cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Winter management of Californian rice fields for waterbirds

1. Recent legislation designed to reduce air pollution has restricted Californian rice-farmers from burning rice stubble after harvest. Intentional flooding of fields during winter to speed straw decomposition is becoming increasingly common as growers seek alternatives to burning residual straw. The potential for flooded fields to act as a surrogate for destroyed wetland habitat may be an additional benefit in a region that hosts a large proportion of North America’s wintering waterbirds. We investigated the degree to which waterbirds use flooded fields and whether the method of flooding affects their use. Specifically, we tested whether waterbird use (a) was greater in intentionally flooded fields than in unflooded fields, (b) differed among flooded fields receiving different straw manipulations and (c) varied with water depth. 2. Intentionally flooded rice fields received significantly greater use by 24 of 31 species studied. Only great blue herons Ardea herodias and sandhill cranes Grus canadensis were significantly more common in unflooded fields. Geese densities did not differ between flooded and unflooded fields. 3. We found no differences in the densities of most species in flooded fields that received different straw manipulations to improve decomposition rates. Exceptions included several small shorebirds which occurred at highest densities in fields where straw was incorporated into the soil. 4. Species differed in their use of different water depths. For 14 species we tested whether preferred depths, suggested in the literature, received disproportionately higher use. Most of these species were more likely to be encountered within the suggested depth ranges. Depth, however, was a poor predictor of bird density. Depths of 15–20 cm resulted in frequent use by the greatest number of species. 5. We conclude that flooding rice fields increased suitable habitat for most, but not all, species studied. Different straw manipulation methods had little effect on most species. Water depth, however, was important in determining species occurrence. During the first half of the winter, water depths were greater than the median depths used by most species.
Areas and Ideas

Bayat’s essay examines the divide between area studies and the social science disciplines. A truly productive engagement with and critical reflection on the social sciences, Bayat argues, is possible only by intimate area knowledge, wide perspectives, a comparative lens, and a search for meaningful knowledge directed at human emancipation.
Vesalius on the variability of the human skull: book I chapter V of De humani corporis fabrica.

Vesalius' short chapter on craniology and the “unnatural” shapes that skulls could take is a uniquely interesting illustration of the young anatomist's position halfway between a traditional belief in a standard or canonical “natural” human anatomy and the host of variations confronted in his day-to-day observation of actual cadavers. His interest in variability is marked in both editions of De humani corporis fabrica (1543, 1555), and it is no coincidence that two of the anatomical features that today bear the great anatomist's name are atypical. In their shape, all of the five skulls that illustrate Chapter 5 of Book I of the Fabrica fall within margins of variability recognized as standard today, but even in Vesalius' own century it was noticed that the sutures in the four “unnatural” skulls do not occur in real life. The article considers the meaning of this unusual departure from his reliance upon observation and includes a translation of Vesalius' craniology chapter from the original Latin, with annotations and two appendices containing his 1555 revisions and clinical addenda. Clin. Anat. 13:311–320, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Minimum-fuel attitude control of a spacecraft by an extended method of steepest-descent.

Minimum fuel attitude control of spacecraft by Pontryagin principle and extended steepest descent method
Stand-off detection of organic samples using filament-induced breakdown spectroscopy

As an alternative to focusing nanosecond pulses for stand-off LIBS detection of energetic materials, we use self-channeled femtosecond pulses from a Ti:Sapphire laser to produce filaments at 12 meters and create a plasma on copper, graphite and polyisobutylene film. We show the possibilities of this Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy configuration for thin organic sample detection on a surface at a distance.
Antibody binding of cartilage-specific proteoglycans.

Abstract Antiserum to cartilage-specific proteoglyean from chickens contains IgG which binds embryonic [ 35 S]sulfate-labeled cartilage-specific proteoglyean ([ 35 S]PGS I). The binding of antibody to [ 35 S]PGS I does not require prior digestion of the antigen with testicular hyaluronidase or chondroitinase ABC. Presence of [ 35 S]PGS I in the antigen-antibody reaction product was demonstrated using the precipitation method of Farr and confirmed by demonstrating that goat anti-rabbit IgG serum can precipitate rabbit anti PGS I—[ 35 S]PGS I complexes but not [ 35 S]PGS I alone. The antibody can bind essentially all (>90%) of the [ 35 S]PGS I. Antibody can bind to [ 35 S]PGS I in either the monomeric or the aggregated form. The antiserum does not contain antibodies to a number of glycosaminoglycans, to proteoglyean from skin or to a minor proteoglyean component of cartilage (PGS II). The antiserum cross-reacts with cartilage-specific proteoglycan from a different avian genus, the Japanese quail.
SU‐E‐T‐137: Dosimetric Validation for Pinnacle, Acuros, AAA, and Brainlab Algorithms with Induced Inhomogenieties

