cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genus distributions of graphs constructed through amalgamations

Graphs are commonly represented as points in space connected by lines. The points in space are the vertices of the graph, and the lines joining them are the edges of the graph. A general definition of a graph is considered here, where multiple edges are allowed between two vertices and an edge is permitted to connect a vertex to itself. It is assumed that graphs are connected, i.e., any vertex in the graph is reachable from another distinct vertex either directly through an edge connecting them or by a path consisting of intermediate vertices and connecting edges. Under this visual representation, graphs can be drawn on various surfaces. The focus of my research is restricted to a class of surfaces that are characterized as compact connected orientable 2-manifolds. The drawings of graphs on surfaces that are of primary interest follow certain prescribed rules. These are called 2-cellular graph embeddings, or simply embeddings. A well-known closed formula makes it easy to enumerate the total number of 2-cellular embeddings for a given graph over all surfaces. A much harder task is to give a surface-wise breakdown of this number as a sequence of numbers that count the number of 2-cellular embeddings of a graph for each orientable surface. This sequence of numbers for a graph is known as the genus distribution of a graph. Prior research on genus distributions of graphs has primarily focused on making calculations of genus distributions for specific families of graphs. These families of graphs have often been contrived, and the methods used for finding their genus distributions have not been general enough to extend to other graph families. The research I have undertaken aims at developing and using a general method that frames the problem of calculating genus distributions of large graphs in terms of a partitioning of the genus distributions of smaller graphs. To this end, I use various operations such as edge-amalgamation , self-edge-amalgamation, and vertex-amalgamation to construct large graphs out of smaller graphs, by coupling their vertices and edges together in certain consistent ways. This method assumes that the partitioned genus distribution of the smaller graphs is known or is easily calculable by computer, for instance, by using the famous Heffter-Edmonds algorithm. As an outcome of the techniques used, I obtain general recurrences and closed-formulas that give genus distributions for infinitely many recursively specifiable graph families. I also give an easily understood method for finding non-trivial examples of distinct graphs having the same genus distribution. In addition to this, I describe an algorithm that computes the genus distributions for a family of graphs known as the 4-regular outerplanar graphs.
Mechanisms for accessing insoluble Fe(III) oxide during dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction by Geothrix fermentans.

Mechanisms for Fe(III) oxide reduction were investigated in Geothrix fermentans, a dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing microorganism found within the Fe(III) reduction zone of subsurface environments. Culture filtrates of G. fermentans stimulated the reduction of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide by washed cell suspensions, suggesting that G. fermentans released one or more extracellular compounds that promoted Fe(III) oxide reduction. In order to determine if G. fermentans released electron-shuttling compounds, poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide was incorporated into microporous alginate beads, which prevented contact between G. fermentans and the Fe(III) oxide. G. fermentans reduced the Fe(III) within the beads, suggesting that one of the compounds that G. fermentans releases is an electron-shuttling compound that can transfer electrons from the cell to Fe(III) oxide that is not in contact with the organism. Analysis of culture filtrates by thin-layer chromatography suggested that the electron shuttle has characteristics similar to those of a water-soluble quinone. Analysis of filtrates by ion chromatography demonstrated that there was as much as 250 μM dissolved Fe(III) in cultures of G. fermentans growing with Fe(III) oxide as the electron acceptor, suggesting that G. fermentans released one or more compounds capable of chelating and solubilizing Fe(III). Solubilizing Fe(III) is another strategy for alleviating the need for contact between cells and Fe(III) oxide for Fe(III) reduction. This is the first demonstration of a microorganism that, in defined medium without added electron shuttles or chelators, can reduce Fe(III) derived from Fe(III) oxide without directly contacting the Fe(III) oxide. These results are in marked contrast to those with Geobacter metallireducens, which does not produce electron shuttles or Fe(III) chelators. These results demonstrate that phylogenetically distinct Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms may use significantly different strategies for Fe(III) reduction. Thus, it is important to know which Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms predominate in a given environment in order to understand the mechanisms for Fe(III) reduction in the environment of interest.
Effects of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 and the mGluR5 antagonist MPEP on handling-induced convulsions during ethanol withdrawal in mice

