cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Panel on the Financial Crisis

The discussion in this panel will be on the financial crisis. Participants include: John Cochrane (University of Chicago) Simon Johnson (M.I.T.) Raghuram Rajan (University of Chicago) Myron Scholes (Platinum Grove Asset Management, Stanford University)
Designing and manipulating interconnectivity between cortical and striatal 3D cultures

Spatiotemporal dynamics of brain are defined by the complex connectivity among different brain regions in three-dimensional environment. Here, we report a co-culturing platform where interconnection between 3D cultures from cortical and striatal dissociated cells can be conveniently tailored and manipulated. These 3D co-cultures were created in Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mini-wells and soft-lithography was used to create micro-channels between them. We observed synchronous long burst activities in these cultures. The interconnection between cortical and striatal components of the co-culture were then severed physically to assess the effect of inter-connectivity. This platform can assist our understanding of brain plasticity, development and neural pathways.
Optimal Operation of a Plug-In Electric Vehicle Parking Lot in the Energy Market Considering the Technical, Social, and Geographical Aspects

This chapter studies the optimal operation problem of a parking lot in the energy market modelling the drivers’ behavior based on the social and geographical factors including the drivers’ income level, the distance between the PEVs and parking lot, and the driving routes. The driving routes of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are modelled considering the minimum and maximum traffic speed limits and the real latitude and longitude of area around Marina City vertical parking lot in Chicago, IL 60654. Herein, the parking lot is supplied by the renewable energy sources, and it has the capability of bilateral energy transaction with the energy market through the electrical distribution system and with the PEVs using the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and grid-to-vehicle (G2V) services. In this study, the problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problem, and it is solved for different PEV types including Tesla Model S, Citroen C-Zero, Volkswagen e-Up, and Renault Kangoo Z.E., multiple PEV penetration levels, and diverse social classes of drivers. It is proven that the driver’s social class, the PEV’s type, and even the PEV penetration level can affect the problem outcomes. In other words, the unrealistic value of these parameters may have a significant impact on the maximum profit of parking lot, the optimal operation of energy sources, and the optimal value of incentive. Therefore, the parking lot owner is recommended to specify them before solving the problem to avoid achieving any misleading result.
“We Are Not Bound by Traditions”: Women's Collections at Virginia Commonwealth University Special Collections and Archives:

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Libraries Special Collections and Archives has focused its manuscript collecting around women's collections since the department's inception in 1975. By happe...
The Effects of Managers Sharing Struggles on Stereotype Threat Reduction in STEM Workplaces

Women working in STEM fields are aware of negative stereotypes about women’s lack of abilities in math and sciences. They are also working in an environment with an underrepresentation of female pr...
Ischemia/Reperfusion: A Potential Cause for Tissue Necrosis

There are many clinical conditions which are either caused or exacerbated by ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). While the wound care community has expanded its understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms surrounding the healing process, research involving the microcirculation and its impact on healing has been limited. Reasons for this include but are not limited to an emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of macrovascular disorders, the absence of surgical options directed at the microcirculation, and a limited number of pharmacologic and/or modality-based therapeutic options. There are also few well-accepted methods for the diagnosis of adequate tissue perfusion, and those that are available have not been transferred well from the lab to the bedside. Clinicians are therefore left with their experience and macro-level observations as a primary means for gauging successful outcomes. Once macro-level changes are apparent, however, it is often too late to intervene therapeutically thus limiting the potential efficacy of treatment options. In this chapter, we will describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the microcirculation and then focus on the consequences, both positive and negative, of the restoration of flow to ischemic tissue. New potentially useful diagnostic methods for assessing tissue perfusion and microcirculation will be presented along with a clinical case that will bring these didactic concepts into a real-world clinical setting. Finally, new treatment options that may mitigate the effects of ischemic reperfusion injury will be discussed.
Academic career construction: personnel documents as personal documents*

In this essay, I consider the implications of career construction theory for the writing and peer review of academic career narratives. I take tenure and promotion essays, employment letters, vitas...
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Multilevel Structural Equation Models with Random Slopes for Latent Covariates.

