cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A RETROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION OF GENDER INEQUALITY AND FEMALE HOMICIDE VICTIMIZATION

ABSTRACT For the period 1981 to 1993 women represented 21 to 26 percent of homicide victims in the United States annually (Smith and Kuchta 1993). During this same time period sex-specific homicide rates have been among the forms of disaggregation researchers have used to test the utility of traditional correlates of homicide in predicting rates across various population subgroups and units of analysis. Based upon earlier research of the effects of gender inequality upon rates of lethal violence against women, and by applying a feminist theoretical perspective, it is hypothesized that the effect of general social structural characteristics of cities upon women's risk of homicide is mediated by levels of gender inequality. Specifically, this study examines the effects of gender, socioeconomic, legislative, political and extra-legal inequality upon female homicide victimization among 217 U.S. central cities for the period of 1989–1991. Using structural equation modeling results indicate that, among traditio...
A state-based regression model for estimating substate life expectancy.

Life expectancy is an important indicator of the level of mortality in a population. However, the conventional way of calculating life expectancy—constructing a life table—has rigorous data requirements. As a consequence, life expectancy data are not usually available for substate areas. In this article, a regression model for estimating life expectancy is constructed, using state-level data, and is tested against two sets of 1980 life expectancy data: (1) a nationwide sample of metropolitan areas and (2) selected cities, their suburbs, and rural counties in Ohio. An additional test shows the sensitivity of the model’s accuracy to errors in one of its input data elements. The results suggest that the model should be given serious consideration for generating life expectancy estimates for substate areas.
Intellectual Property, State Sovereignty, and Biotechnology

The issue of biopiracy has attracted considerable attention in recent years. The Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a principle of state sovereignty over biological resources and the genetic information contained within those resources to address this issue. It is argued that this principle has not been adequately justified and that there are other solutions to the issue of biopiracy, based on different theories of justice, that deserve greater consideration. These alternatives include the common heritage of mankind principle and the global commons principle.
Mixing of saturated and unsaturated phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylglycerols in monolayers at the air/water interface

Abstract In the context of understanding the properties of model lung surfactant systems, surface phase behavior of spread monolayers containing mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), with various unsaturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) derivatives, has been determined using surface pressure area isotherms on Tris buffer (pH 7.4, 15 m M NaCl) and fluorescence microscopy. DPPC, at all surface pressures below collapse, is completely miscible with dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol and with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine dioleoylphosphatidylcholine up to mole fractions of at least 0.70 DPPC. On the other hand, DPPC is partially immiscible at mole fractions of 0.50 and greater when mixed with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol and dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol, with immiscibility increasing as the surface pressure is increased and with the replacement of 15 m M NaCl of the buffered subphase by 5 m M Ca 2+ . The substitution of one unsaturated acyl chain into PG appears to produce phase separation equivalent to that produced by two saturated acyl chains of PG with about four carbons less than saturated acyl chains of DPPC. When DPPC/unsaturated PG mixtures are considered in model lung surfactant studies or as artificial lung surfactant systems, such strong tendencies for surface phase separation may be important and should be taken into account.
Optimum operating conditions for a combined power and cooling thermodynamic cycle

Abstract The combined production of thermal power and cooling with an ammonia–water based cycle proposed by Goswami is under intensive investigation. In the cycle under consideration, simultaneous cooling output is produced by expanding an ammonia-rich vapor in an expander to sub-ambient temperatures and subsequently heating the cool exhaust. When this mechanism for cooling production is considered in detail, it is apparent that the cooling comes at some expense to work production. To optimize this trade-off, a very specific coefficient-of-performance has been defined. In this paper, the simulation of the cycle was carried out in the process simulator ASPEN Plus. The optimum operating conditions have been found by using the Equation Oriented mode of the simulator and some of the results have been compared with the experimental data obtained from the cycle. The agreement between the two sets proves the accuracy of the optimization results.
Links between unmitigated communion, interpersonal behaviors and well-being: : A daily diary approach

We examined the links between unmitigated communion, interpersonal behavior, and well-being on a daily basis with 79 college students. After completing a baseline questionnaire, participants completed brief on-line questionnaires at the end of the day to assess support interactions, interpersonal behavior, and well-being for 10 consecutive days. We used multi-level modeling to examine whether unmitigated communion was connected to support and interpersonal behavior, whether support and interpersonal behavior were connected to well-being, and whether unmitigated communion moderated the latter relations. Unmitigated communion was related to increased support provision and a host of interpersonal difficulties. Daily support provision and being overly nurturant were positively related to well-being, but these relations were limited to individuals characterized by low unmitigated communion.
Sequential Ordering in Children's Representations of Rotation Movements.

