cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender and computers. II. The interactive effects of knowledge and constancy on gender-stereotyped attitudes

A number of studies have failed to find that gender constancy (understanding that one's gender is permanent) predicts gender-typed attitudes and behavior. This study (run with a predominantly white sample) tests the hypothesis that gender constant children are motivated to master gender roles, but that how well they do so depends on their knowledge of gender stereotypes. We predicted that attitudes toward computer use (a stereotypically male activity) would be less positive only for 5–9-year-old gender constant girls who also had rich gender stereotypes. Predictions were confirmed, especially for girls whose constancy had recently increased. These data thus suggest that the clearest picture of gender role development emerges when both the unique and interactive effects of gender constancy and gender schema development are assessed. They also indicate that gender differences in computer attitudes can develop through self-socialization processes.
Micellar dissolution and diffusion effects on adsorption dynamics of surfactants

A one-dimensional (1-D) model for the diffusion-controlled dynamic adsorption and surface tension in micellar solutions of nonionic surfactants is developed and tested with experimental data. The micellar dissolution rate for monodisperse micelles is described as being proportional to the micellar concentration and to the concentration difference between the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and the local monomer concentration with a micellar dissolution rate constant k. The Langmuir or Frumkin adsorption isotherms are used in a diffusion-controlled adsorption model with micellar dissolution. The hydrodynamic effects due to interface generation in the experiments are simplified as resulting in a stagnant layer with an adjustable finite length l. The model is solved rigorously by the finite-element method with a stretched grid and adaptive time step sizes. From simulations, the micellar dissolution rate is found to be much more important for dynamic adsorption than the micellar diffusion rate. Moreover, the size distribution of micelles is found to be insignificant for dynamic adsorption when a narrow distribution is considered. New equilibrium and dynamic surface-tension data for a planar interface in a Langmuir trough has been obtained for two nonionic surfactants, straight-chain alkyl ethylene oxides, C14E6 and C16E6, at concentrations below and above their cmc's. The pre-cmc data are used to obtain the respective Langmuir isotherm parameters Γm,L and KL and the effective diffusion length l≈0.3 mm. With values of Γm,L, KL, and l determined from pre-cmc data, the post-cmc data are fitted fairly well with the micellar dissolution time constant τK≡1/kC* (C* is the cmc), which is 1.2 ms for C14E6 and 4.5 ms for C16E6.
Siderophore-iron uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Identification of ferrichrome and fusarinine transporters

A family of four putative transporters (Arn1p–4p) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is expressed under conditions of iron deprivation and is regulated by Aft1p, the major iron-dependent transcription factor in yeast. One of these, Arn3p/Sit1p, facilitates the uptake of ferrioxamine B, a siderophore of the hydroxamate class. Here we report that ARN family members facilitated the uptake of iron from the trihydroxamate siderophores ferrichrome, ferrichrome A, and triacetylfusarinine C. Uptake of siderophore-bound iron was dependent on either the high-affinity ferrous iron transport system or the ARNfamily of transporters. The specificity of each siderophore for individual transporters was determined. Uptake of ferrichrome and ferrichrome A was facilitated by both Arn1p and Arn3p. Uptake of triacetylfusarinine C was facilitated by Arn2p, although small amounts of uptake also occurred through Arn1p and Arn3p. In contrast to the trihydroxamates, uptake of iron from the dihydroxamate rhodotorulic acid occurred only via the high-affinity ferrous iron system. Epitope-tagged Arn1p was expressed in intracellular vesicles in a pattern that was indistinguishable from that of Arn3p, whereas Ftr1p, a component of the high-affinity ferrous system, was expressed on the plasma membrane. These data indicate that S. cerevisiaemaintains two systems of siderophore uptake, only one of which is located on the plasma membrane.
Relation of survival time of respiratory gasping mechanism of the isolated mouse head to age.

ConclusionsThe survival of the gasping mechanism of decapitated mice, like rats, is inversely related to age. Mice up to 19 days of age show 2 series of gasps, the early or aerobic series remaining quite constant throughout life, the second or anaerobic series gradually diminishing from the maximum in the newborn until it disappears completely at about 19 days of age.
Neonatal exposure to Aroclor 1254: effects on adult hepatic testosterone hydroxylase activities

