cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deletion analysis of MotA and MotB, components of the force-generating unit in the flagellar motor of Salmonella

MotA and MotB are cytoplasmic membrane proteins that form the force-generating unit of the flagellar motor in Salmonella typhimurium and many other bacteria. Many missense mutations in both proteins are known to cause slow motor rotation (slow-motile phenotype) or no rotation at all (non-motile or paralysed phenotype). However, large stretches of sequence in the cytoplasmic regions of MotA and in the periplasmic region of MotB have failed to yield these types of mutations. In this study, we have investigated the effect of a series of 10-amino-acid deletions in these phenotypically silent regions. In the case of MotA, we found that only the C-terminal 5 amino acids were completely dispensable; an adjacent 10 amino acids were partially dispensable. In the cytoplasmic loop region of MotA, deletions made the protein unstable. For MotB, we found that two large segments of the periplasmic region were dispensable: the results with individual deletions showed that the first consisted of six deletions between the sole transmembrane span and the peptidoglycan binding motif, whereas the second consisted of four deletions at the C-terminus. We also found that deletions in the MotB cytoplasmic region at the N-terminus impaired motility but did not abolish it. Further investigations in MotB were carried out by combining dispensable deletion segments. The most extreme version of MotB that still retained some degree of function lacked a total of 99 amino acids in the periplasmic region, beginning immediately after the transmembrane span. These results indicate that the deleted regions in the MotA cytoplasmic loop region are essential for stability; they may or may not be directly involved in torque generation. Part of the MotA C-terminal cytoplasmic region is not essential for torque generation. MotB can be divided into three regions: an N-terminal region of about 30 amino acids in the cytoplasm, a transmembrane span and about 260 amino acids in the periplasm, including a peptidoglycan binding motif. In the periplasmic region, we suggest that the first of the two dispensable stretches in MotB may comprise part of a linker between the transmembrane span of MotB and its attachment point to the peptidoglycan layer, and that the length or specific sequence of much of that linker sequence is not critical. About 40 residues at the C-terminus are also unimportant.
Implementation and evaluation of a primary care preceptorship

As part of overall curricular reform, the University of Michigan Medical School developed and implemented a required primary care clerkship for third-year students in July 1993. The clerkship was intended to help students develop an understanding of the principles of comprehensive health care and of disease prevention and the knowledge and skills to manage common problems in primary care. The successful implementation of the program was based on agreement across primary care specialties on a common set of goals and objectives, which were developed with the involvement of community practitioners; frequent communication with preceptors to identify problems and students at risk; active feedback to preceptors; and thorough formal and informal evaluations of students and preceptors. Students and preceptors felt the program was beneficial to them; still, the medical school must in the future address concerns about more accurately grading students, retaining preceptors, and ensuring that students be exposed to the broadest possible range of primary care patients and services.
An automatic scanning device for nuclear track plates

Abstract An automatic scanning device for nuclear track plates is described. This machine, built especially for photographic emulsions exposed in magnetic spectrographs, utilizes a spiral scanning disc and an on-line computer. This arrangement makes possible the automatic scanning of a 1-cm wide band, 25 cm long, in 14 min or about 100 times faster than human scanning. A detailed description of the system is given as well as operating conditions and limitations on plate quality and track density.
Abstract 5041: The type III TGF-beta receptor promotes FGF2-mediated neuronal differentiation in neuroblastoma.

Growth factors and their receptors coordinate neuronal differentiation during development, yet their roles in the pediatric tumor neuroblastoma remain unclear. Here we report that expression of type III TGF-beta receptor (TβRIII) mRNA and protein decreases with advancing stage of neuroblastoma and positively correlates with prognosis. TβRIII expression is epigenetically suppressed by MYCN oncogene amplification and TβRIII expression can be used as a prognostic marker in neuroblastoma patients with MYCN amplification. TβRIII expression in neuroblastoma cells promotes neuronal differentiation and enhances the differentiating effects of FGF2 treatment. Mechanistically, glycosaminoglycan modifications on TβRIII bind FGF2 and FGFR1 to promote neuronal differentiation via Erk MAPK and the transcription factor ID1. TβRIII-mediated differentiation suppresses tumor cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. These studies characterize a novel co-receptor function for TβRIII in FGF2-mediated neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells, while identifying potential therapeutic targets and clinical biomarkers for advanced-stage disease. More generally, our results suggest that the targeting of growth factor receptors and downstream signaling pathways may prove useful in promoting neuronal differentiation to suppress neuroblastoma tumor growth. Citation Format: Erik H. Knelson, Angela L. Gaviglio, Alok K. Tewari, Michael B. Armstrong, Andrew B. Nixon, Mark D. Starr, Karthikeyan Mythreye, Gerard C. Blobe. The type III TGF-beta receptor promotes FGF2-mediated neuronal differentiation in neuroblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5041. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5041
Light-Emitting Porous Silicon After Standard Microelectronic Processing

