cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Herbicide Tolerance of in Vitro Selected Hybrid Poplar

Hybrid poplars, selected for optimal yield in the northern USA and Canada, do not tolerate chemical stresses. Synthetic chemical herbicides are important in intensive silviculture, however poplars are often more sensitive than major weeds to broad spectrum herbicides applied during the growing season. Through our research we have increased the tolerance of four hybrid poplar clones to glyphosate (Roundup1, Monsanto Chemical Co.) and sulfometuron methyl (Oust, Du Pont Chemical Co.). Leaf explants were subjected to herbicide selection on optimized shoot regeneration medium supplemented with glyphosate or sulfometuron methyl. Regenerated adventitious shoots were rechallenged at the lethal dose of herbicide for non-selected in vitro shoots. We were thus able to select shoots with increased tolerance to herbicide-containing tissue culture medium. Initial growth chamber testing of rooted herbicide tolerant shoots confirmed tolerance to glyphosate demonstrated in vitro.
Evaluation of Central Nervous System Function in Dialysis Patients. a Practical Approach with Implications for Selection and Modification of Treatment Modalities

There are presently over 300,000 patients worldwide receiving chronic dialysis. The goals of end-stage-renal disease (ESRD) treatment are not only to prolong life, but to do so in a way that maximizes its quality.
Gas chromatographic characteristics of chlordane : II. Observed compositional changes of the pesticide in aqueous and non-aqueous environments☆

Abstract Studies were made on the vaporization and adsorptive properties of chlordane when the pesticide was exposed to water and organic solvent environments. Within thirty days of exposure to water, the heptachlor component of chlordane was completely changed to 1-hydroxychlordene. Over a period of sixty days, water adsorbed increasing amounts of vaporized chlordane; the α-chlordane, γ-chlordane and nonachlor components of the pesticide were markedly stable. No apparent chemical changes in the pesticide were observed when it was exposed to an isooctane environment for an equivalent period of time; the more volatile components of chlordane were adsorbed to a greater degree in the organic solvent. Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, a component of chlordane, dissipated or degraded, with time, in water solution. However, in an organic solvent environment, this chemical displayed multi-component characteristics. Gas chromatography was used to observe the changes in the characteristics of the pesticide, with time, in aqueous and non-aqueous media.
Morale of Teachers of the Visually Handicapped: Implications for Administrators:

The Purdue Teacher Opinionaire (PTO) was used to determine the morale of 238 teachers of the visually handicapped (VH) teachers. No significant differences in total scores were found in the total s...
Chapter 16 – Applications of Thermodynamics to Biological Processes

This chapter provides an overview of the thermodynamic analysis of metabolism and the stabilities of two types of biomolecules—namely, proteins and nucleic acids. Living cells undergo a variety of cyclic processes. An important part of metabolism is to generate the energy that drives these processes. This energy is converted into work, with heat as a byproduct. Cycles, heat, work, and energy are the framework upon which thermodynamics is built. Therefore, it is not surprising that the study of biological systems from a thermodynamics perspective has yielded valuable insights into the forces that dictate the structures of organisms and the functioning of their various cellular components. Rather than providing a comprehensive account of thermodynamic applications to biological systems, the chapter describes two key areas where, historically, thermodynamic measurements provide important quantitative data that gives insights into fundamental biological processes. The chapter also presents several conclusions about the nature of biological systems that arise from thermodynamic considerations.
Pooled whole-genome sequencing of interspecific chestnut (Castanea) hybrids reveals loci associated with differences in caching behavior of fox squirrels (Sciurus niger L.).

Dispersal of seeds by scatter-hoarding rodents is common among tropical and temperate tree species, including chestnuts in the genus Castanea. Backcrossed (BC) interspecific hybrid chestnuts exhibit wide variation in seed traits: as the parent species (Castanea dentata and C. mollissima) have distinct seed phenotypes and tend to be handled differently by seed dispersers, phenotypic variation in BC trees is likely due to inheritance of genes that have undergone divergent evolution in the parent species. To identify candidate genomic regions for interspecific differences in seed dispersal, we used tagged seeds to measure average dispersal distance for seeds of third-generation BC chestnuts and sequenced pooled whole genomes of mother trees with contrasting seed dispersal: high caching rate/long distance; low caching rate/short distance; no caching. Candidate regions affecting seed dispersal were identified as loci with more C. mollissima alleles in the high caching rate/ long-distance pool than expected by chance and observed in the other two pools. Functional annotations of candidate regions included predicted lipid metabolism, dormancy regulation, seed development, and carbohydrate metabolism genes. The results support the hypothesis that perception of seed dormancy is a predominant factor in squirrel caching decisions, and also indicate profitable directions for future work on the evolutionary genomics of trees and coevolved seed dispersers.
Scalable Reliability Monitoring of GaN Power Converter Through Recurrent Neural Networks

