cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RTK mutations and human syndromes: when good receptors turn bad

Abstract Mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have been linked to an increasing number of inherited human disease syndromes, including dwarfism, craniosynostosis, heritable cancer susceptibility, venous malformation and Piebaldism. Both gain-of-function mutations resulting in constitutive receptor activation, and loss-of-function mutations resulting in non-functional or dominant negative receptors, have been observed. This review summarizes RTK families that are involved in inherited syndromes, describes the molecular consequences of the disease mutations, and predicts that many novel mutations remain to be identified.
A Fine Grained Scintillating Optical Fiber Hodoscope for Use at ISABELLE

In order to exploit the high event rates at ISABELLE, it will be necessary to have fast detection with fine spatial resolution. The authors are currently constructing a prototype fine-grained hodoscope, the elements of which are scintillating optical fibers. The fibers have been drawn from commercially available plastic scintillator which has been clad with a thin layer of silicone. So far it has been demonstrated with one mm diameter fibers, that with a photodetector at each end, the fibers are more than 99% efficient for lengths of about 60 cm. The readout will be accomplished either with small diameter photomultiplier tubes or avalanche photodiodes used either in the linear or Geiger mode. The program of fiber development and evaluation will be described. In addition an account of the progress on the prototype hodoscope will be given.
Long-lived fluorescence probes for studying lipid dynamics: A review.

A great many studies have focused on the heterogeneous packing of lipids in the bilayer matrix. However, less attention has been directed toward the temporal aspects of these lipid-lipid interactions. Studies of lipid packing fluctuations, or ‘gel-fluid’ exchange, using fluorescence probe methodologies have been limited. This limitation arises from thesubmicrosecond time scale over which the fluctuations are expected to occur. Traditionally, dynamic studies of lipid bilayers have been restricted to the nanosecond time regime, and the submicrosecond time ‘window’ has not been explored in any great depth by fluorescence methods, although persistent lipid dynamics has been evident. Probes with long fluorescence lifetimes (several hundred nanoseconds) have the potential to expand this important time ‘window,’ providing information on ‘gel-fluid’ exchange rates and insights into how important biological effectors such as proteins, cholesterol, and anesthetics affect or modulate these fluctuations. Using the long-lived fluorescence probe coronene, combined with time-resolved fluorescence methods geared toward microheterogeneity, we present a view of bilayer dynamics in an alternate time domain. Fluorescence probes are expected to inhabit an equilibrium between fluid and gel environments. Some probes remain in their respective environments throughout their excited-state lifetime, while others reside in surroundings that will change (i.e., ‘melt’). Long-lived fluorescence membrane probes can provide direct estimates of submicrosecond lipid fluctuation or ‘melt’ rates. Simple Landau modeling leads to adistribution of ‘melt’ rates and provides an attractive alternative to a simplercompartmental model where a unique lipid fluctuation of gel-fluid exchange rate is measured. Thedistribution model is probe independent (defined by thermodynamic quantities) and can be applied generally to the rotational motions of fluorescence probes embedded in the lipid bilayer.
Central Configurations and a Theorem of Palmore

The concept of central configuration is important in the study of total collisions or the relative equilibrium state of a rotating system in the N-body problem. However, relatively few such configurations are known. Aided by a new global optimizer, we have been able to construct new families of coplanar central configurations having particles of equal mass, and extend these constructions to some configurations with differing masses and the non-coplanar case. Meyer and Schmidt had shown that a theorem of Palmore concerning coplanar central configurations was incorrect for N equal masses where 6 ⩽ N ⩽ 20 but presented a simple analytic argument only for N = 6. Using straightforward analytic arguments and inequalities we also disprove this theorem for 2N equal masses with N ⩾ 3.
South Florida's Immigrant Youth and Civic Engagement: Major Engagement: Minor Differences

Although most immigrants are adults, their foreign and U.S.-born children are the fastest-growing component of the U.S. population. How these children integrate into U.S. society and the ways that they civically engage will greatly determine the nature of civil society in the United States over the next few decades. Using qualitative and quantitative data, this study compares the patterns of civic engagement of immigrant and nonimmigrant youth in Miami, Florida, a region of the United States with the highest proportion of immigrants. By almost all measures, immigrant civic engagement is statistically similar to that of nonimmigrants. Because immigrants engage more in civic actions that benefit their ethnic group, they are often missed by traditional civic engagement measures. Those of immigrant extraction, for example, devote considerable activity to using their bilingual skills and helping other immigrants. Like native minorities, immigrants also become heavily engaged in politically related activities i...
Terahertz spectroscopy and molecular modeling of 2-pyridone clusters

