cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New host record for the California mussel Mytilus californianus (Bivalvia, Mytilidae), epibiotic on the Pacific sand crab Emerita analoga (Decapoda, Hippidae) from Monterey Bay, California (U.S.A.)

Sea mussels form dense aggregations on temperate rocky shores; however, in the absence of such firm substrates, biogenic surface such as the calcified integument of crustaceans may become settlement sites for their larvae. In this paper we present the first report on the association between the California mussel Mytilus californianus Conrad, 1837 and the Pacific sand crab Emerita analoga (Stimpson, 1857), collected from a sandy beach in Monterey Bay, California, U.S.A. We examined 63 crabs, and three had epibiotic mussels attached on their lateroventral surfaces. The organisms were measured and photographed. Such low incidence rate is tied to the collection site, as sandy beaches are considered atypical habitats for this bivalve species. The occurrence of epibiotic M. californianus suggests a random and non-obligatory relationship with E. analoga .
Ad astra! To the stars!

With dreams of building a spacecraft within the next 100 years that can reach the stars, a group of enthusiasts has been plotting exactly how we might get there. An alien spacecraft scouting out Earth's scientific prowess last September may well have zeroed in on NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But the aliens might have learned more if they had flown some miles west to the 100 Year Starship Study (100YSS) conference in Orlando.
Landscape evolution models using the stream power incision model show unrealistic behavior when m ∕ n equals 0.5

Abstract. Landscape evolution models often utilize the stream power incision model to simulate river incision: E = KAmSn, where E is the vertical incision rate, K is the erodibility constant, A is the upstream drainage area, S is the channel gradient, and m and n are exponents. This simple but useful law has been employed with an imposed rock uplift rate to gain insight into steady-state landscapes. The most common choice of exponents satisfies m ∕ n = 0.5. Yet all models have limitations. Here, we show that when hillslope diffusion (which operates only on small scales) is neglected, the choice m ∕ n = 0.5 yields a curiously unrealistic result: the predicted landscape is invariant to horizontal stretching. That is, the steady-state landscape for a 10 km2 horizontal domain can be stretched so that it is identical to the corresponding landscape for a 1000 km2 domain.
Effects of enriched auditory experience on infants’ speech perception during the first year of life

Infants rapidly learn language in their home environments. Between 6 and 12 months of age, infants’ ability to process the building blocks of speech (i.e., phonetic information) develops quickly, and this ability predicts later language development. Typically, developing infants in a monolingual language environment rapidly tune in to the phonetic information of their native language, while their sensitivity to nonnative phonetic information starts to decrease. Yet, enriched experience to a new language during this time significantly improves infants’ sensitivity to the sound contrasts used in that language when compared to a control group without exposure to the new language. More recently, a new study examined another type of enriched auditory experience—musical experience—to determine its effect not only on music processing but also on phonetic processing. Results showed that a 1-month laboratory music intervention focusing on rhythm learning enhanced 9-month-old infants’ neural processing not only for music but also for speech. Together, these results suggest that these enriched auditory experiences in infancy may improve infants’ general auditory pattern-detection skills and their sensitivity to phonetic information.
Abstract 1078: Dinaciclib overcomes resistance to BKM120 in triple negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft models

Purpose: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most lethal subtypes of breast cancer with limited therapeutic options. Development of molecularly targeted agents for TNBC is an unmet clinical need. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, which is a major cell growth and survival pathway, is frequently activated in TNBC as a result of genetic aberrations such as loss of the negative regulator PTEN or gain of function mutations in PIK3CA, therefore an attractive therapeutic target. However, single agent PI3K inhibitors have shown limited anti-tumor activity in both preclinical models and in clinical trials. One of the most important mechanisms of resistance to PI3K inhibitor is amplification of Myc. Dinaciclib, a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs)1, 2, 5 and 9, has shown to be particularly effective in Myc dependent tumors in preclinical studies and in TNBC. We therefore hypothesized that dinaciclib could overcome tumor cell resistance to PI3K inhibitors and improve the therapeutic efficacy in TNBC. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor and molecular effect of dinaciclib and BKM120 (Pan-PI3K inhibitor), either alone or in combination, in a panel of patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of TNBC. Methods: Four TNBC PDXs models were selected for the study for in-vivo and ex-vivo response to vehicle, BKM120, dinaciclib, or the combination of BKM120 and dinaciclib. Tumor volume changes over time in each group were documented to calculate the percentage of tumor growth inhibition by either agent alone or in combination. Tumor tissues harvested post treatment were examined by immunohistochemistry for cleaved PARP to determine the extent of apoptosis and phospho-Histone H3 for G2 to M phase cell cycle progression. Western blot analysis and reverse protein phase array (RPPA) were also performed to determine treatment effect on PI3K downstream targets and cell cycle molecules. Results: The combination of BKM120 and dinaciclib induced significantly greater growth inhibitory effect on tumor growth than either single agent alone in TNBC PDX models. This is accompanied by an enhanced apoptotic induction and reduced cell cycle progression. In addition, the combination of dinaciclib and BKM120 significantly reduced the level of cyclin B and the key anti-apoptotic protein survivin as well as significant downregulation of pAKT, and pS6. Conclusions: These data suggest that dinaciclib and BKM120 combination is an effective approach in treating TNBC. Additional mechanistic investigation for the efficacy of this combination is underway. Citation Format: Sandeep Rajput, Fang Guo, Li Shun, Cynthia Ma. Dinaciclib overcomes resistance to BKM120 in triple negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1078. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1078
A taxonomic revision of small neotropical saurian Malarias allied to Plasmodium minasense.

