cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal variable switching frequency scheme for grid connected full bridge inverters with bipolar modulation scheme

This paper proposes a scheme to improve the system overall efficiency while still meeting a given THD requirement by implementing variable instantaneous switching frequency scheme in a full bridge inverter. Previous work has analyzed variable frequency scheme for unipolar PWM. This paper aims at minimizing the switching loss for inverters using bipolar PWM scheme by including characteristics of the loss and current ripple relative to instantaneous switching frequency in the optimization process. Compared with unipolar modulation, bipolar modulation is much more suitable to implement the variable switching frequency scheme due to its ripple distribution pattern. An additional motivation is that the common mode leakage current performance of bipolar PWM is superior to that of the unipolar PWM for grid connected converters. A 1 kW full bridge inverter using SiC MOSFETs and ferrite core has been built to validate the theoretical analysis. Both constant switching frequency scheme (200 kHz) and optimal variable frequency scheme with simple code modification have been implemented in the experimental prototype using DSP TMS320f28335. The optimal variable switching frequency scheme can increase the inverter efficiency at rated power (1 kW) from 95.5% to 96.8% and has a correspondingly significant 38.1% saving on the switching loss compared with constant switching frequency scheme.
Holographic cytology for imaging red blood cells in flow (Conference Presentation)

We present application of holographic cytology to image red blood cells in flow. We have previously shown that optical volume, the product of surface area and integrated optical phase, is an invariant parameter which can be measured using quantitative phase imaging, regardless of cell geometry or orientation, provided that the images are digitally refocused. In these experiments, we image cells in microfluidic channels to illustrate this invariance as well as provide new insights into mechanical cell properties.
Racism and the Logic of Capital: A Fanonian Reconsideration

The last several decades have produced a slew of important studies by Marxists of the logic of capital, as well as numerous explorations by postcolonial theorists of the narratives that structure racial and ethnic discrimination. Far too often, however, these two currents have assumed different or even opposed trajectories, making it all the harder to transcend one-sided class-reductionist analyses and equally one-sided affirmations of identity that bypass or ignore class. In light of the new reality produced by the deepening crisis of neoliberalism and the looming disintegration of the political order that has defined global capitalism since the end of the Cold War, the time has come to revisit theoretical approaches that can help delineate the integrality of race, class and capitalism.
ION CYCLOTRON RESONANCE

Ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) and pulsed double resonance spectroscopy have been utilized to determine the gas-phase relative acidities of a variety of compounds including alcohols, amines, ammonium ions, and simple binary hydrides of a number of elements. Utilizing the ICR spectrometer in conjunction with a light source, it has been possible to determine photo-detachment thresholds for some negative ions; these have been used in thermochemical cycles to provide quantitative information about heats of dissociation of ions in the gas phase.
When to reap and when to sow - lowering peak usage with realistic batteries

In some energy markets, large clients are charged for both total energy usage and peak energy usage, which is based on the maximum single energy request over the billing period. The problem of minimizing peak charges was recently introduced as an online problem in [4], which gave optimally competitive algorithms. In this problem, a battery (previously assumed to be perfectly efficient) is used to store energy for later use. In this paper, we extend the problem to the more realistic setting of lossy batteries, which lose to conversion inefficiency a constant fraction of any amount charged (e.g. 33%). For this setting, we provide efficient and optimal offline algorithms as well as possibly competitive online algorithms. Second, we give factor-revealing LPs, which provide some quasi-empirical evidence for competitiveness. Finally, we evaluate these and other, heuristic algorithms on real and synthetic data.
The relative impact of cloud condensation nuclei and ice nucleating particle concentrations on phase partitioning in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus clouds

Abstract. This study investigates the interactions between cloud dynamics and aerosols in idealized large-eddy simulations (LES) of Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus clouds (AMPS) observed at Oliktok Point, Alaska, in April 2015. This case was chosen because it allows the cloud to form in response to radiative cooling starting from a cloud-free state, rather than requiring the cloud ice and liquid to adjust to an initial cloudy state. Sensitivity studies are used to identify whether there are buffering feedbacks that limit the impact of aerosol perturbations. The results of this study indicate that perturbations in ice nucleating particles (INPs) dominate over cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) perturbations; i.e., an equivalent fractional decrease in CCN and INPs results in an increase in the cloud-top longwave cooling rate, even though the droplet effective radius increases and the cloud emissivity decreases. The dominant effect of ice in the simulated mixed-phase cloud is a thinning rather than a glaciation, causing the mixed-phase clouds to radiate as a grey body and the radiative properties of the cloud to be more sensitive to aerosol perturbations. It is demonstrated that allowing prognostic CCN and INPs causes a layering of the aerosols, with increased concentrations of CCN above cloud top and increased concentrations of INPs at the base of the cloud-driven mixed layer. This layering contributes to the maintenance of the cloud liquid, which drives the dynamics of the cloud system.
Book Review of No Contest: The Case Against Competition

