cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
C. elegans PVD Neurons: A Platform for Functionally Validating and Characterizing Neuropsychiatric Risk Genes

Abstract One of the primary challenges in the field of psychiatric genetics is the lack of an in vivo model system in which to functionally validate candidate neuropsychiatric risk genes (NRGs) in a rapid and cost-effective manner1−3. To overcome this obstacle, we performed a candidate-based RNAi screen in which C. elegans orthologs of human NRGs were assayed for dendritic arborization and cell specification defects using C. elegans PVD neurons. Of 66 NRGs, identified via exome sequencing of autism (ASD)4 or schizophrenia (SCZ)5−9 probands and whose mutations are de novo and predicted to result in a complete or partial loss of protein function, the C. elegans orthologs of 7 NRGs were found to be required for proper neuronal development and represent a variety of functional classes, including transcriptional regulators and chromatin remodelers, molecular chaperones, and cytoskeleton-related proteins. Notably, the positive hit rate, when selectively assaying C. elegans orthologs of ASD and SCZ NRGs, is enriched >14-fold as compared to unbiased RNAi screening10. Furthermore, we find that RNAi phenotypes associated with the depletion of NRG orthologs is recapitulated in genetic mutant animals, and, via genetic interaction studies, we show that the NRG ortholog of ANK2, unc-44, is required for SAX-7/MNR-1/DMA-1 signaling. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that C. elegans PVD neurons are a tractable model in which to discover and dissect the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disease pathogenesis.
Long-term patient survival after cystectomy for regional metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

AbstractThe records of 280 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1971 and 1986 were reviewed. A total of 42 patients had either 1 (stage pN1) or more than 1 (stage pN2) positive lymph nodes (20 and 22 patients, respectively). The over-all 3-year survival rate for patients with positive lymph nodes was 27%, and it was 30 and 18.5% for stages pN1 and pN2 disease, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed a sustained survival advantage for stage pN1 over pN2 disease for the first 3 years (p <0.05) but the difference was not significant at 5 years of followup. Eleven patients with negative lymph nodes but local extension of tumor into the prostatic stroma and/or ducts had a 5-year survival rate of 36%, which equaled the survival of 49 stage pT3b,pN0 cancer patients in the same series. Surgical mortality for the entire population of 280 patients was 2.1% and there was no increase in mortality or morbidity among the ...
Millennials and Diversity in the Armed Forces

How diverse is the military? Are civilians and cadets open to a heterogeneous armed forces? This chapter discusses Millennial attitudes toward diverse groups in the military, specifically gender and sexual orientation. Civilian Millennials may be more idealistic while their military peers respond from a practice perspective. There is some support for a more heterogeneous force in some areas more than others. Notably, military affiliates are more likely to support the role of women than homosexuals in the military, but they are also less supportive of either group fully participating in the armed services than their civilian peers. A diverse force appears to be the one area that civilians and military affiliates diverge most, in other words, the gap is widest.
MBDDiff: an R package designed specifically for processing MBDcap-seq datasets

Since its initial discovery in 1975, DNA methylation has been intensively studied and shown to be involved in various biological processes, such as development, aging and tumor progression. Many experimental techniques have been developed to measure the level of DNA methylation. Methyl-CpG binding domain-based capture followed by high-throughput sequencing (MBDCap-seq) is a widely used method for characterizing DNA methylation patterns in a genome-wide manner. However, current methods for processing MBDCap-seq datasets does not take into account of the region-specific genomic characteristics that might have an impact on the measurements of the amount of methylated DNA (signal) and background fluctuation (noise). Thus, specific software needs to be developed for MBDCap-seq experiments. A new differential methylation quantification algorithm for MBDCap-seq, MBDDiff, was implemented. To evaluate the performance of the MBDDiff algorithm, a set of simulated signal based on negative binomial and Poisson distribution with parameters estimated from real MBDCap-seq datasets accompanied with different background noises were generated, and then performed against a set of commonly used algorithms for MBDCap-seq data analysis in terms of area under the ROC curve (AUC), number of false discoveries and statistical power. In addition, we also demonstrated the effective of MBDDiff algorithm to a set of in-house prostate cancer samples, endometrial cancer samples published earlier, and a set of public-domain triple negative breast cancer samples to identify potential factors that contribute to cancer development and recurrence. In this paper we developed an algorithm, MBDDiff, designed specifically for datasets derived from MBDCap-seq. MBDDiff contains three modules: quality assessment of datasets and quantification of DNA methylation; determination of differential methylation of promoter regions; and visualization functionalities. Simulation results suggest that MBDDiff performs better compared to MEDIPS and DESeq in terms of AUC and the number of false discoveries at different levels of background noise. MBDDiff outperforms MEDIPS with increased backgrounds noise, but comparable performance when noise level is lower. By applying MBDDiff to several MBDCap-seq datasets, we were able to identify potential targets that contribute to the corresponding biological processes. Taken together, MBDDiff provides user an accurate differential methylation analysis for data generated by MBDCap-seq, especially under noisy conditions.
A novel detection algorithm for Line-to-Line faults in Photovoltaic (PV) arrays based on support vector machine (SVM)