Saurian malaria species which produce schizonts smaller than normal erythrocyte nuclei, with 4-8 merozoites and gametocytes equal to or smaller than erythrocyte nuclei in size, parasitizing hosts of the lizard families Scincidae, Iguanidae and Teiidae in the Neotropics are considered to be Plasmodium minasense Carini and Rudolph, 1912. Subspecific designations are given to distinctive populations parasitizing different host species : P. minasense minasense is recognized from the type host, Mabuya mabouya of Brasil ; P. minasense carinii Leger and Mouzels, 1917 from Iguana iguana of coastal South America ; P. minasense ano-lisi subsp. nov. from Anolis limifrons of Panama ; P. minasense capitoi subsp. nov. from Anolis capito of Panama ; P. minasense plicae subsp. nov. from Plica umbra of Guyana ; P. minasense tegui subsp. nov. from Tupinambis teguixin of Venezuela ; and P. minasense diminutivum Telford, 1973, new combination, from Ameiva ameiva of Panama. Plasmodium rhadinurum Thompson and Huff, 1944 is recognized as a distinct species at present on the basis of possessing schizonts of different shape, asexual stages with filamentous projections in most portions of its range, and larger gametocytes, as well as apparent sympatry with P. minasense carinii in some areas.
The Evaluation of Catalysts by Pressure DSC

The relatively new technique of pressure DSC will be shown to be a useful tool in the study of a variety of types of catalysts.
Controversies in the Composition of Infant Formulas

Available infant formulas contain a vast assortment of carbohydrate, protein, and fat sources in an effort to emulate the composition of human milk. Although infants receiving commercial formulas thrive, physicians should be cognizant of differences in formula composition and the research that has resulted in the differences. Such awareness permits rational and scientific recommendations both in prescription of formulas and in direction of research on the optimal formula composition for infants.
Statistical Inference for the Relationship Between Two Variables

In this chapter, we continue our discussion of hypothesis testing methods. Here, we only consider hypotheses that are expressed in terms of a relationship between two variables. We start our discussion by focusing on situations where one variable is numerical and the other variable is binary. Typically, the numerical variable, called the response variable, is regarded as the primary variable of interest that captures a specific characteristic of the population that we are investigating. The binary variable, called factor, on the other hand, divides the population into two groups. Therefore, to evaluate the hypothesis regarding the relationship between the numerical variable of interest and the binary variable that defines the two groups, we investigate the difference between the two groups with respect to the characteristic represented by the numerical variable. Next, we discuss situations where both variables are binary. Finally, we talk about the situations where both variables are numerical.
Can cardiac magnetic resonance imaging reliably differentiate between benign and neoplastic fat

Magnetic resonance imaging is currently frequently used to differentiate lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum from other cardiac lesions involving abnormal fatty tissue including lipomatous neoplasms. This report discusses potential problems with this approach by emphasizing the variable appearance of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum on magnetic resonance imaging.
A QI initiative for bridging the health literacy gap by Educating internal medicine residents at a community hospital

Introduction: Only 12% of Americans have proficient health literacy (HL). Patients hide this fact from others including physicians. This quality improvement (QI) project was developed to compare in...
Evaluation of the Robustness of Statistical Software for Warranty Analysis

