cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zeolite coated polypropylene separators with tunable surface properties for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract The separator is a critical component in liquid electrolyte batteries, and closely related to the battery performance such as cycle number and safety. In this work, thin (∼2 μm) films of MFI zeolite with different Si/Al ratios are coated on both sides of the commercial polypropylene separator for lithium ion batteries. The electrolyte solvent wettability of the MFI zeolite coated separators decreases with increasing Si/Al ratio of the zeolite films. Polypropylene separator coated with MFI zeolite (Si/Al = 25) film (ZCPP25) shows very high wettability for electrolyte. The Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /Li cell with ZCPP25 separator exhibits best charge and discharge performance among the cells with pure or coated polypropylene separators. Under relatively high current rate, the cell with MFI zeolite coated separator shows better charge and discharge capacities and cycling stability than that of uncoated polypropylene separator. The cell with MFI zeolite coated separator also performs better than the cell with uncoated polypropylene separator in a wider temperature range. The enhanced performance for cells with MFI zeolite coated separator is caused by the better filling of the electrolyte at the separator/electrode interface due to the improved electrolyte solvent wettability.
An intrusion-resilient distributed optimization algorithm for modal estimation in power systems

In this paper we present an intrusion-resilient distributed algorithmic approach to estimate the electro-mechanical oscillation modes of a large power system using Synchrophasor measurements. For this, we first show how to distribute the centralized Prony method over a network consisting of several computational areas using a distributed variant of alternating direction method of multipliers (D-ADMM). We then add a cross-verification step to show the resiliency of this algorithm against the cyber-attacks that may happen in the form of data manipulation. We illustrate the robustness of our method in face of intrusion for a case study on IEEE 68-bus power system.
Argon isotopes as tracers for martian atmospheric loss

Abstract Recent measurements of the present-day Ar abundance and isotopic ratios in the martian atmosphere by the SAM instrument suite onboard the Curiosity rover can be used to constrain the atmospheric and volatile evolution. We have examined the role of volcanic outgassing, escape to space via sputtering, crustal erosion, impact delivery, and impact erosion in reproducing the Ar isotope ratios from an initial state 4.4 billion years ago. To investigate the effects of each of these processes, their timing, and their intensity we have modeled exchanges of Ar isotopes between various reservoirs (mantle, crust, atmosphere, etc.) throughout Mars’ history. Furthermore, we use present-day atmospheric measurements to determine the parameter space consistent with observations. We find that significant loss to space (at least 48% of atmospheric 36 Ar) is required to match the observed 36 Ar/ 38 Ar ratio. Our estimates of volcanic outgassing do not supply sufficient 40 Ar to the atmosphere to match observations, so in our model at least 31% of 40 Ar produced in the crust must have also been released to the atmosphere. Of the total 40 Ar introduced into the atmosphere about 25% must have been lost to space. By adding the present-day isotopic abundances with our results of total integrated Ar loss we find a “restored” value of atmospheric 40 Ar/ 36 Ar, which represents what that ratio would be if the total integrated Ar loss had remained in the atmosphere. We determine the restored value to be ∼900–1500. This is below the present martian atmospheric value (1900 ± 300), but 3–5 times greater than the terrestrial value.
A New Approach for the Analysis of Mixture Toxicity Data

A new method for the quantitative analysis of multiple toxicity data is described and illustrated using a data set on metal exposure to copepods. Positive interactions are observed for Ni-Pb and Pb-Cr, with weak negative interactions observed for Ni-Cr.
Significance of FcγRIIIa-V158F Polymorphism-Letter.

Cartron and colleagues in their commentary ( CCR Translations ) present an informative discussion of several putative host and tumor factors that may explain the conflicting reports of correlation between FcγRIIIa-V158F polymorphism and response to rituximab and other mAbs ([1][1]). To their list
The Bilayer Hypothesis of Membrane Structure

The evolution of the concepts of the molecular structure of the mammalian cell membrane can be said to begin with the Danielli-Davson bilayer model first proposed some 35 years ago. Although many modifications have since been introduced, certain basic insights have survived, including the postulate that protein molecules in the membrane subserve the function of communication between cell and environment.
Airway observations during upper endoscopy predicting obstructive sleep apnea.

