cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance Analysis of Web Services on Mobile Devices

Abstract With the recent rapid development of mobile devices in terms of processing power, memory and storage capabilities coupled with the advancements of wireless technology in terms of higher data transmission rates such as 3G and 4G, it has now become feasible to host Web services on mobile devices. In this paper we propose a lightweight framework for hosting Web services on mobile devices. We further evaluate and provide a comparative analysis for hosting RESTful Web services versus SOAP-based Web services on our framework. Our experimental results and analysis indicate that RESTful Web services are less resource consuming and more efficient for the implementation and provisioning of Web services from resource-constrained mobile devices.
Beyond the Adiabatic Limit: Charge Photogeneration in Organic Photovoltaic Materials

Mounting evidence suggests that excess energy in charge-transfer (CT) excitonic states facilitates efficient charge separation in organic solar cells. Experimental and theoretical studies have revealed that this excess energy may reside in phonon modes or in electronic coordinates of organic photovoltaic materials that are directly excited by the transition from Frenkel to CT excitons. Despite their strong Coulombic attraction, electron−hole pairs in hot CT excitons are able to undergo activationless separation because the rate of separation competes with thermalization of electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. We argue that these observations indicate strong coupling of the dynamics of electronic and nuclear coordinates in organic photovoltaic materials. Thus, a nonadiabatic description is needed to properly understand the mechanism of charge photogeneration in organic solar cells. Such a description will support continuing efforts toward the development of low-band-gap organic solar cells that effic...
The Bureaucratization, Commodification, and Privatization of Sexual Harassment through Institutional Discourse A Study of the Big Ten Universities

The present study extends research of sexual harassment by examining the communicative techniques that are employed in institutional discourse. Sexual harassment is viewed as a discursive practice that can be enacted, tolerated, perpetuated, or rectified through communication. Past studies have examined how the victims of sexual harassment “frame” these events that in turn affect power relations. The current study addresses how universities frame their managerial discourse regarding sexual harassment, which often perpetuates the bureaucratization, commodification, and privatization of sexual harassment. Specifically, a post-structuralist critique and deconstruction of the policies and brochures developed by the Big Ten universities are undertaken to reveal oppressive and/or emancipatory forms of discourse. Three specific forms are addressed. They are taken-for-granted discourse, strategic ambiguity, and exclusionary discourse. A discussion follows that suggests that these forms of discourse contribute to ...
Nicotine modulation of stress-related peptide neurons.

Nicotine has been shown to activate stress-related brain nuclei, including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA), through complex mechanisms involving direct and indirect pathways. To determine the neurochemical identities of rat brain neurons which are activated by a low dose (0.175 mg/kg) of nicotine given 30 minutes before sacrifice, we have used single- and double-label in situ hybridization. Neuronal activation was quantified by localization of 35S-labeled probe for the immediate early gene, c-fos. Corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), enkephalin (ENK), and dynorphin (DYN) mRNAs were colocalized using a colorimetric, digoxigenin-labeled probe. Film autoradiographic studies showed that nicotine significantly increased c-fos mRNA expression in both PVN and CEA. Pretreatment with the centrally acting nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine (1 mg/kg), blocked nicotine's effects, whereas pretreatment with the peripherally acting antagonist, hexamethonium (5 mg/kg), did not, indicating that c-fos induction was mediated by a central nicotinic receptor. Double labeling studies showed that nicotine induced c-fos expression within CRF cells in the PVN, as well as in a small population of ENK cells, but not in PVN DYN cells. In contrast, there was no significant nicotine-induced increase in c-fos expression in CEA CRF or DYN cells, whereas nicotine treatment did increase c-fos expression within CEA ENK cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 497:575–588, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Abstract Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.
Elevated levels of 92-kd type IV collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 9) in giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine if circulating gelatinase activity and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) (gelatinase B, or 92-kd type IV collagenase) antigenic levels are elevated in sera of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), and to ascertain if MMP-9 messenger RNA (mRNA) is deposited in situ at sites of disease involvement. METHODS Serum samples were collected from 12 patients with GCA and 12 healthy volunteers. Vascular tissue was obtained at the time of temporal artery biopsy. Type IV collagenase activity was determined by gelatin substrate zymography and the quantitative biotinylated gelatin substrate degradation assay. A double-sandwich immunoassay utilizing 2 different isotypes of monoclonal antibodies generated against MMP-9 was used for measuring serum MMP-9 antigenic levels. Finally, to localize sites of MMP-9 mRNA transcription in inflamed arteries, the method of reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction (RTisPCR) was utilized. RESULTS Serum gelatinase activity and MMP-9 titers were significantly increased in patients with GCA (mean +/- SEM 198.9 +/- 36.9 micrograms gelatin/hour/ml serum, versus 21.2 +/- 4.0 in controls; P = 0.0006). The differences in antigenic MMP-9 levels were even more prominent (3005.4 +/- 900.6 ng/ml and 31.6 +/- 9.8 ng/ml in GCA and control sera, respectively; P = 0.007). By RTisPCR, MMP-9 mRNA was mainly detected in cytoplasm of cells resembling smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts in regions of fragmented elastic tissue in the lamina media. CONCLUSION Gelatinase activity, and specifically MMP-9 levels, are substantially elevated in sera of patients with GCA. Detection of MMP-9 mRNA in the lamina media of inflamed vasculature suggests that degradation of intercellular matrix, particularly elastic fibers, may play a key role in the pathogenesis of GCA. Further studies are needed to determine if the circulating MMP-9 level could be utilized as a clinical marker of disease activity.
ON THE POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF CHICHEN ITZA

