cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Snapshots of a protein folding intermediate

We have investigated the folding dynamics of Thermus thermophilus cytochrome c552 by time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer between the heme and each of seven site-specific fluorescent probes. We have found both an equilibrium unfolding intermediate and a distinct refolding intermediate from kinetics studies. Depending on the protein region monitored, we observed either two-state or three-state denaturation transitions. The unfolding intermediate associated with three-state folding exhibited native contacts in β-sheet and C-terminal helix regions. We probed the formation of a refolding intermediate by time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer between residue 110 and the heme using a continuous flow mixer. The intermediate ensemble, a heterogeneous mixture of compact and extended polypeptides, forms in a millisecond, substantially slower than the ∼100-μs formation of a burst-phase intermediate in cytochrome c. The surprising finding is that, unlike for cytochrome c, there is an observable folding intermediate, but no microsecond burst phase in the folding kinetics of the structurally related thermostable protein.
Detecting significant change in neuropsychological test performance: a comparison of four models.

A major use of neuropsychological assessment is to measure changes in functioning over time; that is, to determine whether a difference in test performance indicates a real change in the individual or just chance variation. Using 7 illustrative test measures and retest data from 384 neurologically stable adults, this paper compares different methods of predicting retest scores, and of determining whether observed changes in performance are unusual. The methods include the Reliable Change Index, with and without correction for practice effect, and models based upon simple and multiple regression. For all test variables, the most powerful predictor of follow-up performance was initial performance. Adding demographic variables and overall neuropsychological competence at baseline significantly but slightly improved prediction of all follow-up scores. The simple Reliable Change Index without correction for practice performed least well, with high error rates and large prediction intervals (confidence intervals). Overall prediction accuracy was similar for the other three methods; however, different models produce large differences in predicted scores for some individuals, especially those with extremes of initial test performance, overall competency, or demographics. All 5 measures from the Halstead–Reitan Battery had residual (observed − predicted score) variability that increased with poorer initial performance. Two variables showed significant nonnormality in the distribution of residuals. For accurate prediction with smallest prediction–confidence intervals, we recommend multiple regression models with attention to differential variability and nonnormality of residuals. (JINS, 1999, 5, 357–369.)
A new approach to yield prediction in cellular solids

Although there exists several yield criteria proposed in the literature for highly porous solid foams, they are all phenomenological in nature, rely on relatively long list of model parameters that require difficult experimentation not readily available to end user, and none of them can handle the anisotropy observed in commercially available solid foams. Present work offers a novel approach by hypothesizing that the yielding of stochastic foams is governed by the total elastic strain energy density. Resulting analytical framework that is based on transverse anisotropy and energy homogenization leads to a pressure-dependent yield criterion for solid foams. Besides accommodating anisotropy, this energy-based yield criterion renders an advantage by relying only on the elastic properties and uniaxial yield strengths of the material. Finite element analysis is presented for a periodic elongated tetrakaidecahedral cell model with 0.1 relative density to validate the proposed model and the dependence of yield behavior on strain energy density. Proposed yield criterion is also validated by extensive experimental data in a companion paper.
The shells of Vaggione: some comments and questions

This article explores Vaggione's generalization of the author's notion of shell. Examples show that it is definitely more general. Categorical and polynomial equivalence reduce its essential generality to the possibility of adjoining new operations. These additional operations require additional clauses in the definitions of factor element and ideal, which correspond to the notion of factor congruence, all three of which form isomorphic Boolean algebras. As is customary one constructs a sheaf. Thus any shell is isomorphic to the shell of all global sections of the sheaf over the Boolean space of all prime ideals of factor objects. As a consequence, any Stone shell is isomorphic to the shell of all global sections where the stalks have no divisors of zero. Similarly, biregular shells yield simple stalks. These results encompass some classical theorems in ring theory.
Reaction to the Special Issue on Centralizing the Experiences of LGB People of Color in Counseling Psychology

This reaction article comments on the Major Contribution “Centralizing the Experiences of LGB People of Color in Counseling Psychology.” The content analysis of the published literature on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people of color from 1998 to 2007 provides much-needed information that will help psychologists set future research agendas and move the field forward. The methodological issues associated with doing research on LGB and transgender people of color raise important issues to be considered from the inception of research questions to dissemination of findings. Respondent-driven sampling is proposed as an additional recruitment method for working with LGB people of color. The empirical contribution “LGB of Color and White Individuals’ Perceptions of Heterosexist Stigma, Internalized Homophobia, and Outness” succeeded at addressing several limitations uncovered in the content analysis of research on LGB people of color. This special issue was successful in accomplishing its main goal, centrali...
Early failure of aortoiliac kissing stents: histopathologic correlation.