In alcoholic patients, ethanol is often consumed in a repeated cyclic pattern of intoxication followed by abstinence and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms. Repeated cycles of ethanol intoxication and withdrawal lead to a sensitization of central nervous system hyperexcitability as a result of an imbalance between inhibitory GABAergic transmission and excitatory glutamatergic transmission. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are usually treated pharmacologically with either benzodiazepines or anticonvulsant medications. However, recent evidence suggests that inhibition of glutamate transmission by stimulation of presynaptic inhibitory metabotropic glutamate receptors (i.e., mGluR2/3 receptors) or inhibition of mGluR5 receptors produces anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the effects the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 and the mGluR5 antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP) on ethanol withdrawal-induced seizure activity. Adult male C3H/He mice received chronic 16 h of ethanol vapor exposure in inhalation chambers followed by 8 h of withdrawal daily for 4 consecutive days. During the final (fourth) withdrawal cycle, mice were evaluated hourly for handling-induced convulsions (HIC), and were treated with vehicle, LY379268 (0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg) or MPEP (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) treatment at 4 and 8 h into withdrawal. Significant reductions in overall HIC activity were not observed following administration of either compound. These results suggest that inhibition of glutamate transmission by mGluR2/3 agonists or mGluR5 antagonists does not alter HIC activity during withdrawal from repeated ethanol exposure, and as such these compounds may have limited usefulness in the treatment of central nervous system hyperexcitability during alcohol withdrawal.
Atrioventricular junctional rhythm in patients receiving oral verapamil therapy

Six patients had frequent episodes of atrioventricular junctional rhythm during long-term oral verapamil therapy. In no instance was this rhythm associated with symptoms or adverse effects, nor did it force a discontinuation of therapy or a reduction in verapamil dosage. In the patient receiving oral verapamil therapy, atrioventricular junctional rhythm should not be considered a manifestation of drug toxicity. ( JAMA 1983;249:389-390)
Optimal allocation of multi-platform sensor resources for multiple target tracking

This paper presents graph algorithms for computation of the exact optimal solution of the Radar Resources Distribution Problem. These algorithms can be applied for single and multiple vehicles on a target field and for single and multiple target tracking. This problem involves the computation of the optimal flight paths for a number of observing vehicles (aircrafts or UAV) on a target field for radar observations of multiple targets (or track clusters for multi-target trackers). Each vehicle had restricted resources of time or fuel and fixed start and finish position. Each target or cluster was assigned a priority and position on the target field. Optimization criteria were: maximize number of observed targets or clusters with highest priorities for all vehicles on target field with the constraint that each target could be observed by only one vehicle. The exact optimal solution was found as the result of a fixed number of iteration steps on a multi-level tree, which represents the full partially-oriented graph of flight paths with time-weighted connectivity matrix and priority-weighted vertices. The algorithms are designed to work in real-time: optimal flight paths are recalculated for each vehicle each time that the situation on the target field changes — targets or tracks can be added, removed, moved or their priorities and positions can be changed. These algorithms can be applied for stationary and moving targets, as well as for combinations of ground and airborne targets. Separate algorithms were designed for cases of single and multiple vehicles on the target field. Each target can be observed by a vehicle once or several times during flight path. Algorithms can be applied for single and for multiple-target tracker radars. Closely spaced targets or tracks can be grouped in clusters to speed up computations. Also, for multiple targets tracking of ground targets these algorithms can be applied for computation of optimal flight path to cover intersections with high numbers of track ambiguities. The same algorithms can be applied for the Combat Management Problem: to optimize flight paths of vehicles (aircraft or UAV) on the combat field to distribute troops, weapons, and ammunition to different areas of the combat field with different priorities. The algorithms were implemented in C-code. Results are shown to illustrate the methods.
A Preservice Mainstream Curriculum Infusion Model: Student Teachers' Perceptions of Program Effectiveness.

This study investigated the perceptions of student teachers completing a preservice teacher education program that has relied on the curriculum infusion model to prepare regular classroom teachers for mainstreaming. Participants rated the extent to which mainstream curriculum had been covered in their courses, their own current knowledge of the curriculum, and their confidence in teaching handicapped students. Contact with handicapped learners during student teaching was also reported and responses to an open-ended question were solicited. Results indicate that participants perceived both the coverage of mainstream curriculum and their own knowledge as less than adequate. Contact with handicapped learners was also less than anticipated. Implications are discussed and recommendations are made for programs that rely on curriculum infusion to prepare regular classroom teachers for mainstreaming.
Moral Economy and the Upper Peasant: The Dynamics of Land Privatization in the Mekong Delta

This paper examines how people mobilize around notions of distributive justice, or ‘moral economies’, to make claims to resources, using the process of post-socialist land privatization in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam as a case study. First, I argue that the region’s history of settlement, production and political struggle helped to entrench certain normative beliefs around landownership, most notably in its population of semicommercial upper peasants. I then detail the ways in which these upper peasants mobilized around notions of distributive justice to successfully press demands for land restitution in the late 1980s, drawing on Vietnamese newspapers and other sources to construct case studies of local land conflicts. Finally, I argue that the successful mobilization of the upper peasants around such a moral economy has helped, over the past two decades, to facilitate the re-emergence of agrarian capitalism in the Mekong Delta, in contrast to other regions in Vietnam.
Improving Online Performance Diagnosis by the Use of Historical Performance Data