We have investigated the properties of light-emitting porous silicon (LEpSi) after standard microelectronic processing steps such as annealing, thermal and chemical oxidation, ion implantation, and reactive ion etching. The nature of the physical and chemical changes induced by these processing steps is studied. After thermal or chemical oxidation, the photoluminescence (PL) from LEpSi is blue shifted and more stable. Low dose dopant implantation essentially keeps the PL spectrum unchanged. Thermal annealing after ion implantation affects the PL intensity differently, depending on the type of ions. Reactive ion etching changes the surface morphology and shifts the PL peak to blue.
Experimental designs through level reduction of the d-dimensional cuboctahedron

Because of its symmetry and uniformity properties, the vertex-set V"d of a d-dimensional ''cuboctahedron'' (the difference body of a regular d-simplex) is useful as an experimental design for the exploration of a response over a spherical region. This paper treats the problem of coordinatizing the containing space (or rotating the design) so as to minimize the number of levels at which the experimental variables are required to appear. Throughout the range of practical interest, 3-level designs are found for all d @? 3 (mod 4), 5-level designs for all d @? 0 or 1 (mod 4), and 7-level designs for all d @? 2 (mod 4).
TDP-43: a new player on the AD field?

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for an estimated 60–80% of dementia cases, and is the 5th leading cause of death for people aged 65 and older (Heron, 2008). The cognitive decline and amnestic dementia characteristic of the disease result from brain region-specific neuronal dysfunction and death, leading to memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior, mood and personality. Ultimately, AD patients require help with daily tasks such as eating, bathing and communicating, primarily from unpaid caregivers including family members and friends. In 2009, the contribution of these unpaid caregivers to our nation was valued at $144 billion. As a result of longer life expectancies and the aging baby boomer population, it is expected that by 2050 the number of people aged 65 and older with AD will be between 11–16 million (Hebert, et al., 2003). It is thus imperative that clinical trials toward potential therapeutic targets, which take many years and millions of dollars to reach completion, are initiated now. The regulation of gene expression in the presence and absence of cellular stress is increasingly recognized to be dependent on post-transcriptional mRNA regulation (Liu-Yesucevitz, et al., 2011). In the absence of stress, mature mRNA is transported from the nucleus to the cytosol where it is translated into protein. However, under stress conditions mRNA may be reversibly bound by RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and converted to quiescent cytoplasmic RNA/protein complexes called stress granules (SGs). TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a nuclear protein expressed ubiquitously from the Tardbp gene on chromosome 1 (Liu-Yesucevitz, et al., 2010). It contains two highly conserved DNA/RNA recognition motifs, followed by a C-terminal glycine-rich domain and nuclear localization and export signals, which allow TDP-43 to be continuously shuttled between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Under normal conditions, the predominant function for TDP-43 identified to date is regulation of nuclear transcription, splicing and stability of RNA transcripts (Kumar-Singh, 2011). However, during stress TDP-43 is sequestered in the cytoplasm as a component of insoluble protein aggregates. TDP-43 may also become cleaved by activated caspases, and the phosphorylated C-terminus has become a hallmark of TDP-43 proteinopathy (Liu-Yesucevitz, et al., 2010, Toh, et al., 2011). Although initially recognized for its role in repressing the human immunodeficiency viruse type 1 (HIV-1) gene (Ou, et al., 1995), recent advances in molecular genetics have identified over 30 mutations in TDP-43 that are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal lobar dementia (FTLD) (Lagier-Tourenne and Cleveland, 2009), suggesting a causative role for the protein in disease development. Indeed, TDP-43 inclusions occur primarily in degenerating motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. Thus, RBPs have emerged as an important player in neurodegenerative processes, and are a potential targets for therapeutic development.
Immunotoxicity studies in mice exposed to methyl isocyanate

The effects of methyl isocyanate (MIC) on systemic immunity were evaluated in female B6C3F1 mice exposed via inhalation to 0, 1, or 3 ppm for 6 hr per day on four consecutive days. Humoral immunity, measured as the antibody response to sheep erythrocytes, and natural killer cell activity were not affected by MIC. Furthermore, resistance to the infectious agents Listeria monocytogenes, mouse malaria parasite, and influenza virus, or to B16F10 transplantable tumor cells, was not compromised by MIC exposure. Although lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens were not significantly suppressed, the response of splenic lymphocytes to allogeneic leukocytes in a mixed leukocyte response (MLR) was suppressed in a dose-related fashion and differed significantly from the control response at the 3-ppm level. These studies indicate that MIC exposure in mice does not severely alter systemic immunity. The moderate changes detected in immune function may be a secondary consequence of respiratory toxicity which occurred in these animals.
Classified transform coding of images using two-channel conjugate vector quantization