1. The effects of neonatal exposure to Aroclor 1254 (100 mumol/kg) on the metabolism of testosterone by adult male and female rats were determined by comparing their hepatic microsomal testosterone hydroxylase activities at 60, 90 and 120 days after the initial exposure. 2. The most pronounced effects in male rats were observed 90 days after treatment with Aroclor 1254, whereas in female rats the major changes in testosterone hydroxylase activities were observed after 60 days. 3. Ninety-day-old male rats neonatally treated with Aroclor 1254 exhibited decreased basal testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase and increased basal testosterone 16 alpha-, 2 alpha- and 15 beta-hydroxylase activities and androstenedione formation. In addition, the Aroclor 1254-mediated induction of testosterone 7 alpha- and 6 alpha-hydroxylase activities and androstenedione formation was decreased, and that of testosterone 2 beta- and 15 beta-hydroxylase activities was increased. 4. Sixty-day-old female rats exposed neonatally to Aroclor 1254 exhibited increased basal testosterone 16 alpha-, 2 beta-, 6 alpha- and 15 beta-hydroxylase activities and androstenedione formation, and increased Aroclor 1254-induced metabolism of testosterone at all positions except 16 alpha and 2 alpha. 5. Changes in testosterone hydroxylase activities indicative of permanent damage (or imprinting) in androgen metabolism, i.e. altered activities in 120-day-old animals, were observed only in male rats. These activities included basal testosterone 6 beta-, 16 alpha- and 2 alpha-hydroxylase activities and androstenedione formation.
Field emission, field ionization, and field desorption

Abstract A brief description of the essential features of the theory of field emission, field ionization, field desorption, and the field emission and field ion microscopes is presented. The principal applications of field emission including work function and surface diffusion measurements, and a brief sketch of the theory of diffusion are also given. Applications of field ion microscopy and field desorption are mentioned but not treated in detail.
A unified design methodology for a hybrid wireless 2-D NoC

Hybrid wireless NoCs are proposed to improve the communication throughput and energy compared to flat mesh-based NoCs. However, the multi-faceted design of a hybrid wireless NoC presents a conundrum amongst the different design paradigms. In this work, a methodology with minimal design complexity is presented for the design of hybrid wireless NoCs encompassing the different paradigms. To illustrate one use of the methodology, path loss models for the wireless channel implemented with various operating frequencies and substrate types are presented which are to be used in the design space exploration of the NoC.
Carolyn Eisele's place in Peirce studies

Abstract Carolyn Eisele's unique, ongoing career as a scholar is sketched, and the importance of her contributions to Peirce Studies and other fields is emphasized. The essay concludes with a series of suggestions about how to interpret Peirce's works based on themes related to the pioneering efforts of Dr. Eisele.
Photoluminescence and absorption in multi-energy Ge implanted type III silica

Abstract Silica samples were implanted at multiple energies with Ge ions, which resulted in an implanted layer, ∼2.4 μm in length starting ∼0.8 μm below the surface and in which the atomic percent of Ge ranged from ∼0.02% to ∼0.1%. Optical absorption was measured from 2.7 to 6.4 eV and in all spectra a local maximum at 5.0 eV and a shoulder at 5.9 eV were observed. Based on the bands reported in the literature we assumed that Gaussian bands at 4.8, 5.01, 5.17, 5.88, and a band greater than 6 eV determined by the fitting process comprised the observed spectra. Using Gaussian functions as basis states, fits to the data were performed yielding amplitudes for each band. An additional band at 5.54 eV was required to fit the spectra. This band’s amplitudes were correlated with the Ge concentration. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements were made from 2.6 to 4.6 eV using excitation energies from 4.5 to 5.5 eV. PL bands at ∼4.4 eV and ∼3.2 eV were detected. The 4.4 eV band intensity has a correlation coefficient of ∼1 with Si concentration. The band at 3.2 eV has a correlation coefficient ∼1 with the concentration of Ge ions. A PL band at 2.7 eV was not detected in either the Si or Ge implanted samples.
Nucleotide diversity among natural populations of a North American poplar (Populus balsamifera, Salicaceae)

Summary • Poplars (Populus spp.) comprise an important component of circumpolar boreal forest ecosystems and are the model species for tree genomics. In this study, we surveyed genetic variation and population differentiation in three nuclear genes among populations of balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) in North America. • We examined nucleotide sequence variation in alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (Adh1) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3pdh), two well-studied nuclear loci in plants, and abscisic acid insensitivity 1B (ABI1B), a locus coincident with timing of seasonal dormancy in quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies of hybrid poplars. We compared estimates of baseline population genetic parameters for these loci with those obtained in studies of other poplar species, particularly European aspen (Populus tremula). • Average pairwise nucleotide diversity (πtot = 0.00216–0.00353) was equivalent to that in Populus trichocarpa, but markedly less than that in P. tremula. Elevated levels of population structure were observed in ABI1B between the northern and southern regions (FCT = 0.184, P < 0.001) and among populations (FST = 0.256, P < 0.001). • These results suggest that geographic or taxonomic factors are important for understanding patterns of variation throughout the genus Populus. Our findings have the potential to aid in the design of sampling regimes for conservation and breeding stock and contribute to historical inferences regarding the factors that shaped the genetic diversity of boreal plant species.
Identification of multiple sites of interaction between heparin and the complement system

