cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed temperature sensor testing in liquid sodium

Abstract Rayleigh-backscatter-based distributed fiber optic sensors were immersed in sodium to obtain high-resolution liquid-sodium temperature measurements. Distributed temperature sensors (DTSs) functioned well up to 400 °C in a liquid sodium environment. The DTSs measured sodium column temperature and the temperature of a complex geometrical pattern that leveraged the flexibility of fiber optics. A single O 360 μm OD sensor registered dozens of temperatures along a length of over one meter at 100 Hz. We also demonstrated the capability to use a single DTS to simultaneously detect thermal interfaces (e.g. sodium level) and measure temperature.
Single-Electron Dynamics in Crystals

Electron dynamics in crystals is presented, starting from the envelope approximation of Luttinger and Kohn. We present the acceleration theorem and apply these results to some interesting cases: Si inversion layers, Stark-ladder quantization and Bloch oscillations, Landau levels, and shallow impurity states.
Epigenetic Regulation of Transcription Factor Promoter Regions by Low-Dose Genistein Through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Mitogen-And-Stress Activated Kinase 1 Nongenomic Signaling

The phytoestrogen, genistein at low doses nongenomically activates mitogen-activated protein kinase p44/42 (MAPKp44/42) via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) leading to proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cells. In this study, we evaluated if MAPKp44/42 could activate downstream effectors such as mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1), which could then epigenetically modify histone H3 by phosphorylation following a low dose (1 μg/ml) of genistein. Using hormone-responsive immortalized human uterine leiomyoma (ht-UtLM) cells, we found that genistein activated MAPKp44/42 and MSK1, and also increased phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine10 (H3S10ph) in ht-UtLM cells. Colocalization of phosphorylated MSK1 and H3S10ph was evident by confocal microscopy in ht-UtLM cells (r = 0.8533). Phosphorylation of both MSK1and H3S10ph was abrogated by PD98059 (PD), a MEK1 kinase inhibitor, thereby supporting genistein’s activation of MSK1 and Histone H3 was downstream of MAPKp44/42. In proliferative (estrogenic) phase human uterine fibroid tissues, phosphorylated MSK1 and H3S10ph showed increased immunoexpression compared to normal myometrial tissues, similar to results observed in in vitro studies following low-dose genistein administration. Real-time RT-PCR arrays showed induction of growth-related transcription factor genes, EGR1, Elk1, ID1, and MYB (cMyb) with confirmation by western blot, downstream of MAPK in response to low-dose genistein in ht-UtLM cells. Additionally, genistein induced associations of promoter regions of the above transcription factors with H3S10ph as evidenced by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, which were inhibited by PD. Therefore, genistein epigenetically modified histone H3 by phosphorylation of serine 10, which was regulated by MSK1 and MAPK activation. Histone H3 phosphorylation possibly represents a mechanism whereby increased transcriptional activation occurs following low-dose genistein exposure.
The potential of epigenetics in stress-enhanced fear learning models of PTSD

Prolonged distress and dysregulated memory processes are the core features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and represent the debilitating, persistent nature of the illness. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the expression of these symptoms are challenging to study in human patients. Stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) paradigms, which encompass both stress and memory components in rodents, are emerging as valuable preclinical models of PTSD. Rodent models designed to study the long-term mechanisms of either stress or fear memory alone have identified a critical role for numerous epigenetic modifications to DNA and histone proteins. However, the epigenetic modifications underlying SEFL remain largely unknown. This review will provide a brief overview of the epigenetic modifications implicated in stress and fear memory independently, followed by a description of existing SEFL models and the few epigenetic mechanisms found to date to underlie SEFL. The results of the animal studies discussed here highlight neuroepigenetics as an essential area for future research in the context of PTSD through SEFL studies, because of its potential to identify novel candidates for neurotherapeutics targeting stress-induced pathogenic memories.
Clinical outcomes in patients with primary aldosteronism with or without adrenal vein sampling

T American Endocrine Society Practice guidelines recommends that bilateral adrenal vein sampling (AVS) be performed in all patients diagnosed with Primary Aldosteronism (PA) to distinguish between unilateral and bilateral disease to guide management. We compared the clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with PA who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy with or without AVS to determine whether patients with discrete solitary adenomas and a normal contralateral adrenal gland require AVS to confirm lateralization. There were 10 patients with AVS and 30 patients without AVS. At six months after surgery systolic/ diastolic blood pressure and serum potassium concentration normalized in both groups; plasma aldosterone decreased to normal levels in all. There were no statistical differences in the results between groups. These findings suggest that AVS may not be necessary for subtype classification in those patients with discrete, solitary, unilateral adrenal adenomas.
Padrão alimentar de adolescentes portadores de Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1, atendidos no ambulatório de um centro de referência de Porto Alegre/RS.