Many marketing people accept competition as a desirable and effective way to improve performance. Is there any scientific support for this viewpoint?Marketing managers often try to promote competition among their salespeople by offering incentives to the best performer. Marketing professors use competitive reward structures to motivate people to learn. Marketing planners develop strategies to defeat their competitors as a way to ensure their company's success.Advice to marketing people on how to fight the competitive struggle can be found in books with titles such as Battling for Profits: How to Win on the Marketing Battlefield (Hendon 1986). Even standard texts, such as Kotler's (1984) Marketing Management, devote considerable attention to marketing as a type of warfare (Chapter 12). However, I had not been aware of any empirical work that explicitly examined the value of competition in marketing. Kotler's Chapter 12 does not cite any empirical support.
A new experimental mechanism to investigate polarized demands for public goods: the effects of censoring

Many social dilemmas involve deciding among alternative public goods, and include cases where part of the population may dislike a particular option. In such cases, an agent may want to spend resources to oppose or reduce the provision of the option they don’t like. We propose the generalized voluntary contributions mechanism (GVCM), which allows allocating resources to increase or decrease the level of public good. Our main treatment variables include two versions of the GVCM (uncensored, or censored at positive provision). We study performance of GVCM for various compositions of the polarized preferences. We find that uncensoring the mechanism does not impose net efficiency costs and leads to more diversity in the provision of the public good. The nature of efficiency loss is more complex compared to standard VCM and is not driven by free riding.
Pre-Game Cheating and Playing the Game

There are well-known problems for formalist accounts of game-play with regards to cheating. Such accounts seem to be committed to cheaters being unable to win–or even play–the game, yet it seems th...
Cell-intrinsic Wnt4 controls early cDC1 commitment and suppresses development of pathogen-specific Type 2 immunity

Whether conventional dendritic cell (cDC) precursors acquire lineage-specific identity under direction of regenerative secreted glycoproteins within bone marrow niches is entirely unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that Wnt4, a beta-catenin independent Wnt ligand, is both necessary and sufficient for necessary for the full extent of pre-cDC1 specification within bone marrow. Cell-intrinsic Wnt4 deficiency in CD11c+ cells reduced mature cDC1 numbers in BM, spleen, lung, and intestine and, reciprocally, rWnt4 treatment promoted pJNK activation and cDC1 expansion. Lack of cell-intrinsic Wnt4 in mice CD11cCreWnt4flox/flox impaired stabilization of IRF8/cJun complexes in BM and increased the basal frequency of both cDC2 and ILC2 populations in the periphery. Accordingly, CD11c-restricted Wnt4 augmented Type 2 immunity against the hookworm parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis accompanied by increased interleukin 5 production relative to CD11cCre controls. Collectively, these data show previously unappreciated role for Wnt4 in DC commitment and pathogen-specific immunity.
Excessive Force and Students with Disabilities: Legal and Practice Considerations

Examine pertinent case law involving the use of “excessive force” with children and youth with disabilities. In addition, legal implications for school personnel, based on these rulings, will be discussed and alternatives to using force will be explored. One-hundred thirty cases from the Special Ed Connection database were included for review and examined for the purpose of identifying patterns in special education litigation of “excessive force” spanning 1997 to May 2018. The majority of the cases were heard in states covered by the 11th circuit (24 cases); autism was the most prevalent category involved (36 cases); the majority of cases were brought before the court for excessive force under the 14th Amendment (92 cases); and schools were the prevailing party for 60% of cases while a total of 92 cases were decided under the 14th Amendment. Case law typically examined whether the force applied was proportionate to the incident at hand; presence of injury; and whether the force used served a pedagogical purpose or was arbitrarily punitive in nature. Means to reduce the use of force may include frameworks like PBIS and Ci3T, and the use of restorative practices, staff training in verbal de-escalation, and the use of explicit instruction to teach conflict resolution skills are highly recommended.
Adapting Writing Assignments on Socioscientific Issues for Large-Enrollment Introductory Cell Biology Courses

Much evidence supports the role of writing-to-learn (WTL) assignments in improving student learning and argumentation skills. However, designing effective assignments can be challenging for instructors. We describe a process for modifying WTL assignments that were originally developed for small undergraduate biology classes (24 students) for use in large introductory cell biology courses (>80 students). Students explore a socioscientific issue (cancer treatment) intended to engage them. Students learn content through reading journal articles and textbook chapters, attending class, and participating in discussions. All along, students participate in iterative writing assignments and engage in peer evaluation and self-evaluation. Finally, students write persuasive arguments about how best to treat cancer. We describe how instructors can develop their own WTL assignments in their large biology courses.
Floral organs act as environmental filters and interact with pollinators to structure the yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) floral microbiome