JVIR 2000; 11:333–336 THE application of bilateral iliac stents, or kissing stents, for atherosclerotic disease of the aortic bifurcation has been described in the literature (1–4). They have been described in cases of failed or suboptimal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or as primary therapy. Some practitioners favor the use of stents as a primary form of treatment, due to optimal immediate angiographic and hemodynamic results when compared to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty alone. A small series of cases of kissing stents at the aortic bifurcation has been reported (4). Long-term patency rates are unknown. There is very little known about the natural history of protruding metallic stents from the iliac arteries into the abdominal aorta. We report a case of early failure of aortoiliac kissing stents, in which a surgical specimen was obtained for cytopathology analysis.
Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma: Diagnosis and Postoperative Follow-Up With Gadolinium-Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Pulmonary artery sarcomas are infrequently encountered and are often misdiagnosed before surgical exploration or autopsy. On clinical examination and conventional imaging studies, they are frequently mistaken for pulmonary emboli. To our knowledge, this case report is the first to describe the postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of residual disease of a pulmonary artery sarcoma and to assess the potential usefulness of MRI for monitoring such lesions postoperatively. Contrast-enhanced MRI, a relatively noninvasive method, seems well suited for postsurgical follow-up of pulmonary artery sarcomas.
IL-10 mediated by herpes simplex virus vector reduces neuropathic pain induced by HIV gp120 combined with ddC in rats.

HIV-associated sensory neuropathy affects over 50% of HIV patients and is a common peripheral nerve complication of HIV infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Evidence shows that painful HIV sensory neuropathy is influenced by neuroinflammatory events that include the proinflammatory molecules, MAP Kinase, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), stromal cell-derived factor 1-α (SDF1α), and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4). However, the exact mechanisms of painful HIV sensory neuropathy are not known, which hinders our ability to develop effective treatments. In this study, we investigated whether inhibition of proinflammatory factors reduces the HIV-associated neuropathic pain state. Neuropathic pain was induced by peripheral HIV coat protein gp120 combined with 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC, one of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)). Mechanical threshold was tested using von Frey filament fibers. Non-replicating herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors expressing interleukin 10 (IL10) were inoculated into the hindpaws of rats. The expression of TNFα, SDF1α, and CXCR4 in the lumbar spinal cord and L4/5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was examined using western blots. IL-10 expression mediated by the HSV vectors resulted in a significant elevation of mechanical threshold. The anti-allodynic effect of IL-10 expression mediated by the HSV vectors lasted more than 3 weeks. The area under the effect-time curves (AUC) in mechanical threshold in rats inoculated with the HSV vectors expressing IL-10, was increased compared with the control vectors, indicating antinociceptive effect of the IL-10 vectors. The HSV vectors expressing IL-10 also concomitantly reversed the upregulation of p-p38, TNFα, SDF1α, and CXCR4 induced by gp120 in the lumbar spinal dorsal horn and/or the DRG at 2 and/or 4 weeks. The blocking of the signaling of these proinflammatory molecules is able to reduce HIV-related neuropathic pain, which provide a novel mechanism-based approach to treating HIV-associated neuropathic pain using gene therapy.
An Algorithm for Selection of Stepped-Frequency Pulse Trains with Low Sidelobes

For purposes of a high range resolution radar, it is desirable to transmit signals with wide overall bandwidth. Frequency stepping is one of the known and well-studied techniques that can be used to achieve this goal. The autocorrelation function of a uniform stepped-frequency pulse train suffers from relatively high range sidelobes and grating lobes. The purpose of this paper is to present a new algorithm for designing stepped-frequency waveforms whose sidelobes are suppressed below a desired threshold level.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY

With the widespread introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in late 1989, the practice and expectations of general surgery were changed forever. The techniques of laparoscopy were not new--they had been adopted by gynecologists and orthopedic surgeons at least a decade before--but it was laparoscopic cholecystectomy that captured the attention of the surgical profession and the public and spawned the tremendous growth in what has come to be called minimally invasive surgery. Although this surgery has tremendous appeal, offering quicker recovery, less pain, and possibly greater safety, it presents new challenges in the areas of training, credentialing, and quality assessment and raises serious questions about the real benefits of new technology at a time when the political and economic sensitivity of these issues is greater than ever. In this chapter I limit myself to a discussion of laparoscopy in general surgery, with a focus on what we have learned from laparoscopic cholecystectomy and on what this knowledge suggests for the future of other laparoscopic general surgical procedures.
Modification of the L'Episcopo procedure for brachial plexus birth palsies