Abstract The terahertz (10–140 cm −1 ) spectrum of 2-pyridone (2PD) in a carbon tetrachloride solution has been recorded and simulated using both MP2 and DFT methods. The calculated structures, spectra, and binding energies reveal that the strong absorption at 109 cm −1 arises from an intermolecular in-plane rocking of the 2PD dimer. Yet there is additional intensity in the 2PD experimental spectrum that is not accounted for by theoretical predictions of the dimer alone. A hydrogen-bonded 2PD tetramer may be the source of this anomalous intensity and calculations of the proposed structure and vibrations are presented.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE FETUS AND INTRAUTERINE ENVIRONMENT IN HEALTHY MARES DURING LATE GESTATION

Mares with uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 33) underwent transabdominal sonography to evaluate fetal well-being, obtain measurements of fetal size and characterize the intrauterine environment. Data from the last examination obtained prior to parturition were used for statistical analysis. All mares had one active fetus with good fetal tone. The maximal vertical depth of amniotic fluid (7.9 ± 3.5 cm) was less than allantoic (13.4 ± 4.4 cm) and fewer echogenic particles were detected in amniotic fluid. The maximal uteroplacental thickness was 1.38 ± 0.23 cm (retrospective) and 1.15 ±± 0.24 cm (propspective). In 3 mares small anechoic spaces were imaged between the uterus and placenta. Fetuses had a regular cardiac rhythm with a mean heart rate of 75 ± 7 beats/minute and breathing movements. The diameter of the fetal aorta (mean = 22.8 ± 2.15 mm) was significantly correlated with neonatal foal weight (P<0.0008, r = 0.72) and maternal prepartum weight (P<0.002, r = 0.86). This information of the normal intrauterine environment and fetal well-being can be used to develop a biophysical profile specific for the equine fetus.
PROSPECT II: protein structure prediction program for genome‐scale applications

A new method for fold recognition is developed and added to the general protein structure prediction package PROSPECT (http://compbio.ornl.gov/PROSPECT/). The new method (PROSPECT II) has four key features. (i) We have developed an efficient way to utilize the evolutionary information for evaluating the threading potentials including singleton and pairwise energies. (ii) We have developed a two-stage threading strategy: (a) threading using dynamic programming without considering the pairwise energy and (b) fold recognition considering all the energy terms, including the pairwise energy calculated from the dynamic programming threading alignments. (iii) We have developed a combined z-score scheme for fold recognition, which takes into consideration the z-scores of each energy term. (iv) Based on the z-scores, we have developed a confidence index, which measures the reliability of a prediction and a possible structure-function relationship based on a statistical analysis of a large data set consisting of threadings of 600 query proteins against the entire FSSP templates. Tests on several benchmark sets indicate that the evolutionary information and other new features of PROSPECT II greatly improve the alignment accuracy. We also demonstrate that the performance of PROSPECT II on fold recognition is significantly better than any other method available at all levels of similarity. Improvement in the sensitivity of the fold recognition, especially at the superfamily and fold levels, makes PROSPECT II a reliable and fully automated protein structure and function prediction program for genome-scale applications.
“What's in a Name”—Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons

High school students' evaluations of labels or terms for 3 disabilities (amputation, mental retardation, and mental hospitalization) were compared with other high school students' evaluations of persons described in sketches as having one of the disabilities but functioning adequately. For each of the 3 comparisons, the person described in the sketch was more favorably evaluated. The variabilities of the labels “Amputees” and “Mentally Retarded” were greater than those of the respective persons described in the sketches. These findings suggest caution in generalizing from attitude studies in which labels or terms are used as the stimulus for disability. The more favorable evaluations of the sketched persons would have implications for counselors in describing persons with disabilities to others.
Texture evolution and the role of grain boundaries in skeletal formation during coarsening in solid-liquid mixtures

During coarsening of high-volume-fraction solid-liquid mixtures, a solid skeleton is formed. Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis of Sn particles in a liquid Pb-Sn eutectic is employed to yield quantitative evidence for the mechanisms that are operative during skeletal formation. We find that the grain boundaries (GBs) play a substantial role in setting the skeletal structure; however, they do not alter the mechanisms for skeletal coarsening. Particles do not rotate into low-energy configurations to minimize the GB energy in the solid-liquid mixture. Thus, there is no particle rotation-induced coalescence. We find that coalescence is not prevalent; Ostwald ripening is the primary mechanism for coarsening in this system. Our data suggest a model for skeletal formation and the origin of the skeletal stability. This model indicates that the primary factor in determining skeletal stability is the number of GB contacts. We recommend two methods to tailor the number of GBs and to engineer the properties of these solid-liquid mixtures.
Choral speech: the amelioration of stuttering via imitation and the mirror neuronal system.