Purpose: To compare the dosimetric accuracy of the Eclipse 11.0 Acuros XB and Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA), Pinnacle-3 9.2 Collapsed Cone Convolution, and the iPlan 4.1 Monte Carlo (MC) and Pencil Beam (PB) algorithms using measurement as the gold standard. Methods: Ion chamber and diode measurements were taken for 6, 10, and 18 MV beams in a phantom made up of slab densities corresponding to solid water, lung, and bone. The phantom was setup at source-to-surface distance of 100 cm, and the field sizes were 3.0 × 3.0, 5.0 × 5.0, and 10.0 × 10.0 cm2. Data from the planning systems were computed along the central axis of the beam. The measurements were taken using a pinpoint chamber and edge diode for interface regions. Results: The best agreement between data from the algorithms and our measurements occurs away from the slab interfaces. For the 6 MV beam, iPlan 4.1 MC software performs the best with 1.7% absolute average percent difference from measurement. For the 10 MV beam, iPlan 4.1 PB performs the best with 2.7% absolute average percent difference from measurement. For the 18 MV beam, Acuros performs the best with 2.0% absolute average percent difference from measurement. It is interesting to note that the steepest drop in dose occurred the at lung heterogeneity-solid water interface of the18 MV, 3.0 × 3.0 cm2 field size setup. In this situation, Acuros and AAA performed best with an average percent difference within −1.1% of measurement, followed by iPlan 4.1 MC, which was within 4.9%. Conclusion: This study shows that all of the algorithms perform reasonably well in computing dose in a heterogeneous slab phantom. Moreover, Acuros and AAA perform particularly well at the lung-solid water interfaces for higher energy beams and small field sizes.
Expression and purification of a biologically active basic fibroblast growth factor fusion protein.

Abstract Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen of many cell types and plays an important role in angiogenesis. To help identify proteins that bind to bFGF and mediate its intracellular transport and signaling, we overexpressed and purified a bFGF fusion protein in Escherichia coli . The fusion protein consists of bFGF fused to the C-terminus of glutathione S -transferase (GST). The GST-bFGF fusion protein was purified using SP-Sepharose and glutathione–Sepharose affinity chromatography. The ability of the purified GST-bFGF to stimulate the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was equivalent to that of purified recombinant 18 kDa bFGF.
Oligo(ethylene glycol) Containing Polymer Brushes as Bioselective Surfaces

The nitroxide-mediated polymerization of styrenic monomers containing oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEGn) moieties was chosen for the preparation of biocompatible polymer brushes tethered to silicon oxide surfaces due to the broad range of monomer structures available and the use of a nonmetallic initiator. These surfaces were characterized by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure and water contact angle measurements. The biocompatibility of these grown polymer brushes was studied and compared with deposited assemblies of surface-bound OEGn-terminated silanes with selected chain lengths. Grown polymer brushes with short OEGn side chains suppressed protein adsorption significantly more than the deposited assemblies of short OEGn chains, and this was attributed to higher surface coverage by the brushes. Cell adhesion studies confirmed that OEGn-containing polymer brushes are particularly effective in preventing nonspecific adhesion. Studies of protein adsorption and cell localization carried out with specific ligands on surfaces patterned demonstrated the potential of these surface-tethered polymer brushes for the formation of micro- and nanoscale devices.
Packing trees into complete bipartite graphs

Abstract In 1976, Gyarfas and Lehel conjectured that any trees T 2 , … , T n with 2 through n vertices pack into K n , the complete graph on n vertices, that is, the trees T 2 , … , T n appear as edge-disjoint subgraphs of K n . This conjecture is still unresolved. We examine an analogous conjecture for packing trees into complete bipartite graphs. Let T a , a denote a tree whose partite sets both have size a , which we call a balanced tree. We conjecture that any trees T 1 , 1 , … , T n , n pack into K n , n , the complete bipartite graph on 2 n vertices. We begin by establishing that if a and n are integers with n ≥ 3 and a ⌊ 7 / 18 n ⌋ , then any balanced trees T 1 , 1 , … , T a , a pack into K n , n . We also show that if any degree sequence for the first partite set is specified for each tree, then there exist balanced trees T 1 , 1 , … , T n , n with these vertex degrees that pack into K n , n .
Bio-hacking: Tapping Life's Code to Deal with Unpredictable Risk

The biological world--full of salty tidepools and steaming jungles--would seem to be a long way from the clean rooms and server farms of the information technology world. But these ecosystems converge strongly in the realm of security, where the 3.5 billion year history of life has numerous lessons for improving security in the far younger world of computing. The convergence lies in the fact that all organisms in nature deal with the exact problems that all IT managers, developers, hackers, and cybersecurity officers face--that the world is full of risk that cannot be eliminated and is largely unpredictable. Despite living amidst constant risk and uncertainty, nature has not only survived, but thrived and expanded throughout biological history.
Effects of Excess Fe on Upper Critical Field and Magnetotransport in Fe1+y(Te1−xSx)z

We have investigated the upper critical field anisotropy and magnetotransport properties of Fe{sub 1.14(1)}Te{sub 0.91(2)}S{sub 0.09(2)} single crystals in stable magnetic fields up to 35 T. The results show that {mu}{sub 0}H{sub c2}(T) along the c axis and in the ab plane exhibit saturation at low temperatures. The anisotropy of {mu}{sub 0}H{sub c2}(T) decreases with decreasing temperature, becoming nearly isotropic for T {yields} 0. Our analysis indicates that the spin-paramagnetic pair breaking with spin-orbital scattering is responsible for the behavior of {mu}{sub 0}H{sub c2}(T). Furthermore, from analysis of the normal-state properties, we show evidence that the excess Fe is a key factor determining the normal- and superconducting-state physical properties.
Activity-stress induced pathology in the colon and rectum of the rat.