We reviewed 19 children who had undergone a new modification of the L'Episcopo procedure for obstetric brachial plexus palsy. Through an axillary approach the latissimus dorsi tendon was re-routed anteriorly to the humerus and then anastomosed to the teres major tendon routed posteriorly. At an average follow-up of four years two months, the mean increase in shoulder abduction was 26 degrees and the mean increase in external rotation was 29 degrees. No neurovascular injury or postoperative infection occurred. Two patients had complications, and five did not gain from the procedure. The modified operation was relatively easier to perform and provided excellent cosmesis.
Advances in digital calibration techniques enabling real-time beamforming SweepSAR architectures

Real-time digital beamforming, combined with lightweight, large aperture reflectors, enable SweepSAR architectures, which promise significant increases in instrument capability for solid earth and biomass remote sensing. These new instrument concepts require new methods for calibrating the multiple channels, which are combined on-board, in real-time. The benefit of this effort is that it enables a new class of lightweight radar architecture, Digital Beamforming with SweepSAR, providing significantly larger swath coverage than conventional SAR architectures for reduced mass and cost.
Adjusting for geographic variation in observational comparative effectiveness studies: a case study of antipsychotics using state Medicaid data

Area-level variation in treatment and outcomes may be a potential source of confounding bias in observational comparative effectiveness studies. This paper demonstrates how to use exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and spatial statistical methods to investigate and control for these potential biases. The case presented compares the effectiveness of two antipsychotic treatment strategies: oral second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) vs. long-acting paliperiodone palmitate (PP). A new-start cohort study was conducted analyzing patient-level administrative claims data (8/1/2008–4/30/2011) from Missouri Medicaid. ESDA techniques were used to examine spatial patterns of antipsychotic prescriptions and outcomes (hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits). Likelihood of mental health-related outcomes were compared between patients starting PP (N = 295) and oral SGAs (N = 8,626) using multilevel logistic regression models adjusting for patient composition (demographic and clinical factors) and geographic region. ESDA indicated significant spatial variation in antipsychotic prescription patterns and moderate variation in hospitalization and ED visits thereby indicating possible confounding by geography. In the multilevel models for this antipsychotic case example, patient composition represented a stronger source of confounding than geographic context. Because geographic variation in health care delivery is ubiquitous, it could be a comparative effectiveness research (CER) best practice to test for possible geographic confounding in observational data. Though the magnitude of the area-level geography effects were small in this case, they were still statistically significant and should therefore be examined as part of this observational CER study. More research is needed to better estimate the range of confounding due to geography across different types of observational comparative effectiveness studies and healthcare utilization outcomes.
False-name-proof matching

Matching a set of agents to a set of objects has many real applications. One well-studied framework is that of priority-based matching, in which each object is assumed to have a priority order over the agents. The Deferred Acceptance (DA) and Top-Trading-Cycle (TTC) mechanisms are the best-known strategy-proof mechanisms. However, in highly anonymous environments, the set of agents is not known a priori, and it is more natural for objects to instead have priorities over characteristics (e.g., the student's GPA or home address). In this paper, we extend the model so that each agent reports not only its preferences over objects, but also its characteristic. We derive results for various notions of strategy-proofness and false-name-proofness, corresponding to whether agents can only report weaker characteristics or also incomparable or stronger ones, and whether agents can only claim objects allocated to their true accounts or also those allocated to their fake accounts. Among other results, we show that DA and TTC satisfy a weak version of false-name-proofness. Furthermore, DA also satisfies a strong version of false-name-proofness, while TTC fails to satisfy it without an acyclicity assumption on priorities.
Linguistic opportunism and English in Moldova

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of English in Moldova. Building on Phillipson's (1992) concept of linguistic imperialism and Kachru's (1985) three concentric circles of world Englishes, it will propose a weak form of linguistic dominance based on the notion of opportunism. This model is supported by data from a recent study of language attitude and use in Moldova. The data come from a survey based on a self–report questionnaire completed by 65 Moldovans. Results indicate that English is learned for facilitative reasons when it is accessible. The role of English is significantly weakened by the presence of three competing local identities (Moldovan, Romanian, and Russian) and residual integrative motivation to learn French. Thus, despite its growing role as a language of international communication, English in Moldova reflects opportunism more than imperialism.
The Use of ACE Inhibitors as Renoprotective Agents in Medicaid Patients with Diabetes