Accurate performance diagnosis of parallel and distributed programs is a difficult and time-consuming task. We describe a new technique that uses historical performance data, gathered in previous executions of an application, to increase the effectiveness of automated performance diagnosis. We incorporate several different types of historical knowledge about the applications performance into an existing profiling tool, the Paradyn Parallel Performance Tool. We gather performance and structural data from previous executions of the same program, extract knowledge useful for diagnosis from this collection of data in the form of search directives, then input the directives to an enhanced version of Paradyn, which conducts a directed online diagnosis. Compared to existing approaches, incorporating historical data shortens the time required to identify bottlenecks, decreases the amount of unhelpful instrumentation, and improves the usefulness of the information obtained from a diagnostic session.
Growth Incentives to Invest in a Network Externality Environment

Firms that operate in the telecommunications industry often have to make large and risky investments in digital infrastructure. This paper examines how firm size affects the incentive to invest in infrastructure projects in industry environments that incur substantial network externalities. We suggest that, in the presence of network externalities, a firm's rate of growth first declines and then increases with the size of its user base. An implication of this result is that firms may benefit from making investments in emerging digital infrastructure early enough to achieve a substantial user base and to gain that user base before other firms' investments pre-empt them. The results mean that firms that undertake earlier successful investment may achieve preemption very quickly. The sources of network externalities contribute to the incidence of strategic alliances in network industries, particularly when coupled with the pressures of technical uncertainty. Copyright 1998 by Oxford University Press.
Short-Term Traffic Flow Forecasting for Freeway Incident-Induced Delay Estimation

Freeway incidents not only threaten travelers’ safety but also cause severe congestion. Incident-induced delay (IID) refers to the extra travel delay resulting from incidents on top of the recurrent congestion. Quantifying IID would help people better understand the real cost of incidents, maximize the benefit-cost ratio of investment on incident remedy actions, and develop active traffic management and integrated corridor management strategies. By combining a modified queuing diagram and short-term traffic flow forecasting techniques, this study proposes an approach to estimate the temporal IID for a roadway section, given that the incidents occurs between two traffic flow detectors. The approach separates IID from the total travel delay, estimates IID for each individual incident, and only takes volume as input for IID quantification, avoiding using speed data that are widely involved in previous algorithms yet are less available or prone to poor data quality. Therefore, this approach can be easily deployed to broader ranges where only volume data are available. To verify its estimation accuracy, this study captures two incident videos and extracts ground-truth IID data, which is rarely done by previous studies. The verification shows that the IID estimation errors of the proposed approach are within 6% for both cases. The approach has been implemented in a Web-based system, which enables quick, convenient, and reliable freeway IID estimation in the Puget Sound region in the state of Washington.
sMonitor: a non-intrusive client-perceived end-to-end performance monitor of secured internet services

End-to-end performance measurement is fundamental to building high-performance Internet services. While many Internet services often operate using HTTP over SSL/TLS, current monitors are limited to plaintext HTTP services. This paper presents sMonitor, a non-intrusive server-side end-to-end performance monitor that can monitor HTTPS services. The monitor passively collects live packet traces from a server site. It then uses a size-based analysis method on HTTP requests to infer characteristics of client accesses and measures client-perceived pageview response time in real time. We designed and implemented a prototype of sMonitor. Preliminary evaluations show measurement error of less than 5%.
Evaluating goodness of fit in nonlinear recreation demand models

Abstract Translation bias, rotation bias, and dispersion components of mean‐square error are used to construct standardized measures of agreement between predictions and observations for any model. They are simple but useful measures for evaluating goodness of fit in recreation demand models that violate the restrictive assumptions of linear regression.
Effect of Body Size, Ponderosity, and Blood Pressure on Left Ventricular Growth in Children and Young Adults in the Bogalusa Heart Study

Background The measurement of left ventricular mass (LVM) is important because individuals with increased LVM are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. There are limited longitudinal data on the acquisition of LVM in children and young adults and the relative importance of sex, growth, excess body weight, and blood pressure (BP) on change in LVM. Methods and Results The study cohort consisted of a cross section of 160 healthy children and young adults 9 to 22 years of age at first exam in the biracial community of Bogalusa, La. All had stable BP levels recorded over a 2- to 3-year period. Repeated examinations were performed 4 to 5 years apart. At each exam, 6 BPs were obtained with a mercury sphygmomanometer by trained examiners. The mean of the observations was used, with the fourth Korotkoff phase serving as the measure of diastolic BP. Anthropometric data, including height (HT), weight (WT), and triceps skin fold thickness (TSF), w...
Temperature, pressure, and electrochemical constraints on protein speciation: Group additivity calculation of the standard molal thermodynamic properties of ionized unfolded proteins