Abstract The activity-stress procedure, which produces severe stomach ulcers, will also produce degeneration in the descending colon and rectum of the rat. In degenerated areas there was about 50–80 percent reduction in the thickness of the mucosa, and a marked depletion of mucus secreting globlet cells.
(En)gendered Security? The Complexities of Women's Inclusion in Peace Processes

As peacebuilding discourses increasingly stress the importance of including women, to what degree have security-related practices taken heed? It has been over 10 years since the United Nations Secu...
Vertical emitting aperture nanoantennas.

Herein we propose, theoretically investigate, and numerically demonstrate a compact design for a vertical emitter at a wavelength of 1.5 μm based on nanophotonic aperture antennas coupled to a dielectric waveguide. The structure utilizes a plasmonic antenna placed above a Si3N4 waveguide with a ground plane for breaking the up—down symmetry and increasing the emission efficiency. Three-dimensional (3-D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations reveal that up to 60% vertical emission efficiency is possible in a structure only four wavelengths long with a 3 dB bandwidth of over 300 nm.
Soft EHL Analysis of a Reciprocating Hydraulic Step Seal

A numerical soft EHL (elastohydrodynamic lubrication) model of a reciprocating hydraulic step seal has been used to analyze seal performance. The model consists of coupled steady state fluid mechanics, deformation mechanics, contact mechanics and thermal analyses, with an iterative computational procedure. Results for a typical step seal are compared with those of a double lip U-cup seal.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Effects of magnesium on45Ca uptake and release at different sites in rabbit aortic smooth muscle

Effects of 1.5 mM Mg2+ on muscle tension and on45Ca uptake and release at different sites in the rabbit aortic media-intimal layer were investigated. The sustained contraction induced by either 10−6 M norepinephrine (NE) or 60 mM K+ was not affected by 1.5 mM Mg2+ in the presence of 1.5 mM Ca2+. However, the contractions elicited with NE or K+ in 0.03 mM Ca2+-containing solution were inhibited by 1.5 mM Mg2+ by 67% and 27%, respectively. Total45Ca uptake measured in the presence of either 1.5 mM or 0.03 mM Ca2+ was not affected by 1.5 mM Mg2+. The rate of residual45Ca uptake (45Ca uptake followed by a wash in La3+-containing solution at low temperature) measured in the presence of 1.5 mM Ca2+ was slightly lower in the presence of 1.5 mM Mg2+. However, the increase in rate of residual45Ca uptake induced by NE or the net increase in the residual45Ca uptake induced by K+ was not decreased by 1.5 mM Mg2+. The residual45Ca uptake measured in the presence of 0.03 mM Ca2+ was reduced to 64% and 24% of controls by addition of 1.5 mM Mg2+ or Sr2+, respectively. A part of the residual45Ca was released by NE. Uptake of45Ca at this NE-affected Ca2+ site did not take place in the presence of 1.5 mM Mg2+ when the Ca2+ concentration of the medium was 0.03 mM. However, this45Ca uptake component was only partially inhibited when the Ca2+ concentration of the medium was 1.5 mM. The NE-induced increase in45Ca efflux was not inhibited by 1.5 mM Mg2+. From these results, Mg2+ appears to be a weak antagonist for both Ca2+ entry into the vascular smooth muscle cell and Ca2+ binding at a high affinity intracellular site.
Optimal Interpolation and the Appropriateness of Cross-Validating Variogram in Spatial Generalized Linear Mixed Models

This article considers some computational issues related to the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) prediction of non-Gaussian variables under a spatial generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). Earlier literature decribes how this model has been used to model spatial non-Gaussian variables, under which MMSE prediction of non-Gaussian variables can be computed. Because the MMSE prediction is nonlinear and cannot be computed in closed form, Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques are employed to approximate the predictor. We first establish some analytical results and show through three examples how these results can be used to make the MMSE predictions computationally more efficient. We then examine the effectiveness of cross-validating variogram in a spatial GLMM through a simulation study. Cross-validation is closely related to prediction since it uses partial data to predict the remaining. Our results show that cross-validation may fail to indicate the obvious lack of fit of a variogram in a spatial non-Gaussia...
How to Get Published, Part IV: The Book

The earlier entries in this series have, among other things, discussed the motives that may lead librarians into writing and publishing (Lonergan 2011), how one may choose appropriate journals as t...
Probe-Determined Hearing-Aid Gain Compared to Functional and Coupler Gains