OBJECTIVE:To establish a relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy and renal outcomes in Medicaid patients with diabetes, and compare the use of ACE inhibitors between 1994 and 1998.METHODS:One thousand patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes were randomly selected from the Iowa Medicaid database and followed retrospectively from 1994 through 1998. Data on medication use (insulin, oral antidiabetic agents, or both) and medical services were collected from prescription claims and diagnostic codes. Differences were evaluated with nonparametric statistics.RESULTS:Overall, 402 patients (40.2%) were prescribed an ACE inhibitor during the study period before any adverse renal outcomes occurred; 25 of the patients in this group (6.2%) had a subsequent adverse renal outcome. One hundred patients (16.7%) not receiving an ACE inhibitor had an adverse renal outcome (p = 0.006). We evaluated four subgroups and found that patients with hypertension had fewer adverse renal outcom...
Alignment of successive cardiac signals for analyzing changes in performance

A technique is described for aligning two recordings of a cardiovascular signal obtained at different times. Alignment allows comparison in analyzing changes in hemodynamic state. The technique is intended for use in patients during and immediately after cardiac surgery. A left-ventricular diameter signal is recorded in dogs. A fast Fourier transform is obtained using a window which results in accuracy of magnitude calculation within 0.1%. The fundamental frequency is also calculated. Using the magnitudes, the fundamental frequency, and the original digitized waveform, the phase angles are calculated using the periodogram method. This results in phase accuracy to within 0.35 degrees . The phase of the first frequency component is set to 0, and the phase of each successive harmonic is adjusted accordingly. >
Radial distribution test feeders

Many computer programs are available for the analysis of radial distribution feeders. In 1992 a paper was published that presented the complete data for three four-wire wye and one three-wire delta radial distribution test feeders. The purpose of publishing the data was to make available a common set of data that could be used by program developers and users to verify the correctness of their solutions. This paper presents an updated version of the same test feeders along with a simple system that can be used to test three-phase transformer models.
Genetic correction of inherited epidermal disorders

Genetic correction of monogenic human skin disorders represents a potentially effective molecular therapy for severe diseases in which current therapy is only palliative. The stratified epithelium of the epidermis represents the tissue location with the largest number of genetic skin diseases yet characterized. Specific requirements of successful gene delivery in this setting include correct targeting within tissue, durability, and a lack of immunogenecity. Progress toward this goal has advanced from identification of disease genes to reintroduction of wild-type genes to patient cell lines and primary cells in vitro. This initial work has been extended to gene-based correction of diseased tissue regenerated in vivo in the form of human patient skin xenografts on immune-deficient mice. Efforts in this human tissue model have laid the foundation for future efforts to extend this progress toward ex vivo cutaneous gene therapy trials in humans.
Detecting stars at the galactic centre via synchrotron emission

Stars orbiting within 1$\arcsec$ of the supermassive black hole in the Galactic Centre, Sgr A*, are notoriously difficult to detect due to obscuration by gas and dust. We show that some stars orbiting this region may be detectable via synchrotron emission. In such instances, a bow shock forms around the star and accelerates the electrons. We calculate that around the 10 GHz band (radio) and at 10$^{14}$ Hz (infrared) the luminosity of a star orbiting the black hole is comparable to the luminosity of Sgr A*. The strength of the synchrotron emission depends on a number of factors including the star's orbital velocity. Thus, the ideal time to observe the synchrotron flux is when the star is at pericenter. The star S2 will be $\sim 0.015\arcsec$ from Sgr A* in 2018, and is an excellent target to test our predictions.
The Eruption of Technology in Traditional Medicine: How Social Media Guides the Sale of Natural Plant Products in the Sonoran Desert Region 1

Because the adoption of technology into traditional systems has unknown effects, we examined the hypothesis that social media aids shopkeeper selection of herbs or herbal preparations that the public is exposed to. Medicinal plant shopkeepers in southern Sonora, Mexico, were interviewed about their customer base and marketing strategy. The majority, 85%, of their customers had low to middle incomes as ranked by the shopkeepers, of which seven of seventeen incorporate social media marketing into their marketing strategy. Shopkeepers preferentially selected herbal preparations over loose herbs for online marketing. The results indicate that the incorporation of social media marketing aids a shift from herbs to herbal preparations in Sonoran traditional medicine markets. In short, social media use may act as a conditioning factor used by shopkeepers to promote herbal preparations and, in doing so, may provide a critical tool for the long–term survival of traditional plant markets, but at the risk of also contributing to the loss of the culture of home remedies and traditional domestic preparation of natural products.
Impedance Biosensors: Applications to Sustainability and Remaining Technical Challenges.