'Choral' speech or speaking in unison is an undeniable phenomenon that immediately induces fluent and natural sounding speech in almost all people who stutter, regardless of linguistic content, situation or audience size. We propose that the choral speech effect is a form direct imitation, a primitive and innate human capacity that is possibly mediated at the neuronal level by 'mirror neurons'. Mirror systems link observations and actions are considered by many to be a neuronal substrate for gestural language acquisition, as well as forming the basis for many learned behaviors, thus possibly playing a vital role in ensuring survival during infancy. The engagement of these systems allows gestural sequences, including speech, to be fluently replicated. Choral speech and its permutations use the capacity for fluent imitation in people who stutter via a 'loose' gestural matching system in which gestures in the external signal possessing cues found in the intended utterance can serve as stuttering inhibitors. We suggest implementing these innate gestural mirrors to provide immediate and effective amelioration for stuttering.
Antarctic ice edge detection using NSCAT data

Polar sea ice plays an important role in the global climate and other geophysical processes. Although spaceborne scatterometers such as NSCAT have low inherent spatial resolution, resolution enhancement techniques can be utilized to make NSCAT data useful for monitoring sea ice extent in the Antarctic. Dual polarization radar measurement parameters, A and B, are used to identify sea ice and ocean pixels in composite images where A is (sigma) o normalized to 40 degrees and B is the incidence angle dependence of (sigma) o. In particular, the copol ratio and the vertical polarization B values contain useful information about the presence of sea ice. A first estimate of the sea ice extent is obtained through an automated linear discrimination that assigns the decision boundary based upon the properties of the bivariate distribution. This is used to obtain estimates of the statistics needed to perform a more accurate Mahalanobis distance discrimination. Ice edge detection noise reduction is performed through region growing and erosion/dilation techniques. The algorithm is applied to NSCAT data. The resulting edge closely matches the NSIDC SSM/I derived 30 percent ice concentration edge.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Advancing Research on Hybrid Organizing – Insights from the Study of Social Enterprises

AbstractHybrid organizations that combine multiple organizational forms deviate from socially legitimate templates for organizing, and thus experience unique organizing challenges. In this paper, we introduce and develop the concept of hybrid organizing, which we define as the activities, structures, processes and meanings by which organizations make sense of and combine multiple organizational forms. We propose that social enterprises that combine the organizational forms of both business and charity at their cores are an ideal type of hybrid organization, making social enterprise an attractive setting to study hybrid organizing. Based on a literature review of organizational research on social enterprise and on our own research in this domain, we develop five dimensions of hybrid organizing and related opportunities for future research. We conclude by discussing how insights from the study of hybrid organizing in social enterprises may contribute to organization theory.
Topological entropy and the preimage structure of maps.

My aim in this article is to provide an accessible introduction to the notion of topological entropy and (for context) its measure theoretic analogue, and then to present some recent work applying related ideas to the structure of iterated preimages for a continuous (in general non-invertible) map of a compact metric space to itself. These ideas will be illustrated by two classes of examples, from circle maps and symbolic dynamics. My focus is on motivating and explaining definitions; most results are stated with at most a sketch of the proof. The informed reader will recognize imagery from Bowen’s exposition of topological entropy [Bow78] which I have freely adopted for motivation.
Single pulse sampling valve measurements of wall layer hydrocarbons in a combustion bomb

The processes occurring during head-on flame quench at a cold combustion chamber wall have been studied in a cylindrical combustion bomb. Gas samples were withdrawn from the wall layer using an electrohydraulic sampling valve and were analyzed by gas chromatography. Propane was used as fuel and the experiments were performed at fuel lean (tb = 0.9) conditions. The results indicate that hydrocarbons present in the quench layer are substantially oxidized within 4 ms of flame arrival.
Nonrandom mating in pikas Ochotona princeps: Evidence for inbreeding between individuals of intermediate relatedness

The extent and effect of inbreeding in natural populations remain largely undetermined. Pikas Ochotona princeps have been considered a likely candidate for close inbreeding in natural populations due to observations of frequent juvenile philopatry (colonization of natal home range or neighbouring home range) and high levels of spatial overlap and social tolerance between neighbouring individuals of the opposite sex. A 4-year investigation of inbreeding in pikas, however, has revealed that dispersal and mating patterns are uncoupled in this species, i.e. explained by different hypotheses. DNA fingerprinting analysis revealed that band-sharing scores between mated pairs, identified via parentage analysis, were not commensurate with band-sharing among known first-order relatives, but were similar to scores for a small sample of known second-order relatives (i.e. half-siblings, grandparent-grandchild pairs). Band-sharing scores between mated pairs were then compared with those between potential mated pairs within the population to assess whether mating was random or nonrandom with respect to genetic similarity. The results of Monte Carlo randomization tests show that pikas mated with individuals with intermediate genetic similarity in greater proportion than would be expected by chance. These data suggest mate choice in pikas may be based upon intermediate levels of relatedness.
Influence of winter season climate variability on snow-precipitation ratio in the western United States