Assembly of microbial communities is the result of neutral and selective processes. However, the relative importance of these processes is still debated. Microbial communities of flowers, in particular, have gained recent attention because of their potential impact to plant fitness and plant-pollinator interactions. However, the role of selection and dispersal in the assembly of these communities remains poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the role of pollinator-mediated dispersal on the contribution of neutral and selective processes in the assembly of floral microbiomes of the yellow monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus). We sampled floral organs from flowers in the presence and absence of pollinators within five different serpentine seeps in CA and obtained 16S amplicon data on the epiphytic bacterial communities. Consistent with strong microenvironment selection within flowers we observed significant differences in community composition across floral organs and only a small effect of geographic distance. Pollinator exposure affected the contribution of environmental selection and depended on the rate and intimacy of interactions with flower visitors. This study provides evidence of the importance of dispersal and within-flower heterogeneity in shaping epiphytic bacterial communities of flowers, and highlights the complex interplay between pollinator behaviour, environmental selection and additional abiotic factors in shaping the epiphytic bacterial communities of flowers.
Signal Processing: Data analysis, machine learning, and imaging sources

Whether it is locating an enemy submarine, finding that annoying sound generated inside an airplane, optimizing the focusing of sound to destroy kidney stones, or learning how bats track their food...
Prediction of trabecular bone architectural features by deep learning models using simulated DXA images

Abstract Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is widely used for clinical assessment of bone mineral density (BMD). Recent evidence shows that DXA images may also contain microstructural information of trabecular bones. However, no current image processing techniques could aptly extract the information. Inspired by the success of deep learning techniques in medical image analyses, we hypothesized in this study that DXA image-based deep learning models could predict the major microstructural features of trabecular bone with a reasonable accuracy. To test the hypothesis, 1249 trabecular cubes (6 mm × 6 mm × 6 mm) were digitally dissected out from the reconstruction of seven human cadaveric proximal femurs using microCT scans. From each cube, simulated DXA images in designated projections were generated, and the histomorphometric parameters (i.e., BV/TV, BS, Tb.Th, DA, Conn. D, and SMI) of the cube were determined using Image J. Convolutional neural network (CNN) models were trained using the simulated DXA images to predict the histomorphometric parameters of trabecular bone cubes. The results exhibited that the CNN models achieved high fidelity in predicting these histomorphometric parameters (from R = 0.80 to R = 0.985), showing that the DL models exhibited the capability of predicting the microstructural features using DXA images. This study also showed that the number and resolution of input simulated DXA images had considerable impacts on the prediction accuracy of the DL models. These findings support the hypothesis of this study and indicate a high potential of using DXA images in prediction of osteoporotic bone fracture risk.
Adeno-Associated Virus Mediated Gene Therapy for Corneal Diseases

According to the World Health Organization, corneal diseases are the fourth leading cause of blindness worldwide accounting for 5.1% of all ocular deficiencies. Current therapies for corneal diseases, which include eye drops, oral medications, corrective surgeries, and corneal transplantation are largely inadequate, have undesirable side effects including blindness, and can require life-long applications. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene therapy is an optimistic strategy that involves the delivery of genetic material to target human diseases through gene augmentation, gene deletion, and/or gene editing. With two therapies already approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and 200 ongoing clinical trials, recombinant AAV (rAAV) has emerged as the in vivo viral vector-of-choice to deliver genetic material to target human diseases. Likewise, the relative ease of applications through targeted delivery and its compartmental nature makes the cornea an enticing tissue for AAV mediated gene therapy applications. This current review seeks to summarize the development of AAV gene therapy, highlight preclinical efficacy studies, and discuss potential applications and challenges of this technology for targeting corneal diseases.
Multifunctional and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for targeted therapeutic delivery.

Nanocarrier-based delivery systems offer multiple benefits to overcome limitations of the traditional drug dosage forms, such as protection of the drug, enhanced bioavailability, targeted delivery ...
Regulation of Synovial Inflammation and Tissue Destruction by Guanylate Binding Protein 5 in Synovial Fibroblasts From Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Rats With Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis

OBJECTIVE Rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) are crucial mediators of synovial inflammation and joint destruction. However, their intrinsic immunoregulatory mechanisms under chronic inflammation remain unclear. Thus, the present study was undertaken to understand the role of a newly identified GTPase, guanylate binding protein 5 (GBP-5), in RA pathogenesis. METHODS The expression of GBP1-GBP7 transcripts was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in RA synovial tissue or synovial tissue unaffected by RA. Our investigation on transient small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown and lentiviral overexpression in human RASFs examined the regulatory role of GBP-5 on proinflammatory cytokine signaling pathways. Unbiased whole transcriptome RNA sequencing analysis was used to assess the impact of GBP-5 on RASF molecular functions. These findings were confirmed using a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in vivo. RESULTS Among different GBPs evaluated, GBP-5 was selectively up-regulated in RA synovial tissue (P < 0.05; n = 4) and in the joints of rats with AIA (P < 0.05; n = 6) and was significantly induced in human RASFs by interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and/or interferon-γ (IFNγ) (P < 0.05; n = 3). Bioinformatics analysis of RNA sequencing data identified cytokine-cytokine receptor signaling as a major function altered by GBP-5, with IL-6 signaling as a primary target. Knockdown of GBP-5 amplified IL-1β-induced IL-6, IL-8, and epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide 78/CXCL5 production by 44%, 54%, 45%, respectively, and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) production by several-fold-effects that reversed with exogenously delivered GBP-5. Lack of GBP-5 increased IFNγ-induced proliferation and migration of human RASFs. GBP-5 knockdown in vivo using intraarticular siRNA exacerbated disease onset, severity, synovitis, and bone destruction in rat AIA. CONCLUSION Expressed by RASFs in response to cytokine stimulation, GBP-5 has potential to restore cellular homeostasis and blunt inflammation and tissue destruction in RA.
LASERS AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY

SUMMARY The use of laser energy on incised gingiva and mucosa around dental implants begins with the understanding of the different types of lasers available. The clinical application of a particular type of laser depends on the medium that is used to produce a specific wavelength of light. The CO2 laser is particularly desirable for clinical use around dental implants because it targets water molecules in the peri-implant tissues and produces an extremely superficial wound depth. Although used specifically to target peri-implant gingiva and mucosa, bone tissue remodels if inadvertently exposed to minimal CO2 laser light in a clinical setting.
Recursive Attribute Factoring

Clustering, or factoring of a document collection attempts to "explain" each observed document in terms of one or a small number of inferred prototypes. Prior work demonstrated that when links exist between documents in the corpus (as is the case with a collection of web pages or scientific papers), building a joint model of document contents and connections produces a better model than that built from contents or connections alone. Many problems arise when trying to apply these joint models to corpus at the scale of the World Wide Web, however; one of these is that the sheer overhead of representing a feature space on the order of billions of dimensions becomes impractical. We address this problem with a simple representational shift inspired by probabilistic relational models: instead of representing document linkage in terms of the identities of linking documents, we represent it by the explicit and inferred attributes of the linking documents. Several surprising results come with this shift: in addition to being computationally more tractable, the new model produces factors that more cleanly decompose the document collection. We discuss several variations on this model and show how some can be seen as exact generalizations of the PageRank algorithm.
Mechanical Memory Impairs Adipose-Derived Stem Cell (ASC) Adipogenic Capacity After Long-Term In Vitro Expansion.

Introduction Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs) hold great promise for clinical applications such as soft tissue regeneration and for in vitro tissue models and are notably easy to derive in large numbers. Specifically, ASCs provide an advantage for in vitro models of adipose tissue, where they can be employed as tissue specific cells and for patient specific models. However, ASC in vitro expansion may unintentionally reduce adipogenic capacity due to the stiffness of tissue culture plastic (TCPS). Methods Here, we expanded freshly isolated ASCs on soft and stiff substrates for 4 passages before adipogenic differentiation. At the last passage we swapped the substrate from stiff to soft, or soft to stiff to determine if short term exposure to a different substrate altered adipogenic capacity. Results Expansion on stiff substrates reduced adipogenic capacity by 50% which was not rescued by swapping to a soft substrate for the last passage. Stiff substrates had greater nuclear area and gene expression of nesprin-2, a protein that mediates the tension of the nuclear envelope by tethering it to the actin cytoskeleton. Upon swapping to a soft substrate, the nuclear area was reduced but nesprin-2 levels did not fully recover, which differentially regulated cell commitment transcriptional factors. Conclusion Therefore, in vitro expansion on stiff substrates must be carefully considered when the end-goal of the expansion is for adipose tissue or soft tissue applications.
Transcription Factor Control of Dendrite Targeting via Combinatorial Cell-Surface Codes

Transcription factors are central commanders specifying cell fate, morphology, and physiology while cell-surface proteins execute these commands through interaction with cellular environment. In developing neurons, it is presumed that transcription factors control wiring specificity through regulation of cell-surface protein expression. However, the number and identity of cell-surface protein(s) a transcription factor regulates remain largely unclear1,2. Also unknown is whether a transcription factor regulates the same or different cell-surface proteins in different neuron types to specify their connectivity. Here we use a lineage-defining transcription factor, Acj6 (ref. 3), to investigate how it controls precise dendrite targeting of Drosophila olfactory projection neurons (PNs). Quantitative cell-surface proteomic profiling of wild-type and acj6 mutant PNs in intact developing brains and a proteome-informed genetic screen identified PN surface proteins that execute Acj6-regulated wiring decisions. These include canonical cell adhesion proteins and proteins previously not associated with wiring, such as the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo–whose channel activity is dispensable for its wiring function. Comprehensive genetic analyses revealed that Acj6 employs unique sets of cell-surface proteins in different PN types for dendrite targeting. Combinatorial expression of Acj6 wiring executors rescued acj6 mutant phenotypes with higher efficacy and breadth than expression of individual executors. Thus, a key transcription factor controls wiring specificity of different neuron types by specifying distinct combinatorial expression of cell-surface executors.
Firm and Managerial Incentives to Manipulate the Timing of Project Resolution