Due to their all-electrical nature, impedance biosensors have significant potential for use as simple and portable sensors for environmental studies and environmental monitoring. Detection of two endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC), norfluoxetine and BDE-47, is reported here by impedance biosensing, with a detection limit of 8.5 and 1.3 ng/mL for norfluoxetine and BDE-47, respectively. Although impedance biosensors have been widely studied in the academic literature, commercial applications have been hindered by several technical limitations, including possible limitations to small analytes, the complexity of impedance detection, susceptibility to nonspecific adsorption, and stability of biomolecule immobilization. Recent research into methods to overcome these obstacles is briefly reviewed. New results demonstrating antibody regeneration atop degenerate (highly doped) Si are also reported. Using 0.2 M KSCN and 10 mM HF for antibody regeneration, peanut protein Ara h 1 is detected daily during a 30 day t...
Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Programs in the State of Florida: correlates and predictors of teachers' perceptions of program effectiveness.

Abstract In Florida, data from telephone surveys were used to identify correlates and predictors of teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of tobacco use prevention education (TUPE) prior to the implementation of the Tobacco Pilot Project (TPP). A 40% random sample of public middle and high schools yielded 296 middle school teachers (MST) and 282 high school teachers (HST). Higher perceived program effectiveness ratings were associated with: using peer leaders, frequent evaluations, parental involvement, few barriers, high student interest, and low tolerance norms for tobacco use. The importance of program features and implementation contexts to teachers' perceived program effectiveness ratings is highlighted.
Screening mammography in women less than age 50 years.

Purpose of reviewFor women aged 40–49 years, to describe the benefits and harms of performing screening mammography, accuracy of digital mammography, and new evidence on the effectiveness of risk-based screening.Recent findingsNew data support a 15% reduction in breast cancer mortality for women age
A Tale of Three Cities: Urban-Rural Asymmetries in Language Shift?

In the 19th and 20th centuries, eastern Wisconsin went from being heavily German speaking to almost entirely English speaking. The largest city, Milwaukee, is claimed to have experienced language shift more rapidly than the state's rural German communities. We examine this apparent asymmetry, comparing evidence for language shift in urban Milwaukee, the city of Watertown, and the small town of Lebanon, drawing on census data, reports on language of church services, and information on the German language press. Our findings show little asymmetry in rate of shift across the three communities, but evidence is consistent with a correlation between shift and Warren's Great Change.*
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

Evidence suggests that nonspecific ulcerative colitis is a systemic disease, probably associated with some type of hypersensitivity reaction. The pathologic process in the early phases remains obscure, and there probably are several modes of onset producing different initial lesions. Diagnosis may be difficult but usually can be made by careful examination of stools, sigmoidoscopy and roentgenography. Treatment, although greatly improved since the introduction of antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, steroids and better surgical technics, is not entirely satisfactory. Control or cure of the disease awaits greater understanding of its mechanism.
The effects of structure, strategy and market conditions on the operating practices of physician-organization arrangements.

Research to date has documented weak or inconsistent associations between market and organizational factors and the adoption of physician-organization arrangements (POAs) (e.g. physician-hospital organizations, management service organizations and independent practice associations) designed to increase physician integration. We argue that POAs may mask considerable variation in how these entities are operated and governed. Further, because the operating policies and practices of POAs are likely to influence more directly the behaviour of physicians than the structural form of the POA, they may be more sensitive to the market and organizational contingencies that encourage integration. This study attempts to test empirically the relative effects of POA type and market, strategic and organization factors on the operating policies and practices of market-based POAs. Results suggest that type of POA, and market, strategic and organizational factors affect risk sharing, physician selection practices, physician monitoring practices and ways in which monitoring information is used to influence physician behaviour in POAs.
Inactivation of deoxyribonuclease by x-rays. III. Modification of the effect of radiation on the DNA-DNase system.

Abstract 1. 1. Prior irradiation of DNA with 12,650 r. of x-rays causes no change in the deoxypentose content of the acid-soluble fraction; however, exposure to this dose increases the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis by nonirradiated DNase. Exposure to higher doses of x-rays increases the amount of deoxypentose in the acid-soluble fraction of irradiated DNA but decreases the rate at which the substrate can be hydrolyzed. 2. 2. The addition of DNA to an aqueous solution of DNase affords potent protection against inactivation of the enzyme by x-irradiation. The protective effect of DNA is greater than the same quantity by weight of nucleotides or nucleosides. This suggests that the high protective power of DNA is partly due to the formation of a complex between DNA and DNase. 3. 3. The protection effects obtained with different proteins vary as a function of their molecular weight suggesting that as the size of the protein molecule increases, more reactive sites become available for reaction with free radicals. 4. 4. The addition of glutathione, cysteine, and homocysteine to irradiated DNase solution failed to reactivate the enzyme.
Taxonomic revision of Elimia christyi and E. interrupta (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Pleuroceridae)