Abstract This study compared Marmor's state-comparison mental rotation task and a movement recognition task with respect to the level of sequence knowledge required for correct performance. The movement recognition task assessed children's understanding that pivot position and the shape of a rotating object remain invariant throughout the movement. Based on an analysis of development in children's counting, we hypothesized that explicit knowledge of sequence relations is not needed on the state-comparison task but is needed on the pivot and shape recognition task. In Experiment 1, 5- and 7-year-old children performed on the state-comparison task and an ordering task involving a Mickey Mouse figure. In Experiment 2, children between the ages of 5 and 13 years performed on a pivot and shape recognition task and an ordering task involving rotating squares. As predicted, the results indicated that 5-year-olds can execute a mental rotation on the state-comparison task but cannot sequence states in the rotation movement, whereas sequencing was a prerequisite for identification of incorrect movement sequences on the recognition task. The implications of these findings for development in children's kinetic imagery were discussed.
Effects of neurotensin gene knockout in mice on the behavioral effects of cocaine

Rationale The neuropeptide neurotensin (NT), which has been implicated in the modulation of dopamine signaling, is expressed in a subset of dopamine neurons and antagonism of the NT receptor has been reported to reduce psychostimulant-induced behavior. Gene knockout (KO) of the neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor provides an approach to delineating possible roles of endogenous NT in psychostimulant-induced responses.
Tidal current effects on temperature in diffuse hydrothermal flow: Guaymas Basin

A twelve day record of temperature collected from the diffuse flow area of a Guaymas Basin hydrothermal site exhibits variations, from a minimum of 3.05°C to a maximum of 4.87°C, whose periodicity is correlated with tides measured at the nearby town of Guaymas. A simple model, based on the hypothesis that temperature variations result as changes in tidal bottom currents induce changes in the height of the thermal boundary layer, is in good quantitative agreement with observed temperatures for most of the record. The success of this model illustrates that the effects of tidal currents can be strong enough to dominate the time variability of a temperature signal at a fixed point in hydrothermal flow. Therefore, tidal currents must be taken into account when using temperature measurements to estimate time varying heat fluxes from hydrothermal diffuse flow regions.
Honey Amylase Activity and Food Starch Degradation

ABSTRACT: Honey amylase was evaluated for potential to degrade food starch and cause viscosity loss. Honey was assayed for amylase activity with diastase number (DN). A viscosity assay, developed with unmodified waxy maize starch, measured honey amylase rate of viscosity decrease (RVD). The relationship between DN and RVD was linear (R2= 0.98). Modified waxy maize starches showed resistance to honey amylase. Honey heat treatment at 85 °C reduced amylase activity 2 to 5 DN, but confirmed enzyme heat resistance. Optimum pH for honey amylase was confirmed at pH 5.3 to 5.6. RVD activity declined as pH decreased. Preventing food viscosity loss involved selecting honey with lowered DN and/or using modified starches. Complete control of activity was achieved in barbecue sauce at pH < 3.9.
The Dark Knight under revision

The intellectual property structure of mainstream superhero comics publishing companies opens the door for artists and writers to generate multi-layered narratives that build on pre-existing stories in a way that rewards long-term readers for their deep understanding of the mythologies attached to iconic superheroes. I read several excerpts from comic books featuring one of the most well recognized superheroes, The Batman, in order to demonstrate the ways in which the formal conventions of popular superhero comics invite fans to engage in active and playful reading practices. The copyright arrangement that provides opportunities for remediation of old stories and images within the publishing company universe creates an opportunity to consider the potential benefits of an expansion of the public domain.
Pb, Sr, Nd, and Hf isotopic constraints on the origin of Hawaiian basalts and evidence for a unique mantle source

The isotopic Pb, Sr, Nd, and Hf compositions of rocks from nine Hawaiian volcanos are determined using the analytical procedures described by Tatsumoto and Unruh (1976) and Patchett and Tatsumoto (1980). The results are presented in graphs, tables, and maps and characterized in detail. The mantle plume, the oceanic lithosphere, and the depleted mantle are identified as distinct sources of the Hawaiian basalts, with different mechanisms responsible for the formation of shield-building tholeiites, late-stage alkalic rocks, and posterosional basalts. The uniqueness of the Hawaiian basalts and the possibility that the Koolau end member represents an undepleted 'primitive' mantle reservoir are considered.
Sleep Duration in Midlife and Later Life in Relation to Cognition