Background This pilot study examined airway characteristics during upper endoscopy to determine who is at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Methods Patients undergoing routine upper endoscopy were divided into 2 groups according to the Berlin Questionnaire (high and low risk for sleep disordered breathing). Patients underwent routine upper endoscopy using propofol sedation. The airway was then evaluated for no, partial, or complete collapse at the levels of the palate/uvula/tonsils, the tongue base, the hypopharynx, and the larynx. They were given a score of 0 for no collapse, 1 for partial collapse, and 2 for complete collapse. The score for each of these levels was added to give a total score or severity index. The larynx was also evaluated for lateral pharyngeal collapse (minimal, up to 50%, >50%, or 100%). Results We found that patients with a partial obstruction at the level of the palate/uvula/tonsils, tongue base, hypopharynx, or larynx, or complete obstruction at any level more often had a positive Berlin questionnaire. Patients with a positive Berlin questionnaire were more often of increased weight (mean 197 vs 175 lbs, P=0.19), increased body mass index (31.2 vs 27.42 kg/m2, P=0.11), increased neck circumference (36.7 vs 34.7 cm, P=0.23), and had a higher total airway score (2.61 vs 1.67, P=0.09). Conclusions The results of our pilot study represent preliminary data regarding the use of upper endoscopy as a potential tool to evaluate patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Keywords Upper endoscopy, sleep apnea, Berlin questionnaire, airway Ann Gastroenterol 2016; 29 (4): 481-486
The effect of neomycin on plasma alpha tocopherol levels in type II hyperlipoproteinemia

Use of oral neomycin as a hypocholesterolemic agent was found to decrease plasma alpha tocopherol levels during a 9-month, randomized, crossover placebo-controlled clinical trial with controlled diet. Pooled data from each treatment sequence showed a placebo alpha-tocopherol level of 1,896 +/- 643 micrograms/dl, and a neomycin alpha-tocopherol concentration of 1,449 +/- 451 micrograms/dl (p less than .01). When all subjects were on neomycin simultaneously, the level increased to 1,665 +/- 614 micrograms/dl (p less than .05 from placebo). Normal plasma alpha-tocopherol ranges from 400-1,000 micrograms/dl. Neomycin treatment reduces but does not normalize elevated levels of alpha-tocopherol found in Type II hyperlipoproteinemia.
Gene Therapy for Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Batten Disease

The development of a gene therapy for inborn errors of metabolism is a multifaceted challenge that rides on organizational, financial, and scientific issues. Using our experience with developing a gene therapy strategy for Batten disease [late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL), CLN2 disease], these factors are described in the context of the: (1) development of a therapeutic concept for a target disease; (2) pathway to proof of concept via preclinical studies; (3) translation to clinical development; (4) funding and the associated restrictions; (5) assembly of the clinical team; (6) regulatory and compliance requirements; and (7) the iterative process of using lessons learned to inform the next generation therapy. Our experience with each of these factors is demonstrated from our development and clinical translation for two generations of drug product applied to this fatal childhood disorder. Outlined are the descriptions of the hurdles encountered and our solutions, which should be informative for those who seek to develop a gene therapy for a rare disease.
A Tale of Two Kings: Competing Aspects of Power in Aeschylus' Persians

The frequent assumption that they [the Persians] were as greatly concerned on these levels [historically, culturally, strategically] with Greece [as they were with the east] is a misconception which stems from our own western view of the world and from the unfortunate fact that Greece has given us our main literary sources of information on the Achaemenids. It was the Greeks who were fascinated by Persia, by Persian mores, and, yes, by Persian court art and luxury goods—not the reverse. If only the Persians had spawned the likes of Aeschylus and Herodotus, our perceptions of their preoccupations would be quite different.Athenians were indeed fascinated by Persia as their art and literature attest. The fascination was both cultural and political, but not without tensions. Part of that fascination manifested itself in the allure of Persian kings and what they represented. The kings ruled over a vast empire, larger than any the Mediterranean world had yet seen. They sought in their iconography and building programmes to exert a particular identity for themselves and the Achaemenid dynasty. Although the Athenians were not imperialists of the type we see in Persia, Rome or the figure of Alexander, they did build for themselves a small, Hellenic empire (archē) and they adopted a number of Persian mechanisms of power and some aspects of Achaemenid iconography for representing their power. Aeschylus' Persians, produced in 472 BCE, helps us understand the Athenians' developing archē, specifically how the representations of the two Persian Kings in the play helped the Athenians differentiate and define their power vis-a-vis the Great Persian Menace and, more importantly, the rest of the Greeks. By understanding better the engagement by the Athenians with Persian culture, we can better understand how the Athenians conceptualised their own power and position in the Aegean in the early 5th century BCE.
Factors Leading to Viral Intention on Exercise Posts

Exercise report posts generated by mobile exercise apps (i.e., Nike Plus and Endomondo) have shown potential to encourage exercisers (e.g., runners) by providing them a sense of social support from others. From the perspective of support-givers, the motivational factors for engaging in such exercise-related posts are largely underexplored. Under the framework of Self-Determination Theory, this study investigates associations among need satisfaction for relatedness, autonomy, tie-strength, exercise intention and viewers’ viral behaviors for exercise posts in social media. Study findings highlight the importance of increasing viewers’ relatedness through engaging exercise posts.
Drilling down on Smart Manufacturing – enabling composable apps

