cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maturity and Leadership in the Planning Academy

This paper begins to formalize a conception of maturity and leadership in the planning academy. Building on a pair of seminal papers by Krueckeberg (1984, 1985) and recent literature on academic unit leadership, this paper presents a descriptive and analytic overview of the planning academy and compares and contrasts leadership in planning education units against a situational model of academic leadership. The paper concludes with an agenda of possible research and programmatic directions designed to advance the intellectual field of planning thereby enhancing its institutional maturity.
Medicalization: Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives

This article is a replacement of the previous edition article by M. Lock, volume 14, pp. 9534–9539, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Positive drug test trends in fatally-injured drivers in the United States from 2007 to 2017

The last two decades have seen tremendous changes in the U.S. environment surrounding drugs. Driving under the influence of drugs is a growing public health hazard. The present study examined trends in drug involvement in fatally-injured drivers in the U.S. Data were drawn from the 2007–2017 Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Cochran–Armitage tests were performed to assess the statistical significance of changes in the yearly prevalence of positive drug tests in fatally-injured drivers over time. In addition, analyses were stratified by sex, race, and age. The yearly prevalence of positive drug tests in fatally-injured drivers increased significantly from 20.7% in 2007 to 30.7% in 2017, with results showing a higher prevalence among males, those aged 21–44, and Whites. The gap between Blacks and Whites narrowed in 2017. There was a decline in the yearly prevalence in all age groups between 2016 and 2017, although the decrease in the 21–44 age group was much smaller than other age groups. Among drivers who tested positive for drugs, 34.6% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the threshold of per se evidence for impaired driving, and 63% had a BAC below the threshold. Our results indicate that the overall yearly prevalence of fatally-injured drivers who tested positive for drugs increased significantly from 2007 to 2017, with similar results found for subgroups. Findings further highlight that drugged driving remains a public health priority, and more action is needed to stem this disturbing trend.
Functional Bimetallic Joints of Ti6Al4V to SS410.

Abstract Bimetallic structures provide a unique solution to achieve site-specific functionalities and enhanced-property capabilities in engineering systems but suffer from bonding compatibility issues. Materials such as titanium alloy (Ti6Al4 V) and stainless steel (SS410) have distinct attractive properties but are impossible to reliably weld together using traditional processes. To this end, a laser-based directed energy deposition (DED) system was used to fabricate bimetallic joint of Ti6Al4 V and SS410 keeping niobium (Nb) as a diffusion barrier layer. Both shear and compression tests were used to characterize the joint’s strength, and compared with the base materials. The bimetallic-joint shear and compressive yield strengths were 419 ± 3 MPa (∼114% of SS410) and 560 ± 4 MPa (∼169% of SS410), respectively. The increase in interfacial shear and compressive yield strengths over the base material indicates strong metallurgical bonding between the base materials and the interlayer, Nb. Proof-of-concept part for direct application of the bimetallic joint was demonstrated by welding base metals, end-to-end, to the joint. The interfacial microstructures, elemental diffusion and phases, including failure modes were examined using secondary and backscatter electron imaging, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The bimetallic-joint interfaces were free from brittle intermetallic compounds such as FeTi and Fe2Ti that are generally responsible for weak bond strength.
When Delayed in a Hurry: Interpretations of Response Delays in Time-Sensitive Instant Messaging

When Instant Messaging (IM) users experience delays in receiving responses from a partner, they may interpret these delays in a variety of ways (e.g., a technological problem vs. the partner is avoiding interaction), and these interpretations can have social consequences. In a laboratory study, we explored whether the presence of a typing indicator shaped people's interpretation of delays. Participants collaborated with a confederate on a time-sensitive task and retrospectively reviewed their interaction. We manipulated delay condition (none, delay, delay with typing indicator) and time pressure (low, high). Participants rated their partners as significantly lower in conversational involvement, were more frustrated, and liked their partners less during a delay whether or not they saw a typing indicator. We discuss implications for the design of new features for IM clients that help people interpret delays appropriately.
An Experimental Laboratory Examination of the Psychological and Physiological Effects of Civic Empowerment: A Novel Methodological Approach:

Civic engagement can be empowering and might promote well-being, especially for individuals from marginalized backgrounds. This study uses a novel experimental approach to simulate civic engagement...
Disabled girls of color excavate exclusionary literacy practices and generate promising sociospatial-textual solutions

Disabled girls of color have unique intersectional schooling experiences. Yet, they are underrepresented in educational research, and often unheard. Grounded in Disability Critical Race Theory and ...
Too close for comfort? Attitudes of gynecologic oncologists toward caring for dying patients