In this investigation, hearing-aid gain as measured by a probe-earmold system was compared with gain determined from couplers (HA-2 coupler and ear simulator) and functional-gain measurements. Fift...
Aerodynamic Characterization of a Modern Launch Vehicle

A modern launch vehicle is by necessity an extremely integrated design. The accurate characterization of its aerodynamic characteristics is essential to determine design loads, to design flight control laws, and to establish performance. The NASA Ares Aerodynamics Panel has been responsible for technical planning, execution, and vetting of the aerodynamic characterization of the Ares I vehicle. An aerodynamics team supporting the Panel consists of wind tunnel engineers, computational engineers, database engineers, and other analysts that address topics such as uncertainty quantification. The team resides at three NASA centers: Langley Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Ames Research Center. The Panel has developed strategies to synergistically combine both the wind tunnel efforts and the computational efforts with the goal of validating the computations. Selected examples highlight key flow physics and, where possible, the fidelity of the comparisons between wind tunnel results and the computations. Lessons learned summarize what has been gleaned during the project and can be useful for other vehicle development projects.
Additional 5' exons in the RGS3 locus generate multiple mRNA transcripts, one of which accounts for the origin of human PDZ-RGS3.

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins can be broadly divided into those that consist predominantly of an RGS domain and those that possess an RGS domain along with additional domains. RGS3 fits into both categories, as both short and longer forms exist. Recently, a novel form of mouse RGS3 that possesses a PDZ domain was identified. Here we show that the human PDZ-RGS3 isoform arises from 10 upstream exons along with 6 exons from the previously characterized RGS3. We found that 47,000 nucleotides span the last of the 10 upstream exons and the first exon used from the original cluster of RGS3 exons. These 10 upstream exons encode 398 amino acids, which show strong conservation with those from mouse PDZ-RGS3. In addition, another isoform exists that uses 17 upstream exons, 9 of which overlap with those in PDZ-RGS3, along with the same 6 downstream exons used in PDZ-RGS3. Finally, a short form of human RGS3 arises from an unrecognized RGS3 exon that encodes an amino-terminal 140 amino acids. For each RGS3 isoform, RT-PCR detected specific mRNA transcripts and immunoblot analysis identified specific bands for RGS3 and PDZ-RGS3. RGS3 provides an example of the complex origins of the coding regions of mammalian proteins.
A Tiebout/tax-competition model

Abstract This paper analyzes a Tiebout/tax-competition model, where heterogeneity of consumer preferences is introduced into a standard tax-competition framework. Following the modern Tiebout tradition, consumer sorting in the model is achieved through the activities of profit-maximizing community developers. Once sorting is achieved, the equilibrium is equivalent to that in a standard tax-competition model with immobile, but heterogeneous, consumers. A principal lesson of the analysis is that, under capital taxation, consumers with high public-good demands are worse off than under a head-tax regime. In pursuit of high levels of public spending, high-demand communities impose high tax rates, which drive away capital. The analysis also establishes a number of other results.
The Cleveland Plan for the Teaching of Foreign Languages

The article deals first with the historical development of the Cleveland Plan as it was conceived by Dr. E. B. Sauze, its introduction into the university, then into the Cleveland schools. There follows a section on the methodology of the Plan, its application in the classroom and the proper use of the de Sauze grammar: Cours pratique de francais pour commencants. A final section treats of the administration and actual organization necessary for the functioning of the Plan, the provisions made in Cleveland for this, the French School at the summer session of Western Reserve University, the Demonstration School in French, German, Spanish and Italian. There is a resume of the essential points by way of conclusion.
Influence of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and ratios on Lemna gibba growth responses to triclosan in laboratory and stream mesocosm experiments.

The effects of co-occurring nutrient and contaminant stressors are very likely to interact in aquatic systems, particularly at the level of primary producers. Site-specific nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations are often much lower and differ in relative availability than those used in nutrient-saturated laboratory assays for aquatic plants, which can introduce uncertainty in prospective ecological hazard and risk assessments. Because triclosan, an antimicrobial agent included in personal care products, potentially presents high relative risk among antimicrobial agents to aquatic plants and algae, we performed laboratory experiments with the model aquatic macrophyte Lemna gibba across a gradient of environmentally relevant N:P levels with and without triclosan co-exposure. Frond numbers (7 d) were significantly higher in N:P treatments of 16 and 23 but were lower in N:P of 937 and 2,500 treatments relative to standardized control media (N:P = 3). When triclosan co-exposure occurred at high nutrient concentrations, frond number median effective concentration values at N:P 0.75, 3, and 16 were more than twofold lower than triclosan median effective concentration values in low nutrient media N:P ratios. However, a triclosan median effective concentration for frond number was twofold lower at N:P of 2,500 than at other N:P ratios in low concentration media. Influences of P enrichment on triclosan toxicity to L. gibba were further explored during a 14-d outdoor experimental stream mesocosm study. Effects of 2.6 and 20.8 μg L−1 triclosan on L. gibba growth rates were more pronounced with increasing P treatment levels, which was generally consistent with our laboratory observations. Findings from these laboratory and field studies indicate that site-specific nutrient concentrations and ratios should be considered during assessments of primary producer responses to chemical stressors.
Analysis of a class of coupled microstrip lines in a nonhomogeneous dielectric media