Many diverse effects of heparin on the complement system have been reported. In only a few cases have the sites or the mechanisms of these effects been identified. In order to understand these results we sought to comprehensively analyze which complement proteins interact with heparin and which do not. Purified components of the classical, alternative and terminal pathways of complement were radiolabeled and their affinity for heparin determined. Affinity chromatography of normal human serum on heparin-agarose allowed a complete analysis of complement proteins and confirmed the results obtained with radiolabeled purified components. Of the 22 complement proteins examined, 13 bound heparin (C1q, C2, C4, C4bp, C1INH, B, D, H, P, C6, C8, C9, and vitronectin) while 9 did not bind heparin (C1r, C1s, C3, Factor I, C5, C7, C3b, Ba and Bb). These observations help explain the many effects heparin has on the complement system and they identify the proteins which need to be examined in order to explain these effects.
Incidental motion in interferometry of phase objects

The effect of incidental motion of optical elements or of a phase object for interferometry of phase objects is examined. Estimates of maximum in-plane and out-of-plane displacements for speckle interferometry and holography interferometry are made. Measurements of fringe visibility are presented that give qualitative agreement with the estimates.
A mathematical model of rat collecting duct I. Flow effects on transport and urinary acidification

A mathematical model of the rat collecting duct (CD) has been developed by concatenating previously published models of cortical (Weinstein AM. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 280: F1072–F1092, 2001); o...
Determination of Heliostat and Concentrator Size for Solar Furnace Facilities

There are basically two types of solar furnaces -- a vertical-beam or a horizontal-beam facility. A vertical-beam facility uses movable heliostats to redirect the incoming solar energy vertically upward to a stationary parabolid. A horizontal-beam furnace uses the heliostat to redirect the incoming energy horizontally to the paraboloid. This paper presents a method to determine the optimum size of the heliostat and/or concentrator to meet predetermined design criteria. Usually the concentrator size is fixed by the temperature and flux-density required at the test plane and the problem is to size the heliostat so the facility can be used for a certain length of time each day during the entire year. However, the method can also be used when the heliostat size is fixed and the concentrator size must be determined. The analysis considers energy incident from the sun being reflected from a flat spectral surface (heliostat) onto a concentrating surface (concentrator), which then redirects the energy to a focal spot that can then be used as a high temperature, high-flux density source. The analysis uses the basic relations of geometric optics and considers only the central ray of the incoming cone of energy from the sun. Errors involved with thismore » assumption will be minimal for most cases, but if deemed necessary, the reflected cone can be accounted for in the reflected ray from the heliostat.« less
Optical retardance standard: a progress report

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is developing a quarterwave linear retarder for operation at 1.3 micrometers . It is expected to be stable to within +/- 0.1 degree(s) over practical ranges of wavelength, temperature, and incidence angle. A spectral range of at least 10 nm is desired to accommodate solid-state and diode laser sources and typical wavelength variation. Normal incidence operation with an angular tolerance of +/- 1 degree(s) allows alignment by retroreflection of a collimated input beam. Operation over a temperature range of 25 +/- 10 degree(s)C encompasses most laboratory conditions, and practical rates of temperature change must also be allowed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
In-Situ Observations in SEM of Degradation of Graphite/Epoxy Composite Materials due to Seawater Immersion

The effect of immersion in seawater on the mechanical properties of three graphite/epoxy composite materials has been studied. The transverse tensile strength was found to be reduced by 17% in one ...
Effect of Simulant Type on the Absorptance and Emittance of Dusted Thermal Control Surfaces in a Simulated Lunar Environment

During the Apollo program the effects of lunar dust on thermal control surfaces was found to be more significant than anticipated, with several systems overheating due to deposition of dust on them. In an effort to reduce risk to future missions, a series of tests has been initiated to characterize the effects of dust on these surfaces, and then to develop technologies to mitigate that risk. Given the variations in albedo across the lunar surface, one variable that may be important is the darkness of the lunar dust, and this study was undertaken to address that concern. Three thermal control surfaces, AZ-93 white paint and AgFEP and AlFEP second surface mirrors were dusted with three different lunar dust simulants in a simulated lunar environment, and their solar absorptivity and thermal emissivity values determined experimentally. The three simulants included JSC 1AF, a darker mare simulant, NU-LHT-1D, a light highlands simulant, and 1:1 mixture of the two. The response of AZ-93 was found to be slightly more pronounced than that of AgFEP. The increased with fractional dust coverage in both types of samples by a factor of 1.7 to 3.3, depending on the type of thermal control surface and the type of dust. The of the AZ-93 decreased by about 10 percent when fully covered by dust, while that of AgFEP increased by about 10 percent. It was found that alpha/epsilon varied by more than a factor of two depending on the thermal control surface and the darkness of the dust. Given that the darkest simulant used in this study may be significantly lighter than the darkest dust that could be encountered on the lunar surface, it becomes apparent that the performance degradation of thermal control surfaces due to dust on the moon will be strongly dependent on the and of the dust in the specific locality.
Real-Time Motion Segmentation of Sparse Feature Points at Any Speed