Abstract. Thermodynamic calculations can be used to quantify environmental constraints on the speciation of proteins, such as the pH and temperature dependence of ionization state, and the relative chemical stabilities of proteins in different biogeochemical settings. These calculations depend in part on values of the standard molal Gibbs energies of proteins and their ionization reactions as a function of temperature and pressure. Because these values are not generally available, we calculated values of the standard molal thermodynamic properties at 25°C and 1 bar as well as the revised Helgeson-Kirkham-Flowers equations of state parameters of neutral and charged zwitterionic reference model compounds including aqueous amino acids, polypeptides, and unfolded proteins. The experimental calorimetric and volumetric data for these species taken from the literature were combined with group additivity algorithms to calculate the properties and parameters of neutral and ionized sidechain and backbone groups in unfolded proteins. The resulting set of group contributions enables the calculation of the standard molal Gibbs energy, enthalpy, entropy, isobaric heat capacity, volume, and isothermal compressibility of unfolded proteins in a range of proton ionization states to temperatures and pressures exceeding 100°C and 1000 bar. This approach provides a useful frame of reference for thermodynamic studies of protein folding and complexation reactions. It can also be used to assign provisional values of the net charge and Gibbs energy of ionized proteins as a function of temperature and pH. Using these values, an Eh-pH diagram for a reaction representing the speciation of extracellular proteins from Pyrococcus furiosus and Bacillus subtilis was generated. The predicted predominance limits of these proteins correspond with the different electrochemical conditions of hydrothermal vents and soils. More comprehensive calculations of this kind may reveal pervasive chemical potential constraints on the interactions of microbes with their environment.
Structure, Culture, and Lethality: An Integrated Model Approach to American Indian Suicide and Homicide

Investigations of lethal violence in the United States have primarily focused on Whites and/or African Americans, generally ignoring American Indians. Interestingly, statistics indicate that homicide and suicide rates among American Indians are often higher than other racial/ethnic groups within the United States. In an attempt to understand these lethal violence patterns, the current study utilizes the integrated model of suicide and homicide to investigate the structural and cultural factors that contribute to the production and/or direction of American Indian lethal violence. Using data from the Indian Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Census Bureau, a modified lethal violence count (LVC) is used to examine the production of lethal violence among American Indians within U.S. counties as well as the suicide—homicide ratio (SHR) to unravel the etiological underpinnings of lethal violence. Findings indicate partial support for the integrated model with economic conditions and family disruption influencing these patterns of lethal violence.
Sources of error and confidence intervals in estimating the age of angiosperms from rbcL and 18S rDNA data.

Molecular estimates of the age of angiosperms have varied widely, and many greatly predate the Early Cretaceous appearance of angiosperms in the fossil record, but there have been few attempts to assess confidence limits on ages. Experiments with rbcL and 18S data using maximum likelihood suggest that previous angiosperm age estimates were too old because they assumed equal rates across sites—use of a gamma distribution of rates to correct for site-to-site variation gives 10‐30 my (million years) younger ages— and relied on herbaceous angiosperm taxa with high rates of molecular evolution. Ages based on first and second codon positions of rbcL are markedly older than those based on third positions, which conflict with the fossil record in being too young, but all examined data partitions of rbcL and 18S depart substantially from a molecular clock. Age estimates are surprisingly insensitive to different views on seed-plant relationships. Randomization schemes were used to quantify confidence intervals due to phylogenetic uncertainty, substitutional noise, and lineage effects (deviations from a molecular clock). Estimates of the age of crown-group angiosperms range from 68 to 281 mya (million years ago), depending on data, tree, and assumptions, with most ;140‐190 mya (Early Jurassic‐earliest Cretaceous). Approximate 95% confidence intervals on ages are wider for rbcL than 18S, ranging up to 160 my for phylogenetic uncertainty, 90 my for substitutional noise, and 70 my for lineage effects. These intervals overlap the oldest occurrences of angiosperms in the fossil record, as well as some estimates from previous molecular studies.
Insecticidal management and movement of the brown stink bug, Euschistus servus, in corn.