A manager who wants to be viewed favorably has an incentive to advance or delay the arrival of information about his firm's profitability. In the model, a high ability manager tries to advance resolution of a likely-favorable outcome, while a low ability manager may defer resolution. Such manipulation of information arrival causes greater investment in execution projects (which tend to resolve early) than exploratory projects (which tend to resolve late), and affects investment in hastening or retarding project resolution. In contrast with previous literature, in some cases managers may secretly overinvest. The model offers empirical implications about innovative versus conventional investments, associated stock price reactions, and corporate control. The theory also implies a perverse sorting of high ability managers to conventional activities and low ability managers to visionary enterprises.
Cosmophobia: Urania's Lament and Lessons Learned

NASA astrobiologist David Morrison coined the term cosmophobia � fear of the cosmos � in response to the plethora of 2012 disaster scenarios that depict Urania, the muse of astronomy, as a wicked destroyer rather than a beautiful inspiration. The purveyors of these scenarios relied on the public�s lack of science literacy and ability to tell the difference between science and pseudoscience, as well as the ubiquitous nature of the Internet and social media, in their effort to sell books, DVDs, and subscription-only web content. Also adding to the public�s inability to critically analyze the veritable flood of 2012 apocalypse suppositions is the lamentable disconnect between the average 21st century citizen and the night sky (in part due to light pollution). The result is a general public who views the astronomical knowledge of ancient cultures as mystical and even supernatural, adding to the fear factor of December 21, 2012. While this date passed with neither the end of the world nor the rash of suicides and murders some feared, the 2012 apocalypse hoax proved to be one of the most important teachable moments in recent memory in terms of science education and outreach
The woodchuck hepatitis virus X gene is important for establishment of virus infection in woodchucks

All mammalian hepadnaviruses possess a gene, termed X, that encodes a protein capable of transactivating virus gene expression. The X gene overlaps the polymerase and precore genes as well as two newly identified open reading frames (ORFs) termed ORF5 and ORF6. In this investigation, we examined whether ORF5, ORF6, and the X gene were important for the replication of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) in susceptible woodchucks. First, we investigated whether proteins were produced from ORF5 and ORF6 by in vitro translation of appropriate viral transcripts, searched for antibodies against the putative proteins in the sera of animals infected with wild-type virus, and looked for an antisense WHV transcript, necessary for expression of a protein from ORF6, in the livers of acutely or chronically infected woodchucks. All such experiments yielded negative results. Next, we used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to introduce termination codons into ORF5 and ORF6 at two locations within each ORF. Adult woodchucks in groups of three were transfected with one of the four mutant genomes. All of these woodchucks developed WHV infections that were indistinguishable from those of animals transfected with the wild-type WHV recombinant. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing confirmed that reversion of the mutants to a wild-type genotype did not occur. Taken together, these data indicate that ORF5 and ORF6 are not essential for virus replication and are unlikely to represent authentic genes. Finally, we generated five WHV X-gene mutants that either removed the initiation codon for protein synthesis or truncated the carboxyl terminus of the protein by 3, 16, 31, or 52 amino acids. Groups of three adult woodchucks were transfected with one of the five X-gene mutants. Only the mutant that possessed an X gene lacking 3 amino acids from the carboxyl terminus was capable of replication within the 6-month time frame of the experiment. In contrast, all seven woodchucks transfected with wild-type WHV DNA developed markers consistent with viral infection. Thus, it is likely (P < 0.01) that the WHV X gene is important for virus replication in the natural host.
Pronoun Resolution of They and Them

Pronoun resolution is an uncertain process in machine oriented natural language processing. There are many techniques to determine the referent of the pronoun. This paper addresses the resolution of two pronouns. "they" and "them". and looks at simplistic rules to improve the process of determining the referent, beyond simply deciding tm the basis of most recent plural noun.
Real-Time DNA Sequencing

The design of a novel, real-time DNA sequencing technology is discussed. An ultimate goal of the technology is to complete human genome sequencing in less than a day for less than $1000. Keywords: ultrarapid high-throughput DNA sequencing; nanotechnology; biodefense
From Philosophy to Program Size