We present a real-time incremental approach to motion segmentation operating on sparse feature points. In contrast to previous work, the algorithm allows for a variable number of image frames to affect the segmentation process, thus enabling an arbitrary number of objects traveling at different relative speeds to be detected. Feature points are detected and tracked throughout an image sequence, and the features are grouped using a spatially constrained expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm that models the interactions between neighboring features using the Markov assumption. The primary parameter used by the algorithm is the amount of evidence that must accumulate before features are grouped. A statistical goodness-of-fit test monitors the change in the motion parameters of a group over time in order to automatically update the reference frame. Experimental results on a number of challenging image sequences demonstrate the effectiveness and computational efficiency of the technique.
RISC RNA Sequencing for Context-Specific Identification of In Vivo MicroRNA Targets

Rationale: MicroRNAs (miRs) are expanding our understanding of cardiac disease and have the potential to transform cardiovascular therapeutics. One miR can target hundreds of individual mRNAs, but existing methodologies are not sufficient to accurately and comprehensively identify these mRNA targets in vivo. Objective: To develop methods permitting identification of in vivo miR targets in an unbiased manner, using massively parallel sequencing of mouse cardiac transcriptomes in combination with sequencing of mRNA associated with mouse cardiac RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs). Methods and Results: We optimized techniques for expression profiling small amounts of RNA without introducing amplification bias and applied this to anti–Argonaute 2 immunoprecipitated RISCs (RISC-Seq) from mouse hearts. By comparing RNA-sequencing results of cardiac RISC and transcriptome from the same individual hearts, we defined 1645 mRNAs consistently targeted to mouse cardiac RISCs. We used this approach in hearts overexpressing miRs from Myh6 promoter-driven precursors (programmed RISC-Seq) to identify 209 in vivo targets of miR-133a and 81 in vivo targets of miR-499. Consistent with the fact that miR-133a and miR-499 have widely differing “seed” sequences and belong to different miR families, only 6 targets were common to miR-133a– and miR-499–programmed hearts. Conclusions: RISC-sequencing is a highly sensitive method for general RISC profiling and individual miR target identification in biological context and is applicable to any tissue and any disease state.
Politics and the Professors: The Great Society in Perspective

This article presents a review of the book “Politics and the Professors: The Great Society in Perspective,” by Henry J. Aaron.
Cyclonic Eddies Northeast of the Campeche Bank from Altimetry Data

Eight cyclonic eddies were identified near the western edge of the Loop Current, at the northeast shelf break of the Campeche Bank, through TOPEX/Poseidon sea surface height anomaly data from January 1993 through March 2000. The eddies’ migration and their lifecycle are described. The formation of the eddies appears to be related to the dynamics of the Loop Current because the timing of their generation corresponds to the last stage of the anticyclone shedding from the Loop Current. The cyclones intensify while moving slightly to the northwest along the shelf break of the Campeche Bank; later, some cyclones are observed to move northward toward the Mississippi shelf break. The cyclones remain next to the Campeche Bank, south of 268N, from 1.3 to 9.6 months; later, some of them move northward and strengthen by merging with other eddies, extending their life span. The eddies’ vertical structure is analyzed with hydrographic data, and the connection between the formation of the cyclones and the evolution of the Loop Current is further described using sea surface temperature images.
National trends and regional variation of open and endovascular repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms in contemporary practice

Objectives Successful surgical management of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) has historically relied upon open surgical repair (OSR). More recently, the advent and application of thoracic endovascular stent graft aneurysm repair (TEVAR) permutations have become increasingly performed in contemporary practice. To better determine the effect of TEVAR techniques on OSR, we examined national and regional trends in treatment use. Methods All Medicare patients from 1998 through 2007 undergoing isolated TAA and TAAA repair were analyzed using a clinically validated algorithm using diagnostic International Classification of Disease 9th revision (ICD-9; 441.1, 441.2, 441.6, 441.7, 441.9) codes and procedural (ICD-9 OSR: 38.35, 38.45 and TEVAR: 39.73, 39.79) codes. Differential rates of OSR and TEVAR were compared across census tract regions during the study interval. Results Total complex aortic repairs increased by 60%, from 10.8 to 17.8/100,000, between 1998 and 2007 ( P P = NS). There was substantial regional variation for both OSR and TEVAR. This regional variation was greater in OSR (range, 8.8-16.7/100,000) than in TEVAR (range, 4.5-6.9/100,000). Conclusions Degenerative TAA and TAAA aneurysms are being repaired in the United States at an increasing rate. This reflects the rapid acceptance of TEVAR, which apparently supplements rather than supplants OSR. There appears to be greater regional variation in OSR compared with TEVAR. These data may have significant implications for those interested in the effect of new technologies on health care and cost containment.
The Expression and Function of Notch Pathway Genes in the Developing Rat Eye

The Notch gene plays a role in the development of disparate tissues in multiple organisms. Because the vertebrate eye is an excellent model system for both patterning and cell fate determination, two processes that can involve Notch, we examined the expression patterns of Notch 1 and Notch 2, and their ligands Delta and Jagged, in the developing rat eye. Notch 1 and Delta were found to be expressed in the neural retina during the period of cell fate determination and differentiation. Notch 2 was found to be expressed in the non-neuronal derivatives of the optic cup, including the pigment epithelium, optic stalk, and ciliary body. Jagged was expressed in distinct regions within the optic vesicle, ciliary body, and lens, with patterns that changed over time. The potential function of Notch 1 in cell-type specification and differentiation was examined by introducing a constitutively active form of Notch 1 in vivo using a replication-incompetent retrovirus. This form of Notch 1 was found to cause abnormal growth and interfere with the differentiation of multiple retinal cell types.
Transverse-discharge copper vapor laser at 5 kHz