In eastern North Carolina, some brown stink bugs, Euschistus servus (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are suspected to pass the F1 generation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Poales: Poaceae) before moving into corn (Zea mays L.) (Poales: Poaceae). These pests can injure corn ears as they develop. To test their effectiveness as a management tactic, pyrethroids were aerially applied to field corn in two experiments, one with 0.77 ha plots and another with 85 ha plots. Euschistus servus population abundance was monitored over time in both experiments and yield was assessed in the larger of the two experiments. In the smaller experiment, the populations were spatially monitored in a 6.3 ha area of corn adjacent to a recently harvested wheat field (352 sampling points of 6.1 row-meters in all but the first sampling event). Overall E. servus abundance decreased throughout the monitoring period in the sampling area of the smaller experiment, but remained unchanged over time in the large-scale experiment. During all sampling periods in both experiments, abundance was the same between treatments. Yield was unaffected by treatment where it was measured in the larger experiment. In the smaller experiment, E. servus were initially aggregated at the field edge of the corn (two, six and 13 days following the wheat harvest). Sixteen days following the wheat harvest they were randomly distributed in the corn. Although it was not directly measured, stink bugs are suspected to move the cornfield edge as a result of the adjacent wheat harvest. More study of the biology of E. servus is needed, specifically in the area of host preference, phenology and movement to explain these phenomena and to produce better management strategies for these pests.
Phylogenetic Analyses of Timmiaceae (Bryophyta: Musci) Based on Nuclear and Chloroplast Sequence Data

Nuclear ribosomal (26S) and chloroplast (trnL-trnF and atpB-rbcL spacer) genomic regions were sequenced from 29 exemplars of Timmiaceae and five outgroup taxa. Phylogenetic hypotheses were tested from analyses of the individual regions and a combined dataset, using both parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. Estimates of branch support were established using bootstrap analyses and Bayesian posterior probabilities. The analyses were used to test the monophyly of the species and the relationships among taxa in Timmiaceae, previously based on morphology. Phylogenetic inferences suggest that Timmia austriaca, T. megapolitana s.s., T. megapolitana subsp. bavarica, and section Norvegica represent monophyletic taxa. Timmia norvegica s.s., T. norvegica var. excurrens, and T. sibirica were non-monophyletic, but together form a single clade. We, therefore, recommend recognizing them as a single taxon, T. norvegica. A key to the taxa is presented.
SMT: An interface for localized storm surge modeling

Abstract The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina (2005), Ike (2008), and Sandy (2012) in recent years continues to underscore the need for better prediction and preparation in the face of storm surge and rising sea levels. Simulations of coastal flooding using physically based hydrodynamic codes like ADCIRC, while very accurate, are also computationally expensive, making them impractical for iterative design scenarios that seek to evaluate a range of countermeasures and possible failure points. We present a graphical user interface that supports local analysis of engineering design alternatives based on an exact reanalysis technique called subdomain modeling, an approach that substantially reduces the computational effort required. This interface, called the Subdomain Modeling Tool (SMT), streamlines the pre- and post-processing requirements of subdomain modeling by allowing modelers to extract regions of interest interactively and by organizing project data on the file system. Software design and implementation issues that make the approach practical, such as a novel range search algorithm, are presented. Descriptions of the overall methodology, software architecture, and performance results are given, along with a case study demonstrating its use.
Quantitative Study of Photovoltaic Arrays in the Pacific Northwest: Analyzing a Photovoltaic System in Portland Oregon

This paper describes a quantitative study conducted on the performance of the photovoltaic (PV) system at the University of Portland in Oregon. The objective of the study was to compare the performance to other PV systems in the Pacific Northwest. Data collected over a span of two years was used to determine the maximum and minimum energy production days of the year, to generate average monthly performance and annual energy plots, to observe correlation between outside temperature and the photovoltaic system performance, and to compare actual performance of the system to the expected performance. The greatest energy production day was found to be July 11, 2013 with total energy production of about 35 kWh. The minimum energy production day was found to be January 16, 2013 with total energy production of about 1 kWh. According to initial calculations and analysis, the actual performance of the photovoltaic system reaches an efficiency of around 12.3%. Expected system performance was listed at an estimated rating of 14.9%, indicating a slight reduction from expected performance. From the analysis conducted, the photovoltaic system has been found to be performing close to expectations. Continued analysis of the system will allow for further comparison to other PV systems in the Pacific Northwest.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF LETHALLY IRRADIATED DOGS GIVEN HOMOGRAFTS OF BONE MARROW.