This paper argues that what we and others have termed a “cult of Quetzalcoatl” is more properly viewed as a set of imagery, beliefs, and practices associated with an ideology of leadership. Examination of the architecture and iconography of Chichen Itza and related sites with feathered serpent iconography suggests that these practices were similarly structured and played a similar role in many of Mesoamerica's Tollans, specifically in the investiture of client elites. Many of the structures of the Gran Nivelacion of Chichen Itza, particularly the Great Ballcourt, were the loci of such rituals of investiture, especially its military aspect. This common ritual structure supports the idea that Quetzalcoatl may have been central to institutions unifying Mesoamerica from the time of Teotihuacan onward, if not earlier.
Effects of long-term sensory vs. sympathetic denervation on the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivities in the rat lung.

Abstract In this study the effect of long-term selective sensory vs. sympathetic denervation was examined in the rat lung. Immunoreactivities for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the one hand and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) on the other, were used as indexes to asses the changes in the two nerve systems. Following long-term chemosympathectomy a marked increase of CGRP-immunoreactive nerve fibers was seen in the sections, while TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers appeared depleted. Inversely, long-term sensory denervation resulted in an increase of TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers with a sharp decrease of CGRP-immunostained fibers. These results suggest a peripheral interaction between these innervation systems in the lung, the mechanism of which has still to be elucidated.
The Magistrate is the Muse: Law and Visual Economy in Bangkok

Governmentality is a spatial formation negotiated within historically-constituted political landscapes. In Bangkok, this spatialization of power is manifested in the militarization of urban life and the protocols of security procedure, but also in anti-government protests and an increasingly politicized visual culture. The memory and meaning of the city’s streets exist as an overlooked legibility that challenges the visual strategies of government control. Monuments, travel routes, and other public sites of national recognition now compete in an extended urban arena of images, such as literature and cinema, which re-stage governmentality and the material contours of Thailand’s contemporary political disagreements outside of its institutional norms. I read this intersection between governing and image circulation through the development of a visual economy in Bangkok and depict how different communities—including a bureaucratized military and a populist political party, but also writers and filmmakers—intervene in its circulation. Each group zooms in on key spaces of the city in the attempt to speak to changing forms of governmentality.
CareerConnect®—An interactive web-based tool for job seekers with visual disabilities

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe CareerConnect®, the American Foundation for the Blind's fully accessible, Internet resource for job seekers and those assisting them with their career exploration and job seeking efforts. The site has the following major content areas: Careers (information about careers available in the general labor market), Mentors (access to successfully employed blind and low vision adults willing to mentor job seekers or answer questions from those in the career exploration process), Tips (practical suggestions for job finding, getting hired and job keeping), MyCareerConnect (an interactive tool that enables visitors to develop personal data sheets and resumes, have access to an electronic calendar, and receive messages from prospective mentors), Technology (timely information about assistive technology being used by people with visual disabilities and access to the evaluation of mainstream technology) and Resources (links to job listings, organizations in the United States and Canada that provide job training, and recommended readings).
Glucoprivic treatments that induce anestrus, but do not affect food intake, increase FOS-like immunoreactivity in the area postrema and nucleus of the solitary tract in Syrian hamsters