The results of a preliminary measurement of the performance parameters for a transverse-discharge copper vapor laser that was successfully operated at 5 kHz in steady-state mode are discussed. In unoptimized operation, an average power of 1.8 W was obtained at 5 kHz in steady-state mode with an efficiency of 0.48%. The power output increases almost linearly with the repetition rate. This demonstrates that it is now possible to develop discharge-heated transverse-discharge copper-vapor lasers for practical applications. >
Signal peptidases in protein biosynthesis and intracellular transport.

The biosynthesis of many proteins depends upon specific limited proteolytic processing of precursor molecules to target functional proteins to their proper sites of action inside and outside the cell. In spite of their crucial role In protein biosynthesis, and in contrast to the wealth of knowledge about many other proteinases, little is known about the nature of the specialized enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of these precursors. This review focuses on results from selected recent studies of these processing proteinases which are yielding valuable information about their role in protein biosynthesis, transport and localization. Since proteinases were among the first enzymes to be isolated in pure form, much of our current knowledge of the structures and functions of proteins of all classes can be traced back to earlier studies of proteolytic enzymes (Reich et at Proteases and Biological Control• Cold Spring Harbor Conferenc2s on Cell Proliferation, volume 2. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1975). The ones that were studied in the early days of biochemical research were usually degradative enzymes whose functions were simple: they hydrolyzed other proteins so the organism could use the resulting amino acids. As we learned more about them, more complex physiological roles were revealed. Blood coagulation, complement activation, intracellular zymogen activation, hormone biosynthesis, fertilization, cell migration, and protein turnover are among the many systems which depend upon specific limited proteotysis. Many of the proteolytic control mechanisms involved in these systems have now been elucidated. Newly synthesized proteins often have a requirement for limited, specific proteolysis at some early stage during their synthesis. Many are trimmed by one or more proteinases before, or soon after, their synthesis is completed. For example, methionine aminopeptidase acts on many, but not all, nascent proteins to remove initiator Met residues as soon as the polypeptides emerge from the ribosome [1]. At the end of the life span of a typical protein, its turnover in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms involves elaborate mechanisms by which it is targeted for degradation by proteinases [1--4]. A frequent strategy used by cells in the production of polypeptide hormones is to synthesize the hormone as part of a larger, biologically inactive, precursor protein from which the active hormone must be liberated by proteolysis [5-7]. Specific limited proteolysis also plays a crucial role in the targeting of newly synthesized proteins to their sites of function, and the proteinases which are known to be involved in this process appear to be unlike any others yet described.
P2Y receptors play a critical role in epithelial cell communication and migration.

Cellular injury induces a complex series of events that involves Ca 2 + signaling, cell communication, and migration. One of the first responses following mechanical injury is the propagation of a Ca 2 + wave (Klepeis et al. [2001] J Cell Sci 114(Pt 23):4185-4195). The wave is generated by the extracellular release of ATP, which also induces phosphorylation of ERK (Yang et al. [2004] J Cell Biochem 91 (5):938-950). ATP and other nucleotides, which bind to and activate specific purinergic receptors were used to mimic injury. Our goal was to determine which of the P2Y purinergic receptors are expressed and stimulated in corneal epithelial cells and which signaling pathways are activated leading to changes in cell migration, an event critical for wound closure. In this study, we demonstrated that the P2Y 1 , P2Y 2 , P2Y 4 , P2Y 6 , and P2Y 1 1 receptors were present in corneal epithelial cells. A potency profile was determined by Ca 2 + imaging for nucleotide agonists as follows: ATP ≥ UTP > ADP ≥ UDP. In contrast, negligible responses were seen for β,γ-meATP, a general P2X receptor agonist and adenosine, a P1 receptor agonist. Homologous desensitization of the Ca 2 + response was observed for the four nucleotides. However, P2Y receptor internalization and degradation was not detected following stimulation with ATP, which is in contrast to EGFR internalization observed in response to EGF. ATP induced cell migration was comparable to that of EGF and was maximal at 1 μM. Cells exposed to ATP, UTP, ADP, and UDP demonstrated a rapid twofold increase in phosphorylation of paxillin at Y 3 1 and Y 1 1 8 , however, there was no activation elicited by β,γ-meATP or adenosi ne. Additional studies demonstrated that wound closure was inhibited by reactive blue 2. These results indicate that P2Y receptors play a critical role in the injury repair process.
Synthesis and surface chemistry of Zn 3 P 2