Reliability and operation of high-frequency Gallium Nitride (GaN) power converters are yet to be discovered. Coming with the reliability assessment and improving the life extension of power converters, the approach is to monitor semiconductor on-resistor changes as a precursor signature for diagnostic/prognostic. This paper presents a novel approach for hybrid condition-based prognostic and reliability monitoring of GaN devices. The proposed approach offers a multi-physics co-simulations solution for degradation fatigue modeling of the GaN power devices. With the availability of the most granular information deduced from the advanced devices, the paper develops deep learning based algorithms for online reliability in power electronics. The proposed algorithm is based on the prominent version of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) named Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). LSTM models are utilized for system training and simulation model calibrations, and eventually predicting the next states within the next time horizon.
Redemption in a single low point story longitudinally predicts well‐being: The incremental validity of life story elements

OBJECTIVE Extending research on the incremental validity of life story variables and the importance of particular kinds of story contexts, this paper tested the hypothesis that a single theme (narrative redemption) in a specific life story episode (the low point-or an episode that challenges the self) can predict well-being, above and beyond covariates. METHOD Two samples, an emerging adult (N = 144) and a late midlife sample (N = 158), provided life story episodes with different life story collection methods (written and interview) and completed self-report measures concurrently and longitudinally. RESULTS The findings indicated that low point redemption was associated concurrently and longitudinally with well-being when controlling for the Big Five factors of Extraversion and Neuroticism and narrative word count. These associations held for three months among emerging adults and four years among late midlife adults. Aggregating redemption in high and low points did not improve the concurrent or longitudinal association between redemption and well-being. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate the capacity of elements in a single challenging episode of the life story to predict well-being.
Effects of the source of advice and decision task on decisions to request expert advice

Automation has become a deeply integrated aspect of our everyday activities. Many factors affect whether we rely on and comply with recommendations that we receive, from both human and automated experts. In the present study, participants were presented with advice from either a human or automated expert to complete one of two decision tasks: assigning teams to find human survivors or assigning teams to find and repair oil wells. Participants played 1 of 4 modified versions of the Search and Rescue video game and, on each trial, were asked to choose 3 of 12 locations to which to send search teams. Participants could request advice from a drone or human expert (confederate), depending on the condition to which they were assigned. Participants utilized automation more consistently than the human expert regardless of the decision task. We discuss possible explanations of our results and how they affect design considerations for automation.
Disability Plots: Curriculum, Allegory, & History

This article discusses theoretical approaches from disability studies and curriculum studies to help educators see how we position the experiences of, and discourses about, people with disabilities in the various narratives we recreate about “America” and U.S. national history. It uses Pinar’s curriculum theory of allegory (2015) to explain how historical narratives of disability can be read in diverse ways. The specific stories of disability that appear in the curriculum of history education performatively do different things. The article shares examples of disability histories taught in classrooms to argue that these are historical allegories of our present thoughts on disability with each narrative following a specific curricular mode of emplotment, ranging from romance to epic, horror, and more.
Protocol for a resonantly driven three-qubit Toffoli gate with silicon spin qubits

The three-qubit Toffoli gate plays an important role in quantum error correction and complex quantum algorithms such as Shor's factoring algorithm, motivating the search for efficient implementations of this gate. Here we introduce a Toffoli gate suitable for exchange-coupled electron spin qubits in silicon quantum dot arrays. Our protocol is a natural extension of a previously demonstrated resonantly driven cnot gate for silicon spin qubits. It is based on a single exchange pulse combined with a resonant microwave drive, with an operation time on the order of 100 ns and fidelity exceeding 99%. We analyze the impact of calibration errors and $1/f$ noise on the gate fidelity and compare the gate performance to Toffoli gates synthesized from two-qubit gates. Our approach is readily generalized to other controlled three-qubit gates such as the Deutsch and Fredkin gates.
Mental illness and menopause: a patient and family perspective.

Background Menopause is a significant biological event in the life of every woman, including women with mental disorders. This brief report describes the results of a survey of 39 patients with mental illness and their family members regarding perceived effects of menopause on mental illness. Methods The survey was distributed to participants attending a National Alliance for the Mentally Ill educational presentation on menopause and mental health. Results Most participants (15/39; 38.5%) had depression or had a family member with depression. Groups with other mental disorders were less represented, with 8/39 (20.5%) having schizophrenia, 6/39 (15.4%) having bipolar illness, and 10/39 (25.6%) having other disorders such as anxiety disorders or personality disorders. The mean age of the individuals/family members with mental illness was 51.2 years. Most participants (21/39; 53.8%) felt that menopause might be affecting their emotional symptoms or those of their family members, while 11/39 (28.2%) felt that their illness or their family member's illness was worse because of menopause or approaching menopause. There was a trend for perception of menopause affecting mental illness to be stronger among individuals with bipolar illness and depression, as compared to individuals with schizophrenia and other disorders (P = .052). Conclusions Menopause is a significant life event among women with mental illness. Nearly 30% of individuals affected by mental illness perceive menopause to worsen symptoms of mental illness.
Annals On Call - Disparities and COVID-19.