Most work on computational complexity is concerned with time. However this course will try to show that program-size complexity, which measures algorithmic information, is of much greater philosophical significance. I'll discuss how one can use this complexity measure to study what can and cannot be achieved by formal axiomatic mathematical theories. In particular, I'll show (a) that there are natural information-theoretic constraints on formal axiomatic theories, and that program-size complexity provides an alternative path to incompleteness from the one originally used by Kurt Godel. Furthermore, I'll show (b) that in pure mathematics there are mathematical facts that are true for no reason, that are true by accident. These have to do with determining the successive binary digits of the precise numerical value of the halting probability Omega for a "self-delimiting" universal Turing machine. I believe that these meta-theorems (a,b) showing (a) that the complexity of axiomatic theories can be characterized information-theoretically and (b) that God plays dice in pure mathematics, both strongly suggest a quasi-empirical view of mathematics. I.e., math is different from physics, but perhaps not as different as people usually think. I'll also discuss the convergence of theoretical computer science with theoretical physics, Leibniz's ideas on complexity, Stephen Wolfram's book A New Kind of Science, and how to attempt to use information theory to define what a living being is.
The Need for Effective Network Interconnectivity Among Multiple Partners in a Disaster-Embattled Region: A Content Analysis of an Exploratory Focus Group Study

This study explores the application of Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) to the adoption of disaster‐related preventative measures from a community perspective. A literature review showed that relative advantage, value and need compatibility, and network connectivity are important factors in the adoption decision. In order to prioritize among these factors, the researchers gathered information from response and recovery personnel. A content analysis of the transcripts revealed effective network interconnectivity as the most important factor. This research contributes by applying IDT and content analysis methods to disaster‐related preventative measures for a community. Based on the research results, we recommend that communities collect geospatial infrastructure data and populate it in information systems so that the community might recover from disasters quickly.
SU-E-J-181: Effect of Prostate Motion On Combined Brachytherapy and External Beam Dose Based On Daily Motion of the Prostate

Purpose: In this study, the adequacy of target expansions on the combined external beam and implant dose was examined based on the measured daily motion of the prostate. Methods: Thirty patients received an I–125 prostate implant prescribed to dose of 90Gy. This was followed by external beam to deliver a dose of 90Gyeq (external beam equivalent) to the prostate over 25 to 30 fractions. An ideal IMRT plan was developed by optimizing the external beam dose based on the delivered implant dose. The implant dose was converted to an equivalent external beam dose using the linear quadratic model. Patients were set up on the treatment table by daily orthogonal imaging and aligning the marker seeds in the prostate. Orthogonal images were obtained at the end of treatment to assess prostate intrafraction motion. Based on the observed motion of the markers between the initial and final images, 5 individual plans showing the actual dose delivered to the patient were calculated. A final true dose distribution was established based on summing the implant dose and the 5 external beam plans. Dose to the prostate, seminal vesicles, lymphnodes and normal tissues, rectal wall, urethra and lower sphincter were calculated and compared to ideal. On 18 patients who were sexually active, dose to the corpus cavernosum and internal pudendal artery was also calculated. Results: The average prostate motion in 3 orthogonal directions was less than 1 mm with a standard deviation of less than +2 mm. Dose and volume parameters showed that there was no decrease in dose to the targets and a marginal decrease in dose to in normal tissues. Conclusion: Dose delivered by seed implant moves with the prostate, decreasing the impact of intrafractions dose movement on actual dose delivered. Combined brachytherapy and external beam dose delivered to the prostate was not sensitive to prostate motion.
Expanding Views on Transition

This position paper defines transition from the early childhood and secondary perspectives, proposes an infrastructure for an expanded definition of transition based on common components, and advocates for a seamless model of transition service delivery in general and special education. The model includes program planning from birth through age 21, and addresses curriculum, location of services, futures planning, multiagency collaboration, and family and student focus. The article presents guidelines for implementing this seamless transition model throughout early childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary school programs.
Structure of a transiently phosphorylated switch in bacterial signal transduction

Receiver domains are the dominant molecular switches in bacterial signalling. Although several structures of non-phosphorylated receiver domains have been reported, a detailed structural understanding of the activation arising from phosphorylation has been impeded by the very short half-lives of the aspartylphosphate linkages. Here we present the first structure of a receiver domain in its active state, the phosphorylated receiver domain of the bacterial enhancer-binding protein NtrC (nitrogen regulatory protein C). Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were taken during steady-state autophosphorylation/dephosphorylation, and three-dimensional spectra from multiple samples were combined. Phosphorylation induces a large conformational change involving a displacement of beta-strands 4 and 5 and alpha-helices 3 and 4 away from the active site, a register shift and an axial rotation in helix 4. This creates an exposed hydrophobic surface that is likely to transmit the signal to the transcriptional activation domain.
Clinical significance of intraparotid lymph node metastasis in primary parotid cancer.