Warranty data with an implicit censoring at the end of the warranty period is often used in combination with commercially available “Weibull Analysis” software to estimate the rate of product failure after the end of the warranty period. Warranty databases frequently contain some “goodwill” or other special type of claims that are made after the end of the warranty period. Inclusion of such after warranty claims with the usual commercial software violates the assumption of independence of the time-to-failure process and the censoring process. This independence assumption is built into the algorithms used by Reliasoft Weibull++, Win SMITH, and SAS. The research reported here uses Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the robustness (i.e. whether or not the accuracy and precision of the estimation algorithms are maintained) when the independence assumption is violated. The proportion of after warranty claims which are included in the analysis, while censoring non-failed product at the end of the warranty, and the distance between the end of the warranty and the product age for the relevant projection for the failure rate will determine the magnitude of the bias of the projected failure rates. The magnitude of the bias is characterized here as the percent of projection estimates that are at or above the actual failure rate at the relevant age. A method for including after warranty claims along with other information about after warranty failures, e.g. part sales, is proposed and found to be less biased than simply including after warranty claims with no modeling of the censoring process that produced the after warranty claims.
Experimental measurements of isothermal reactivity coefficient and temperature-dependent reactivity changes with associated uncertainty evaluations

Abstract The low power Reactor Critical Facility (RCF) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has recently been utilized to design and perform low-power temperature dependent experiments. The experiments include determination of isothermal excess reactivity and reactivity coefficient at different temperatures and measurements of time-dependent reactivity change with system temperature change. The above-mentioned experiments have produced significant quantities of data, and numerous post-processing steps are needed in order to make the data useful for computational model validation. One important step toward providing the data as an accurate and high-fidelity experiment benchmark for modern code validation is to develop in-depth experimental uncertainty quantification. In this paper, we analyze in particular two types of reactor physics experiments driven by the change in system temperature within a small temperature range. Uncertainty quantification includes separately derived experimental errors for both independent (temperature) and dependent (reactivity) variables, and an iterative weighted least squares approach is used to combine them into the equivalent uncertainty in reactivity. The results of the experiments show the negative effects of the system temperature on reactor reactivity due to combined effects of the Doppler broadening in the fuel, the S(α,β) thermal scattering physics and the decrease in water density. The low uncertainty values obtained for the reactor isothermal excess reactivity (
Far Lateral Approach for Clipping of a Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm.

Objectives To describe a far lateral approach for microsurgical clipping of a ruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm involving the hypoglossal nerve, with emphasis on the microsurgical anatomy, and technique. Design A far lateral craniotomy is performed in the lateral decubitus position and the transverse and sigmoid sinuses were exposed. After opening the dura, sutures are placed to allow gentle mobilization of the sinuses. The ipsilateral cerebellar tonsil is mobilized and the PICA is followed to its junction with the vertebral artery. Hypoglossal nerve rootlets are draped over the dome of the aneurysm. Mobilization of the PICA and the hypoglossal nerve away from the lateral medulla allows microsurgical clipping of the aneurysm neck. Photographs of the region are borrowed from Dr Rhoton's laboratory to illustrate the microsurgical anatomy. Participants The senior authors performed the surgery. The video was edited by Drs. V.N. and J.B. Chart review and literature review were performed by Drs. W.M. and J.B. Outcome Measures Outcome was assessed with successful clip occlusion and postoperative neurological function. Results There was complete clip occlusion of the PICA aneurysm with no postoperative neurological deficits. The patient was discharged home after an uneventful hospital course. Conclusion The far lateral approach provides an adequate corridor to the ventrolateral brainstem for microsurgical treatment of PICA aneurysms. An adequate understanding of the relevant microsurgical anatomy is the key to safe and effective clipping in this region. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/yhjKRIG5H74 .
Accruing Interest: What Experiences Contribute to Students Developing a Sustained Interest in Computer Science Over Time?

This lightning talk describes a new grant-funded research project investigating how undergraduate computer science students' interest in CS develops. The goal of this project is to investigate how sustained, individual interest develops from finer-grained experiences of situational interest that students have in introductory CS courses. This project will accomplish this goal using the experience sampling method (Hektner, Schmidt, & Csikszentmihalyi, 2007), which is a longitudinal research method that asks participants to report on their immediate experiences at many occasions. Prior research has not adequately investigated what drives individual differences in CS interest at the level at which policymakers and educators can most effectively act, namely, at a situation-to-situation level, rather than in terms of what happens in courses, programs of study, or occupations in general and overall. Moreover, research has shown that some overall factors, such as competence-related beliefs and co-curricular supports, might be related to the development of sustained interest in CS (e.g., Lishinski, Yadav, Good, & Enbody, 2016). Thus, we will explore how students' initial interest, as well as their individual motivational characteristics, such as CS self-concept, and CS self-efficacy, relate to interest at a situation-to-situation level. Furthermore, we will also explore how contextual factors - those internal to students, such as how challenging they found the activities, as well as those external to students, such as the focus of each class - relate to students' situational interest. Overall, we hope to better understand how students' situational interest relates to changes in their longer-term, individual interest.
A DELAY IN SEEKING CARE AFTER FALSE REASSURANCE FRMO A CONSUMER ECG APP