Zinc phosphide (Zn 3 P 2 ) is a promising alternative to traditional materials (e.g. CIGS, CdTe, a-Si) for thin film photovoltaics. Open circuit voltage in Zn 3 P 2 cells has been limited by Fermi-level pinning due to surfaces states and heterojunction interdiffusion, motivating the need to prepare interfaces that are electrically passive and chemically inert. We investigated the surface chemistry of Zn 3 P 2 via etching with bromine in methanol and passivation with ammonium sulfide in t-butanol. The treatment decreases surface oxidation as determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and provides a stable, low-defect interface as monitored by steady-state photoluminescence. Magnesium Schottky diodes fabricated with sulfur-passivated interfaces show evidence of enhanced barrier heights in comparison to control devices.
Advanced Flow-control Mechanisms for the Sockets Direct Protocol over InfiniBand

The Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) is an industry standard to allow existing TCP/IP applications to be executed on high-speed networks such as InfiniBand (IB). Like many other high-speed networks, IB requires the receiver process to inform the network interface card (NIC), before the data arrives, about buffers in which incoming data has to be placed. To ensure that the receiver process is ready to receive data, the sender process typically performs flow-control on the data transmission. Existing designs of SDP flow-control are naive and do not take advantage of several interesting features provided by IB. Specifically, features such as RDMA are only used for performing zero-copy communication, although RDMA has more capabilities such as sender-side buffer management (where a sender process can manage SDP resources for the sender as well as the receiver). Similarly, IB also provides hardware flow-control capabilities that have not been studied in previous literature. In this paper, we utilize these capabilities to improve the SDP flow-control over IB using two designs: RDMA-based flow-control and NIC-assisted RDMA-based flow-control. We evaluate the designs using micro-benchmarks and real applications. Our evaluations reveal that these designs can improve the resource usage of SDP and consequently its performance by an order-of-magnitude in some cases. Moreover we can achieve 10-20% improvement in performance for various applications.
Identification of archetype and rearranged forms of BK virus in leukocytes from healthy individuals.

BK virus (BKV) establishes a persistent, asymptomatic infection in more than 80% of the human population, and in immunocompromised individuals BKV causes acute urinary tract infections. Two forms of BKV, archetype and rearranged, have been recovered previously from urine samples. The rearranged form is believed to have emerged from the archetype form by the deletion and duplication of sequences within the transcriptional control region (TCR). We have PCR-amplified unique rearranged forms of the BKV TCR from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of healthy donors. By employing archetype-specific PCR primers, the archetype BKV TCR was also detected in PBLs. These findings are consistent with the hypotheses that PBLs transport BKV to different sites within the body and play a role in the TCR rearrangement process. BKV sequences were detected in 21 of 38 BKV-seropositive and 1 of 2 BKV-seronegative individuals. Because of recent suggestions that SV40 may circulate in the human population, the donors' sera were also examined for the presence of specific anti-SV40 antibodies. A high antibody titer to SV40 was detected in only 1 of the 40 donor specimens. This study is the first to characterize multiple BKV TCR variants in PBLs from healthy people and to correlate PCR and serological methods used to detect BKV infections.
“Conservation” as a Catalyst for Conflict: Considering Stakeholder Understanding in Policy Making†

Stakeholder negotiation processes are increasingly used in environmental management, but are often difficult due to values differences among stakeholders. These values can be reflected in the language used by stakeholders, which may lead to conflict in negotiation processes. This study investigated whether there are widespread differences among Colorado water stakeholders in how they define the term “conservation,” a key value and policy term, and whether this leads to conflict in negotiations. Using multiple methods in a cross-sectional case study, use of the term and possible policy implications were analyzed. Stakeholder respondents in this study who had experienced difficulty in water negotiations also perceived a higher degree of miscommunication in their negotiations. The most important finding presented here suggests that clarity of language and transparent discussion of key value-representative terms may aid in stakeholder negotiations, and that minority stakeholders may be more aware of values and language differences than their majority counterparts.
Cascading Consequences of the Loss of Large Mammals in an African Savanna

African savannas are home to an abundant and diverse assemblage of wild herbivores, but the very grasses that sustain these wild herds also make savannas attractive to humans and their livestock. We used the Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment to investigate the ecological effects of different combinations of native and domestic grazers. The experimental removal of large grazing mammals set into motion a cascade of consequences, beginning with the doubling in abundance of a small grazing mammal, the pouched mouse (Saccostomus mearnsi). The presence of abundant mice attracted venomous snakes such as the olive hissing snake (Psammophis mossambicus); devastated seedlings of the dominant tree (Acacia drepanolobium); and doubled the abundance of fleas, which potentially increased the risk of transmission of flea-borne pathogens. Together, these results show the potential for the loss of large mammals to have cryptic consequences for African savannas, with important and often undesirable repercussions for humans.
The Synergy of Sign and Speech in Simultaneous Communication.