Background The clinical utility of intraparotid lymph node metastasis in primary parotid cancer is unknown, and this study was undertaken to address this gap in knowledge. Methods A medical chart review was performed on 86 patients who underwent parotidectomy with neck dissection (39 cN+ and 47 cN0). The disease-specific mortality and locoregional recurrence (LRR) were correlated with intraparotid lymph node metastasis status. Results Using intraparotid lymph node metastasis status to predict cervical nodal metastasis resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 90.6%, respectively (positive predictive value [PPV] of 87.3%). Patients with positive intraparotid lymph node metastasis had a worse 3-year disease-specific mortality compared with patients with negative intraparotid lymph node metastasis (p = .0037). Patients with cN0 neck but positive intraparotid lymph node metastasis were more likely to develop locoregional recurrence than patients without intraparotid lymph node metastasis (p = .08). Conclusion In patients with cN0 neck but positive intraparotid lymph node metastasis, intraparotid lymph node metastasis presence was strongly associated with a worse disease-specific survival and placed them at a higher risk of locoregional recurrence. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1634–1637, 2014
Nucleolus-organizing regions in salivary gland chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster

The nucleolus of the salivary gland nucleus of Drosophila melanogaster is formed by nucleolus-organizing regions which exist in the heterochromatin of the sex chromosomes. This interpretation is supported by the discovery of a series of induced chromosomal alterations involving transfer of nucleolus-forming regions to euchromatic sections of the chromosomes.
Photoresist characterization for lithography simulation: II. Exposure parameter measurements

Lithography simulation has become an increasingly important tool for the semiconductor industry as attempts are made to extend current lithographic technologies. The usefulness of this simulation capability has been somewhat hindered by the lack of availability of accurate modeling parameters for the various commercial resist systems. In particular, three sets of data are required to model a typical non-chemically amplified photoresist: the refractive index as a function of wavelength and exposure, the exposure or ABC parameters (the Dill parameters), and the development parameters. This work focuses on the accurate extraction of exposure parameters for non-chemically amplified resists. Previous exposure parameter extraction techniques such as those proposed by Dill involve a number of simplifying assumptions including the assumption that the refractive index of the resist does not change during exposure and that the index of the substrate is matched to the resist throughout the exposure process. However, the refractive index of the photoresist does vary during exposure as the chemical composition of the photoresist changes. A rigorous analysis technique for extracting exposure parameters which accounts for this refractive index change and other previously ignored factors has been developed. An apparatus has been constructed to perform bleaching experiments on non- chemically amplified resists and this new, rigorous analysis technique has been used to extract exposure parameters for a series of commercial resists. Some of the results of these studies are presented together with comparisons to previous parameter extraction techniques.
An In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As tunnel diode for monolithic multijunction solar cell application

p/sup +//n/sup +/ In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As tunnel diodes have been fabricated on an InP substrate by liquid-phase epitaxy. The large conductance and high peak current densities exhibited in these diodes indicate that they are suitable as intercell ohmic contacts for multijunction solar cells. The fabrication procedures and electrical properties of the p/sup +//n/sup +/In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As tunnel diodes are reported. The potential applications of In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As tunnel diodes for multijunction solar cells are discussed. >
Police grantsmanship: A case study

Police leadership is increasingly dependent on community oriented policing (COPS) federal grants because of diminishing financial resources. This paper demonstrates the importance of excellent police grantsmanship skills while simultaneously providing theoretical and concrete steps for achieving a successful grant package. Furthermore, a case study example is presented where COPS grants and federal funding assisted in the acquisition of community-oriented and problem-solving strategic objectives.
Hydrogen as a Probe of Semiconductor Surface Structure: The Ge(111)-c(2 x 8) Surface

Hydrogen can be used as an effective probe of the structure of semiconductor surfaces. Such surfaces consist of bonds with varying degrees of bond strain, and hydrogen can react with each selectively depending on the reaction conditions. This selectivity is derived from a reduced barrier to reaction associated with strained bonds. In this manner, hydrogen can be used to pick apart the surface one bond type at a time, thereby revealing the structure of even complex multilayer reconstructions. This method is used to directly show that the rest-layer of the Ge(111)-c(2 x 8) surface has a bulk structure.
Infrared Line Scanners

This paper examines the key parameters effecting the performance of infrared. line scanners and presents examples of two equipments optimized for different operational requirements. The analysis includes a consideration of key target and atmospheric effects, and performance comparisons of common scanning and recording techniques. A sensitivity analysis relating NET, resolution and to system parameters and a discussion of the elements limiting the modulator transfer function are also included. Curves are developed to illustrate parametric relationships. Equipment examples include a brief description and sample imagery from the RS-18 and the RS-700 infrared line scanners.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Chemically Modified Peptide Scaffolds Target the CFTR-Associated Ligand PDZ Domain.