ABSTRACT An adaptive image coding technique, called two channel conjugate classified discrete cosine transform Ivectorquantization (TCCCDCT/VQ), is proposed to efficiently exploit correlation in large image blocks by taking advantage ofdiscrete cosine transform and vector quantization, while overcoming the suboptimalities of transform coding and reducingthe complexity of vector quantization. In transform domain, a classified discrete cosine transform Ivector quantization(CDCT/VQ) scheme is proposed and TCCCDCT/VQ is developed based on the CDCT/VQ scheme. These two techniquesare applied to encode test images at about 0.51 BPP and 0.73 BPP. 1. INTRODUCTION Numerous bandwidth compression techniques have been developed, such as differential pulse code modulation(DPCM) [1], [2], transform coding (TC) [2], [3], hybrid coding, and adaptive version of these techniques in response to thegrowth of image processing methods. These techniques usually exploit the psychovisual as well as statistical correlationsin the image data to reduce the bit rate. Vector quantization (VQ) is a relatively new coding technique that has aroused wideinterest. When applied to image coding, VQ provides many attractive features in applications where high compressionratios are desired. In these applications, the performance goal is good perceptual visual quality rather than an accurate match
Sparse Modeling of Human Actions from Motion Imagery

An efficient sparse modeling pipeline for the classification of human actions from video is here developed. Spatio-temporal features that characterize local changes in the image are first extracted. This is followed by the learning of a class-structured dictionary encoding the individual actions of interest. Classification is then based on reconstruction, where the label assigned to each video comes from the optimal sparse linear combination of the learned basis vectors (action primitives) representing the actions. A low computational cost deep-layer model learning the inter-class correlations of the data is added for increasing discriminative power. In spite of its simplicity and low computational cost, the method outperforms previously reported results for virtually all standard datasets.
Bladder wall recurrence of prostate cancer after high-dose-rate brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose Prostate cancer seeding after needle biopsy has been reported in the perineum, rectal wall, and periprostatic soft tissue. In this article, we report the results of a localized prostate cancer recurrence in the bladder following protrusion of a single high-dose-rate brachytherapy catheter through the bladder wall at the ultimate site of failure. Method and Materials A 62-year-old man with high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma was treated with long-term androgen deprivation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation, and high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost. He developed biochemical recurrence 4 years after treatment, and a CT scan of the pelvis revealed a nodule in the posterior, inferior bladder wall. Results Surgical pathology following transurethral resection of tumor within the bladder was consistent with high-grade prostate adenocarcinoma. The patient's prostate-specific antigen level fell to the range of normal postoperatively, and whole body imaging, including a multi-parametric MRI of the prostate with diffusion and spectroscopy, failed to reveal any other sites of disease. Review of the CT scan obtained for dosimetry at the time of brachytherapy demonstrated a lone catheter protruding through the bladder wall at the site of eventual recurrence. The tumor recurred in the bladder 12 months later, once more without evidence of disease within the prostate itself or distantly, and the patient was started on salvage androgen deprivation therapy. Conclusions This case is the first report of prostate cancer recurrence in the bladder wall after brachytherapy and raises questions about prostate cancer biology, brachytherapy technique, and the timing of brachytherapy boost relative to whole pelvic radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Role of the APP Promoter in Alzheimer's Disease: Cell Type-Specific Expression of the β-Amyloid Precursor Protein

One of the major hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is amyloid deposition in the brain of afflicted subjects. This tissue-specific deposition of the amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is the major characteristic of AD. Abeta is proteolytically derived from a large Abeta precursor protein (APP). An apparent overexpression of the APP gene in certain areas of the AD brain indicates that abnormalities in gene regulation might be an important factor in AD pathology. The mechanism of expression of APP in different cell types is poorly understood. To understand the contribution of different cell types, such as neuronal, glial, and epithelial cells, APP expression was studied at the message and protein levels. Levels of APP expression, both message and protein, were greater in human neuroblastoma (NB) and PC12 cells than in glial and HeLa cells. DNA transfection experiments suggest that the relative activities of different promoter regions varied according to cell type. Although the upstream regulatory element in the promoter region is necessary for activity in PC12 and HeLa cells, this is not the case for NB cells. A 30-bp proximal promoter region was found to be important for cell type-specific APP gene expression.
Absolute requirement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator protein for gene activation by hypoxia

