cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of annealing on magnetic properties in ferrimagnetic GdCo alloy films with bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Magnetic properties in ferrimagnetic GdCo alloy films with bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are investigated as a function of annealing temperature (Tanneal) and annealing time for several capping layers. Magnetic properties in films capped by TaOx vary markedly with Tanneal; the saturation magnetization and coercivity vary progressively with increasing Tanneal up to 300°C, and above that temperature, PMA is lost abruptly. By comparing the annealing temperature dependence for Co-dominated and Gd-dominated compositions close to the magnetization compensation point, the data are readily explained by preferential oxidation of Gd during annealing. When films are capped by a Ta/Pt bilayer, the film properties are stable up Tanneal = 300 °C, indicating that oxidation at high temperatures is effectively blocked, but the abrupt loss of PMA for Tanneal > 300 °C is still observed. X-ray diffraction measurement reveals that the amorphous structure of the films remains the same after high-temperature annealing that is sufficient to remove PMA, indicating that crystallization from the amorphous phase is not responsible for the lack of PMA. Instead, our results suggest that high annealing temperatures may cause segregation of Co and Gd atoms in the films, which reduces anisotropic pair-pair correlations responsible for the observed bulk PMA in the as-grown state.Magnetic properties in ferrimagnetic GdCo alloy films with bulk perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are investigated as a function of annealing temperature (Tanneal) and annealing time for several capping layers. Magnetic properties in films capped by TaOx vary markedly with Tanneal; the saturation magnetization and coercivity vary progressively with increasing Tanneal up to 300°C, and above that temperature, PMA is lost abruptly. By comparing the annealing temperature dependence for Co-dominated and Gd-dominated compositions close to the magnetization compensation point, the data are readily explained by preferential oxidation of Gd during annealing. When films are capped by a Ta/Pt bilayer, the film properties are stable up Tanneal = 300 °C, indicating that oxidation at high temperatures is effectively blocked, but the abrupt loss of PMA for Tanneal > 300 °C is still observed. X-ray diffraction measurement reveals that the amorphous structure of the films remains the same after high-temperature anne...
Psychometric characteristics of the aberrant behavior checklist in a well-defined sample of youth with autism Spectrum disorder

Abstract Background Behavior and emotional difficulties often occur in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet there are few instruments available to assess such problems in this population. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), one option for this, is widely used and has substantial psychometric support. Despite this, only two studies to date have examined its structural validity in samples of individuals diagnosed exclusively with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study sought to further examine the ABC’s validity for use with children and adolescents with ASD. Method Data from 470 individuals aged 2–14 years were submitted to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Correlations with other measures were examined. MANOVA was conducted to examine effects of subject characteristics on subscale scores of the ABC and assist in developing norms. Results Results supported the original factor structure of the ABC. Convergent and divergent validity analyses indicated correspondence with analogous measures and lack of relationship for dissimilar constructs. Results of normative analyses were very comparable to the only previously published norms for youth with ASD. Conclusions Overall, results provide further psychometric support for use of the ABC in individuals with ASD and better understanding the ABC’s clinical usefulness, particularly given the similarity between current and previous normative data. In a broader context, these results lend further support to the ABC as an instrument with wide applications.
Depression and Derailment: A Cyclical Model of Mental Illness and Perceived Identity Change:

We investigated reciprocity between depressive symptoms and a novel construct called derailment, which indexes perceived changes in identity and self-direction. People who are “derailed” have troub...
The opportunity cost of defense inputs

This article analyzes the difference between the budgetary expense and the opportunity cost of defense inputs. If inputs are obtained by the government from a market economy with undistorted prices, the price paid for the last unit of each input acquired equals the opportunity cost. However, taxes create a distortion between opportunity cost and unit price. An additional complication, discussed using the case of military personnel, is that premarginal units may have an opportunity cost lower than the unit price determined at the margin. Principles used to determine the social discount rate are also discussed in the analysis.
Sample-Path Approach to Palm Calculus

Previous chapters have established sample-path versions of relations between marginal time-stationary and event-stationary (Palm) state probabilities for a process with an imbedded point process. This chapter extends the use of sample-path analysis to characterize the complete frequency distributions of a process with an imbedded point process, rather than just the marginal distributions. We define sample-path analogues of the time-stationary and eventstationary (Palm) probability measures for the processes in question, and then derive sample-path versions of the Palm transformation and inversion formulas.
Metabolic Regulation of Redox Balance in Cancer

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically active free radicals produced by partial reduction of oxygen that can activate discrete signaling pathways or disrupt redox homeostasis depending on their concentration. ROS interacts with biomolecules, including DNA, and can cause mutations that can transform normal cells into cancer cells. Furthermore, certain cancer-causing mutations trigger alterations in cellular metabolism that can increase ROS production, resulting in genomic instability, additional DNA mutations, and tumor evolution. To prevent excess ROS-mediated toxicity, cancer-causing mutations concurrently activate pathways that manage this oxidative burden. Hence, an understanding of the metabolic pathways that regulate ROS levels is imperative for devising therapies that target tumor cells. In this review, we summarize the dual role of metabolism as a generator and inhibitor of ROS in cancer and discuss current strategies to target the ROS axis.
Direct Fabrication of Bimetallic Ti6Al4V+Al12Si Structures via Additive Manufacturing.