In this paper, analysis of a class of coupled microstrip transmission lines is developed based on finite and infinite element methods. The microstrip line consists of two dielectric layers with two infinitesimally thin perfectly conducting strips clad on the dielectric layers. It is worthwhile to note that in this development the assumption that the finite transverse dimensions of the microstrip line structure are smaller than the operating wavelength resulting in the wave velocity is no longer independent of frequency and the quasi-static TEM mode approximation analysis can be provided. Coupled microstrip transmission lines have become an attractive means of microwave integrated circuits, namely filters, directional couplers, matching networks, delay lines, and equalizers. The system of coupled transmission lines has also found the use to connect electronic subsystems on modern avionics systems such as aircraft and missiles consisting of large closely coupled cable bundles. In the design of microwave integrated circuits MICs requires a knowledge to predict the electrical transmission properties of microstrip lines. These are namely characteristic impedances, eigenvectors, normal mode propagation constants, and network functions of the lines. A system of coupled microstrip transmission lines is analyzed with both the ordinary finite and infinite elements to solve for the potential and field distributions in the cross section of the microstrip line. A variational principle is applied to compute the Maxwellian capacitance or inductance matrix per unit length of the line. This analysis has the advantage of straightforwardly identifying propagation modes. The parameters of the microstrip line can be determined in terms of the capacitance or inductance matrix. The system of coupled transmission lines is assumed to be uniform along its longitudinal z-direction. The equivalent circuit for the coupled microstrip lines is developed and its application to the solution of wave propagation modes is demonstrated.
Vertical Foliage Retention in Douglas-Fir Across Environmental Gradients of the Western Oregon Coast Range Influenced by Swiss Needle Cast

We investigated the vertical pattern of foliage retention of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in the western Oregon Coast Range where Swiss needle cast, a foliage disease caused by Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, is causing foliage loss and growth impacts. Swiss needle cast reduced foliage retention more in the upper crown than the lower crown within the epidemic area, which is unusual as foliage diseases usually reduce foliage retention most in the lower crown. We hypothesized that as foliage retention increased across environmental gradients that it would also increase in the upper crown at a greater rate than the lower crown. We randomly selected 72 sites from a population of Douglas-fir plantations in the northwest Oregon Coast Range. We estimated foliage retention from the lower, mid and upper crown of 10 trees per plot. We fitted a two-level hierarchical model with tree and stand level predictors to model changes in foliage retention with changing environmental gradient for foliage in each of three vertical crown positions. We found that the vertical pattern of foliage retention was generally similar throughout the study area with lowest retention in the upper crown, and highest retention in the lower crown. Foliage retention increased with increasing distance from the coast, which is correlated with increased elevation and decreased temperature and site productivity. These findings are consistent with our current understanding of conifer foliage retention. No apparent shift occurs from whole crown to lower crown impacts in our study area as foliage retention increases and approaches normal.
Quantum transport equation for systems with rough surfaces and its application to ultracold neutrons in a quantizing gravity field

We discuss transport of particles along random rough surfaces in quantum size effect conditions. As an intriguing application, we analyze gravitationally quantized ultracold neutrons in rough waveguides in conjunction with GRANIT experiments (ILL, Grenoble). We present a theoretical description of these experiments in the biased diffusion approximation for neutron mirrors with both one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) roughness. All system parameters collapse into a single constant which determines the depletion times for the gravitational quantum states and the exit neutron count. This constant is determined by a complicated integral of the correlation function (CF) of surface roughness. The reliable identification of this CF is always hindered by the presence of long fluctuation-driven correlation tails in finite-size samples. We report numerical experiments relevant for the identification of roughness of a new GRANIT waveguide and make predictions for ongoing experiments. We also propose a radically new design for the rough waveguide.
How RhoGDI binds Rho

Like all Rho (Ras homology) GTPases, RhoA functions as a molecular switch in cell signaling, alternating between GTP- and GDP-bound states, with its biologically inactive GDP-bound form maintained as a cytosolic complex with RhoGDI (guanine nucleotide-exchange inhibitor). The crystal structures of RhoA–GDP and of the C-terminal immuno­globulin-like domain of RhoGDI (residues 67–203) are known, but the mechanism by which the two proteins interact is not known. The functional human RhoA–RhoGDI complex has been expressed in yeast and crystallized (P6522, unit-cell parameters a = b = 139, c = 253 A, two complexes in the asymmetric unit). Although diffraction from these crystals extends to 3.5 A and is highly anisotropic, the experimentally phased (MAD plus MIR) electron-density map was adequate to reveal the mutual disposition of the two molecules. The result was validated by molecular-replacement calculations when data were corrected for anisotropy. Furthermore, the N-­terminus of RhoGDI (the region involved in inhibition of nucleotide exchange) can be identified in the electron-density map: it is bound to the switch I and switch II regions of RhoA, occluding an epitope which binds Dbl-like nucleotide-exchange factors. The entrance of the hydrophobic pocket of RhoGDI is 25 A from the last residue in the RhoA model, with its C-terminus oriented to accommodate the geranylgeranyl group without conformational change in RhoA.
In-line statistical process control and feedback for VLSI integrated circuit manufacturing