A maximum likelihood estimation routine for two-level structural equation models with random slopes for latent covariates is presented. Because the likelihood function does not typically have a closed-form solution, numerical integration over the random effects is required. The routine relies upon a method proposed by du Toit and Cudeck (Psychometrika 74(1):65–82, 2009) for reformulating the likelihood function so that an often large subset of the random effects can be integrated analytically, reducing the computational burden of high-dimensional numerical integration. The method is demonstrated and assessed using a small-scale simulation study and an empirical example.
Secondary organic aerosol formation from evaporated biofuels: comparison to gasoline and correction for vapor wall losses

With an ongoing interest in displacing petroleum-based sources of energy with biofuels, there is a need to measure and model the formation and composition of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from organic compounds present in biofuels. We performed chamber experiments to study SOA formation from four recently identified biofuel molecules and mixtures and commercial gasoline under high NOx conditions: diisobutylene, cyclopentanone, an alkylfuran mixture, and an ethanol-to-hydrocarbon (ETH) mixture. Cyclopentanone and diisobutylene had a significantly lower potential to form SOA compared to commercial gasoline, with SOA mass yields lower than or equal to 0.2%. The alkylfuran mixture had an SOA mass yield (1.6%) roughly equal to that of gasoline (2.0%) but ETH had an average SOA mass yield (11.5%) that was six times higher than that of gasoline. We used a state-of-the-science model to parameterize or simulate the SOA formation in the chamber experiments while accounting for the influence of vapor wall losses. Simulations performed with vapor wall losses turned off and at atmospherically relevant conditions showed that the SOA mass yields were higher than those measured in the chamber at the same photochemical exposure and were also higher than those estimated using a volatility basis set that was fit to the chamber data. The modeled SOA mass yields were higher primarily because they were corrected for vapor wall losses to the Teflon® chamber.
Bacteria SAVED from Viruses.

Increasingly, cyclic nucleotide second messengers are implicated in antiviral defense systems in bacteria and archaea as well as in eukaryotes. In this issue of Cell, Lowey et al. describe SAVED—a widespread, uncharacterized cyclic nucleotide sensor protein domain that activates cell defense systems. The structure of SAVED reveals links to the CRISPR system, which also generates cyclic nucleotides in response to viral infection.
Sustainable support solutions for community-based rehabilitation workers in refugee camps: piloting telehealth acceptability and implementation

The lack of training and education of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) workers poses one of the most significant barriers to receiving effective occupational, physical and speech therapy for individuals with disabilities in Low-to-Middle Income Countries (LMIC), especially in countries with significant refugee populations. The aim of this study was to successfully implement a telehealth support system for CBR workers, evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention’s implementation among CBR workers in the CBR setting, and further identify strategies to address the deficit of skilled rehabilitation workers in LMIC through technological intervention. This pilot study included CBR workers and CBR managers to inform feasibility, acceptability, and sustainable implementation. The RE-AIM and Dynamic Sustainability Framework were incorporated to guide procedural design, survey development, data collection, data evaluation, and increase success of telehealth implementation. CBR workers participate in trainings, telehealth sessions, surveys and focus groups to inform feasibility and acceptability. CBR Managers participated in focus groups to inform feasibility and sustainable implementation. NVIVO 12 Software was utilized to develop themes from CBR worker and CBR manager responses. Findings from this study demonstrate the need for additional training support for CBR workers in CBR settings throughout the entire treatment process. The telehealth system demonstrated successful short-term implementation across several domains of feasibility. Telehealth utilization was also proven acceptable, appropriate and necessary. Cultural beliefs, CBR worker training, and CBR Center infrastructure pose the most significant barriers to implementation of telehealth technologies in CBR Centers. CBR workers and managers confirmed the demand for future telehealth-based support systems, strengthening effort towards sustainability and scale-up. Telehealth can be utilized to support CBR workers that serve vulnerable and marginalized populations, and in turn improve the global health status among refugee populations by reducing inequitable access to quality health care. The results support the need for further research to rigorously evaluate effectiveness of telehealth interventions to support CBR workers.
Hyperbole or Reality? Investor Response to Extreme Language in Earnings Conference Calls