Abstract Ti6Al4V + Al12Si compositionally graded cylindrical structures were fabricated on a Ti6Al4V substrate using laser engineered net shaping (LENS™) process. LENS™ fabricated materials had two regions of Ti6Al4V + Al12Si compositions, a pure Al12Si, and a pure Ti6Al4V area. Microstructural changes were affected by both laser power and compositional variations. In addition, TiSi2 and Ti3Al phase formations were also identified in low and high laser power processed Ti6Al4V + Al12Si sections, respectively. Moreover, the high laser power processed Ti6Al4V + Al12Si section showed the highest hardness value of 685.6 ± 10.6 HV0.1, which was caused due to the formation of new intermetallic phases. This high hardness section exhibited brittle failure modes during compression tests, while the pure Al12Si sections showed ductile deformation. The maximum compressive strengths of Ti6Al4V + Al12Si compositionally graded material was 507.8 ± 52.0 MPa. Our results show that compositionally gradient bulk structures of Ti6Al4V and Al12Si can be directly manufactured using additive manufacturing, however, performances can vary significantly based on process parameters and compositional variations.
One More Time: How Do You Get Both Equality and Excellence in Education?.

The tension between egalitarian goals and excellence in education comes to the fore when democratic societies attempt to educate their citizens. Rather than resolving the tension in favor of either side of the polarity, a theory is advanced whereby both equality and excellence may be seen not only as compatible, but as requiring each other. The argument is made that "equal education" achieves real equality only through excellence. At the same time, and particularly in democracies, educational excellence demands equality as its foundation. Finally, the mutually supportive interrelationship between equality and excellence is adumbrated in a framework drawing upon perennial philosophical views of the nature of freedom. Les mouvements de democratisation de l'education font surgir la tension entre l'ideal d'egalite des chances et celui d'excellence en education. Le propos de cet article est de presenter une solution qui, au lieu de prendre parti en faveur de l'un ou de l'autre cote de l'alternative, souligne le fait que, dans un regime qui se veut democratique, le concept d'egalite des chances contient et exige celui d'excellence en education. Pour offrir une esquisse de la relation entre excellence et egalite, cette etude se base sur une philosophie de la liberte.
Pervasive horizontal pleiotropy in human genetic variation is driven by extreme polygenicity of human traits and diseases

Abstract Horizontal pleiotropy, where one variant has independent effects on multiple traits, is important for our understanding of the genetic architecture of human phenotypes. We developed a method to quantify horizontal pleiotropy using genome-wide association summary statistics and applied it to 372 heritable phenotypes measured in 361,194 UK Biobank individuals. We observed horizontal pleiotropy is: 1) pervasive throughout the human genome; 2) especially prominent among highly polygenic phenotypes; 3) detected in 24,968 variants in 7,831 loci; and 4) enriched in active regulatory regions. Our results highlight the central role horizontal pleiotropy plays in the genetic architecture of human phenotypes.
The Development of Behavioral Difficulties in Hard-of-Hearing and Deaf Youth

AbstractThis article critically reviews the existing literature examining the presence of behavioral difficulties in relation to language and parenting behaviors among hard-of-hearing youth. A coll...
BUILDING AN AGE-FRIENDLY UNIVERSITY: AN INTERGENERATIONAL CAREGIVER EDUCATION PROGRAM

A rapidly aging U.S. population means an increased need for supportive services that allows aging in place. Eighty percent of such support is provided by unpaid family caregivers, many of whom are juggling multiple obligations. There is clear evidence that mental health risks of caregiving include social isolation, depression and identity loss, and potentially “caregiver burnout”. This study focuses on the lesser known impact of caregiving on college students who care for older family members and if their experiences differ from older caregivers. Presumably, students face additional stressors related to their age and school demands. Further, we posited that learning more about the aging process and interfacing with older retirees who are family caregivers through an intergenerational educational program would benefit both populations. Hosted by a campus organization, AgeAlive, which is dedicated to building an Age-Friendly University, the team’s specific aims included: 1. Conducting focus groups to identify concerns among college student and retiree family caregivers related to aging, caregiving, dementia, and intergenerational relationships. 2. Developing and piloting an intergenerational, educational program with the objective of addressing these concerns, and 3. Evaluating the program’s impact on measurable outcomes such as perceptions of aging, caregiver stress, and knowledge of resources. Focus group findings indicate that there are both shared concerns and divergent perspectives that provide opportunities for cross-generational learning. All program participants reported improved knowledge of aging, communication skills, and resources that will have a direct, positive impact. Lessons learned can guide development of supportive services for student and retiree caregivers.
Assessment of waveform similarity in youth long-distance runners.