Objectives: Gynecologic oncologists are frequently intimately involved in end of life care for their patients. The primary objective of this study was to assess the attitudes of gynecologic oncology providers toward palliative care for advanced cancer patients. Methods: SGO members categorized as gynecologic oncologists or medical oncologists were surveyed via an anonymous RedCap online survey. The survey consisted of basic demographic information and a survey regarding attitudes of medical oncologists toward palliative care for patients with advanced and incurable cancer. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Associations between provider sociodemographic characteristics and responses were analyzed using linear regression. Results: 1200 members received the survey and 108 (9%) completed the survey. The majority of respondents were female (69.4%) and White (82.4%). Most described their practice as academic (64.8%) and in an urban environment (71.3%). The majority (95.4%) had palliative care providers at their institution and stated they were often directly involved with discussing end of life care preferences with their patients (88%). The majority believed that oncologists should coordinate the care of cancer patients at all stages of disease, including end of life care (66%). Most believed that all advanced cancer patients should receive concurrent palliative care along with anti-tumor therapies (81%). The majority derived satisfaction from their work managing patients with advanced cancer (83%). Twenty percent stated that managing patients with advanced cancer and dying patients depresses them. Twenty-seven percent stated they felt emotionally burned out by having to deal with too many deaths. There were no significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics and responses. Conclusions: The majority of gynecologic oncologists believe that palliative care should occur in conjunction with anti-tumor therapies. Most gynecologic oncologists are involved in the care of their patients at the end of life and derive satisfaction from their work. This close connection with patients as they transition to the end of life may take a toll on providers. Nearly a third of respondents felt emotionally burned out by managing death. One in five surveyed felt depressed by end of life care work.
Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics : an integrated approach

1. Introduction and guide to this text 2. Equilibrium and entropy 3. Energy and how the microscopic world works 4. Entropy and how the macroscopic world works 5. The fundamental equation 6. The first law and reversibility 7. Legendre transforms and other potentials 8. Maxwell relations and measurable quantities 9. Gases 10. Phase equilibrium 11. Stability 12. Solutions - fundamentals 13. Solutions - advanced and special cases 14. Solids 15. The third law 16. The canonical partition function 17. Fluctuations 18. Statistical mechanics of classical systems 19. Other ensembles 20. Reaction equilibrium 21. Reaction coordinates and rates 22. Molecular simulation methods.
Analytical Tools for Estimation of Particulate Composite Material Properties

In virtually every modern engineering design, new composite particulate materials are employed that are specifically tailored to the application at hand. These materials are constructed by combining an easy to form matrix-binder material with embedded particles, whose properties are chosen to deliver overall desired properties. Trial and error experiments to determine the correct combinations of such materials are tedious and expensive. Accordingly, over the past century, methods have been developed to accelerate the process of material design by attempting to reliably estimate the effective responses of such materials in terms of the material properties of the matrix material, the properties of the particulate additives, and the volume fraction of the particulate additives. This chapter provides a basic overview of some straightforward analytical methods used in such analyses. Keywords: particulate composites; property estimates
The role of lysyl residues in the structure and reactivity of cytochrome B5 reductase.

Abstract By selective modification of the lysyl residues in cytochrome b5 reductase with ethyl acetimidate, acetic anhydride, succinic anhydride, and trinitrobenzenesulfonate, derivatives were prepared in which one or several of the properties of the native enzyme had been altered. A comparison of these derivatives and the unmodified flavoprotein identified three classes of lysyl residues. The most reactive group includes the residues which are essential for the interaction of the reductase with its natural electron acceptor, cytochrome b5. The remaining lysyl residues, which react in the presence of NADH, are essential for a stable holoenzyme structure and for the normal sequence of apoprotein refolding to an active conformation following acid denaturation. Finally, a single amino group is protected from these reagents by NADH, and appears to be involved in the binding of this substrate and in the direct hydrogen transfer from the pyridine nucleotide to the flavoprotein.
Sample-Handling Factors Affecting the Enumeration of Lactobacilli and Cellulolytic Bacteria in Equine Feces

Abstract The objectives were to compare media types and evaluate the effects of fecal storage time and temperature on the enumeration of cellulolytic bacteria and lactobacilli from horses. Fecal samples were collected from horses (n = 3) and transported to the laboratory (100% CO 2 , 37°C, 0.5 hours). The samples were assigned to one of four storage temperatures: initial (no storage), 37°C, room temperature (RT; 22°C–24°C), or 4°C. The initial samples were enumerated five times to assess repeatability. Feces stored at each temperature were used to enumerate cellulolytics (rich or defined media) and lactobacilli (Rogosa selective lactobacilli [SL] or MRS agar) over a 24-hour time course. All media were repeatable within media type. The cellulolytic media types produced similar results. After 2 hours, the cellulolytics lost >99% viability in RT and 4°C and 90% viability in 37°C ( P 5 -fold to 10 6 -fold fewer cellulolytics were observed in 37°C and RT ( P P P
A reaction-diffusion model of cholinergic retinal waves and self-organized criticality