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a DNA-binding heterodimeric protein complex originally described in the transcriptional activation of the erythropoietin gene by hypoxia. This protein complex is composed of two subunits, HIF-1alpha and -1beta (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator, ARNT). In this study, we used ARNT-deficient cells, derived from the mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1c1c7, to further characterize HIF-1 complex formation and its relationship with gene activation by hypoxia and desferrioxamine (Df). Gel shift assays revealed that ARNT is absolutely required for the formation of the HIF-1 DNA-binding complex. Results from RNase protection assays and Northern blots showed that the lack of functional HIF-1 complex completely abrogated the response to hypoxia of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the glycolytic enzymes aldolase A (ALDA) and phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK-1), genes known to be upregulated by low oxygen tension. Desferrioxamine induction of VEGF and PGK-1 genes was reduced in the ARNT-deficient cells, but at difference with hypoxia, it was not completely suppressed. These results suggest that Df is able to activate gene transcription through HIF-1-independent mechanisms. Exposure to hypoxia or Df did not induce any changes in HIF-1alpha and -1beta mRNA levels, suggesting that posttranscriptional mechanisms are involved in HIF-1 complex activation.
Estimating the benefits of recreation under conditions of congestion

Abstract The public provisions of free or below cost outdoor recreation sites has resulted in the use of various methods to evaluate the demand. One method is to use travel cost as a price proxy. However, this mechanism does not take into account problems raised by congestion. This paper shows that the use of the travel cost method will always underestimate the true benefits provided by recreation at a site because of the role of congestion. The results are important because they identify a source of bias in measuring benefits of outdoor recreation and suggest how it may be corrected.
Continuity and Change: Amish Dairy Farming in Wisconsin Over The Past Decade

Changes in Amish dairy farming in Wisconsin over the past decade are seen in their growing numbers, the increased percentage of dairy farms that are Amish operated in the state, and the decreased s...
EXISTENCE CRITERIA FOR SOLUTIONS OF LINEAR STOCHASTIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH SKEW-SYMMETRIC DIFFERENTIAL OPERATOR AND ADDITIVE FRACTIONAL BROWNIAN NOISE

We consider a Hilbert-valued linear stochastic differential equation driven by fractional Gaussian noise. We give criteria for weak and strong solutions to exist in terms of the differential operator, which we assume to be skew-symmetric, and the covariance operator of the noise. We consider a class of PDE as examples. We show that the energy of these systems is finite if and only if a weak solution to the associated ODE exists. We also relate these conditions to conditions obtained by previous authors.
Open Circuit Tooth Ripple Losses in Slotted Laminated Poles of Electrical Machines with Amortisseur Windings

The results of experimental and theoretical investigations of open circuit tooth ripple losses in slotted laminated poles of rotating electrical machines with amortisseur windings are presented. A laboratory machine model developed for this investigation is described. Both a Poynting vector method based on the electronic multiplication of electric and magnetic fields on the airgap surface of stationary poles and a calorimetric method using integrated area sensors for the rate of temperature rise have been used to measure the losses. Simplified practical formulas have been developed to calculate these losses with sufficient accuracy for design purposes.
Effect of temperature and time of storage of dry soil samples on a chemical index of N availability

The effect was studied of storage temperature on the index of available soil N wich uses U.V. absorbance of a 0.01M NaHCO3 extract as an indicator. The U.V. absorbance was found to increase at a non-linear rate for four soils stored at temperatures of 50, 75, and 150°C. The change in extract absorbance due to extended soil storage at each of these temperatures was positively correlated to the percent organic matter, percent N, C/N value and concentration of humic substances in soils, but not to the extract absorbance prior to soil storage. These findings were not consistent with room temperature storage data which showed a linear increase in extract absorbance with soil storage time. The change in absorbance for the room temperature case was not related to any of the soil parameters mentioned above. Analysis of a soil stored at 105°C showed an increase in ninhydrin-detectable N, protein N and Kjeldahl N of the NaHCO3 extract, while the apparent molecular weight distribution of extracted organic matter (as determined by gel filtration) showed only a slight change. As a comparison to the NaHCO3 extract, a boiling CaCl2 extract of the same soil was also analyzed; and the absorbance at 260 nm was found to increase in a curvilinear fashion with starage time at 75°C but to less of an extent than was noted with the NaHCO3 extract. Nitrogen availability indexes based on the U.V. absorbance of these extracts, particularly those utilizing the NaHCO3 extract, would be significantly affected by soil storage at elevated temperatures.
DYNAMICAL CALCULATION OF CENTRAL ENERGY DENSITIES IN RELATIVISTIC HEAVY-ION COLLISIONS

The 3+1 dimensional string-parton model is used to calculate energy densities and temperatures of produced mesons during relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We compare maximum energy densities with the experimental estimates obtained from the Bjorken formula. Although the string-parton model reproduces transverse energy distributions, dET/dη, the dynamical energy densities of the produced mesons are three to four times smaller than estimates based on the Bjorken formula with a formation time of 1 fm/c. We discuss various time scales which contribute to this discrepancy and suggest a modified interpretation of the Bjorken formula.
Speech Recognition and Automotive Applications: Using Speech to Perform in-Vehicle Tasks

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of automatic speech recognition (ASR) system design, driver input modality, and driver age on driving performance during in-vehicle task execution and in-vehicle task usability. Results showed that ASR system design and driver input modality significantly affected certain dependent measures. However, the differences found were small, suggesting that less than ideal ASR system design/performance can be considered for use in automobiles without substantially improving or degrading driving performance. Several of the speech input conditions tested were statistically similar, as determined by the dependent measures, to current manual input methods used to perform identical in-vehicle tasks. Further research is warranted to determine how extended exposure to, and use of, ASR systems affects driving performance, in-vehicle task usability, and driver opinion compared with conventional manual input methods.
Variations in mortality rates among Canadian neonatal intensive care units: interpretation and implications.