A number of quality control and yield improvement techniques are used in the Hewlett Packard Fort Collins IC wafer fabrication line. Four of these are described, with examples of how each has improved quality and yield. Silicon wafer measurements obtained from the vendor or made at incoming inspection are correlated with device parameters and chip yield. Control charts on the manufacturing line are generated online from monitor wafer data entered by operators, giving immediate feedback. In addition, a daily summary report lists any chart out of control. In certain instances it is necessary to improve the process capability of an operation. A feedback technique is used to do this for operations which have predictable systematic drift. Individual wafer positions in critical operations are automatically recorded through the fabrication line. This greatly facilitates correlation of input to output parameters and pinpoints the root cause of physical, device parameter, or chip yield fluctuations. Rapid correlation of the data obtained throughout the fabrication and wafer test areas is done with a common database and tools which transform the raw data into an optimum form for analysis. >
The Transformation of American Law, 1780–1860

Introduction 1. The Emergence of an Instrumental Conception of Law 2. The Transformation in the Conception of Property 3. Subsidization of Economic Growth through the Legal System 4. Competition and Economic Development 5. The Relation between the Bar and Commercial Interests 6. The Triumph of Contract The Equitable Conception of Contract in the Eighteenth Century The Rise of a Market Economy and the Development of the Will Theory of Contract Custom and Contract Tort and Contract 7. The Development of Commercial Law The Rise of Negotiability The Law of Insurance: The Development of Actuarial Conceptions of Risk Usury Swift v. Tyson: The Rise of a General Commercial Law 8. The Rise of Legal Formalism Notes Index
Defining Essential Fish Habitat for Atka Mackerel with Respect to Feeding within and Adjacent to Aleutian Islands Trawl Exclusion Zones

Abstract The distribution patterns of Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius were examined, both seasonally and spatially, to identify essential feeding habitat and to add to existing knowledge of diet composition. The study focused on two local aggregations in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska: one at Seguam Pass and one near Amchitka Island. At each locale, we examined the mean stomach fullness (i.e., feeding intensity) and diet composition of randomly selected fish within and outside of trawl exclusion zones (TEZs). The trawl exclusion zones extend out 10–20 nm from Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus rookeries and haulouts; no trawling is allowed inside these zones. During four of the six periods examined, mean stomach fullness was higher inside the TEZ than outside it. At Seguam Pass, fish were distributed into northern and southern aggregations and diet composition varied by age, season, and location relative to the TEZs. Feeding intensity appeared to be greatest inside the TEZ in the northern portion...
Measurement Agreement between Estimates of Aerobic Fitness in Youth: The Impact of Body Mass Index.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the agreement between aerobic capacity estimates from different Progressive Aerobic Cardiorespiratory Endurance Run (PACER) equations and the Mile Run Test. Method The agreement between 2 different tests of aerobic capacity was examined on a large data set from 2 suburban school districts (n = 1,686 youth in Grades 3–10). Difference estimates between the Mile Run Test and several PACER equations were computed, and residuals were examined using cluster analysis. The implication of the discrepancy between these tests was also examined using FITNESSGRAM® health-related standards for BMI. Comparisons were made against corresponding estimates of peak oxygen consumption from the Mile run because this equation is more established. Results Results supported a 2-cluster solution. The discrepancy between tests was higher in participants with higher BMI scores (Z scores for residuals in this group ranged from − 0.07 to 1.57). BMI...
Breast reconstruction and adjuvant therapy: A systematic review of surgical outcomes.

Background and Objectives: The impact of adjuvant therapy on the surgical outcomes following breast reconstruction is poorly understood. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate surgical outcomes following autologous and prosthetic reconstruction in the setting of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) and adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: A systematic review of the English literature published from 2000 to 2015 in the Pubmed/MEDLINE database was performed to identify all manuscripts reporting outcome of breast reconstruction in patients receiving PMRT and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Sixty-two manuscripts met the criteria for inclusion. This included 56 manuscripts (5437 patients) evaluating patients treated with PMRT and 11 manuscripts (820 patients) evaluating patients treated with chemotherapy. Pooled analysis of the PMRT cohort revealed significantly higher weighted incidences of re-operation (P < 0.0001), total complications (P < 0.0001), and reconstructive failure (P < 0.0001) in prosthetic reconstruction compared to autologous. There was little evidence to suggest that postoperative chemotherapy is associated with poorer overall outcomes. Conclusions: PMRT was associated with an increased incidence of adverse events when compared to chemotherapy. There was little evidence to suggest that adverse events following breast reconstruction were related to adjuvant chemotherapy. Manipulating the method and timing of reconstruction may mitigate some of the undesirable outcomes associated with PMRT. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:458–464. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of Earth-directed partial halo coronal mass ejections