Abstract Background Although unimpaired gait is typically assumed to be symmetrical, side-to-side differences in discrete instances of time have been reported in adult and youth runners. These previous results fail to account for the entirety of the motion. Research question Are waveform pattern similarities strong in youth long-distance runners and are the waveform pattern similarities influenced by sex and maturation? Methods A cohort of injury-free children and adolescents (n = 103) who participated in long-distance running activities were recruited for the study. Three-dimensional kinematics were collected as participants ran on a treadmill at a self-selected speed. Lower extremity side-to-side waveform symmetries were assessed using the Linear Fit Model. Unpaired t-tests and one-way ANOVA with post-hoc analysis were calculated to determine if sex and/or maturation influenced waveform symmetries. Results As a whole, waveform similarities were found to be strongest in the sagittal plane and weaker, but still of appropriate strength, in the coronal and transverse planes. Hip rotation and knee varus/valgus measures were found to have the weakest waveform similarities. High waveform similarity variability was measured within the cohort, particularly in the coronal and transverse planes. Waveform similarities were not found to be influenced by either sex or maturation. Significance While the group as a whole demonstrated strong waveform similarities, some level of asymmetry in a population of uninjured, long-distance youth runners is normal as none of the measures demonstrated perfect symmetry. Prospective study is warranted to identify thresholds of waveform similarity and to determine if these findings can be used to predict running performance and injury risk.
Learning from lines: Critical COVID data visualizations and the quarantine quotidian

In response to the ubiquitous graphs and maps of COVID-19, artists, designers, data scientists, and public health officials are teaming up to create counter-plots and subaltern maps of the pandemic...
Anal Conditions: Anorectal Trauma

Anorectal trauma is associated with blunt and penetrating trauma (gun shots 80%) and foreign body insertion. The bony confines of the pelvis makes assessment, diagnosis and treatment challenging, however a systematic approach can be followed to assure effective patient care. The patient who has sustained trauma should be assessed with primary and secondary surveys and accordingly resuscitated. Successively, assessing the perineum, sphincters and rectum with physical exam and proctoscopy yields a high sensitivity of injury detection. Minor injuries can be fixed primarily while exp0loratory laparotomy/diagnostic laparoscopy is reserved for peritonitis and fecal diversion for major injuries to the anus, sphincters, and rectum.
Are Amazon.com Online Review Helpfulness Ratings Biased or Not

The helpfulness rating of Amazon product review, a popular vote feature used by Amazon to rank product reviews and display them to online shoppers, has important implications for online shopping decisions. This research investigates how objective those helpfulness ratings are. The general assumption is that the ratings are "representative" views of the shoppers. However, previous studies on product reviews indicate bias may also exist among helpfulness ratings. Using the survey questionnaire, the study found that there were indeed significant differences between the helpfulness ratings displayed at Amazon.com and those from a simulated online shopper population. The survey results also show that there are evidences of rating differences by gender, age, ethnicity, income and mobile device use for shopping. Thus the "true" ratings on online user reviews may well be quite different from what we see at Amazon.com. Implications and limitations of this research are discussed.
The rate of development of atomic mixing and temperature equilibration in inertial confinement fusion implosions

The MARBLE project is a novel inertial confinement fusion platform for studying the development of atomic mixing and temperature equilibration in inertial confinement fusion implosions and their impact on thermonuclear burn. Experiments involve the laser-driven implosion of capsules filled with deuterated engineered foams whose pores are filled with a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and tritium. By varying the size of the foam pores, we can study the timescale of the development of atomic mix relative to the development of thermal equilibrium between species. In contrast, previous separated reactant experiments have only provided information on the total amount of mix mass. We report on the series of MARBLE experiments [first reported in Haines et al., Nat. Commun. 11, 544 (2020)] performed on the University of Rochester's OMEGA laser facility and detailed and highly resolved three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the implosions. In both the experimental and simulation results, we observe that the reactants do not achieve thermal equilibrium during the course of the implosion except in atomically mixed regions—i.e., that atomic mixing develops faster than thermal equilibration between species. The results suggest that ion temperature variations in the mixture are at least as important as reactant concentration variations for determining the fusion reaction rates.
The Impact of Market Conditions on RN Staffing in Hospitals: Using Resource Dependence Theory and Information Uncertainty Perspective.