Prior to receiving visual stimuli, spontaneous, correlated activity called retinal waves drives activity-dependent developmental programs. Early-stage waves mediated by acetylcholine (ACh) manifest as slow, spreading bursts of action potentials. They are believed to be initiated by the spontaneous firing of Starburst Amacrine Cells (SACs), whose dense, recurrent connectivity then propagates this activity laterally. Their extended inter-wave intervals and shifting wave boundaries are the result of the slow after-hyperpolarization of the SACs creating an evolving mosaic of recruitable and refractory cells, which can and cannot participate in waves. Recent evidence suggests that cholinergic waves may be modulated by the extracellular concentration of ACh [1].Here, we have constructed a simplified, yet biophysically realistic, reaction-diffusion model of cholinergic retinal waves capable of recapitulating wave dynamics observed in mice retina recordings (Figure ​(Figure1A).1A). The dense, recurrent connectivity of SACs is modeled through local, excitatory coupling occurring via the volume release and diffusion of ACh. This novel approach is used to determine how extracellular ACh may modulate wave activity. In contrast with previous, simulation-based models (e.g. the model of Hennig [2]), we are able to use non-linear wave theory (traveling fronts, pulses, singular perturbation analysis, etc.) to connect wave features to underlying physiological parameters, making our model useful in determining appropriate pharmacological manipulations to experimentally produce waves of a prescribed spatiotemporal character (Figure ​(Figure1B1B). Figure 1 A: Simulated voltage dynamics of model. SACs have Morris-Lecar dynamics, with local coupling occurring via diffusion of extracellular ACh, and a noisy channel to induce spontaneous firing. B: Traveling wave speed C as a function of threshold parameter ... This is the first mathematical analysis of its type on retinal waves. However, a number of theoretical issues remain unresolved. The distribution of wave sizes has been reported to obey a power-law distribution, suggesting the developing retina may exist in a critical state [2]. Are these findings compatible with our theoretical model? We present preliminary results suggesting that our model possesses a configuration in which wave sizes are distributed according to a power-law (Figure ​(Figure1C).1C). We adapt analyses typically used in neural field equations to understand the effects of stochasticity and heterogeneity on wave size statistics [3], and therefore provide theoretical arguments characterizing the potential for criticality in retinal development.
Chapter 1 Satellite Altimetry

Publisher Summary The basic concept of satellite altimetry is to measure the range from the satellite to the sea surface. The altimeter transmits a short pulse of microwave radiation with known power toward the sea surface. The pulse interacts with the rough sea surface and a part of the incident radiation reflects back to the altimeter. The chapter emphasizes on the correction algorithms applied to the dual-frequency altimeter onboard the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) satellite. This state-of-the-art altimeter sets the standard for future altimeter missions as it is significantly more accurate than any of the other altimeters that have been launched to date. To provide assurance that the performance requirements for altimeter measurement accuracy are met or exceeded, extensive calibration and validation (cal/val) are important elements of altimeter missions. Cal/val embraces a wide variety of activities, ranging from the interpretation of information from internal-calibration modes of the sensors to the validation of the fully corrected sea-level estimates using in situ data. The chapter concludes with a summary of the T/P mission design and an assessment of the performance of the T/P dual-frequency altimeter in addition, as well as an overview of future altimeter missions.
Moneyball for State Regulators

For over thirty years, Republican and Democratic presidents have required executive agencies to assess the costs and benefits of significant regulations, and to proceed only if the benefits justify the costs (to the extent permitted by law). The goals of the resulting processes have been to constrain unjustified regulation, to promote interagency coordination, and to allow a degree of centralized management of what can be a cumbersome bureaucratic apparatus. Unfortunately, state and local governments sometimes impose costly requirements, undisciplined by careful analysis of their likely consequences. New institutions at the state level, producing such analysis, could be highly beneficial, replacing processes sometimes driven by anecdotes, dogmas, emotions, and interest-group pressures with a form of Regulatory Moneyball.
Outline of a denotative definition of aggression

Aggression is defined as generic assertiveness which includes both constructive and destructive behaviors. An attempt is then made to classify the distinctive operational settings (phenotypic situations) which trigger aggression. The classes of such settings are: 1) privation - the frustration of vital needs and the frustration due to inner conflict of needs; 2) conflict (social) - situation-specific competition and intragroup rivalry for dominance; and 3) victimization — predator-prey relations and vandalism per se. Critical questions which emerge from the definition and classification are posed.
Polarization-resolved optical metrology for noncontact thermometry