In this episode of Annals On Call, Dr. Centor discusses health disparities and COVID-19 with Dr. Utibe Essien, the Director of the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion at the University ...
Sternalis is muscle: An anatomic variation and its clinical implications

This report presents a case description of sternalis muscle which is an accessory muscle of anterior thoracic wall. A 56-year-old woman underwent mastectomy for breast cancer along with free flap reconstruction, revealing the presence of aberrant sternalis muscle. It was divided transversely during partial rib resection to expose internal mammary vessels. The case proceeded with successful flap transfer. Clinical implications of this anatomic variation is discussed. The authors conclude that plastic surgeons should be aware of this muscular anomaly.
Three new species of Lycianthes (Solanaceae) from Panama

Three Panamanian cloud forest species in the genus Lycianthes are newly described: L. coloradensis, from the Ngabe-Bugle Comarca; L. fortunensis from Chiriqui Province, Veraguas Province, and the Ngabe-Bugle Comarca; and L. talamancensis from Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui provinces. All three species are woody vines with tan, yellow, or orange-brown multangulate-stellate trichomes and entire to nearly entire white to purple corollas. In terms of vegetative morphology and trichome characteristics, L. coloradensis most closely resembles L. purpusii of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, L. fortunensis resembles the widespread L. multiflora, and L. talamancensis resembles L. hortulana of Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. This article provides species descriptions, maps of geographic distributions, specimen images of each species, and comparison tables of morphological characters used to separate L. coloradensis, L. fortunensis and L. talamancensis from similar species.
Non-coding RNAs and the mineralocorticoid receptor in the kidney.

Abstract The final steps in the R enin- A ngiotensin- A ldosterone signaling S ystem (RAAS) involve binding of the corticosteroid hormone, aldosterone to its mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). The bound MR interacts with response elements to induce or repress the transcription of aldosterone-regulated genes. Along with the classic genomic targets of aldosterone that alter mRNA and protein expression, aldosterone also regulates the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Short ncRNAs termed microRNAs (miRs) have been shown to play a role in transducing aldosterone's actions via MR signaling. The role of miRs in homeostatic regulation of aldosterone signaling, and the potential for aldosterone-regulated miRs to act as feedback regulators of MR have been recently reported. In this review, the role of miRs in RAAS signaling and feedback regulation of MR in kidney epithelial cells will be discussed.
The victimizing effect of violent socialization: Intimate partner use of coercive sexual practices transnationally.

Research seems to focus more on examining predictors of sexual victimization rather than violent experiences predicting coercive sexual behaviors. Little research explores victim to offender associ...
Host interactions of Aedes albopictus, an invasive vector of arboviruses, in Virginia, USA.

Background As an invasive mosquito species in the United States, Aedes albopictus is a potential vector of arboviruses including dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, and may also be involved in occasional transmission of other arboviruses such as West Nile, Saint Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, and La Crosse viruses. Aedes albopictus feeds on a wide variety of vertebrate hosts, wild and domestic, as well as humans. Methodology/principal findings In order to investigate blood feeding patterns of Ae. albopictus, engorged specimens were collected from a variety of habitat types using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light traps, Biogents Sentinel 2 traps, and modified Reiter gravid traps in southeast Virginia. Sources of blood meals were determined by the analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences amplified in PCR assays. Our aims were to quantify degrees of Ae. albopictus interactions with vertebrate hosts as sources of blood meals, investigate arboviral infection status, assess the influence of key socioecological conditions on spatial variability in blood feeding, and investigate temporal differences in blood feeding by season. Analysis of 961 engorged specimens of Ae. albopictus sampled between 2017-2019 indicated that 96%, 4%, and less than 1% obtained blood meals from mammalian, reptilian, and avian hosts, respectively. Domestic cats were the most frequently identified (50.5%) hosts followed by Virginia opossums (17.1%), white-tailed deer (12.2%), and humans (7.3%), together representing 87.1% of all identified blood hosts. We found spatial patterns in blood feeding linked to socioecological conditions and seasonal shifts in Ae. albopictus blood feeding with implications for understanding human biting and disease risk. In Suffolk Virginia in areas of lower human development, the likelihood of human blood feeding increased as median household income increased and human blood feeding was more likely early in the season (May-June) compared to later (July-October). Screening of the head and thorax of engorged Ae. albopictus mosquitoes by cell culture and RT-PCR resulted in a single isolate of Potosi virus. Conclusion and significance Understanding mosquito-host interactions in nature is vital for evaluating vectorial capacity of mosquitoes. These interactions with competent reservoir hosts support transmission, maintenance, and amplification of zoonotic agents of human diseases. Results of our study in conjunction with abundance in urban/suburban settings, virus isolation from field-collected mosquitoes, and vector competence of Ae. albopictus, highlight the potential involvement of this species in the transmission of a number of arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika to humans. Limited interaction with avian hosts suggests that Ae. albopictus is unlikely to serve as a bridge vector of arboviruses such as West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis in the study region, but that possibility cannot be entirely ruled out.
Abstract 281: pH-sensitive liposome for siRNA delivery to treat drug-resistant ovarian cancer

