cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Back to the Classroom

The example of the young teenager first introduced in illustrates how the school-based mental health approach provides the skill building and counseling needed to help a student erase failure and return to the classroom and work successfully. To take new student-centered methods back to the classroom, first we must get rid of mandated testing; it has been a complete failure and has only increased the failure and inability of teachers to teach and students to learn. We need to teach to the needs of the students, not the needs of a contrived test. In most cases, it is not the students who are failing, or even the teachers, for that matter; instead, it is the methods that we use to teach students in the classroom which have failed and continue to fail every single day. Yes, some students learn; some students will always learn no matter what method you use to teach, but what of the students who are struggling and in many cases failing, not because they cannot learn, but because we are failing to teach them?
The Somatotropic Axis and Longevity in Mice

The somatotropic signaling pathway has been implicated in aging and longevity studies in mice and other species. The physiology and lifespans of a variety of mutant mice, both spontaneous and genetically engineered, have contributed to our current understanding of the role of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I on aging-related processes. Several other mice discovered to live longer than their wild-type control counterparts also exhibit differences in growth factor levels; however, the complex nature of the phenotypic changes in these animals may also impact lifespan. The somatotropic axis impacts several pathways that dictate insulin sensitivity, nutrient sensing, mitochondrial function, and stress resistance as well as others that are thought to be involved in lifespan regulation.
Identification of Marker Genes for Cancer Based on Microarrays Using a Computational Biology Approach

Rapid advances in gene expression microarray technology have enabled to discover molecular markers used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction. One computational challenge with using microarray data analysis to create cancer classifiers is how to effectively deal with microarray data which are composed of high-dimensional attributes (p) and low-dimensional instances (n). Gene selection and classifier construction are two key issues concerned with this topics. In this article, we reviewed major methods for computational identification of cancer marker genes. We concluded that simple methods should be preferred to complicated ones for their interpretability and applicability.
The C-Terminal Acidic Region of Calreticulin Mediates Phosphatidylserine Binding and Apoptotic Cell Phagocytosis

Calreticulin is a calcium-binding chaperone that is normally localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Calreticulin is detectable on the surface of apoptotic cells under some apoptosis-inducing conditions, where it promotes the phagocytosis and immunogenicity of dying cells. However, the precise mechanism by which calreticulin, a soluble protein, localizes to the outer surface of the plasma membrane of dying cells is unknown, as are the molecular mechanisms that are relevant to calreticulin-induced cellular phagocytosis. Calreticulin comprises three distinct structural domains: a globular domain, an extended arm-like P-domain, and a C-terminal acidic region containing multiple low-affinity calcium binding sites. We show that calreticulin, via its C-terminal acidic region, preferentially interacts with phosphatidylserine (PS) compared with other phospholipids and that this interaction is calcium dependent. Additionally, exogenous calreticulin binds apoptotic cells via a higher-affinity calcium-dependent mode that is acidic region dependent. Exogenous calreticulin also binds live cells, including macrophages, via a second, lower-affinity P-domain and globular domain-dependent, but calcium-independent binding mode that likely involves its generic polypeptide binding site. Truncation constructs lacking the acidic region or arm-like P-domain of calreticulin are impaired in their abilities to induce apoptotic cell phagocytosis by murine peritoneal macrophages. Taken together, the results of this investigation provide the first molecular insights into the phospholipid binding site of calreticulin as a key anchor point for the cell surface expression of calreticulin on apoptotic cells. These findings also support a role for calreticulin as a PS-bridging molecule that cooperates with other PS-binding factors to promote the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells.
Demonstration of Simultaneous Rosette and Plaque Formation by Splenic Lymphocytes in the Rabbit

SummaryFormalinized sheep erythrocytes, which retain their surface antigens but are resistant to lysis by antibody and complement, were used to link a suspension-centrifugation rosette assay with the monolayer plaque assay. This technique permitted screening of large cell populations for the identification and enumeration of antigen-binding cells, antibody-secreting cells, and cells which both bind antigen and secrete antibody.
Cutting Temperature of Engineering Ceramics Based on Finite Element and Intelligent Algorithms

The object of study is engineering ceramics cutting process,the temperature characteristic of engineering ceramics was studied respectively by finite element analysis – DEFORM software,gray system and BP neural network algorithm. The unequal interval gray prediction model,was established based on the twotier BP neural network,which simulated the cutting temperature in the paper. Combining the advantages of two algorithms,the prediction accuracy was improved. The results indicated that the temperature quickly reached a peak in beginning of cutting,and then stabilized,the cutting temperature was increased with increasing of cutting speed,feed speed,cutting depth and main angle. The influence of cutting speed on cutting temperature was most significant.
A New Synchronization Method of Optical Fiber Line Differential Protection for Digital Substation

In digital substations with electronic transformers,the key for implementation of line differential protection is the synchronization of electrical quantities at both two sides. A new method is proposed to solve the problem. First,merging unit (MU ) and protection device of digital stations are synchronized by unified clock source. Then data of ac quantities used for protection are calculated with interpolation method. Finally,protection devices synchronization in substations at two sides are completed by sampling time adjustment method. And the synchronization of electrical quantities at both sides is achieved.
Developing the supplementary information system for epidemiological investigation of food poisoning

Objective To establish the supplementary information system for epidemiological investigation of food poisoning.Methods To set up new clinical symptoms questionnaire for food poisoning,and eventually to obtain database on clinical symptom spectrum of pathogenic factors. In addition, Spring MVC, JAVA and SQLServer 2005 had also been applied to establish the supplementary information system for epidemiological investigation of food poisoning. Results The established supplementary information system was composed of twelve modules, including data dictionary, event identification, personal epidemiological investigation,and data management etc. Consequently,food poisoning epidemiological investigation could operate in a standard process,and also the collected clinical symptoms could be used to obtain intelligent filter function of pathogenic factors. Conclusion The established system could facilitate the epidemiological investigation of food poisoning for disease control and prevention( CDC),to work orderly and efficiently. In addition,it could also provide valuable data for epidemiological field and samples detection.
Environmental LCA and Financial Analysis to Evaluate the Feasibility of Bio-based Sugar Feedstock Biomass Supply Globally: Part 2. Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Analysis as a Method for Biomass Feedstock Comparisons

Early-stage evaluation of biofuel and bioproduct technologies is extremely complicated and involves many disparate feasibility criteria, including technical, financial, environmental, logistic, legal, social, and other aspects. Problems can arise for decision-makers when evaluating renewable technologies at this early stage due to bias, shifting preferences or priorities, occurrence of trade-offs, and decision-making complexity. Thus, a method is needed for evaluating disparate, typically non-comparable criteria concurrently. In Part 1 of this research, cradle-to-grave environmental LCA was conducted for biomass delivery to a biosugar refinery using Ecoinvent v2.2 data and the TRACI 2 impact assessment method for midpoint impacts. Biomass availability, delivered cost, sugar yield, transportation distance, harvestable months per year, and other aspects of supply chain feasibility were measured for eighteen feedstock biomass types. In Part 2, stochastic multi-attribute analysis (SMAA) was used alongside LCA to develop an environmental preference single-score probability distribution function for feedstock alternatives. Weighted single-scoring and ranking, using multi-criteria decision-making analysis (MCDA), was conducted considering five criteria of biomass supply feasibility: biomass delivered cost, biosugar yield, harvestable months, transport distance, and environmental preference single-score. Corn was shown to cost the most, followed by switchgrass and U.S. primary forest products. Transport distance was found to be highest for residues due to low yield per acre and low covered area. Results of MCDA show that Brazilian eucalyptus and Malaysian empty fruit bunch biomass types were consistently preferred relative to other biomass types. In the U.S., Genera biomass sorghum is most holistically preferred. It is shown that SMAA is helpful for translating LCA data for decision science. It was shown that MCDA can be useful for early-stage biorefinery technology commercialization decision-making, using the novel decision science tool described herein.
Nutrient estimates from computerized questionnaires vs. 24-hr. recall interviews.

Do data on nutrient intake derived from form questionnaires agree with estimates obtained from 24-hr. recalls taken during one-to-one interviews?
A smooth and robust Harris-Priester atmospheric density model for low Earth orbit applications

Abstract The modified Harris-Priester model is a computationally inexpensive method for approximating atmospheric density in the thermosphere and lower exosphere – a vital step in low Earth orbit trajectory propagation. This work introduces a revision, dubbed cubic Harris-Priester, which ensures continuous first derivatives, eliminates singularities, and adds a mechanism for introducing smooth functional dependencies on environmental conditions. These changes increase the accuracy, robustness, and utility of the model, particularly for preliminary orbit propagation, estimation, and optimization applications in which fast, reasonably accurate force models and sensitivities are desirable. Density results and computational efficiency are compared to other density models. The Fortran code used to implement the model is provided as an electronic supplement.
Accuracy of FDG-PET to diagnose lung cancer in the ACOSOG Z4031 trial.

7008 Background: Fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is recommended for diagnosis and staging of known or suspected NSCLC. Meta-analyses examining the accuracy of FDG-PET to diagnose lung cancer demonstrated high sensitivity 94% and specificity 83% but were performed in select centers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of FDG-PET to diagnose NSCLC and examine enrolling site differences in the national prospective ACOSOG Z4031 trial. Methods: 1,074 patients with clinical stage I (cT1-2N0M0) known or suspected NSCLC were enrolled between 2004 and 2006 in the Z4031 study and underwent surgical resection. The final diagnosis was determined by pathological examination. FDG-PET results were abstracted from radiology interpretations included in the case report forms. FDG-PET avidity was categorized based on either radiologist description or reported maximum standard uptake value (SUV). The four categories were: not avid and not cancerous (SUV=0), low avidity and likely ...
Eyeglasses detection based on learning and non-learning based classification schemes

In this paper, we propose two schemes for prescription eyeglasses detection. The first proposed scheme is non-learning which uses Viola-Jones to detect Region of Interest (ROI) followed by glass detection yielding an overall accuracy of 99.0% for FERET and 97.9% for VISOB datasets. The second scheme is the learning-based scheme consisting of three main steps (a) ROI detection, (b) Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Histogram of Gradients (HOG) feature extraction and fusion them together, and (c) applying classifiers such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and fusing the output of these classifiers. The latter obtained a best overall accuracy of about 99.3% on FERET and 100% on VISOB dataset.
Stronger influences of increased CO2 on subdaily precipitation extremes than at the daily scale

Based on idealized experiments [pre-industrial control experiment (PI) and 1% per year increase (1%CO2) in atmospheric CO2] from ten general circulation models produced under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and using the fraction of attributable risk, we examine the CO2 effects on extreme precipitation at the sub-daily and daily scales. We find that the increased CO2 concentration substantially increases the odds of the occurrence of sub-daily precipitation extremes compared to the daily scale in most areas of the world, with the exception of some regions in the sub-tropics, likely in relation to the subsidence of the Hadley Cell. These results point to the large role that atmospheric CO2 plays in extreme precipitation under an idealized framework.
Variations in the Anterolateral Thigh Flap's Vascular Anatomy in African Americans.

Background Variations in anterolateral thigh (ALT) arterial anatomy are well documented. Ethnicity is a known risk factor for vascular variation in several organ systems, but its impact on ALT anatomy has not been studied. Anecdotally, we observed frequent ALT arterial variation in African American (AA) patients. We thus hypothesized that AA patients have higher rates of anomalous branching. Materials and Methods A total of 277 computed tomography angiograms (513 lower extremities) captured between May 1, 2013 and May 31, 2015 at a tertiary academic medical center were retrospectively analyzed to determine ALT arterial branching. Patient records were examined to ascertain demographics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Results Males comprised 84.5%. Ethnic distribution was 55.2% AA and 36.5% Caucasian. The descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (dLCFA) originated from non-LCFA arteries (deep femoral, common femoral, or superficial femoral arteries) in 18.9% of Caucasian versus 9.1% of AA (odds ratio [OR]: 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–3.93, p Conclusions Ethnicity significantly affects ALT arterial anatomy. AA are more likely to have classical dLCFA branching with a fourth oLCFA branch. A flap with an unrecognized oLCFA-dominant supply places patients at a higher risk for flap failure and loss. We recommend preoperative imaging before undertaking an ALT flap reconstruction.
‘Through Hardships To the Stars’: The Moldovan Prostitute in Nicolae Margineanu’s Schimb Valutar

Focusing on the representation of a Moldovan prostitute in a Romanian recessionary film, Bardan uses a postfeminist framework to analyze how a female character from a country to the east of Romania is deployed by the film to renegotiate the emasculation of a Romanian man who has just lost his job and financial resources. Drawing on discussions of intimate labor, sexual subjectification, and whiteness, the chapter shows how Exchange mediates the recession through the ambivalent portrayal of an accented prostitute who functions as an insider-outsider in an economically precarious country that has recently joined the EU. Bardan zooms into analyze the various tensions and fantasies at play in the main characters’ shifting positionalities. As she argues, the Moldovan woman, though seemingly more autonomous than the vulnerable Eastern European prostitutes often depicted in Western European films, merely disavows her own desires, thus interpreting her rejection by the Romanian protagonist as a manifestation of her calculated self-management. Within the economy of the film, she serves as an agent of regeneration for the national male subject at a moment of crisis and real and symbolic impotence.
Traditional Breeding, Genomics-Assisted Breeding, and Biotechnological Modification of Forest Trees and Short Rotation Woody Crops

The use of woody biomass for biofuels is being pursued with both targeted harvests from natural forests and growth of Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWCs) in plantations. Both native and exotic tree species can contribute to energy feedstocks, as managed, unmanaged, or native forests. However, although standing woody biomass may in total be considered sufficient to meet projected demands for energy in certain Northern regions, increases in productivity are often still required for woody biomass to become an economically and ecologically sustainable source of energy. Traditional plant breeding has been very successful in improving growth, tree volume, and various wood quality traits for the lumber and paper industries (Harfouche et al. 2012) for forest trees and for SRWCs. The rate of progress in tree breeding is limited by the long breeding cycle times of most tree species, however. Biotechnological approaches have great potential to augment and help advance tree improvement programs, through early, indirect selection of improved genotypes, propagation through tissue culture, or genetic engineering of traits such as flowering time or wood quality.
Transcranial focused ultrasound enhances behavioral and network mechanisms underlying response inhibition in humans

Changing environmental conditions necessitates a control system that can suppress unwanted actions. The cortical network typically recruited during inhibition is centered around right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) and pre-supplementary motor areas (pre-SMA). Although it has been proposed that inhibition is directly triggered and controlled by rIFG activity projected to pre-SMA, an alternative framework posits that rIFG as mediating attentional reorienting or context monitoring. Therefore, the causal role of rIFG in response inhibition remains unknown. Here, using a stop signal task in humans concurrent with EEG and high-resolution transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (TFUS), we found stimulation of the pars opercularis sector in rIFG increased inhibitory performance through effects isolated to stopping speed. Behavioral outcomes across stimulation conditions were only tracked by timing of P300 event-potentials, providing the first causal link between rIFG, inhibitory control and P300 timing. For rIFG to drive inhibitory control, we hypothesized it should exert a top-down, neural inhibitory connectivity with pre-SMA. Using dynamic causal modeling (DCM) of EEG evoked responses, we found rIFG top-down activity drives local inhibition within pre-SMA through a top-down gain modulation of inhibitory populations. This mechanism alone predicted the neural responses and tracked inhibitory outcomes and speed during both TFUS conditions. Connectivity along the fronto-parietal pathway corresponded to inhibitory success but not stopping speed across TFUS contexts. Together, our observations indicate inhibiting movements involves both a direct neural inhibitory function through rIFG and secondary attentional pathway modulation.
Immunocytochemistry of cytology specimens for predictive biomarkers in lung cancer

With a growing number of predictive biomarkers that have emerged in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), there has been a paradigm shift in the management of these patients. Of the various predictive biomarker testing methods, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most widely available, cost-effective, and commonly used methods. However, most predictive IHC assays are validated primarily on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) histologic tissue samples and translating these assays to cytologic specimens requires additional and rigorous validation. This is part due to the lack of standardized processing protocols in cytology resulting in a variety of preanalytic variables that can impact the antigenicity of antibodies used for predictive biomarker testing. The review article discusses the various preanalytical and analytical factors that impact immunocytochemistry (ICC) in cytologic specimens and summarizes the current published literature on ALK, ROS1, PD-L1, and other predictive biomarker ICC in cytology.
Uranium nitride tristructural-isotropic fuel particle

Abstract A summary of activities around concept development, design, manufacturing, and early irradiation testing of a novel coated fuel particle, uranium nitride tristructural-isotropic fuel is provided. This fuel particle offers significantly higher uranium density over historic manifestations of coated fuel particles and may be more optimal for a range of advanced reactor applications. After reviewing the design process, steps involving production of this fuel form are discussed. Low burnup irradiation data on this fuel particle are now available, indicating that performance metrics have been met to date based on the original design expectations.
Beyond Journalism about Journalism: Amicus Briefs as Metajournalistic Discourse

There is a growing interest in journalism studies in metajournalistic discourse—that is, sites where journalists construct the boundaries and norms of their field. This study highlights a hitherto ...
Healthcare Disparities in Laryngology: A Scoping Review.

Objectives/hypothesis This scoping review aims to map out existing disparities research within the subspecialty of laryngology in order to highlight gaps in knowledge and guide future research. Study design Scoping Review. Methods We completed a scoping review of PubMed, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library for primary research focused on evaluating the existence and impact of disparities in race/ethnicity, sex/gender, insurance status, education level, income, geography, and LGBTQ identity in the context of various laryngological conditions. Publications of any design and date, performed in the United States, and focusing on the adult population exclusively were included. Results Of the 4,999 unique abstracts identified, 51 articles were ultimately included. The most frequently examined condition in relation to disparities was laryngeal cancer (27 of 51), followed by voice disorders (15 of 51), deglutitive disorders (eight of 51), and airway disorders (one of 51). Sources of inequity evaluated from most common to least common were race/ethnicity (43 of 51), sex/gender (39 of 51), insurance status (23 of 51), geography (23 of 51), income (21 of 51), and education level (16 of 51). No study examined the association of LGBTQ identity with inequity. Conclusions This scoping review highlights the limited extent of disparities research in laryngology and establishes the need for further scholarship on the impact of disparities in laryngology care. The pathologies studied were, in decreasing order of frequency: laryngeal cancer, voice disorders, deglutitive disorders, and airway disorders. Race/ethnicity and sex/gender were the most common disparities examined, with no evaluation of LGBTQ-related care inequity. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2020.
Activating activism within the EdD: Connecting DiP Research and the community

In this paper the co-authors discuss and describe the challenges of community engaged scholarship. Using an ongoing long-term project about the school prison nexus as an exemplar, the authors propose ways that Ed.D. student DiP’s can be connected with the community. Lessons learned and implications for other Ed.D. programs are shared.
Landslides in the Transantarctic Mountains: lower Jurassic and older strata displaced in late Mesozoic to late Cenozoic time

Eight landslides, seven certain and one possible, have been identified in the central Transantarctic Mountains and one at Carapace Nunatak, south Victoria Land. Four consist of Kirkpatrick Basalt l...
How do you feel? A warm and touching 2021 Nobel tribute

Perceptions of touch, temperature, and pain inform us about our bodies' condition and the world around us, and are critical determinants of our function, self-protection, comfort, and social interactions. This viewpoint provides a perspective on the 2021 Nobel Prize awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for their breakthrough discoveries regarding the molecular mechanisms by which we sense and perceive such physically distinct stimuli.
Inquiry-based Introductory Earth Science Laboratory Using Survey Equipment

A laboratory assignment entitled Continued Exploration of Topographic Maps: Determining Elevation laboratory was developed to give high-school students an opportunity to collect, analyze, and interpret data after they have been introduced to topographic maps and associated terminology. Survey equipment (automatic level, graduated staff, and tripod) is used to collect data with the goal of creating a topographic profile along a linear transect on campus. This assignment sets itself apart from traditional introductory earth science labs because the students are using instrumentation to collect data, rather than having a data set provided for them. The benefits of this assignment include: 1) further understanding of topographic maps, 2) practice with the conversion of English units to metric, 3) familiarity with the concepts of precision and accuracy of data collection, 4) practice in evaluating mathematical formulas, 5) collaboration with peers. This lab is designed to be completed in four laboratory hours: two hours for data collection and two hours for analyses and lab report writing.
The Cosmic Bellows: The Big Bang and the Second Law

We present here a cosmological myth, alternative (but complementary) to "the Universe Story" and "the Epic of Evolution", highlighting the roles of entropy and dissipative structures in the universe inaugurated by the Big Bang. Our myth offers answers these questions: Where are we? What are we? Why are we here? What are we to do? It also offers answers to a set of "why" questions: Why is there anything at all? and Why are there so many kinds of systems? - the answers coming from cosmology and physics (thermodynamics); Why do systems not last once they exist? - the answer coming from a materialist interpretation of information theory; and, Why are systems just the way they are and not otherwise? - the answer coming from evolutionary biology. We take into account the four kinds of causation designated by Aristotle as efficient, final, and material formal, with the Second Law of thermodynamics in the role of final cause. Conceptual problems concerning reductionism, "teleology", and the choice/chance distinction are dealt with in the framework of specification hierarchy, and the moral implications of our story explored in the conclusion.
Recognition-based diagnostic reasoning

Expertise in fault diagnosis often depends on recognizing particular patterns in observed data corresponding to situations that have previously been seen and correctly interpreted. This approach can result in significant efficiencies by avoiding a costly and detailed analysis based on the causal relationships between faults and observable data Recognition-based reasoning requires highly focused search strategies in order to extract relevant information from a knowledge base that contains a large number of prototypes for various possible faults This paper describes a model of recognition-based reasoning and describes an implementation of the model. designed to solve diagnostic problems in pediatric cardiology. The model first analyzes portions of the patient data to hypothesize a small set of potential diseases Knowledge specific to each selected hypothesis is then used to refine these initial choices. The model has been validated against actual hospital cases and performs in a manner comparable to expert physicians.
5-Bromouridylyl-(3-5)-adenosine isolated from 5-bromouracil-induced filaments of Escherichia coli.

A dinucleoside monophosphate was isolated from 5-bromouracil-induced filaments of a thymine auxotroph of Escherichia coli K-12. The dinucleoside monophosphate was fractioned from a [14C]5-bromouracil-labeled perchloric acid extract using Dowex-1-formate ion-exchange chromatography. Sephadex chromatography revealed its molecular weight to be 710. Snake venom phosphodiesterase digest of the dinucleoside monophosphate yielded [14C]5-bromouridine and adenosine 5′-monophosphate. The presence of [14C]5-bromouracil in bacterial ribonucleic acid indicates that ribonucleic acid, which had incorporated 5-bromouracil, was the probable source of this dinucleoside monophosphate, 5-bromouridylyl-(3′ → 5′)-adenosine.
Competitive Binding between Dynamic p53 Transactivation Subdomains to Human MDM2 Protein: IMPLICATIONS FOR REGULATING THE p53·MDM2/MDMX INTERACTION

The interaction between the transactivation domain of p53 (p53TAD) and the N-terminal domain of MDM2 and MDMX plays an essential role for cell function. Mutations in these proteins have been implicated in many forms of cancer. The intrinsically disordered p53TAD contains two subdomains, TAD1 and TAD2. Using NMR spectroscopy, site-directed mutagenesis, and molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that TAD2 directly interacts with MDM2, adopting transient structures that bind to the same hydrophobic pocket of MDM2 as TAD1. Our data show that binding of TAD1 and TAD2 to MDM2 is competitive, which is further supported by the observation that the interaction of TAD2 with MDM2 can be blocked by the small molecule inhibitor nutlin-3. Our data further indicate that TAD2 interacts with MDMX in a fashion very similar to MDM2. Because TAD2 is known to have transcriptional activity, the interaction of TAD2 with MDM2/MDMX may play a direct role in the inhibition of p53 transactivation.
Playing the "cyber terrorism game" towards a semiotic definition

The future of many terrorist related games or plans may well involve the cyber space. However, the literature on what needs to be in place to play the cyber terrorism game is scant. Most of the current attention given terrorism involves both probability and consequences related to the physical world. Focuses in "what-if" scenarios involve threats to the economy and the population from an enemy that has all the discretion in selecting the battlefield. This essay examines what cyber-terrorism means, the forms it may take and how it may occur, and safeguards that should be considered in preparation for cyber warfare through use of a semiotic model. To this end we draw from current theories involving semiotics, gaming, emergence, and complexity to ground our work.
Group II introns and expression of conjugative transfer functions in lactic acid bacteria

The homologous lactococcal conjugative elements pRS01 and the sex factor of Lactococcus lactis strain 712 both contain a Group II intron within a gene believed to encode a conjugative relaxase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for nicking of DNA at the origin of transfer (oriT) sequence of the sex factor DNA to initiate the strand transfer process. Group II introns have been studied in eukaryotes, and several of these elements in yeast mitochondrial genes have received considerable attention. These introns are relatively large in size and generally encode a protein within the intron sequence. In addition to splicing activity, Group II introns are mobile genetic elements. The intron-encoded proteins (IEPs) contain endonuclease and reverse transcriptase domains believed to play an enzymatic role in genetic mobility reactions, while a putative maturase domain is thought to promote splicing by stabilizing the folding of the intron RNA into an active ribozyme structure which carrie s out the splicing reaction. The lactococcal introns represent the first examples of Group II introns shown to be functional in vivo in prokaryotes. Because of the advantages of a bacterial system for genetic and molecular studies, the Ll.ltrB intron from pRS01 has attracted the attention of several laboratories interested in Group II intron biology. Recently, it has been shown that the system can be adapted to function in Escherichia coli (although at somewhat reduced efficiency). In addition, it has been recently proven that the best studied form of mobility, the homing of the intron into an intronless allele of the cognate exon gene, occurs via an RNA intermediate and does not require DNA homology or generalized host recombination functions. Current efforts are analysis of the role Ll.ltrB splicing in regulating expression of pRS01 conjugation functions. The lactococcal Group II introns represent the first demonstrated genetically mobile prokaryotic retroelements, and they also have considerable potential as genetic engineering tools for Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and other organisms.
Effects of Inhibition and Repression on the Utilization of Substrates by Heterogeneous Bacterial Communities

This investigation attempts to evaluate to what extent enzyme inhibition and repression by metabolites, indigenous to the cell, are significant phenomena in natural microbial communities. Three case histories of the kinetics of substrate utilization and growth in multisubstrate media by heterogeneous bacterial populations are presented: (i) concurrent substrate utilization and growth on both substrates simultaneously (glucose plus benzoate); (ii) sequential substrate elimination accompanied by diauxic growth as a result of inhibition of enzyme activity (glucose plus galactose); (iii) sequential substrate utilization accompanied by diauxic growth caused by repression of enzyme formation (glucose plus l-phenylalanine, benzoate plus l-phenylalanine). It is shown that enzyme inhibition was observed in two-substrate media as well as in multisubstrate media and was maintained at low substrate concentrations (few milligrams per liter). A special attempt has been made to maintain the diversity of the experimental microbial population during the adaptation and enrichment period. All substrates were determined with sensitive analytical methods specific for the individual substrates. The results obtained confirm that catabolite repression and the resulting sequential substrate utilization are observed in heterogeneous bacterial populations.
Imprinted Xlr3 (X-linked Lymphocyte Regulated 3) produces a meiosis specific protein implicated in sex chromosome gene regulation in mouse

Background Meiotic crossingover is an important checkpoint in almost all sexually reproducing eukaryotic organisms and is mediated by the Synaptonemal Complex (SC) during meiosis I. In this process homologous chromosomes exchange sequence information before segregating [1]. Some proteins involved in this process (i.e SYCP3) contain a conserved COR1 domain of which the function is not known, however; these proteins tend to be present only in germ cells [1-4].Xlr3 (X-linked lymphocyte regulated 3), an X-linked imprinted gene in mouse, also contains a COR1 domain but has yet to be characterized.
Drug-Target Binding Forces: Advances in Force Field Approaches

This article discusses the basic physical chemical principles that determine the strength of non-covalent interactions between ligands and receptors. We consider the basic thermodynamic principles involved in association and consider how molecular mechanics force fields can be helpful in understanding such phenomena. Three examples are discussed in some detail: biotin-avidin, trimethoprim-dihydrofolate reductase, and intercalator-DNA interactions. Keywords: thermodynamics; protein-ligand interactions; force fields; molecular dynamics; free energy
Statistical Analysis of Profilometric Sampling for Roughness Parameters

In quantitative fractography, roughness parameters R L and R S are often used as important descriptors of fracture surface geometry. These parameters are usually estimated by analyzing fracture profiles acquired by sampling the surface of interest with metallographic sections perpendicular to the global plane of fracture. Because of the limited sampling, there is an inherent statistical error to the measured R L and R S values. This work addresses the determination of this sampling error using basic statistical concepts. In addition, a simple parameter is introduced that facilitates estimation of the amount of profile data required to achieve a specified precision to the roughness parameters. Experimental results of sampling error and effort are provided from 'typical' steel (AISI 4340) fracture surfaces.
The Pronunciation Component in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

1It then describes in detail six instructional features of a multidimensional teaching process: a dual-focus communicative program philosophy, learner goals, instructional objectives ,the role of the learner, the role of the teacher, and a framework of three instructional practice modes. Recent discussions of “pronunciation” 2 teaching principles have examined a number of important rationale issues including: questions of whether pronunciation should (or can) be taught and, if so, what should be taught and how; expressions of the need for more controlled studies of changes in learner pronunciation patterns as the result of specific instructional procedures; views on whether and how research in second language phonology can inform classroom practices. These and many other pertinent concerns have been ably discussed in thorough and insightful state-of-the-art papers by Leather (1983) and Pennington and Richards (1986). When it comes to classroom practice, however, as Yule (1990) has observed, it may have appeared to novice teachers that the only classroom choice available is one between teaching pronunciation as articulatory phonetics or not teaching pronunciation at all. But could this limited choice of options be more apparent than real? Clearly, on the positive side of the picture, some creative and principled contributions to alternatives have come on the scene in recent years, with a small but steady movement toward some “new looks” in pronunciation teaching. This does not mean that there are not many remaining questions about a number of issues, and more 1 The focus of this discussion is pronunciation teaching and is not intended to include a review of research in areas of second language phonology. 2 The term pronunciation means different things to different people. In this paper, I refer to a range of pronunciation teaching practices.
Incompressible, turbulent boundary layers with arbitrary pressure gradients and divergent or convergent cross flows.

An effective viscosity hypothesis that has previously led to rather detailed predictions of equilibrium turbulent boundary layers is now applied to boundary layers with arbitrary mainstream pressure variations and with divergent or convergent cross flows. The empirical content of the hypothesis involving three empirical constants (one of which is the von Karman constant) is solely derived from constant pressure profile data. The present work is similar to the previous work in that the mean differential equations of motion are integrated numerically. This time, however, one must deal with partial differential equations instead of the ordinary differential equations applicable to equilibrium flows. An important result is that prediction of the skin-friction coefficient and separation is very good. For the data considered, it is apparent that the effective viscosity hypothesis is not restricted to equilibrium flows; a corollary is that the effective viscosity can be related to the local mean velocity profile to some reasonable but undetermined degree of approximation. A further result is that for a particular three-dimensional, divergent flow experiment the measured cross-flow profiles agree with those calculated using a scalar effective viscosity.
Variational studies of bound states of the H − ion in a magnetic field

Variational calculations of bound states of ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ions in magnetic fields have been undertaken in an attempt to understand the role of magnetic field, exchange, and correlation in the binding, particularly for those states which are unbound in the absence of a field. Field-induced binding at weak fields is pictured as a trapping of the outer electron in two dimensions by the magnetic field and in the third dimension by the induced polarization of the inner H atom. Singlet and triplet states of various angular momenta are studied. Results are presented also for a number of He-atom levels. It is shown that positrons bind to H atoms in a magnetic field.
More is More: Some Economics of Distinctively-Named White Kids

Using data covering every child born in California from 1961 to 2000, Fryer and Levitt (2004) find that in the 1960s, the differences in name choices by blacks and whites were relatively small, but that a profound shift began among blacks in the mid-1970s toward more distinctively black names, especially among blacks in racially isolated neighborhoods. As an extension of Fryer and Levitt (2004), this study uses data on the names of about 1,300 white children born over the four-year period from 1997 to 2000 and living in a segment of a Metropolitan Statistical Area in the Deep South, and finds that use of combination first names—largely based on combinations of single names included among the names of high-end white children from Fryer and Levitt (2004) and Levitt and Dubner (2005)—is significantly more prevalent among high-end white children than it is among low-end white children. Unlike the data described in Fryer and Levitt (2004), which support an Identity Model wherein distinctively black names result from the Black Power movement that encouraged blacks to “accentuate and affirm black culture and fight the claims of black inferiority,” the present study suggests that high-end parents may use the combination first name convention to increase the likelihood of the child’s future success in various partnership markets, such as dating, marriage and business-partnership markets.
Variable-color poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) electrochromics from precursor polymers

Abstract We have developed two approaches to processable precursors to conjugated polymers: main-chain and side-chain. Upon oxidative conversion to the conjugated polymer, a main-chain precursor yielded a nearly perfect spectral match, an identical λmax, and an equivalent band gap to that of electrodeposited chromophore, resulting in a color match. This precursor method has the potential to incorporate any chromophore and achieve spectral and color matching with relative ease, as opposed to extensive synthetic monomer design. We describe the synthesis and characterization of a new side-chain and two new main-chain precursor polymers, each of which contains a derivative of 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene, ProDOT-Me2. The side-chain precursor tethers one ProDOT-Me2 molecule to a poly(norbornene) backbone; the main-chain systems are perfectly alternating copolymers of ProDOT-Me2, one with dimethylsilane and one with tetramethyldisiloxane. Electronic and optical properties for these converted precursors were described and compared to electrodeposited PProDOT-Me2.
Engineering the optical properties of gold nanocages for biomedical applications

The galvanic replacement reaction has been shown to be a robust method to produce a wide variety of nanostructures with complex shapes and compositions. This reaction is highly tunable, allowing for precise control of the properties of the final material. Gold nanocages, one exciting structure made with the galvanic replacement reaction, are particularly interesting for their use in biological applications such as photothermal therapy and contrast enhancement in optical imaging.
Diffusion-Weighted MRI and Proton MR Spectroscopic Imaging in the Study of Secondary Neuronal Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose —Cerebral ischemia has been proposed as contributing mechanism to secondary neuronal injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Possible tools for investigating this hypothesis are diffusion-weighted (DWI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI). However, magnetic field inhomogeneity induced by paramagnetic blood products may prohibit the application of such techniques on perihematoma tissue. We report on the feasibility of DWI and 1H-MRSI in the study of human ICH and present preliminary data on their contribution to understanding perihematoma tissue functional and metabolic profiles. Methods —Patients with acute supratentorial ICH were prospectively evaluated using DWI and 1H-MRSI. Obscuration of perihematoma tissue with both sequences was assessed. Obtainable apparent diffusion coefficient (Dav) and lactate spectra in perihematoma brain tissue were recorded and analyzed. Results —Nine patients with mean age of 63.4 (36 to 87) years were enrolled. Mean time from symptom onset to initial MRI was 3.4 (1 to 9) days; mean hematoma volume was 35.4 (5 to 80) cm3. Perihematoma diffusion values were attainable in 9 of 9 patients, and 1H-MRSI measures were obtainable in 5 of 9 cases. Dav in perihematoma regions was 172.5 (120.0 to 302.5)×10−5 mm2/s and 87.6 (76.5 to 102.1)×10−5 mm2/s in contralateral corresponding regions of interest ( P =0.002). One patient showed an additional area of reduced Dav with normal T2 intensity, which suggests ischemia. 1H-MRSI revealed lactate surrounding the hematoma in 2 patients. Conclusions —DWI and 1H-MRSI can be used in the study of ICH patients. Our preliminary data are inconsistent with ischemia as the primary mechanism for perihematoma tissue injury. Further investigation with advanced MRI techniques will give a clearer understanding of the role that ischemia plays in tissue injury after ICH.
Behavior of the riemann mapping function under complex analytic deformations of the domain

Suppose that the boundary of a simply connected domain depends holomorphically on a complex parameter. Then the domain will depend on that parameter: one can ask how its normalized Riemann mapping function will depend on the parameter. Previously known results have required smoothness conditions on the boundary and have restricted the parameter to real values. In this paper we show that the Improved Lambda Lemma can be used to remove these requirements and restrictions.
A phenomenological design equation for FRP columns with interaction between local and global buckling

Abstract A design equation for fiber reinforced plastic columns is presented in this paper, based on the interaction between local (flange) and global (Euler) buckling observed during testing of the FRP columns included in this investigation. An existing interaction equation is adapted to account for the modes of failure observed in columns made of fiber reinforced composite materials. Experimental data generated during this investigation are presented and used to validate the interaction equation and to obtain the interaction constant. A slenderness ratio is proposed and used to present a plot of buckling for all sections and column lengths (short, long, and intermediate). An expression for the optimum column length to be used in the experimental determination of the interaction constant is proposed.