Noncontact temperature measurements with large (thermal) dynamic range are desirable in many applications. Aside from interferometric techniques, fluorescence intensity and spectral shape have been exploited in the past for sensitive thermometry in luminescent materials. Here, we present a novel method that utilizes the polarization-sensitive reflection and/or transmission of light from (through) an optical material without relying on any fluorescence. A balanced photodetector will measure the difference signal corresponding to two orthogonal polarization states with high singal-tonoise ratio. Temperature resolution of 5 mK have been demonstrated.
A Further Study of the Tropical Western Hemisphere Warm Pool

Abstract Variability of the tropical Western Hemisphere warm pool (WHWP) of water warmer than 28.5°C, which extends seasonally over parts of the eastern North Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the western tropical North Atlantic (TNA), was previously studied by Wang and Enfield using the da Silva data from 1945–93. Using additional datasets of the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis field and the NCEP SST from 1950–99, and the Levitus climatological subsurface temperature, the present paper confirms and extends the previous study of Wang and Enfield. The WHWP alternates with northern South America as the seasonal heating source for the Walker and Hadley circulations in the Western Hemisphere. During the boreal winter a strong Hadley cell emanates northward from the Amazon heat source with subsidence over the subtropical North Atlantic north of 20°N, sustaining a strong North Atlantic anticyclone and associated northeast (NE) trade winds over its southern limb in the TNA. This circulation, including the NE ...
Multimodal signalling: the relative importance of chemical and visual cues from females to the behaviour of male wolf spiders (Lycosidae)

Many animal signals, especially those important to finding and attracting mates, are multimodal, which means they involve two or more sensory modalities. Among other sensory modalities, the wolf spider, Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae), uses a variety of chemical and visual information in reproductive activities. Here we report the results of four laboratory experiments in which we explored the effects of visual and chemical information on the behaviour of males. First we established that chemical cues enabled males to find females and that visual cues kept the males' attention focused in the area of the females. Subsequently, we examined the separate and combined effects of visual and chemical cues on the interactions between males competing for virgin or mated females. The behaviour of interacting males revealed that either chemical or visual information was sufficient for them to discriminate between mated and virgin females. Chemical cues elicited more courtship activity and more intense aggressive interactions between males than visual cues. When males were able to see live mated females but were in contact with chemical cues from virgins, aggression was lower and, conversely, when males were able to see live virgin females but were in contact with chemical cues from mated females, aggression increased. We conclude that chemical cues provided males with the most critical discriminatory information. Although the two types of signals are largely redundant, there are some circumstances where they enhance the response of the males and there is an intersignal interaction that allows males to adjust their behaviour when presented with a receptive female.
Cortical locations of maximal spindle activity: magnetoencephalography (MEG) study

The aim of this study was to determine the main cortical regions related to maximal spindle activity of sleep stage 2 in healthy individual subjects during a brief morning nap using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Eight volunteers (mean age: 26.1 +/- 8.7, six women) all right handed, free of any medical psychiatric or sleep disorders were studied. Whole-head 148-channel MEG and a conventional polysomnography montage (EEG; C3, C4, O1 and O2 scalp electrodes and EOG, EMG and ECG electrodes) were used for data collection. Sleep MEG/EEG spindles were visually identified during 15 min of stage 2 sleep for each participant. The distribution of brain activity corresponding to each spindle was calculated using a combination of independent component analysis and a current source density technique superimposed upon individual MRIs. The absolute maximum of spindle activation was localized to frontal, temporal and parietal lobes. However, the most common cortical regions for maximal source spindle activity were precentral and/or postcentral areas across all individuals. The present study suggests that maximal spindle activity localized to these two regions may represent a single event for two types of spindle frequency: slow (at 12 Hz) and fast (at 14 Hz) within global thalamocortical coherence.
Sufficient statistics process control : an empirical Bayes approach to process control

SUMMARY High volume, highly automated, information intensive, short cycle manufacturing systems severely tax most conventional statistical process control techniques. To meet this new manufacturing domain's control requirements, a new approach is needed. This paper presents such a process control procedure, sufficient statistics process control (SSPC). By drawing on empirical Bayes techniques, SSPC models the time sequence of the process while simultaneously reducing to a few sufficient statistics the large volume of incoming data. As a result, it provides real time, on-line quality control. The paper discusses the conceptual and mathematical foundations for SSPC. Its operation is illustrated through an example. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the limitations of SSPC.
Modeling the GAS-Phase Chemistry of Silicon Carbide Formation

Methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) is a precursor commonly used in the production of silicon carbide for composites, protective coatings, and structural ceramics. Experiments suggest that MTS decomposes in the gas phase to produce a large number of species whose surface reactivity is expected to vary widely. In this work, the authors discuss the development of a gas-phase mechanism that describes the decomposition of MTS. Rate coefficients for the reactions were obtained from literature sources, theoretical methods, and comparisons with analogous reaction chemistry. Several unknown reaction rates were fit to experimental measurements of MTS decomposition. The results are used to predict the major reaction paths, identify reactions to which product concentrations are sensitive, and determine the rate-limiting step for MTS decomposition.
Pro: endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is superior to microscope-based transsphenoidal surgery

The introduction of the endoscope to transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is relatively new, but represents a major advancement in the field. The use of the endoscope to visualize the sella via a direct endonasal approach offers the surgeon dramatically better visualization as well as improved range of motion compared to the operating microscope. Growing evidence confirms that these improvements directly translate into better surgical resections and outcomes. Further, patient comfort and satisfaction are higher with the endonasal method compared with other transsphenoidal approaches, and it is a cost effective technology. This position paper will outline the reasons that endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is the preferred method for pituitary surgery, and why it will likely be adopted as the standard technique for transsphenoidal surgery worldwide.
A theoretical investigation on the vibrational characteristics and torsional dynamic response of circumferentially cracked turbo-generator shafts

Turbo-generator shafts are often subjected to complex dynamic torsional loadings, resulting in generation and propagation of circumferential cracks. Mode III fatigue crack growth generally results in a fracture surface consisting of peaks and valleys, resembling a factory roof. The fracture surface roughness depends on the material microstructure, the material yield strength, and the applied cyclic torque amplitude. This crack pattern can severely affect the vibration characteristics of the shafts. The accurate evaluation of the torsional dynamic response of the turbo-generator shafts entails considering the local sources of energy loss in the crack vicinity. The two most common sources of the energy loss are the local energy loss due to the plasticity at the crack tip and frictional energy loss due to interaction of mutual crack surfaces. A theoretical procedure for evaluating the values of the system loss factors corresponding to these sources of energy loss is presented. Furthermore, the local flexibility is obtained by evaluating the resistance of the cracked section of the shaft to the rotational displacement. The shaft material is assumed to be elastic perfectly plastic. The effects of the applied Mode III stress intensity factor and the crack surface pattern parameters on the energy loss due to the friction and the energy loss due to the plasticity at the crack tip are investigated. The results show that depending on the amplitude of the applied Mode III stress intensity factor, one of these energy losses may dominate the total energy loss in the circumferentially cracked shaft. The results further indicate that the torsional dynamic response of the turbo-generator shaft is significantly affected by considering these two sources of the local energy loss.
Substrate specificity of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mus81-Mms4 endonuclease.

Abstract Mus81–Mms4/Eme1 is a conserved structure-specific endonuclease that functions in mitotic and meiotic recombination. It has been difficult to identify a single preferred substrate of this nuclease because it is active on a variety of DNA structures. In addition, it has been suggested that the specificity of the recombinant protein may differ from that of the native enzyme. Here, we addressed these issues with respect to Mus81–Mms4 from S. cerevisiae . At low substrate concentrations, Mus81–Mms4 was active on any substrate containing a free end adjacent to the branchpoint. This includes 3′-flap (3′F), regressed leading strand replication fork (RLe), regressed lagging strand replication fork (RLa), and nicked Holliday junction (nHJ) substrates. Kinetic analysis was used to quantitate differences between substrates. High K cat / K m values were obtained only for substrates with a 5′-end near the branchpoint (i.e., 3′F, RLe, and nHJ); 10-fold lower values were obtained for nicked duplex (nD) and RLa substrates. Substrates lacking any free ends at the branch point generated K cat / K m values that were four orders of magnitude lower than those of the preferred substrates. Native Mus81–Mms4 was partially purified from yeast cells and found to retain its preference for 3′F over intact HJ substrates. Taken together, these results narrow the range of optimal substrates for Mus81–Mms4 and indicate that, at least for S. cerevisae , the native and recombinant enzymes display similar substrate specificities.
Identification of triglycerides in the bovine lens by chromatographic analysis.

A combination of chromatographic techniques was used to designate the structural types of triglycerides in bovine lenses. Total lipids were extracted from fresh bovine lenses with subsequent isolation of triglycorides by thin layer chromatography. The purified triglycerides were separated according to unsaturation by silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel G TLC plates. Total triglycerides and individual Ag+TLC fractions then were analyzed quantitatively by gas-liquid chromatography to determine their triglyceride and fatty acid composition. Results obtained by these methods show that bovine lenses contain 45 components, the majority of which are in the 804–890 mol, wt range (carbon numbers 48–54). Triglycerides with two double bonds per molecule predominate (46·6 mole%), while those with 1, 3 or more, and 0 double bonds represent 24·4, 21·0 and 8·0 mole%, respectively. The data from this investigation indicate that dioleo-palmitin (OOP) and palmitoleo-stearo-olein (PoSO) are the most abundant triglycerides in bovine lenses.
Anterior Pituitary Hypoplasia and Dwarfism in Mice Lacking the Dopamine Transporter