Introduction: With a 5-year survival rate of 47%, ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of death amongst women worldwide. Over 75% of patients experience recurrence after initial treatment, indicating a need for improved treatment options. Drug resistance is a major barrier hindering the success of current treatment methods. Our study analyzes the characteristics of a stimuli-sensitive liposomal delivery system for combatting drug resistance. Our delivery system will deliver bioactive siRNAs targeting genes related to drug resistance, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. In this study, we investigate the characteristics of the liposomes to determine particle size, surface charge, and ability to encapsulate/bind both siRNAs. We also begin to investigate the delivery potential of the pH-sensitive liposomal formulation in vitro using ovarian cancer cell lines. Methods: Empty and siRNA loaded cationic, pH-sensitive liposomes (CHEMS-LPs) were synthesized by the thin-film hydration method. Liposome size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). To measure siRNA encapsulation efficiency, fluorescently labeled siRNA was loaded into CHEMS-LPs and subjected to centrifugation to pellet the LPs. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to detect siRNA in the supernatant. The toxicity of unloaded CHEMS-LPs was determined by an MTS assay using OVCAR3 (drug-sensitive) and OVCAR3-T40 (drug-resistant) human ovarian cancer cells. Results: The size and zeta potential of blank and siRNA-loaded CHEMS-LPs were 97.88 ± 2.39 nm and 29.0 ± 2.00 mV, and 80.78 ± 0.77​ nm and 13.1 ±1.66​ mV, respectively. The positively charged zeta potential confirms the cationic nature of our liposomes. The PDI demonstrated that the liposomes were unimodal and monodisperse with PDI values of less than 0.300 for each formulation. In addition, siRNA was successfully bound to CHEMS-LPs through electrostatic interaction with the cationic lipid layer, resulting in an encapsulation efficiency of 99.6% Conclusion: CHEMS-LPs are pH-sensitive, cationic, monodisperse liposomes able to encapsulate siRNAs in order to mediate delivery into ovarian cancer cells. Their stable structure, positive charge, and low cytotoxicity is promising for future studies, including delivery of bioactive siRNAs to stimulate downregulation of target genes related to drug resistance. Acknowledgements: This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Program under Award # OIA-1655740. We would like to thank George Duran from Stanford University for donating the OVCAR3-T40 cell line. Citation Format: Kharimat Lora Alatise, Samantha Gardner, Angela Alexander-Bryant. pH-sensitive liposome for siRNA delivery to treat drug-resistant ovarian cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 281.
Type 1 interferon signaling alters tolerance by promoting self-reactive B cell survival in the germinal centers (BA3P.106)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by high titers of somatically mutated autoantibodies (AutoAbs) that are produced by self-reactive B cells aberrantly selected within the germinal centers (GCs). Type 1 Interferon (IFNa) signaling is implicated in AutoAb mediated pathogenicity in SLE. However, a defined mechanism by which IFNa signaling may regulate the GC checkpoint is unknown. To understand how IFNa signaling regulates the spontaneously developed GC (Spt-GC) response and associated AutoAb production, we utilized B6. Sle1b mice that harbor the lupus-prone NZM2410 strain-derived SLAM locus. These mice exhibit elevated Spt-GC and follicular helper T cell (Tfh) responses that associate with impaired B cell selection in GCs. B6. Sle1b mice deficient in IFNα receptor 1 (B6. Sle1b . IFNaR 1 -/- ) had significantly fewer Spt-GC B cells and Tfh cells than B6. Sle1b mice, and exhibited defects in B cell proliferation in vitro . These defects correlated with decreased viability of the IFNaR 1 -/- B cells, indicating that GC B cell survival requires IFNaR 1 signaling. Histological analysis suggests that follicular dendritic cells may produce IFNa in the GC to promote B cell survival. The reduced GC numbers in B6. Sle1b .IFNαR 1 -/- mice resulted in markedly decreased total IgG Ab titers, including self-reactive AutoAbs. Together, our findings indicate that IFNa signaling helps aberrantly selected GC B cells survive in the Spt-GCs leading to AutoAb production.
Researching the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: An Analysis of Current Curriculum Practices.