Chemical, hematologic, biochemical, immunologic and pathologic data are presented in a group of 15 dogs that survived lethal total body radiation, 1200-1800 r, and a transplant of allogeneic marrow for periods ranging from 5 months to 4 years.
Non-focal liver signal abnormalities on hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MR imaging: a review and differential diagnosis

Gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) is a linear, non-ionic paramagnetic MR contrast agent with combined extracellular and hepatobiliary properties commonly used for several liver indications. Although gadoxetate disodium is commonly used for detection and characterization of focal lesions, a spectrum of diffuse disease processes can affect the hepatobiliary phase of imaging (i.e., when contrast accumulates within the hepatocytes). Non-focal signal abnormalities during the hepatobiliary phase can be seen with multiple disease processes such as deposition disorders, infiltrating tumors, vascular diseases, and post-treatment changes. The purpose of this paper is to review the different processes which result in non-focal signal alteration during the hepatobiliary phase and to describe imaging patterns that may order a differential diagnosis and facilitate patient management.
Au-Catalysed oxidative cyclisation

The two main strategies of gold-catalysed oxidative cyclisation are discussed in this tutorial. The first one employs nucleophilic oxidants as either internal or external nucleophiles. The inherently weak O-heteroatom bond in the oxidant enables the versatile reactivities of the initial gold-promoted adduct of the oxidant to alkyne, including its fragmentation into a highly reactive α-oxo gold carbene intermediate. The second features external oxidant-powered Au(i)/Au(iii) catalysis, where the metal oxidation state changes during the catalytic cycle. These strategies have been applied toward the development of a variety of valuable synthetic transformations.
Hierarchically porous titania thin film prepared by controlled phase separation and surfactant templating

Poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) of moderately high molecular weight (Mn = 3500 Da) exhibits amphibious behavior in aqueous solution in that it is hydrophilic at low temperature but hydrophobic at high temperature. This property is utilized to generate porous titania thin films with a hierarchical structure consisting of macroporous voids/cracks in films with mesoporous walls. The smaller mesopores result from the self-assembly of the Pluronic block copolymer P123 to form micellar templates in well-ordered arrays with hexagonal symmetry. The larger pores are generated from the phase separation of PPG during aging of the films. The PPG acts to a limited degree as a swelling agent for the P123 micelles, but because the films are aged at a low temperature where PPG is hydrophilic, much of the PPG remains in the polar titania phase. Upon heating, the PPG phase separates to form randomly dispersed, large pores throughout the film while retaining the ordered mesoporous P123-templated structure in the matrix of the ...
A comparative study of amniotic fluid, maternal sera and cord sera by disc electrophoresis.

Summary1) Individual amniotic fluid proteins were quantitated by means of disc elec-trophoresis and immunodiffusion techniques, and proteins of the amniotic fluid were compared to those found in maternal and fetal serum. 2) The findings indicate that the proteins of the amniotic fluid originate at least partly from maternal serum. 3) Selective ultrafiltration on the basis of molecular size cannot explain apparent inhibition of the passage of haptoglobins and IgA into the amniotic fluid. Some additional mechanism, other than simple filtration, must be active.The authors would like to thank Dr. William Flood, Dr. Curtis Flory and members of the Putnam Memorial Hospital delivery room staff for their unfailing help and assistance in obtaining specimens for this study. Gratitude is also expressed to Dr. R. Woodworth of the University of Vermont for supplying purified haptoglobin 1-1.
Floating Tire Breakwater Design Comparison

The design curves from two independent studies of the wave transmission and mooring force characteristics of Goodyear-type floating tire breakwaters are compared. The CERC wave transmission results from prototype scale tests and the mooring force results of Harms from model scale tests are recommended for use in design. Both wave transmission and mooring forces are seen to depend primarily on the ratio of wavelength to breakwater beam, and less importantly on the relative draft and the wave steepness. Differences between the results of the two studies are attributed to scale effects and to different methods of data analysis.
Vertical structure and contribution of different types of precipitation during Atlantic tropical cyclone formation as revealed by TRMM PR

Cloud evolution during tropical cyclogenesis was examined using the TRMM PR products from 3 days before to 1 day after genesis. Precipitation increases substantially within 36 h before genesis. Stratiform clouds, mid-level convection, and deep convection all contribute to the increasing precipitation. The contribution by stratiform precipitation is due to its increasing areal coverage, while its pixel rain rate changes little from Day −3 to Day +1. The contribution by mid-level and deep convections results from their increasing areal coverage and intensifying rain rates. Among the three types of convection, deep convection has the largest pixel rain rate, but mid-level convection occurs most frequently and makes the largest contribution to the total precipitation. The overall contribution by convective clouds, despite their low areal coverage, is comparable to that by stratiform precipitation. It is suggested that tropical cyclogenesis may be an outcome of the collective contribution by different precipitation types.
Adult Wilms’ Tumor