The very weak storm-effectiveness of frontside partial halo coronal mass ejections (FPH CMEs) suggests that many, if not most, FPH CMEs are not Earth-directed. Based on the cone model (Zhao et al., 2002) we put forward a method to identify Earth-directed partial halo CMEs from FPH CMEs. 1. The Earthward direction of halo-type CMEs CMEs with apparent angular span greater than 120◦ are termed as halo-type CMEs in what follows. The threshold of 120◦ is selected somewhat arbitrary (see next section). The Earthward direction of a halo-type CME is a necessary condition for the halotype CME to be storm-effective. Identification of Earth-directed halo-type CMEs is thus an important task in the research of the space weather. By “Earthward direction” or “Earth-directed” here we mean that there is a component of the halo-type CME that is able to hit the Earth, though the central axis of the CME may not be aligned with the line-of-sight. Halo-type CMEs are interpreted as the result of the Thompson scattering of Sun’s white light along the line-of-sight caused by a broad shell or bubble of dense plasma which is ejected in the frontside or backside of the Sun (Howard et al., 1982). Observations show that limb CMEs propagate radially beyond the first couple of solar radii, and that many limb CMEs maintain their angular width constant. Therefore halo-type CMEs with angular span of 360◦ and having associated near surface activities, the frontside full halo (FFH) CMEs, are expected to be Earth-directed because the halos of FFH CMEs cover Sun’s disk center, the Earth’s projection in Sun’s disk. The fact that all FFH CMEs observed in 1997 have associated interplanetary counterparts near the Earth and geomagnetic storms (Zhao and Webb, 2003) confirms that FFH CMEs are indeed Earthdirected. The storm-effectiveness for both FFH and FPH CMEs significantly weaker than for FFH CMEs alone (See Table 1) suggests, however, that many, if not most, FPH CMEs are not Earth-directed. It may improve the space weather forcasting if we can identify Earth-directed partial halo CMEs from all FPH CMEs. 2. Identifying Earth-directed partial halo CMEs There are studies for identifying Earth-directed partial halo CMEs. Webb et al used the angular span of 140◦ as a threshold for selecting partial halo CMEs and found that the FPH CMEs between December 1996 and June 1997 are storm-effective when the source region in the low corona is within ∼ 0.5 radii of the Sun’s disk center. Lyons et al. selected the angular span that exceeds 100◦ and encompasses one or the other of the solar poles. Thompson et al used a similar criterion but with a higher threshold of
High quality factor microdisk resonators for chip-scale visible sensing

Ultra-high-quality (Q>4times106) microdisk resonators are demonstrated in a Si3N4 platform at 655 nm with straight and curved in-plane coupling waveguides on a Si substrate. Selective coupling to specific radial orders and polarizations is demonstrated with phase-matching. TM modes show higher sensitivity to environmental modifications for sensing.
Fibrosing Alveolitis in Hematologic Malignancy Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Although advances in antineoplastic therapy have considerably improved the survival of patients with hematological malignancies, current treatment modalities increase the risk of late complications. Several forms of chronic pulmonary dysfunction due to infectious or noninfectious causes commonly occur in the months to years after chemo-radiotherapy and can be fatal or result in long-term morbidity. The judicious use of prophylactic antimicrobial agents has tipped the balance toward noninfectious etiologies. Hence, while opportunistic infections still contribute to chronic lung disease, late sequelae resulting from antineoplastic therapy have been identified and reported. Patients who proceed to receive hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT) are particularly prone to developing lung complications. Pulmonary dysfunction occurring after HSCT may manifest with obstructive or restrictive pulmonary mechanics and may range in severity from subtle, subclinical functional changes to frank respiratory failure. Insights generated using animal models suggest that the immunologic mechanisms contributing to lung inflammation after HSCT may be similar to those responsible for graft-versus host disease. In sum, chronic fibrotic pulmonary dysfunction is a frequent and significant complication facing survivors of hematologic malignancies and their practitioners. The high incidence and suboptimal response to current support care and immunosuppressive therapy underscore the need for heightened awareness and continued research in this area.
Optimizing holographic data storage using a fractional Fourier transform

We demonstrate a method to optimize the reconstruction of a hologram when the storage device has a limited dynamic range and a minimum grain size. The optimal solution at the recording plane occurs when the object wave has propagated an intermediate distance between the near and far fields. This distance corresponds to an optimal order and magnification of the fractional Fourier transform of the object.
Can voice quality improve mandarin tone recognition

We investigate several measures of voice quality (VQ) to improve tone recognition in Mandarin Chinese. We find that band energy measures such as spectral balance (Sluijter and van Heuven, 1996) work better than measures based on glottal flow estimation and harmonic-formant differences. We also determine a set of bands and measures that improve tone classification accuracy on broadcast news speech to 64.1% from 60.4% when added to a traditional pitch-duration-intensity set of features. Most improvement is for the neutral tone, for which the F score increases from 0.345 to 0.619.
Critical Thinking Development In Undergraduate Engineering Students From Freshman Through Senior Year: A 3-Cohort Longitudinal Study