Objetivo: el objetivo de la investigacion era identificar los patrones dieteticos de los pacientes adolescentes con Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 (DM1). Metodos: estudio transversal con enfoque predominantemente cuantitativo, cuyos datos fueron recogidos entre septiembre y octubre de 2014, atraves de un cuestionario mixto aplicado a 88 preadolescentes y adolescentes de edades comprendidas entre 10 y 18 anos incompletos, asistidos en el ambulatorio de un centro de referencia de Porto Alegre / RS. Resultados: entre los resultados, se destaca que 67% de los encuestados encontro algun grado de dificultad para realizar el conteo de carbohidratos, la terapia adecuada para los pacientes dependientes de insulina. El metodo utiliza la cantidad de carbohidratos presentes en el alimento, la informacion contenida en el etiquetado de los mismos, pero el analisis revelo que 83% de los adolescentes nunca han leido la tabla nutricional en las embalajes. Eventos en el entorno familiar son mencionados por 47% de la muestra como motivadores del descontrol de la dieta. Conclusion: aun consciente de la necesidad de adoptar habitos alimenticios saludables, los sujetos de estudio tienden a desviarse de su dieta ideal, y no utilizan las herramientas disponibles para un control glucemico adecuado, especialmente el conteo de carbohidratos. Estos resultados muestran la necesidad de un control mas eficaz y de la busqueda de nuevos enfoques.
CT, NMR, and Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Brain Swelling and Intracranial Hypertension

Among the many important contributions of CT scanning to the diagnosis and management of neurological and neurosurgical disorders of the brain has been detection of the presence of brain swelling and, with somewhat lesser accuracy, identification of the cause of the swelling. For the purposes of this report brain swelling is defined as a net increase in the volume of one of the normal comPartments of the brain, namely the intracellular space, the extracellular space, or the intravascular space also defined as cerebral blood volume. Edema is defined as a net increase in the fluid content of the brain. It follows from these definitions that edema is a cause but not the only cause of brain swelling. The other major cause is increased cerebral blood bolume. Hydrocephalus, an increase in the volume of one or more of the intracranial CSF spaces, does cause expansion of the brain in the process of ventricular dilatation, but this is not brain swelling within the present definition.
“Breadth and Depth” in Women's Intercollegiate Athletics—Reality or Myth?

(1977). “Breadth and Depth” in Women's Intercollegiate Athletics—Reality or Myth? Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 68-71.
In the Shadow of my Father: Preserving vs. Transforming the Founder's Legacy in Family Business

We explore the concept of founder legacy and how successors cope with such legacy as they carefully transition their companies. Through a qualitative case-based study of 17 family businesses, we in...
Compatibility of booster seats and vehicles in the U.S. market.

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of this study was to analyze booster and rear vehicle seat dimensions to identify the most frequent compatibility problems.Methods: Measurements were collected from 40 high-back and backless boosters and 95 left rear and center rear row seating positions in 50 modern vehicles. Dimensions were compared for 3,800 booster/vehicle seat combinations. For validation and estimation of tolerance and correction factors, 72 booster installations were physically completed and compared with measurement-based compatibility predictions. Dimensions were also compared to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) volumetric envelopes of forward-facing child restraints and boosters.Results: Seat belt buckles in outboard positions accommodated the width of boosters better than center positions (success rates of 85.4 and 34.7%, respectively). Adequate head restraint clearance occurred in 71.9 to 77.2% of combinations, depending on the booster's head support setting. Booster rec...
The Monster as Other, as Self

To look at Jeffrey Dahmer I could not tell he was a monster. His finely chiseled chin, neat hair, and quiet demeanor belied the hatred he had for himself. As the son of a fundamentalist, it is believed that Jeffrey repressed his homosexuality, and so this hatred turned inward to self-loathing projected onto those who were openly homosexual. True, most of the photos I saw and the clips on television when I watched the trial showed him with downward turned face: I could not see the eyes to his soul.
Ethnography as metaphor in psychotherapy training.

Harry Stack Sullivan (1940) described the psychotherapist as most essentially a “participant-observer.” This term is typically used to characterize the dual roles of the ethnographic researcher. Th...
Altering Serum Lipids to Reduce Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) diminish the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This benefit has been attributed to the ability of statins to lower circulating levels of low-density lipoprotein but also to pleiotropic effects not directly related to lipid lowering. These include effects on cell signaling pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function and that play a role in atherogenesis and microvascular injury.
Genomics of Pediatric Metabolic Syndrome