Purpose Due to a limited number of studies with generalizable findings on the relationships between market conditions and RN staffing levels in hospitals, this study examined such relationships employing a longitudinal design with a representative national sample. Materials and methods We used longitudinal panel datasets from 2006 to 2010, drawn from various datasets including the American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database and the Area Health Resource File. A random-effects linear regression model was used to measure the influence of market conditions on RN staffing levels. Results The results of this study showed that market conditions were significantly associated with RN staffing levels in hospitals. First, an increase in per capita income and being located in urban rather than rural areas were associated with a greater number of RNs per 1,000 inpatient days and a higher ratio of RNs to LPNs and nursing aides. In addition, an increase in the number of physician specialists was associated with an increase in the number of RNs per 1,000 inpatient days. Second, an increase in Medicare HMO penetration in the environment was related to an increase in the RNs to LPNs and nursing aides ratio. Lastly, an increase in market competition was associated with an increase in the number RNs per 1,000 inpatient days and the ratio of RNs to LPNs and nursing aides. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that staffing decision makers in hospitals should consider how to best align their RN staffing levels with their operating environment. In addition, health policy makers may improve the levels the RN supply in communities that needs more RNs by modulating external environmental forces (eg, specialist resources) that influence RN staffing levels in hospitals.
Modulation of Tmem135 Leads to Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Pathologies in Mice.

Purpose Aging is a critical risk factor for the development of retinal diseases, but how aging perturbs ocular homeostasis and contributes to disease is unknown. We identified transmembrane protein 135 (Tmem135) as a gene important for regulating retinal aging and mitochondrial dynamics in mice. Overexpression of Tmem135 causes mitochondrial fragmentation and pathologies in the hearts of mice. In this study, we examine the eyes of mice overexpressing wild-type Tmem135 (Tmem135 TG) and compare their phenotype to Tmem135 mutant mice. Methods Eyes were collected for histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, quantitative PCR, and Western blot analysis. Before tissue collection, electroretinography (ERG) was performed to assess visual function. Mouse retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cultures were established to visualize mitochondria. Results Pathologies were observed only in the RPE of Tmem135 TG mice, including degeneration, migratory cells, vacuolization, dysmorphogenesis, cell enlargement, and basal laminar deposit formation despite similar augmented levels of Tmem135 in the eyecup (RPE/choroid/sclera) and neural retina. We observed reduced mitochondria number and size in the Tmem135 TG RPE. ERG amplitudes were decreased in 365-day-old mice overexpressing Tmem135 that correlated with reduced expression of RPE cell markers. In Tmem135 mutant mice, RPE cells are thicker, smaller, and denser than their littermate controls without any signs of degeneration. Conclusions Overexpression and mutation of Tmem135 cause contrasting RPE abnormalities in mice that correlate with changes in mitochondrial shape and size (overfragmented in TG vs. overfused in mutant). We conclude proper regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis by TMEM135 is critical for RPE health.
Phase Effects on Speech and Its Influence on Warped Speech

A method of transforming speech from one speaker's voice to another is discussed, which operates by moving speech magnitude information from a source speaker to a target speaker using a process involving dynamic warping in both the time domain and the frequency domain. This process involves only spectral magnitudes, and has been found to introduce significant deleterious signal processing artifacts. It has been found that by reconstruction of phase information significantly improves the quality of the transformed speech.
Least Squares Estimation Based SDP Cuts for SOCP Relaxation of AC OPF

It has been known that the second-order conic programming (SOCP) relaxation of an alternating current optimal power flow (ac OPF) problem is a computationally friendly formulation, whereas the semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation is a theoretically stronger one. This paper presents a method to strengthen the (SOCP) relaxation by generating new cutting planes, i.e., valid inequalities, using SDP relaxation, which remove SOCP solutions that are infeasible to SDP formulation. This new method relies on solving a least square estimation (LSE) problem for every cycle in a cycle basis. General feasibility cutting plane method is also employed for cuts generation. We show that the SDP cuts generated by the LSE method are indeed feasibility cuts. Numerical results show that those new cuts can effectively reduce the search space and lead to a tighter relaxation. The new cuts are comparable to the SDP cuts in [1] . Case studies on systems with several buses to thousands buses have demonstrated the method is also scalable.
Experimental Cyclic Test of Reduced Damage Detailed Drywall Partition Walls Integrated with a Timber Rocking Wall

Bidirectional quasi-static cyclic loading was applied to a subassembly of drywall partition walls integrated with cross-laminated timber rocking walls. Details aimed to reduce seismic damage to the...
A Review of the Parasitic Isopod Genus Epicepon Nierstrasz & Brender à Brandis, 1931 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Epicaridea), Parasites of Cyclodorippoid Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), with Description of a New Species from New Caledonia.