Abstract Manufacturing software services provisioned as unbundled “apps” could be significantly more flexible and less expensive to use than the current monolithic manufacturing applications. However, integrating such heterogeneous apps is not a trivial job. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has initiated a research and development program to advance science and engineering towards the vision of composable Smart Manufacturing systems. In April 2016, NIST hosted a workshop, called Drilling down on Smart Manufacturing – Enabling Composable Apps, to work with industry and academia on needed technical and standards-based solutions. This paper reports on key outcomes of this workshop.
Precise determination of the area of guarded electrodes for accurate dielectric measurements on solid-disk specimens

Accurate measurements of dielectric properties of materials by the three-terminal air-gap method require accurate knowledge of the area of the electrodes. The expression giving the dielectric constant can be put in the form equation (1) where equation Equation (1) can be solved for A, giving equation The two fluid method enables us to measure the dielectric constant of a specimen without knowledge of the area of the cell electrodes, or of the thickness of the specimen, if the electrode spacing and area remain constant during the set of four measurements required1. But it is now known2 that the effective area is a function of the dielectric constant of the specimen being measured by this technique. The problem now is to determine the magnitude of this change of area, and evaluate its effect on the dielectric constants measured.
Immune Response to FIX Is Dependent on Mouse Background Strain and Modulated By TLR4

Introduction Many investigators rely on mouse models to study immune responses against factor IX protein (FIX) products. While it is recognized that there are distinct differences in immune responses towards FIX in different mouse strains, there is an absence of studies conducted on mice with a F9 gene deletion. Our laboratory has developed protocols to prevent or reverse ongoing anti-hFIX IgG inhibitors in hemophilia B mice with a F9 gene deletion ( F9 -/Y ) on both a BALB/c and C3H/HeJ background. Interestingly C3H/HeJ F9 -/Y mice develop high titer anti-FIX IgG1 inhibitors and anaphylaxis, while BALB/c F9 -/Y mice have mild anti-hFIX IgG1 inhibitors without anaphylaxis. The C3H/HeJ mouse strain is deficient for the innate immune sensor toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) while a congenic C3H/OuJ strain has functional TLR4. Several recent studies have indicated an important link between coagulation and innate immunity and TLR4 has been linked to sensitivity in food allergy models. Together these studies suggest that TLR4 may have a role in modulating FIX immunity. Here we report results from a study exploring B and T cell responses against FIX protein therapy on two different mouse strains BALB/c and C3H/HeJ with the same F9 gene deletion and the role of TLR4 in modulating FIX immunity. Methods BALB/c and C3H/HeJ F9 -/Y mice were challenged weekly with recombinant FIX protein. Humoral immune responses were determined by IgG1 and IgG2a anti-hFIX ELISA, Bethesda assay for inhibitors and B cell ELISpot on bone marrow and spleen cells to measure FIX specific antibody secreting B cells. T cell studies measured the T H 1 (IFN-γ) and T H 2 (IL-4) cytokine responses in splenocytes at the mRNA and protein level in response to FIX protein. Antibody responses were also measured in C3H/HeJ/OuJ F9 -/Y mice with restored TLR4 function following FIX challenge. Results BALB/c F9 -/Y mice have a T H 2 skewed response and a reduction in anti-hFIX secreting plasma cells in the bone marrow. Independent antigen challenge revealed both strains generated equivalent IgG1 antibody titers to an intravenously delivered antigen suggesting the reduced anti-FIX response in BALB/c mice is antigen specific. C3H/HeJ F9 -/Y mice have a mixed T H 1 and T H 2 response (mainly T H 2). Importantly TLR4 signaling has an important modulatory role in the C3H background on the levels of anti-hFIX IgG1 and incidence of anaphylaxis. Conclusions The background strain has an important impact on FIX immune responses, which in permissive strains can be modulated by mutations in innate immune sensors. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The effects of dental wear on impairing mammoth taxonomy: A reappraisal of the Newton mammoth, Bradford County, northeastern Pennsylvania

A mammoth skeleton found at the Newton Site, a kettle lake 15 km southeast of Towanda, Pennsylvania, has been referred to Mammuthus columbi on the basis of its high, narrow skull. However, the specimen's thin enamel (1.3–1.8 mm) and moderately high lamellar frequency (8–8.75 lophs/dm) resemble some specimens of Mammuthus primigenius. Prehistoric range maps show that a Columbian mammoth inhabiting the Towanda area would be a significant outlier from this species' range; however, its location would align well with the range of M. primigenius. To better ascertain the Newton mammoth's identification, we examine herein the effects of dental wear on the morphology of mammoth molars. As mammoth molars wear, the enamel lophs become more broadly spaced and the enamel ridges thicken towards the base of the crown. Thus, an older M. primigenius with extensively worn molars might display thicker enamel and a lower lamellar frequency, and might therefore appear to be a Columbian mammoth on the basis of dental morphology alone. Our results show that the molars of the Newton mammoth are well-worn and are characterized by an enamel thickness and lamellar frequency that aligns better with M. primigenius than with M. columbi. We conclude that one must take into account the effects of dental wear when classifying mammoth species using solely molars.
An analytical study of the scattering of ultrasonic guided waves at a delamination-like discontinuity in a plate:

Interface delaminations between individual plies in a composite, or disbonds of face sheets in honeycomb structures often remain undetected. Using guided ultrasonic waves (Rayleigh and Lamb waves) ...
Law in the Global Order: The IMF and Financial Regulation

It is widely accepted that the framework of international financial regulation does not rely on traditional international legal institutions or arrangements. This conventional account misapprehends the scope of international monetary law and the role of the International Monetary Fund, a treaty-based international institution. It miscasts the Fund as only a monitor of its members’ compliance with agreements forged elsewhere. In fact, although the Fund is largely known for its conditional lending function, it is a regulatory institution charged with enforcing formal obligations of its nearly universal membership, including members’ obligations with regard to their financial policies. The Fund’s primary regulatory role is to conduct bilateral surveillance of its members’ performance of these obligations and multilateral surveillance to “oversee the international monetary system in order to ensure its effective operation.” Surveillance is thus a mode of enforcement, albeit one that relies primarily on persuasion and not on coercive sanctions. By misapprehending this regulatory function, scholars and commentators have underestimated the Fund’s potential impact on its members’ domestic and international financial policies and what that impact may tell us about global governance. This Article relocates the Fund within the framework of international financial regulation and describes its “financial surveillance.” It observes that Fund surveillance has significant impact on its members’ financial policies and proposes that this impact is, at least in part, due to the formal legal basis of its regulatory responsibilities and its members’ obligations.
Controlling Complex Nanoemulsion Morphology Using Asymmetric Cosurfactants for the Preparation of Polymer Nanocapsules

Complex nanoemulsions, comprising multiphase nanoscale droplets, hold considerable potential advantages as vehicles for encapsulation and delivery as well as templates for nanoparticle synthesis. Although methods exist to controllably produce complex emulsions on the microscale, very few methods exist to produce them on the nanoscale. Here, we examine a recently developed method involving a combination of high-energy emulsification with conventional cosurfactants to produce oil–water–oil (O/W/O) complex nanoemulsions. Specifically, we study in detail how the composition of conventional ethoxylated cosurfactants Span80 and Tween20 influences the morphology and structure of the resulting complex nanoemulsions in the water–cyclohexane system. Using a combination of small-angle neutron scattering and cryo-electron microscopy, we find that the cosurfactant composition controls the generation of complex droplet morphologies including core–shell and multicore–shell O/W/O nanodroplets, resulting in an effective s...
Reversibly tuning hydrogel stiffness through photocontrolled dynamic covalent crosslinks

Controlling the physical properties of soft materials with external stimuli enables researchers to mimic and study dynamic systems. Of particular interest are hydrogels, polymer networks swollen by water with broad applicability to biomedicine. To control hydrogel mechanics with light, researchers have relied on a limited number of photochemical reactions. Here we introduce an approach to reversibly tune hydrogel mechanics with light by manipulating the stability of dynamic covalent crosslinks at the molecular level. The equilibrium between a boronic acid and diol to form a boronic ester can be altered by the configuration of an adjacent azobenzene photoswitch. By irradiating branched polymers bearing azobenzene-boronic acid and diol end groups with two different wavelengths of light, we can stiffen or soften the resulting hydrogel. Alternating irradiation induces reversible mechanical changes. Rheological characterization reveals that the hydrogels are viscoelastic, exhibiting stress relaxation on the order of seconds, and the stiffness is tuned independently of the crossover frequency. We have also demonstrated that this approach can be extended to use visible light for both softening and stiffening. These photocontrolled dynamic covalent crosslinks provide a versatile platform for tunable dynamic materials.
Estimating Aboveground Carbon in Live and Standing Dead Trees

Carbon contained in aboveground live and standing dead tree mass can represent less than 1% to over 60% of the total forest ecosystem carbon pool. Accurate assessment of this pool is important for many forest managers and ecologists. Aboveground tree mass is estimated using published allometric equations relating diameter at breast height to total tree mass or component parts of bole wood, bark, branch, and foliage mass. Care must be taken in selecting appropriate allometric equations, considering the range of tree sizes to be measured, and applying logarithmic regression correction factors. Substantial error in tree carbon mass estimation can result if allometric equations are used inappropriately. Standing dead tree mass is estimated using live tree allometric relationships if the tree is recently dead and intact or from stem volume estimation and measurements of wood density if the crown is broken. Field measurement guidelines, sample calculations, and special considerations for irregular stem configurations are presented.
"NAD-capQ" detection and quantitation of NAD caps

RNA 5' cap structures comprising the metabolic effector nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) have been identified in diverse organisms. Here we report a simple, two-step procedure to detect and quantitate NAD-capped RNA, termed "NAD-capQ." By use of NAD-capQ we quantitate NAD-capped RNA levels in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and human cells, and we measure increases in NAD-capped RNA levels in cells from all three organisms harboring disruptions in their respective "deNADding" enzymes. We further show that NAD-capped RNA levels in human cells respond to changes in cellular NAD concentrations, indicating that NAD capping provides a mechanism for human cells to directly sense and respond to alterations in NAD metabolism. Our findings establish NAD-capQ as a versatile, rapid, and accessible methodology to detect and quantitate 5'-NAD caps on endogenous RNA in any organism.
CORRELATION OF GENE EXPRESSION PROFILE STATUS AND AMERICAN JOINT COMMISSION ON CANCER STAGE IN UVEAL MELANOMA.