The genetics of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components have been studied extensively in adults; however, in pediatric populations, the genetic contribution to MetS has not been as closely examined. Gene-mapping strategies to study MetS have evolved over time and are dependent on the prevalence of the disease, the underlying hypothesized genetic model, and the anticipated influence of environmental factors. While MetS in general is thought to be multifactorial and to result from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors, monogenic forms (i.e., congenital leptin deficiency, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), and Liddle’s syndrome) in children have been identified which have proved easier to map. Variants in six genes (AGTR1, GHR, PLIN4, ENNP1, PA1–1, and 3-BAR) have been associated with common nonmonogenic forms of MetS in pediatric populations. Genetic investigations of endophenotypes of MetS (i.e., abdominal obesity, familial hypercholesterolemia, and dyslipidemia) in children have also been conducted, primarily as replication efforts of candidate genes such as FTO, ADIPOQ, and INSIG2 which were originally identified in adult populations. With the availability of novel genome technologies such as next-generation sequencing and with better understanding of epigenetic mechanisms that may also play a role, it is becoming increasingly possible to more comprehensively study the full compendium of genetic variation that causes MetS.
Micromachined probes with integrated GaAs Schottky diodes for on-wafer temperature sensing

The design and fabrication process for implementing a proof-of-concept on-wafer probe with integrated diode temperature sensor is reported. The sensor consists of a wafer probe fabricated from high-resistivity silicon using micromachining techniques. The temperature sensing element is a GaAs Schottky diode that is integrated with the probe through an epitaxy transfer process that utilizes SU-8 as a bonding agent. Design of the probe as well as fabrication and measurement of prototype diodes for the temperature sensor are described.
Effect of Polarization Dependent Loss on the Quality of Transmitted Polarization Entanglement

Quantum networking brings together several diverse research areas, such as fiber-optic communication, quantum optics, and quantum information, to achieve capabilities in security, secret sharing, and authentication which are unavailable classically. The development of practical fiber-based quantum networks requires an understanding of the reach, rates, and quality of the entanglement of distributed quantum states. Here, we present a theoretical model describing how the magnitude and orientation of polarization dependent loss (PDL), a common impairment in fiber-optic networks, affects the entanglement quality of distributed quantum states. Furthermore, we theoretically characterize how PDL in one fiber channel can be optimally applied in order to nonlocally compensate for the PDL present in another channel. We present experimental results that verify our theoretical model.
Reproductive counseling and pregnancy outcomes after radical trachelectomy for early stage cervical cancer.

Objective To evaluate patient perceptions of preoperative reproductive counseling and to evaluate complications and pregnancy outcomes in women who had radical trachelectomy (RT) for early stage cervical cancer. Methods Patients who underwent RT from January 1, 2004, through July 31, 2017, and had been cancer free for more than 1 year after RT were eligible; consented patients were sent a 16-item online survey. Results Of the 58 eligible patients, 39 patients (67%) completed the questionnaire. Eighteen patients (46%) reported receiving reproductive counseling and 26 (68%) reported receiving counseling about pregnancy risks and complications prior to RT, mainly delivered by gynecologic oncologists. Twenty-nine patients (74%) reported having a complication after RT, and cervical stenosis was the most common complication, occurring in 13 patients (33%). Twenty-four patients actively attempted to conceive after RT, and 20 pregnancies were achieved in 13 patients for a pregnancy rate of 54%. Eight pregnancies were spontaneous and 12 required a fertility treatment. There were 5 spontaneous first-trimester miscarriages; 14 of the 20 pregnancies (70%) resulted in live births. The median time to conception was 13.5 months (range, 1-120). Conclusion A significant proportion of women with early stage cervical cancer do not receive adequate reproductive counseling before RT, and many women undergoing RT experience complications that can negatively impact their fertility. We recommend a preoperative consultation with a reproductive endocrinologist for all patients considering RT.
The Air Force and Technology

Lake analyzes the organizational culture of the Air Force and how it thinks about war, resulting in an organization that is focused on acquiring high-performance aircraft that extensively use cutting-edge technology. This chapter explores how the Air Force’s culture, priorities, and ideas about war are expressed through its aircraft, particularly tactical aircraft. By exploring tactical aircraft procurement, with particular attention paid to the F-22A and the F-35 programs, and how the Air Force is incorporating remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs [“drones”]) into the airfleet, Lake shows how the attempt to maintain technological superiority has resulted in an organization very vulnerable to overstretch.
Reluxation Rates Following Different Techniques for Open Stabilisation of Feline Coxofemoral Dislocations