In 2018 the FDA approved the Apple Watch ECG app to determine the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF), but acknowledged “failure to seek treatment due to over-reliance on device output” as a risk associated with the app's use. A 49-year-old man with hyperlipidemia was jogging when he developed
Epigenetic Regulation of KL (Klotho) via H3K27me3 (Histone 3 Lysine [K] 27 Trimethylation) in Renal Tubule Cells

KL (klotho) levels decline with age, which is an important mechanistic driver of aging. KL gene deficiency is associated with hypertension. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of H3K27me3 (histone 3 lysine [K] 27 trimethylation) in the regulation of KL gene expression and examine the related molecular pathways that may drive kidney cell aging. Kidneys were collected from 6-month-old WT (wild type; young WT), 30-month-old WT (aged WT), and 6- (young) and 20-month-old (aged) KL mutant mice, respectively. We demonstrated that the H3K27me3 level was increased in kidneys of aged WT and KL mutant mice versus young WT mice. Elevation of H3K27me3 levels was likely due to downregulation of the H3K27 (histone H3 Lys 27)-specific demethylase JMJD3 (the Jumonji domain containing-3) in the aged kidneys. Inhibition of PRC2 (polycomb repressive complex C2; histone trimethyltransferase) decreased the H3K27me3 levels leading to an increase in the expression of KL in cultured primary renal tubule cells assessed by Western blot and KL promoter activity assays. The chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR assay revealed that H3K27me3 was physically associated with the KL promoter region. Furthermore, aging impaired the SGK1 (serum- and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 1)/FOXO3a (the forkhead box class O 3a) signaling leading to upregulation of p53 and p16 (aging markers) in the kidney of aged WT mice. KL may regulate the SGK1/FOXO3 signaling, which was decreased due to KL deficiency. Thus, aging-associated downregulation of KL gene expression may be partly attributed to upregulation of H3K27me3 levels. Downregulation of KL may impair the SGK1/FOXO3 signaling contributing to kidney cell aging.
Holy Childhoods, Batman!: Configurations of Youth and Possibilities in Teacher Education as Seen through Robin Comics.

This paper explores a historical analysis of the comic book character Robin to illuminate how different understandings of youth at different historical points intersect with notions of pedagogy to ...
The American Performance in Micronesia: A Retrospective Appraisal

Many studies have assessed the United States role in Micronesia. The region has been the subject of a long succession of books, articles, editorials, speeches and reports. Excluding ethnographic studies of traditional Micronesian cultures, almost all of these works have been indictments of the American role as trustee.’ However, the specific content of these indictments has changed with the times, reflecting the abrupt policy changes of successive American administrations. The present study is written from the viewpoint of a person who worked in the Trust Territory administration. For eight years-from 1965 to 1973-1 was an “insider.” My perspective is not unique. Many earlier commentators were, to a greater or lesser degree, identified with the Trust Territory government. However, for the most part, they were identified with the trusteeship during its earlier days and had served in largely an advisory or consultative capacity.* An im ortant exception is Roger Gale, who recently wrote a critique.!: He served in Micronesia as a Peace Corps Volunteer during my tenure as an administrator. However, the relationship of the Peace Corps to the administration was distant and at times adversarial, certainly not one of identification. Following his service in Micronesia, Gale became a founder and leader of the “Friends -of Micronesia,” an association opposed to United States control of the region. Its quar
Do shared traits create the same fates? Examining the link between morphological type and the biogeography of fungal and bacterial communities

Abstract Although it has been commonly observed that fungi and bacteria differ in their regional biogeographic patterns, it is not well understood what traits contribute to these different distributions. Here, we evaluate how morphological type (i.e. unicellular or filamentous growth form) influences the biogeography of soil fungal and bacterial communities across not only Euclidean (i.e. geographic) distances, but also across gradients of climate and edaphic factors and plant community composition. Specifically, we assessed the decay in community similarity over distance (distance-decay relationship) for microbes with unicellular and filamentous morphology in both fungi and bacteria across 40 ecologically diverse sampling sites in Minnesota, USA. Overall, we found that while distance-decay relationships were similar in fungal and bacterial communities over Euclidean distances, there were important differences among morphological groups of fungi and bacteria across gradients of environmental and plant community similarity. Specifically, the distance-decay relationship of unicellular fungi and unicellular bacteria were indistinguishable across environmental similarity. However, as plant community similarity decreased, only filamentous fungi and unicellular bacteria differed significantly in the strength of their distance-decay relationships. Like analyses of other study systems, we also found that pH explained much of the variance in community composition across microbial domains and morphological types and that plant community diversity was more closely correlated with fungal diversity than with bacterial diversity. Collectively, our results suggest that specific ecological traits such as morphological type along with microbial domain are key factors shaping the biogeography of microbial communities.
Closing Time! Examining the Impact of Gender and Executive Branch Policy Makers on the Timing of Stay-at-Home Orders