Animals make a wide variety of physiological and behavioral adjustments in order to maintain caloric homeostasis. For example, most animals increase food intake when the availability of cellular metabolic fuels is low. The area postrema (AP) and adjacent, reciprocally-innervated nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) are important brain areas for metabolic control of food intake in rats. However, in Syrian hamsters, food intake is not affected by decreases in metabolic fuel availability such as those that occur with food deprivation or with pharmacological inhibitors of metabolic fuels. Hamsters make other adjustments that conserve energy when the availability of metabolic fuels is low. Estrous cycles are inhibited by treatment with a high dose of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), a drug that inhibits cellular glucose utilization, but not by treatment with methyl palmoxirate (MP) a drug that inhibits fatty acid utilization. Recent data suggest that the AP/NTS is critical for the effects of glucoprivation on estrous cycles. Lesions of the AP/NTS prevent 2DG-induced anestrus. If the AP/NTS is involved in anestrus induced by glucoprivation, it might be predicted that glucoprivic treatments that induce anestrus would change patterns of neural activation, as measured by FOS-like immunoreactivity (FOS-li), in the AP/NTS. We examined FOS-li in females that were either food deprived or fed ad libitum, and in females treated with 2DG, MP or the appropriate vehicle. FOS-li was increased in the AP/NTS only in hamsters food deprived or treated with 2DG, the two treatments that induce anestrus but have no effect on food intake. These results are consistent with the notion that metabolic control of estrous cycles involves detection of decreases in the availability of metabolic fuels in the AP/NTS.
Integrating PRISM theory and Monte Carlo simulation to study polymer-functionalised particles and polymer nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites consist of nanoscale additives embedded in a polymer matrix and are widely used in the automobiles, optics and microelectronics industries. Since the composition and the morphology of the polymer nanocomposite impact its macroscopic properties, significant efforts have been made to understand how parameters, such as polymer and nanoparticle chemistries, molecular weight of the matrix polymers and nanoparticle size, help tune the morphology. Theory and simulations have proven to be useful tools in this field due to their ability to link molecular level interactions, the morphology and the macroscopic properties. Due to the computational intensity of molecular simulations of a dense polymer matrix, there has been a strong effort on the theoretical front to develop methodologies that map out equilibrium structure and phase behaviour of polymer nanocomposites over a large parameter space. In this paper, we review the details of the self-consistent polymer reference interaction site mode...
Copper and iron metalloproteins

The most important oxidases and all oxygen carriers are copper and/or iron metalloproteins. Unique metabolic devices have evolved to utilize these essential metals effectively.
Transnuclear retrotransposition of the Tad element of Neurospora.

Abstract Tad is a LINE-like DNA element found in Neutrospora crassa. A Neurospora artificial intron based on the first intron of the am (glutamate dehydrogenase) gene was constructed and introduced, in the correct orientation, into a unique Nru I site in open reading frame 1 of an active Tad element, Tad1-1. Transformants containing the Tad element with the artificial intron were placed in forced heterokaryons with strains lacking Tad elements. Tad was shown to transpose between nuclei in these heterokaryons. Examination of the transposed Tad elements showed that the intron had been precisely removed in all cases. This confirms that Tad is a retrotransposon and that there is a cytoplasmic phase in these retrotransposition events.
Evaluation of the antihyperlipidemic properties of dietary supplements.

We reviewed the published literature regarding the antihyperlipidemic effects of dietary supplements. A search of MEDLINE database, EMBASE Drugs and Pharmacology database, and the Internet was performed, and pertinent studies were identified and evaluated. References from published articles and tertiary references were used to gather additional data. Published trials indicate that red yeast rice, tocotrienols, gugulipid, garlic, and soy protein all have antihypercholesterolemic effects. These supplements, as well as ω-3 fatty acids, also have antihypertriglyceridemic effects. In clinical trials none of the agents led to a reduction in low-density lipoproteins greater than 25%, suggesting modest efficacy. When recommending these supplements, clinicians should keep in mind that their long-term safety is not established and patients should be monitored closely.
An empirical assessment of driver motivation and emotional states in perceived safety margins under varied driving conditions

Motivation models in driving behaviour postulate that driver motives and emotional states dictate risk tolerance under various traffic conditions. The present study used time and driver performance-based payment systems to manipulate motivation and risk-taking behaviour. Ten participants drove to a predefined location in a simulated driving environment. Traffic patterns (density and velocity) were manipulated to cause driver behaviour adjustments due to the need to conform with the social norms of the roadway. The driving environment complexity was investigated as a mediating factor in risk tolerance. Results revealed the performance-based payment system to closely relate to risk-taking behaviour as compared with the time-based payment system. Drivers conformed with social norms associated with specific traffic patterns. Higher roadway complexity led to a more conservative safety margins and speeds. This research contributes to the further development of motivational models of driver behaviour. Practition...
Studies on Jacobi-Davidson, Rayleigh quotient iteration, inverse iteration generalized Davidson and Newton updates

