cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microphase separation in thin films of lamellar forming polydisperse di-block copolymers

Despite the ubiquity of polydispersity in chain lengths of di-block copolymers, its effects on microphase separation in thin films have eluded a clear understanding. In this work, we have studied effects of polydispersity on the microphase separation in thin films of lamellar forming di-block copolymers using self-consistent field theory (SCFT) and neutron reflectivity experiments. Di-block copolymers containing a polydisperse block of poly(glycidylmethacrylate) (PGMA) connected to a near-monodisperse block poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-d6 azlactone) (PVDMA-d6) are considered in this work. Effects of chain length polydispersity, film thickness, substrate–monomer and monomer–monomer interactions on the microphase segregation are studied using SCFT. The theoretical study reveals that in comparison to a film created with monodisperse di-block copolymers, an increase in polydispersity tends to decrease the number of lamellar strata that can be packed in a film of given thickness. This is a direct consequence of an increase in lamellar domain spacing with an increase in polydispersity index. Furthermore, it is shown that polydispersity induces conformational asymmetry and an increase in the polydispersity index leads to an increase in the effective Kuhn segment length of the polydisperse blocks. It is shown that the conformational asymmetry effects, which are entropic in origin and of increasing importance as film thickness decreases, drive the polydisperse blocks to the middle of the films despite favorable substrate interactions. These predictions are verified by results from neutron reflectivity experiments on thin films made from moderately polydisperse PGMA-PVDMA-d6 di-block copolymer deposited on silicon substrates. Finally, results from SCFT are used to predict neutron reflectivity profiles, providing a facile and robust route to obtain useful physical insights into the structure of polydisperse diblock copolymers at interfaces.
Towards a practical secure concurrent language

We demonstrate that a practical concurrent language can be extended in a natural way with information security mechanisms that provably enforce strong information security guarantees. We extend the X10 concurrent programming language with coarse-grained information-flow control. Central to X10 concurrency abstractions is the notion of a place: a container for data and computation. We associate a security level with each place, and restrict each place to store only data appropriate for that security level. When places interact only with other places at the same security level, then our security mechanisms impose no restrictions. When places of differing security levels interact, our information security analysis prevents potentially dangerous information flows, including information flow through covert scheduling channels. The X10 concurrency mechanisms simplify reasoning about information flow in concurrent programs. We present a static analysis that enforces a noninterference-based extensional information security condition in a calculus that captures the key aspects of X10's place abstraction and async-finish parallelism. We extend this security analysis to support many of X10's language features, and have implemented a prototype compiler for the resulting language.
Religion on which the devout and skeptic can agree

A starting point for a constructive exchange between two groups, devout religionists and scientific skeptics, is that they can hold certain religious ideas in common. These ideas, however, must preserve the compelling nature of religious commitment with- out unduly compromising rational sensibilities. In the histories of both science and religion progress has been made by synthesis. The definition of religion is a key issue for the success or failure of synthe- sis, and I propose a new definition. Both devout religionists and scientific skeptics must make compromises if synthesis is to be suc- cessful. For the devout these compromises include waiving the pre- requisite of belief in the supernatural and placing behavior above belief. For the skeptic they include abandoning explanatory exclusivity, ac- knowledging the authority of moral experts, and recognizing the ne- cessity of community in achieving moral excellence. I defend each of these compromises as reasonable and tolerable costs of integration.
Moose and snowshoe hare competition and a mechanistic explanation from foraging theory

Moose (Alces alces) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) appear to compete with each other. This was determined using the “natural experiments” of populations found in sympatry and allopatry on islands at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, and manipulated exclosures. The population densities from these areas are fit to a series of competition models based upon different competitive mechanisms (Schoener 1974a), using non-linear regression techniques. A model of competition for food where the food can be separated into exclusively used and shared categories is found to predict observed densities of moose and hare best. Finally, the competition model's parameters (fraction of food shared and competition coefficients) are shown to agree with values predicted independently from a foraging model.
A magnification lens for interactive volume visualization

Volume visualization of large data sets suffers from the same problem that many other visualization modalities suffer from: either one can visualize the entire data set and lose small details or visualize a small region and lose the context. The authors we present a magnification lens technique for volume visualization. While the notion of a magnification-lens is not new, and other techniques attempt to simulate the physical properties of a magnifying lens, our contribution is in developing a magnification lens that is fast, can be implemented using a fairly small software overhead, and has a natural, intuitive appearance. The issue with magnification lens is the border, or transition region. The lens center and exterior have a constant zoom factor, and are simple to render. It is the border region that blends between the external and interior magnification, and has a nonconstant magnification. We use the "perspective-correct textures" capability, available in most current graphics systems, to produce a lens with a tessellated border region that approximates linear compression with respect to the radius of the magnification lens. We discuss how a "cubic" border can mitigate the discontinuities resulting from the use of a linear function, without significant performance loss. We discuss various issues concerning development of a three-dimensional magnification lens.
Helping Others as a Response to Reconcile a Criminal Past The Role of the Wounded Healer in Prisoner Reentry Programs