Abstract Deletion of the dopamine transporter (DAT) results in increased dopaminergic tone, anterior pituitary hypoplasia, dwarfism, and an inability to lactate. DAT elimination alters the spatial distribution and dramatically reduces the numbers of lactotrophs and somatotrophs in the pituitary. Despite having normal circulating levels of growth hormone and prolactin in blood, hypoplastic glands from DAT −/− mice fail to respond to secretagog stimulation. The effects of DAT deletion on pituitary function result from elevated DA levels that down-regulate the lactotroph D 2 DA receptors and depress hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone content. These results reveal an unexpected and important role or DA in the control of developmental events in the pituitary gland and assign a critical role for hypothalamic DA reuptake in regulating these events.
Bioinformatic Analyses of Bacterial Mercury Ion (Hg2+) Transporters

Currently, there are five known types of mercury transporters in bacteria: MerC, MerE, MerF, MerH, and MerT. Their general function is to mediate mercuric ion uptake into the cell in preparation for reduction to Hg°. They are present in several bacterial phyla and comprise five distinct families. We have utilized standard statistical bioinformatic tools and the superfamily principle to show that they are related by common descent. After using programs such as Global Alignment Program and SSearch to establish homology, we aligned and analyzed their amino acid sequences to find a single well conserved motif. Although these proteins exhibit 2, 3, or 4 transmembrane helical segments (TMSs), TMSs 1 and 2 are common to all superfamily members. An ancestral sequence was determined, and reliable phylogenetic trees were constructed. The results support the conclusion of homology, establishing that these proteins belong to a single superfamily. This important discovery allows extrapolation of information about structure, function, and mechanism from one protein to all superfamily members to degrees inversely proportional to their phylogenetic distances.
Mesh-based Monte Carlo method using fast ray-tracing in Plücker coordinates

We describe a fast mesh-based Monte Carlo (MC) photon migration algorithm for static and time-resolved imaging in 3D complex media. Compared with previous works using voxel-based media discretization, a mesh-based approach can be more accurate in modeling targets with curved boundaries or locally refined structures. We implement an efficient ray-tracing technique using Plucker Coordinates. The Barycentric coordinates computed from Plucker-formed ray-tracing enables us to use linear Lagrange basis functions to model both media properties and fluence distribution, leading to further improvement in accuracy. The Plucker-coordinate ray-polygon intersection test can be extended to hexahedral or high-order elements. Excellent agreement is found when comparing mesh-based MC with the analytical diffusion model and 3D voxel-based MC code in both homogeneous and heterogeneous cases. Realistic time-resolved imaging results are observed for a complex human brain anatomy using mesh-based MC. We also include multi-threading support in the software and will port it to a graphics processing unit platform in the near future.
Control structure for systems analysis and design: a tool for defining the functional architecture of organizations and information systems

In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in methodologies for developing software that is reliable, maintainable and extensible. Since programs are the products of the software development process, it is natural that the early efforts to improve the quality of software were concentrated on the programming aspect of software development. However, it is clear today that no programming methodology can overcome the errors and problems incurred in the functional specification phase of software development. The complexity of the software specification task is well accepted but very few ideas for dealing with that complexity exist. A new approach is needed that enables the analyst to develop correct specifications that can be validated in terms of the information needs.The approach presented in this paper focuses on the problem definition for information systems that is based upon organization structure and functions. Social organizations are open systems as defined in general systems theory, and as such the functions of an organization may be analyzed in terms of a general model of open, living systems. The paper presents the application of an open system model to define the functional structure of organization subsystems and their interrelations that achieve the overall objectives of the organization.The open systems model is applied to define two dimensions of the problem, the resource flows and the control structure of the organization. Those dimensions define the functional hierarchy of the organization, and the information channels linking organization sub-systems define the functional role of the information system. In fact, the information system turns out to be a subsystem of the organization that interfaces the control subsystem with the operating subsystem. The framework aids the analyst in deriving information requirement specifications that can be validated against the organization's needs for information.
An over-all view of low temperature food preservation.