Objectives: To evaluate associations between sleep duration at midlife and later life and change in sleep duration over time and cognition in older women. Design: Participants reported sleep duration in 1986 and 2000, and a subgroup of older participants began cognitive testing in 1995 to 2001; follow-up testing was conducted three times, at 2-year intervals. Setting: Prospective Nurses' Health Study cohort. Participants: Female nurses aged 70 and older free of stroke and depression at the initial cognitive assessment (N = 15,385). Measurements: Validated, telephone-based cognitive battery to measure cognitive function; four repeated assessments over 6 years were averaged to estimate overall cognition at older ages, and trajectories of cognitive change were evaluated over follow up. Results: Extreme sleep durations in later life were associated with worse average cognition (P < .001 for the quadratic term for a global score averaging all six cognitive tests). For example, women sleeping 5 h/d or less had worse global cognition than those sleeping 7 h/d, as did women sleeping 9 h/d or more; differences were equivalent to nearly 2 additional years of age. Associations were similar, although slightly attenuated, for sleep duration in midlife. Women whose sleep duration changed by 2 h/d or more over time had worse cognition than women with no change in sleep duration (e.g., for the global score, P < .001 for the quadratic term). Sleep duration was not associated with trajectories of cognitive function over 6 years, which might be attributable to short follow-up for detecting cognitive decline. Conclusion: Extreme sleep durations at midlife and later life and extreme changes in sleep duration over time appear to be associated with poor cognition in older women.
Systemic immunological effects of cytokine genes injected into skeletal muscle.

Abstract Somatic gene therapy is an interesting approach for the delivery of cytokines for prolonged periods. The present experiments show that direct injections into mouse skeletal muscle of cDNA expression vectors encoding interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, or type beta 1 transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1) induce biological effects characteristic of these cytokines in vivo. Mice injected intramuscularly with a vector encoding IL-2 had enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses to an exogenous antigen, transferrin, that was delivered at a separate site. These IL-2 effects were abolished by coadministration of a vector directing synthesis of TGF-beta 1. The TGF-beta 1 vector by itself depressed the anti-transferrin antibody response and caused an 8-fold increase in plasma TGF-beta 1 activity. The TGF-beta 1 plasmid injection did not cause muscle infiltration with monocytes or neutrophils and there was no evidence for fibrotic changes. Muscle injection with a cDNA encoding IL-4 selectively increased IgG1 levels but did not alter the cellular immune response to transferrin. In lupus-prone mice (MRL/lpr/lpr), injection with IL-2 expression vectors increased and TGF-beta 1 vectors decreased auto-antibodies to chromatin. These results demonstrate that intramuscular injection of cytokine genes, in the absence of infectious viral vectors, can regulate humoral and cellular immune responses in vivo.
Real exchange rates and the pattern of trade: comparative dynamics for north and south

Abstract Using a two-country model of imperfect competition, this paper examines cross-sectional implications for the time-series behavior of real exchange rates across different patterns of trade. Under intersectoral trade, price-setters display less interaction in their pricing decisions across national boundaries, allowing for greater deviation and weaker mean-reversion in relative prices. Conversely, with intra-industry trade, greater price linkages between similar countries trading in similar goods generate lower pass-through and less real exchange-rate persistence. The pattern of trade is shown to essentially alter the degree of domestic price-stickiness, which in turn affects the self-correcting mechanism of an open economy.
Detection of phase separation in fluid phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine mixtures

The nonideal mixing of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine, (16:0, 18:1)PS, and 1,2-didodecenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, (12:1, 12:1)PC, in fluid lamellar model membranes was studied by measuring binding of aqueous Ca2+ ions and by x-ray diffraction. A region of two-phase coexistence was found by invariance of the aqueous concentration and by the appearance of two sets of lamellar spacings. The phases were identified as fluid from the diffuse x-ray diffraction in the wide-angle region. The width of the two-phase coexistence region was greater at higher ionic strength. In 800 mM KCl, the phase boundaries were at PS mole fraction 0.5 and 0.8. In 100 mM KCl, the phase boundaries were at PS mole fraction 0.52 and 0.62. Monte Carlo simulations of the lateral distributions of these PS/PC mixtures show pronounced clustering of the lipids.
Experimental investigation of halo-gravity traction for paediatric spinal deformity correction

Paediatric spinal deformities pose much difficulty for orthopaedic surgeons. Halo-gravity traction using threaded stainless steel pins with a graphite halo device mounted to the skull has been successful, but is invasive and must be tailored specifically to each individual patient. Experimental and clinical testing in paediatrics has been performed to evaluate the halo-gravity traction method of correction to optimise required number of pins, and pin-torque loading parameters, with differing results. For paediatrics, surgeons do not apply loading exceeding 50% of a child's body weight. The current study experiments with six and ten pin halo configurations under applied torque loading of 226, 452 and 678 Newton-millimetre (2, 4 and 6 inch-pound) to determine failure loading of the halo system. The results indicate that the failure load of the sawbone skulls far exceeds the average weight of a paediatric patient.
Computerized Provider Order Entry in Pediatric Oncology: Design, Implementation, and Outcomes

Implementation of computerized provider order entry required extensive customization but improved patient safety in a highly complex pediatric oncology environment.
Pharmacogenetics and personal genomes.