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic has significantly altered lives across the globe. In the United States, several states attempted to manage the pandemic by issuing stay-at-home orders. In this research note, I examine whether the gender of state policy makers in the executive branch might impact a state's adoption of a stay-at-home order. Using event history analysis, I find that the governor's gender has no impact on the likelihood of a state adopting a stay-at-home order. However, I find that gender plays a significant role for agency heads. Specifically, my analysis shows that states with a female-headed health agency tend to adopt stay-at-home orders earlier than states with a male administrator. These findings shed light on how female leadership in the executive branch may impact public policy regarding COVID-19.
Interpreting lacustrine bulk sediment δ15N values using metagenomics in a tropical hypersaline lake system

Nitrogen (N) is often a limiting nutrient in lacustrine systems, and bulk organic matter stable isotope ratios of N (δ15N) are widely used in lake sediment studies to interpret N source inputs and lake trophic status. Although records of lacustrine sedimentary δ15N can provide critical information relating to past environmental change, often productivity interpretations from δ15N and lacustrine fossil records yield conflicting interpretations. Furthermore, components of the internal N cycle have substantial isotopic fractionation factors, and likely wield an enormous influence on bulk lacustrine sedimentary δ15N values. Yet apart from cyanobacteria N-fixation, few studies link specific microbial, N-related activity to δ15N variability in lake sediment records. Here, we assess the relationship between lacustrine sedimentary δ15N and microbiome profiles analyzed from extracted sediment DNA using metagenomics. In a ~ 1600-year-long sediment record from a hypersaline lake located on Kiritimati, Republic of Kiribati (1.9° N, 157.4° W), both δ15N and the taxonomy annotations from five unique metagenomes vary with depth. Despite the relatively high abundance of Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and N-fixation genes in the uppermost sediment, we find the highest δ15N values of the sediment record there. These high values are likely due to denitrification, supported by a relatively high abundance of denitrification genes and taxa responsible for denitrification, such as those found in family Chromatiaceae within the Gamma-proteobacteria. In the deep sediment, N-related biochemical processes are likely suppressed considering the low energy, low nutrient subsurface environment. Low δ15N values observed in deeper sediments co-occur with genes for assimilatory nitrate reduction and ammonification. Thus, metagenomics provides greater clarity with respect to the specific, microbial processes that alter primary δ15N signatures in the subsurface sediment.
Fast breathing facilitates reaction time and movement time of a memory-guided force pulse

Abstract Slow controlled breathing can be beneficial for performance of continuous and serial motor tasks. However, how controlled breathing influences discrete motor task performance remains unclear. We sought to determine the impact of paced breathing frequency on measures of movement initiation (reaction time: RT), accuracy (absolute endpoint error: AE; constant error: CE), and variability (trial-to-trial variability: V), in a goal-directed discrete motor task. We hypothesized slow breathing would be accompanied by faster RT, reduced AE and CE, and less V compared to faster breathing rates. Participants (N = 47) performed a memory-guided force pulse pinch task targeted at 10% of their maximum voluntary contraction while breathing at metronome-paced slow, normal, and fast frequencies. During each breathing condition, heart rate variability (HRV) as indexed by the standard deviation of ‘NN’ intervals (SDNN) was measured to ensure objective manipulation check of participants breathing at their set pace. Following each breathing condition, participants provided subjective ratings using the Affect Grid and Visual Analog Scales for arousal, hindrance, and dyspnea. Manipulation check results indicated participants correctly breathed at metronome paces, as indexed by increased HRV for slow breathing and decreased HRV for fast breathing. Results indicated that fast breathing reduced reaction time and movement time, and increased ratings of arousal, hindrance, and dyspnea. In contrast, slow breathing increased reaction time, and levels of hindrance and dyspnea were similar to normal breathing. Breathing frequency did not differentially impact accuracy or variability across conditions. Findings provide evidence that breathing frequency affects fundamental movement parameters, potentially mediated by factors other than arousal.
Fruit, vegetable, and starch mixtures on the nutritional quality of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae and resulting frass

The production of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) is rapidly becoming a new method to convert food waste into a sustainable ingredient in terrestrial and aquatic nutrition while...
Measuring the Effect of Pandemic Lockdowns on Economic Activity Within the St. Louis Metro Area (preprint)