Summary For most foods, freezing is regarded as the best method of long term preservation. Freezing is, however, far from being a perfect method, particularly with respect to the texture of tissue. The behavior of food during freezing is influenced by its physical, chemical, and morphological characteristics, and these must be thoroughly understood as a prerequisite to improving the freezing process. Water (and ice) should receive special attention not only because of its great abundance but also because of its important role in determining the native quality of food. Furthermore, it can be shown that the water to ice transformation is associated with most of the detrimental effects that occur during freezing. Changes in volume and concentration of nonaqueous constituents (and eutectic formation) occur solely as a result of the water to ice transformation, and these changes are thought to have detrimental effects on food quality. In addition, the rate at which the water to ice transformation occurs influences the size and location of the ice crystals and the degree to which water is dislocated during freezing. These factors are also believed to influence food quality. During frozen storage, foods deteriorate at a rate which is dependent on the temperature and the product. Chemical changes and recrystallization appear to be major causes of damage. Thawing is inherently slower than freezing (for products which transmit heat energy primarily by conduction). Thawing is also carried out by unskilled personnel and under a temperature differential which is frequently smaller that that used for freezing. Thawing is therefore potentially more detrimental to quality than freezing.
The Effect of Choice-Making as an Intervention for Problem Behavior: A Meta-Analysis.

Supporting people with disabilities in expressing preferences and making choices is a core value in positive behavior support. Indeed, in recent years, the field has increasingly focused its attent...
Adapting demons to knowledge management environments

Abstract Decision support systems depend on a variety of knowledge management techniques. These range from data base management, programming, and spreadsheet analysis to rule set management and automated inference. One valuable knowledge management technique that has yet to find its way into the repertoire of decision support system developers is general-purpose demon management. This article identifies and explores the major issues pertaining to the integration of demon representation and processing into a knowledge management environment. These serve as a basis for design and implementation of more flexible and powerful environments for decision support.
Unwarranted Optimism in Media Portrayals of Genetic Research on Addiction Overshadows Critical Ethical and Social Concerns

The cost of addiction in the United States, in combination with a host of new tools and techniques, has fueled an explosion of genetic research on addiction. Because the media has the capacity to reflect and influence public perception, there is a need to examine how treatments and preventive approaches projected to emerge from addiction genetic research are presented to the public. The authors conducted a textual analysis of 145 news articles reporting on genetic research on addiction from popular print media in the United States and from popular news and medical internet sites. In articles that report on prevention, the media emphasize vaccine development and identifying individuals at genetic risk through population screening. Articles that emphasize treatment often promote current pharmaceutical solutions and highlight the possibility of tailoring treatments to specific genetic variants. The authors raise concerns about the tendency of this coverage to focus on the benefits of pharmaceutical treatment...
Location and arrangement of genes coding for ribosomal RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract The 140 genes for ribosomal RNA (rDNA) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae occur in clusters of from 10 to 30 cistrons. Approximately 84 rDNA genes have been mapped to chromosome I by comparing the amount of rDNA in a strain monosomic (2 n − 1) for chromosome I with a related diploid (2 n ) strain. The monosomic strain showed an approximate 30% decrease from the diploid in both the amount of heavy satellite DNA and the amount of hybridizable rRNA. It is proposed that three to ten clusters of rDNA are located throughout chromosome I.
Midinfrared third-harmonic generation from macroscopically aligned ultralong single-wall carbon nanotubes

We report the observation of strong third harmonic generation from a macroscopic array of aligned ultralong single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with intense midinfrared radiation. Through power-dependent experiments, we determined the absolute value of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, $\chi^{(3)}$, of our SWCNT film to be 5.53 $\times$ 10$^{-12}$ esu, three orders of magnitude larger than that of the fused silica reference we used. Taking account of the filling factor of 8.75% for our SWCNT film, we estimate a $\chi^{(3)}$ of 6.32 $\times$ 10$^{-11}$ esu for a fully dense film. Furthermore, through polarization-dependent experiments, we extracted all the nonzero elements of the $\chi^{(3)}$ tensor, determining the magnitude of the weaker tensor elements to be $\sim$1/6 of that of the dominant $\chi^{(3)}_{zzzz}$ component.
Dietary fish oil supplementation attenuates myocardial dysfunction and injury caused by global ischemia and reperfusion in isolated rat hearts

Diets supplemented with fish oil have been shown to protect against the complications of coronary heart disease with reduced atherogenesis, smaller infarcts, fewer arrhythmias, and a lower mortality rate. This has been attributed to the effect of fish oil on blood cells and plasma components, including an inhibition of platelets, a decrease in plasma fibrinogen, reduction in release of free radicals from neutrophils and myocytes, and enhancement of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The current study was designed to compare the effects of a diet enriched with fish oil on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, independent of blood cells and plasma components, using an isolated rat-heart preparation. Rats were fed either a fish-oil-enriched or a butter-enriched diet for 5 days, after which their hearts were removed and perfused according to the modified Langendorff procedure. The hearts were perfused with a bloodless (Krebs-Henseleit buffer), oxygenated perfusate. Ischemia was induced by stopping perfus...
The far-infrared properties of optically selected emission-line galaxies