SUMMARY We study Davidson-type subspace eigensolvers. Correction equations of Jacobi–Davidson and several other schemes are reviewed. New correction equations are derived. A general correction equation is constructed, existing correction equations may be considered as special cases of this general equation. The main theme of this study is to identify the essential common ingredient that leads to the efficiency of a diverse form of Davidson-type methods. We emphasize the importance of the approximate Rayleigh-quotient-iteration direction. Copyright q 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fortran Computer Programs for the Development of New MMPI Scales

To develop a new MMPI scale, an item analysis is performed comparing the MMPI response frequencies (number of "True" answers and number of "False" answers) of a criterion group with the response frequencies of a suitable comparison group. A set of computer programs is described which not only performs this item analysis, but also performs several additional tasks necessary for evaluation of a new MMPI scale. To avoid the laborious task of keypunching each subject's responses to all 566 MMPI items, the authors recommend the use of an MMPI answer sheet which is suitable for optical scanning and automated keypunching.
The meaning of mental illness in criminal responsibility

(1984). The meaning of mental illness in criminal responsibility. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 1-61.
Performance evaluation of global reading of entire databases

Using simulation and probabilistic analysis, we study the performance of an algorithm to read entire databases with locking concurrency control allowing multiple readers or an exclusive writer. The algorithm runs concurrently with the normal transaction processing (on-the-fly) and locks the entities in the database one by one (incremental). The analysis compares different strategies to resolve the conflicts between the global read algorithm and update. Since the algorithm is parallel in nature, its interference with normal transactions is minimized in parallel and distributed databases. A simulation study shows that one variant of the algorithm can read the entire database with very little overhead and interference with the updates.
Una revisión de la genética del autismo.

El autismo es un severo trastorno del desarrollo neuropsicologico, caracterizado por una alteracion de la comunicacion y de la interaccion social, y por restringidas, repetitivas y obsesivas pautas de conducta. Afecta mas a hombres que a mujeres y, con frecuencia, existe un bajo cociente intelectual. Recientes estimaciones de su prevalencia en California muestran un creciente aumento. Se piensa en posibles causas geneticas y ambientales con un caracter fuertemente hereditario. Existen progresos recientes en lo que respecta al aislamiento de los genes de susceptibilidad, habiendose confirmado definitivamente los factores de predisposicion no ambientales. En la presente revision se exponen los mas recientes hallazgos epidemiologicos, asi como los resultados de los actuales estudios sobre la genetica del trastorno.
The Flattening of Literacy: Community Colleges and Skills Training

Community colleges occupy a contradictory position in the rise of globalization. They are at once both local and global institutions. This essay examines the complicated location of community colleges in local economies through the developing community college system in Indiana. In particular, it highlights the horizontal transitions of a growing number of students through community colleges and the impact of such transitions on the framing of literacy education.
Iris and Pupil

The two most important attributes of the iris are its regulatory function, controlling the amount of light reaching the retina, and its barrier function, separating the two main chambers of the eye. In addition, the iris has a cosmetic function, whose significance should not be underestimated. Restoration of the injured iris to its normal anatomy is one of the most neglected aspects of ocular traumatology.
Smoke yields of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in relation to FTC tar level and cigarette manufacturer: analysis of the Massachusetts Benchmark Study.

Methods. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to assess the explanatory power of FTC tar, the particular manufacturer, and other cigarette characteristics to predict the yields of four TSNAs (N’-nitrosonornicotine [NNN], 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone [NNK], N’-nitrosoanatabine [NAT], and N’-nitrosoanabasine [NAB]) in 26 US commercial brands tested in the 1999 Massachusetts Benchmark Study. Results. When FTC tar alone was used to predict TSNA yield, the squared correlation coefficient (R 2 ) was only 38% for NNN, 76% for NNK, 46% for NAT, and 49% for NAB. Inclusion of manufacturer-specific variables significantly (p < 0.001) increased the estimated R 2 for three of the four species of nitrosamine to: 78% for NNN, 88% for NNK, and 81% for NAT. Inclusion of other cigarette characteristics (filter type, paper permeability, tobacco weight, tip dilution) did not reduce the significance of the manufacturer-specific effects. Federal Trade Commission nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO) yields were no better at predicting TSNA levels. Conclusions. FTC ratings for tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide do not tell the entire story about the comparative yields of toxic agents in marketed cigarette brands. The significant manufacturer-specific effects suggest that proprietary blending and processing of tobacco matter as well. Public, brand-by-brand disclosure of the yields of TSNA and possibly other smoke constituents appears to be warranted.
Chronic Subcritical Limb Ischemia: A Poorly Recognized Stage of Critical Limb Ischemia