This paper uses Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker data for four of the largest counties within the St. Louis MSA to better understand the effect of stay-at-home public health orders (a.k.a lockdowns) on local economic activity. A difference-in-differences analysis finds that small business openings and small business revenue (measured by Womply) declined by 8.5 and 15.8 percentage points respectively during two weeks of extended stay at home orders (May 4-18, 2020) in St. Louis County and St. Louis City County versus St. Charles County and Jefferson County. In contrast, consumer card spending, employment, and unemployment insurance initial claims were not significantly different during this time period. The effects on small business openings found for the St. Louis counties were larger than those identified by Chetty et al. (2020) of state-level reopenings across the U.S.
Representation of Female Musicians in Alternative Music Charts: A Pilot Study

This article analyzes rankings of alternative songs as published in Billboard to determine the presence of female musicians over time. The study also examines whether women who appear in a sample o...
I’m Every Woman: Advancing the Intersectional Leadership of Black Women School Leaders as Anti-Racist Praxis:

The rallying, clarion call to #SayHerName has prompted the United States to intentionally include the lives, voices, struggles, and contributions of Black women and countless others of her ilk who ...
Modernity and National Identity in the United States and East Asia, 1895-1919

This book offers a unique analysis that deepens our understanding of U.S.-East Asian relations. In the period between the Sino-Japanese War in the mid-1890s and the end of World War I, the United States, China, and, Japan found themselves, in different ways, seeking to redefine their national identities. By examining the connections between culture and nationhood - the gendered nature of concepts like modernity, the role of women in the construction and projection of a nation's identity, and the relationship between national identity and power projection - author Carol C. Chin examines the dual characteristics of nationalism with which these three nations were grappling: the push to embrace a universal standard of modernity and the desire to retain the cultural distinctiveness on which their identity was founded. Chin considers how the United States', China's, and Japan's understandings of modernity shaped, and were shaped by, notions of their place in the world. Drawing on multinational archival and published primary sources, Chin highlights Americans' ambivalence about their nation's role in the world, China's struggle to adapt its worldview to the realities of modern international relations, and the increasingly uneasy relationship between the United States and Japan. Filling a major gap in the literature, "Modernity and National Identity in the United States and East Asia, 1895-1919" is a comprehensive, thought-provoking intellectual history of American, Chinese, and Japanese thinking on modernity, national identity, and internationalism during the early twentieth century. Those with an interest in U.S. foreign relations, women's and gender history, and U.S.-Asian relations will find this an innovative and fascinating title.
Generating structure in sensory data through coordinated motor activity

Evidence from human and animal studies suggests that neural and cognitive development unfolds in the course of active exploration of the sensory environment. We argue that the statistical structure of sensory inputs depends critically on coordinated motor activity (Lungarella, and Pfeifer, 2001). We develop a set of statistical measures to objectively characterize streams of sensory data from an information theoretical perspective and apply these measures to data sets obtained by adopting different motor strategies. The robotic platform used in the presented experiments consist of a color CCD camera mounted on a 2 DOF pan-tilt unit. Camera images were captured using a standard frame grabber and saved and processed within Matlab. Motor commands instructing the pan and tilt servos to move to specified positions were issued via a serial line interface (rate 2/sec). The stimulus was a "color Mondrian" composed of small color patches of a broad range of colors. A typical experimental run resulted in continuous time series of thousands of images, acquired under constant illumination and spatially averaged to yield a resolution of 16 /spl times/ 12 pixels, with one image each for the red, green and blue channels of the color camera. Three different motor strategies were used to move the camera: 1) "still": the camera was moved to a random location within the color stimulus and fixed there. 2) "random": the camera was moved at random within a defined region of the stimulus. 3) "foveation": the camera was controlled by a simple neural network to foveate on red patches within the stimulus array. In these preliminary experiments, high complexity of sensory data is the result of a coordinated motor strategy (foveation) and active selection of specific sensory patterns present in the environment. This selection process generates correlations among parts of the image that are the result of dynamic coupling between the robot and the stimulus. Such correlations may serve as a basis for neural plasticity and development.
Biosynthesis of mannophosphoinositides by Mycobacterium phlei. The family of dimannophosphoinositides.