ABSTRACT We develop a dictionary of linguistic extremity in earnings conference calls, a setting where managers have considerable latitude in the language they use, to study the role of extreme lan...
Testing a 10 micron HgCdTe detector for ground-based exoplanet science

HgCdTe detectors with longer wavelength cutoffs were created for extending the lifetime of space-based applications because of their higher operating temperatures compared to arsenic doped silicon (Si:As) detectors. In addition to lower dark currents, the HgCdTe detectors also have higher quantum efficiencies compared to Si:As detectors. We are testing a HgCdTe detector with a 12.8 micron cutoff presented in Cabrera et al 2019 using HAWAII electronics in fast read-out mode to understand this array’s viability in instruments behind future ELT s that will directly image Earth-like planets. An f/100 system is required to operate the detector on a thirty meter diameter telescope without saturating, therefore we are the same f# system on the modified cryostat used to test and characterize the detector. We will present initial results on the detector’s quantum efficiency from 2 to 12 microns, read noise, dark current, and ability to tolerate flux levels that would be seen on future ELTs.
Partnerships between Agencies and Transportation Network Companies for Transportation-Disadvantage Populations: Benefits, Problems, and Challenges:

Transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft, offer a new mobility option to consumers. An increasing number of transit agencies work with TNCs, and different types of partnership...
Characterization of a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding task in non-deprived male and female rats: Role of Sigma-1 receptors.

Abstract Impulsive action can be defined as the inability to withhold a response and represents one of the dimensions of the broad construct impulsivity. Here, we characterized a modified differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) task developed in our laboratory, in which impulsive action is measured in ad libitum fed/watered subjects. Specifically, we first determined the effects of both sex and estrous cycle on impulsive action by systematically comparing male and estrous-synchronized female subjects. In addition, we evaluated the convergent validity of this modified DRL task by testing the effects of the D2R/5HT2AR antagonist, aripiprazole, and the noncompetitive NMDAR antagonist, MK-801. Finally, we tested the effects of the selective antagonist BD-1063 and agonist PRE-084 of Sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) on impulsive action using this modified DRL task. We found that female rats showed and increased inability to withhold a response when compared to males, and this effect was driven by the metestrus/diestrus phase of the estrous cycle. In addition, aripiprazole and MK-801 fully retained their capability to reduce and increase impulsive action, respectively. Finally, the selective Sig-1R antagonist, BD-1063 dose-dependently reduced the inability to withhold a response in both sexes, though more potently in female rats. In summary, we show that impulsive action, as measured in a modified DRL task which minimizes energy-homeostatic influences, is a function of both sex and estrous cycle. Furthermore, we validate the convergent validity of the task and provide evidence that Sig-1R antagonism may represent a novel pharmacological strategy to reduce impulsive action.
Characterization of Shear Resistance of Interlayer between Concrete Bridge Deck and Asphalt Concrete Overlay Utilizing Inclination Shear Test

AbstractHot-mix asphalt (HMA), which can be employed as a wearing course on concrete bridge decks, provides a smooth surface for riding. However, some bridge deck asphalt surfaces experienced layer...
Comparison of Computer-Generated and Simulated Motion Picture Displays in a Driving Simulation