In the western United States, climate warming poses a unique threat to water and snow hydrology because much of the snowpack accumulates at temperatures near 0 °C. As the climate continues to warm, much of the region's precipitation is expected to switch from snow to rain, causing flashier hydrographs, earlier inflow to reservoirs, and reduced spring and summer snowpack. This study investigates historical variability in snow to precipitation proportion (Sf) and maps areas in the western United States that have demonstrated higher Sf sensitivity to warming in the past. Projected changes in Sf under 1.1, 1.8, and 3.0 °C future warming scenarios are presented in relation to historical variability and sensitivity. Our findings suggest that Sf in this region has primarily varied based on winter temperature rather than precipitation. The difference in Sf between cold and warm winters at low- and mid-elevations during 1916-2003 ranged from 31% in the Pacific Northwest to 40% in the California Sierra Nevada. In contrast, the difference in Sf between wet and dry winters was statistically not significant. Overall, in the northern Sierra, Klamath, and western slopes of the Cascade Mountains Ranges, Sf was most sensitive to temperature where winter temperature ranged between -5 to 5 °C. Results from our trend analysis show a regional shift in both Sf and signal-to-noise ratios during 1960-2003 as compared with 1916-2003. Our findings indicate that natural variability in Sf over 1916-2003 across all regions except for the Great Basin most closely resembles the projected 2040-warming scenario (+1.8 °C).
The Calcium-Mobilizing Agent, Thapsigargin, Inhibits Progesterone Production in Rat Luteal Cells by a Calcium-Independent Mechanism

In rat luteal cells, an increase in intracellular [Ca]i impairs luteal function similar to that of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a). However, calcium per se is not the mediator of the antigonadotropic action of PGF2a. Thapsigargin, a plant sesquiterpene lactone, increases intracellular calcium concentration concentration ([Ca]i) in several cell types by a mechanism that involves specific inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+- ATPase. To further investigate the antigonadotropic role of [Ca]i and the mechanism of action of PGF2a in rat luteal cells, the action of thapsigargin on cellular functional responses was examined in the absence and presence of PGF2a. Thapsigargin dose dependently increased [Ca]i and inhibited cAMP accumulation and progesterone production in response to LH. The inhibitory effect of thapsigargin on cAMP accumulation was calcium dependent but in contrast, inhibition of LH-stimulated progesterone production was independent of calcium mobilization by thapsigargin. Steroidogenesis stimula...
The Lincoln Laboratory 35 GHz airborne SAR imaging radar system

The Lincoln Laboratory 35 GHz airborne SAR (synthetic aperture radar) imaging radar system consists of an instrumentation-quality Ka-band airborne radar plus a ground processing and archive system. This state-of-the-art radar system provides data collection in SAR and RAR (real aperture radar) modes, full polarization, high resolution (in both range and cross range), and archiving of fully calibrated data. The airborne radar system was developed to provide data inputs to advance the understanding of millimeter-wave imaging phenomenology and to develop and test algorithms for detecting and classifying stationary targets of military interest. The resulting images stored in the database are completely calibrated, fully polarimetric, and complex. The system performance specifications associated with the fully processed, calibrated imagery are listed. The operational modes and performance characteristics of the airborne system are described, and an overview of its major components is provided. The major systems of the ground-based processing, and analysis system are also described. >
Evaluations Of Congress And Voting In House Elections Revisiting the Historical Record

The literature portrays the congressional voter of the 1950s through the early 1970s as having been unwilling or unable to hold Congress electorally accountable for its collective legislative perfor- mance. In contrast, recent literature has demonstrated that in elections from 1974 onward, voters have regularly used congressional perfor- mance evaluations as part of their voting decisions. Specifically, poor evaluations of Congress lower support for candidates from the ruling majority party, all else being equal. This research note hypothesizes that Americans in the earlier era were willing and able to hold Congress electorally accountable for its collective performance in the same parti- san fashion as today's voters are, but that this behavior was obscured from previous researchers because they lacked access to appropriate empirical data. Using survey data largely unavailable to scholars of the earlier era, I find evidence supporting this hypothesis. The literature portrays the congressional voter of the 1950s through the early 1970s as having been unwilling or unable to hold Congress electorally ac- countable for its collective legislative performance. Stokes and Miller (1962) argue that "few judgments of legislative performance are associated
Proteolytically stabilizing fibronectin without compromising cell and gelatin binding activity