PICO question In cats with craniodorsal coxofemoral luxation does surgical stabilisation using a toggle rod technique result in a lower rate of reluxation than using a transarticular pin? Clinical bottom line There is currently insufficient evidence to identify if transarticular pinning or a toggle rod technique result in lower rates of reluxation following surgical management of craniodorsal coxofemoral luxations in cats. Both transarticular pinning and toggling using the Arthrex Mini TightRope system with Arthrex FiberWire suture resulted in 0% reluxation rates at short-term radiographic follow up with 0/20 joints reluxated at 2–6 weeks post-transarticular pinning and 0/4 joints reluxated at 6 weeks post-toggling. Toggling using an IMEX toggle (IMEX Veterinary Inc.) and polydioxanone (PDS II, Ethicon) suture had a higher reluxation rate of 14% (2/14 joints) at 3.5 to 6 weeks postsurgery. Longer term follow up of joints stabilised using transarticular pinning found 16.6% reluxation (2/13 joints) when radiographed at least 6 months after surgery. Small sample sizes, and variations in the length of follow up, inclusion and exclusion criteria and surgical technique significantly challenges any conclusions that may be drawn. It does appear that reluxation rates for all three techniques investigated here compare favourably to generally quoted reluxation rates following open reduction (28% quoted by Rochereau et al., 2012) and that the use of all reported techniques can be justified for the management of craniodorsal coxofemoral luxations in cats.
Auditory Evoked Responses in Older Adults With Normal Hearing, Untreated, and Treated Age-Related Hearing Loss.

Objectives The goal of this study was to identify the effects of auditory deprivation (age-related hearing loss) and auditory stimulation (history of hearing aid use) on the neural registration of sound across two stimulus presentation conditions: (1) equal sound pressure level and (2) equal sensation level. Design We used a between-groups design, involving three groups of 14 older adults (n = 42; 62 to 84 years): (1) clinically defined normal hearing (≤25 dB from 250 to 8000 Hz, bilaterally), (2) bilateral mild-moderate/moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss who have never used hearing aids, and (3) bilateral mild-moderate/moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss who have worn bilateral hearing aids for at least the past 2 years. Results There were significant delays in the auditory P1-N1-P2 complex in older adults with hearing loss compared with their normal hearing peers when using equal sound pressure levels for all participants. However, when the degree and configuration of hearing loss were accounted for through the presentation of equal sensation level stimuli, no latency delays were observed. These results suggest that stimulus audibility modulates P1-N1-P2 morphology and should be controlled for when defining deprivation and stimulus-related neuroplasticity in people with hearing loss. Moreover, a history of auditory stimulation, in the form of hearing aid use, does not appreciably alter the neural registration of unaided auditory evoked brain activity when quantified by the P1-N1-P2. Conclusions When comparing auditory cortical responses in older adults with and without hearing loss, stimulus audibility, and not hearing loss-related neurophysiological changes, results in delayed response latency for those with age-related hearing loss. Future studies should carefully consider stimulus presentation levels when drawing conclusions about deprivation- and stimulation-related neuroplasticity. Additionally, auditory stimulation, in the form of a history of hearing aid use, does not significantly affect the neural registration of sound when quantified using the P1-N1-P2-evoked response.
On Trade-off Between Static and Dynamic Power Consumption in NoC Power Gating

Recent research has proposed to minimize network-on-chip (NoC) static power by proactively power-gating selected routers when not all the cores are active. However, as more routers are powered off, on-chip packets are forced to take detours more frequently, resulting in a higher hop count and increased dynamic power that may potentially offset the static power savings. This paper investigates such a trade-off between static and dynamic power in detail, and explores how overall NoC power consumption can be minimized through proactive power-gating. Three efficient and effective algorithms are proposed to reduce NoC static power, dynamic power, and overall power consumption, respectively. Evaluation results based on PARSEC benchmarks demonstrate the importance of the trade-off and show a substantial improvement in total NoC power savings of the proposed algorithms, compared with previous work that did not give full consideration to both static and dynamic power.
When Voters Matter: The Limits of Local Government Responsiveness:

I use over-time variation resulting from geographic sorting to estimate the impact of local preferences on local policy. Building a new panel data set of county-level voting behavior and county-lev...
Influence of Land Cover and Soil Moisture based Brown Ocean Effect on an Extreme Rainfall Event from a Louisiana Gulf Coast Tropical System.

Extreme flooding over southern Louisiana in mid-August of 2016 resulted from an unusual tropical low that formed and intensified over land. We used numerical experiments to highlight the role of the ‘Brown Ocean’ effect (where saturated soils function similar to a warm ocean surface) on intensification and it’s modulation by land cover change. A numerical modeling experiment that successfully captured the flood event (control) was modified to alter moisture availability by converting wetlands to open water, wet croplands, and dry croplands. Storm evolution in the control experiment with wet antecedent soils most resembles tropical lows that form and intensify over oceans. Irrespective of soil moisture conditions, conversion of wetlands to croplands reduced storm intensity, and also, non-saturated soils reduced rain by 20% and caused shorter durations of high intensity wind conditions. Developing agricultural croplands and more so restoring wetlands and not converting them into open water can impede intensification of tropical systems that affect the area.
Clustering Energy and Water Conservation Behaviors as Choices: Examining the Moderating Roles of Message Elaboration and Involvement.