The purpose of this study was to analyze how instructors designed courses for scholarship of teaching and learning initiatives. The case studies and qualitative analyses of the data revealed that some instructors are approaching teaching as an investigative process. Informed by multiple assessment methods, the participating instructors explored how changes in course designs can improve student learning and development. The results of this study illustrate that these instructors reflected on their course designs and emphasized the quality of student learning and its improvement, which helps to address the public's expectations of higher education institutions as centers of academic excellence.
Biochemical basis for impaired drug metabolism in tumor-bearing rats: Evidence for altered regulation of hepatic microsomal hemeprotein synthesis

The pharmacologie effects of many drugs are enhanced in animals bearing tumors. This apparently stems from a decrease in the microsomal metabolism of these compounds in liver cells, owing to a decrease in either the activities of certain enzymes or in the content of cytochrome P-450 in microsomes, or both. Since impaired drug metabolism may have a direct bearing on the outcome of chemotherapy, a study of the biochemical basis for this alteration was begun. In female Sprague-Dawley rats bearing Walker 256 solid tumors i.m., pentobarbital metabolism was impaired as judged from prolonged sleeping-times. This effect was accompanied by a decrease in the microsomal content of cytochrome P-450. Analysis of hepatic microsomes by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that a microsomal protein of ~53,000 daltons was diminished in livers of tumor-bearing animals, when compared to normal controls, as determined by staining with Coomassie Blue. When rats were injected with [3H]leucine, although the dpm/100 μg of microsomal protein were the same for both normal and tumor-bearing rats, ~40% less 3H was associated with the microsomal proteins in the cytochrome P-450 region (~43,000 to ~58,000 daltons) of tumor-bearing animals than with those of normal controls. This was attributed to a decrease in the rate of synthesis of these, but not of other, microsomal proteins. Either staining of microsomal proteins with 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-benzidine, or labelling of them with δ-[14C]aminolevulinic acid, revealed that the overall content of microsomal hemeproteins of tumor-bearing rats was reduced considerably, when compared to normal controls (~70% as judged by the incorporation of 14C). These observations prompted investigations of the apparent rate-limiting synthetic and degradative enzymes of heme. We found that in the livers of 7-day tumor-bearing rats, the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase was only 16% of control activity; conversely, the activity of hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase in the tumor-bearing rats was nearly eight-times greater than that of the normal animals. Together, these data indicate that perturbations in heme- and hemeprotein-synthesis cause the reduced content of cytochrome P-450 seen in tumor-bearing rats, and they provide a partial explanation for diminished drug metabolism by hepatic microsomes in the presence of a growing, transplantable, non-hepatic tumor.
Performance Characterization of Itanium® 2-Based Montecito Processor

This paper presents the performance characteristics of the Intel®Itanium®2-based Montecito processor and compares its performance to the previous generation Madison processor. Measurements on both are done using the industry-standard SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks. The benchmarks were compiled using the Intel Fortran/C++ optimizing compiler and run using the reference data sets. We analyze a large set of processor parameters such as cache misses, TLB misses, branch prediction, bus transactions, resource and data stalls and instruction frequencies. Montecito achieves 1.14× and 1.16× higher (geometric mean) IPC on integer and floating-point applications. We believe that the results and analysis presented in this paper can potentially guide future IA-64 compiler and architectural research.
Functional Status After Injury: A Longitudinal Study of Geriatric Trauma

We evaluated self-rated functional status measured longitudinally in the year after injury in a geriatric trauma population. The longitudinal (L) group included 37 of 60 eligible trauma patients aged 65 years or older admitted December 2006 to November 2007 for greater than 24 hours who completed a Short Functional Status questionnaire (SFS) at 3, 6, and 12 months after injury. The SFS yields scores of 0 to 5 (5 = independent in all five activities of daily living [ADLs]) and has been validated among community-dwelling elders. The control (C) group included 63 trauma patients aged 65 years or older admitted December 2007 to July 2009 for greater than 24 hours who reported their preinjury functional status using the SFS at hospital admission. We used characteristics and scores of the C group to impute preinjury ADL scores for the L group. The groups were similar in baseline characteristics (age, ethnicity, Injury Severity Score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and living arrangement; P > 0.05). For the C group, the preinjury ADL score was 4.6 (SD = 0.9). For the L group, ADL scores declined at all intervals reaching statistical significance at 12 months. We conclude that in the year after traumatic injury, geriatric patients lost the equivalent of approximately one ADL, increasing their risk of further functional decline, loss of independence, and death.
Prediction of the magnetic field below an axisymmetrical planar sensor array with a magnetic source located above the measurement plane

Summary form only given. Rapid advancements in magnetic sensor technology are creating opportunities for solving traditional problems of ship magnetism. Both land-based and marine-based measuring instrumentation can provide reliable methods for controlling those fields in magnetically silent vehicles, e.g. geophysical ships and minehunters. This necessitates the development and use of not only improved measurement and processing, but also new ways in general evaluation of structure and intensity of the external field of the vehicles. We present approaches for effective prediction of the external magnetic field of marine vehicles using planar arrays of magnetic sensors. The objective is to compare different arrays of sensors needed to predict the field to a required accuracy at specific distances.
Measurements of Wave-Induced Fluctuations in Underwater Radiance under Various Surface Boundary Conditions