While pharmacogenetics – the correlation of genotype and response to medicines – currently has a small but measurable impact on the prescribing practice of clinicians, the advent of the ‘personal genome’ is likely to change this significantly. Advances in high-throughput technologies aimed at characterizing human genetic variation, including chip-based genotyping and next-generation sequencing, are poised to provide a flood of information that will affect both pharmacogenetic discovery and pharmacogenetic application in clinical practice. In order for this flood of information to not overwhelm both researchers and clinicians alike, a variety of new and expanded information management tools will be needed, including electronic medical records, bioinformatic algorithms for analyzing sequence data, information management systems for storing, retrieving and interpreting whole-genome sequence data, and pharmacogenetic decision tools for prescribers.
Diverse routing in optical mesh networks

We study the diverse routing problem in optical mesh networks. We use a general framework based on shared risk link groups to model the problem. We prove that the diverse routing problem is indeed NP-complete, a result that has been conjectured by several researchers previously. In fact, we show that even the fiber-span-disjoint paths problem, a special case of the diverse routing problem, is also NP-complete. We then develop an integer linear programming formulation and show through numerical results that it is a very viable method to solve the diverse routing problem for most optical networks found in many applications which typically have no more than a few hundred nodes and fiber spans.
The Glass Runway: How Gender and Sexuality Shape the Spotlight in Fashion Design

Fashion design is a feminized occupation, but there is a widespread perception that gay male designers are advantaged in receiving awards, publicity, and praise. This article develops the notion of a “glass runway” to explain this inequality. First, using design canons and lists of award recipients, I show that men, especially gay men, receive more consecration than women. Second, I show how men and women are consecrated differently by analyzing the content of 157 entries in Voguepedia’s design canon and 96 fashion media articles. Attributions of value and legitimacy construct a gendered image of the ideal fashion designer through discourses of art and culture that reinforce essentialist ideas about gender difference. Because cultural value is ambiguous, processes of valorization are shaped by gender essentialism, pushing male cultural producers down the glass runway and into the spotlight of fame, consecration, and legitimation. Finally, the case of fashion design offers insights into how intersecting in...
Mercury Reduction and Methyl Mercury Degradation by the Soil Bacterium Xanthobacter autotrophicus Py2

Two previously uncharacterized potential broad-spectrum mercury (Hg) resistance operons (mer) are present on the chromosome of the soil Alphaproteobacteria Xanthobacter autotrophicus Py2. These operons, mer1 and mer2, contain two features which are commonly found in mer operons in the genomes of soil and marine Alphaproteobacteria, but are not present in previously characterized mer operons: a gene for the mercuric reductase (MerA) that encodes an alkylmercury lyase domain typical of those found on the MerB protein, and the presence of an additional gene, which we are calling merK, with homology to glutathione reductase. Here, we demonstrate that Py2 is resistant to 0.2 μM inorganic mercury [Hg(II)] and 0.05 μM methylmercury (MeHg). Py2 is capable of converting MeHg and Hg(II) to elemental mercury [Hg(0)], and reduction of Hg(II) is induced by incubation in sub toxic concentrations of Hg(II). Transcription of the merA genes increased with Hg(II) treatment, and in both operons merK resides on the same polycistronic mRNA as merA. We propose the use of Py2 as a model system for studying the contribution of mer to Hg mobility in soil and marine ecosystems.
ANALYTIC SOLUTIONS OF THE NONLINEAR OMEGA AND VORTICITY EQUATIONS FOR A STRUCTURALLY SIMPLE MODEL OF DISTURBANCES IN THE BAROCLINIC WESTERLIES

Abstract Exact solutions of the nonlinear quasi-geostrophic omega and vorticity equations yield three-dimensional fields of vertical motion and geopotential tendency for a structurally simple model of cyclonic and anticyclonic disturbances in the baroclinic westerlies. Information derived from these fields is consistent in many respects with the results of classical analyses of baroclinic instability, but is more detailed. The present results seem entirely reasonable synoptically. New findings are (1) that in most instances a surface cyclone should move to the right (and an anticyclone to the left) of the upper flow over the center and (2) that the rate of deepening provided by the present physical theory probably does not account for observed instances of explosive cyclogenesis.
Studies in Neuromuscular Transmission