Line-to-Line (L-L) faults in Photovoltaic (PV) arrays prevent the PV system from producing maximum power, and if not cleared, may result in serious energy and revenue losses and cause fire hazards. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), a technique employed to maximize the power output of a PV array at different irradiance level, may potentially mask certain faults and make them undetectable by protection devices, especially when these faults occur under low solar irradiance condition or with high fault impedance. This paper proposes an innovative algorithm for detecting L-L faults in PV arrays based on support vector machine (SVM).
MNFIS and other soft computing based MPPT techniques: A comparative analysis

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is the process of searching the voltage space for the optimal power generation and tracking the optimum as it changes. This paper presents a performance analysis of soft computing algorithms applied to this endeavor and a deployment recommendation based on performance goals. Specifically, fuzzy logic (FL) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were tested with direct and indirect converter control and compared against multiple metrics for fitness. Along the way a novel algorithm was also developed, deemed the Modified Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (MNFIS). This algorithm incorporates the strengths of both FL and ANN MPPT while mitigating the weaknesses of either.
Revealing the Mechanical Basis of T Cell Signaling

Because T cells are highly migratory and antigen recognition occurs at an intermembrane junction where the T cell physically contacts another cell, there are long-standing questions of whether T cells transmit defined forces to their receptors and whether chemo-mechanical coupling influences immune function. I will discuss the development of DNA-based gold nanoparticle tension sensors to provide, to our knowledge, the first pN tension maps of individual T cell receptor forces during T-cell activation. We show that naive T cells harness cytoskeletal coupling to transmit 12-19 pN of force to their receptors within seconds of ligand binding and preceding initial calcium signaling. CD8 coreceptor binding and lymphocyte-specific kinase signaling are required for antigen-mediated cell spreading and force generation. Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) mediated adhesion modulates TCR-pMHC tension by intensifying its magnitude to values >19 pN and spatially reorganizes the location of receptor forces to the kinapse, the zone located at the trailing edge of migrating T cells, thus demonstrating crosstalk between TCR and LFA-1 receptor signaling. Finally, T cells display a dampened and poorly specific response to antigen agonists when forces are chemically abolished or physically “filtered” to a level of 12 pN using mechanically labile DNA tethers. Therefore, we conclude that T cells tune receptor mechanics with pN resolution to create a checkpoint of agonist quality necessary for specific immune response.
Murine models of scrub typhus associated with host control of Orientia tsutsugamushi infection

BACKGROUND Scrub typhus, a febrile illness of substantial incidence and mortality, is caused by infection with the obligately intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is estimated that there are more than one million cases annually transmitted by the parasitic larval stage of trombiculid mites in the Asia-Pacific region. The antigenic and genetic diversity of the multiple strains of O. tsutsugamushi hinders the advancement of laboratory diagnosis, development of long-lasting vaccine-induced protection, and interpretation of clinical infection. Despite the life-threatening severity of the illness in hundreds of thousands of cases annually, 85-93% of patients survive, often without anti-rickettsial treatment. To more completely understand the disease caused by Orientia infection, animal models which closely correlate with the clinical manifestations, target cells, organ involvement, and histopathologic lesions of human cases of scrub typhus should be employed. Previously, our laboratory has extensively characterized two relevant C57BL/6 mouse models using O. tsutsugamushi Karp strain: a route-specific intradermal model of infection and persistence and a hematogenously disseminated dose-dependent lethal model. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To complement the lethal model, here we illustrate a sublethal model in the same mouse strain using the O. tsutsugamushi Gilliam strain, which resulted in dose-dependent severity of illness, weight loss, and systemic dissemination to endothelial cells of the microcirculation and mononuclear phagocytic cells. Histopathologic lesions included expansion of the pulmonary interstitium by inflammatory cell infiltrates and multifocal hepatic lesions with mononuclear cellular infiltrates, renal interstitial lymphohistiocytic inflammation, mild meningoencephalitis, and characteristic typhus nodules. SIGNIFICANCE These models parallel characteristics of human cases of scrub typhus, and will be used in concert to understand differences in severity which lead to lethality or host control of the infection and to address the explanation for short duration of heterologous immunity in Orientia infection.
Transgender Children, Teaching Early Acceptance, and the Heckler’s Veto