An examination of museum material indicated that the lectotypes of Goniobasis christyi Lea, 1862 and G. instabilis Lea, 1862, along with recent collections of putative Elimia interrupta (Haldeman, 1840), represent a new species separate from E. interrupta, sensu stricto. We propose the name E. christyi for the new species, and provide re-descriptions of it and E. interrupta.
Solution of the Linear, Gaussian Inverse Problem, Viewpoint 3: Maximum Likelihood Methods

This chapter is the third of a trio of chapters devoted to solving the canonical inverse problem, that is, the linear problem with Gaussian statistics. It views the solution of an inverse problem as one that maximizes a probability, either that the observed data were in fact observed or that the model parameters obey a priori expectations, or some combination of the two. This principle of maximum likelihood, together with the assumption of Gaussian (Normal) statistics, is used to derive the solution to inverse problems, solutions that turn out to be identical to the weighted least squares solution of F -test is introduced as a way of testing whether one solution to an inverse problem fits the data better than another, taking into consideration random variation due to measurement noise.
Sediments, Soils, and Stratigraphy in Archaeological Geology

Since the principal focus of this chapter is the description of sediments and soils and their use in archaeological geology, a programmatic approach to their study is used in modern geoarchaeology. Many of the methods, discussed in this chapter, and their use in both terrestrial and marine/lacustrine environments will be within their specific applications to paleoenvironments. For the assessment of subsurface deposits and their spatial/stratigraphic extent, these techniques provide the most reliable and efficient means of doing so. From the geomorphological perspective, any paleosol, unless found to outcrop in the vicinity of interest, is exposed and described using them. Likewise, for ground-truth purposes of geophysical data, they provide a reliable means of assessing depth of features such as subsurface contacts and anomalies. These field techniques allow the investigator to recover representative and depth-constrained sediment, soil, and rock samples for purposes of laboratory studies.
Practical experience of failure analysis on nuclear facility or how I learned to love a well-structured FMEA

AbstractThe safety assessment principles for nuclear facilities, produced by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), define Engineering Principles which require a formal and structured analysis to be undertaken to identify all potential failure modes for structures, systems and components important to safety within a nuclear facility.It has been widely publicised, for example in “Mitigating the Loss of Critical Knowledge” by Bell (2014), that there is a skills shortage in engineering design assurance in highly regulated industries within the UK. This paper presents examples and lessons learnt from 5 years of practical experience in performing structured failure analysis, particularly Failure, Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), on nuclear facility design: these lessons learnt are considered applicable to all highly regulated industries. It is hoped that the following examples included in this report, might inspire and guide others in the development of FMEA in support of design assurance activities: Tailo...
Natural Disaster Analysis after Hurricane Katrina: Risk Assessment, Economic Impacts and Social Implications

Harry W. Richardson, Peter Gordon, and James E. Moore II, editors. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, U.K., 2008. 320 pages. $160. The publisher's description on its website exemplifies the strengths and we...
Wideband Spurious-Free Lithium Niobate RF-MEMS Filters

This paper reports on the demonstration of wideband spurious-free radio frequency micromechanical systems filters based on one-port shear horizontal (SH0) mode lithium niobate (LiNbO3) laterally vibrating resonators (LVRs). The fabricated filter has been demonstrated with an unprecedented spectral range of spurious-free response (290% of the center frequency), a low insertion loss of 2.1 dB, an excellent 30-dB shape factor of 1.48, and a 3-dB fractional bandwidth of 8.9%. The spurious free response is achieved by optimizing the building blocks of the filters, namely the LVRs, and employing a spurious mitigation design based on arraying single resonators with only two electrodes. The low loss and excellent shape factor are enabled by the demonstrated high electromechanical coupling ( $\mathit {k}_{t}^{2}=16.1$ %), high quality factor ( ${Q} =1093$ ), and high figure of merit (FoM = 154) of the fabricated resonator arrays. [2016-0250]
Lessons on Citizenship and Democratic Power Literacy from Undocumented Youth