The influence of changes in pH and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood on the neuromuscular blocking effect of a single dose of tubocurarine or dimethyl tubocurarine was investigated in rabbits. The sciatic nerve was stimulated supramaximally at a rate of 3 per second and the electrical response of the gastrocnemius muscle was recorded; the amplitude of the first and fourth response was measured. During the period of spontaneously subsiding block after a single injection of the blocking agent, a shift in the arterial pH was produced either with or without a change in carbon dioxide tension. An increase of the block during this period was always considered significant but a decrease of the block only if it was followed by a spontaenous increase. The action of tubocurarine increased during acidosis and diminished during alkalosis. This effect was greater during metabolic alkalosis and acidosis, corresponding to a more rapid shift in pH, than during respiratory alkalosis and acidosis, but no qualitative difference was observed. The effect of a shift in pH is explained by changes in the potency of tubocurarine. The action of dimethyl tubocurarine was not influenced by changes in pH or carbon dioxide tension.
Not All Women Are Mothers Addressing the Invisibility of Women Under the Control of the Criminal Justice System Who Do Not Have Children

Research has consistently shown that most women under the control of the criminal justice system are mothers. The robustness of this finding has been accompanied by a failure to consider the characteristics and needs of women without children. In this study, we examine data on 1,334 formerly incarcerated women. Findings indicate that while mothers and non-mothers share some characteristics, they differ on several others, most notably demographic profile, mental health, and timing of contacts with the criminal justice system. These results suggest a need to recognize the diversity among women offender groups, particularly when developing policies and programs need.
Stability of tetragonal crystalline carbon nitrides: the nitrogen content dependence

We report a theoretical study of structural stability of two tetragonal phases of carbon nitride, the tetragonal rocksalt phase and the β-tin phase, using a self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding method. The stability of these tetragonal phases relative to their cubic counterparts is evaluated at several nitrogen contents. The tetragonal rocksalt phase, which is recently observed in experiment, is found to be more stable than the cubic rocksalt phase at all nitrogen contents considered. On the contrary, the cubic zincblende phase is always energetically competitive with its tetragonal counterpart β-tin phase. The variation of the equilibrium volume and the bulk modulus with changing nitrogen content is investigated. The bond lengths and bond strengths are systematically examined to understand the underlying mechanism.
Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI): clinical characterization.

Background: Neuroimaging measures and chemical biomarkers may be important indices of clinical progression in normal aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and need to be evaluated longitudinally. Objective: To characterize cross-sectionally and longitudinally clinical measures in normal controls, subjects with MCI, and subjects with mild Alzheimer disease (AD) to enable the assessment of the utility of neuroimaging and chemical biomarker measures. Methods: A total of 819 subjects (229 cognitively normal, 398 with MCI, and 192 with AD) were enrolled at baseline and followed for 12 months using standard cognitive and functional measures typical of clinical trials. Results: The subjects with MCI were more memory impaired than the cognitively normal subjects but not as impaired as the subjects with AD. Nonmemory cognitive measures were only minimally impaired in the subjects with MCI. The subjects with MCI progressed to dementia in 12 months at a rate of 16.5% per year. Approximately 50% of the subjects with MCI were on antidementia therapies. There was minimal movement on the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale for the normal control subjects, slight movement for the subjects with MCI of 1.1, and a modest change for the subjects with AD of 4.3. Baseline CSF measures of A-42 separated the 3 groups as expected and successfully predicted the 12-month change in cognitive measures. Conclusion: The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative has successfully recruited cohorts of cognitively normal subjects, subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and subjects with Alzheimer disease with anticipated baseline characteristics. The 12-month progression rate of MCI was as predicted, and the CSF measures heralded progression of clinical measures over 12 months. Neurology ® 2010;74:201–209
Routing algorithms in the bidirectional de Bruijn graph metropolitan area networks

This paper studies routing algorithms of the multihop lightwave systems based on the bidirectional de Bruijn graph. Three different routing methods are proposed and performance results are obtained in terms of the mean path lengths, network throughput and delay performance. The study shows that the performance of this type of topology is desirable and comparable to other types of multihop systems. It may be considered as a candidate for metropolitan area networks. >
Interactive Visual Graph Analytics on the Web

We present a web-based network visual analytics platform called GraphVis that combines interactive visualizations with analytic techniques to reveal important patterns and insights for sense making, reasoning, and decision-making. The platform is designed with simplicity in mind and allows users to visualize and explore networks in seconds with a simple drag-and-drop of a graph file into the web browser. GraphVis is fast and flexible, web-based, requires no installation, while supporting a wide range of graph formats as well as state-of-the-art visualization and analytic techniques. In particular, the multi-level network analysis engine of GraphVis gives rise to a variety of new possibilities for exploring, analyzing, and understanding complex networks interactively in real-time. Finally, we also highlight other key aspects including filtering, querying, ranking, manipulating, exporting, partitioning (community/role discovery), as well as tools for dynamic network analysis and visualization, interactive graph generators (including two new block model approaches), and a variety of multi-level network analysis and statistical techniques.
Magnetic nanoparticles and a magnetic field for the rapid removal of device related infections