Abstract In recent years, school districts have faced numerous questions surrounding accommodations of transgender students. Strong objections to accommodations have been voiced in public argument and litigation, primarily in the areas of athletics, bathrooms, and dress codes. As younger transgender students express their gender identity at school, however, the existing objections are weakened by considering the context of elementary rather than high school students. Greater numbers of young transgender students will likely encourage accommodation of trans students of all ages, as well as challenge the gender binary unconsciously taught in school.
The baseline characteristics of parents and African American girls in an online obesity prevention program: A feasibility study

The objective of this paper was to identify the relationships and associations between child and parent characteristics with child fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in an online obesity prevention program for 8-10 year old African American girls. Girls and a parent (n = 342 child-parent pairs) in the southwestern US completed baseline data collection from 2012 to 2014. Girls and a parent completed self-report questionnaires online. Girls also completed two unannounced 24 hour telephone-based dietary recalls. The relationships of parent demographic characteristics, child FV intake, and psychosocial variables (child and parent) were examined by analysis of variance. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships between psychosocial variables and child FV intake. Child FV intake was significantly greater in the highest household education (p = 0.001) and income groups (p = 0.004). FV home availability was higher with older parents (p = 0.007) and two-parent households (p = 0.033). Child FV intake was positively related to child FV preferences (p < 0.001), FV home availability (p = 0.022), and FV home accessibility (p = 0.002) but was negatively related to family barriers to FV consumption (p = 0.000). The study highlighted significant findings between child FV consumption and parent psychosocial variables and demographic characteristics that may offer insights for the design of effective obesity prevention interventions for 8-10 year old African American girls. ClinicaTrials.gov (NCT01481948).
High-Frequency Ultrasound: Obtaining Optimal Images and the Effect of Image Artifacts on Image Quality.

Objective: High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) images are being researched for use in the prevention, detection, and monitoring of pressure injuries in patients at risk. This seminal longitudinal stud...
Observability Conditions for Switching Sensing Topology for Cooperative Localization

In this paper, we solve a discrete-time bearing-only cooperative localization problem for a team of autonomous vehicles with a special focus on switching sensing topology. A centralized Extended Ka...
Perspective Transformation Through College Summer Service Immersion Programs: Is Learning Enhanced by Sustained Engagement?

AbstractSummer offers the opportunity for sustained community engagement through immersions in summer service-learning programs. A group of 16 colleges and universities that sponsor domestic and international summer service initiatives have formed a Summer Service Collaborative (SSC) to enhance preparation, immersion, and follow-up in light of the unique parameters of summer service-learning. SSC members developed a shared assessment rubric and a pre/post-immersion survey for student participants to evaluate what students learn about poverty, diversity, and civic engagement over the course of summer service-learning experiences. Findings suggest three key areas of student learning and indicate that greater length of engagement coupled with reflection elements create perspective transformation on understanding of social justice for participants.
Critical role for PI3-kinase in regulating the use of proteins as an amino acid source

Ras-transformed cells can grow in amino acid-poor environments by recovering amino acids through macropinocytosis and lysosomal catabolism of extracellular proteins. However, when studying nontransformed fibroblasts, we found that Ras GTPases are dispensable for growth-factor–stimulated macropinocytosis and lysosomal catabolism of extracellular proteins. Instead, we establish a critical role for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) signaling in cell proliferation that is supported by protein macropinocytosis. Downstream of PI3-kinase, distinct effectors have opposing roles in regulating uptake and catabolism of extracellular proteins. Rac1 and PLC are required for nutritional use of extracellular proteins. In contrast, Akt suppresses lysosomal catabolism of ingested proteins when free amino acids are abundant. The interplay between these pathways allows cells with oncogenic PIK3CA mutations or PTEN deletion to grow using diverse amino acid sources. Thus, the prevalence of PI3-kinase and PTEN mutations in cancer may result in part because they allow cells to cope with fluctuating nutrient availability.
Optical physical layer SDN [invited]

Optical system management software has been migrating toward software-defined networking (SDN) methods and interfaces. The increased programmability of SDN promises greater flexibility, dynamic operation, and multivendor compatibility for optical systems. However, physical layer control systems are complicated by transmission engineering requirements, including quality of transmission, optical power stability, and multidomain service guarantees. These challenges and recent commercial and research efforts to address them are examined.
Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Indicated Compared with Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Healthy Nulliparas: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