An automotive driving simulator with a computer-generated display system, three axes of physical motion (roll, yaw, and lateral translation), sound, and vibration cues was used to investigate and compare human psychomotor response and vehicle response to different types of displays and motion cues. Subjects drove the simulated preprogrammed motion picture displays (MPDS), one being the standard computer-generated display (CGDS). Motion and no-motion conditions were instituted at each display level. Each data run included lane-keeping and lane-changing tasks for various simulated highway conditions. During lane changes under MPDS conditions, both preprogrammed and nonpreprogrammed simulator conditions were examined. Seven dependent variables were used to measure performance. Results of the experiment show that one level of the simulated preprogrammed MPDS produced performance similar to that of a CGDS in all seven measures, whereas the other levels differed significantly. This suggests that using a properly instrumented preprogrammed MPDS will not compromise experimental results for certain reserch and education experiments, and that in many cases an economical simulation using an MPDS would be adequate. /Author/
Selecting suppliers for a long-term relationship

The purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative methodology based on data envelopment analysis (DEA), including the constraint of ‘self-efficiency’ for supplier selection. This paper considers not only both product and process characteristics as outputs of the suppliers but also suppliers' self-efficiency, a prerequisite for the survival of the supplier in a competitive environment. Three extensions of DEA are employed and combined for ranking and selecting among self-efficient suppliers. A real example illustrates the applicability and discriminating power of the proposed model compared to a similar study.
Dead links, vaporcuts, and creativity in fan edit replication

In my examination of a Star Wars prequel trilogy fan edit reportedly made by Topher Grace, I introduce the term vaporcut to describe fan edits with reputations that may generate critical discourse but that are not publicly released. I explore the ways some fan editors attempt to recreate intangible projects but inevitably produce variant works that reflect their own creative perspectives.
Learning with Spectral Kernels and Heavy-Tailed Data

Two ubiquitous aspects of large-scale data analysis are that the data often have heavytailed properties and that diffusion-based or spectral-based methods are often used to identify and extract structure of interest. Perhaps surprisingly, popular distribution-independent methods such as those based on the VC dimension fail to provide nontrivial results for even simple learning problems such as binary classification in these two settings. In this paper, we develop distribution-dependent learning methods that can be used to provide dimensionindependent sample complexity bounds for the binary classification problem in these two popular settings. In particular, we provide bounds on the sample complexity of maximum margin classifiers when the magnitude of the entries in the feature vector decays according to a power law and also when learning is performed with the so-called Diffusion Maps kernel. Both of these results rely on bounding the annealed entropy of gap-tolerant classifiers in a Hilbert space. We provide such a bound, and we demonstrate that our proof technique generalizes to the case when the margin is measured with respect to more general Banach space norms. The latter result is of potential interest in cases where modeling the relationship between data elements as a dot product in a Hilbert space is too restrictive. Two ubiquitous aspects of large-scale data analysis are that the data often have heavy-tailed properties and that diffusion-based or spectral-based methods are often used to identify and extract structure of interest. In the absence of strong assumptions on the data, popular distributionindependent methods such as those based on the VC dimension fail to provide nontrivial results for even simple learning problems such as binary classification in these two settings. At root, the reason is that in both of these situations the data are formally very high dimensional and that (without additional regularity assumptions on the data) there may be a small number of “very outlying” data points. In this paper, we develop distribution-dependent learning methods that can be used to provide dimension-independent sample complexity bounds for the maximum margin version of the binary classification problem in these two popular settings. In both cases, we are able to obtain nearly optimal linear classification hyperplanes since the distribution-dependent tools we employ are able to control the aggregate effect of the “outlying” data points. In particular, our results will hold even though the data may be infinite-dimensional and unbounded.
Fossil Mangrove Reef of Key Biscayne, Florida

A small rock reef, extending along the northeastern shore of Key Biscayne, Florida, for a distance of about 400 yards and seaward for 115 yards, has been found to be composed of a framework of fossilized mangrove roots belonging to the black mangrove, Avicennia nitida. The roots, now turned into calcareous rods, are embedded in a friable calcareous-quartzitic sand which may be quickly washed away by wave action along the seaward edge of the reef. In this manner, a lattice of roots in their original position is exposed. It is believed that this may be the first reported occurrence of the fossilization of mangrove roots. Radiocarbon dating indicates the age of the rods to be between 1000 and 2000 years.
Principal Factors Affecting Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion of Carbon Steel