It is well-known that critical limb ischemia is associated with high mortality and amputation risk. Chronic subcritical limb ischemia, however, represents a subgroup of patients with critical limb ischemia in whom severely reduced circulation to the foot does not manifest as rest pain, ischemic ulceration, or ischemic gangrene. Admittedly, there is a paucity of data describing the fate of this patient subset, and little evidence to support appropriate treatment. To better understand the distinctive characteristics and clinical outcomes of this population, a cohort of 20 patients was examined. During the mean follow-up of 1.9 years, there were no deaths or major amputations, and only one patient progressed to surgical intervention. This review describes the characteristics and outcomes of this patient cohort and discusses the clinical implications. These findings suggest that attentive medical care and risk-reduction strategies may reduce mortality and alter progression of limb ischemia to amputation in patients with chronic subcritical limb ischemia.
Study of an A+2B—>C Reaction-Diffusion System with Initially Separated Components

The presence of a reaction front is a characteristic feature of a variety of physical, chemical and biological processes1,2. A chemical reaction exhibits a front (spatially localized region where concentration of product is non zero), provided the diffusing reactants are separated in space. We study the reaction front dynamics of a termolecular A+2B—>C reaction with initially separated components in a capillary. The reaction tetra+2Ni2+—>1:2 complex is used3, where ‘tetra’ is disodium ethyl bis(5-tetrazolylazo) acetate trihydrate. We measure and compare with theory the dynamic quantities that characterize the kinetic behavior of the system: the global reaction rate R(t), the location of the reaction center xf(t), the front’s width w(t), and the local production rate R(xf,t). The non-classical nature of this dynamical system is confirmed.
The rise of social assistance in Brazil

The rise of social assistance in Brazil has been remarkable. The 1988 Constitution signalled a renewed ‘social contract’ leading to citizenship-based social assistance providing guaranteed income to older and disabled people in poverty. Municipal activism in the 1990s extended the provision of direct transfers to all households in poverty through Bolsa Escola and other programmes later consolidated into Bolsa Familia. This article studies the origins and evolution of social assistance institutions in Brazil, paying due attention to the role of ideas and politics.
Long-Term Unpredictable Foraging Conditions and Physiological Stress Response in Mountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli)

Birds respond to short-term deterioration in foraging conditions by increasing their plasma level of corticosterone but the physiological effects of long-term deterioration in food supplies are not well known. In resident passerine birds that winter in temperate climates, such as the mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli), the food supply may be limited and unpredictable over long periods of time. Whether the long-term limited and unpredictable food supply has an effect on (a) baseline levels of corticosterone and (b) the adrenocortical stress response to a standardized acute stress of handling and restraint in mountain chickadees was assessed. For a period of 94 days, one group of chickadees was maintained on limited and unpredictable food (food-restricted) and the other group was maintained on an ad libitum food supply. The food-restricted birds had significantly higher baseline levels of corticosterone than those maintained on ad libitum food. All birds responded to the acute stressor by an increasing secretion of corticosterone but there were no differences between the treatment groups in their stress response. There was a significant effect of sex on the stress response, with females reaching higher levels of corticosterone and responding at a faster rate than males. These results suggest that permanent resident birds wintering in harsh environments may have elevated levels of corticosterone on a long-term basis. Whereas other factors, such as day length and ambient temperature, may contribute to energetic hardship during the winter, the results showed that limited and unpredictable food alone can trigger significant changes in baseline levels of plasma corticosterone. The potential costs and benefits of long-term increased corticosterone levels in resident food-caching birds are discussed.
Carbon-carbon contacts for robust nanoelectromechanical switches.

Nanoscale electromechanical (NEM) contact switches are attrac-tive complements or alternatives to solid-state silicon elec-tronics for their minimal electrical leakage, sharp switching, and temperature and radiation tolerance. Despite the potential advantages, only limited reports exist of these devices oper-ating reliably beyond a few cycles. This is especially true for highly-scaled devices made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or nanowires. Here we report a novel material selection, namely the use of carbon-carbon contacts, to improve the reliability of these devices. NEM contact switches are constructed using a CNT as an active element which makes contact with a con-ductive diamond-like carbon (DLC) electrode when the switch is closed. Switch response times are characterized and basic logic operations demonstrated from pairs of switches. We ﬁ nd that the robust carbon-carbon contact, which is facile to apply to a variety of reported nanoelectromechanical architectures currently using metal electrodes, endures prolonged cycling without failure. This in turn represents a viable means to improve the reliability of these diverse, widely-pursued nano-scale devices ranging from single-nanostructure switches to massively parallel arrays through improved material selection. Solid-state electronics are well established thanks in part to scalable manufacturing processes and reliable performance. However, as these devices continue to scale and their applica-tions become increasingly demanding (e.g., increasing per-formance while greatly reducing power consumption), new technologies are sought to sustain their advance. NEM contact switches have a physical gap separating their terminals (see for example
Prior experience affects allocation to current reproduction in a burying beetle