Objective To compare the risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with spontaneous (SPTB) versus indicated preterm births (IPTB). Methods A secondary analysis of a multicenter trial of vitamin C and E supplementation in healthy low-risk nulliparous women. Outcomes were compared between women with SPTB (due to spontaneous membrane rupture or labor) and those with IPTB (due to medical or obstetric complications). A primary maternal composite outcome included: death, pulmonary edema, blood transfusion, adult respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), cerebrovascular accident, acute tubular necrosis, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, or liver rupture. A neonatal composite outcome included: neonatal death, RDS, grades III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), or retinopathy of prematurity. Results Of 9,867 women, 10.4% (N = 1,038) were PTBs; 32.7% (n = 340) IPTBs and 67.3% (n = 698) SPTBs. Compared with SPTB, the composite maternal outcome was more frequent in IPTB—4.4% versus 0.9% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–11.8), as were blood transfusion and prolonged hospital stay (3.2 and 3.7 times, respectively). The frequency of composite neonatal outcome was higher in IPTBs (aOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–3.0), as were RDS (1.7 times), small for gestational age (SGA) Conclusion Adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes were significantly more likely with IPTB than with SPTB.
Targeting the Prostate Stem Cell for Chemoprevention

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and the second deadliest non-cutaneous cancer in men in the western world. Despite the advancement of new therapies, survival rates remain tightly correlated to the stage in which a patient is diagnosed. The heterogeneous nature of tumor and their variable response to therapies is now being attributed to tumor-initiating cells or cancer stem cells. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that cancer initiates from a specific subset of tumor cells that possess “stemlike” properties. Over the past several decades, the use of natural or synthetic agents such as vitamins, foods, or spices has been shown to correlate with lower incidences of cancer. Many of these chemopreventive agents have now been reported to cause differentiation of cancer stem cells and suppress their proliferation, thereby making them more amenable to conventional therapies. This chapter will discuss the use of chemoprevention to target cancer stem cells and how these approaches can be applied to prostate cancer.
A Review of Research on Sexual Education for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.

Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) struggle to gain access to sexual knowledge and experiences. Sexual knowledge increases opportunities for intimacy and positive sexual identities as well ...
Hermogenes on Issues: Strategies of Argument in Later Greek Rhetoric, by Malcolm Heath

(1996). Hermogenes on Issues: Strategies of Argument in Later Greek Rhetoric, by Malcolm Heath. Argumentation and Advocacy: Vol. 33, SPECIAL ISSUE (FALL 1996), pp. 101-105.
Centre and periphery: variations in gendered space among Libyan Jews in the late Ottoman period

To what an extent did ‘women space’ among Libyan Jews refer only to the home and a secluded female environment? Were there any inter-gender contacts except for those among close family relatives? T...
Energy efficiency vs resiliency to extreme heat and power outages: The role of evolving building energy codes

Abstract Environmental issues, costs, and limited energy supply, among other concerns have been driving the efforts toward more energy efficient buildings over the last four decades. Hence, energy efficiency is not only well-established within the building design and construction industries, but is also an active field of research. Many countries have state-mandated building energy codes that are becoming more stringent with time. Therefore, the building stock in many regions is becoming more efficient. With the observed increase in frequency and intensity of hot weather events in urban areas around the world and research that suggests a more extreme future, the resiliency of the built environment to heat has become a major concern for planners and policymakers. Therefore, it is important to understand how the evolution of energy codes affects the resiliency of buildings to heat. In this study, we used whole-building energy simulations to investigate the performance of high-rise residential apartment buildings under a three-day power outage scenario coinciding with a three-day heat wave. We modeled buildings compliant with consecutive versions of two building energy codes and standards commonly used in the U.S. to investigate the effect of building code on resiliency in all distinct climate zones within the country. The results suggest that in most climates, indoor conditions exceed critical thresholds during the modeled scenario. Moreover, we observed a synergy between energy efficiency and resiliency to heat in warmer climates. However, in heating-dominated climates, newer codes can potentially have an adverse effect on heat resiliency of buildings.
A fatty link between heart disease and autoimmunity

Atherogenic hyperlipidemia drives IL-27 production by dendritic cells to support follicular T cell differentiation and systemic autoimmune disorders in mice.
Employer and Employee as Purchasers of Health Care Services

More than 90 percent of nonelderly individuals who have health insurance in the private sector in the United States receive their coverage from their employer [“Trends in Health Insurance Coverage,” EBRI Issue Brief 185, May 1997, Table 1, p. 5]. Employer-sponsored health insurance, however, is not essential for the distribution of health insurance. Residents of Canada, Israel, and the Netherlands, for example, do not receive health care coverage from their employer (Chapter 11).
Financial Characteristics of Neglected and Institutionally Held Stocks

Institutional investors are important both because of the magnitude of their holdings and trading activity and because their decisions to buy or sell can signal a good takeover candidate as well as in some instances facilitate the takeover. However, little is known as to why institutions prefer one stock to another. Through discriminant analysis seven variables (six accounting ratios and size) are identified that reveal the differences in financial characteristics between neglected and strongly held firms. Regression analysis is then used to show that four variables from the set of seven discriminant variables are consistent predictors of the actual fraction of outstanding shares held by financial institutions. The analysis provides some support for the claims of corporate chief financial officers that institutions focus only on short-term performance. However long-term performance is also shown to be important.
Isolation and Characterization T4- and T7-Like Phages that Infect the Bacterial Plant Pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