PURPOSE To study the relationship between gene expression profile (GEP) subclass and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage in patients with uveal melanoma (UM). METHODS A retrospective, multicenter study was undertaken with patients entered from nine major ocular oncology centers from across the United States. Three hundred sixty eligible patients had UM and underwent I-125 plaque brachytherapy with concurrent tumor biopsy with GEP testing between January 1, 2010, and October 28, 2014. Patient demographics and UM features were analyzed by both GEP and AJCC status. RESULTS Gene expression profile class divided the cohort into three groups: Class 1a (n = 186), Class 1b (n = 77), and Class 2 (n = 113). When classified using AJCC staging criteria, we found the following: Stage I in 91 cases (25.3%), Stage IIA in 143 cases (39.7%), Stage IIB in 89 cases (24.7%), Stage IIIA in 36 cases (10%), and Stage IIIB in 1 case (0.3%). There were no Stage IV cases, as lymph node and metastatic data were not collected as a part of this study. Among Stage I tumors, both high tumor height and high largest basal diameter were associated with a higher frequency of Class 2 status (P < 0.05). As UMs progress to a larger AJCC tumor group (T1-T4), the odds ratio of having a worse prognosis based on GEP class was 1.75 (95% CI, 1.36-2.25; P < 0.001). Similarly, as UMs progress to a higher AJCC stage, the odds ratio of having a worse prognosis based on GEP class was 1.69 (95% CI, 1.36-2.10; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This report details the differences in clinical features between GEP subclasses and how they are distributed among the AJCC stages. When the tumors were grouped by AJCC staging criteria, both larger AJCC tumor (T) group and worsening AJCC stage were associated with worsening predicted prognosis, based on GEP subclass.
Holistic multi-criteria decision analysis evaluation of sustainable electric generation portfolios: New England case study

Abstract Designing policies to achieve a more sustainable electricity system requires policy-makers to weigh different electricity futures against a wide range of societal, economic, environmental, and technical implications. There is controversy on multiple fronts, as no technology satisfies all the demands of sustainability. Moreover, electricity systems include combinations of interacting technologies, meaning it is not enough to analyze technologies individually. We present a methodology for evaluating the sustainability of a region’s electric generation portfolio, using multi-criteria decision analysis. Our framework focuses on long-term capacity planning for resource adequacy and sustainability. We used a regional electricity model and pay close attention to controversies involving offshore wind, natural gas pipelines, and the retirement of nuclear plants. We evaluate a set of generation portfolios under nine illustrative stakeholder preference scenarios across seven sustainability metrics. We find that under many stakeholder preferences, increasing offshore wind from 1.6 to 10 GW and eliminating oil generation scores well. If stakeholders are concerned about the full range of sustainability metrics – including costs, climate change, pollution, land-use, jobs, and safety alongside water conservation and nuclear concerns – then the most sustainable solution is to increase nuclear (to 9.2 GW from 3.5) alongside wind, and back them up with base levels of natural gas and hydro (18.7 and 3.3 GW respectively).
Embracing extravagance, abandoning limits

In this essay I consider the methodological and theological significance of David Hopps’s creative intervention in The Extravagance of Music to ‘rehabilitate lightness’ in theological reflection on...
Determination of secondary electron attenuation length to characterize electron blur (Conference Presentation)

EUV photon absorption by a resist film leads to emission of a photoelectron and several low kinetic energy secondary electrons. The “universal curve”, used in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggests that the low kinetic energy electrons may travel tens to hundreds of nanometers in solids until they inelastically scatter. The fact that electrons travel long distances before they may initiate chemical reactions ultimately result in blur of the aerial image, reducing the contrast and subsequently resolution of the resist. In this work, we will present an experimental approach to determine secondary electron attenuation length (EAL) – the thickness of resist material required to reduce number of emitted secondary electrons to 1/e of initial. The EAL describes how far secondary electrons can travel in a resist film and is directly related to the electron blur. Possibilities to gain additional information on electron penetration depth in resist films will also be discussed.
An Alternative Algorithm to the D-K Iterations for Robust Control Design

This letter presents a new algorithm for designing robust output-feedback controllers in the presence of structured uncertainty. The proposed approach is an alternative to the popular D-K Iterations, consisting of a pair of LMIs (Linear Matrix Inequalities) and an associated iterative algorithm. The new algorithm is illustrated by examples and its performance is compared with the D-K iterations by solving instances of the COMPleib benchmark library.
Ion conductance in a gramicidin channel: the right-handed double-stranded double-helical dimer