Differences among hospitals in terms of patient outcomes have attracted intense public and professional attention as indicators of differences in the quality of care provided in those hospitals. However, daunting methodological problems make it difficult to isolate the effects of differences in care
Polymers Protect Lactate Dehydrogenase during Freeze-Drying by Inhibiting Dissociation in the Frozen State

Enzymes subjected to freeze-thawing are known to be protected by polymers that are preferentially excluded from the hydrated surface of proteins [reviewed in Carpenter et al. (1994) ACS Symp. Ser. 567, 134-147]. Preferentially excluded solutes are also known to stabilize quaternary structure, which enhances the thermostability of multimeric proteins in aqueous systems. Also, it has been suggested that retention of quaternary structure may play a role in the protection of multimeric proteins by polymers during freeze-drying (lyophilization). Although preferential solute exclusion cannot occur in the absence of water, we reasoned that polymers could protect multimeric proteins during freeze-drying by stabilizing quaternary structure in the frozen state. Our results are consistent with this hypothesis and demonstrate that bovine serum albumin and polyvinylpyrrolidone stabilize lactate dehydrogenase by inhibiting dissociation in the frozen solution, during the initial phase of the sublimation step of lyophilization. Dissociation at this critical step correlated directly with decreased recovery of enzyme activity after rehydration. The damage to the protein, under conditions where dissociation was studied, was due to a large decrease in pH in the frozen state (e.g., from pH 7.5 to 4.5), which was attenuated by protective levels of polymers. Thus, inhibition of freezing-induced pH shifts, in addition to stabilization by the preferential exclusion mechanism, plays an important role in the protection conferred by polymers. Furthermore, high concentrations of these polymers were capable of maintaining quaternary structure during subsequent drying and rehydration. We suggest that the proximate cause for increased recovery of active, native protein after lyophilization is that the holoenzyme is more resistant to the stresses of drying/rehydration than unassociated monomers.
Impact of surveillance on survival after laryngeal cancer in the medicare population

Objectives/Hypothesis: Routine surveillance is advocated to detect recurrent disease after treatment for laryngeal cancer. This aim of this study was to determine the 1- and 5-year postrecurrence mortality for laryngeal cancers and evaluate whether more intensive surveillance improved survival. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Patients with recurrent cancers (1992–1999) were identified in a national cancer clinical database. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the effect of surveillance on postrecurrence survival. Results: Of 2,121 recurrent cancers identified, 913 were laryngeal. Patients with laryngeal cancer recurrence had 27% (P = .001) and 22% (P = .007) better odds of 1- and 5-year survival than other sites. The 1- and 5-year postrecurrence survival rates for laryngeal cancer patients were 72.4% and 41.3%, respectively. Glottic cancer cases had the best postrecurrence life expectancy. Multivariate regression revealed that clinical surveillance intensity had no independent impact on their survival (P < .05). However, patients with recurrent glottic cancer seen in surveillance had 23% improved odds of survival (P = .037). Conclusions: More frequent surveillance visits was not associated with a survival advantage in the overall population. Patients with glottic cancer had a postrecurrence survival advantage if seen during the surveillance period. Laryngeal cancer patients had better postrecurrence survival than other head and neck sites. Laryngoscope, 2009
Integrated Care: Wellness-Oriented Peer Approaches: A Key Ingredient for Integrated Care

This month’ issue marks the introduction of a new column dedicated to integrated care. The Integrated Care column will focus on the active ingredients in integrated models, the roles of different provider groups, and the effectiveness of different approaches. In the first installment, a national leader in designing and evaluating consumer-led wellness programs describes how the peer movement has grown to include wellness as a component of recovery and the roles of peer wellness specialists in integrated care teams.
Existentialism at Home, Determinism Abroad: A Small-Town Mexican American Kid Goes Global.