To create a society in which power is more equally accessible, we must teach our youth not only about civics and government, but also how to use political tools in order to effect social change. In this essay, I argue for teaching power literacy in place of traditional citizenship education on the grounds that the former has greater potential for increasing students’ political efficacy and their abilities to apply knowledge of civics to the real-world issues that affect them. To illustrate the concept of power literacy, I draw on a case study of a grassroots, undocumented youth activist organization fighting for in-state tuition legislation in North Carolina. Members of this group, which was entirely youth-founded and youth-led, taught themselves lobbying, civil disobedience, and other political strategies that far surpass the knowledge and skills typically presented in school-based citizenship education. Their work exemplifies the type of power literacy that we should teach all youth if we wish them to have the skills necessary to address the social inequalities that currently undercut American democracy.
A Life in Sociology

There has lately been a slew of movies—biopics—that depict the lives of immensely talented individuals—the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, the cryptographer and computing pioneer Alan Turing, the physicist extraordinaire Stephen Hawking, and the southern-born novelist Thomas Wolfe, among others. As I think about my life and accomplishments, I know full well that they are way out of my league. All the same, I offer the following autobiographical account.
Reduced ENSO Variability at the LGM Revealed by an Isotope-Enabled Earth System Model

Studying the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the past can help us better understand its dynamics and improve its future projections. However, both paleoclimate reconstructions and model simulations of ENSO strength at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 21 ka B.P.) have led to contradicting results. Here we perform model simulations using the recently developed water isotope-enabled Community Earth System Model (iCESM). For the first time, model-simulated oxygen isotopes are directly compared with those from ENSO reconstructions using the individual foraminifera analysis (IFA). We find that the LGM ENSO is most likely weaker comparing with the preindustrial. The iCESM suggests that total variance of the IFA records may only reflect changes in the annual cycle instead of ENSO variability as previously assumed. Furthermore, the interpretation of subsurface IFA records can be substantially complicated by the habitat depth of thermocline-dwelling foraminifera and their vertical migration with a temporally varying thermocline.
Current Trends in Psychological and Educational Approaches for Training and Teaching Students with Autism in California

Within the United States, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has seen a dramatic increase over the past twenty years. As the prevalence rate of ASD increases, an increased need for expertise in the field of education has become apparent. Psychological and educational practices for training and teaching students with ASD continue to evolve in California however, a significant gap between theory and practice remains. This article provides a historical perspective of ASD and its prevalence rates. In addition, this article examines the current shifts in teacher training and provides an overview of evidence-based strategies to support students with ASD.
National Library of Medicine and Its Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by Carlo Nuss, volume 4, pp 545–549, © 2005, Elsevier Inc.
Adaptive spatial homogenization and synchronization of structurally perturbed parabolic PDEs via asymptotic embedding methods

This paper proposes synchronization controllers for networked systems whose dynamics are described by parabolic partial differential equations. The control design objectives are to ensure that each networked system agrees with each other (synchronization) and that each networked system follows the state of a partial differential equation (leader-following). The novelty here is that the leader is governed by time invariant partial differential equation and thus the leader-following controller ensures that each networked system is spatially homogenized. This allows each system to dynamically reach a spatial distribution which is the solution to the time invariance partial differential equation. To achieve both control objectives the control signals are decomposed into two parts; one addressing synchronization via an appropriate consensus protocol with adaptation of the synchronization gains, and the other via a regulation controller of an associate error equation. This state error equation is constructed via asymptotic embedding methods which embed the spatially-dependent and time-invariant dynamics of the leader into the dynamics of each networked system. Both the stability of the proposed controllers and the well-posedness of the resulting aggregate system are summarized and an example of five networked parabolic partial differential equations tasked with synchronization and following a spatially-dependent leader are presented to provide insights on the proposed spatial homogenization.
Switching the Isotype of Monoclonal Antibodies

Isotype switch variant selection is an important adjunct to monoclonal antibody technology. Through the production of hybridomas, we can now harness the specificity of the humoral immune response to generate virtually unlimited amounts of monoclonal antibody of desired specificity. Unfortunately, a selected hybridoma may fail to secrete specific immunoglobulin with an isotype of desired functional activity. This problem may be alleviated through the selection of isotype switch variants that secrete antibody of a different immunoglobulin isotype but with preserved antigen-binding specificity. In addition, by selecting hybridomas that produce monoclonals differing from one another in isotype only, comparative studies can be performed on the functional activities of the different murine immunoglobulin isotypes. Such studies may increase our understanding of potential uses of monoclonal antibodies in cell biology and medicine.
Change and Motion Estimation

In this chapter, we examine techniques to estimate motion and change from a sequence of spatial grids when what is being observed is moving as well as evolving. We consider first simply subtracting successive grids and point out the limitations of this approach. Then, we consider using partial derivatives (optical flow) which is suitable for fluid-like flows. Cross-correlation is often better than using partial derivatives when the amount of change and movement are large. We examine a way to improve cross-correlation, by performing it in the frequency domain (phase correlation). Then, we discuss object tracking which is suitable when the spatial grid consists of objects that are moving and changing rather than of fluid-like flows. Object tracking involves associating objects between frames, and this leads us to a discussion of the Hungarian method. Finally, we point out that a hybrid approach allows us to retain the advantages of both object tracking and cross-correlation while side-stepping their disadvantages. We finish the chapter by discussing different ways of computing temporal attributes from spatial grids.
Assaying chromatin structure and remodeling by restriction enzyme accessibility.