In the rhizosphere, bacteria–phage interactions are likely to have important impacts on the ecology of microbial communities and microbe–plant interactions. To better understand the dynamics of Agrobacteria–phage interactions, we have isolated diverse bacteriophages which infect the bacterial plant pathogen, Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Here, we complete the genomic characterization of Agrobacterium tumefaciens phages Atu_ph04 and Atu_ph08. Atu_ph04—a T4-like phage belonging to the Myoviridae family—was isolated from waste water and has a 143,349 bp genome that encodes 223 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Based on phylogenetic analysis and whole-genome alignments, Atu_ph04 is a member of a newly described T4 superfamily that contains other Rhizobiales-infecting phages. Atu_ph08, a member of the Podoviridae T7-like family, was isolated from waste water, has a 59,034 bp genome, and encodes 75 ORFs. Based on phylogenetic analysis and whole-genome alignments, Atu_ph08 may form a new T7 superfamily which includes Sinorhizobium phage PCB5 and Ochrobactrum phage POI1126. Atu_ph08 is predicted to have lysogenic activity, as we found evidence of an integrase and several transcriptional repressors with similarity to proteins in transducing phage P22. Together, this data suggests that Agrobacterium phages are diverse in morphology, genomic content, and lifestyle.
Silencing epigenetic writer DOT1L attenuates intimal hyperplasia

Abstract Objective Histone methyltransferases are emerging targets for epigenetic therapy. DOT1L (disruptor of telomeric silencing 1-like) is the H3K79 methylation writer. We investigated its role in the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH). Approach and Results IH was induced via balloon angioplasty in rat carotid arteries. DOT1L and its catalytic products H3K79me2 and H3K79me3 (immunostaining) increased by 4.69 ±0.34, 2.38 ±0.052, and 3.07 ±0.27 fold, respectively, in injured (versus uninjured) carotid arteries at post-injury day 7. DOT1L silencing via shRNA-lentivirus infusion in injured arteries reduced DOT1L, H3K79me2, and IH at day 14 by 54.5%, 37.1%, and 76.5%, respectively. Moreover, perivascular administration of a DOT1L-selective inhibitor (EPZ5676) reduced H3K79me2, H3K79me3, and IH by 56.1%, 58.6%, and 39.9%, respectively. Conclusions DOT1L inhibition mitigates the development of IH.
Observed monsoon precipitation suppression caused by anomalous interhemispheric aerosol transport

This study uses observations and atmospheric reanalysis products in order to understand the impacts of smoke aerosols advected from the Southern Hemisphere on the dynamics of the West African monsoon. Seasonal biomass burning and resulting aerosol emissions have been well documented to affect regional weather patterns, especially low-level convection. Out of all monsoon months, precipitation shows the most variability over land during August, in which anomalous smoke aerosol values can increase (decrease) by 33% (29%) in the Northern Gulf of Guinea and precipitation can decrease (increase) by up to ~ 2.5 mm day−1 (~ 3 mm day−1) along the West African monsoon region accounting for a 17% (18%) change in precipitation. Smoke aerosols produced by biomass burning occurring near Central Africa are advected towards the Gulf of Guinea at elevations around the 850 hPa level. Satellite observations show an increase (decrease) in cloud fraction and optical depth below (above) the 300-hPa level in the Gulf of Guinea and along the West African coastline along with concurrent decreases (increases) in cloud droplet radius during dirty (clean) aerosol episodes. Additional observations of shortwave radiation quantify changes in cloud coverage and monsoon dynamics. On average, reductions in surface shortwave radiation of ~ 10–15 W m−2 occur over the Gulf of Guinea during increased aerosol transport, with aerosols accounting for ~ 33–50% of that reduction. Reductions in shortwave radiation are associated with decreased convective available potential energy (CAPE). This demonstrates that increased transport of aerosols perturbs surface radiation, convection in the lower troposphere and eventually cloud coverage, potentially leading to the observed monsoon precipitation suppression. In a broader social context, this region houses 200 million people and thus understanding these climate patterns may carry great importance.
First-principles elastic properties of α-Pu

Density-functional electronic-structure calculations have been used to investigate the ambient pressure and low temperature elastic properties of the ground-state $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase of plutonium metal. The electronic structure and correlation effects are modeled within a fully relativistic antiferromagnetic treatment with a generalized gradient approximation for the electron exchange and correlation functional. The 13 independent elastic constants, for the monoclinic $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{-Pu}$ system, are calculated for the observed geometry. A comparison of the results with measured data from recent resonant ultrasound spectroscopy for a cast sample is made.
Why Right-Brain Cultures are More Flexible: A Possible Explanation of Yu. Manin's Observation