The purpose of this study was to develop materials and a method to kill bacteria, separating them from solution, using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) coated with various antibacterials including iron, zinc, and silver. It was found that such coated SPION alone kill bacteria, and reduce biofilm formation (which is an important mode of antibiotic resistance in device related infections). With the aid of a magnet, these antibacterial properties could be manipulated and improved, potentially providing a new method for treating antibiotic resistant device related infections.
Cosmic rays in the heliosphere - Present status and future opportunities

The general theory of charged‐particle transport and acceleration is reviewed and application to the heliosphere discussed in detail. The present status of our understanding is briefly surveyed, with emphasis on large‐scale processes. Opportunities for increasing our understanding through the confrontation of theory, modelling and observations are outlined. It is concluded that the largest advances in our understanding in the next few years will come from coordinated theoretical and observations studies of large‐scale phenomena requiring energetic‐particle, magnetic‐field and plasma data from several spacecraft. Fundamental studies of the interactions between cosmic rays and turbulent plasma to study transport coefficients, details of interactions with shocks etc, are also important in the longer term.
The wonder world of microbial viruses.

The first congress on Viruses of Microbes took place at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, on 21–25 June 2010. The advances in genomics and metagenomics reported at this meeting reveal striking and unexpected complexity of the virus world. Viruses, in particular viruses that infect prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes, are emerging as the most abundant class of biological entities on earth and a major evolutionary and geochemical force.
Feminism and Federally Funded Social Science: Notes from Inside:

In order for feminist social science research to influence the transformation of society toward more equitable gender arrangements, it must both be undertaken and be applied in the policy arena. For these to happen, feminist social scientists must be active players in the research policy and funding enterprise, particularly at the federal level. The discussion of how feminist social science has had an impact, and can have an even greater one, both on and through federally funded research is framed in two larger contexts: the broader federal science and technology (S&T) enterprise and the impact of feminism on society generally. A selective review of developments in both the representation of women in S&T and attention to issues of gender in the content of scientific research demonstrates that, although much progress has been made, much remains to be done. Some strategies for furthering the feminist project through the federal research enterprise are offered.
Sex, drink, and state anxieties: governance through the gay bar

AbstractGay bars have been central to the social and cultural geography of queer folk throughout the twentieth century. In North America, Liquor Control Boards have been important in governing homosexuality. In order to explore the spatial governance of homosexuals, this paper uses a Foucauldian governmentality perspective to analyze data from Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) enforcement and hearing files between 1934 and 1971. While the WSLCB governed heteronormatively, it did so with a relatively light touch through the deployment and selective enforcement of often vague administrative rules. Adherence to the rules, meanwhile, relied upon an ability and willingness to understand authorities’ intentions and imaginations and to self-govern accordingly. Gay bars were somewhat privileged vis-a-vis neighboring straight bars, due to the unintended consequences of certain state practices, a desire by state authorities to closet homosexuality generally, and a propensity for self-governance on the p...
The importance of aerosol mixing state and size-resolved composition on CCN concentration and the variation of the importance with atmospheric aging of aerosols

Abstract. Aerosol microphysics, chemical composition, and CCN concentrations were measured at the T0 urban supersite in Mexico City during Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations (MILAGRO) in March 2006. The aerosol size distribution and composition often showed strong diurnal variation associated with traffic emissions and aging of aerosols through coagulation and local photochemical production of secondary aerosol species. CCN concentrations (NCCN) are derived using Kohler theory from the measured aerosol size distribution and various simplified aerosol mixing state and chemical composition, and are compared to concurrent measurements at five supersaturations ranging from 0.11% to 0.35%. The influence of assumed mixing state on calculated NCCN is examined using both aerosols observed during MILAGRO and representative aerosol types. The results indicate that while ambient aerosols often consist of particles with a wide range of compositions at a given size, NCCN may be derived within ~20% assuming an internal mixture (i.e., particles at a given size are mixtures of all participating species, and have the identical composition) if great majority of particles has an overall κ (hygroscopicity parameter) value greater than 0.1. For a non-hygroscopic particle with a diameter of 100 nm, a 3 nm coating of sulfate or nitrate is sufficient to increase its κ from 0 to 0.1. The measurements during MILAGRO suggest that the mixing of non-hygroscopic primary organic aerosol (POA) and black carbon (BC) particles with photochemically produced hygroscopic species and thereby the increase of their κ to 0.1 take place in a few hours during daytime. This rapid process suggests that during daytime, a few tens of kilometers away for POA and BC sources, NCCN may be derived with sufficient accuracy by assuming an internal mixture, and using bulk chemical composition. The rapid mixing also indicates that, at least for very active photochemical environments such as Mexico City, the timescale during daytime for the conversion of hydrophobic POA and BC to hydrophilic particles is substantially shorter than the 1–2 days used in some global models. The conversion time scale is substantially longer during night. Most POA and BC particles emitted during evening hours likely remain non-hygroscopic until efficiently internally mixed with secondary species in the next morning. The results also suggest that the assumed mixing state strongly impacts calculated NCCN only when POA and BC represent a large fraction of the total aerosol volume. One of the implications is that while physically unrealistic, external mixtures, which are used in many global models, may also sufficiently predict NCCN for aged aerosol, as the contribution of non-hygroscopic POA and BC to overall aerosol volume is often substantially reduced due to the condensation of secondary species.
Pyemotes tritici (Acari: Pyemotidae): a parasitoid of Agrilus auroguttatus and Agrilus coxalis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in the southwestern United States of America and southern Mexico