The packaging of eukaryotic DNA into nucleosomes, the fundamental unit of chromatin, creates a barrier to nuclear processes, such as transcription, DNA replication, recombination, and repair(1). This obstructive nature of chromatin can be overcome by the enzymatic activity of chromatin remodeling complexes which creates a more favorable environment for the association of essential factors and regulators to sequences within target genes. Here we describe a detailed approach for analyzing chromatin architecture and remodeling by restriction endonuclease hypersensitivity assay. This procedure uses restriction endonucleases to characterize changes in chromatin that accompany nucleosome remodeling. The specific experimental example described in this article is the BRG1 complex dependent chromatin remodeling of the steroid hormone-responsive mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. Through the use of these methodologies one is able to quantify changes at specific nucleosomes in response to regulatory signals.
Relevant ion time scales for electron impact processes of atoms in dense plasmas

In this paper a new model for treating collisional atomic processes has been presented. This model simultaneously and self-consistently treats electron and ion processes. For transitions frequencies above the ion plasma frequency, it is argued that little ion motion occurs although the interaction is still strong; the ion microfield perturbs the atom. The electron impact processes may still be described by a DSF between levels of the perturbed atoms, suggesting the name Microfield Stochastic Model (MSM) for this method. Future work will be directed towards refining some of the approximations used here for application to realistic systems.
Low Momentum Direct Photon Measurement

Direct photons have long been considered as golden probes to study the properties of the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP). They do not interact strongly with the medium and are produced at all stages of the collision, hence carrying information of the entire evolution of the system to the detectors. The PHENIX experiment discovered a large excess of low pT photons in Au+Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV compared to reference p+p collisions, which has been interpreted as thermal radiation from the QGP and hadron gas medium. At the same time, the excess photons show a large elliptic and triangular flow. These results are challenging for the current theoretical models to describe simultaneously, because on one hand the large yield suggests early stage emissions when the temperature is high, on the other hand the large anisotropy is expected to be formed only at later stages of the collision when the system has cooled off and the thermal photon production rate is expected to be smaller. Using a variety of high statistics datasets across different collision systems and energies in PHENIX, simultaneous analyses of yields and azimuthal asymmetries of direct photons with higher precision are performed to provide more constraints to the theoretical calculations. In this talk, we will present recent results on low pT direct photons measured via their external conversions to electron-positron pairs, including new results from Au+Au at lower beam energies of 39 and 62.4 GeV, as well as Cu+Cu at 200GeV.
Epigenetic factors coordinate intestinal development

Intestinal epithelium development depends on epigenetic modifications, but whether that is also the case for other intestinal tract cell types remains unclear. We found that functional loss of a DNA methylation machinery component, ubiquitin-like protein containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 ( uhrf1 ), leads to reduced enteric neuron number, changes in neuronal morphology, and severe intestinal smooth muscle disruption. Genetic chimeras revealed that Uhrf1 functions both cell-autonomously in enteric neuron progenitors and cell-non-autonomously in surrounding intestinal cells. Uhrf1 recruits the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 to unmethylated DNA during replication. Dnmt1 is also expressed in enteric neuron and smooth muscle progenitors. dnmt1 mutants show a strong reduction in enteric neuron number and disrupted intestinal smooth muscle. Because dnmt1;uhrf1 double mutants have a similar phenotype to dnmt1 and uhrf1 single mutants, Dnmt1 and Uhrf1 must function together during enteric neuron and intestinal muscle development. This work shows that genes controlling epigenetic modifications are important in coordinating intestinal tract development, provides the first demonstration that these genes are important in ENS development, and advances uhrf1 and dnmt1 as potential new Hirschsprung disease candidates.
Low nationwide utilization of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in elderly patients with localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

6581Background: While AC is recommended for all patients with stage IIA, IIB, and IIIA NSCLC, its use and benefit among the elderly population is unclear. Methods: We identified patients with stage...