Yuri Manin, a renowned mathematician, observed that it is much easier for a person raised in a right-brain culture to adjust to the leftbrain environment than vice versa. In this paper, we provide a possible explanation for this phenomenon.
Experimental measurements and modeling of the deuterium release from tungsten co-deposited layers

Abstract The release of deuterium from sputter magnetron produced tungsten co-deposit layers is studied by thermal desorption mass spectrometry and modelled with the diffusion reaction codes TESSIM and FACE. Layers up to ∼ 2 µm thick, produced at substrate deposition temperatures up to 513 K are modeled. TESSIM simulations are found to require activity from at least nine traps in the range 1.0 − 2.5 eV in order to reproduce the experimentally observed desorption. FACE simulations, which utilize a quasi-continuous distribution of traps, suggest some discreteness in trapping energy above ∼ 1.5 eV, but smoothness in the distribution below. Both codes indicate a quasi-exponential decrease in trap concentration with trap energy. When examined for predictive capability, the developed tungsten co-deposit models accurately reproduce experimental changes in the desorption heating rate from 0.3 to 3 Ks − 1 , and give reasonable agreement with experimentally different layer thicknesses and deposition temperatures in the parameter ranges explored. Measured D/W ratios in the co-deposits are also found to be in good agreement with literature based predictive scalings.
Direct air capture of CO2via crystal engineering.

This article presents a perspective view of the topic of direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide and its role in mitigating climate change, focusing on a promising approach to DAC involving crystal engineering of metal–organic and hydrogen-bonded frameworks. The structures of these crystalline materials can be easily elucidated using X-ray and neutron diffraction methods, thereby allowing for systematic structure–property relationships studies, and precise tuning of their DAC performance.
Co-optimization of efficiency and load modulation data rate in a wireless power transfer system

In-band load modulation as a means of transferring information from a wirelessly-powered client device to a power provider in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system has long been considered to have an unacceptable impact on the efficiency of power transfer. Conventional load modulation involves either completely or severely detuning the receive coil in order to produce a detectable amplitude shift at the power provider side and thereby transfer information. In this work, we analyze the impact of load modulation on system efficiency by considering the power consumption of the transmit power amplifier (PA) and identify a tradeoff between communication capability and end-to-end wireless power transfer efficiency. We also determine how to select a load modulation strategy which reduces the degradation in power transfer efficiency while maintaining high-contrast uplink signaling. Finally, we explore the use of coherent demodulation (IQ demodulation) to reduce the mismatch requirement on a load modulation system by improving the power provider's sensitivity to load modulated signaling.
Proceedings of the 21st international conference on Parallel architectures and compilation techniques

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 21st International Conference on Parallel Architectures and Compilation Techniques (PACT 2012) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes. This year the conference received 207 complete paper submissions, which is almost exactly the same number received last year. These papers were rigorously reviewed by a combination of a 42-member technical program committee and more than 300 additional external reviewers. More than 800 total reviews were submitted with a typical program committee member personally reviewing 11-12 papers each. After almost all of the reviews had been received, the authors were given several days to read and respond to the reviewers' comments. The program committee members evaluated these responses during an online discussion period before the formal program committee meeting. On June 9, 2012, the program committee met in Minneapolis for a full day's discussion of the submitted papers. Committee members who had conflicts-of-interest with papers as they were brought up for discussion were asked to leave the room. After thorough discussions of the reviews and author responses, 39 papers were selected for the main conference program. The final acceptance rate of 19% was similar to previous years. The authors of an additional 41 papers were invited to submit posters of their papers during a special poster session at the conference, and to prepare an extended abstract for publication in the conference proceedings. A total of 25 authors accepted this poster invitation. We are pleased to have three distinguished keynote speakers for the conference, two of them are from academia. They are Dr. Bill Cramer from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Dr. Kathy Yelick (University of California, Berkeley, also with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). One keynote speaker is from industry, Peter J. Ungaro from Cray. They provide their insights into the future directions of parallel computing.
Effects of various estrogenic preparations on the vaginal mucosa.

Abstract 1.1. A total of 71 studies in 55 postmenopausal women were made to determine the relative effects of seven different estrogenic preparations. 2.2. Vaginal smears were obtained prior to injection and at twelve-hour intervals following administration of a single dose. Periods of observation ranged from 60 to 377 hours. 3.3. Three subjects gave no evidence of response. In twenty-four tests, there was on alteration in the type of smear without follicular reaction and in 44 subjects this response was present in varying degree. 4.4. The degree of follicular reaction and the amount of hormone injected can be directly correlated. An inverse relation exists between age and the height of the follicular reaction. 5.5. The range of lag-time varied from 42 to 180 hours. 6.6. An inverse relation exists between lag-time and the amount of hormone injected. The age of the subject is apparently not a factor in the lag-time. 7.7. The range of duration of follicular reaction varied from twelve to two hundred plus hours. 8.8. In general, higher dosages tended to produce alterations of longer duration in the vaginal epithelium. Such changes were most marked in subjects of less advanced years.
Along Comes the Players Association: The Roots and Rise of Labor Unionism in Major League Baseball