A new species of the parasitic isopod genus Epicepon Nierstrasz & Brender a Brandis, 1931 (Isopoda: Bopyridae) found parasitizing the cyclodorippoid crab host Tymolus hirtipes Tan & Huang, 2000 is described from New Caledonia. Females of Epicepon belema n. sp. can be distinguished from those of the other two species in the genus in length to width ratio, pleopodal endopod morphology, and structure of the barbula. We review the two previously described species of Epicepon from Tymolus Stimpson, 1858 hosts based on type specimens of E. indicum Nierstrasz & Brender a Brandis, 1931 from Indonesia and type specimens plus new material of E. japonicum Nierstrasz & Brender a Brandis, 1931 from Japan. New details previously omitted from the original descriptions and a key to species of Epicepon based on female and male specimens are provided.
A Loss Compensated Tunable Bandpass Filter Based on Parametric Amplification

This paper presents a technique to compensate the intrinsic loss of a tunable resonator, which can then be used to realize tunable bandpass filters (BPFs) with reduced insertion loss (IL). The parasitic losses in a tunable resonator can be compensated by introducing a negative resistance to the resonator through parametric amplification. Based on the proposed technique, a third-order tunable BPF operating between 1.5 to 2 GHz is designed and simulated. The simulated results indicate that the intrinsic loss can be compensated at each operating frequency. The compensated intrinsic losses are 11.9, 9, and 7.2 dB at 1.5, 1.75, and 2 GHz, respectively. In addition, the resulted noise figure, out-of-band rejection, and return loss are all improved when the parametric amplification technique is applied.
Short-term vegetation responses to the first prescribed burn in an urban pine rockland preserve

Preserving fire-dependent ecosystems can mitigate biodiversity loss from urbanization, but prescribing fire is challenging near human habitation. Consequently, dereliction of fire-dependent forests is widespread in urban fragments. Natural disturbance-based management, like prescribing fire, is gaining global acceptance, yet it is unclear what affects prolonged exclusion have on the initial regeneration of isolated plant communities immediately after fire is reintroduced. We took advantage of the first prescribed low-intensity burn on a university pine rockland nature preserve in South Florida, USA, to gain insight. We measured the changes in plant community composition and vegetation cover 1 week before the prescribed burn, and again 1, 2, and 14 weeks after to assess the early and short-term stages of recovery. The fire consumed substantial leaf litter, surface fuels, and canopy leaves, increasing sunlight availability to the understory and exposing bare ground. Many woody plants perished within a week post-burn, particularly invasive shrubs; however, germinating and resprouting plant growth were rapid. By 14 weeks, vegetation covered more of the ground than before the burn, although the upper canopy remained relatively open. Rarefied species richness was recovered by 14 weeks but did not exceed pre-burn levels. Invasive species richness was also maintained post-burn. Despite no overall changes in the community structure, our correspondence analysis and analysis of similarity of the plant community suggest high species turnover from the pre-burn to the final community surveyed, with an intermediate turnover in between. The endangered pine rockland ecosystem, like many fire-dependent ecosystems, is threatened by habitat loss and fire suppression. Managing urban preserves with periodic burns is essential for supporting habitat for endemic species while decreasing demands for manual and time-intensive maintenance. Our study demonstrates that seedling recruitment from early plantings of native species can contribute significantly and immediately to restoration efforts in a fire-excluded urban preserve; however, many changes were ephemeral. Supplemental burns are likely necessary to further reduce vegetation density and sustain changes to the community composition.
Mesoscale/Macroscale Computational Methods

The central idea of this chapter is the multiscale aspect of the constitutive relations for plasticity, damage/fracture, and fatigue. In continuum mechanics, the constitutive relations are required to complete the set of governing equations in concert with the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy. The constitutive equations essentially distinguish the material in the modeling framework. The particular constitutive relations focused on in this chapter relate to thermodynamically dissipating materials with the perspective of mesoscale and macroscale analyses.
Radial mode evolution in longitudinal bunched beam instability

An indispensable aspect of the bunched beam instability mechanism is the variation of the particle distribution with respect to the beam intensity. This density variation can be shown as the evolution of radial modes. The radial modes, which are determined by the stationary particle distribution and the impedance, represent the coherence of the particle density variation governed by the Vlasov equation. Using this coherence in the beam instability analysis gives rise to not only the computational efficiency but also the physical insight into the instability mechanism. The evolution of the radial modes displays several interesting properties for the cases without and with synchrotron frequency spread. If the azimuthal mode coupling cannot be neglected, then corresponding to each coherent frequency shift there exists an extended radial mode which includes the interactions from other azimuthal modes. In this article, the radial mode evolution and the related physical implications are discussed, which are useful for the understanding of the beam instabilities, and also useful for the beam diagnostics.
Dimethylsulfide Production and Marine Phytoplankton: An Additional Impact of Unusual Blooms