Excessive proteolytic degradation of fibronectin (FN) has been implicated in impaired tissue repair in chronic wounds. We previously reported two strategies for stabilizing FN against proteolytic degradation; the first conjugated polyethylene glycol (PEG) through cysteine residues and the second conjugated PEG chains of varying molecular weight on lysine residues. PEGylation of FN via lysine residues resulted in increased resistance to proteolysis with increasing PEG size, but an overall decrease in biological activity, as characterized by cell and gelatin binding. Our latest method to stabilize FN against proteolysis masks functional regions in the protein during lysine PEGylation. FN is PEGylated while it is bound to gelatin Sepharose beads with 2, 5, and 10 kDa PEG precursors. This results in partially PEGylated FN that is more stable than native FN and whose proteolytic stability increases with PEG molecular weight. Unlike completely PEGylated FN, partially PEGylated FN has cell adhesion, gelatin binding, and matrix assembly responses that are comparable to native FN. This is new evidence of how PEGylation variables can be used to stabilize FN while retaining its activity. The conjugates developed herein can be used to dissect molecular mechanisms mediated by FN stability and functionality, and address the problem of FN degradation in chronic wounds. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:277–288, 2015
Sparse probabilistic regression for activity-independent human pose inference

Discriminative approaches to human pose inference involve mapping visual observations to articulated body configurations. Current probabilistic approaches to learn this mapping have been limited in their ability to handle domains with a large number of activities that require very large training sets. We propose an online probabilistic regression scheme for efficient inference of complex, high- dimensional, and multimodal mappings. Our technique is based on a local mixture of Gaussian processes, where locality is defined based on both appearance and pose, and where the mapping hyperparameters can vary across local neighborhoods to better adapt to specific regions in the pose space. The mixture components are defined online in very small neighborhoods, so learning and inference is extremely efficient. When the mapping is one-to-one, we derive a bound on the approximation error of local regression (vs. global regression) for monotonically decreasing co- variance functions. Our method can determine when training examples are redundant given the rest of the database, and use this criteria for pruning. We report results on synthetic (Poser) and real (Humaneva) pose databases, obtaining fast and accurate pose estimates using training set sizes up to 105.
Incorporation of linear constraints into the constant modulus algorithm

A linearly constrained version of the constant modulus algorithm (CMA) is developed. It is based on the decomposition property of the generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC) filter structure. When they can be specified, linear constraints are an effective means of incorporating a priori information into the constant modulus algorithm. Exploitation of this knowledge makes the linearly constrained constant modulus (LCCM) approach much less vulnerable to interfering constant-envelope signals, which can cause cancellation of the signal of interest. This is demonstrated in a simulation of the LCCM algorithm in an adaptive array application that includes multipath and constant-modulus interference. >
Cross-linking CD28 leads to activation of 70-kDa S6 kinase

Proliferation of T lymphocytes in response to antigen/MHC complexes is dependent upon the presence of a co-stimulatory signal; in its absence, T cells are rendered unresponsive to specific antigen CD28 is a T cell surface glycoprotein that acts as a co-stimulatory molecule when combined with signals initiated by the T cell receptor CD3 complex. While the biochemical signaling events following CD28 stimulation are still poorly defined, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against CD28 have been shown to transduce a variety of early signals that are different in the presence of cross-linking antibody or the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). Stimulation of human T cells with cross-linked anti-CD28 mAb alone resulted in the activation of 70-kDa (p70) S6 kinase, a rapamycin-sensitive serine/threonine kinase that is believed to be important for cell cycle progression. Activation of p70 S6 kinase through CD28 was inhibited by rapamycin. Activation of p70 S6 kinase also increased in response to cross-linked CD3, but followed a more rapid time course than activation via CD2. Cyclosporin A and FK506 had no effect on p70 S6 kinase activity initiated via either pathway. The combination of cross-linked CD28 and cross-linked CD3 had no more than an additive effect on the induction of p70 S6 kinase activity. Thus, recruitment of p70 S6 kinase activity appears to represent a common signal transduction event shared by both the CD28 and CD3 pathways of T cell activation.
Some thoughts about MIS implementation in drug abuse programs.