On April 24, 2012, Marvin Miller delivered a speech at New York University in which he reflected at length on the history of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and his role in the development of the labor union he led from 1966 to 1983. This article is an introduction in two parts to that speech and the panel discussion that followed it. Part I is a chronology of highlights of labor-management relations in major league baseball. Part II draws an inference or two about the MLBPA from events on that timeline. It is not the entire story of organized labor in major-league baseball, or even of Miller and the union he led. But it is enough, I hope, to put his recollections and the subsequent discussion in mature perspective.
Environmental risks and ocean industries

In recent research, my associates and I presented a complex set of mathematical scenarios in which developed market economies, characterized by mature and new economy industries, evolve into two (or more) geographic regions. The first, almost invariably coastal or along the banks of rivers, is more attractive to investment in both mature and new economy industries, but is subject to higher risk, both market and environmental. Growth in this first sector is innovation and knowledge intensive, characterized by clustering of similar labor skills and firms, and the instigator of extensive net migration. The second sector is less dynamic and often less developed, but subject to less environmental risk. Climatic, natural, and environmental hazards are undergoing change and may, in some cases, become more threatening. Economies, however, are growing, enabling them to adapt to or even mitigate the damaging consequences of these natural hazards. In this paper, I present an economic growth model set in the two sectors and facing damaging hazards. The hazards are of varying predictability, ranging between quantitative risk and subjective uncertainty.
Preserving zeros in surface construction using marching cubes

In surface construction, existing marching cubes (MC) methods require sample values at cell vertices to be non-zero after thresholding, or modify them otherwise. The modification may introduce problems in the constructed surface, such as topological changes, representation errors, and preference for positive or negative values. This paper presents a generalized MC algorithm. It constructs surface patches by exploiting cycles in cells without changing the sample values at vertices, and thus allows cell vertices with zero sample values to lie on the constructed surface. The simulation results show that the proposed Zero-Crossing MC method preserves better topologies of implicit surfaces that pass through cell vertices, and represents the surfaces more accurately. Its efficiency is comparable to existing MC methods in constructing surfaces.
Three-dimensional hip and knee kinematics during walking, running, and single-limb drop landing in females with and without genu valgum.

Abstract Background Dynamic knee valgus in females has been associated with various knee pathologies. Abnormal 3D hip and knee kinematics contribute prominently to this presentation, and these may become more aberrant with more demanding tasks. Underlying genu valgus may also accentuate such kinematics, but this effect has never been tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare 3D hip and knee kinematics during walking, running, and single-limb drop landing in females with and without genu valgus malalignment. We expected abnormal kinematics to become more evident in the valgus subjects as task demands increased. Methods Eighteen healthy females with genu valgum and 18 female controls with normal alignment underwent 3D motion analysis while performing walking, running, and single-limb drop-landing trials. Sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane hip and knee kinematics were compared between groups across tasks using analyses of variance and between-group effect sizes. Findings Group differences did not generally increase with higher forces. The valgus females demonstrated decreased hip flexion (ES = 0.72–0.88) and increased knee abduction (ES = 0.87–1.47) across the tasks. During running and single-limb drop landing, they showed increased knee external rotation (ES = 0.69–0.73). Finally, during walking, the valgus females showed increased hip adduction (ES = 0.69). Interpretation These results suggest that females with genu valgus alignment utilize aberrant hip and knee mechanics previously associated with dynamic valgus in the literature, but that these pathomechanics do not generally worsen with rising task demands. Healthy females that present with genu valgus may be natively at elevated risk for knee pathology.
Length and elasticity of side reins affect rein tension at trot

Abstract This study investigated the horse’s contribution to tension in the reins. The experimental hypotheses were that tension in side reins (1) increases biphasically in each trot stride, (2) changes inversely with rein length, and (3) changes with elasticity of the reins. Eight riding horses trotted in hand at consistent speed in a straight line wearing a bit and bridle and three types of side reins (inelastic, stiff elastic, compliant elastic) were evaluated in random order at long, neutral, and short lengths. Strain gauge transducers (240 Hz) measured minimal, maximal and mean rein tension, rate of loading and impulse. The effects of rein type and length were evaluated using ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests. Rein tension oscillated in a regular pattern with a peak during each diagonal stance phase. Within each rein type, minimal, maximal and mean tensions were higher with shorter reins. At neutral or short lengths, minimal tension increased and maximal tension decreased with elasticity of the reins. Short, inelastic reins had the highest maximal tension and rate of loading. Since the tension variables respond differently to rein elasticity at different lengths, it is recommended that a set of variables representing different aspects of rein tension should be reported.
High-frequency backscattering from the inverse-square-power dielectric lens