Abstract : This project is part of the Radiance in a Dynamic Ocean (RaDyO) program which aims at developing an understanding of variability in underwater radiance distribution and its relation to dynamic processes within the ocean-atmosphere boundary layer. The principal objective of our project is to measure wave-induced fluctuations in underwater light field under various sea-surface boundary conditions. The specific objectives include the characterization of wave-induced fluctuations in downwelling irradiance and radiance as a function of various environmental parameters such as wind/wave conditions, sky radiance distribution, direction of radiance observation, depth of observation, and water optical properties. Because of the complexity of the problem and multiplicity of factors affecting the light field fluctuations, achieving a comprehensive characterization of all these effects is unrealistic within the timeframe of the RaDyO program. Our study will focus on selected problems and environmental factors as the project progresses throughout the phase of main field experiments. The central theme of our study is to characterize light fluctuations at shallow depths caused by surface wave focusing under clear skies. The focusing events are the most intense fluctuations that occur on temporal scales of a fraction of a second. The primary objectives for this reporting period were focused on the execution of two major field experiments, first the test experiment at the Scripps Pier in January 2008, and second, the main RaDyO experiment on FLIP and KILO MOANA in the Santa Barbara Channel in September 2008. The central idea of our project is to conduct in situ measurements of high-frequency fluctuations in underwater light field produced by surface waves under various boundary conditions. Our approach towards this objective builds largely on our past research experience in the area of wave-induced light fluctuations.
Survive Then Thrive: Talent, Research Motivation, and Completing the Economics Ph.D.

This study investigates the completion of the Ph.D. in Economics. We use ex ante information, based solely upon reviewing a set of individual applications from former doctoral students. Estimation for determining success is done by logit, multinomial logit, and generalized ordered logit. We find that students need different skills and attributes to succeed at each distinct and sequential stage of the doctoral program. Significant determinants for passing the comprehensive exams include high GRE verbal and quantitative scores, a Masters degree, and a prior focus on economics. Research motivation and math preparation play significant roles in completing the dissertation, but having a Masters degree and economics preparation becomes insignificant. GRE scores disappear as a significant determinant for completion in the generalized ordered logit estimates, which emphasize the sequential nature of the Economics Ph.D. program.
SOAREX-8 suborbital experiments 2015 - A new paradigm for small spacecraft communication

In 2015 NASA plans to launch a payload to 280 Km altitude on a sounding rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility. This payload will contain several novel technologies that work together to demonstrate methodologies for space sample return missions and for nanosatellite communications in general. The payload will deploy and test an Exo-Brake, which slows the payload aerodynamically, providing eventual de-orbit and recovery of future ISS samples through a Small Payload Quick Return project. In addition, this flight addresses future Mars mission entry technology, space-to-space communications using the Iridium Short Messaging Service (SMS), GPS tracking, and wireless sensors using the ZigBee protocol. SOAREX-8 is being assembled and tested at Ames Research Center (ARC) and the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) is funding sensor and communications work. Open source Arduino technology and software are used for system control. The ZigBee modules used are XBee units that connect analog sensors for temperature, air pressure and acceleration measurement wirelessly to the payload telemetry system. Our team is developing methods for power distribution and module mounting, along with software for sensor integration, data assembly and downlink. We have demonstrated relaying telemetry to the ground using the Iridium satellite constellation on a previous flight, but the upcoming flight will be the first time we integrate useful flight test data from a ZigBee wireless sensor network. Wireless sensor data will measure the aerodynamic efficacy of the Exo-Brake permitting further onorbit flight tests of improved designs. The Exo-Brake is 5 m2 in area and will be stored in a container and deployed during ascent once the payload is jettisoned from the launch vehicle. We intend to further refine the hardware and continue testing on balloon launches, future sounding rocket flights and on nanosatellite missions. The use of standards-based and opensource hardware/software has allowed for this project to be completed with a very modest budget and a challenging schedule. There is a wealth of hardware and software available for both the Arduino platform and the XBee, all low-cost or open-source. Along with the Exo-Brake hardware and deployment discussion, this paper will describe in detail the system architecture emphasizing the successful use of opensource hardware and software to minimize effort and cost. Testing procedures, radio frequency interference (RFI) mitigation, success criteria and expected results will also be discussed. The use of Iridium short messaging capability for space-to-space links, standards-based wireless sensor networks, and other innovative communications technology are also presented.
Phase Coupling and Control of Oxide-Based Oscillators for Neuromorphic Computing