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many of the staff members working for prisoner reentry programs are formerly incarcerated persons. Moreover, criminologists have written that the strengths-based role of the “wounded healer” or “professional ex-” is exemplified by released prisoners who desist from a deviant career by replacing it with an occupation as a paraprofessional, lay therapist, or counselor. Despite these observations, there is a paucity of research about formerly incarcerated persons employed by agencies that provide reentry-related programming. This study begins to fill this gap by examining whether, how, and why the staff members of prisoner reentry programs differ from the clients. Characteristics of formerly incarcerated persons thought to be related to desistance and reconciling a criminal past such as overcoming stigma, prosocial attitudes and beliefs, active coping strategies, psychological well-being, and satisfaction with life are examined. Findings support the notion that the wounded he...
Smart interfaces for human-computer intelligent interaction

This paper describes smart interfaces for human-computer intelligent interaction (HCII) and their application to VCR remote control using handgestures. The VCR interface is capable of learning the user's operational habits and can help her, aka wizard mode of operation. The adaptive interface monitors the user's gestures in an attempt to assist her through feedback and recommendations using video display and/or loudspeaker. The availability of user's profiles is used to enhance human-computer interactions and to make them appear intelligent, i.e., causal. The smart interface is also suitable for handicapped users and security purposes.
Halogenated hydrocarbon epoxides: Factors underlying biological activity

This article summarizes and extends our computational studies (ab initio, SCF–MO) of the reactive properties of halogenated hydrocarbon epoxides. For five such epoxides (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, chlorooxirane, trans-dichlorooxirane, and epichlorohydrin), we analyze and compare first the energy requirements for stretching the CO and CCl bonds, and second, the reactivities of the epoxide ring carbons toward a model nucleophile, ammonia. At each step along the various reaction pathways, the structure of the system was reoptimized. The epoxides were taken to be protonated, either on the oxygen or on the chlorine. Ring opening via monomolecular rupture of a CO bond was found to occur significantly more readily when there is a CH3 or Cl substituent on the carbon. Epichlorohydrin is exceptional, in that stretching a CO bond leads to a movement of the chlorine toward the carbon in question, forming a three- or four-membered ring. The stretching of protonated CCl bonds has remarkably low energy requirements, even when the carbon is not part of the epoxide ring. The interactions with ammonia produced intermediate complexes, which are particularly stable when there is a chlorine on the other ring carbon. The formation of the primary in vivo DNA alkylation product of vinyl chloride, suggested as being responsible for the carcinogenicity of the latter, is discussed. The most negative values of the electrostatic potentials near the oxygens of 21 different epoxides are listed and analyzed in terms of their relationship to the nature of the substituent on the epoxide ring. Also discussed are our earlier findings that epoxide carcinogenicity appears to be associated with a relatively strong negative potential near the oxygen, and that the abilities of epoxides to inhibit epoxide hydrase correlate well with this oxygen potential (modified by a parameter to take account of steric effects).
Revisiting Group Consensus: Collaborative Learning Dynamics During A Problem-Based Learning Activity In Education

Problem-based learning (PBL), especially in conjunction with collaborative learning teams, continues to gain momentum as a popular instructional approach in higher education. In this article, we address three common assumptions about how PBL groups function and report the outcomes of a study in which we examined group dynamics during a computer-assisted PBL module designed to train preservice teachers on the procedures for disciplining students with disabilities. We found that students often do not engage in the constructive dissonance assumed to contribute to strong consensus decisions: groups often defer to an individual or minority opinion with little persuasion or critical thinking. We recommend teaching subject content together with group skills such that future professionals can ensure that all voices are heard, quick answers are scrutinized, and alternative solutions are appropriately vetted by educational teams.
Oxidation Behavior of Pt+Hf-Modified γ-Ni +γ'-Ni3Al Alloys

The oxidation behavior of Pt+Hf-modified γ-Ni+γ′-Ni3Al alloys containing up to 20 at.% Pt and either 15 or 20 at.% Al was studied by oxidizing the alloys in air at 1150°C under both isothermal and thermal cycling conditions. It was found that the co-addition of Pt and Hf was extremely beneficial to oxidation resistance, to the extent that Ni-20Al-20Pt-Hf and Ni-20Al-10Pt-Hf alloys (all compositions are in at.%) oxidized at significantly slower rates than that of a Ni-50Al-15Pt β-NiAl alloy. A Ni-20Al-5Pt-Hf alloy also showed good oxidation resistance, with the steady-state oxidation rate being almost the same as that obtained for the β alloy. Over a period of up to 500 one-hour oxidation cycles, no oxide spallation from the modified γ+γ′ alloys was observed. From cross-sectional SEM examination coupled with X-ray diffraction analyses, it was found that a compact and planar exclusive scale layer of α-Al2O3 formed on the Ni-20Al-20Pt-Hf alloy. By contrast, the Ni-20Al-10Pt-Hf and Ni-20Al-5Pt-Hf alloys formed a very thin outer layer of NiAl2O4 and a planar inner layer of α-Al2O3. The thickness of the inner Al2O3 layer increased with increasing oxidation time relative to that of the NiAl2O4 layer, meaning that the latter primarily formed during the initial stages of scale formation. Both NiO and NiAl2O4 were found in the scales formed on the Ni-20Al-Hf and Ni-15Al-0~10Pt-Hf alloys, with the thickness of these oxide layers decreasing with increasing Pt content in the alloys. Further, it was found that the extent of internal HfO2 formation decreased significantly with increasing Pt content, to the extent that no HfO2 was found in the oxidized Ni-20Al-20Pt-Hf alloy. Inferences for the observed beneficial effects of Pt promoting protective Al2O3 formation and decreasing the tendency for Hf to oxidize in γ+γ′ alloys are discussed.
Parsing Chinese with a Generalized Categorial Grammar