This study provided practical advice for energy and water conservation message design by examining the role of choice provision (a message feature), message elaboration (a situational factor), and ...
Environmental Factors Linked to Opioids, Drugs, and Alcohol Abuse

Abstract Many environmental factors are associated with the increased risk of alcohol and illicit drug abuse using the misuse of opioids. The maternal use of opioids may cause birth defects in offspring and also the possibility of neonatal opioid withdrawal symptoms requiring hospitalization and therapy. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines maltreatment as child abuse or neglect that encompasses any act or lack of action by a child's caretaker that results in physical or emotional harm. Childhood maltreatment significantly increases the risk of substance abuse including opioid misuse later in life, especially, during adolescence years. Moreover, environmental factors like peer pressure, availability of alcohol/drugs, poor grades in school, and involvement with a gang can also increase the risk of drug and alcohol abuse. Life stressors such as prolonged unemployment, divorce, and widowhood can also increase the risk of alcohol and drug abuse. Mental disorders may also increase the risk of alcohol or drug abuse.
Performance of a hydrogen refueling station in the early years of commercial fuel cell vehicle deployment

Abstract Since 2003, the National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) has operated the first U.S. publicly accessible hydrogen refueling station (HRS). During this period, the UCI HRS supported all manufacturers in the early, pre-commercialization years of the fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). This paper describes and analyzes the performance of the UCI HRS during the first five years of FCEV commercialization, over which time the station has dispensed the most hydrogen daily in the California network. The station performance is compared to aggregate data published by NREL for all U.S. HRSs. Using the Hydrogen Delivery Scenario Analysis Model, typical daily refueling profiles are analyzed to determine the effect on HRS design. The results show different daily refueling profiles could substantially affect HRS design and ultimately the cost of hydrogen. While technical issues have been reduced, the compressor, dispenser, and fueling rate are areas for improvement.
Stability of nocturnal wake and sleep stages defines central nervous system disorders of hypersomnolence.

STUDY OBJECTIVES We determine if young people with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), narcolepsy type 2 (NT2), and idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) have distinct nocturnal sleep stability phenotypes compared to subjectively sleepy controls. METHODS Participants were 5- to 21-year old and drug-naive or drug free: NT1 (n = 46), NT2 (n = 12), IH (n = 18), and subjectively sleepy controls (n = 48). We compared the following sleep stability measures from polysomnogram recording between each hypersomnolence disorder to subjectively sleepy controls: number of wake and sleep stage bouts, Kaplan-Meier survival curves for wake and sleep stages, and median bout durations. RESULTS Compared to the subjectively sleepy control group, NT1 participants had more bouts of wake and all sleep stages (p ≤ .005) except stage N3. NT1 participants had worse survival of nocturnal wake, stage N2, and rapid eye movement (REM) bouts (p < .005). In the first 8 hours of sleep, NT1 participants had longer stage N1 bouts but shorter REM (all ps < .004). IH participants had a similar number of bouts but better survival of stage N2 bouts (p = .001), and shorter stage N3 bouts in the first 8 hours of sleep (p = .003). In contrast, NT2 participants showed better stage N1 bout survival (p = .006) and longer stage N1 bouts (p = .02). CONCLUSIONS NT1, NT2, and IH have unique sleep physiology compared to subjectively sleepy controls, with only NT1 demonstrating clear nocturnal wake and sleep instability. Overall, sleep stability measures may aid in diagnoses and management of these central nervous system disorders of hypersomnolence.
Astrocytes in rare neurological conditions: Morphological and functional considerations.

Astrocytes are a population of central nervous system (CNS) cells with distinctive morphological and functional characteristics that differ within specific areas of the brain and are widely distributed throughout the CNS. There are mainly two types of astrocytes, protoplasmic and fibrous, which differ in morphologic appearance and location. Astrocytes are important cells of the CNS that not only provide structural support, but also modulate synaptic activity, regulate neuroinflammatory responses, maintain the blood-brain barrier, and supply energy to neurons. As a result, astrocytic disruption can lead to widespread detrimental effects and can contribute to the pathophysiology of several neurological conditions. The characteristics of astrocytes in more common neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease have significantly been described and continue to be widely studied. However, there still exist numerous rare neurological conditions in which astrocytic involvement is unknown and needs to be explored. Accordingly, this review will summarize functional and morphological changes of astrocytes in various rare neurological conditions based on current knowledge thus far and highlight remaining neuropathologies where astrocytic involvement has yet to be investigated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Signals of selection beyond bottlenecks between exotic populations of the bull‐headed dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus

Colonization of new environments can lead to population bottlenecks and rapid phenotypic evolution that could be due to neutral and selective processes. Exotic populations of the bull-headed dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus) have differentiated in opposite directions from native beetles in male horn-to-body size allometry and female fecundity. Here we test for genetic and transcriptional differences among two exotic and one native O. taurus populations after three generations in common garden conditions. We sequenced RNA from 24 individuals for each of the three populations including both sexes, and spanning four developmental stages for the two exotic, differentiated populations. Identifying 270,400 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms, we revealed a strong signal of genetic differentiation between the three populations, and evidence of recent bottlenecks within and an excess of outlier loci between exotic populations. Differences in gene expression between populations were greatest in prepupae and early adult life stages, stages during which differences in male horn development and female fecundity manifest. Finally, genes differentially expressed between exotic populations also had greater genetic differentiation and performed functions related to chitin biosynthesis and nutrient sensing, possibly underlying allometry and fecundity trait divergences. Our results suggest that beyond bottlenecks, recent introductions have led to genetic and transcriptional differences in genes correlated with observed phenotypic differences.
A Novel Platform Design for Aircraft Noise Impact Assessment

Mitigation of aircraft noise pollution is a core goal of managing environmental interactions and inherently aligns with the aim of reducing aviation emissions. As noise pollution adversely affects the operation and expansion of airports by restricting land zoning and flight patterns, developing precise noise generation and propagation models is imperative. Efforts to minimize the impact of aircraft noise are influenced by the accurate mapping of the geometric distribution of that noise. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) utilizes the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) to model aircraft noise, emissions, and air quality consequences for regulatory compliance and system planning. Aircraft operations and fleet mix data are required when users execute AEDT to compute the noise exposure level. However, such data are difficult to obtain from non-towered airports that lack full-time air traffic facilities and personnel. Several airport operations estimation approaches developed by researchers have shown limitations in accuracy and cost-efficiency of deployment when tested, limiting their usefulness with regards to noise modeling. Meanwhile, tracking aircraft through onboard transponder data was validated as a cost-effective approach to estimate aircraft operations at non-towered airports.The authors designed a platform consisting of three modules. Flight operations and aircraft performance parameters can be estimated in the first module by deploying inexpensive hardware to collect aircraft transponder signals. The second module estimates aircraft noise levels by integrating information sources with the noise vs. power vs. distance (NPD) data from the EUROCONTROL Aircraft Noise and Performance (ANP) database. The third module visualizes airport noise impact based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. Additionally, a risk assessment and a sustainability analysis are presented in this paper.
CORE: Connectivity Optimization via REinforcement Learning in WANETs

While mobile devices are ubiquitous, their supporting communication infrastructure is cost-effective only in densely populated urban areas and is often lacking in rural settings. This lack of connectivity leads to lost opportunities in applications such as rural emergency preparedness and response. Peer-to-peer exchange that uses predictable human mobility can enable delay-tolerant information access in rural settings. We propose, an adaptive distributed solution for device-to-device Connectivity Optimization via REinforcement Learning (CORE) in wireless adhoc networks. Our solution is designed for collaborative distributed agents with intermittent connectivity and limited battery power, but predictable mobility within short temporal horizons. We seek to maximize the utility of connection attempts while keeping the power expenditure within a predefined battery budget. Agents learn to adaptively make automated decisions for when to attempt connections and exchange information, based on a local RL model of their mobility and that of other agents they learn about from exchanges. Using both synthetic and real-world mobility traces, we demonstrate that agents are able to materialize 95% of the possible connections using 20% of their battery and successfully adapting to changes in the underlying mobility patterns within several days of learning.
Using the three-pillar model of sustainability to understand lay reactions to climate policy: A multilevel approach

Abstract Public support for climate policy is necessary to enact the large-scale changes needed to mitigate climate change. We use the three-pillar model of sustainability as a conceptual framework to examine how individuals evaluate climate policies and how these evaluations predict policy support. We consider individuals’ evaluations of 1) environmental impacts (i.e., perceived policy effectiveness), 2) economic impacts, and 3) social impacts of policies. We use multilevel modeling to disentangle variance in policy support attributable to between-person differences (i.e., aggregated policy support) and within-person variations across policies. First, we fit a multilevel factor model to our dataset (Nobs = 1056) to identify whether the factor structure of the three-pillar model at both the between-person and within-person levels of analysis. The three-pillar model emerged at the within-person level. In contrast, items instead loaded onto two factors at the between-person level: benefits and harms. Thus, we created within- and between-person constructs matching these factors. Results from multilevel regressions suggest that a) individuals who anticipate more benefits and fewer harms of climate policies (as a set) also tend to report greater aggregated support for climate change policies, and b) anticipating environmental benefits, economic impacts and social impacts to be above average for a certain policy (relative to other policies) predicts greater support for that policy. Our work suggests the relevance of differentiating between who is most likely to support climate policies in general (i.e., between-person differences) as well as policy-specific evaluations associated with support for some policies over others (i.e. within-person variation in support).
Studies on uricase: IV. The nature and composition of some stable reaction products