A high-sensitivity sample of IRAS-detected emission-line galaxies (ELGs) is used to investigate the FIR properties of these galaxies and the relative selection biases of the UM Curtis Schmidt and IRAS surveys. Color-color diagrams indicate that the FIR emission from the UM ELGs is due primarily to warm dust heated directly by the active star-forming regions that are responsible for the strong optical emission lines. The FIR luminosity of the UM ELGs is found to correlate with both H-beta and blue luminosities, suggesting that the current star-formation rate in these objects is more closely coupled to the past star-formation history than is generally acknowledged.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Impingement on a Rib-Roughened Leading-Edge Wall

Effective cooling of the airfoil leading-edge is imperative in gas turbine designs. Amongst several methods of cooling the leading edge, impingement cooling has been utilized in many modern designs. In this method, the cooling air enters the leading edge cavity from the adjacent cavity through a series of crossover holes on the partition wall between the two cavities. The crossover jets impinge on a smooth leading-edge wall and exit through the film holes, and, in some cases, form a crossflow in the leading-edge cavity and move toward the end of the cavity. It was the main objective of this investigation to measure the heat transfer coefficient on a smooth as well as rib-roughened leading-edge wall. Experimental data for impingement on a leading edge surface roughened with different conical bumps and radial ribs are reported by the same authors, previously. This investigation, however, deals with impingement on different horseshoe ribs and makes a comparison between the experimental and numerical results. Three geometries representing the leading-edge cooling cavity of a modern gas turbine airfoil with crossover jets impinging on 1) a smooth wall, 2) a wall roughened with horseshoe ribs, and 3) a wall roughened with notched-horseshoe ribs were investigated. The tests were run for a range of flow arrangements and jet Reynolds numbers. The major conclusions of this study were: a) Impingement on the smooth target surface produced the highest overall heat transfer coefficients followed by the notched-horseshoe and horseshoe geometries. b) There is, however, a heat transfer enhancement benefit in roughening the target surface. Amongst the three target surface geometries, the notched-horseshoe ribs produced the highest heat removal from the target surface which was attributed entirely to the area increase of the target surface. c) CFD could be considered as a viable tool for the prediction of impingement heat transfer coefficients on an airfoil leading-edge wall.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Can government's choice of a high inflation policy be rational?

Out of the two inflation tax equilibria—i.e., the two inflation rates which bring the same revenue to the government—the higher one is not infrequently chosen. It is shown that such a choice may not be irrational for a government whose policy includes a financial repression and exchange rate controls and which is trying to maximize public sector expenditures. However, such policy is not sustainable in the long run, whatever its short-term advantages may be. Hence, policy makers should always weight advantages of higher public sector expenditures today against hardships of inevitable stabilization programs in the future.
Metastasis-associated protein (MTA)1 enhances migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent survival of immortalized human keratinocytes

The human metastasis-associated gene (MTA1), a member of the nucleosome remodeling complex with histone deacetylase activity, is frequently overexpressed in biologically aggressive epithelial neoplasms. Here, we extend this observation to squamous carcinoma cells, which express high levels of MTA1 relative to normal or immortalized keratinocytes. To address functional aspects of MTA1 expression, we established variants of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by expressing MTA1 cDNA in both the sense and antisense orientations. We demonstrate that (1) forced MTA1 expression enhances migration and invasion of immortalized keratinocytes; (2) MTA1 expression is necessary but not sufficient for cell survival in the anchorage independent state; (3) MTA1 contributes to expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bcl-x(L); (4) MTA1 expression in immortalized keratinocytes depends, in part, on activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). These results establish that, in keratinocytes, MTA1 expression contributes to several aspects of the metastatic phenotype including survival in the anchorage independent state, migration, and invasion.
Where are the Childhoods in Childhood Literacy? An Exploration in Outer (School) Space

Research on childhood literacy has tended to idealize selected practices of a romanticized childhood; it portrays that childhood as providing the most relevant literacy resources and as launching ‘the child’ most directly into school literacy success. Herein, I argue that the prominence of this assumed direct route is theoretically problematic; moreover, it overshadows the very crosscultural childhood qualities–and the particular, localized childhood symbols and practices–through which children construct written language as a useful medium. In order to make this argument, I draw on data collected in a yearlong ethnographic project in an urban primary school in the USA. In the project, I examined children’s appropriations of diverse cultural material for school composing. In the analysis, I used the productionof a text as the unit of analysis. Through studying these minimal units, I untangled the intertextual threads that linked the children’s present literacy activity to their experiences; for instance, a...
From Plasmonic Nanocircuit Elements to Volumetric Photonic Negative-Refraction Metamaterials

We give an overview of our theoretical works that connect the concept of lumped nanocircuit elements using plasmonic particles with ideas for 3-D photonic metamaterials with negative refraction. Analytical results and numerical simulations are presented.