Categorial grammars are attractive because they have a clear account of unbounded dependencies. This accounting is especially important in Mandarin Chinese which makes extensive usage of unbounded dependencies. However, parsers trained on existing categorial grammar annotations (Tse and Curran, 2010) extracted from the Penn Chinese Treebank (Xue et al., 2005) are not as accurate as those trained on the original treebank, possibly because enforcing a small set of inference rules in these grammars leads to large sets of categories, which cause sparse data problems. This work reannotates the Penn Chinese Treebank into a generalized categorial grammar which uses a larger rule set and a substantially smaller category set while retaining the capacity to model unbounded dependencies. Experimental results show a statistically significant improvement in parsing accuracy with this categorial grammar.
Evidence for Autoinduction and Quorum Sensing in White Band Disease-Causing Microbes on Acropora cervicornis

Coral reefs have entered a state of global decline party due to an increasing incidence of coral disease. However, the diversity and complexity of coral-associated bacterial communities has made identifying the mechanisms underlying disease transmission and progression extremely difficult. This study explores the effects of coral cell-free culture fluid (CFCF) and autoinducer (a quorum sensing signaling molecule) on coral-associated bacterial growth and on coral tissue loss respectively. All experiments were conducted using the endangered Caribbean coral Acropora cervicornis. Coral-associated microbes were grown on selective media infused with CFCF derived from healthy and white band disease-infected A. cervicornis. Exposure to diseased CFCF increased proliferation of Cytophaga-Flavobacterium spp. while exposure to healthy CFCF inhibited growth of this group. Exposure to either CFCF did not significantly affect Vibrio spp. growth. In order to test whether disease symptoms can be induced in healthy corals, A. cervicornis was exposed to bacterial assemblages supplemented with exogenous, purified autoinducer. Incubation with autoinducer resulted in complete tissue loss in all corals tested in less than one week. These findings indicate that white band disease in A. cervicornis may be caused by opportunistic pathogenesis of resident microbes.
Depletion of Cartilage Matrix by a Neutral Protease Fraction of Human Leukocyte Lysosomes

SummaryA neutral protease fraction of human PMN granules which degrades elastin and hydrolyzes l-alanine p-nitrophenyl ester (NBA) was tested on rabbit articular cartilage. Forty micrograms of this fraction released 568 μg of protein from 10 mg of cartilage in 4 hr (average value of five experiments). This effect was correlated with a nearly complete loss of metachromatic staining of the cartilage ground substance. Electrophoretically purified pancreatic elastase also degraded cartilage matrix, supporting the suggestion that the elastinolytic protease of the PMN granule fraction was primarily responsible for its attack upon matrix proteoglycan. Another fraction of the granules, containing only collagenolytic activity but no NBA-esterolytic activity, gave insignificant matrix degradation. Of 15 human, pathologic synovial fluid samples, seven contained readily measurable NBA-esterase activity.
Drinking Location and Pregaming as Predictors of Alcohol Intoxication Among Mandated College Students.

ABSTRACTBackground: Both drinking location and pregaming have been associated with heavy alcohol use among college students, yet the manner by which they uniquely contribute to alcohol intoxication remains unclear. Objective: The current study examined the unique utility of drinking location and pregaming in predicting alcohol intoxication among college students who violated campus alcohol policy. Method: Between 2011 and 2012, mandated college students who reported drinking prior to their referral events (N = 212, 41% female, 80% White, Mage = 19.4 y) completed a computerized assessment of drinking location and related behaviors as part of larger research trial. Chi-squared statistics, t-tests, one-way analyses of covariance, and regression were used to examine study aims. Results: Participants were most likely (44%) to report drinking in off-campus housing prior to the referral event, and approximately half (47%) reported pregaming. Alcohol intoxication on the night of the referral event differed signif...
Retrosternal Goiter 30-Day Morbidity and Mortality in the Transcervical and Transthoracic Approaches

ObjectiveRetrosternal goiters pose a significant challenge in determining the indications and appropriate approach for surgical removal while limiting postoperative morbidity and mortality. The obj...
Cancer-associated neuromusculoskeletal syndromes. Recognizing the rheumatic-neoplastic connection.