Abstract Laboratory-scale batch experiments (semicontinuously fed) were conducted using a two-level factorial experimental design to investigate principal factors and interactions affecting microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of carbon (C) steel. Factors considered included the C source as chemical oxygen demand (COD), sulfate (SO42−) concentration, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation, and bacteria inoculation at 20°C. Yates' algorithm was applied to calculate main and interaction effects, and an empirical model indicating major trends was obtained. Experimental results showed CaCO3 precipitation played a significant role in influencing the biocorrosion tendency of steel. In the supersaturated condition, SO42− concentration and bacterial inoculation had no appreciable effects on corrosion. In the undersaturated condition, the corrosion rate was affected significantly by SO42− concentration and bacterial inoculation. The effect of each factor on corrosion rate was explored.
Structural deformation monitoring with GPS: Operational issues

This paper discusses operational issues which affect the reliability and affordability of Global Positioning System (GPS)-based structural deformation monitoring systems. Two primary differences between GPS and most other sensors commonly used are the amount of data generated and the complexity of data processing functions. If these functions are not handled appropriately, operational costs can outweigh the relative benefits of GPS and make the system unaffordable. However, a significant amount of automation can be designed into the system to minimize labor costs and risk of human error.
The recurrence ratio

Abstract The rationale for and method of computing a measure of stuttering recurrence that is superior to methods previously developed is presented. This measure, the recurrence ratio, contrasts especially with the traditional measure of “consistency,” the percentage measure, which yields misleading values.
The penetration of drop-formed vortex rings into pools of liquid

Abstract Drops falling certain distances before impact with a pool of the same liquid produce vortex rings that penetrate more deeply into the pool. As a drop falls it oscillates in shape between prolate and oblate through spherical. Earlier researchers have stated that a spherical shape changing to prolate correlates with maximum vortex ring penetration and a spherical shape changing to oblate with minimum penetration. The work reported here in which the drop shape on impact was photographed does not support these views. Analysis of high-speed motion pictures of drop impact reveals that the shape of the crater caused by drop impact exerts a crucial influence on how deeply the drop-formed vortex ring penetrates the pool. A narrow crater formed by the impact of a prolate-shaped drop accompanies maximum vortex ring penetration. The narrow crater appears to aid vortex ring formation with minimum subsequent distortion and helps the vortex ring to detach readily from the crater.
Reflection detection of nanoparticles using whispering gallery microresonators

We report real time detection of individual nanoparticles down to R=20 nm using a high-Q whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonator. The detection is based on resonance enhanced particle induced reflection and does not require monitoring resonance spectra.
Black market exchange rate and the productivity bias hypothesis

Abstract Previous studies that tested the productivity bias hypothesis employed the official nominal exchange rate in constructing the real rate, hence, in testing the productivity bias hypothesis. In this paper we show that if official real exchange rate does not support the productivity bias hypothesis, the real black market rate does. This conjecture is tested by using data from Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
Safety of Strong, Static Magnetic Fields

Issues associated with the exposure of patients to strong, static magnetic fields during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are reviewed and discussed. The history of human exposure to magnetic fields is reviewed, and the contradictory nature of the literature regarding effects on human health is described. In the absence of ferromagnetic foreign bodies, there is no replicated scientific study showing a health hazard associated with magnetic field exposure and no evidence for hazards associated with cumulative exposure to these fields. The very high degree of patient safety in strong magnetic fields is attributed to the small value of the magnetic susceptibility of human tissues and to the lack of ferromagnetic components in these tissues. The wide range of susceptibility values between magnetic materials and human tissues is shown to lead to qualitatively differing behaviors of these materials when they are exposed to magnetic fields. Mathematical expressions are provided for the calculation of forces and torques.
Market-System Design Optimization With Consider-Then-Choose Models