At this time program evaluation is coming to be viewed as an important enterprise in the field of drug treatment. Because of this, the management of drug programs is scrambling to collect numerous types of information that were never before collected in a systematic mattern. As a result of this increased information demand, program managers must search for efficient methods for collecting, storing, and utilizing the information that is required to make programmatic evaluations. The management information system (MIS), therefore, is coming to be viewed as something that is needed to handle the data that must be generated to meet this increased information demand. It is coming to be believed that the MIS will allow information to be processed in a manner that was never before possible. This may be true, yet the program manager must take care to ensure that a MIS is properly installed, or the resulting information system will prove to be of little or no benefit to a program's overall operation.
Monte Carlo method for photon heating using temperature-dependent optical properties

The Monte Carlo method for photon transport is often used to predict the volumetric heating that an optical source will induce inside a tissue or material. This method relies on constant (with respect to temperature) optical properties, specifically the coefficients of scattering and absorption. In reality, optical coefficients are typically temperature-dependent, leading to error in simulation results. The purpose of this study is to develop a method that can incorporate variable properties and accurately simulate systems where the temperature will greatly vary, such as in the case of laser-thawing of frozen tissues.A numerical simulation was developed that utilizes the Monte Carlo method for photon transport to simulate the thermal response of a system that allows temperature-dependent optical and thermal properties. This was done by combining traditional Monte Carlo photon transport with a heat transfer simulation to provide a feedback loop that selects local properties based on current temperatures, for each moment in time. Additionally, photon steps are segmented to accurately obtain path lengths within a homogenous (but not isothermal) material. Validation of the simulation was done using comparisons to established Monte Carlo simulations using constant properties, and a comparison to the Beer-Lambert law for temperature-variable properties.The simulation is able to accurately predict the thermal response of a system whose properties can vary with temperature. The difference in results between variable-property and constant property methods for the representative system of laser-heated silicon can become larger than 100K. This simulation will return more accurate results of optical irradiation absorption in a material which undergoes a large change in temperature. This increased accuracy in simulated results leads to better thermal predictions in living tissues and can provide enhanced planning and improved experimental and procedural outcomes. Couples the Monte Carlo Method of photon transport with heat transfer.Allows for both optical and thermal properties to vary with temperature.Interpolates local optical properties based on local temperatures.Enhances simulation accuracy in systems that undergo large thermal changes.
Re-Imagining the Human Dimension of Mentoring: A Framework for Research Administration and the Academy

This article offers mentoring frameworks for higher education that are applicable to research administrators and academic scholars. The author describes theories of adult education, mentoring, and leadership that relate to these populations. In addition to the pertinent literature, support is drawn from the author’s scholarship and professional experience in mentorship, leadership, and democracy in postsecondary settings. Critical and feminist perspectives on various mentoring approaches are articulated, as well as forms of mentoring that address the early adaptation and success of doctoral students and new professionals. These theory-informed practices of mentorship could assist mentors and administrators in both improving their work and deepening their impact. Administrative leaders are encouraged to proactively support the newer models of mentoring as well as to reward beneficial learning and socialization processes. Mentors and mentees who are searching for guidance in their own academic domains can adapt, for implementation purposes, the mentoring ideas and strategies shared.
Studies on wave propagation in granular media

Experimental studies relating to the propagation and attenuation of disturbances in unconsolidated materials encouraged a theoretical investigation suggesting a mechanism governing propagation in such materials. From these physical considerations it is inferred that a disturbance imparted to a granular material is propagated in two principal parts. One consists of a wave of small amplitude which anticipates a wave of much higher amplitude propagating at a lower velocity. The first wave is called here a precursor and is identified with the visco-elastic deformation of the grains of the unconsolidated material. The second component propagating at a lower velocity and carrying most of the energy imparted by the disturbance is identified with consolidation, accomplished by filling the voids between the grains. It is thus inferred that there would be appreciable dissipation of energy associated with the second wave and little attenuation of the precursor wave. Further experiments were conducted to check these conclusions. The results of these experiments show the composite wave structure predicted from theoretical considerations.
Thermo-mechanical reliability of 3-D ICs containing through silicon vias

In 3-D interconnect structures, process-induced thermal stresses around through-silicon-vias (TSVs) raise serious reliability issues such as Si cracking and performance degradation of devices. In this study, the thermo-mechanical reliability of 3-D interconnect was investigated using finite element analysis (FEA) combined with analytical methods. FEA simulation demonstrated that the thermal stresses in silicon decrease as a function of distance from an isolated TSV and increase with the TSV diameter. Additional simulation suggested that hybrid TSV structures can significantly reduce the thermal stresses. An analytical stress solution was introduced to deduce the stress distribution around an isolated TSV, which was further developed to deduce the stress interaction in TSV arrays based on linear superposition of the analytical solution. We calculated the crack driving force in TSV lines under a thermal load. The effects of TSV diameter, pitch size, and the line configuration on crack driving force were investigated.
An adaptable assessment generation system for clinical trials complementing human research information system