PREVIEWAlthough the exact reasons are unknown, several rheumatic diseases are linked with an increased risk of cancer, and some neoplastic disorders produce neuromusculoskeletal manifestations. When treating a patient with rheumatic symptoms, how do you know whether further investigation for possible occult tumors is warranted? Drs Marmur and Kagen explore this unusual association by reviewing current knowledge about pathogenic factors in paraneoplastic diseases and epidemiologic data regarding increased cancer risks in various rheumatic disorders.
Altered stopband positions of thin-film thickness modulated designs based on numerical layer periodicity

Thickness modulated designs are investigated for stopband positions versus layer periodicity. Plots of TMD amplitude reflection coefficients show zeros. TMD with non-integer multiples of layer periodicity have altered spectral stopband positions.
F Actin Bundling Dynamics and Stiffness of the TRIOBP-4 F Actin Bundle

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) trio binding protein isoforms 4 and 5 (TRIOBP-4/-5) is an F-actin-bundling protein originally found to be associated with hearing loss both in humans and mice. The human and mouse TRIOBP protein is largely classified into three isoforms with a long isoform (TRIOBP-5) and two shorter isoforms equivalent to the N-terminus and C-terminus of TRIOBP-5, which are named TRIOBP-4 and TRIOBP-1 (or Tara), respectively. There are no common sequences between TRIOBP-1 and -4. TRIOBP-1 is ubiquitously expressed and has been shown to regulate adherens junctions and actin cytoskeleton reorganization mostly in stress fibers and cortical F-actin. In contrast, TRIOBP-4 and -5 are predominantly expressed in the inner ear and the retina of normal adult tissues, where they are believed to provide appropriate durability and rigidity for stereocilia of hair cells for normal hearing. Interestingly, different from fascin, which is intercalated between actin filaments via its two major actin binding sites, TRIOBP-4 and -5 form extremely dense F-actin bundles without detectable inter-filament spaces, raising the possibility that they more likely wrap around actin bundles. To date, the biological functions of TRIOBP-4/-5 have not been revealed in any other tissues except in inner ear hair cells for hearing. Recently, we identified actin binding sites of TRIOBP-4 isoforms and discovered that TRIOBP-4 expressed in cancer cells to facilitate cell migration speed. In this study, we will show F-actin bundling dynamics during actin polymerization under TRIF microscopy and determine the stiffness and durability of TRIOBP-4/F-actin bundles.
Optimal Satellite Range Scheduling

In previous work the authors have presented an algorithm providing the optimal allocation of fixed interval communication intervals among satellites and ground stations. This chapter includes the generalization of this algorithm for solving the problem where the durations of these communication intervals are variable with preference to longer durations, provides more insight on the complexity of the algorithm and includes new results on the availability of partial results along execution. (This research was performed while the author held a National Research Council Research Associateship Award at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).)
Treatment of Dementia with Vasoactive Drugs

Both atherosclerosis and dementia are common in the elderly, and the incidence of both conditions increases throughout the sixth, seventh, and eighth decades of life (Keys, 1970; Mortimer et al, 1981). Brain cells, like those in other organs, require an adequate blood supply for survival and normal functioning. These facts, along with a lack of more precise knowledge about the causes of dementia in old age, led to the view, widely held for many years, that vascular disease was a primary cause of most age-related dementias. More specific formulations of this hypothesis often held that the loss of functioning brain cells in dementias of old age resulted from a lack of sufficient oxygen due to reduced blood flow (Jacobs et al., 1969). A variety of treatments designed to rectify these deficits by increasing either blood flow or oxygen availability were subsequently developed and tested. As our knowledge of the pathophysiology of dementia has increased, it has become clear that this view of the relationship of vascular disease to dementia is almost entirely wrong. Nevertheless, it is also clear that there are cerebrovascular changes associated with most age-related dementias. In addition, a variety of drugs that have been proposed as possible treatments for dementia have effects on the cerebral vascular system, although in many instances these may be only secondary effects.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analyses of Metabolites in Microorganisms

This chapter has described the analytical methods of metabolites by HPLC and LC/MS, based on the functional group. Amino acids and organic acids can be detected by using specific derivatization reagents for amino groups and carboxyl groups, respectively. Sugar phosphates are detected by selected reaction monitoring, using the characteristic cleavage between the phosphate and sugar moiety or by pulsed amperometry using a reducing sugar.
Striatal Mechanisms of Associative Learning and Dysfunction in Neurological Disease