The X-ray crystal structure of gramicidin A complexed with Cs+ ions has been determined to 1.40 A resolution and found to be a right-handed doublestranded double-helical dimer. This structure demonstrates the structural features required to insert in the lipid bilayer and to allow passage of cations. The structural details agree with the previously published experimental details from a variety of CD, NMR, and Raman experiments with regards to peptide conformation, hydrogen bonding, and ion locations relative to particular amino acid residues. Furthermore, the structure determination reveals the presence of a single Cs+ ion per channel distributed over three binding sites with water molecules filling the interstitial sites. This structure provides the best candidate to date for the ion-conducting form of the gramicidin channel.
Multiplex genome editing for synthetic biology in Vibrio natriegens

Vibrio natriegens has recently emerged as an alternative to Escherichia coli for molecular biology and biotechnology, but low-efficiency genetic tools hamper its development. Here, we uncover how to induce natural competence in V. natriegens and describe methods for multiplex genome editing by natural transformation (MuGENT). MuGENT promotes integration of large genome edits at high-efficiency on unprecedented timescales, which will extend the utility of this species for diverse applications.
Adolescents' sedentary time, affect, and contextual factors: An ecological momentary assessment study.

Few adolescents achieve sufficient levels of physical activity, and many are spending most of their time in sedentary behavior. Affective response following sedentary time may influence motivation to remain sedentary. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is a real-time data capture methodology that can be used to identify factors influencing sedentary time, such as the context of the home setting, and resulting affective state within a free-living setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between context at home and adolescent sedentary time, and the relationship of sedentary time and subsequent affect. Adolescents (n = 284; 10–16 y) participated in an EMA study that used random, interval-based sampling methods. Adolescents each received 22 unannounced surveys over 7-days through a smartphone application. One survey was randomly sent within each 2-h time-period. These time-periods occurred between 4:00 pm-8:00 pm on weekdays and 8:00 am-8:00 pm on the weekend. This 15-question survey included a series of questions on context (indoors/outdoors, alone/not alone) and positive affect. Adolescents concurrently wore an accelerometer at the hip, and the 30-min bout of accelerometry data prior to each survey was used in analyses. Mixed-effect location scale models were used to examine the association between context at home and sedentary time (stage 1) and the adjusted sedentary time and positive affect (stage 2), with each model adjusted for covariates. Adolescents were 12.6 ± 1.9 y of age on average, about half were White (58%), and engaged in high levels of sedentary behavior during the 30 min prior to the survey (21.4 ± 6.8 min). Most surveys occurred when adolescents were with others (59%) and indoors (88%). In Stage 1, both being alone and being indoors at home were positively associated with sedentary time (p < 0.001 for both). In Stage 2, adjusted sedentary time was not related to positive affect. Age was negatively related to positive affect (p < 0.001). Both contextual factors, being alone and indoors at home, were related to additional time spent sedentary compared to being with someone or outdoors. After adjustment, sedentary time was not related to subsequent positive affect, indicating other factors may be related to adolescent’s positive affect in home settings.
Epigenetic targeted therapy of stabilized BAP1 in ASXL1 gain-of-function mutated leukemia

Mutations of ASXL1, encoding a component of the BAP1 histone H2A deubiquitinase complex, occur in human myeloid neoplasms and are uniformly associated with poor prognosis. However, the precise molecular mechanisms through which ASXL1 mutations alter BAP1 activity and drive leukemogenesis remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that cancer-associated frameshift mutations in ASXL1, which were originally proposed to act as destabilizing loss-of-function mutations, in fact encode stable truncated gain-of-function proteins. Truncated ASXL1 increases BAP1 protein stability, enhances BAP1 recruitment to chromatin and promotes the expression of a pro-leukemic transcriptional signature. Through a biochemical screen, we identified BAP1 catalytic inhibitors that inhibit truncated-ASXL1-driven leukemic gene expression and impair tumor progression in vivo. This study represents a breakthrough in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ASXL1 mutations in leukemia pathogenesis and identifies small-molecular catalytic inhibitors of BAP1 as a potential targeted therapy for leukemia. Shilatifard and colleagues demonstrate gain-of-function mutations in ASXL1 that drive BAP1 stabilization and widespread epigenetic changes in myeloid neoplasms, and develop a chemical inhibitor with therapeutic potential for ASXL1-altered leukemia.
An Examination of Factors Influencing National Reputation of India Among South Asians on Social Media

Social media play a central role in governments’ communication with foreign citizens, but little is done to understand how such platforms build national reputation. To fill this research gap, the study examines online engagement, online social relations, and information use that predict national reputation in the social media context. National reputation is examined through a survey of 387 South Asian social media followers of the Indian government. Results show that online engagement of users with the Indian government and their information use related to India are positively associated with national reputation. However, users’ online social relations with Indians is negatively associated with national reputation. The study provides empirical support to understand how public diplomacy operates in an online-only context and in the case of India specifically.
Paleoecological and Archaeological Investigation of the ROMO 9 Ice Patch, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA

Rocky Mountain National Park contains a dense record of prehistoric Native American archaeological locales and biological resources, but questions remain about the past use of the Park’s ice patches by ancient humans and animals. Our survey of 30 locations in the Park revealed that the majority of ice patches are small in size and contain limited evidence of past visitation by mobile peoples, but moderate use by game. In this paper, we present new radiocarbon dates for materials documented in the recently melted forefield of the ROMO 9 ice patch, a mid-sized ice body located in alpine tundra along the Continental Divide. Dated materials include timber-sized pine trees, keratin and bone collagen from large game (bighorn sheep, elk), and a possible wooden artifact made from Mountain mahogany. Results suggest most finds date to several periods of known neoglaciation, during the mid-Holocene (c. 4150 cal BP) and the Little Ice Age (c. 115 cal BP). Our results corroborate past findings on mid-Holocene timberline in the Colorado Front Range, as well as the paucity of archaeological evidence from small ice patches in Colorado.
Classical aerodynamic theory

A collection of papers on modern theoretical aerodynamics is presented. Included are theories of incompressible potential flow and research on the aerodynamic forces on wing and wing sections of aircraft and on airship hulls.
Controlling Microstructural Anisotropy During Forming

Microstructural anisotropy is a key feature in the control of specific properties of low thermal expansion ceramics. A study has been conducted that quantifies the particle orientation for anisometric particles when subjected to a shear in a fluid/paste. The preferential orientation which remains in a green body after processing can affect the tendency to crack during drying and firing, differential shrinkage and warpage, as well as a multitude of physical properties such as strength and density. An optical method was developed which reveals details about the preferred orientation that exists in thin samples. This technique was applied to aluminum oxide green bodies to determine orientation which was affected by experimentally varying rheology, solids loading, and shear rate. Computational fluid dynamics software was used to model the shear fields present in the experimental fluid during forming. Results show that microstructural anisotropy can be varied throughout a formed part by controlling cross-sectional dimensions and forming parameters.
A surfzone morphological diffusivity estimated from the evolution of excavated holes

Downslope gravity-driven sediment transport smooths steep nearshore bathymetric features, such as channels, bars, troughs, cusps, mounds, pits, scarps, and bedforms. Downslope transport appears approximately as a diffusive term in the sediment continuity equation predicting changes in bed level, with a morphological diffusivity controlling the rate of seafloor smoothing. Despite the importance of surfzone sediment transport and morphological evolution, the size of the downslope transport term in nearshore models varies widely, and theories have not been tested with field measurements. Here observations of the infill of large excavated holes in an energetic inner surf zone provide the first opportunity to infer the morphological diffusivity in the field. The estimated diffusion coefficient is consistent with a theoretical bedload morphological diffusivity that scales with the three-halves power of the representative bed shear stress.
Coordination of fingertip forces in object transport during locomotion

Walking while carrying a hand-held object requires the generation of appropriate grip forces to offset the inertial forces produced during locomotion. The present study examined the interaction between grip forces and locomotion-induced inertial forces across the gait cycle. Eight subjects transported a container under three conditions: self-paced transport with and without accuracy constraints and a velocity-constrained condition. The results showed that the trunk and transported container moved in a synchronized, sinusoidal pattern during all conditions. Grip and inertial forces of the transporting hand were highly coupled in an anticipatory fashion, regardless of task demands. The inertial forces were higher and the coupling was greater in the faster, unconstrained condition. However, grip force modulation was observed even when the inertial forces acting on the container were small and applied indirectly to the container through the locomotor effects originating in the legs and trunk. We suggest that continuous grip force adjustment is used as a generalized strategy to maximize efficiency during object transport regardless of the size or origin of the inertial forces.
Reduction of noise generating flow fluctuations in hydraulic systems driven by swash plate pumps through improved port plate design

Reduction of noise generating flow fluctuations in hydraulic systems driven by swash plate pumps through improved port plate design are studied. The flow should rise gradually as the cylinder port and the port plate delivery slot overlap during the pump action, in order to avoid undesirable flow fluctuations. Bernoulli principle is used to characterize the mathematical relationship between the cylinder delivery pressure and the corresponding flow rate. By considering a stream line path, which starts when the stream leaves the cylinder delivery port and ends at the port plate delivery slot, the cylinder delivery pressure, its flow rate and the porting area are considered and studied. The proposed design suggests utilizing a pair of deep silencing grooves in the beginning and end of the slot.
A Late Born White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus , Fawn in Southcentral Wisconsin