The straw itch mite, Pyemotes tritici Lagreze-Fossat and Montane (Acari: Pyemotidae), was discovered parasitising the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an invasive exotic species to California, United States of America, and the Mexican goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus coxalis Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), during surveys for natural enemies for a classical biological control programme for A. auroguttatus. Pyemotes tritici caused low levels of mortality to each species of flatheaded borer, but it will likely not be a good candidate for a biological control programme because it is a generalist parasitoid with deleterious human health effects.
A revolution in robotic space exploration: ten times as many missions at ten percent of the cost per mission

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has recently adopted a new strategy that includes small, frequent missions as a cornerstone, replacing the large, infrequent missions that dominated its recent past. JPL's director has implemented a long range strategy leading to fundamentally new processes for designing and carrying out robotic space missions. An important part of this strategy is development of processes to produce miniaturized, highly capable spacecraft to conduct unique investigations of the planets and heavens to inspire the public and continue the flow of scientific knowledge. These low cost spacecraft are being designed and built rapidly using modern electronic tools to fly highly innovative scientific sensors and instruments launched on small vehicles at least twice every year. This paper explores the techniques, tools, software, and organizations that have been established to carryout this strategy, with emphasis on the early phases of new project design.
Toward a methodology of graphical icon design

The current practice of graphical icon design is more an art than a science. We propose a scientific-oriented methodology for graphical icon design. It incorporates several ideas from data/system modeling and natural languages in the design and interpretation of icons. Specifically, it incorporates ideas of multileveling modeling and type-instance concepts. It also incorporates the concepts of grammar structures from alphabetic-based languages such as English and the principles of ideogram construction of graphical icon-based natural languages such as Chinese and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The methodology also draws on other scientific disciplines such as cognitive science and user testing.
Intelligent Control Algorithms for Robotic-Assisted Beating Heart Surgery

This paper focuses on the development of control algorithms for intelligent robotic tools that assist off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. In the robotic-assisted CABG surgery, the surgeon operates on the beating heart using intelligent robotic instruments. Robotic tools actively cancel the relative motion between the surgical instruments and the point of interest on the beating heart, dynamically stabilizing the heart for the operation. This algorithm is called active relative motion canceling (ARMC). Here, a model-based intelligent ARMC algorithm employing biological signals, such as electrocardiogram, to achieve effective motion cancellation is proposed. Finally, experimental results of the algorithm on a 3-degree-of-freedom robotic test-bed system are reported.
A mutational analysis of U12-dependent splice site dinucleotides

Introns spliced by the U12-dependent minor spliceosome are divided into two classes based on their splice site dinucleotides. The /AU-AC/ class accounts for about one-third of U12-dependent introns in humans, while the /GU-AG/ class accounts for the other two-thirds. We have investigated the in vivo and in vitro splicing phenotypes of mutations in these dinucleotide sequences. A 5′ A residue can splice to any 3′ residue, although C is preferred. A 5′ G residue can splice to 3′ G or U residues with a preference for G. Little or no splicing was observed to 3′ A or C residues. A 5′ U or C residue is highly deleterious for U12-dependent splicing, although some combinations, notably 5′ U to 3′ U produced detectable spliced products. The dependence of 3′ splice site activity on the identity of the 5′ residue provides evidence for communication between the first and last nucleotides of the intron. Most mutants in the second position of the 5′ splice site and the next to last position of the 3′ splice site were defective for splicing. Double mutants of these residues showed no evidence of communication between these nucleotides. Varying the distance between the branch site and the 3′ splice site dinucleotide in the /GU-AG/ class showed that a somewhat larger range of distances was functional than for the /AU-AC/ class. The optimum branch site to 3′ splice site distance of 11–12 nucleotides appears to be the same for both classes.
Incidental Bladder Cancer Detected on Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Prostate Gland

The increased use of axial imaging in various fields of medicine has led to an increased frequency of incidental findings, specifically incidental cancer lesions. Hence, as the use of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI) for prostate cancer detection, staging, and management becomes more widespread, the potential for additional incidental findings in the pelvis increases. Herein, we report the case of a man on active surveillance for low-grade, early-staged prostate cancer who underwent MP-MRI and was incidentally found to have a high-grade bladder cancer lesion.
An agent-based open source platform for building energy management

The objective of this paper is to propose a building energy management (BEM) platform that allows sensing and control of equipment in small- and medium-sized buildings. The proposed platform aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and foster demand response (DR) implementation by controlling three major loads in buildings, including HVAC, lighting and plug loads. In addition, it aims to offer scalability, robustness, plug and play, open protocol, interoperability, cost-effectiveness, and local and remote monitoring. The software architecture, including user interface, application and data management, operating system and framework, and connectivity are discussed in this paper with the special focus on the Multi-agent system (MAS) development which is the core of the platform. A laboratory test bed is employed to demonstrate the functionalities of the proposed software platform.
Passenger mutations: Backseat drivers in failed translation

Animal models are essential to the discovery, development, and preclinical testing of new drug candidates. Despite the existence of many animal models that faithfully represent features of human diseases, more than 80% of experimental therapies that look successful in the laboratory fail in human studies. This low rate of translation cannot be attributed to any single flaw in the development pipeline, but poorly defined genetics of many animal models clearly lies at the root of some of the discrepancy. In particular, Vanden Berghe et al . highlight the frequency of confounding mutations in a specific type of genetically modified mice. The authors focused on the thousands of existing genetically modified mouse strains that were made by transfer of modified embryonic stem cells from the 129 mouse strain to another, C57BL/6J. This method, although standard, carries significant potential for confounding experimental results because the targeted gene remains flanked by DNA from the 129 strain, while the remaining genome is C57BL/6J. To counter this, the genetically modified mice were repeatedly backcrossed with C57BL/6J mice, but Vanden Berghe and colleagues show that nearly all 129-derived strains still carry multiple unintended “passenger” mutations in their DNA. When these strains are compared with wild-type C57BL/6J mice, phenotypic differences may be attributed to the targeted gene without consideration for confounding mutations, leading to erroneous interpretation of results. To avoid this pitfall altogether, scientists can use isogenic mouse strains, which are generated on pure genetic backgrounds. Due to the prevalence of 129-derived modified mouse strains, the authors introduced a Web-based tool, called Passenger Mutations Finder ( ), which may be useful for estimating the effect of passenger mutations on mouse phenotype. Thus, this study highlights a potential source for failed translation of preclinical studies and emphasizes the importance of attention to the genetic background of mouse models. T. Vanden Berghe et al ., Passenger mutations confound interpretation of all genetically modified congenic mice immunity. Cell 43 , 200–209 (2015).[[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/immunity/abstract/S1074-7613%2815%2900254-X
Unusual "to-and-fro" Doppler spectral waveform in lymph node metastasis.

We present a case of a lymph node metastasis in which duplex Doppler imaging showed diastolic flow reversal. Traditionally, this vascular flow pattern is not expected in tumors; therefore, our case shows an unusual Doppler finding, which underscores the complex, multivariable nature of tumor vascularity.
The International Judiciary: Policy Compliance and Environmental Adjudication

This paper intends to examine the adjudication of environmental disputes by the international system of courts and tribunals. It offers international courts can be used as an effective venue for policy enforcement. Calls for the development of an international court for the environment are prominent in international environmental governance literature. The creation of an international court for the environment or reform of the current system of international courts and tribunals should not be undertaken without a full understanding of the current system as it relates to environmental adjudication. This paper studies the international court system through detailed analysis of the special treatment required by environmental disputes. The goal of this paper is to analyze the current system while providing attainable goals for the establishment or improvement of environmental mechanisms within the courts.
Permanent deformation during the oblique impact with friction

In this study, the displacement during the oblique impact of a rigid rod with a deformable flat has been studied. An approach has been developed in order to relate the impact duration, the normal permanent deformation and the sliding length during the impact. The same impact has been analyzed using the numerical simulations, and the theoretical and numerical results have been compared. An experimental setup was built to measure the motion of the rod before and after the impact. The deformation region after the impact was scanned and measured. Using the experimental results and the calculated impact duration, an average normal contact force was calculated. The presented approach yields to more accurate results compared to the direct integration of equations of motion using selected quasi-static contact models.