A critical component of adaptive human behavior is the ability to rapidly form and update associations between environmental cues, actions, and outcomes. This form of learning provides an integral evolutionary advantage, allowing agents to reproduce behaviors that lead to rewarding outcomes more frequently while avoiding actions that may result in aversive or potentially deadly conclusions. A broad and diverse range of cognitive functions and brain regions are required to cooperatively function to produce a system that can flexibly and continuously adapt to on-going environmental and cognitive dynamics. The focus of this chapter will be to explore the neural mechanisms that underlie this cognitive process—associative learning—with a specific focus on a cluster of subcortical gray masses collectively known as the basal ganglia. We will review some of the anatomical features of the basal ganglia and recent findings of associative learning from the cellular and molecular perspective as well as findings from in vivo awake-and-behaving neurophysiological experiments in animals and humans. Finally, we will conclude with a section on dysfunctions in associative learning observed in neurological disease, spanning motor, and psychiatric disorders.
Detection of Zn2+ release in nitric oxide treated cells and proteome: dependence on fluorescent sensor and proteomic sulfhydryl groups

Nitric oxide (NO) is both an important regulatory molecule in biological systems and a toxic xenobiotic. Its oxidation products react with sulfhydryl groups and either nitrosylate or oxidize them. The aerobic reaction of NO supplied by diethylamine NONOate (DEA-NO) with pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells and Zn-proteins within the isolated proteome was examined with three fluorescent zinc sensors, zinquin (ZQ), TSQ, and FluoZin-3 (FZ-3). Observations of Zn2+ labilization from Zn-proteins depended on the specific sensor used. Upon cellular exposure to DEA-NO, ZQ sequestered about 13% of the proteomic Zn2+ as Zn(ZQ)2 and additional Zn2+ as proteome·Zn-ZQ ternary complexes. TSQ, a sensor structurally related to ZQ with lower affinity for Zn2+, did not form Zn(TSQ)2. Instead, Zn2+ mobilized by DEA-NO was exclusively bound as proteome·Zn-TSQ adducts. Analogous reactions of proteome with ZQ or TSQ in vitro displayed qualitatively similar products. Titration of native proteome with Zn2+ in the presence of ZQ resulted in the sole formation of proteome·Zn-ZQ species. This result suggested that sulfhydryl groups are involved in non-specific proteomic binding of mobile Zn2+ and that the appearance of Zn(ZQ)2 after exposure of cells and proteome to DEA-NO resulted from a reduction in proteomic sulfhydryl ligands, favoring the formation of Zn(ZQ)2 instead of proteome·Zn-ZQ. With the third sensor, FluoZin-3, neither Zn-FZ-3 nor proteome·Zn-FZ-3 was detected during the reaction of proteome with DEA-NO. Instead, it reacted independently with DEA-NO with a modest enhancement of fluorescence.
Differences in interregional brain connectivity in children with unilateral hearing loss

Objectives To identify functional network architecture differences in the brains of children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) using resting-state functional-connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fcMRI). Study Design Prospective observational study. Methods Children (7 to 17 years of age) with severe to profound hearing loss in one ear, along with their normal hearing (NH) siblings, were recruited and imaged using rs-fcMRI. Eleven children had right UHL; nine had left UHL; and 13 had normal hearing. Forty-one brain regions of interest culled from established brain networks such as the default mode (DMN); cingulo-opercular (CON); and frontoparietal networks (FPN); as well as regions for language, phonological, and visual processing, were analyzed using regionwise correlations and conjunction analysis to determine differences in functional connectivity between the UHL and normal hearing children. Results When compared to the NH group, children with UHL showed increased connectivity patterns between multiple networks, such as between the CON and visual processing centers. However, there were decreased, as well as aberrant connectivity patterns with the coactivation of the DMN and FPN, a relationship that usually is negatively correlated. Conclusion Children with UHL demonstrate multiple functional connectivity differences between brain networks involved with executive function, cognition, and language comprehension that may represent adaptive as well as maladaptive changes. These findings suggest that possible interventions or habilitation, beyond amplification, might be able to affect some children's requirement for additional help at school. Level of Evidence 3b. Laryngoscope, 127:2636–2645, 2017
Courant Algebroids and Strongly and Strongly Homotopy Lie Algebras

Courant algebroids are structures which include as examples the doubles of Lie bialgebras and the bundle TM⊕ T*M with the bracket introduced by T. Courant for the study of Dirac structures. Within the category of Courant algebroids one can construct the doubles of Lie bialgebroids, the infinitesimal objects for Poisson groupoids. We show that Courant algebroids can be considered as strongly homotopy Lie algebras.
The Use of New Surgical Technologies for Deep Brain Stimulation

Abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of subcortical nodes improves the motor function in Parkinson disease, dystonia and tremor, and behavioral symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder. This resetting of dysfunctional brain networks by therapeutic DBS is mediated by white matter stimulation and modulation of network dynamics by adjusting local field potential. In parallel with investigations into novel indications, significant advancements in neurosurgical technique and stimulation titration have been reported. This chapter focuses on these advancements in techniques and technology, especially in the areas of neuroimaging and biomedical engineering intended to improve targeting and programming.
Japanese Temple Geometry Problems. By Hidetosi Fukagawa and Dan Pedoe

(1991). Japanese Temple Geometry Problems. By Hidetosi Fukagawa and Dan Pedoe. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 98, No. 4, pp. 381-383.
Semantic Markup at Work: Rich Snippets and SearchMonkey