Abstract A new and improved method for the purification of uricase in good yield leading to a product of approximately 75% purity has been described. Using this enzyme, information was obtained about the nature and proportions of various products resulting from the enzymic oxidation of uric acid in the presence of uricase and catalase in various buffers and at various pH values. Allantoin is the main product in phosphate buffer and almost the only product in Tris buffer, while it constitutes only about 30% of the total in borate buffers. In buffers other than borate, in the absence of catalase a product not identical with allantoin is formed in all cases. Since this product can, however, be quantitatively converted to allantoin by a variety of procedure it is probably an equimolar complex of allantoin and hydrogen peroxide. Besides hydrogen peroxide, allantoin can also complex with certain buffer cations. Uric acid complexes with the anions of borate buffer. Complexes of this sort may profoundly influence the product picture obtained in the reaction catalyzed by uricase. No evidence was found for the involvement of -SH groups of uricase in the oxidation of uric acid.
A /spl mu/Watt postage stamp PC

This paper gives details of a Intel386/sup TM/ microprocessor based system in a single package. The functionality of this single device is somewhat equivalent to a 1990 PC. However, the design includes many features that significantly reduce power consumption. The design incorporates 'Few Chip Package (FCP)' technology to marry 0.35 micron logic die and 0.35 micron flash memory technologies in a single 23 mm package. The main feature of the part is its reduced average power consumption of less than 1 mW in target applications.
Still the Favorite? Parents' Differential Treatment of Siblings Entering Young Adulthood.

This study examined within-family stability in parents’ differential treatment of siblings from adolescence to young adulthood and the effect of differential treatment in young adulthood on grown siblings’ relationship quality. The author used longitudinal data on parent – child and sibling relations from the sibling sample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 1,470 sibling dyads). Within-dyad fixed effects regression models revealed that the adolescent sibling who was closer to parents went on to be the young adult sibling who was closer to and received more material support from parents. Results from an actor – partner interdependence model revealed that differential parental financial assistance of young adult siblings predicted worse sibling relationship quality. These findings demonstrate the lasting importance of affect between parents and offspring earlier in the family life course and the relevance of within-family inequalities for understanding family relations.
Survey of aquatic macroinvertebrates and amphibians at Wupatki National Monument, Arizona, USA: An evaluation of selected factors affecting species richness in ephemeral pools

Ephemeral aquatic habitats in Wupatki National Monument vary from naturally formed pools in arroyos over 5000 years old, to constructed catchment basins with ages estimated at 60–1000+ years old, and borrow pits and stock ponds 30–60 years old. The different ages of these pools provide different histories of colonization by amphibians and aquatic invertebrates, especially temporary pool specialists such as spadefoot toads and branchiopod crustaceans. Ten pools of five different origins and ages were surveyed in August and/or September 1997 for aquatic organisms; a total of 13 surveys were conducted. Twenty-two taxa were found, with the number of species in a pool during any survey ranging from one to 10. Species composition of the communities changed from one sampling date to the next within individual pools. Community structure is an amalgam of species with different dispersal mechanisms that are influenced by different pool characteristics. Age appears to have little effect overall, but may have influenced branchiopod presence/absence. Distance to permanent water, frequency of disturbance, and current pool size were correlated with presence/absence of some species.
Role of recurrent hydrophobic residues in catalysis of helix formation by T cell-presented peptides in the presence of lipid vesicles

We tested the hypothesis that the recurrence of hydrophobic amino acids in a polypeptide at positions falling in an axial, hydrophobic strip if the sequence were coiled as an alpha helix, can lead to helical nucleation on a hydrophobic surface. The hydrophobic surface could anchor such residues, whereas the peptide sequence grows in a helical configuration that is stabilized by hydrogen bonds among carbonyl and amido NH groups along the peptidyl backbone of the helix, and by other intercycle interactions among amino acid side chains. Such bound, helical structures might protect peptides from proteases and/or facilitate transport to a MHC-containing compartment and thus be reflected in the selection of T cell-presented segments. Helical structure in a series of HPLC-purified peptides was estimated from circular dichroism measurements in: 1) 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, 2) that buffer with 45% trifluoroethanol (TFE), and 3) that buffer with di-O-hexadecyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles. By decreasing the dielectric constant of the buffer, TFE enhances intrapeptide interactions generally, whereas the lipid vesicles only provide a surface for hydrophobic interactions. The peptides varied in their strip-of-helix hydrophobicity indices (SOHHI; the mean Kyte-Doolittle hydrophobicities of residues in an axial strip of an alpha helix) and in proline content. Structural order for peptides with helical circular dichroism spectra was estimated as percentage helicity from circular dichroism theta 222 nm values and peptide concentration. A prototypic alpha helical peptide with three cycles plus two amino acids and an axial hydrophobic strip of four leucyl residues (SOHHI = 3.8) was disordered in phosphate buffer, 58% helical in that buffer with 48% TFE, and 36% helical in that buffer with vesicles. Percentage helicity in the presence of vesicles of the subset of peptides without proline followed their SOHHI values. Peptides with multiple prolyl residues had circular dichroism spectra with strong signals, but since they did not have altered spectra in the presence of vesicles relative to phosphate buffer alone, the hydrophobic surface of the vesicle did not appear to stabilize those structures.
WIMS comprehensive education program