Many schools encourage deaf children to speak and sign simultaneously; however, there have been no satisfactory descriptions of this behavior. The research reported in this paper explored the correspondence between speech and sign and the resulting correspondence of the messages conveyed by each channel. The results suggest a synergistic model for this bimodally coded form of English.
Insecticide resistance in areas under investigation by the international centers of excellence for malaria research: a challenge for malaria control and elimination

Scale-up of the main vector control interventions, residual insecticides sprayed on walls or structures and/or impregnated in bed nets, together with prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, have led to a global reduction in malaria transmission. However, resistance in vectors to almost all classes of insecticides, particularly to the synthetic pyrethroids, is posing a challenge to the recent trend of declining malaria. Ten International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) located in the most malaria-endemic regions of the world are currently addressing insecticide resistance in the main vector populations, which not only threaten hope for elimination in malaria-endemic countries but also may lead to reversal where notable reductions in malaria have been documented. This communication illustrates the current status of insecticide resistance with a focus on the countries where activities are ongoing for 9 out of the 10 ICEMRs. Most of the primary malaria vectors in the ICEMR countries exhibit insecticide resistance, albeit of varying magnitude, and spanning all mechanisms of resistance. New alternatives to the insecticides currently available are still to be fully developed for deployment. Integrated vector management principles need to be better understood and encouraged, and viable insecticide resistance management strategies need to be developed and implemented.
Gestational dating by metabolic profile at birth: a California cohort study.

Background Accurate gestational dating is a critical component of obstetric and newborn care. In the absence of early ultrasound, many clinicians rely on less accurate measures, such as last menstrual period or symphysis-fundal height during pregnancy, or Dubowitz scoring or the Ballard (or New Ballard) method at birth. These measures often underestimate or overestimate gestational age and can lead to misclassification of babies as born preterm, which has both short- and long-term clinical care and public health implications. Objective We sought to evaluate whether metabolic markers in newborns measured as part of routine screening for treatable inborn errors of metabolism can be used to develop a population-level metabolic gestational dating algorithm that is robust despite intrauterine growth restriction and can be used when fetal ultrasound dating is not available. We focused specifically on the ability of these markers to differentiate preterm births (PTBs) ( Study Design We evaluated a cohort of 729,503 singleton newborns with a California birth in 2005 through 2011 who had routine newborn metabolic screening and fetal ultrasound dating at 11–20 weeks' gestation. Using training and testing subsets (divided in a ratio of 3:1) we evaluated the association among PTB, target newborn characteristics, acylcarnitines, amino acids, thyroid-stimulating hormone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and galactose-1-phosphate-uridyl-transferase. We used multivariate backward stepwise regression to test for associations and linear discriminate analyses to create a linear function for PTB and to assign a specific week of gestation. We used sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value to evaluate the performance of linear functions. Results Along with birthweight and infant age at test, we included 35 of the 51 metabolic markers measured in the final multivariate model comparing PTBs and term births. Using a linear discriminate analyses-derived linear function, we were able to sort PTBs and term births accurately with sensitivities and specificities of ≥95% in both the training and testing subsets. Assignment of a specific week of gestation in those identified as PTBs resulted in the correct assignment of week ±2 weeks in 89.8% of all newborns in the training and 91.7% of those in the testing subset. When PTB rates were modeled using the metabolic dating algorithm compared to fetal ultrasound, PTB rates were 7.15% vs 6.11% in the training subset and 7.31% vs 6.25% in the testing subset. Conclusion When considered in combination with birthweight and hours of age at test, metabolic profile evaluated within 8 days of birth appears to be a useful measure of PTB and, among those born preterm, of specific week of gestation ±2 weeks. Dating by metabolic profile may be useful in instances where there is no fetal ultrasound due to lack of availability or late entry into care.
Religious Practice and Sex Discrimination: An Uneasy Case for Toleration

This essay considers two questions: (1) whether there are moral or instrument reasons to tolerate religious practices that contravene our fundamental public values; and (2) in instances in which there is no moral or instrumental reason to tolerate a practice that contravenes public values, whether it is appropriate to condition the availability of tax exempt status on religious institutions' fidelity to public values. The essay offers a response and supplement to the insights contained in Caroline Mala Corbin's interesting essay, "Expanding the Bob Jones Compromise” in which Corbin thoughtfully argues that we should withdraw tax exempt status from religious institutions that discriminate on the basis of sex. Corbin observes that tax exempt status is already conditioned on nondiscrimination with respect to race, and she offers the insight that there is no principled reason to treat sex and race discrimination differently in the this context. While this essay accepts the latter insight, I argue that there may be instrumental reasons why we would be concerned about the government determining which religious practices contravene our nondiscrimination norms and which do not. I further raise concerns about the mechanism Corbin selects (conditional tax exempt status) in light of Hosanna-Tabor, the Supreme Court's latest articulation of the degree of protection offered by the Religious Clauses to religious practices that implicate the selection of ministers.
Chronic Kidney Disease Linearly Predicts Outcomes After Elective Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Kidney disease is associated with increased complications in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The purpose of this study was to determine the association of kidney disease severity as measured by the chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging system with complications after TJA. Methods A retrospective review of 12,308 primary TJAs (6361 hips and 5947 knees) from 2008 to 2013 was performed. The following preoperative variables were obtained from medical records: chemistry 7 panel, Elixhauser comorbidities, and demographic factors. CKD stages were defined based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in mL/min/1.73m 2 : (1) 90+, (2) 60-89, (3A) 45-59, (3B) 30-44, (4) 15-29, and (5) Results Patients with CKD stage greater than 2 demonstrated an increased odds of receiving transfusions ( P = .001), length of stay >3 days ( P = .010), acute kidney injury ( P P = .002), and in-hospital complications ( P P = .004; 2 years P = .002). In addition, the relationship between eGFR and the previously mentioned complications increased linearly rather than demonstrating a clear threshold at which the risk increased substantially. Conclusion Severe CKD is associated with increased transfusion, length of stay, and in-hospital complications; and complications increased linearly with disease severity. Surgeons should be cognizant of this increase when evaluating TJA patients with renal disease.
Analysis on the detection results of β-Lactamase in commercial milk product in Nantong