In last chapter we have studied FOAF project and the concept of semantic markup. Personal Web sites have made up a large portion of the current Web, and as we have discussed, FOAF ontology together with semantic markup has changed this large portion from linked Web documents into the Semantic Web.
Groundwater Research and Management: New Directions and Re-invention

Groundwater hydrology is a relatively new scientific discipline, although the use of groundwater for water supply dates from the time when humans first noticed the existence of springs. Some research themes in groundwater hydrology, for example, well hydraulics, consistently receive strong interest while other themes are periodically revisited and reinvented. For example, recent interest in the hyporheic zone motivated research on the old topic of groundwater–surface water interaction. Improved instrumentation for measuring subsurface temperature motivated a return to the old topic of heat as a groundwater tracer. Groundwater sustainability is a re-invention of safe yield. Assessing hydrologic impacts of climate change involves analyzing temporal variability, which hydrologists have done for a long time.
Conditional lethal phosphatidylserine decarboxylase mutants of Escherichia coli. Mapping of the structural gene for phosphatidylserine decarboxylase.

The final step in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine, the major membrane lipid of Escherichia coli, is catalyzed by the membrane-bound enzyme, phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. A variation of a procedure for localized mutagenesis (Hong and Ames, 1971) was employed to generate conditional lethal mutants in phosphatidylserine decarboxylase. In our modification, an episome carrying the psd gene closely linked to purA+ was heavily mutagenized in vivo in a strain also lysogenic for phage P1 CMclr100. After induction of a phage lytic cycle, the purA+ marker was transduced to a purA- recipient. A majority of the Pur+ transductants thus contained a psd gene originating from the heavily mutagenized episomal strain. Three mutants were isolated in which temperature-sensitive growth is caused by thermosensitive phosphatidylserine decarboxylase activity that is defective in vivo at the non-permissive temperature. All 3 mutations were mapped at the same location as psd1, being cotransduced with melA, purA, and ampA. The gene order in this region, as determined by a phage P1-mediated, three-factor cross is ampA-psd-purA. psd+ is dominant to the psd mutant alleles.
Principles for the selection of doses in chronic rodent bioassays. ILSI Risk Science Working Group on Dose Selection.

Dose selection in chronic rodent bioassays has been one of the most debated issues in risk assessment. The Committee on Risk Assessment Methods of the National Research Council attempted, but faile...
BH3 mimetics induce apoptosis independent of DRP-1 in melanoma

Despite the recent advancement in treating melanoma, options are still limited for patients without BRAF mutations or in relapse from current treatments. BH3 mimetics against members of the BCL-2 family have gained excitement with the recent success in hematological malignancies. However, single drug BH3 mimetic therapy in melanoma has limited effectiveness due to escape by the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 and/or survival of melanoma-initiating cells (MICs). We tested the efficacy of the BH3 mimetic combination of A-1210477 (an MCL-1 inhibitor) and ABT-263 (a BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor) in killing melanoma, especially MICs. We also sought to better define Dynamin-Related Protein 1 (DRP-1)’s role in melanoma; DRP-1 is known to interact with members of the BCL-2 family and is a possible therapeutic target for melanoma treatment. We used multiple assays (cell viability, apoptosis, bright field, immunoblot, and sphere formation), as well as the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing techniques. For clinical relevance, we employed patient samples of different mutation status, including some relapsed from current treatments such as anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. We found the BH3 mimetic combination kill both the MICs and non-MICs (bulk of melanoma) in all cell lines and patient samples irrespective of the mutation status or relapsed state (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, the major pro-apoptotic proteins, NOXA and BIM, are not necessary for the combination-induced cell death. Furthermore, the combination impedes the activation of DRP-1, and inhibition of DRP-1 further enhances apoptosis (p < 0.05). DRP-1 effects in melanoma differ from those seen in other cancer cells. These results provide new insights into BCL-2 family’s regulation of the apoptotic pathway in melanoma, and suggest that inhibiting the major anti-apoptotic proteins is sufficient to induce cell death even without involvement from major pro-apoptotic proteins. Importantly, our study also indicates that DRP-1 inhibition is a promising adjuvant for BH3 mimetics in melanoma treatment.
Telomeres and genomic instability during early development

Genomic instability is widespread during early embryo development. Aneuploidy, mosaicism, and copy number variants (CNVs) commonly appear in human preimplantation embryos. Both age-dependent meiotic aneuploidy and age-independent mitotic aneuploidy and CNVs occur In human embryos. Telomere attrition, which contributes to genomic instability in somatic cells, also may promote genomic instability in preimplantation embryos. Telomere dynamics during gametogenesis are strikingly dimorphic between females and males. Sperm telomeres lengthen with advancing paternal age, while oocyte telomeres are among the shortest in the body. Spermatogonia express telomerase activity throughout the life of the male, while oocytes and cleavage stage embryos express low or un-measureable levels of telomerase activity. Telomere attrition in oocytes contributes to meiotic dysfunction, including spindle dysmorphologies, reduced synapsis and chiasmata, as well as delayed, arrested and fragmented embryos. Cleavage stage embryos, with such inefficient telomere reconstitution, likely undergo NHEJ, which produces anaphase lag, chromosome bridges, micronuclei, and genomic instability, including mosaicism and CNVs. Cleavage stage embryos reconstitute the short telomeres inherited from their mothers by Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT), a DNA recombination based method involving RAD 50, MRE 11, Werner and Bloom proteins, as well as telomere sister chromatid exchange. ALT robustly reconstitutes telomeres, but also predisposes to genomic instability.
Reconstruction of 3D Anisotropic Permittivities and Sensitivity Analysis

Inverse scattering methods have been used in the reconstruction of objects in a variety of areas such as radar scattering, subsurface sensing, biomedical imaging and nondestructive evaluation for decades. The scatter properties such as conductivity, permittivity and permeability as well as location and shape are reconstructed from the scattered electromagnetic fields. There are mainly two categories of inversion methods. One is the pixel-based method. In this method, the inverted parameters are the material properties, such as the permittivity and conductivity in each pixel. It is very suitable for objects with highly inhomogeneous media. Another category of method is model-based method. In this method, the inversion domain is divided into regions. The shapes of different regions are described using geometrical parameters. The inverted parameters are the shapes of regions and the material properties for each region. Compared to the pixel-based method, model-based method is often more efficient since the number of inverted parameters are highly reduced and the a priori information are used.
LASSO: Location Assistant for Seeking and Searching Objects

Applying computer vision systems in robotic manufacturing to locate objects in various positions is an important approach in future manufacturing automation, e.g., product assembly tasks [1] and kitting tasks—grouping several parts to a container. However, the robot’s work environment is often large and cluttered with many objects, and this poses several challenges to computer vision systems. First, the accuracy of computer vision algorithms may be affected by cluttered backgrounds. Second, it is difficult to identify the target object when multiple objects are identical to the target. Third, using a single camera is not enough to cover all areas. To address the above challenges, we propose a programming system called LASSO (Location Assistant for Seeking and Searching Objects), which incorporates user hints to enhance multi-camera visual perception systems of robots in unstructured and cluttered environments. LASSO provides simple language for users to provide relative spatial relations as hints to narrow down the target object in its 3D space. LASSO then leverages this reduced search space to locate the target object in each camera view and compute the 3D location of the target object. A key feature of the LASSO system is that it quantifies the uncertainties of the 3D location, which provides users the quality of LASSO outputs. We demonstrate LASSO in both simulated and real world environments.
Compiling a High-level Directive-Based Programming Model for GPGPUs

OpenACC is an emerging directive-based programming model for programming accelerators that typically enable non-expert programmers to achieve portable and productive performance of their applications. In this paper, we present the research and development challenges, and our solutions to create an open-source OpenACC compiler in a main stream compiler framework (OpenUH of a branch of Open64). We discuss in details our loop mapping techniques, i.e. how to distribute loop iterations over the GPGPU’s threading architectures, as well as their impacts on performance. The runtime support of this programming model are also presented. The compiler was evaluated with several commonly used benchmarks, and delivered similar performance to those obtained using a commercial compiler. We hope this implementation to serve as compiler infrastructure for researchers to explore advanced compiler techniques, to extend OpenACC to other programming languages, or to build performance tools used with OpenACC programs.
Work-in-Progress—Virtual Reality: A Tool to Develop Social Work Practice Skills of Engagement and Assessment

Virtual reality (VR) can provide students ancillary ways to develop social work practice skills. It is incumbent for schools of social work to critically examine the lessons learned in producing previous VR simulations by carefully integrating principles of pedagogy and by utilizing research methods to chart the path forward for effective teaching and learning. This work-in-progress paper aims to briefly describe the steps taken to create one VR tool for a school of social work that was developed by heeding lessons from the past, while being responsive to developing students’ skills for a productive future in clinical engagement.
Perceived Immigrant Threat and Punitive Attitudes: The Moderating Effect of Economic Insecurity:

One of the strongest predictors of punitive attitudes is out-group prejudice. Two limitations of this literature are a relative lack of research examining (a) these relationships outside the United...
A Comparison of Stellar Kinematics Derived from Two Gemini NIFS Reduction Pipelines

The Gemini Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) reduction pipeline is widely used to reduce NIFS data. However, there are critical known limitations. A new NIFS reduction pipeline has recently been developed and solves several of these problems. We present a comparison of stellar kinematics derived from the new and old data reduction pipelines, as well as recommendations for optimal NIFS data reduction.
Speech recognition as a function of the number of channels for an array with large inter-electrode distances

This study investigated the number of channels available to cochlear implant (CI) recipients for maximum speech understanding and sound quality for lateral wall electrode arrays—which result in large electrode-to-modiolus distances—featuring the greatest inter-electrode distances (2.1–2.4 mm), the longest active lengths (23.1–26.4 mm), and the fewest number of electrodes commercially available. Participants included ten post-lingually deafened adult CI recipients with MED-EL electrode arrays (FLEX28 and STANDARD) entirely within scala tympani. Electrode placement and scalar location were determined using computerized tomography. The number of channels was varied from 4 to 12 with equal spatial distribution across the array. A continuous interleaved sampling-based strategy was used. Speech recognition, sound quality ratings, and a closed-set vowel recognition task were measured acutely for each electrode condition. Participants did not demonstrate statistically significant differences beyond eight channels at the group level for almost all measures. However, several listeners showed considerable improvements from 8 to 12 channels for speech and sound quality measures. These results suggest that channel interaction caused by the greater electrode-to-modiolus distances of straight electrode arrays could be partially compensated for by a large inter-electrode distance or spacing.
Disorder, networks, and cognition: do social networks buffer the influence of neighborhood and household disorder on cognitive functioning?

To examine whether neighborhood and household disorder matter for cognitive functioning among middle-aged and older adults and whether the disorder-cognition link is moderated by social network res...
Dynamics of gender bias in computing

A new dataset significantly revises both scholarly assessment and popular understanding about gender bias in computing.
Addressing Parent Employment as an Essential Issue in Child Health

* Abbreviations: CSHCN — : child with special health care needs FFE — : foregone family employment SDOH — : social determinant of health In this issue of Pediatrics , Foster et al1 address the often unseen and pressing reality of the economic impact that having a child with special health care needs (CSHCN) has on families. Using data from the 2016–2017 National Survey of Children’s Health, the authors specifically address foregone family employment (FFE) and lost earnings. The numbers reported are sobering: FFE occurs in 14.5% of employed families of CSHCNs and skyrockets to 40.9% for those who have children with intellectual disability, seeming to correlate to the number of hours families raising CSHCNs must dedicate to caring for their child. Viewed through an equity lens, the authors’ findings become even more pointed. Those who have public insurance, are of Hispanic ethnicity, or whose children are younger, have functional limitations, or medical complexity seem particularly vulnerable. We know from the existing literature, well referenced by the authors, that social determinants of health (SDOHs), including family income, can directly impact health outcomes for a child.2,3 The estimated annual household loss of $18 000 among families … Address correspondence to Laurie Glader, MD, Section Chief, Division of Complex Care, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Dr, Suite E6A, Columbus, OH 43205 E-mail: laurie.glader{at}nationwidechildrens.org
Predicting the Academic Performance of Undergraduate Computer Science Students Using Data Mining

There are myriad factors which can affect a student’s academic performance as measured by Grade Point Average (GPA). Identifying characteristics of students with high GPA can help more students understand how to achieve the best grades possible. In this paper, a variety of data mining algorithms are used to predict the GPA of undergraduate students majoring in Computer Science based on survey questions. The results demonstrate that the number of hours of sleep per night, the frequency of illicit drug use, the number of hours spent studying per week, and the number of hours spent on social media platforms per week are important factors that can be used to classify student GPA. The Random Forest data mining algorithm performed the best and was able to achieve a predictive accuracy of 95% when placing students into one of four academic performance groupings.
An Examination of Gains to Acquirers of Mutual Thrifts in Merger Conversions

This paper examines the wealth impact of acquiring mutual thrifts in merger conversions. We find that these transactions produced wealth gains both before and after the passage of FIRREA. These gains, however, are statistically significant only in the post-FIRREA period, indicating that regulatory changes resulting from FIRREA made such mergers more appealing. Cross-sectional analyses indicate that merger conversions enhance value by providing an opportunity to expand into potentially lucrative markets. Acquisitions of mutuals that present substantial opportunities for branch closings lead to larger gains. In addition, acquirer gains increase with the relative size of the transaction and are larger for acquisitions in markets served by competing firms that are small relative to the merged entity. Contrary to popular belief, variations in bidder gains appear to be unrelated to changes in the regulatory capital position resulting from the merger conversion.
Stratigraphy, soils, and age relationships of Mima-like mounds, Laramie Basin, Wyoming

Mima-like mounds in the Laramie Basin, Wyoming, are circular in plan view, lens or funnel-shaped in cross-section, and frequently have relief of 15 to 65 cm. They consist of churned materials derived from adjacent/subjacent soils and sediments. Strong intermound (premound) soils, or parts of them, usually collapse beneath the mounds or are sometimes truncated at mound edges. Both active and inactive mounds occur in areas of shallow, impermeable bedrock, thin alluvium overlying the bedrock, and strong premound soil development on terraces and benches. Radiocarbon dating, along with stratigraphic and soil relationships at various sites, indicates that the mounds are late Holocene (Neoglacial) in age. The premound soils and sediments beneath the mounds, in addition to those in intermound areas, appear to be affected chemically by salty groundwater related to mound formation or salt leached from overlying mound material into these units after the mounds formed. Accordingly, in response to the Hilgard reaction...