The oceans contribute an estimated 1.1 Tmol · S · y-1 to the global sulfur budget, largely from the volatile sulfur compound, dimethylsulfide (DMS) (Andreae, 1986; Bates et al., 1987a). This has important implications both in the occurrence of acid precipitation (Charlson and Rodhe, 1982) and cloud formation (Bates et al., 1987b; Charlson et al., 1987). When combined with terrestrial biogenic sulfur output, this amount equals or exceeds that of anthropogenic sources (2.5 Tmol · S · y-1), in particular the result of fossil fuel burning (Andreae, 1986; Schwartz, 1988).
Reexamination of the Jahn-Teller instability in C 6 H 6 + and C 6 H 6 −

The benzene cation $({\mathrm{C}}_{6}\mathrm{H}_{6}{}^{+})$ has a doublet $({e}_{1g})$ ground state in hexagonal ring $({D}_{6h})$ geometry. Therefore a Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion will lower the energy. The present theoretical study yields a model H\"uckel-type Hamiltonian that includes an electron-phonon coupling of the ${e}_{1g}$ electronic ground state with the two ${e}_{2g}$ vibrational modes: in-plane ring-bending and C-C bond-stretching. We treat also a third ${e}_{2g}$ C-H bending mode which has less influence. We obtain the electron-phonon couplings from density functional theory which gives a JT energy lowering of $1024\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ in agreement with previous quantum chemistry calculations. We find a nonadiabatic solution for vibrational spectra and predict frequencies shifts of both the benzene cation and anion.
The Instrumental Value of Explanations

Scientific and ‘intuitive’ or ‘folk’ theories are typically characterized as serving three critical functions: prediction, explanation, and control. While prediction and control have clear instrumental value, the value of explanation is less transparent. This paper reviews an emerging body of research from the cognitive sciences suggesting that the process of seeking, generating, and evaluating explanations in fact contributes to future prediction and control, albeit indirectly by facilitating the discovery and confirmation of instrumentally valuable theories. Theoretical and empirical considerations also suggest why explanations may nonetheless feel intrinsically valuable. The paper concludes by considering some implications of the psychology of explanation for a naturalized philosophy of explanation.
The Oppressor Within: A Counterstory of Race, Repression, and Teacher Reflection

In this paper, I offer my own counterstory of matriculating through a teacher education program as an African American student on a predominately White campus as a reference point for thinking through how racism operates through teacher education’s dominant discourse and practice of teacher reflection. It is an important story to tell primarily because it touches on a largely unexplored dimension of teacher reflection. While the large majority of the literature has focused on how to prepare White preservice teachers to teach in a culturally and racially complex world, little qualitative attention has been given to the preparation of nonwhite students. While there are a few select and important articles that touch on some of the challenges African American students face in predominately White teacher education programs, including covert and overt racism, none focus on how teacher reflection might reproduce these dynamics. Thus what the literature on teacher reflection often suggests is that it is a racially neutral practice. In this essay, however, I suggests otherwise, by providing an intimate and critical look at my process of learning to be a reflective practitioner. The question I seek to grapple with is quite simply, “What does teacher reflection work to repress?”
Devouring Childhood Obesity by Helping Children Help Themselves

“The destiny of nations depends on how they nourish themselves.” 1 Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste: Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy 14 (M.F.K. Fisher trans., The Her...
Ultra reliability at NASA

Ultra reliable systems are critical to NASA particularly as consideration is being given to extended lunar missions and manned missions to Mars. NASA has formulated a program designed to improve the reliability of NASA systems. The long term goal for the NASA ultra reliability is to ultimately improve NASA systems by an order of magnitude. The approach outlined in this presentation involves the steps used in developing a strategic plan to achieve the long term objective of ultra reliability. Consideration is given to: complex systems, hardware (including aircraft, aerospace craft and launch vehicles), software, human interactions, long life missions, infrastructure development, and cross cutting technologies. Several NASA-wide workshops have been held, identifying issues for reliability improvement and providing mitigation strategies for these issues. In addition to representation from all of the NASA centers, experts from government (NASA and non-NASA), universities and industry participated. Highlights of a strategic plan, which is being developed using the results from these workshops, will be presented.
Mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway mediates N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)retinamide‐induced neuronal differentiation in the ARPE‐19 human retinal pigment epithelial cell line

We have shown previously that N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR, fenretinide), a retinoic acid derivative, induces neuronal differentiation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells [Chen et al., J. Neurochem., 84 (2003), 972]. We asked the question whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in the regulation of the 4HPR-induced neuronal differentiation of RPE (ARPE-19) cells. When we treated ARPE-19 cells with 4HPR, c-Raf and MEK1/2 kinase were activated resulting in activation of the downstream effector ERK1/2 and of SAPK/JNK. By blocking the upstream kinase MEK1/2 with specific inhibitor U0126 we abrogated the 4HPR-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and SAPK/JNK, indicating that the neuronal differentiation occurs through a positive cross-talk between the ERK and the SAPK/JNK pathways. Both U0126 and the suppression of ERK1/2 expression with small interfering RNA effectively blocked the 4HPR-induced neuronal differentiation of RPE cells and the expression of calretinin. The activated ERK1/2 then induced a sequential activation of p90RSK, and increase in phosphorylation of transcription factors c-fos and c-jun leading to transcriptional activation of AP-1. Taken together, our results clearly demonstrate that c-Raf/MEK1/2 signaling cascade involving ERK1/2 plays a central role in mediating the 4HPR-induced neuronal differentiation and calretinin expression in the human ARPE-19 retinal pigment epithelial cell line.
Data-based approach in modeling automobile crash