Abstract Subcellular fractions of Mycobacterium phlei have been shown to catalyze the biosynthesis of several mannosyl derivatives of phosphatidylmyoinositol, to which we have given the generic name "mannophosphoinositides." The major products are a family of dimannophosphoinositides, three in number, and these appear to differ only in the number of fatty acyl groups they contain. Phosphatidylmyoinositol is an effective mannose acceptor and guanosine diphosphate mannose, the sugar donor in the biosynthesis of these complex phospholipids. The three dimannophosphoinositides, A, B, and C, contain, respectively, 4, 3, and 2 moles of fatty acid per phosphate residue in the molecule. Since two of the fatty acid groups are probably present in the phosphatidyl residue, dimannophosphoinositides A and B must be acylated in addition on the mannose or myoinositol parts. The origin of these additional fatty acyl groups is unknown. The enzyme activities which catalyze the biosynthesis of the mannophosphoinositides are present in both the soluble and particulate fractions of cells disrupted by sonic treatment. The particulate enzyme can be "solubilized" by acetone treatment. The various enzyme activities differ in their requirements, substrate specificities, and detergent effects in ways which are not readily explainable. The acceptor ability of phosphatidylmyoinositol from different sources and following different treatments varies widely. All of these observations probably reflect the complexity of the enzyme system which undoubtedly contains several mannosyltransferases as well as the acylating activity. As a working hypothesis, we suggest that GDP-mannose acts as the donor in the conversion of phosphatidylmyoinositol to phosphatidylmyoinositol dimannoside (dimannophosphoinositide C), and the latter is then acylated in a two-step process to yield first dimannophosphoinositide B and then dimannophosphoinositide A. Alternatively, the intermediate monomannophosphoinositide could be acylated before addition of the second mannose, leading then directly to dimannophosphoinositide B. Presumably, these substances are all precursors of the higher polymannophosphoinositides, including the pentamannoside.
Keto Acids as Growth-limiting Factors in Autotrophic Growth of Thiobacillus thiooxidans

When the strictly autotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus thiooxidans was grown on sulfur, keto acids accumulated in the medium until they reached an inhibitory level at which growth ceased. Much greater growth was possible if these substances were continually dialyzed out of the medium.
Analysis of electric vehicle operational data from versatile data acquisition systems

A microprocessor-based onboard data collection device was developed and installed on three electric vehicles (EVs) being tested at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and at Northrop Aircraft Division, Hawthorne, California. This device, the Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS), collects and stores selected EV and battery performance data in histogram format. Some time-domain data are also collected. This paper presents the results of an analysis of these data. The analysis shows that histograms of trip distances, trip times, road gradients, and velocities provide useful measures or indicators of daily site operations. Engineering performance indicators such as ac and dc energy consumption per mile, battery power and energy demands, battery charging profiles, and component temperature extremes are developed. The authors conclude that VDAS installations can bridge the gaps between simulations, laboratory tests, and field tests of EVs.
Response to comments on ‘Influences of the Bermuda High and atmospheric moistening on changes in summer rainfall in the Atlanta, Georgia region, the United States’

Researchers have come to differing conclusions about multi-decadal changes in the position of the western ridge of the Bermuda High during the summer. This communication examines trends for 72 periods within the entire period of record (1948–2012), while also comparing variances in the Western Bermuda High Index (WBHI) and the latitudinal position of the western ridge. The western ridge has not moved significantly eastward or westward over either 1948–2012 or the past 60 years. The western ridge underwent a major westward shift from 1976 to 1977, but it did not stay in that western position during subsequent decades. Over the past 30–40 years, the western ridge has moved significantly eastwards and southwards. Finally, the WBHI, rather than the latitude of the western ridge, has had a definitive increase in variance over time and is the likely cause of increased summer rainfall variability in the southeastern United States.
Multiple Cdt1 molecules act at each origin to load replication-competent Mcm2–7 helicases

Eukaryotic origins of replication are selected by loading a head-to-head double hexamer of the Mcm2–7 replicative helicase around origin DNA. Cdt1 plays an essential but transient role during this event; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. Through analysis of Cdt1 mutations, we demonstrate that Cdt1 performs multiple functions during helicase loading. The C-terminus of Cdt1 binds Mcm2–7, and this interaction is required for efficient origin recruitment of both proteins. We show that origin recognition complex (ORC) and Cdc6 recruit multiple Cdt1 molecules to the origin during helicase loading, and disruption of this multi-Cdt1 intermediate prevents helicase loading. Although dispensable for loading Mcm2–7 double hexamers that are topologically linked to DNA, the essential N-terminal domain of Cdt1 is required to load Mcm2–7 complexes that are competent for association with the Cdc45 and GINS helicase-activating proteins and replication initiation. Our data support a model in which origin-bound ORC and Cdc6 recruit two Cdt1 molecules to initiate double-hexamer formation prior to helicase loading and demonstrate that Cdt1 influences the replication competence of loaded Mcm2–7 helicases.
Migration, language diversity and education policy: A contextualized analysis of inequality, risk and state effects

No Child Left Behind is federal education legislation consisting of implementation programs intended to reconcile the goals of insuring equality while promoting competition in public education in t...
Validation of Measures of Food Insecurity and Hunger