Objective To investigate antibiotic decomposition of raw milk β-lactamase residues in milk samples of commercially availability in Nantong,and to provide the basis for reasonably controlling β-lactamase added in milk.Methods To test β-lactamase in milk samples employing "sulbactam sensitive β-lactamases drug test method-cup method,in milk and milk products" published by Ministry of Health.Results Among 102 milk samples from 5 manufactures,β-lactamase was detected in 15 samples(relevance ratio:14.7%) from 2 factories.The differences between bacteriostatic ring of 15 positive samples were among 3.9-17.9 mm.Conclusion β-lactamase adding residues are available in commercial milk products in the market of Nantong,and some residues are tremendous,which would make food safety hazards to some extent.So it's necessary to enhance administration and control.
Investigation report about aim evaluation of elimination of iodine deficiency in Jianshui County

Objective:To study preventive measure and its effect of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) in Jianshui County to assess accomplish situation of elimination very index.Methods:To appraise IDD preventive cure effeet by thyroid gland swollen study,urine iodine,salt iodine examination and preventive cure question aire invest-tigation.Results:Jianshui County pass rate of qualified salt iodine 94.44%,urine iodine median 265.88 μg/L,not detected a suspected tumor of children,students and housewives questionnaire 100 %pass rate.Conclusion:Jianshui County IDD index conforms to Elimination IDD Etage Objective Evaluation plan in Yunnan Province.
Unusual Presentation of Well-differentiated Liposarcoma (WDLPS)

We present 2 cases of WDLPS in which the diagnosis was challenging despite evaluation by experienced pathologists knowledgeable of WDLPS spectrum and pitfalls. The first was an 8 cm mass in the groin/spermatic cord area of a 64-year-old man. The second was an 11 cm retroperitoneal mass in a 52-year-old woman. Original excisional biopsies, final resections, and patient …
Tissue-Specific Inhibition of Cell Proliferation in Embryonic Stomach Epithelium in Vitro

Initial evidence is presented which supports the possibility of a tissue-specific inhibitory feedback control of cell proliferation in developing stomach mucosa. Cell proliferation in 203 explants of embryonic chick stomach, intestine, and skin was assayed, using vinblastine arrest techniques in short term tissue cultures. Aqueous extracts of hatching chick stomach mucosa selectively suppressed mitotic activity in younger chick stomach epithelia in vitro, but did not affect the proportion of cells entering mitosis in developing intestine, skin, or mesenchyme. The tissue specificity of this inhibitory effect was further supported by the fact that mitotic activity in stomach epithelial explants was not affected by an extract of tissue other than stomach mucosa, namely, hatching chick stomach muscle. Heating the mucosal extract to 60 C for 1 hr destroyed its inhibitory properties, suggesting that a protein was involved in this effect. No requirement for epinephrine and hydrocortisone for this mitotic suppression could be demonstrated in this study.
Acute effects of locomotor training on overground walking speed and H-reflex modulation in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a single bout of a locomotor-training paradigm on overground walking speed and H-reflex modulation of individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Self-selected and maximum walking speeds and soleus H-reflexes (H/M ratios) during standing and stance and swing phases of walking (self-selected velocity) were obtained from 4 individuals with American Spinal Injury Association impairment classification D. Data were collected immediately before and after a single bout of locomotor training with body weight support on a treadmill. The pretraining H/M ratios of the SCI subjects were also compared with values from 4 able-bodied subjects who did not receive the intervention. Maximum H/M ratios while standing and during midstance and midswing phases of overground walking were considerably greater in the SCI subjects than in the control subjects. RESULTS: After the single bout of training, self-selected and maximum overground walking speeds of the subjects with SCI increased by 26% and 25%, respectively. Furthermore, H-reflexes were significantly more depressed in the SCI subjects during overground walking (28% less during stance, 34% less during swing). CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, these findings indicate that a single bout of locomotor training produced immediate increases in walking velocity and acute neurophysiologic changes in individuals with incomplete SCI.