In this essay, Joe Robert Gonzalez describes the process of his own growth as a Mexican American from Brownsville, Texas, who attended Villanova University. Coming from a majority-minority town, Gonzalez identifies the importance of safe spaces for Mexican American youth, many of whom doubt their own potential to thrive within university settings. He laments the current push for cultural organizations on college campuses to educate the broader student body as well as the general inefficacy of these organizations due to the limited scope of their mission. At the same time, Gonzalez celebrates the opportunities that his university gave him to interact with people from a variety of different cultures who hold different opinions about the world. Thinking about his friends from home, he laments the way that homogeneous experiences can nurture stereotypes and fear. Gonzalez concludes by suggesting that college campuses must provide students with both safe spaces and opportunities for growth.
Damage resistance of aluminum core honeycomb sandwich panels with carbon/epoxy face sheets

The damage resistance of composite sandwich structures with eight and 16 ply quasi-isotropic, carbon/epoxy face sheets and aluminum honeycomb core is evaluated. The external damage is induced quasi-statically, using spherical steel indentors under displacement control, to be in the vicinity of the barely visible threshold. In addition to the face sheet thickness, other parameters that are varied include the core thickness, core density, face sheet layup, and indentor diameter. The effect of these parameters on the extent of damage is evaluated using the damage metrics of dent depth, dent diameter, and planar area of delamination. When dent depth or dent diameter is considered as the damage metric, specimens containing a higher density core are always found to be the most damage resistant. When planar area of delamination is considered as the damage metric, the eight ply configuration comprised of a lower density core and face sheets containing only small ply angle changes are found to be the most damage r...
The Effects of Religiosity on Preferences and Expectations for Marital Therapy Among Married Christians

Highly religious couples constitute a substantial portion of marital therapy clients in the U.S. Married Christian individuals ( N = 211) completed a survey of demographics and religiosity (religious values and Christian beliefs). They rated preferences and expectations for one of four marital therapy situations: Christian therapist using Christian practices (e.g., prayer or reference to Scripture), Christian therapist using psychological practices only, non-Christian therapist willing to use Christian practices, and non-Christian therapist using psychological practices only. High religious values and high Christian beliefs predicted ratings of marital therapy situations, where high was defined as one standard deviation above the mean of standardized norm groups. Low to moderate religious values or Christian beliefs did not predict ratings of marital therapy. It was concluded that highly religious couples present a special situation where the marketing, assessment, and practice of marital therapy might di...
Behavioral simulation results of the optical flow estimation algorithm for CADSP system design

This paper presents the behavioral simulation results of an optical flow estimation (OFE) algorithm, the Lukas-Kanade (LK) method, for a cooperative analog/digital signal processing (CADSP) system design. First, performance tests are executed considering the limited-bit resolution of analog circuitry. To incorporate general analog circuit noise, OFE is evaluated with additive Gaussian noise. Finally, OFE that depends on noise from the CMOS image sensor is presented. Bit-level simulations show that different reduced-bit resolutions for each dimension in smoothing can make OFE very little affected. The experimental results can provide a guideline for system specification of CADSP system design or the efficient implementation of an OFE algorithm using reduced precision arithmetic.
A Survey of the Indigenous Microbiota (Bacteria) In Three Species of Mussels from the Clinch and Holston Rivers, Virginia

Abstract Freshwater mussel conservation efforts by many federal and state agencies have increased in recent years. This has led to a greater number of stream surveys, in which mussel die-offs involving high numbers of dead and moribund animals are being observed and reported with greater frequency. Typically, die-offs have been incidentally observed while research was being done for other purposes, therefore, accurate mortality data have been difficult to obtain. Specifically, seasonal die-offs were noted in localized areas of the Clinch and Holston Rivers, Virginia, and to lesser degrees, in neighboring rivers in this geographic region, including southeast Virginia. The observed mussel species affected were primarily the slabside pearlymussel (Lexingtonia dolabelloides) and to lesser extents, the pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa), rainbow mussel (Villosa iris), and the endangered shiny pigtoe (Fusconaia cor). To determine if a bacterial pathogen might be involved in these recurring mussel die-offs, t...
The Struggle for a Place in the Sun: Rationalizing Foreign Language Study in the Twentieth Century

Over the course of the past century, the MLJ was one of the sites where the vigorous, and often times passionate justification for, and defense of, foreign language (FL) study in the educational curriculum of the United States unfolded. Almost 10% of the slightly more than 4,000 articles published in the MLJ during the past century focused on the value and relevance of FL study in the educational enterprise. This article will focus on five major themes that surfaced throughout the 8 decades covered by our survey. The first theme comprises the general arguments offered by the profession in support of the value of FL study, most of which were impacted directly or indirectly by world events. The second and third themes document periods of general doubt and optimism about the place of FLs in the curriculum. In the fourth major theme, we describe the passionate and intense argumentation between the faculties of education and the defenders of FL study. The fifth, and final theme, addresses the question of which FLs should be taught in the schools and what contribution each might make to a student’s education. As we enter the 21st century, it seems clear that the profession still feels compelled to justify the educational merit of its subject matter. In the end, given the twists and turns that history can take, it is difficult to predict whether FL study will eventually find an uncontested place in the sun.
Dangerous games and the emergence of social structure: evolving memory-based strategies for the generalized hawk-dove game