Neuromorphic computing using neural network hardware has attracted significant interest as it promises improved performance at low power for data-intensive error-resilient graphical signal processing. Oscillatory neural networks (ONNs) use either frequency or phase as state variables to implement frequency-shift keying (FSK)- and phase-shift keying (PSK)-based neural networks, respectively. To make these ONNs power and area efficient, back-end-of-the-line compatible, and capable of processing multilevel information, we explore an emerging class of oscillators that show fine-grain frequency-tuning and phase-coupling. We examine TaO x - and TiO x -based oscillators (resistive random access memory-type) as elements of a neuromorphic compute block and experimentally demonstrate: 1) frequency control over four decades using a ballast MOSFET; 2) variable phase coupling between oscillators; and 3) variable phase programming between oscillators coupled with a MOSFET. Such fine-grain control over both frequency and relative phase serve as the desirable characteristics of oscillators required for multilevel information processing in star-type directly coupled FSK- and PSK-based neuromorphic systems that find applications in gray-scale image processing and other graphical compute paradigms. These attributes combined with the small size ( $ and simplicity, make these devices attractive candidates for realizing large-scale neuromorphic systems at reasonable size and power.
Acute type B aortic dissection: insights from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection

Acute type B aortic dissection comprises approximately one-third of all aortic dissection cases. Although this catastrophic cardiovascular condition was first described in the medical literature over two centuries ago, data on the optimal diagnostic and treatment modalities for type B dissection was slow to evolve throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, even as newer diagnostic techniques and management strategies became commonplace. To further elucidate contemporary practice patterns and outcomes of aortic dissection, the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) was established in 1996. Over the past two decades, IRAD publications have steadily increased our knowledge and understanding about aortic dissection. Specifically in recent years, analyses of IRAD data have gone beyond simply characterizing the patient with acute type B aortic dissection and have attempted to identify the means by which the outcome of such a patient could be improved. Thus, we present herein three areas in which IRAD data has recently advanced our understanding of acute type B aortic dissection: temporal classification especially for the subacute time period, risk stratification for identifying complicated cases, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).
Glycolate, Glycine, Serine, and Glycerate Formation during Photosynthesis by Tobacco Leaves

Formation of 3-phosphoglycerate, glycolate, glycerate, and serine by tobacco leaves was analyzed between 4 and 60 sec of 14CO2 fixation during photosynthesis. With decreasing time, the percentage of the total 14C incorporated into 3-phosphoglycerate increased; the percentage into the other compounds, including glycolate, decreased to nearly zero. At 4 or 11 sec 3-phosphoglycerate and glycerate were predominantly carboxyl labeled; glycolate was uniformly labeled. At 4 sec the specific activity of the carboxyl group of 3-phosphoglycerate was about 100-fold greater than that of either carbon atom of glycolate. Carbon atoms 2 and 3 of 3-phosphoglycerate were uniformly labeled at 4 or 11 sec and had a 10-fold higher specific activity than the carbon atoms of glycolate. 3-Phosphoglycerate became uniformly labeled between 30 and 60 sec, and the specific activities of carbon atoms of 3-phosphoglycerate and glycolate became similar. Addition of α-hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonate did not alter the initial rates of labeling or specific activity of 3-phosphoglycerate or glycolate, but glycolate-14C accumulated while the percentage of 14C decreased in products formed from glycolate, such as glycine, serine, glycerate, and sucrose. Glycine, like glycolate, was uniformly labeled even at the shortest times. After 4 sec serine was equally labeled in carbon atoms 1 and 2. Carbon atom 3 was slightly less active. In 11 sec serine was uniformly labeled. Results were consistent with serine formation from glycolate and glycine and a small unlabeled C1 pool. After 4 sec in the presence of the glycolate oxidase inhibitor, the small amount of labeled serine was slightly carboxyl labeled, as if part of the serine came from 3-phosphoglycerate. In 60 sec, tobacco leaves incorporated 12% of the total 14C in glycerate. The percentage distribution of 14C in glycerate carbon atoms was similar to that in 3-phosphoglycerate. The specific activity of glycerate carbon atoms was one-one hundredth that of 3-phosphoglycerate at 4 and 11 sec and one-tenth that of 3-phosphoglycerate at 60 sec.
There may be nothing new under the sun, but this is ridiculous

As an ad hoc reviewer for a vascular surgery journal, Dr X was asked to review a basic science submission. After she reviewed the manuscript, it became obvious that this work was very similar to an article she had published a couple years before. In fact, the only changes identified were the changing of a table to a figure, the names of the authors, their affiliation, country of origin, and their funding source. To her bemusement, even the acknowledgement was identical. Among the following choices, this reviewer should: AContact the lead author who submitted the article and demand immediate withdrawal of the manuscript. BContact the editor of the journal and alert him or her to the fraudulent activity. CNotify the journal where this manuscript had been published, demanding that they pursue litigation. DProvide documentation of misconduct to the institutions supporting these authors and demand immediate expulsion from academic life for these "authors." ESupport publication on the scientific merit of the article and then file litigation against the journal's editor and the cited funding source for facilitating the authors' misconduct and violating copyright laws.
Stochastic skeleton modeling of objects