Design optimization in market system research commonly relies on Discrete choice analysis (DCA) to forecast sales and revenues for different product variants. Conventional DCA, which represents consumer choice as a compensatory process through maximization of a smooth utility function, has proven to be reasonably accurate at predicting choice and interfaces easily with engineering models. However, the marketing literature has documented significant improvement in modeling choice with the use of models that incorporate both noncompensatory (descriptive) and compensatory (predictive) components. This noncompensatory component can, for example, model a “consider-then-choose” process in which potential customers first narrow their decisions to a small set of products using noncompensatory screening rules and then employ a compensatory evaluation to select from within this consideration set. This article presents solutions to a design optimization challenge that arises when demand is modeled with a consider-then-choose model: the choice probabilities are no longer continuous or continuously differentiable. We examine two different classes of methods to solve optimal design problems–genetic algorithms (GAs) and nonlinear programming (NLP) relaxations based on complementarity constraints–for consider-then-choose models whose screening rules are based on conjunctive (logical “and”) rules.
Electric field effects on the absorption spectra of H 2 near the ionization limit

The absorption cross section of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ has been measured in the region between 77.5 and 82.4 nm and the effects of electric fields up to 22 kV/cm on the cross sections have been investigated. The apparent cross section is found to be increased in the neighborhood of optically allowed transitions to $\mathrm{np}\ensuremath{\sigma}{^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}}^{+}$ and $\mathrm{np}\ensuremath{\pi}^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{u}$ states with $n=4\ensuremath{-}7$. This increase in absorption is attributed to field mixing with nearby optically forbidden states.
Does neighborhood deprivation modify the effect of preterm birth on children’s first grade academic performance?

Children's cognitive development and academic performance are linked to both fetal and early childhood factors, including preterm birth and family socioeconomic status. We evaluated whether the relationship between preterm birth (PTB) and first grade standardized test performance among Georgia public school students was modified by neighborhood deprivation in early childhood. The Georgia Birth to School cohort followed 327,698 children born in Georgia from 1998 to 2002 through to end-of-year first grade standardized tests. Binomial and log-binomial generalized estimating equations were used to estimate risk differences and risk ratios for the associations of both PTB and the Neighborhood Deprivation Index for the census tract in which each child's mother resided at the time of birth with test failure (versus passing). The presence of additive and multiplicative interaction was assessed. PTB was strongly associated with test failure, with increasing risk for earlier gestational ages. There was positive additive interaction between PTB and neighborhood deprivation. The main effect of PTB versus term birth increased risk of mathematics failure: 15.9% (95%CI: 13.3-18.5%) for early, 5.0% (95% CI: 4.1-5.9%) for moderate, and 1.3% (95%CI: 0.9-1.7%) for late preterm. Each 1 standard deviation increase in neighborhood deprivation was associated with 0.6% increased risk of mathematics failure. For children exposed to both PTB and higher neighborhood deprivation, test failure was 4.8%, 1.5%, and 0.8% greater than the sum of two main effects for early, moderate, and late PTB, respectively. Results were similar, but slightly attenuated, for reading and English/language arts. Our results suggest that PTB and neighborhood deprivation additively interact to produce greater risk among doubly exposed children than would be predicted from the sum of the effects of the two exposures. Understanding socioeconomic disparities in the effect of PTB on academic outcomes at school entry is important for targeting of early childhood interventions.
A model for technology transfer: Group-decision support systems and electronic meetings