The most recent survey effort to determine the extent of food insecurity and hunger in the United States, the Food Security Supplement, included a series of questions to assess this complex phenomenon. The primary measure developed from this Food Security Supplement was based on measurement concepts, methods and items from two previously developed measures. This paper presents the evidence available that questionnaire-based measures, in particular the national food security measure, provide valid measurement of food insecurity and hunger for population and individual uses. The paper discusses basic ideas about measurement and criteria for establishing validity of measures and then uses these criteria to structure an examination of the research results available to establish the validity of food security measures. The results show that the construction of the national food security measure is well grounded in our understanding of food insecurity and hunger, its performance is consistent with that understanding, it is precise within usual performance standards, dependable, accurate at both group and individual levels within reasonable performance standards, and its accuracy is attributable to the well-grounded understanding. These results provide strong evidence that the Food Security Supplement provides valid measurement of food insecurity and hunger for population and individual uses. Further validation research is required for subgroups of the population, not yet studied for validation purposes, to establish validity for monitoring population changes in prevalence and to develop and validate robust and contextually sensitive measures in a variety of countries that reflect how people experience and think about food insecurity and hunger.
Wireless Stimulus-Reflex Detection for Neonatal Monitoring

The author describe a micro-power wireless monitor device with stimulus motors and motion-sensing accelerometer for neonatal monitoring. The novelty of our approach is using a vibrator to stimulate an involuntary reflex response and using an accelerometer to sense that motion. Since the reflex response is involuntary, it operates regardless of the patient's arousal state. We performed a preliminary trial using a prototype foot-worn monitor to invoke the Babinski reflex in a 3-month-old infant. We observed a reliable correlation between the vibrator stimulus and acceleration. There was an order of magnitude difference in detected movement with and without the stimulus. This paper is the first step toward using reflex detection for remote monitoring. We also detail the construction, electronics, embedded software, and power-saving methods for the monitor device.
Controlling environmental systems: an adaptive control approach

Abstract Environmental control agencies are faced with a stochastic intertemporal optimization problem. This paper extends the traditional static-deterministic model applied in the economics of environmental resources to an adaptive control problem. The interdependence of decisions on the levels at which to set pollution controls and actions to be taken to be reduce uncertainty is established; the imposition of an input tax as a means of internalizing risk costs in the case of a risk-averse society is also shown to be required. Finally, a new method to obtain an environmental policy with dual characteristics has been suggested. This new environmental control policy, which is obtained by introducing a learning factor in the agency's objective function, attempts both to precisely estimate the environmental process parameters and make good environmental control.
Optimod – An automated approach for constructing and optimizing initial models for single-particle electron microscopy

Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy is now well established as a technique for the structural characterization of large macromolecules and macromolecular complexes. The raw data is very noisy and consists of two-dimensional projections, from which the 3D biological object must be reconstructed. The 3D object depends upon knowledge of proper angular orientations assigned to the 2D projection images. Numerous algorithms have been developed for determining relative angular orientations between 2D images, but the transition from 2D to 3D remains challenging and can result in erroneous and conflicting results. Here we describe a general, automated procedure, called OptiMod, for reconstructing and optimizing 3D models using common-lines methodologies. OptiMod approximates orientation angles and reconstructs independent maps from 2D class averages. It then iterates the procedure, while considering each map as a raw solution that needs to be compared with other possible outcomes. We incorporate procedures for 3D alignment, clustering, and refinement to optimize each map, as well as standard scoring metrics to facilitate the selection of the optimal model. We also show that small angle tilt-pair data can be included as one of the scoring metrics to improve the selection of the optimal initial model, and also to provide a validation check. The overall approach is demonstrated using two experimental cryo-EM data sets – the 80S ribosome that represents a relatively straightforward case for ab initio reconstruction, and the Tf–TfR complex that represents a challenging case in that it has previously been shown to provide multiple equally plausible solutions to the initial model problem.
Numerical and Experimental Study of Pressure Drop Reduction in a Power Plant Stack

As governmental regulations on the emission of the power industry became more restrictive, many power plants operating today experience severe problems. The fans that handle the flow through the stack, that were originally designed to handle a certain maximum flow rate, are now required to handle even higher flow rates due to the introduction of emission control devices. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental studies have been carried out on the scale model of a stack to identify means for pressure drop reduction. The CFD model was constructed using the commercial software CFX-5.6. The model solves the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation with Shear-Stress turbulence model (SST) and the CFD results are validated by data taken from the scale model. Baffles of different orientation have been installed in the stack under different flow conditions. Both numerical and experimental results confirm that adding baffles can reduce the pressure drop in a stack significantly. Thus, with minimum effort, power plants can keep running the stacks at a higher flow rate.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
j dependence of polarization effects in nucleon capture reactions

Polarized proton capture data indicate a sensitivity to the j value (l +- (1/2)) of the single particle final state for a given l value. The direct capture model is examined and a simple relationship between the analyzing powers for capture to the two j values is derived for the case of spin independent distortions. Calculations showing the effects of spin dependent distortion are also presented. The results are compared to the available data.