A stochastic skeleton modeling scheme for shape generation is presented. The scheme consists of three main stages: (1) extraction of connected skeleton points, (2) construction of a skeleton model, and (3) generation of stochastic instances from the prototype skeleton model. The implementation of these stages is described. Specifically, a three-dimensional Euclidean distance transform, a sphere decomposition algorithm, and an interpolation scheme are presented in addition to other general schemes.
Use of the "Mura" Transformation to Generate the Fields and Calculate the Motion of Protons in the Designed Argonne Mini-Aspun FFAG Spiral Sector Accelerator

As a long range goal for the production of high intensity neutrons, Argonne National Laboratory has proposed the construction of a 1.5 GeV FFAG Spiral Sector Accelerator called ASPUN. The 500-MeV injector for this proposed accelerator is a smaller FFAG Spiral Sector Accelerator named Mini-ASPUN. Until such a time as the larger machine could be built, it was planned that Mini-ASPUN would replace the present RCS now being used for the IPNS program at Argonne. In order to obtain an accurate estimation of the orbits and betatron oscillations in such a machine, it is necessary that realistic field values be used in the equations of motion. Obtaining these fields from 3-dimensional relaxation calculations is both time consuming and costly. However, because of the required scaling of the machine, the field-generating potential of three variables can be separated into a known function of the radius and a function of two variables. The second order differential equation satisfied by this function can be solved by ordinary relaxation methods. The fields generated from a mesh of values for this function will be accurate except for the extreme inside and outside orbits, which will be affected by the necessary termination of the inside andmore » outside ends of the magnet. 2 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less
Collaboration and Support for Student Success

This article discusses issues that impact student success in the United States. Increasing the number of college graduates could bring greater economic equity and help the nation remain competitive. However, the rates of student success in community colleges and universities are considered low with necessary gains requiring a broad base of collaboration. Toward this goal, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices developed Common College Completion Metrics that enable states to monitor achievement and progress at each of their higher education institutions. In addition, the government and private foundations are supporting initiatives designed to increase student retention. Interviews with dropouts have identified their reasons for withdrawal and the conditions that would have allowed them to stay in school. Some other fundamental changes for consideration to improve graduation rates involve adoption of better study habits by students, willingness of faculty to discontinue the general s...
Influence of n-paraffin composition on the aging of wax-oil gel deposits

An excess Gibbs free energy model is applied to in®estigate the influence of n-paraffin composition on the aging beha®ior of wax-oil gel deposits known to form in subsea petroleum transport pipelines. The aging of wax-oil gels occurs by a counterdiffusion process where wax molecules with carbon numbers greater than a critical carbon num() ber CCN diffuse into the gel matrix, and ®ice ®ersa. Model crude oils were formulated to exhibit ®arying decreasing exponential distributions of n-paraffin components in the range n-C to n-C . Deposition experiments were conducted using a laboratory cold 95 3 finger apparatus simulating the cold wall of a subsea pipeline. Gas chromatography analysis of gel deposit compositions yielded experimental CCN ®alues. A solid-liquidphase equilibrium model, employing a modified ®ersion of UNIQUAC to compute solid-phase component acti®ity coefficients, was able to successfully predict the critical carbon number for a ®ariety of model oil n-paraffin compositions.
Complete Mortality of Hessian Fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Puparia in Two Large-Scale Tests To Confirm the Efficacy of a Multiple Quarantine Treatment for Compressed Hay Exported to Japan

Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), was reared in a greenhouse in Fresno, CA, to eliminate interstate shipments of test materials. Two large-scale tests fulfilled regulatory test requirements for control of Hessian fly in compressed hay for export to Japan. We confirmed the efficacy of a multiple quarantine treatment (≥80 kg/cm 2 compression and 60 g/ 28.3 m 3 aluminum phosphide for 7 d at 22°C). A large-scale test with timothy, Phleum pratense, hay and a 2nd test with alfalfa, Medicago sativa, combined with Sudan grass, Sorghum bicolor sudanensis, hays loaded in 76.2-m 3 freight containers resulted in complete mortality of 38,957 and 37,345 Hessian fly puparia, respectively. These species of hay were representative of previously tested species including oat, Avena sativa, and Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon, hays and rye straw, Secale cereale. Copper plate corrosion values, bale temperatures, and fumigant concentrations were similar throughout the freight containers in both tests. Lower fumigant concentrations in the 2nd test than in the 1st test were attributed to leakage. Hydrogen phosphide residues 1 d after fumigation and overnight aeration resulted in concentrations below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tolerance of 0.1 ppm. Hessian fly has not been reported as an economic pest of wheat in California for the past 20 yr. Most Hessian fly puparia and pupa in our tests were located in wheat plants in the area below 1.9 cm above the bottom of the stem, an area below the cutting height of hay.