly higher proportions of CD8+ T cells expressing CTLA-4 in tumour tissue (P = 0.0013) and in peripheral blood (P = 0.0344) than HPV-positive patients, as well as higher expression levels of TIM-3+ PD-1+ CD8+ T cells (P = 0.0072) than controls. For all patients, PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells - particularly in HPV-negative HNSCC cases - strongly correlated (r = 0.63, P = 0.013) with tumour size at the primary site. The top CD8+ TCR clones from tumour tissue significantly overlapped with circulating peripheral blood TCR clones (r = 0.946), and HPV-positive patients had frequently expanded TCR clones that were more hydrophobic - and potentially more immunogenic - than those from HPV-negative patients. Collectively, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that high-stage HPV-negative HNSCC patients with primary tumours at different sites in the head and neck have elevated peripheral CTLA-4+ CD8+ T-cell levels, that tumour-familiar CD8+ T cells are detectable in peripheral blood from HNSCC patients, and that TCRs from HPV-positive HNSCC patients potentially recognize distinctly immunogenic cognate antigens. However, our findings are preliminary, and need to be further confirmed in a larger patient cohort; also, how these factors affect patient response to immunotherapy needs to be determined. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overexpression of the yeast high affinity glutathione transporter, Hgt1, restores growth in cells lacking γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase

Glutathione (L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine) (GSH) is the most abundant low molecular weight thiol in eukaryotic cells. Its ability to serve as a reducing equivalent in several biological reactions offers protection against reactive oxygen species, xenobiotics, and heavy metals. In addition, GSH serves as an iron ligand for some Fe-S binding proteins involved in both iron regulation and the synthesis and maturation of Fe-S proteins. Hence, GSH is important for iron homeostasis. The biosynthesis of GSH occurs via a two-step ATP-dependent enzymatic process. In the first reaction, γ-glutamylcysteine is formed by γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (Gsh1). In the second step, glycine is added to the peptide via GSH synthetase (Gsh2). Deletion of the γ-glutamylcysteine synthase gene (GSH1) in yeast leads to growth arrest without GSH supplementation.1 In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, extracellular GSH can be imported via a high affinity GSH transporter, Hgt1.2 The physiological role of GSH depletion on cellular function and subcellular redox status has been well characterized. However, it has not been determined how cells depleted of GSH (∆gsh1) respond to increased GSH uptake. To study this, our lab employed a ∆gsh1 yeast strain engineered to overexpress Hgt1. Yeast strains where Hgt1 is overexpressed have been shown to overaccumulate GSH and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) when GSH is added to the media.3 Our data suggests that the overexpression of Hgt1 alone can partially rescue cells devoid of GSH in a redox-dependent manner. To future elucidate this observation, we will express subcellular targeted redox sensors developed in our lab that specifically equilibrates with GSH:GSSG redox changes.
A scalable ECC processor implementation for high-speed and lightweight with side-channel countermeasures

The performance of Public Key Cryptosystems (PKC) based on elliptic curves is mostly dependent on the performance of the underlying field arithmetic. In this work, we present high-speed and lightweight implementations of a fully scalable architecture of an Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) scalar multiplier processor. The processor supports operations over GF(p) for arbitrary values of p, and field sizes up to 521 bits. The implementations perform modular multiplication operations using fully scalable Montgomery multiplier architectures, one tailored for high-speed and one for lightweight. Both designs support different bus widths to increase flexibility and allow for a wide range of applications. Our cores include countermeasures to side-channel attacks by using the Montgomery Ladder and Exponent Randomization methods to provide resistance to Simple Power Analysis (SPA) and Differential Power Analysis (DPA) respectively. We implemented the designs on FPGA platforms from different vendors and evaluated them based on NIST recommended field lengths — 192, 224, 256, 384, and 521 bits — using several arbitrary values of prime p.
Securing SCADA Applications Using OpenPLC With End-To-End Encryption

During its nascent stages, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) were made robust to sustain tough industrial environments, but little care was taken to raise defenses against potential cyberthreats. The recent interconnectivity of legacy PLCs and SCADA systems with corporate networks and the internet has significantly increased the threats to critical infrastructure. To counter these threats, researchers have put their efforts in finding defense mechanisms that can protect the SCADA network and the PLCs. Encryption is a critical component of security and therefore has been used by many organizations to protect data on the network. However, since PLC vendors don't make available information about their hardware or software, it becomes challenging to embed encryption into their devices, especially if they rely on legacy protocols. This paper describes an alternative design using an open source PLC that was modified to encrypt all data it sends over the network, independently of the protocol used. Experimental results indicated that the encryption layer increased the security of the link without causing a significant overhead.