Published reports of peak breeding and parturition dates for White-tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) indicate that deer in northern regions typically breed during November and give birth during late May and early June. However, we report a late-born White-tailed Deer fawn killed by a vehicle between 12-13 March 2007 in south central Wisconsin. Morphology measurements and body weight indicated the individual was 63-76 days old, was born between 26 December 2006 and 8 January 2007, and was conceived between 14-27 June 2006. To our knowledge, this observation represents the latest documented breeding activity in northern deer populations.
Parallel File Systems

The success of a CDI Grid is dependent upon the design of its storage infrastructure. As seen in Chapter 7, processing in this environment revolves around the simultaneous movement and transformation of data on many compute elements. Effective storage solutions combine hardware and software to meet these needs. The storage hardware selected must provide enough raw throughput for the expected workloads. Typical storage hardware architectures also often provide some redundancy to help in creating a fault tolerant system. Storage software, specifically file systems, must organize this storage hardware into a single logical space, provide efficient mechanisms for accessing that space, and hide common hardware failures from compute elements.
The UltraLight Project: The Network as an Integrated and Managed Resource for Data-Intensive Science

We describe the NSF-funded UltraLight project. The project's goal is to meet the data-intensive computing challenges of the next generation of particle physics experiments with a comprehensive, network-focused agenda. In particular we argue that instead of treating the network traditionally, as a static, unchanging and unmanaged set of inter-computer links, we instead will use it as a dynamic, configurable, and closely monitored resource, managed end-to-end, to construct a next-generation global system able to meet the data processing, distribution, access and analysis needs of the high energy physics (HEP) community. While the initial UltraLight implementation and services architecture is being developed to serve HEP, we expect many of UltraLight's developments in the areas of networking, monitoring, management, and collaborative research, to be applicable to many fields of data intensive e-science. In this paper we give an overview of, and motivation for the UltraLight project, and provide early results within different working areas of the project.
Infinite products of filters

Stability of some classes of filters under the (infinite, Tikhonov) product operation is investigated. Applications to productivity of some types of set valued maps are given.
Temperature dependence of NADPH oxidase in human eosinophils.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase helps kill pathogens by producing superoxide anion, O2−. This enzyme is electrogenic because it translocates electrons across the membrane, generating an electron current, Ie. Using the permeabilized patch voltage-clamp technique, we studied the temperature dependence of Ie in human eosinophils stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) from room temperature to > 37°C. For comparison, NADPH oxidase activity was assessed by cytochrome c reduction. The intrinsic temperature dependence of the assembled, functioning NADPH oxidase complex measured during rapid temperature increases to 37°C was surprisingly weak: the Arrhenius activation energy Ea was only 14 kcal mol−1 (Q10, 2.2). In contrast, steady-state NADPH oxidase activity was strongly temperature dependent at 20–30°C, with Ea 25.1 kcal mol−1 (Q10, 4.2). The maximum Ie measured at 34°C was −30.5 pA. Above 30°C, the temperature dependence of both Ie and O2− production was less pronounced. Above 37°C, Ie was inhibited reversibly. After rapid temperature increases, a secondary increase in Ie ensued, suggesting that high temperature promotes assembly of additional NADPH oxidase complexes. Evidently, about twice as many NADPH oxidase complexes are active near 37°C than at 20°C. Thus, the higher Q10 of steady-state Ie reflects both increased activity of each NADPH oxidase complex and preferential assembly of NADPH oxidase complexes at high temperature. In summary, NADPH oxidase activity in intact human eosinophils is maximal precisely at 37°C.
Understanding students' preferences of software engineering projects

Students in a maintenance-centric, introductory software engineering course were expected to understand, analyze and extend an open source software project of their choice, selected from a limited set of prepared applications. Students fell into two groups: those who chose a project based on its perceived and estimated difficulty, and those who chose a project based on the appeal of the subject matter. Students in both groups, however, cited value for themselves in terms of enhanced learning experience, and for users in terms of increased benefit, as reasons for their selection. These insights into students' thinking can guide future efforts in selecting projects that can simultaneously support the learning objectives as well as motivate the students, not only in software engineering but also in broader computing courses.
How retirees work: predictors of different types of bridge employment†

Employment after retirement, known as bridge employment, is expected to occur more frequently because the baby boom generation will increase the number of retirees. Little is known about which employees will obtain which type of bridge employment when they retire, even though it has important implications. The present study examined work-related attitudes, job characteristics, and work-related accomplishments of 171 retirees in order to predict whether they would fully retire or take one of two types of bridge jobs after retirement: Career-consistent bridge jobs or bridge jobs in fields different from their original career. Continuity theory of retirement helped predict post-retirement employment type. Retirees who had skills specifically related to their career job were more likely to work in a career-related bridge job than either to fully retire or to take a bridge job that was not related to their careers; retirees who formerly held career jobs with intrinsically motivating job characteristics were more likely to take a career-related bridge job than to retire fully, and retirees who had experienced work strain in their career job were more likely to take a bridge job not related to their former career than to take a career bridge job. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.