The commercialization of research and development inventions is necessary for the US to enhance its industrial competitive position. Problems in technology transfer are attributed to a variety of causes, primary among them the intensive communications required between technology sources and users. In this paper, group-decision support systems and electronic meetings are used in designing a method that can enhance the exchange of ideas and the communication necessary to bring about a successful transaction of technology transfer.
Advances in the Evaluation and Management of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a neurocognitive disorder that affects up to 80% of cirrhotic patients. Similar to overt hepatic encephalopathy, ammonia and oxidative stress play key roles in the pathogenesis of MHE. However, MHE is characterized by subtle deficits and psychomotor abnormalities that can only be elicited by specialized psychometric tests. Although no gold standard exists for the diagnosis, MHE remains an important entity for clinicians to recognize because of its negative impact on a patient’s health-related quality of life and association with driving impairment and vehicle accidents. MHE has also been associated with an increased rate in the development of overt hepatic encephalopathy and increased mortality; therefore, identification and treatment should not be delayed. Treatment to date has been focused on reducing serum ammonia levels with agents such as lactulose, probiotics, and synbiotics. MHE is a real and growing problem that is epidemic in cirrhosis, and increasing awareness of this condition is necessary for adequate management of these patients.
Effect of sonic oscillation upon “old” and “new” nucleic acids in Escherichia coli

Abstract Exponentially growing cells or penicillin protoplasts of Escherichia coli were allowed to incorporate 32 P briefly. Cells, lysozyme lysates of cells, and osmotic lysates of penicillin protoplasts were subjected to sonic oscillation, followed by centrifugal fractionation and extraction of nucleic acids. 1. 1. DNA of untreated lysates was largely in the particulate fractions sedimenting at low centrifugal forces. Brief sonic treatment shifted most of this material into the high-speed supernatant. However, a small amount of DNA was not solubilized even after extensive sonic treatment, and this refractory material was very rich in newly-synthesized DNA. 2. 2. In lysates of whole cells, sonic oscillation did not alter the gross distribution of RNA between centrifugal fractions, but it did preferentially solubilize a very small amount of newly-synthesized RNA. In lysates of penicillin protoplasts, sonic oscillation solubilized much of the ribosomal RNA, but in this case the material shifted out of the particulate fractions had only the average content of newly-synthesized RNA. 3. 3. A possible interpretation of our findings is that the bacterial chromosome, like that of higher plants, replicates sequentially. According to this view, DNA synthesis is continuous only in the sense that some of a cell's DNA is replicating at any instant, not that all DNA is continuously involved in the replication process. Some of our results suggest that when a given portion of the genome is not replicating it may be participating in RNA synthesis.
Physical Activity, Brain Plasticity, and Alzheimer's Disease

In this review we summarize the epidemiological, cross-sectional, and interventional studies examining the association between physical activity and brain volume, function, and risk for Alzheimer's disease. The epidemiological literature provides compelling evidence that greater amounts of physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of dementia in late life. In addition, randomized interventions using neuroimaging tools have reported that participation in physical activity increases the size of prefrontal and hippocampal brain areas, which may lead to a reduction in memory impairments. Consistent with these findings, longitudinal studies using neuroimaging tools also find that the volume of prefrontal and hippocampal brain areas are larger in individuals who engaged in more physical activity earlier in life. We conclude from this review that there is convincing evidence that physical activity has a consistent and robust association with brain regions implicated in age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. In addition to summarizing this literature we provide recommendations for future research on physical activity and brain health.
Error analysis of angle of incidence measurements

Abstract Variation of the angle of incidence offers a simple experimental method of increasing the number of unknown optical parameters that can be determined from ellipsometric measurements on a complex reflecting structure. A general method of extracting unknown parameters from a series of experimental measurements is discussed. A numerical analysis of the experimental sensitivity of this method when applied to the simultaneous determination of the thickness and complex refractive index of a thin film on a gold substrate is presented.
An X-Ray Selected List of QSOs: Implications for the QSO Luminosity Function and the Origin of the Diffuse X-Ray Background