Critical thinking is considered a necessary learning outcome for all college students and essential for academic and career success. There are many challenges to developing a comprehensive approach to teaching and assessing critical thinking skills. Although the literature has many examples of the incorporation of critical thinking and assessment into courses, longitudinal studies following engineering students through their undergraduate career are lacking. This study assessed the impact of using the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework to enhance undergraduate students’ critical thinking skills with the hypothesis: There will be a significant increase in undergraduate students’ critical thinking abilities from the freshman to the senior year with the explicit and strategic incorporation of critical thinking assignments. The research question was, “How do the critical thinking skills of undergraduate engineering students change as they progress through the engineering program with the explicit and strategic incorporation of critical thinking assignments?” The study was a descriptive, longitudinal study of three engineering student cohorts as they progressed through the four year undergraduate program. The study was approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board. There was a statistically significant increase in critical thinking scores over the four years for each of the three cohorts. Integrating and evaluating critical thinking assignments into engineering curricula is possible, but a major challenge to critical thinking assessment using a holistic rubric is training engineering faculty in their use. The results are encouraging, and participating faculty agree; but sustaining these efforts to imbed critical thinking assignments throughout the engineering college curriculum will require effort and administrative support.
Impairment of blood volume restitution after large hemorrhage: a mathematical model

A mathematical model tests possible mechanisms for the progressive failure of blood volume restitution seen after larger hemorrhages ( > 26%) with increasing changes in plasma osmolality. After 10% hemorrhage, the model requires a decrease in net hydrostatic capillary pressure, the release of solute into the extracellular space, and the release of Na+ and K+ from a bound pool in equilibrium with the interstitium to match the experimental data. The solute and released cations expand the interstitium to drive the restitution of volume and protein from 3 to 24 h. After 30% hemorrhage, the best prediction of the average experimental responses occurs when the Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) in the cell membrane is inhibited by 38.7% from 0.8 to 3 h, and the proportionality between capillary pressure and blood volume is reduced by 68% from its value for 10% hemorrhage. When the change in plasma osmolality is doubled after 30% hemorrhage, an increase in the inhibition of the ATPase to 85% and extension of its duration to 24 h are necessary to match experimental findings. The associated defect in sodium transport may occur after large hemorrhage so that sodium and water move into cells. This response may oppose osmotically driven expansion of the interstitium and thus account for the failure of restitution.
Strong-field ionization and high-order-harmonic generation during polyatomic molecular dynamics of N2O4

We present state-of-the-art ab initio--type computations of strong-field ionization (SFI) and the single-molecule response contribution to high-order-harmonic generation (HHG) in the polyatomic molecule N${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$. The numerical method uses a mixed orbital- and grid-based approach to model the multielectron bound states and single-electron continuum. The effects of ionic-core attraction and Coulomb-mediated interchannel coupling are rigorously included. We show that full-dimensionality time-dependent multielectron computations of SFI and HHG in polyatomic molecules are now feasible. The computational results indicate that (a) SFI yields in N${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$ are dominated by a single ionic state (the ${A}_{g}$ state), and are strongly modulated by the N-N stretch coordinate; and (b) the HHG radiating dipole as a function of the N${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$ N-N stretch is dominated by the same, single state. The molecular-beam coincidence measurements presented here support the computational results. Due to the differences in the estimated vibrational amplitude, however, the computations are not in full agreement with previous HHG data.
Theoretical Modeling and Improved Thermoelectric Properties in (111) and (001) Oriented PbTe/Pb1-xEuxTe MQWs

Theoretical modeling of ZT of (111) and (001) oriented PbTe/Pb1-xEuxTe multiple-quantum-wells (MQWs) is carried out assuming parabolic energy bands and the constant relaxation time approximation. The model calculation for the (111) oriented MQWs is compared with the recently obtained experimental results for the Seebeck coefficient and the Hall carrier concentration. The thermoelectric properties for (001) oriented PbTe MQWs are expected to have even better thermoelectric properties than the (111) oriented PbTe MQWs.
ROMP-CT/NMP Synthesis of Multiblock Copolymers Containing Linear Poly(ethylene) Segments

Perfectly regioregular α,ω-telechelic poly(1,4-butadienes) (1,4-PBlin or B) bearing terminal alkoxyamine functionalities are synthesized by chain transfer ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP-CT) of trans,trans,cis-1,5,9-cyclododecatriene in the presence of an acyclic olefin chain transfer agent. We demonstrate that these polydisperse, telechelic 1,4-PBlin polymers are macromolecular initiators for nitroxide-mediated polymerizations (NMP) of styrene and isoprene to produce SBS, IBI, and SIBIS block copolymers (S = poly(styrene) and I = poly(4,1-isoprene)). Selected SBS and SIBIS multiblock copolymers were hydrogenated to produce microphase-separated multiblock copolymers containing polydisperse, high-density poly(ethylene) (Elin) segments inaccessible by other polymerization techniques.