How can stable relationships emerge from repeated, pairwise interactions among competing individuals in a social group? In small groups, direct assessment of resource-holding potential, which is often linked to body size, can sort individuals into a dominance hierarchy. But in larger groups, memory of behavior in previous interactions may prove essential for social stability. In this study, I used a classifier-system model (similar to a genetic algorithm) to evolve strategies that individuals play in pairwise games that are potentially dangerous (i.e., fitness benefits of winning are outweighed by losing costs that result mainly from risk of injury). When the two possible responses by each player in a single interaction are designated C ( careful) and D ( daring), the average gain is highest if responses are complementary (i.e., one plays C and the other plays D). Stable dominance relationships, which depend on such complementarity across a sequence of interactions, are more common when both sizes are known to the contestants, when strategies are based on memory, and when combat is especially dangerous. Two key memorybased strategies generated by the classifier system (DorC and CAD) are particularly adept at achieving and maintaining complementarity; these strategies, which represent building blocks from which social structure can arise, are linked here with pairwise contests for the first time. When most individuals in the group differ in size, stable dominance relationships generally yield transitive hierarchies consistent with size. Empirical tests of these predicted patterns are proposed. Key words: body size, complementarity, game theory, resource-holding power, social behavior. [Behav Ecol 12:753–760 (2001)]
Crimestoppers: The legitimation of snitching

A recent addition to the U.S. crime-fighting arsenal is Crimestoppers, a program relying on anonymous citizens' informing to police—snitching—in return for cash rewards. Using a social constructionist perspective, this paper seeks to account for Crimestoppers' legitimation and rapid rise in popularity despite well-established moral opposition to snitching and snitches and despite a general public reluctance to become involved in police business. The analysis of conditions leading to this legitimation includes consideration of a general public pessimism and fear of crime, stereotypy of criminals, the instrumental and pragmatic nature of Crimestoppers, and the appeal of localism, as well as the roles of the media and the police. The paper concludes with questions about some potential long-range social psychological and sociopolitical consequences of this innovation in the “war on crime.”
Historical overview of the development of family-centered, community-based, coordinated care in Michigan.

Caring for children with special health care needs (SHCN) is a challenge that has been faced with commitment and concern in this country. However, by the late 1970s, it was clear to some that an analysis of the efficacy of the existing structure of care was long overdue. As scrutiny of the current processes began to unfold, new and improved ideas were emerging throughout the United States. A continuous theme through that process was the need and desire to create care systems that were family-centered, aimed at coordinating care, and were close to the child and family's community. These activities provided a conceptual background from which Michigan began to redesign existing programs and develop new initiatives. Simultaneously, Michigan's experiences were influencing national efforts to create family-centered, community-based, coordinated care structures for children with SHCN. This article highlights key national efforts and individuals who influenced program development for children with SHCN in Michiga...
Estimating the moisture content of grain from impedance and phase angle measurements

A simple, low cost instrument that measures impedance and phase angle was used along with a parallel-plate capacitance system to estimate the moisture content (MC) of yellow corn. A sample of corn weighing about 100g was placed between the parallel-plate electrodes and the impedance and phase angle of the system were measured. A semi-empirical equation was developed with the measured values, and their MC values determined earlier by standard air-oven method , using multiple linear regression (MLR) methods. MC values of corn samples in the moisture range of 6% to 20%, not used in the calibration, were predicted by the equation and compared with their standard air-oven values. For over 93% of the samples tested the predicted MC values were within 1% of the air-oven values. This method being nondestructive and rapid will have considerable application in the drying and storage processes of corn and similar grain products.
Photosynthetic responses of citrus trees to soil flooding

Continuous soil flooding reduced leaf photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance to water vapor, chlorophyll concentration and activity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco, EC 4.1.1.39) of sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Hamlin] trees, grafted onto rough lemon (RL; C. jambhiri Lush.) and sour orange (SO; C. aurantium L.) rootstocks. After 24 days of waterlogging, trees showed senescence, wilting and abscission of leaves, and these symptoms were more evident with flooded Hamlin/SO than Hamlin/RL. Reduction of leaf photosynthetic rate at day 24 was ca 94%, of stomatal conductance, 71%, of chlorophyll, 38% and of Rubisco, 62% for flooded Hamlin/SO, compared with 22, 5, 18 and 33%, respectively, for flooded Hamlin/RL. For both Hamlin/RL and Hamlin/SO, leaf photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance to water vapor were closely correlated (r2= 0.87). Leaf internal CO2 concentration of flooded trees, however, was not decreased by reduced stomatal conductance. Dark respiration rates of fibrous roots of flooded trees were greatly reduced, but not in leaf tissues. Total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations were higher in leaves (50 and 80% increases for Hamlin/SO and Hamlin/RL, respectively), but drastically reduced in roots (60 and 45% reductions for Hamlin/SO and Hamlin/RL, respectively), as a result of flooding. The data indicate that Hamlin grafted onto RL rootstocks was more tolerant to soil flooding than Hamlin grafted onto SO rootstocks.
Scaling up output capacity and performance results from information systems prototypes