Abstract State of the art techniques in crash-worthiness engineering include crash simulation using finite element models or lumped parameter models, as well as full car and component tests. Simulations are used to optimize design and reduce the number of tests. The physical tests are used to verify the crash performance of an automobile. However, the development of analytical models is based on the basic knowledge of the system and makes little use of the full car test data. In this paper, we propose to develop analytical models directly from crash test measurements using system identification techniques. The analytical model is made up of two parts: a differential equation part consisting of mass, stiffness and damping characteristics, and a transfer function part, consisting of an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) of white noise. The lumped parameters used in the model are time varying and are estimated recursively by minimizing the quadratic criterion of the one step ahead prediction errors. These parameters are also correlated with the structural characteristics involved during the crash test. This approach is verified by estimating known parameters in the presence of random as well as autocorrelated noise. Furthermore the usefulness of this technique is demonstrated by estimating structural parameters from frontal and side impact test data. Limitations and future work are also highlighted.
Selective leaching of atmospheric aerosols: resolution of limestone and cement

Abstract Samples of cement, limestone and soil aerosols prepared in our laboratory were tested for the aqueous solubility of Ca, Mg, Al, Fe and Si. While these elements were found to be practically non-leachable by water from soil, approximately 90% of Ca and 60% of Mg were extractable from cement and limestone aerosols. About 80% of Al and almost all the Si were also teachable from the cement aerosols. A method was developed for resolving limestone and cement aerosols from soil using water-soluble Ca and Mg as their marker elements. Furthermore cement and limestone could be resolved from one another using watersoluble Al (and/or Si) as the marker element of cement. The method was successfully tested on ambient aerosols collected near three cement factories. In the water extracts of these samples, a linear relationship was observed between Ca and Mg, the slope for which was in accordance with that expected for limestone and cement. Similarly, the insoluble Ca and Mg (obtained by subtracting Ca and Mg in the water extract from the total) showed a linear relationship with the insoluble Al. Their slopes were again typical of those reported for soils. This study demonstrated that selective leaching can be used to determine cement, limestone and soil components in ambient aerosols. Selective leaching with other solvents may enable a more complete apportionment of atmospheric aerosol sources.
Abstract 2571: ABT-737, a small molecule Bcl-2/Bcl-xL antagonist, increases docetaxel-mediated apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) express high levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, resulting in drug resistance and association with poor prognosis. Docetaxel (Doc), an antimitotic drug that is the first-line treatment strategy for CRPC, is known to provide a small survival benefit but patients eventually become resistant to Doc with little hope for survival. It is apparent that Doc chemotherapy alone is not enough to counteract the high levels of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL present in CRPC. ABT-737 is a small molecule that binds to Bcl-2/Bcl-xL with high affinity and disrupts their interaction with pro-apoptotic Bax/Bak, thus enhancing pro-apoptotic signals when combined with other drugs. We investigated whether ABT-737 can increase Doc-mediated apoptosis in CRPC cells. Our results in androgen-dependent LNCaP and CRPC PC3 cell lines indicate that ABT-737 (1 μM) increases Doc (1 nM)-mediated cell death and caspase-dependent apoptosis, as determined by trypan blue exclusion, annexin-FITC/propidium iodide flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis. Our data suggests that Doc's anti-cancer effect results from prolonged cyclin B1/Cdk1 activation and inactivation of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL by phosphorylation, resulting in increased apoptosis. We show a correlation between high phosphorylation (P) of Bcl-2(Ser70)/Bcl-xL(Ser62) and increased apoptosis by Doc and Doc + ABT-737 treatments. Furthermore, the Cdk1 inhibitor purvalanol A blocks Doc + ABT-737-mediated increases in P-Bcl-2/P-Bcl-xL and subsequent apoptotic cell death. Lentivirus pLKO.1 shRNA stable knockdown of Bax but not Bak lowers cell death LNCaP and PC3 cells after treatment with Doc + ABT-737. In contrast to LNCaP and PC3, the CRPC DU145 cell line is null for Bax, expresses high levels of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1, and is more resistant to ABT-737. Retrovirus pBABE stable expression of Bax in DU145 cells restores sensitivity to Doc + ABT-737 compared to the empty vector control cells. We conclude that ABT-737 can sensitize CRPC cells to Doc treatment and may provide an important combination chemotherapy strategy for improving overall survival. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2571. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2571
Sex reversal in black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus: effect of oral administration of 17α-methyltestosterone on two age classes