PDZ domains are protein-protein interaction modules that coordinate multiple signaling and trafficking pathways in the cell and that include active therapeutic targets for diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, and addiction. Our previous work characterized a PDZ interaction that restricts the apical membrane half-life of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Using iterative cycles of peptide-array and solution-binding analysis, we targeted the PDZ domain of the CFTR-Associated Ligand (CAL), and showed that an engineered peptide inhibitor rescues cell-surface expression of the most common CFTR disease mutation ΔF508. Here, we present a series of scaffolds containing chemically modifiable side chains at all non-motif positions along the CAL PDZ domain binding cleft. Concordant equilibrium dissociation constants were determined in parallel by fluorescence polarization, isothermal titration calorimetry, and surface plasmon resonance techniques, confirming robust affinity for each scaffold and revealing an enthalpically driven mode of inhibitor binding. Structural studies demonstrate a conserved binding mode for each peptide, opening the possibility of combinatorial modification. Finally, we diversified one of our peptide scaffolds with halogenated substituents that yielded modest increases in binding affinity. Overall, this work validates our approach and provides a stereochemical foundation for further CAL inhibitor design and screening.
Epidemiological data and molecular characterization (mtDNA) of Sporothrix schenckii in 13 cases from Mexico.

Background Sporotrichosis is an endemic mycosis in Mexico and Central America. Objectives To present epidemiological data and characterize molecular subtypes of 13 strains of Sporothrix schenckii, and to correlate clinical and epidemiologic presentation with subtypes. Methodology Thirteen Mexican cases of sporotrichosis were identified, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from clinical isolates of S. schenckii were analyzed using RFLP Hae III. Molecular types 2, 3, 14, 28, and 29 were observed. Results Clinical presentations and molecular types were consistent with established epidemiologic patterns for S. schenckii in this region. Conclusions This investigation provides further evidence of the strong regional specificity of molecular types of this organism.
Direct imaging of excited electronic states using diffraction techniques: theoretical considerations

Abstract We illustrate that the charge in electron density distribution upon electronic excitation of atoms can significantly change their X-ray and electron diffraction, suggesting that electronic structures of excited electronic states may be directly observed using optical pump-diffraction probe techniques. Three electronic states of lithium are used to demonstrate changes in X-ray and electron diffraction patterns. Even though the changes in the total electron densities are small, significant changes are observed in inverse k space, the domain of diffraction experiments. The pump-probe diffraction patterns are interpreted in terms of extended and non-spherical structures of excited electronic states.
El uso de la teoría de la desorganización social para comprender la distribución de homicidios en Bogotá, Colombia

Dentro de la desorganizacion social se ha identificado a la desventaja social como uno de los mas fuertes y coherentes predictores de homicidios a nivel macro en areas urbanas de los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, investigaciones llevadas a cabo en areas urbanas de America Latina sugieren que los efectos de la desventaja social y desorganizacion podrian diferir en esta ultima region. Este trabajo, mediante el estudio de datos espaciales, analiza los efectos de la desventaja social y la habilidad que poseen las comunidades para obtener recursos externos (control publico) respecto a las tasas de homicidios a nivel de barrio en Bogota, Colombia. Para este efecto se utilizan datos obtenidos de diversas fuentes, incluyendo cifras oficiales de homicidios, informacion sobre el censo 2005 y entrevistas. Estos resultados sostienen en forma parcial la teoria de la desorganizacion social: mientras la concentracion de desventajas sociales, y el aislamiento y desorden social parecieran predecir altos indices de homicidios, la disponibilidad de servicios publicos basicos (indicador de control publico) muestra un efecto negativo sobre la variable dependiente. Tambien se observan resultados inesperados: mientras la presencia de agencias de control social (policia y unidades de resolucion de conflictos) predicen altos niveles de homicidios, la proporcion de jovenes de sexo masculino y la densidad de la poblacion suponen bajos indices de delincuencia. La existencia de estructuras criminales (pandillas, milicias, organizaciones de trafico de drogas y armas) y el numero de desplazados por el conflicto no inciden mayormente en la muestra. Asimismo, este estudio discute las implicaciones de este tema en el desarrollo de teorias y politicas.
Removal of3H-T-HCl and acrosome loss from spermatozoa of different species in the presence of reproductive tract secretions

Die Wirkung von Sekreten des Hamster- und Kaninchenreproduktionstrakts wurde auf die Akrosomreaktion in vitro getestet und festgestellt, dass sie am Tag 4 des Zyklus, sowie in uterinen Sekreten des Kaninchens hoher ist als in Oviduktsekreten (wenn die Farbemethode mit der Entfernung von Tetrazyklinmolekulen verglichen wird).