The high-frequency backscattered field produced by a plane electromagnetic wave incident on an inverse-square-power dielectric lens is determined in terms of reflected field, creeping wave, and evanescent wave contributions.
The souvenir purchase decision: effects of online availability

Purpose – Prior to e‐commerce, tourists could only purchase souvenirs at a destination. The goal of this research is to develop and test a theory to explain how adding a retail web site affects tourists' decision‐making for souvenir purchases.Design/methodology/approach – The researcher conducts two experiments using scenarios to simulate a souvenir purchase. The researcher manipulates item type and web site availability, and then measures purchase intent, attitudes toward the souvenir, and regret.Findings – Purchase limitation increases initial purchase intent by increasing the souvenir's reminder value, regardless of item type. Non‐purchase regrets are greater than purchase regrets, which in turn increases purchase intent at a later time.Research limitations – The stimuli are necklaces, and although the findings do not show gender effects, the stimuli could limit the generalizability to other souvenir types. The research tests hypotheses using scenarios and less‐experienced travelers. Future research sh...
KRAMERS' DIFFUSION THEORY APPLIED TO GATING KINETICS OF VOLTAGE-DEPENDENT ION CHANNELS

Kramers' diffusion theory of reaction rates in the condensed phase is considered as an alternative to the traditional discrete-state Markov (DSM) model in describing ion channel gating current kinetics. Diffusion theory can be expected to be particularly relevant in describing high-frequency (>100 kHz) events in channel activation. The generalized voltage sensor of a voltage-dependent ion channel is treated as a Brownian motion particle undergoing spatial diffusion along a one-dimensional energy landscape. Two classes of energy landscapes are considered. The first class contains large barriers, which give rise to gating currents with two distinct time scales: the usual low-frequency decay, which can modeled with a DSM scheme, and a high-frequency component arising from intrastate relaxation. Large depolarizations reduce potential barriers to such a degree that activation rates are diffusion limited, causing the two time scales to merge. Landscapes of the second class are either featureless or contain barriers that are small compared to kT; these are termed "drift landscapes." These landscapes require a larger friction coefficient to generate slow gating kinetics. The high-frequency component that appears with barrier models is not present in pure drift motion. The presence of a high-frequency component can be tested experimentally with large-bandwidth recordings of gating currents. Topics such as frequency domain analysis, spatial dependence of the friction coefficient, methods for determining the adequacy of a DSM model, and the development of physical models of gating are explored.
Influence of Nutrition on Mammary Development in Pre- and Postpubertal Heifers

This experiment investigated the influence of plane of nutrition on mammary development in heifers. Prepubertal and postpubertal heifers were fed a ration 60:40 concentrate to forage in restricted or ad libitum amounts. Dry matter intake of the heifers on restricted feeding was 60% that of heifers fed ad libitum. Average daily gain of heifers on restricted feeding was 613 g compared with 1218 g for heifers fed ad libitum. Ad libitum feeding during prepuberty lowered mammary secretory tissue weights 23% and deoxyribonucleic acid content 32% compared to restricted feeding. In contrast, there was no difference in growth of mammary secretory tissue between postpubertal heifers fed restricted or ad libitum amounts. Composition of mammary parenchyma was not affected by plane of nutrition in prepubertal or postpubertal heifers. From these data, we suggest a critical period for total mammary cell number in heifers during which mammary growth is affected adversely by a high plane of nutrition.
David Ricardo's Discovery of Comparative Advantage

David Ricardo’s Discovery of Comparative Advantage Roy J. Ruffin Abstract This paper argues that Ricardo’s discovery of the law of comparative advantage probably occurred in October 1816. The “Ricardo effect” served as a red herring to cause scholars to possibly misread Ricardo’s letters in a crucial period. The letters as well as his book tell a rather beautiful and remarkable story about Ricardo’s method of discovery. The modern reconstruction of Ricardo has also led to misunderstandings of his proof. Torrens cannot receive credit for discovery of the law because his statement of comparative advantage is too incomplete for easy scientific reproducibility, and does not even contain the key assumption of international factor immobility. “There’s place and means for every man alive.” William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well David Ricardo (1772-1823) probably discovered the law of comparative advantage around the first two weeks of October 1816. The date itself is not important, but his letters at the time reveal how Ricardo’s mind worked when he discovered the law. If my hypothesis is correct, the letters show his mind ranged over much of the terrain of trade theory—from factor price equalization conditions to the Ricardian model. I also conjecture that the hard part of his discovery was coming up with the key assumption of factor immobility. The logical nature of his proof is re-examined. Given the importance