The Michigan Wireless Integrated MicroSystems (WIMS) Engineering Research Center (ERC) has a comprehensive education program to serve pre-college (K-12) education, university education, and practicing professionals and society. In this paper, descriptions of the three components and some education programs and results are provided. The highlight of the WIMS Education thrust is the ability to deliver/disseminate/transfer comprehensive quality knowledge-based education opportunities to a diverse pre-college and university students population.
What You See is Not What You Get: Mutual Fund Tracking Error and Fund Diversification Properties

It is well known that the number of mutual funds has grown significantly in the past twenty years. Investors are inundated with information from popular periodicals in the form of lists, charts and graphs that seek to highlight best and worst category performers. In this study, two issues are addressed. First, the overall performance of a mutual fund category is not representative of how specific funds perform. This is not surprising, though this "objective tracking error" may not be consistent over time or across overall market performance. What this means in practical terms is that the span of returns achieved within a fund category is significant and unpredictable. Secondly, investors and portfolio managers who use average returns as inputs for asset allocation models will not achieve what their models predicted. In some cases, the differences are significant. In fact, this paper shows that using category averages is not sufficient to understand the diversification properties of portfolios of holdings. Using actual fund returns for the year 2000, simulations show that to reduce tracking error risk significantly, more than five funds are needed of a single objective. Portfolios created consisting of multiple fund types are insufficient to reduce this risk as well. As such, risk-reduction realities are not consistent with that predicted using traditional Markowitz models and academic theory. Lastly, this study shows that a fund's tracking error is driven more by the fund's specific characteristics than by its objective.
ABA triblock comb copolymers with oligo(oxyethylene) side chains as matrix for ion transport

ABA triblock copolymers consisting of two terminal blocks (A) of comb-like polymethacrylate with oligo(oxyethylene) side chains (on the average eight oxyethylene units per side chain) and a middle block B of polystyrene were synthesized by anionic polymerization. The ratios A/B were varied, and the respective polymers characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymers were then solution-cast from tetrahydrofuran solutions of lithium perchlorate, and the homogeneous, solvent-free polymer electrolyte systems tested for their thermal characteristics (DSC) and conductivity. The inclusion of a polystyrene block in the comb-like polymethacrylate electrolyte vastly improves their film-forming and mechanical properties, but also lowers the conductivity. Addition of dimethyltetraethyleneglycol (2,5,8,11,14-pentaoxapentadecane) enhances the ion conduction which can reach values of 10−4 Ω−1 · cm−1 at 70°C, depending on salt and styrene content.
Variability of postnatal ossification timing and evidence for a "dosage" effect.

Although absolute variability in postnatal ossification timing is generally larger in boys than in girls, relative, conception-corrected variability is significantly larger in girls, suggestive of a “dosage” effect and consistent with the hypothesis of partial X-linkage. These findings, together with the excess of sister-sister over brother-brother timing similarities are inconsistent with the hypothesis of selective inactivation of either the paternal or the maternal X chromosome.
On Hierarchical Power Scheduling for the Macrogrid and Cooperative Microgrids

Although considerable advances have been made in single microgrid (MG) systems, the problem of cooperation among MGs and the macrogrid has attracted considerable interest only recently. As in wireless communications systems, exploiting the temporal, spatial, and technological diversities in multiple cooperative MGs could bring about more efficient power generation and distribution. This paper investigates a hierarchical power scheduling approach to optimally manage power trading, storage, and distribution in a smart power grid with a macrogrid and cooperative MGs. We first formulate the problem as a convex optimization problem and then decompose it into a two-tier formulation. The first-tier problem jointly considers user utility, transmission cost, and grid load variance, while the second-tier problem minimizes the power generation and transmission cost, and exploits distributed storage in the MGs. We develop an effective online algorithm to solve the first-tier problem and prove its asymptotic optimality, as well as a distributed optimal algorithm for solving the second-tier problem. The proposed algorithms are evaluated with trace-driven simulations and are shown to outperform several existing schemes with considerable gains.
Indolent diffuse histiocytic lymphoma with sclerosis and chylous effusions

A case of diffuse histiocytic lymphoma with sclerosis and chylous pleural and peritoneal effusions spanning four years from onset to diagnosis is presented. Treatment with combination chemotherapy and consolidative radiotherapy resulted in clinical improvement and the patient remains free of disease 14 months after stopping treatment. The problems of chylous effusions and the subgroup of diffuse histiocytic lymphoma with sclerosis are discussed.