Wilms’ tumor or nephroblastoma is an embryonal cancer of the kidney that occurs primarily in children younger than 5 years. It is an extremely rare tumor among adults, with an incidence of less than 0.2 per million per year. Histologically, adult WT is similar to the childhood counterpart. Presence of anaplasia is a known adverse prognostic factor. It is associated with somatic mutations in tumor suppressor genes such as WT1, WTX, CTNNB-1, and TP53. Wilms’ tumor usually presents with abdominal or flank pain and is clinically indistinguishable from the more common adult malignant renal neoplasms such as renal cell carcinoma. Due to rarity of this tumor in adults, there are no firmly established treatment regimens. Over the years, the use of pediatric treatment protocols, which incorporate multidisciplinary care utilizing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, has made a significant impact in improving survival and prognosis in adults. Both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapies are considered reasonable for localized high-risk disease. Radiation is used to palliate symptoms from metastatic disease and occasionally to debulk localized tumors preoperatively. Chemotherapeutic agents used in combination are vincristine and actinomycin-D with the addition of doxorubicin for high-risk localized disease and for advanced stages as first-line therapy. Salvage chemotherapy consists of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide as single agents or combination therapy.
Common Statistical Pitfalls in Basic Science Research

The analysis of clinical samples, population samples, and controlled trials is typically subjected to rigorous statistical review. This fact is understandable, given that the results of clinical investigation will often be used to inform patient care or clinical decision making. One would not want
Developing Leadership Capacity in Others: An Examination of High School Principals’ Personal Capacities for Fostering Leadership

In this multisite case study, we examine the personal capacities of six high school principals who have developed the leadership capacities of other leaders in their respective schools. Participants were purposefully selected by two teams of researchers in two states of the United States, one on the east coast and one on the west coast, who engaged their professional networks of current and former educational leaders to obtain recommendations of high school principals known to develop the leadership capacities of formal and informal leaders in their schools. The findings indicate that the principals possessed a strong commitment to developing leadership capacity, understood leadership development as a process and tolerated risk. This study adds to the rapidly growing corpus of literature focused on distributed leaders by illustrating the complexities of developing leadership capacity in an attempt to increase organizational leadership capacity, and by highlighting the relevant characteristics of principals who have intentionally sought to do so.
An investigation of African American and European American students' perception of teaching behavior

Teaching behaviors are associated with a range of student academic and mental health outcomes. Substantial academic, school disciplinary, and mental health disparities across African American and European American students suggest that diverse students may view and interpret teaching behaviors differently. The Teaching Behavior Questionnaire measures students' perceptions of teaching behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to examine the scale's factor structure among European American high school students using exploratory factor analysis and, subsequently, cross-validate using confirmatory factor analysis based on African American student data. Results supported reconceptualizing the scale according to a three-factor model in both groups. Implications related to the interpretation and use of scores are discussed.
Statistical analysis and modeling of plug-in electric vehicle charging demand in distribution systems

This paper establishes stochastic model of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging and derives the probabilistic description of the electricity needs from EV charging for one charging station at any hour of a day. Three key variables are used to characterize the stochastic behavior of EV charging: starting time of charging, state of charge (SOC), and total number of charging EVs. The electricity needs of an EV charging station is a function of time, which can be depicted by the expectation of charging needs at a certain time of day. Numerical simulations are implemented to validate the proposed analysis approach and illustrate the impact of EVs' charging demand on the distribution systems.
Reactions of Organic Peroxides with Alcohols in Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-the Pitfalls of Quantifying Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP).

Over the last several decades, mass spectrometry has become one of the principle methods for compound identification and quantification. While for analytical purposes, fragments which are not fully characterized in terms of origin and intensity as a function of experimental conditions have been used, understanding the nature of those species is very important. Herein we discuss such issues relative to triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and its frequently observed fragment at m/z 89. This “fragment” has been identified as the gas-phase reaction product of TATP with one or two methanol molecules/ions. Additionally, the origin and conditions of other fragments at m/z 91, 75, and 74 associated with TATP will be addressed. Similar analytical issues associated with other multi-peroxide organic compounds [hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD), methyl ethyl ketone peroxides (MEKP)] will also be discussed. Solution storage conditions for TATP, HMTD, and tetramethylene diperoxide diamine dialdehyde have been determined.
Micromagnetic Changes in Steel Due to Surface Modification

Micromagnetic Barkhausen signals from magnetic material originate from the discontinuous motion of domain walls in the presence of a changing applied magnetic field. Barkhausen emissions that are detected by a surface coil as a voltage signal and come predominantly from a surface layer. The Barkhausen signal is affected by changes in material microstructure and the presence of residual stress since these affect the dynamics of domain wall motion. The selective attenuation on high frequency components of the Barkhausen signal due to eddy currents in electrically conducting materials is used to evaluate changes in material condition at different depths inside the component. Barkhausen measurements have been made on specimens subjected to different thermal exposure during surface conditioning procedures. Comparison has been made with X-ray diffraction results for assessment of residual stress, and microhardness measurements which evaluate the surface condition. The results show that the Barkhausen emissions can be utilized to evaluate changes in the surface condition of materials.
The Minimum Competency Exam Requirement, Teachers' and Students' Expectations and Academic Performance ?