Computerized testing methods have long been used for presenting clinical questionnaires and are regarded as an efficient and accurate data collection mechanism in human research settings. In order to adapt to the constant addition of new research protocols and incorporate the new data collection forms and questionnaires into our computerized medical information environment, it is necessary to have a solution that requires no modifications to the source code for creating new questionnaires and renders the results in a Web browser-based format that can be seamlessly integrated into our patient records system. In this paper we describe our test and questionnaire system (TQS) that addresses our requirements and provides full-page browser-based assessments. In addition to managing the new questionnaires, TQS seamlessly communicates and incorporates the clinician-generated assessments built on and for a handheld electronic diary system and provides a powerful and user-friendly data extraction mechanism that allows full or selective data export for further analysis. This solution not only employs both a generic building tool and a flexible data model, but also renders the required questionnaires in a Web browser-based environment making it possible for the collected data to become an integral part of our browser-based human research information system. Since its implementation 4 years ago, this system has been used to generate approximately 300 questionnaires at our site and is designed to provide the necessary adaptability and flexibility required for all of the current and potentially a very high percentage of future protocols.
Tetracycline resistance determinants: mechanisms of action, regulation of expression, genetic mobility, and distribution

Tetracycline-resistant bacteria were first isolated in 1953 from Shigella dysenteriae, a bacterium which causes bacterial dysentery. Since then tetracycline-resistant bacteria have been found in increasing numbers of species and genera. This has resulted in reduced effectiveness of tetracycline therapy over time. Tetracycline resistance is normally due to the acquisition of new genes often associated with either a mobile plasmid or a transposon. These tetracycline resistance determin~mts are distinguishable both genetically and biochemically. Resistance is primarily due to either energy-dependent efflux Of tetracycline or protection of the ribosomes from the action of tetracycline. Gram-negative tetracycline efflux proteins are linked to repressor proteins which in the absence of tetracycline block transcription of the repressor and structural effiux genes. In contrast, expression of the Gram-positive tetracycline efflux genes and some of the ribosomal protection genes appears to be regulated by attenuation of mRNA transcription. Specific tetracycline resistance genes have been identified in 32 Gram-negative and 22 Gram-positive genera, Tetracycline-resistant bacteria are found in pathogens, opportunistic and normal flora species. Tetracycline-resistant bacteria can be isolated from man, animals, food, and the environment. The nonpathogens in each of these ecosystems may play an important role as reservoirs for the antibiotic resistance genes. It is clear that if we are to reverse the trend toward increasingly antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria we will need to change how antibiotics are used in both human and animal health and food production.
Economic Theory as a Language

I. Nature of scientific theories, 472. — II. Economic theory as a language, 474. — III. Concluding remarks, 476.
CHARACTERIZATION OF ACID PHOSPHATASE AND PHOSPHORYLCHOLINE HYDROLASE IN ADULT HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS

An acid phosphatase (AP) and a phosphorylcholine hydrolase (PCH) were detected in excretory–secretory (ESP) products from adult Haemonchus contortus. The AP had a pH optimum of 4.5 and was inhibited by tartaric acid and sodium fluoride, but not by o-phenanthroline. The AP hydrolyzed paranitrophenol (pnp)-phosphate and to a lesser extent pnp-phenylphosphonate but did not hydrolyze diester substrates. Purified AP consisted of heterodimers with relative molecular weight (Mr) of 41.9 and 48.7 kDa and had a native molecular weight of 98 kDa by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The PCH had a pH optimum of about 9.5 and was inhibited by EDTA and o-phenanthroline but not by the specific phospholipase inhibitor D609. The specific activity of PCH in the ESP was aproximately 25-fold less than that of AP. PCH also hydrolyzed 5′-thymidine monophosphate-pnp at a rate about 40% lower than pnp-phosphorylcholine but did not hydrolyze 3′-thymidine monophosphate-pnp. Partial purification of PCH suggests an Mr of 50.2 kDa...
A degree-day model of Cirsium arvense shoot emergence from adventitious root buds in spring

Abstract If decision-aid software models of weed emergence and growth are ever to help producers better time weed management, these models must be able to predict perennial weed shoot emergence from vegetative propagules. In this research, Cirsium arvense shoot emergence from adventitious root buds in spring was modeled using degree-day heat sums. Fractional C. arvense shoot emergence was best modeled as a logistic dose–response function of degree-day heat sum as follows: Y = 1.108/(1+[X/488.344]−5.161) where Y = fractional C. arvense shoot emergence (0 to 1) and X = heat sum in degree-days above 0 C after day 91 of the year (April 1) with an upper limit of 800 degree (C) days (r2 = 0.83). This empirical model was validated by graphing observed vs. model-predicted C. arvense shoot emergence using two independently gathered data sets, one of C. arvense emergence in autumn chisel-plowed Triticum aestivum (r2 = 0.82) and the other in no-till fallow (r2 = 0.63). The model slightly overestimated emergence at l...
Periodic Patterns of Signed Shifts

The periodic patterns of a map are the permutations realized by the relative order of the points in its periodic orbits. We give a combinatorial description of the periodic patterns of an arbitrary signed shift, in terms of the structure of the descent set of a certain transformation of the pattern. Signed shifts are an important family of one-dimensional dynamical systems. For particular types of signed shifts, namely shift maps, reverse shift maps, and the tent map, we give exact enumeration formulas for their periodic patterns. As a byproduct of our work, we recover some results of Gessel and Reutenauer and obtain new results on the enumeration of pattern-avoiding cycles.
Dynamics of genetic and morphological variability within Neandertals.