The advantage of information system prototyping arises from its predict problems and end-user satisfaction with a system early in the development process, before significant commitments of time and effort have been made. Predictions of problems and end-user satisfaction have risen in importance with the increasing complexity of business information systems and the exponential growth of database size. This research investigates the reporting of information to an end user, and the process of inferring from a prototype to a full-scale information system. This inference is called scaling up, and is an important part of the systems development planning process. The research investigates information systems reporting from a linguistic perspective, where a database is used as a central receptacle for information storage. It then investigates the manner in which reporting statistics from the prototype information system may be used to infer the behavior and performance of the full-scale system. An example is presented for the application of the algorithm, and the final section discusses the usefulness, application, and implications of the algorithm developed in this research.
Mossbauer Study of Shock-Synthesized Zinc Ferrite

Mossbauer spectroscopy has been used to characterize ZnO-Fe2O3 powder mixtures subjected to shock loading at 22 GPa with associated peak shock temperatures ranging from 300°C to 655°C. The 57Fe spectra for the shock-synthesized zinc ferrite yield similar values for the isomer shift, quadrupole splitting and magnetic hyperfine field suggesting that the same composition is produced over a wide range of shock conditions. A comparison is made to furnace-reacted material prepared from the same powder mixture.
Laboratory with highest impulse current and 50Hz-short-current parameters specially designed for the qualification-testing of SPDs

Abstract The “class I and II operating duty tests” according to IEC/EN 61643-11 is an essential test for the qualification of surge protective devices (SPDs) connected to low-voltage power systems (LVPS). To perform this test a setup is required which offers the possibility to stress the SPD with defined surge-current impulses while it is connected to a power supply simulating the characteristic of the real LVPS in which the SPD should operate. In this regard, a new test facility is designed and constructed. One of its feature is a 50 Hz power system (PS) which provides unique fine adjustment possibilities for the test voltage, the short-circuit current and the power factor in a wide range of values. Its technical design and performance are described and discussed in detail. Furthermore, the technical implementation of the required coupling of this PS with a surge-current generator is presented. This addresses technical measures to protect the PS against electrical stress due to partial surge currents which can occur under certain circumstances during the above mentioned test procedure. Finally, test results obtained from lightning current arresters are presented to demonstrate the performance of the test facility.
Recruitment in Clinical Versus Community-Based Sites for a Pilot Youth Diabetes Prevention Program, East Harlem, New York, 2011-2012.

Introduction Little is known about successful strategies for recruitment of youth for research. The objective of this study was to compare clinical sites with community sites in the recruitment of teenagers for a new youth diabetes prevention program in East Harlem, New York. Methods We assessed diabetes risk for youth (aged 13-19 y) by measuring body mass index (BMI). We then screened overweight and obese youth for prediabetes using oral glucose tolerance testing, had them complete a health and lifestyle survey, and enrolled prediabetic youth into peer-led workshops. The recruitment strategies were 1) clinical referrals and 2) screenings at community sites. We compared the number of adolescents screened, the proportion eligible for testing, the proportion diagnosed with prediabetes, baseline characteristics, and the retention rates between those recruited in clinical and community sites. Results In 3 months, we completed BMI screening for 156 adolescents from community sites and 30 from clinical sites. Overall, 47% were at risk for diabetes on the basis of BMI, and 63% returned for diabetes testing; 35% had prediabetes, and 1 teenager had diabetes. Clinical sites yielded higher rates of diabetes risk on the basis of BMI and higher rates of return for screening and diagnosed prediabetes. Although demographics and BMI did not vary by recruitment site, we found differences in behaviors, self-efficacy, body image, and social support. There were no differences by recruitment site in workshop enrollment or completion or return for follow-up. Conclusion Both recruitment strategies were successful, and participants from both groups had high rates of undiagnosed prediabetes. Our approach allowed access to more adolescents and opportunities for education about diabetes in the community.
Long range azimuthal correlations of multiple gluons in gluon saturation limit

We calculate the inclusive gluon correlation function for arbitrary number of gluons with full rapidity and transverse momentum dependence for the initial glasma state of the p-p, p-A, and A-A collisions. The formula we derive via superdiagrams generates cumulants for any number of gluons. Higher order cumulants contain information on correlations between multiple gluons, and they are necessary for calculations of higher dimensional ridges as well as flow coefficients from multiparticle correlations.