This paper analyzes whether the minimum competency exam requirement for high school graduation affects students' academic performance directly or affects the educational process by moderating the effect of teachers' expectations on students' mathematics test score gains, proficiency levels, and high school graduation. Tenth-grade students and their mathematics teachers from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 are analyzed. Contingent, negative associations were found between the minimum competency exam requirement and both mathematics proficiency and performance. The requirement was also not found to be associated with the odds of earning a diploma. In the case of mathematics achievement, teachers' expectations were a more important predictor of learning gains and proficiency than were students' expectations. Students' expectations better predicted who earns a diploma. The minimum competency exam requirement was found to moderate the association between teachers' expectations and mathematics achievement but did not affect the relation between teachers' expectations and high school graduation.
Throwing back the big ones saves a fishery from hot water.

In Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland , the Mock Turtle and the Gryphon teach Alice a dance in which everyone partners with a lobster and then throws it “as far out to sea as you can” (1). While the “porpoise” (as the Mock Turtle pronounces “purpose”) of throwing lobsters never becomes entirely clear in the story, Le Bris et al. (2) show in PNAS that the century-old practice of returning large and female lobsters back to the waters of Maine has primed the fishery to thrive in the face of climate change (Fig. 1). Their contribution provides key insight that can guide more widespread climate adaptation in fisheries. Fig. 1. Illustration of how conservation of large female lobsters may have prepared the Gulf of Maine fishery to flourish as environmental conditions changed. Large females contribute disproportionately to the production of young lobsters and allowed the population to grow more rapidly in favorable conditions (A) than it would have if large females were also harvested in lobster traps (B). Most fisheries only use a minimum size limit, as did the southern New England lobster fishery for many years. However, other mechanisms, including differences in thermal conditions, predators, and disease burden, also contribute to explain the contrasting trajectories of Maine and southern New England lobster populations. Climate change has already reshuffled ecosystems globally, and past and ongoing emissions will continue to drive substantial warming and other environmental changes over the next few decades. One of the challenging questions is therefore whether and how to adapt human activities across a wide range of sectors, from agriculture to water supply, air travel, and coastal development. Fish are the most highly traded food commodity and the largest human food source based on wild species, so fisheries provide a particularly interesting and challenging sector in which to consider … [↵][1]1Email: malin.pinsky{at}rutgers.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Normative paradoxes in 360° journalism: Contested accuracy and objectivity:

In visual journalism, the adoption of new technologies often leads to renegotiation of normative boundaries, and the case of 360° video is no exception. Two normative paradoxes emerge in journalist...
The Mathematics Education of Primary–Grade Teachers

Mathematics is often viewed as difficult subject matter by students preparing to be primary-grade teachers (kindergarten through grade 2). Many of them need to develop competence and confidence in mathematics in order to teach it in a meaningful and appropriate way. Providing for the preservice mathematics education of primary-grade teachers must be the joint responsibility of both the mathematics educator and the teacher edu-
Deciphering the Emerging Complexities of Molecular Mechanisms at GWAS Loci.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified thousands of loci associated with hundreds of complex diseases and traits, and progress is being made toward elucidating the causal variants and genes underlying these associations. Functional characterization of mechanisms at GWAS loci is a multi-faceted challenge. Challenges include linkage disequilibrium and allelic heterogeneity at each locus, the noncoding nature of most loci, and the time and cost needed for experimentally evaluating the potential mechanistic contributions of genes and variants. As GWAS sample sizes increase, more loci are identified, and the complexities of individual loci emerge. Loci can consist of multiple association signals, each of which can reflect the influence of multiple variants, inseparable by association analyses. Each signal within a locus can influence the same or different target genes. Experimental studies of genes and variants can differ on the basis of cell type, cellular environment, or other context-specific variables. In this review, we describe the complexity of mechanisms at GWAS loci—including multiple signals, multiple variants, and/or multiple genes—and the implications these complexities hold for experimental study design and interpretation of GWAS mechanisms.