Summary - Paleogenomics may suggest changes to the way anthropologists have discussed the dynamics and morphological diversity among Neandertals. Genetic comparisons show that later Neandertals had relatively low autosomal genetic variation compared to recent humans. The known mitochondrial sample from Neandertals covers a broader geographic and temporal range, and shows greater diversity. This review addresses how genetic data compare to morphological and archaeological evidence about Neandertal variation and dynamics. Traditional views emphasized the morphological differences between western and eastern Neandertal populations, and between early and later Neandertals. Genomes broadly support these groupings, without resolving the outstanding question of the affinities of specimens from southwest Asia. However, the pattern of genetic variation appears to reject a long, in situ transformation of Neandertal groups over time, suggesting instead a more rapid process of regional dispersal and partial population replacement. Archaeological indicators sample dynamics on a much finer timescale than morphological or genetic evidence, and point to dispersal and turnover among Neandertals on a regional scale. In this way, genetic evidence may provide a bridge between the timescales relevant to morphological and archaeological comparisons. New ways of looking at the morphology of Neandertals may yield a better picture of their interactions and movements.
Multi-antenna Gaussian broadcast channels with confidential messages

In wireless data networks, communication is particularly susceptible to eavesdropping due to its broadcast nature. Security and privacy systems have become critical for wireless providers and enterprise networks. This paper considers the problem of secret communication over a Gaussian broadcast channel, where a multi-antenna transmitter sends independent confidential messages to two users with information-theoretic secrecy. That is, each user would like to obtain its own confidential message in a reliable and safe manner. This communication model is referred to as the multi-antenna Gaussian broadcast channel with confidential messages (MGBC-CM). Under this communication scenario, a secret dirty-paper coding scheme and the corresponding achievable secrecy rate region are first developed based on Gaussian codebooks. Next, a computable Sato-type outer bound on the secrecy capacity region is provided for the MGBC-CM. Furthermore, the Sato-type outer bound proves to be consistent with the boundary of the secret dirty- paper coding achievable rate region, and hence, the secrecy capacity region of the MGBC-CM is established. Finally, a numerical example demonstrates that both users can achieve positive rates simultaneously under the information-theoretic secrecy requirement.
Patterns of Bisexuality in America

In this article the authors use data from the 2002 and 2006 to 2008 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to analyze the most recent patterns of bisexuality in the United States. There has been little demographic work done on the issue of bisexuality, and this article strives to explore some aspects of this sexual orientation. Using a social constructionist definition of sexuality, the authors enumerate those who identify, desire, and behave as bisexual as well as compare some basic demographic characteristics of bisexuality with heterosexuality, homosexuality, and asexuality. Overall, the authors find that conclusions about the prevalence of bisexuality and the characteristics of bisexual individuals versus other sexualities do differ depending on the dimension employed. Most generally, however, the authors find that bisexual respondents are more likely to be in poorer health condition than heterosexual respondents (but in better health compared to gay and lesbian respondents), more likely to be engage...
Structural Properties of Aramid Fibers and Their Influence on Fiber Adhesion

Aramid fibers exhibit low adhesive behaviors that are believed to result from fiber morphology, however, the morphology-property relations are not well understood. In this report we compare Kevlar-49 and Technora aramid fibers to evaluate the relations between adhesive behavior of aramid fibers and their morphology. Ion implantation of Kevlar-49 fibers is examined for its ability to alter the surface and to produce fiber structural changes. The study shows that despite the significant fiber-matrix adhesion improve­ments by ion implantation, the fiber-matrix interfacial shear strengths are still limited by the low cohesive properties of the aramid fibers in the lateral direction. This limitation is further aggravated by the skin-core morpholo­gy and the weaker skin properties of Kevlar-49 fibers.
The Lanthanide Contraction beyond Coordination Chemistry

The lanthanide contraction is conceptualized traditionally through coordination chemistry. Here we break this mold in a structural study of lanthanide ions dissolved in an amphiphilic liquid. The lanthanide contraction perturbs the weak interactions between molecular aggregates that drive mesoscale assembly and emergent behavior. The weak interactions correlate with lanthanide ion transport properties, suggesting new strategies for rare-earth separation that exploit forces outside of the coordination sphere.