The cost of reproduction hypothesis predicts that the level of reproductive investment to current reproduction is constrained by an individual’s future reproductive potential or residual reproductive value. Therefore, age, or differences between young and old individuals in residual reproductive value, is expected to influence reproductive investment. However, recent theoretical work suggests that residual reproductive value is also influenced by an individual’s state or condition which may in part be determined by prior reproductive experience. We evaluated the reproductive investment of same-aged female burying beetles (Nicrophorus orbicollis) to determine how prior reproductive experience affects current reproduction. Consistent with previous research, females reproducing on low-quality carcasses allocated more to future reproduction by producing smaller offspring and gaining more mass than females on high-quality carcasses. When prior experience was manipulated, females that initially reproduced on a low-quality resource exhibited an accentuated response to a high-quality carcass by producing significantly larger broods of offspring compared with control females reproducing on high-quality carcasses. Conversely, females that initially reproduced on a high-quality carcass and were subsequently presented a low-quality carcass exhibited a decrease in offspring size and an increase in female mass change, indicative of a switch in allocation from current to future reproduction. The change in carcass quality resulted either in terminal investment or reproductive restraint, dependent on prior experience. Our results combined with those of previous papers demonstrate that the level of reproductive investment in burying beetles is influenced by both age and prior reproductive experience.
A 12-b 56MS/s pipelined ADC in 65nm CMOS

This paper describes a 1.2V, 12-b pipelined ADC implemented in a 65nm CMOS process. The circuit design techniques used to obtain high gain operational amplifiers in a deep-submicron process are described. A novel top-level simulation methodology is used to quantify the transient errors in each subrange stage, allowing their optimal design. The circuit employs various techniques for power reduction: class A-B op-amps, improved reference design, and frequency-to-current biasing.
Water Development on Tropic Volcanic Islands—Type Example: Hawaiia

Despite rainfalls which commonly exceed 200 inches per year in the mountainous portions of many of the islands in the Hawaiian chain, most streams in the islands are very flashy, and only a few carry water throughout the year. This is owing to the extremely permeable nature of the volcanic rocks and soils which make up the Hawaiian islands, and, in fact, the permeability of some of the younger volcanic rocks is so great that virtually no runoff occurs. As a result, development of reliable year-round sources of surface water is difficult especially on the leeward portions of the islands. Furthermore, surface storage is difficult because of the high infiltration capacities of the rock and soil cover. Consequently, development of ground water provides the most abundant and the most reliable source of water supply for these islands. Three modes of fresh ground-water occurrence may be distinguished: perched, dike-confined, and basal. Although perched and dike-confined ground water are of considerable local importance, the basal ground-water body is by far the most widely developed and most important source of fresh ground water for these islands.
Three-dimensional micro-channel fabrication in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer

This paper describes a fabrication technique for building three-dimensional (3-D) micro-channels in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer. The process allows for the stacking of many thin (less than 100-/spl mu/m thick) patterned PDMS layers to realize complex 3-D channel paths. The master for each layer is formed on a silicon wafer using an epoxy-based photoresist (SU 8). PDMS is cast against the master producing molded layers containing channels and openings. To realize thin layers with openings, a sandwich molding configuration was developed that allows precise control of the PDMS thickness. The master wafer is clamped within a sandwich that includes flat aluminum plates, a flexible polyester film layer, a rigid Pyrex wafer, and a rubber sheet. A parametric study is performed on PDMS surface activation in a reactive-ion-etching system and the subsequent methanol treatment for bonding and aligning very thin individual components to a substrate. Low RF power and short treatment times are better than high RF power and long treatment times, respectively, for instant bonding. Layer-to-layer alignment of less then 15 /spl mu/m is achieved with manual alignment techniques that utilize surface tension driven self-alignment methods. A coring procedure is used to realize off-chip fluidic connections via the bottom PDMS layer, allowing the top layer to remain smooth and flat for complete optical access.
Model for a Non-Credit Lecture Series in Human Sexuality

The combination of professional expertise and student-led discussions in a short course leads to a high enrollment, credit course.
Learning The Ropes: An Introductory Tax Return Case

In extant literature, there are few tax return cases appearing in journals. We present a complex case using a realistic scenario that is designed to be an introductory tax return assignment used in an individual federal income taxation course. The case is designed to teach students how to manually prepare a federal income tax return using the actual forms and schedules prepared by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This case is timely for two reasons. 1) Often tax return assignments in textbooks involve concepts that a student has yet to learn. For example, a textbook assignment often includes itemized deductions and credits, even though these topics are typically taught towards the end of an individual tax course. 2) In addition, with the availability of information on the internet, students have greater access to solutions to textbook assignments. This case comprehensively examines concepts typically covered in the first three or four chapters of an individual tax text: various types of income, exclusions, personal and dependency exemptions, capital gains and losses, and the standard deduction.
The Attack on Social Studies Teachers and Teaching in 1970s and 1980s Hollywood Movies