The masculinizing effect of 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) on two age classes of black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus was investigated. Broodstock were induced to spawn by intramuscular injection of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG). Fry produced were divided into two age classes, age I (40 days old), and age II (60 days old). Age I fry were fed to satiety with feed containing MT at a concentration of 0, 30, or 60 mg/kg feed. Age II fry were fed MT at 60 mg/kg feed only. Both age classes were fed hormone treated diet for 30 days. Mean initial weight and length of age I fry were 0.21 ± 0.15 g and 23 ± 2.2 mm, respectively (mean ± SD), whereas age II fry were 0.22 ± 0.10 g and 24 ± 3.4 mm, respectively. Age I fry fed with 60 mg MT/kg feed yielded the highest (90%) mean percent males relative to all treatments (P < 0.01). Age I fry fed with 30 mg MT/kg feed produced 71% mean percent males that was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than age II fry fed with 60 mg MT/kg feed, and fry fed with control diet (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in percent males between age II fry (58%) and control (51%). Two patterns of ovotestis were identified by histological examination. One pattern was dominated by ovarian tissue or Ovotestis-Mainly Testicular (OTMO), the other was dominated by testicular tissue or Ovotestis-Mainly Testicular (OTMT). Sex reversal in black crappie seems to be influenced by age more than size. This study reports the first successful masculinization of this species by hormonal treatment.
Mapping the annual area burned in the wetlands of the Okavango panhandle using a hierarchical classification approach

This paper documents the methodology developed to identify burned areas accurately, and to quantify the spatial extent of the areas burned, in the wetlands of Botswana’s Okavango panhandle in 2001. Physical identification of burned areas in marshy wetlands is extremely difficult. Burned areas are short-lived, limiting opportunities for ground-based measurement, which is often further hampered by extreme inaccessibility, and the unpredictable nature of the location and timing of burning. Given these challenges, satellite imagery has the potential to provide an excellent alternative for such analyses. However, burned areas can be spectrally confused with non-vegetated wetland areas such as open water and muddy flats, particularly when relying predominantly on the near-infrared band. This study addresses these constraints by using a hierarchical classification of Landsat 7 ETM+ imagery to remove wet and well-vegetated areas prior to burned-area identification, and by using the thermal band data to improve the separation between wet and burned areas. These techniques resulted in good designation of burned areas, a reduction in the misclassification of unburned areas, and a refinement of the spatial distribution of areas burned in 2001. The approach should prove useful to practitioners seeking to manage fire in wetlands.
Multi‐resolution collision handling for cloth‐like simulations

We present a novel multi-resolution algorithm for simulation of complex cloth-like deforming meshes. Our algorithm precomputes a multi-resolution hierarchy by using a combination of ‘chromatic decomposition’1 and polygonal simplification of the underlying mesh. At runtime we selectively refine or coarsen the mesh based on the collision proximity of the mesh primitives with non-adjacent primitives. Our algorithm handles all kind of contacts, including self collisions among mesh primitives. The multi-resolution hierarchy is used to compute simplification of contact manifolds and to accelerate collision detection and response computations. We have implemented our algorithm on a high-end PC and applied it to complex simulations with tens of thousands of polygons. In practice, our algorithm is able to achieve interactive performance, while maintaining good visual fidelity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natives, Nostalgia, and Nature in Children's Popular Film Narratives

In his paper "Natives, Nostalgia, and Nature in Children's Popular Film Narratives," C. Richard King offers a critical reading in an effort to appreciate the entanglements of nature, natives, and nostalgia in children's narratives. In this context, an analysis of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Spirit affords an ideal occasion for such a reading because it centers on the relations between Native Americans, Euroamericans, and the natural world as it tells the story of a wild mustang living in western North America in the late nineteenth century. Indeed, as close examination reveals, the film uses race, gender, civilization, and wildness to meditate upon cultural conflict, freedom, and nature. King finds that while Spirit challenges accepted ideas about modernity and technology, it reiterates troubling connections of environment and Indianness while allowing viewers to escape accountability through individualism and longing. C. Richard King, "Natives, Nostalgia, and Nature in Children's Popular Film Narratives" page 2 of 7 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 10.2 (2008): Thematic Issue, Racialized Narratives for Children. Ed. C. Richard King and John Streamas
By the standards of their day

1. Retrospective Condemnation How far do our ethical and evaluative standards reach across the divides of space and time? Can we appropriately judge people remote from our own setting by the criteria we would apply locally? Do our norms project across spatiotemporal distance to apply to them as well? One of the many problematic aspects of the "political correctness" that has become so fashionable in this turn-of-the-century era is the tendency to condemn and disparage various individuals or groups of earlier eras for having values, opinions, and customs of which our own times do not approve. The myriad available examples include: