cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Searching for Self in the Global South: Japanese Literary Representations of Afro-Jamaican Blackness

This article explores Japanese literary engagement with the Caribbean island of Jamaica, one informed most directly by the recent popularity of Jamaican musical culture in Japan. I link these works to a discursive imagination of the international, including the Third World, as a proving ground for artistic accomplishment and for the acquisition of an ideological cosmopolitanism counterposed against life in insular Japan. This includes the discourse of jibun sagashi, or self-searching, that has emerged in the post-1991 recessionary era. I argue that a consistent trope in many works of fiction and non-fiction on Japanese travel to Jamaica is of their protagonists' or authors' intimate encounter with Afro-Jamaican blackness as both menacing and impoverished, but also vitalizing and endearing. Encountering the Afro-Jamaican, and surviving it, simultaneously affords a sense of toughness and sociopolitical enlightenment impossible elsewhere in Japan. I conclude that although these narratives usually include ret...
β-Endorphin Levels in the Human Menstrual Cycle

To examine the fluctuation in plasma beta-Endorphin (beta-EP) concentration throughout the menstrual cycle, 8 healthy females with normal cycles were studied. After an overnight fast, the subject's blood samples were drawn between 8 and 10 a.m. They gave blood at 2 or 4 day intervals through three menstrual cycles. Using the LH surge as day 0, the mean beta-EP concentrations were higher on days -10, -9, -8 (6.5 +/- 2.6, 6.9 +/- 3.8 and 6.7 +/- 2.7 pmol/l, follicular phase), on days -1, 0, +1 (9.2 +/- 3.3, 9.1 +/- 5.2 and 8.8 +/- 3.3 pmol/l, periovulatory phase), and on days +9 and +12 (8.6 +/- 2.5 and 8.8 +/- 3.8 pmol/l, luteal phase). Most beta-EP levels were low during menstruation. The rise and fall in beta-EP and its relation to temporal LH and FSH secretion are discussed. The findings show that three beta-EP rises take place during the menstrual cycle and that beta-EP may be involved in the regulation of ovulation.
Precision parameters from spin-probe studies of membranes using a partitioning technique. Application to two model membrane vesicles

A new version of the ESR spin probe partitioning method is developed and applied to the study of hydration properties of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) and dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles as functions of salt concentration and temperature above the lipid phase transition. The small spin probe di-tert-butyl nitroxide (DTBN) is used in order to achieve motionally narrowed Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectra which may be analyzed with high precision. The new method relies on the use of the second harmonic display of the ESR spectrum followed by spectral line fitting. Spectral fitting yields precise ESR parameters giving detailed information on the surroundings of the spin probe in both phospholipid and aqueous phases. The nitrogen hyperfine coupling constant of DTBN arising from those probes occupying the vesicles is used to study the hydration of the vesicle surface. The hydration properties of the negatively charged vesicle surface of DMPG vesicles are affected by the addition of salt at all temperatures. In contrast, the hydration of DMPC vesicles does not change with salt concentration at the low temperatures. However, at higher temperatures the hydration properties of DMPC vesicle are affected by salt which is interpreted to be due to the faster motion of the phospholipid molecules. The partitioning of the spin probe increases with salt concentration for both DMPG and DMPC vesicles, while water penetration decreases simultaneously. The spin probe in the phospholipid bilayer exhibits anisotropic motion and the extent of the anisotropy is increased at the higher salt concentrations.
Physiology and ultrastructure of the blood platelet following exposure to hydrogen peroxide.

Summary. Hydrogen peroxide in micromolar concentrations can induce shape change in human blood platelets, and can modify the aggregation and release reaction of these cells as induced by ADP or thrombin. In larger (millimolar) concentrations, H2O2 produces fusion of platelets with distortions in platelet morphology unlike those normally caused by aggregating agents. The production of H2O2in vivo by granulocytes or other cells could influence the processes of haemostasis or thrombosis.
Heat Recovery From Commercial On-Site Power Generation System: Desiccant Dehumidification vs. Absorption Cooling

As commercial building on-site power generation technologies mature to the point of becoming “off-the-shelf” products, the importance of effective heat recovery is demonstrated time and time again in applications where three to six year paybacks typically are necessary to convince building owners to purchase and install these new technologies. This paper explores the effectiveness and economic benefit of different methods of utilizing recoverable heat from on-site power generation equipment in commercial buildings (Cooling, Heating and Power systems – CHP). An optimal configuration of heat recovery options is explored based on analysis of heat recovery from microturbine(s) exhaust to support commercial building heating and cooling/dehumidification needs. Benefits of recovering heat for space heating/domestic hot water production and to support desiccant dehumidification vs. absorption cooling are studied in five different building types (large supermarket, large retail store, medium size office building, full service restaurant and quick service restaurant). Buildings are evaluated at four different geographical locations, allowing additional study of the climatic conditions on the optimum heat recovery system configuration for specific building types. A sophisticated model, incorporating performance algorithms of state-of-the-art power generation, dehumidification and absorption cooling equipment, is used for calculating annual energy/cost savings for CHP systems and optimization of basic parameters, such as generator size/number and heat recovery equipment selection.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Room temperature strength of β-sialon (z=0.5) fabricated using fine grain size alumina powder

Abstract The room temperature strength of β-sialon with z=0.5 fabricated using a mixture of fine grain size Al2O3 and Si3N4 powders was measured, and the effect of a small, amount of Al(Oi-Pr)3 addition as a dispersant on its strength was also investigated. This β-sialon showed an average strength of 1.00 GPa. It was much higher than that of β-sia1on from traditionally produced Si3N4 and Al2O3 powders as a result of decreasing the size of defects responsible for fracture origin. Mixing of Si3N4 and Al2O3 powders in a Al(Oi–Pr)3 solution brought further increase in strength to 1.25 GPa because of the smaller size and reduced number of defects. However, the strength of β-sialon is still controlled by the defects with the size of less than 10 μm.
Muscle Metabolism and Enzyme Activities after Training in Boys 11–13 Years Old

The effect of training on the skeletal muscle metabolism of 11-to 13-year-old boys was examined. In one experiment changes in blood lactate, and muscle lactate, CP, ATP, and glycogen were determined at rest and following exercise before and after 4 months of training. The concentrations of glycogen, CP and ATP at rest were higher (P<0.01) following training. Blood and muscle lactate were 23 and 56 % higher after maximal work following training. A greater reduction in muscle glycogen occurred during maximal work after training but the pattern for ATP and CP depletion was unchanged. In a second experiment boys trained by pedalling a bicycle ergometer an average of 30 min 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Biopsy samples of the vastus lateralis were examined for oxidative (succinate dehydrogenase) and anaerobic (phosphofructokinase) capacity before and after training. The fiber composition and relative oxidative capacity in the fibers was determined histochemically. Succinate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase activities increased 30 and 83 %, respectively, following training. Fiber distribution was unchanged by training but the oxidative capacity of both fiber types appeared to increase.
Availability to rats of zinc in green and mature soybeans

Abstract A slope ratio assay was conducted with young albino rats to investigate the effect of maturity of soybean seeds on the bioavailability of their intrinsic zinc. Seeds (Williams) were harvested when well-developed but green (25% dry matter) and when mature (86% dry matter). The blanched seeds were wet-milled, freeze-dried and incorporated into 20% egg white protein diets at the expense of egg white to provide 20% protein diets containing equal calories and calcium but varying in zinc and phytate content. Zinc in the mature bean flour diets was 58% as available for weight gain and 57% as available for tibia zinc accumulation as was zinc in the green bean flour diets. The difference between zinc availabilities can be ascribed to the higher phytate content of the mature beans.
Algorithms and Design for an Autonomous Biological System

Various global rearrangements of permutations, such as reversals and transpositions, have recently become of interest because of their applications in computational molecular biology, to be more specific, genome rearrangement. Many primitives have been formulated in this regard. These primitives find their applications hugely in the study of the similarity of different organisms. In this paper, we formulate a new primitive for genome rearrangement, the strip exchanges. An approximation algorithm for the strip exchanges problem with an approximation guarantee of 2.66 has been designed. We present this algorithm along with its mathematical analysis. We propose the design of an autonomous biological system which detects the similarity of different species by matching their genomes. We use the primitive strip exchanges to match two genomes in our system. A comparison of the other existing primitives with strip exchanges has been given. Various other pragmatic applications of such a system have also been touched upon.
The Devalued State and Nation: Neoliberalism and the Moral Economy Discourse of the Brazilian Middle Class, 1986-1994

R: Today you can't even plan your family life. There's no more planning. This kept changing more and more, it started years ago. Today the parameters are totally unreal. You buy something today from within an unreality. W: I think since 1979 things took a violent turn. R: Or more precisely in 1973 with Senhor Delfim Neto and his "Brazilian miracle." A: I'm still waiting for this miracle. Moderator: Do you believe in the Brazilian miracle? W: We see miracles every day.
Symbolic prefetching in transactional distributed shared memory

We present a static analysis for the automatic generation of symbolic prefetches in a transactional distributed shared memory. A symbolic prefetch specifies the first object to be prefetched followed by a list of field offsets or array indices that define a path through the heap. We also provide an object caching framework and language extensions to support our approach. To our knowledge, this is the first prefetching approach that can prefetch objects whose addresses have not been computed or predicted.Our approach makes aggressive use of both prefetching and caching of remote objects to hide network latency. It relies on the transaction commit mechanism to preserve the simple transactional consistency model that we present to the developer. We have evaluated this approach on several shared memory parallel benchmarks and a distributed gaming benchmark to observe speedups due to prefetching and caching. Categories and Subject Descriptors
Deciphering the Sedimentological Expression of Tectonics, Eustasy, and Climate: A Basinwide Study of the Corallian Formation, Southern England

ABSTRACT Jurassic Corallian Formation outcrops along the Dorset coast, composed of carbonate and siliciclastic shallow-marine facies, are classic sites for British geologists. They have been regarded as typical of cyclically deposited strata, characterized by repeated sandstone, mudstone, and carbonate lithologies. The stratigraphy has been interpreted as evidence for rapid eustatic sea-level change throughout the Oxfordian. This study's basinwide database, however, shows that study of the outcrops alone has led to oversimplified conclusions. The stratigraphy records the migration of siliciclastic source areas through time. Pulses of terrigenous sand reflect local uplift and increased weathering, rather than rapid eustatic sea-level falls. The recognition of mixed siliciclastic-carbonate beds makes an argument for rapid changes in water depth less convincing, and reveals that lateral migration of shallow-water facies is a more plausible explanation for the observed stratigraphy. Coeval carbonate and siliciclastic deposition around the basin shows that neither eustasy nor climatic change can be solely responsible for the stratigraphy. The strata reflect, instead, a complex interplay of episodic local tectonism, siliciclastic source area migration, and marine circulation patterns.
Resistance Boundaries of Infinite Networks

A resistance network is a connected graph (G, c). The conductance function \(c_{xy}\) weights the edges, which are then interpreted as conductors of possibly varying strengths. The Dirichlet energy form e produces a Hilbert space structure he on the space of functions of finite energy.
A Synchronized Pulse Communication System with Pseudorandom Interpulse Period

The security of a pulse type communication system can be improved by the incorporation of an element of randomness in the time of transmission. A system is simulated in which a remote receiver is caused to be gated on at apparently random intervals which are in synchronism with the arrival of the signal from the controlling local transmitter. The time of transmission is not random, but is determined by an extremely complex program. By duplicating the program in the remote equipment, the receiver can anticipate the time of arrival of the local transmissions. The time of transmission is varied ± 10 per cent about a nominal period which corresponds to a message repetition frequency of 100 cps. The pseudorandom intermessage variations are governed by the output of an eighteen stage magnetic core shift register. The period of repetition of the pseudorandom transmission is in excess of six minutes and much longer periods are readily obtainable. Special scrambling techniques are used to increase the burden of a would-be code breaker. The system can be operated in either the periodic or pseudorandom mode, and a fail-safe feature is provided to return the system to the periodic mode if the local and remote units become unsynchronized while in the pseudorandom mode. Receiver synchronization is maintained by a voltage controlled clock frequency oscillator which is phase locked to the local transmission. The phase lock compensates for Doppler shift in the received frequency and for any drift inherent in the remote clock source.
Waveform design considerations for transmission of digital voice over HF

The development of digital voice (DV) technology has had a significant impact on high frequency (HF) voice communications. The secure features of DV in combination with the benefits of modern digital signal processing (i. e. equalization, narrow-band interference suppression, FEC, interleaving, etc) have provided users with some great advantages when communicating over challenging HF links. A new, higher quality, DV algorithm (vocoder) called mixed excitation linear prediction enhanced (MELPe) was recently developed and standardized. This new vocoder operates at data rates of 2400 bits per second (bps) and 1200 bps with a goal of providing higher quality DV in applications where limited bandwidth is available to users. However, the MELPe development focused only on the vocoder algorithm and no work was done in the specific area of physical-layer waveforms that would be used to convey the DV bits over wireless links (i.e. in HF, independent of the actual waveform which would be used to carry the data over-the-air). This paper considers how to best combine MELPe with current standardized HF waveforms and also investigates if new waveforms needs to be developed to carry MELPe over HF links.
Demons registration with local affine adaptive regularization: application to registration of abdominal structures

We present a local affine-based adaptive regularization approach as an alternative to the homogeneous regularization used in Thirion's demons non-rigid registration algorithm[1], which does not preserve the deformation field discontinuities related to the independent motion of different organs, as typically occurs during CT and MR imaging of the abdomen and pelvis. By contrast, our method fits local affine transformation to each voxel; identifies the discontinuities between the locally fitted affine transformations; and adaptively smooths the deformation field, while preserving its local affine discontinuities. Experimental results on both synthetic and real CT images demonstrate that our method at once yields a smoother deformation field and preserves registration accuracy.
Proceedings of the XXIVth Congress of the International Primatological Society Cancun, Mexico August 12–18, 2012

IPS Officers: Juichi Yamagiwa (President, also representing Primate Society of Japan) Nancy Caine (Secretary General) Katie Leighty (VP for Communications) Elizabeth Lonsdorf (VP for Education) Debby Cox (VP for Captive Care and Breeding) Steve Schapiro (Treasurer and VP for Membership) Janette Wallis (VP for Conservation) Jo Setchell (VP for Research and Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Primatology)
Finding New Collaboration Models for Enabling Neglected Tropical Disease Drug Discovery

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have seen a welcome bolstering of activities focused on discovery of new therapies for these diseases. By and large, NTD drug discovery happens in the nonprofit sector—in academic laboratories and in public–private partnerships—though there has also been a significant and tangible influx of data and research contributions from the for-profit biopharmaceutical industry. Sets of screening data against the parasites that cause Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness have been released to the public via ChemBL (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chemblntd), Collaborative Drug Discovery (http://www. collaborativedrug.com), and PubChem (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), and a fair quantity of these data have been produced by the pharmaceutical industry, many times in collaboration with groups in the nonprofit or academic environment. These initial public releases have begun to enable credible drug discovery for tropical diseases, particularly when taken together with new collaborative opportunities with industry that provide access to state-of-theart drug discovery and development capabilities. These facilities include the Tres Cantos Open Lab initiative [1], therapeutics development resources at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [2], and compound screening sets now made available for testing against other pathogens, such as the Malaria Box [3]. Thus, perhaps there has never been a better time to be performing hit-to-lead and lead optimization drug discovery for NTDs.
Territoriality, tolerance and testosterone in wild chimpanzees

Although testosterone (T) has well known organizational and activational effects on aggression, the relationship between the two is not always clear. The challenge hypothesis addresses this problem by proposing that T will affect aggression only in fitness-enhancing situations. One way to test the challenge hypothesis is to examine the relationship between T and different types of aggression. Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, show aggressive behaviours in several contexts and provide an opportunity for such a test. Here we show that urinary T influences a form of male chimpanzee reproductive aggression, territorial boundary patrols. In contrast, T does not affect predatory behaviour, a form of aggression that has no immediate link to male reproduction. While these results are consistent with the challenge hypothesis, our results indicate that male chimpanzees experience a significant drop in urinary T during hunts. Additional analyses reveal that males who share meat with others display this decrease. The reason for this decrement is unclear, but we hypothesize that the relative lack of aggression that results from voluntary sharing episodes and the tolerance engendered by such acts may be contributory factors.
Data fusion latency in Internet-based sensor networks

Multi-sensor data fusion latency in Internet-based sensor applications is analyzed. The Probabilistic Estimation of Periodic Backlog (PEPB) technique presented takes into account the nature of sensor data generation and the time-scale invariant burstiness (i.e., self-similarity) of network traffic. The fusion application considered requires synchronizing a set of correlated data before fusion processing can begin. PEPB is used first to model the single-hop delay. Analysis is then extended to a network with multi-hop communication and multiple sensor nodes. Comparison with simulation-based results demonstrates the accuracy of the model.
Effect of Enzymatic Digestion, pH and Molecular Weight on the Iron Solubilizing Properties of Chicken Muscle

The effects of a simulated gastrointestinal pH, enzymatic digestion and molecular weight (MW) on the iron solubilizing properties of a heated dilute salt insoluble fraction of chicken muscle were examined. The solubility of 50 ppm added FeCl3 increased linearly from 0–260 min during pepsin digestion. The total soluble iron reached a maximum concentration following a 120 min pepsin-30 min pancreatin digestion, with pepsin digestion products ranging in MW from 6200–2500. Solubilization capacity, defined as an in vitro measure of total iron bioavailability, did not correlate to binding by free sulfhydryl groups. The soluble low molecular weight iron chelates found may explain, in part, the mechanism by which the “meat factor” enhances iron bioavailability.
Short-Term Transient Temperature Calculations and Measurements for Underground Power Cables

A time-dependent heat transfer model based on the complete Fourier integral was developed for calculating cable temperatures during short-term transient conditions. A cyclic heat transfer calculation is used to obtain the initial temperature-time profile of the cable before the transient loading begins. The short-term transient model uses a lumped parameter formulation for the different cable regions and the Fourier integral to approximate the transient heat loss profile. Calculated conductor, jacket, and conduit temperatures show reasonable agreement with experimental results for a number of short-term transient tests with cables in a typical duct bank arrangement.
Pop-Up MEMS One-Way Endobronchial Valve for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of morbidity in aging populations worldwide. In very severe cases of COPD arising from het- erogenous emphysema, portions of diseased lung are unable to expel air normally and over time hyperinflate, restricting the function of healthier portions of the lung, diaphragm, and heart. Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has shown promising results in alleviating symptoms of lobar hyperinflation, but is associated with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates. Because of this, non-surgical methods of reducing the volume of hyperinflated lungs are the focus of much investiga- tion, especially Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR), consisting of one-way valves inserted bronchoscopically that slowly drain the diseased lobe of it's accumulated air. Presented here is a novel redesign of current BLVR devices using pop- up microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) manufacturing to create microscale check valves. These operate more reliably than current polymer valves and allow tuneable airflow to accommodate widely varying patient physiologies. Analysis and ex vivo testing of the redesigned valve predicted the valve should outlast current valves with a lifetime of well over eight years, and showed airflow controllability within desired physiological ranges of up to 1.2 SLM. The valve resists backflow twice as well as the current standard valves while permitting comparable forward flow.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR): A Solution to Wisconsin's Fiscal Problems or a Prescription for Future Fiscal Crises?

(TABOR). This constitutional amendment, if enacted, would tie annual increases in spending byall governmental bodies in Wisconsin to population growth and the rate of inflation or someother specified index. It would also require passage of referenda for any spending increase inexcess of the limits, for any tax change that causes net revenue gains, and for most governmentborrowing. Supporters of the TABOR amendment argue that an amendment is necessary because:• Tax burdens in Wisconsin have climbed to excessive rates,• The over-taxation of businesses is hurting economic development in the state, and• State and local government spending in Wisconsin has gotten out of hand.In this paper, I argue that none of the above assertions can be justified by the facts. There is noevidence to suggest that our system of fiscal decision making is broken, or needs the kind ofradical transformation that TABOR would bring.Consider the following: • School property tax rates have fallen by nearly 50 percent since 1991.• The property tax
Stress Hysteresis and Thermal-Mechanical Behavior of PECVD Silicon Nitride and Ebeam Aluminum Films for Microbolometer Applications

Uncooled cantilever-based microbolometer arrays received more attention recently due to high sensitivity and low cost. The central idea is built on the deflection of a bilayer SiNx/Al material upon the temperature change. The thermal-mechanical behavior of the bilayer is significant for the performance of the microbolometers. In this paper, we perform thermal cyclings to aluminum and SiNx films. The CTEs and the stress evolutions were measured using a curvature measurement system. The curvature profile of a SiNx/Al/Si component was predicted using an extension of Stoney’s formula, well agreeing with the experimental results. This work demonstrates fundamental mechanics issues in bilayer SiNx/Al components, which have a great potential for the use in uncooled microbolometer applications.
CyNetworkBMA: a Cytoscape app for inferring gene regulatory networks.

Inference of gene networks from expression data is an important problem in computational biology. Many algorithms have been proposed for solving the problem efficiently. However, many of the available implementations are programming libraries that require users to write code, which limits their accessibility. We have developed a tool called CyNetworkBMA for inferring gene networks from expression data that integrates with Cytoscape. Our application offers a graphical user interface for networkBMA, an efficient implementation of Bayesian Model Averaging methods for network construction. The client-server architecture of CyNetworkBMA makes it possible to distribute or centralize computation depending on user needs. CyNetworkBMA is an easy-to-use tool that makes network inference accessible to non-programmers through seamless integration with Cytoscape. CyNetworkBMA is available on the Cytoscape App Store at http://apps.cytoscape.org/apps/cynetworkbma .
A dynamic decision support system based on geographical information and mobile social networks: A model for tsunami risk mitigation in Padang, Indonesia

Abstract In coastal cities, population and property are concentrated in small areas, with abundant resources and convenient transportation, but also with potential tsunami risk, as shown by the tsunami disasters of 2004, 2010 in Indonesia. Coastal area citizens need to evacuate to a safe place as soon as tsunamis occur. The prime evacuation time is very critical for them, but it is delayed in practice by complex information transfer processes. In recent years, spatial information has become an important resource used in dynamic decision support for emergencies, and smart phones have become a primary social communication device during interactions in emergencies. This paper outlines the design and development of a prototype geographical information system centric, social media based dynamic decision support system (GIS-SM-DDSS) that integrates geographical information with Twitter technology to enable self-organized information networks to support decision making and collective actions in emergency situations. The actors include government policy makers, policy managers, highly influential social leaders in local communities, and policy executors and urban citizens impacted by disasters. The main system functions include dynamic disaster risk analysis, timely dissemination of evacuation strategies to community residents, and real-time detection of environmental risk and evacuation support. This system is designed as a field experiment in Padang, Indonesia, to help public officials design tsunami risk maps with timely evacuation routes and transmit these maps to influential leaders in local neighborhoods that are exposed to tsunami risk. Each neighborhood leader would then tweet the detailed route to citizens that follow the tweet. The proposed has potential to support evacuation strategies and real-time guidance of communities at risk during disaster.
Impact of Winter SST Anomalies on Eastern Seaboard Summer Surface Wind Variations

Abstract: The direction of summer winds plays a key role in a wide array of physical and biological processes. Using a 60-year time series of winds observed at ten stations along the US East Coast, we demonstrate how the large-scale variability in inter-annual summer wind direction is linked to climatological forcing. Using NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data, we have documented that the prevalence of winds from the south along the majority of the Eastern Seaboard is related to subtle shifts in the location and intensity of the Bermuda High. When the Bermuda High intensifies, and builds northwest over New England, we observe high directional-constancy with winds out of the south. In contrast, during summers where the Bermuda High is weaker over New England, more variable winds become common. The large-scale variability of the Bermuda High is linked to SST anomalies from the previous winter. We propose a mechanism by which cold winter SST anomalies intensify the Bermuda High during the following summer favoring winds from the south, while warm winter SST anomalies limit the northwest expansion of the summer Bermuda High, reducing the occurrence of winds from the south. There is a statistically-significant correlation between winter SST anomalies and December-January Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI). 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting, Feb. 23 Session 099 Poster ID: B1476
Photochemical Reactivity of Sr2Nb2O7 and Sr2Ta2O7 as a Function of Surface Orientation

Sr2Nb2O7 and Sr2Ta2O7 have a (110) layered perovskite structure and are efficient photolysis catalysts. Aqueous silver and lead cations were photochemically reduced and oxidized, respectively, on the surfaces of Sr2Nb2O7 and Sr2Ta2O7 crystals with a wide range of orientations. Atomic force microscopy has been used to observe the distribution of photochemically reduced and oxidized products and determine the orientation dependence of the reactivity. On surfaces with the same orientation, reaction products frequently had a non-uniform distribution. The reactivity of both compounds proved to be only weakly anisotropic, with the highest relative reactivity for both oxidation and reduction occurring for surfaces oriented between (010), (110), and (011). These low index orientations have structures similar to the ideal {110} and {100} planes in the perovskite structure, respectively. The relationship of the perovskite structure to the reactivity is discussed.
Interspecific Adoption of Orphaned Nests by Polistes Paper Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

—Two occurrences are described in which a Polistes paper wasp of one species took up residence on a nest built by and containing the brood of a different Polistes species. These observations are placed in the context of previous reports of shared nesting, intraspecific and interspecific nest usurpation, and intraspecific and interspecific adoption of orphaned nests. These observations suggest a scenario for the possible origin of social parasitism in Polistes. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Roy Snelling’s first publication (Snelling 1952) reports observations that apparently were made in the nesting season of 1950 and in non-nesting seasons that could have been even earlier. His short note is given here in its entirety. NOTES ON NESTING AND HIBERNATION OF POLISTES (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Robert [sic] Snelling
What Controls the Hybridization Thermodynamics of Spherical Nucleic Acids

The hybridization of free oligonucleotides to densely packed, oriented arrays of DNA modifying the surfaces of spherical nucleic acid (SNA)–gold nanoparticle conjugates occurs with negative cooperativity; i.e., each binding event destabilizes subsequent binding events. DNA hybridization is thus an ever-changing function of the number of strands already hybridized to the particle. Thermodynamic quantification of this behavior reveals a 3 orders of magnitude decrease in the binding constant for the capture of a free oligonucleotide by an SNA conjugate as the fraction of pre-hybridized strands increases from 0 to ∼30%. Increasing the number of pre-hybridized strands imparts an increasing enthalpic penalty to hybridization that makes binding more difficult, while simultaneously decreasing the entropic penalty to hybridization, which makes binding more favorable. Hybridization of free DNA to an SNA is thus governed by both an electrostatic barrier as the SNA accumulates charge with additional binding events an...
Hrem In Situ Annealing of the CdTe/GaAs Heterojunction

This paper describes the application of high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) to the determination of phase diagrams. Using a heating holder in a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), the chemical stability of a CdTe/GaAs interface is confirmed, as predicted by the Ga-As-Cd-Te quaternary phase diagram. Crisp, near-atomic-resolution video imaging is obtained at an annealing temperature of 500°C. Not only are the above results in complete agreement with ex situ annealing of the CdTe/GaAs heterojunction, but also direct observations of dynamic events occuring at the atomic level are recorded in real-time. Sublimation at the edge of a CdTe {111} thin film occurs via a ledge mechanism. Instead of a steady progression of this solid-vapor reaction, one obtains a real-time impression of dynamic equilibrium between vaporization and recondensation as atoms from the surface disappear and reappear several times before their ultimate removal.
Sampling Properties of the Median of a Laplace Distribution

The distribution functions of the maximum-likelihood estimators of the parameters μ and λ of the Laplace distribution have been obtained. The distribution of μ is seen to be a superposition of a se...
Abstract 1408: The insulin-like growth factor receptor I and Pyk2 kinase are up-regulated in urothelial carcinomas and promote motility and invasion of urothelial carcinoma-derived cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The insulin-like growth factor receptor I (IGF-IR) plays an essential role in transformation by promoting cell growth and protecting cancer cells from apoptosis. We have recently demonstrated that the IGF-IR is overexpressed in invasive bladder cancer tissues and promotes motility and invasion of urothelial-carcinoma-derived cells. Significantly, IGF-IR activation did not affected cell proliferation, suggesting that the IGF-IR may play a more prominent role in promoting the transition to the invasive phenotype in bladder cancer. In this study we demonstrated by immunohistochemical analysis that the IGF-IR expression increased with grade in bladder cancer tissues compared to non-malignant controls. Increased IGF-IR expression in non-tumorigenic T24 urothelial carcinoma cells promoted anchorage independent growth, while targeting of endogenous IGF-IR by shRNA approaches in metastatic T24T cells inhibited colony formation in soft-agar. We also discovered that the focal adhesion protein Pyk2 kinase is activated by IGF-I in urothelial carcinoma-derived cells. Using siRNA approaches, we demonstrated that Pyk2 is critical for IGF-IR-dependent motility and invasion of urothelial cancer cells. In addition, Pyk 2 is critical for IGF-I-dependent activation of the Akt and MAPK pathways, which are critical in the regulation of motility and invasion. Using immunofluorescence and AQUA (Automated Quantitative Analysis) analysis we also discovered that Pyk2 is overexpressed in bladder cancer tissues compared to normal tissue controls. In urothelial carcinoma-derived tissues there is also increased Pyk2 localization in the nucleus compared to normal tissue controls. Our results provide the first evidence for a role of the IGF-IR and Pyk2 in motility and invasion of bladder cancer cells, and support the hypothesis that the IGF-IR and Pyk2 may play a critical role in the establishment of the invasive phenotype in urothelial neoplasia. The IGF-IR and Pyk2 could represent novel molecular targets in bladder cancer and could also serve as a novel tumor biomarkers for diagnosis and possibly prognosis of bladder tumors. This work has been supported by the Benjamin Perkins Bladder Cancer Fund, the Martin Greitzer Fund and National Institutes of Health Grants RO1 DK068419 (A.M.) and RO1 CA39481 and RO1 CA047282 (R.V.I.). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1408. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1408
Structural and Thermodynamic Properties of the CmIII Ion Solvated by Water and Methanol

The geometric and electronic structures of the 9-coordinate Cm3+ ion solvated with both water and methanol are systematically investigated in the gas phase at each possible solvent-shell composition and configuration using density functional theory and second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are employed to assess the effects of second and third solvent shells on the gas-phase structure. The ion–solvent dissociation energy for methanol is greater than that of water, potentially because of increased charge donation to the ion made possible by the electron-rich methyl group. Further, the ion–solvent dissociation energy and the ion–solvent distance are shown to be dependent on the solvent-shell composition. This has implications for solvent exchange, which is generally the rate-limiting step in complexation reactions utilized in the separation of curium from complex metal mixtures that derive from the advanced nuclear fuel cycle.
Educating tomorrow’s media workers: television instruction at American institutions of higher learning, 1945–1960

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the rise of programs in television instruction in the USA during broadcasting’s postwar expansion period. Beginning in professional schools, television training entered the university first through extension school courses, then in full degree programs. This transition to institutions of higher learning entailed key shifts in demographics, pedagogical orientation, and legitimation strategies, while embroiling television in larger struggles over the shifting boundaries of the postwar humanities. Studying the education of early television workers, I argue, raises key questions about processes of worker professionalization vital for developing research on media industries and media labor.
Intellectual Property Protection for Biologics: Why the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Agreement Fails to Deliver

Biopharmaceutical research and development is overwhelmingly focused in the U.S. becasue here it is incentivized and encouraged through a robust intellectual property rights protection environment.Â Across the board, the United States provides the most comprehensive, effective intellectual property rights protections for biopharmaceuticals.Â As a result, the industry locates here, researches here, and thrives here.Â With an acknowledgement of the importance of intellectual property rights as well as the wider benefits of biopharmaceutical research and development, it's tremendously disappointing that the recently negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Agreement fails to deliver sufficient IP protections for biologics.Â This article explores the importance of a rigorous intellectual property environemtn for the biopharmaceutical industry through an examination of the importance of data exclusivity provisions.Â Such protection is critical as the number, complexity and cost of clinical trials increases.Â Technology inevitably evolves faster than the legal architecture that surrounds it.Â As technology evolves, making the development of new biologic vaccines and therapies possible, society's commitment to incentivize innovation and protect it must be enshrined in the intellectual property protections of agreements such as the TPP.
Study of MMFI Based on Parameters Adjustable Interpolation Function

The modeling method based on fuzzy inference (MMFI) is applied to first-order nonlinear system which interpolation function is once determined,the object model shall be determined. Because different systems apply different interpolation functions,the reestablishment of the system model is necessary,if you need other interpolation function to create the system model. Here a class of parameters adjustable interpolation function is propose. By changing the parameters,thereby changing the shape of the function,and finally obtain a more applicable model framework.
Cyst fluid telomerase activity predicts the histologic grade of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas

Purpose: Pancreatic cysts frequently pose clinical dilemmas. On one hand, cysts with high-grade dysplasia offer opportunities for cure, on the other hand, those with low-grade dysplasia are easily over treated. Cyst fluid markers have the potential to improve the evaluation of these cysts. Because telomerase activity is commonly activated in malignant cells, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of cyst fluid telomerase activity measurements for predicting histologic grade. Experimental Design: Telomerase activity was measured using telomerase repeat amplification with digital-droplet PCR in surgically aspirated cyst fluid samples from 219 patients who underwent pancreatic resection for a cystic lesion (184 discovery, 35 validation) and 36 patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration. Methodologic and clinical factors associated with telomerase activity were examined. Results: Telomerase activity was reduced in samples that had undergone prior thawing. Among 119 samples not previously thawed, surgical cyst fluids from cystic neoplasms with high-grade dysplasia ± associated invasive cancer had higher telomerase activity [median (interquartile range), 1,158 (295.9–13,033)] copies/μL of cyst fluid than those without [19.74 (2.58–233.6) copies/μL; P < 0.001)]. Elevated cyst fluid telomerase activity had a diagnostic accuracy for invasive cancer/high-grade dysplasia of 88.1% (discovery), 88.6% (validation), and 88.2% (merged). Among cysts classified preoperatively as having “worrisome features,” cyst fluid telomerase activity had high diagnostic performance (sensitivity 73.7%, specificity 90.6%, accuracy, 86.1%). In multivariate analysis, telomerase activity independently predicted the presence of invasive cancer/high-grade dysplasia. Conclusions: Cyst fluid telomerase activity can be a useful predictor of the neoplastic grade of pancreatic cysts. Clin Cancer Res; 22(20); 1–11. ©2016 AACR. See related commentary by Allen et al., p. 4966
Colloidal Consolidation and Sintering Behavior of CVD-Processed Mullite Powders

Sintering behavior and micro structural evolution of colloidally consolidated mullite compacts formed with CVD-processed powders were investigated at temperatures up to 1600°C. We show that the pore size distribution of the compacts plays the most crucial role on the densification behavior during sintering. Factors that affect the pore size distribution were identified as: (i) the degree of dispersion in the colloidal suspension stage, (ii) the structure of the particle clusters that form during casting as affected by the type of dispersant and the forming technique used3 and (iii) the physical characteristics of the powder. When the pore size distribution approached a mono size state, compacts could be densified to relative densities above 97% by sintering at 1500–1600°C for 2 hours. Pore size distribution in the green compact was correlated to the densification behavior. Average grain size of mullite sintered at 1600°C ranged from 0.36 to 0.72 µm.
Coverage of Hand Injuries

SUMMARY The complexity of the hand necessitates careful assessment of an injury. Wound coverage requires careful appraisal o f the tissue available for coverage and consideration of its functional and cosmetic aspects. The simplest yet most appropriate flap should be chosen. Local flaps can cover many wounds. Larger wounds may require significant debridement, which should be performed early using the pseudotumor technique. Free flap coverage is then indicated and should be completed within 3 days of injury if no extenuating circumstances exist.
Adjuncts to Wound Healing for Abdominal Wall Wounds

This is an overview of general wound healing and how this applies to abdominal wounds. We introduce the difference between acute and chronic wounds of the abdominal wall, and how management of each type varies. We then introduce our approach and timing for safe surgical debridement paired with negative pressure wound therapy. We then discuss the local wound care options that are used commonly in our practice. We have included several images to guide surgical debridement, followed by case examples of wounds treated in our practice.
A proposal for more sophisticated normative principles in introductory economics

Introductory textbooks teach a simple normative story about the importance of maximizing economic surplus that supports common policy claims. There is little defense of the claim that maximizing surplus is normatively important, which is not obvious to non-economists. Difficulties with the claim that society should maximize surplus are generally not addressed. Economists are thus frequently criticized by non-economists for having a poor moral foundation for our normative claims. We should tell a more sophisticated normative story that justifies the moral importance of surplus, but acknowledges that other moral values may conflict with generating surplus and that distribution is not always separable from efficiency. This would allow students to make more compelling arguments in favor of normative positions they accept, regardless of the values they hold.
Technology viable DC performance elements for Si/SiGe channel CMOS FinFTT

Low Ge content SiGe-based CMOS FinFET is one of the promising technologies [1-2] offering solutions for both high performance and low power applications. In this paper, we established a competitive SiGe-based CMOS FinFET baseline and examined various elements for high performance offering. The performance elements in gate stack, channel doping, contact resistance, and junction have been explored to provide a cumulative 20% / 25% (n/pFET) performance enhancement. These elements provide a viable path towards performance enhancement for future technology nodes.