In Peter Bogdanovich’s classic The Last Picture Show (1970), an early classroom scene foreshadows the depressing tableau of rural, small town Texas ennui that follows. A high school teacher is perched casually upon his desk, engrossed in a heavy volume, juvenile chaos surrounding him: two male students play-fight with one another, while another male student launches a wad of paper across the room and a female student adjusts her make-up in a compact mirror. Finally roused from his book by the increasing noise in the classroom, the teacher addresses the group with an opening remark dripping in irony: “Well, I wonder what my chances are this morning of interesting you kids in the work of John Keats?” Without missing a beat, a student named Duane shoots back, “None at all.” The teacher chuckles along at Duane's retort as the rest of the class laughs heartily.
Revolting acts and impassioned Haitian men in the francophone world theatres of Vincent Placoly and Simone Schwarz-Bart

This article discusses the presence of Haiti, and in particular Haitian men, in francophone theatre published and staged throughout the world. It discusses Haitian male protagonists’ engagement in quests for sovereignty, and specifically how their passion for this quest leads them into revolting states that are simultaneously yet varyingly political (revolt) and aesthetic (revulsion). Such a claim reawakens the argument that Haitians of Haiti or the diaspora – and even Haiti writ large – continue to be connected to heroic and sometimes misguided quests because of assumptions made about dramatic elements of Haiti’s revolutionary history. Alongside the novel, which has remained the most globally and critically known literary space where such questions take shape, dramatic works like Vincent Placoly’s Dessalines, ou la passion de l’independance (1983), and Simone Schwarz-Bart’s Ton beau capitaine (1987), have also inserted themselves into the conversation for decades. Through a discussion of these works, thi...
Cell type–specific manipulation with GFP-dependent Cre recombinase

There are many transgenic GFP reporter lines that allow the visualization of specific populations of cells. Using such lines for functional studies requires a method that transforms GFP into a molecule that enables genetic manipulation. We developed a method that exploits GFP for gene manipulation, Cre recombinase dependent on GFP (CRE-DOG), a split component system that uses GFP and its derivatives to directly induce Cre/loxP recombination. Using plasmid electroporation and AAV viral vectors, we delivered CRE-DOG to multiple GFP mouse lines, which led to effective recombination selectively in GFP-labeled cells. Furthermore, CRE-DOG enabled optogenetic control of these neurons. Beyond providing a new set of tools for manipulation of gene expression selectively in GFP(+) cells, we found that GFP can be used to reconstitute the activity of a protein not known to have a modular structure, suggesting that this strategy might be applicable to a wide range of proteins.
Advocacy: Helping Others Understand What Children with Cancer Need

In the late 1960s, a small group of parents had a meeting in the basement of DC Children’s Hospital, and the childhood cancer advocacy movement was born. Over the years, advocates––parents, patients, medical professionals, and others––have unified their voices to challenge Congress to increase funding to the National Cancer Institute, to make pediatric cancer research a priority, and to take steps to improve the lives of children with cancer. This chapter defines advocacy, explores the topic on both the personal and cause level, considers challenges to successful childhood cancer advocacy, and summarizes valuable lessons learned over time.
Total exchangeable sodium and space in normal and pre-eclamptic patients determined with sodium; preliminary report.

Abstract Radiosodium 22 with a half-life of 3 years is the ideal substance for determining the amount of sodium in the body and its elimination. The equilibration for sodium 22 as determined by the serum concentration and the total amount remaining in the body depends upon the sodium intake for the preceding period and days following the injection. The sodium space in patients who are ingesting 4 or more Gm. of sodium salts per day probably never reaches equilibrium. In the patient on a sodium intake of 4 or more Gm. per 24 hours, the radioactive sodium is no longer detectable by 14 weeks but in the patient on a sodium intake of less than 2 grams per 24 hours, the sodium was still determinable at the end of 18 weeks, and with a still smaller intake of sodium the turnover was still slower, reaching approximately 22 weeks. In the normal subject on an average or high intake of sodium chloride, although the turnover is more rapid, approximately 13 per cent of the injected sodium 22 at the end of 14 weeks is still unaccounted for and is probably stored in bone. A basis for comparing values between pregnant patients is extremely difficult, and will probably have to be based upon the total body water in the lean body mass. The sodium space is increased in normal pregnancy and markedly increased in pre-eclamptic patients and to a lesser degree in the hypertensive disease group. This is true whether one calculates it as the total sodium space, as the milliliters per kilogram, per centimeter of height, or per square meter of body surface. The total exchangeable sodium is increased approximately 10 per cent in the normal pregnant patient and is markedly increased in the pre-eclamptic patient as evidenced by a 32 per cent drop by the eighth postpartum day. The hypertensive disease group is characterized by a larger amount of total exchangeable sodium but if calculated on a per kilogram basis then the values are less than normal, indicating that fat does not contain as much water and electrolyte as does the lean body tissue.
St. Jude Cancer Education for Children Program: The Impact of a Teacher-Led Intervention on Student Knowledge Gains

In 2006, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tennessee) began developing a school-based outreach program known as the St. Jude Cancer Education for Children Program (SJCECP). The aim of this program is to teach Memphis-area children about cells, cancer, and healthy habits that can prevent the development of cancer in adulthood. Initial plans for delivery of the program was for St. Jude staff to present the program at local schools. This plan for disseminating instruction was not feasible due to the limited availability of St. Jude staff. As a next step, during the 2012-2014 academic years, we conducted a study entitled SJCECP2, utilizing the SJCECP curriculum, with the objective of evaluating the impact of the educational intervention on knowledge acquisition and retention among fourth-grade students participating in a modified, teacher-led version of the program. Eighteen teachers and 426 students from 10 local schools in the greater Memphis area participated in the program evaluation. This study used a single-group, pre-test/post-test design to determine the impact of the SJCECP intervention on changes in knowledge scores among fourth-grade students. Testing was on cells, cancer, and healthy living. The mean scores increased from 6.45 to 8.12, 5.99 to 7.65, and 5.92 to 7.96 on cell, cancer, and health behaviors units, respectively (all p values <.001). Preliminary evidence suggests that the SJCECP2 intervention is a useful tool for teachers to improve student knowledge of knowledge of cells, cancer, and healthy living concepts at the fourth-grade level.
Hormone-controlled cAMP-mediated fluid secretion in yellow-fever mosquito

Evidence is presented for hormone-controlled adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated NaCl diuresis in Malpighian tubules of the blood-feeding yellow-fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. Studies in isolated Malpighian tubules reveal that cAMP added to the peritubular bath selectively stimulates NaCl secretion and not KCl secretion by increasing the Na conductance of the basolateral membrane of primary cells. These effects are duplicated by forskolin and theophylline in parallel with increased intracellular concentrations of endogenous cAMP. Two natriuretic peptides that we have isolated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods from mosquito heads also increase NaCl and fluid secretion in isolated Malpighian tubules together with increased intracellular levels of cAMP. These results are consistent with a mechanism of NaCl diuresis in which the natriuretic peptides and cAMP are respectively the primary and secondary messengers that couple the ingestion of a blood meal to the excretion of the unwanted salt and water fraction of the meal. This hypothesis is supported by in vivo studies that reveal elevated intracellular cAMP levels in Malpighian tubules at the time of maximum NaCl diuresis.
STEM High School Communities Common and Differing Features

Using observations and interviews, the researchers explore the experiences and perspectives of students, teachers, and administrators at six specialized high schools with a focus on science, techno...
In Vivo Encapsulation of Nucleic Acids Using an Engineered Nonviral Protein Capsid

In Nature, protein capsids function as molecular containers for a wide variety of molecular cargoes. Such containers have great potential for applications in nanotechnology, which often require encapsulation of non-native guest molecules. Charge complementarity represents a potentially powerful strategy for engineering novel encapsulation systems. In an effort to explore the generality of this approach, we engineered a nonviral, 60-subunit capsid, lumazine synthase from Aquifex aeolicus (AaLS), to act as a container for nucleic acid. Four mutations were introduced per subunit to increase the positive charge at the inner surface of the capsid. Characterization of the mutant (AaLS-pos) revealed that the positive charges lead to the uptake of cellular RNA during production and assembly of the capsid in vivo. Surprisingly, AaLS-pos capsids were found to be enriched with RNA molecules approximately 200–350 bases in length, suggesting that this simple charge complementarity approach to RNA encapsulation leads t...
Apache and ModSecurity

Apache is arguably the most significant web server, indeed the May 2015 Netcraft survey reports that Apache runs 49% of the top million busiest sites, with Nginx reporting 22% and Microsoft 12%.
Genetically encoded indicators of neuronal activity

Genetically encoded indicators of neuronal activity have diversified and improved in performance in recent years, becoming essential tools for neuroscientists. Lin and Schnitzer review indicators for pH, neurotransmitter, voltage and calcium, with an emphasis on quantifying key indicator attributes and relating them to their applications in neuroscience.