For the past two years we have conducted a program aimed at optical identification of x-ray sources discovered serendipitously by the Einstein Observatory. We obtain spectroscopy of all visible objects in the positional error boxes of the new sources, and have thus far examined about 120 such boxes to a limiting flux of V=18.5 and.010 Einstein IPC counts/sec. Among our findings are the discovery of 50 previously unreported active galactic nuclei (QSOs or compact Seyferts), ranging in redshift from z=0.03 through z=1.40. This list of identifications has a distribution of red-shift with flux quite different from an optically or radio selected sample. The implications of these differences are twofold. First, new constraints are available on the form and evolution of the luminosity function of quasars. Secondly, there are interesting inferences regarding the contribution of QSOs to the diffuse x-ray background radiation. Previous studies of radio-selected QSOs have shown a strong correlation between radio and x-ray luminosity, thus providing a warning that conclusions regarding the composition of the background radiation based on such studies of preselected objects must be regarded with extreme caution. Our program avoids this basic selection effect, and provides new insight into the problem of the contribution of discrete sources to the background radiation.
Shifted tableaux, Schur Q -functions, and a conjecture of R. Stanley

Abstract We present an analog of the Robinson-Schensted correspondence that applies to shifted Young tableaux and is considerably simpler than the one proposed in [ B. E. Sagan, J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 27 (1979) , 10–18]. In addition, this algorithm enjoys many of the important properties of the original Robinson-Schensted map including an interpretation of row lengths in terms of k-increasing sequences, a jeu de taquin, and a generalization to tableaux with repeated entries analogous to Knuth's construction ( Pacific J. Math. 34 (1970) , 709–727). The fact that the Knuth relations hold for our algorithm yields a simple proof of a conjecture of Stanley.
Small sample validity of latent variable models for correlated binary data

Recently developed models for correlated binary responses assume that the binary outcomes are manifestations of latent normal variables. In these models, the covariance structure is based on the tetrachoric correlations and is more flexible than similar models which use Pearson correlations. The parameters are estimated by the approach of generalized estimating equations(GEE). This simulation study investigation the impact of sample size and incorrectly assuming an independence model on parameter estimates in terms of bias, efficiency and coverage probability is close to the nomial level unless the sample is small (≤20), or an incorrect independence model is assumed for correlated unbalanced data. Methods for reducing bias are proposed using a weighed jackknife technique
Negotiating Your License

To obtain access to electronic resources, libraries must enter into contractually binding license agreements with vendors. Since libraries spend an ever-increasing amount of money every year on resources, it is incumbent upon librarians to develop carefully prepared procedural guidelines for use in the negotiation of licenses. The guidelines will help ensure that all major issues are addressed in the license, thus offering the library and the university maximum protection and flexibility. This paper describes a procedural framework developed by the University of South Alabama Biomedical Library to be used when negotiating licenses with vendors of electronic materials.
On Cometary Theory and Typology From Nechepso-Petosiris Through Apuleius To Servius

In summary we have as follows, leaving aside here the complex and important cometary theories of the pre-socratics, Aristotle, and the Stoics. First, ca. 145-35 B.C.E. Nechepso-Petosiris wrote a book of astrology including a passage on cometary prognosis based on heavenly region of appearance. He (they?) assumed that comets were fiery (the standard theory of the era) without further ado. His view of comets seems to be that they appear in, move toward, or pause in, any quadrant of the sky. Their descriptions are irrelevant to their nature, serving only to identify them. Within the next century five further books were written. Epigenes refined the standard theory with details about whirl-winds and the like (Sen. QN 7.4-10), referred to the Chaldaians (sc. Nechepso-Petosiris?), was also an astrologer (cp. Pliny 7.160, 193), and has the simplest view of the planets (when they seem close together they are: Sen. QN 7.4.2) 82 ). Although fundamentally Epigenes' theory is simple, it seems to have involved a detailed reworking of Aristotle's theory (Sen. QN 7.4.2-4, cp. Pliny 2.82 anonymous) 83 ), perhaps making use of Hipparchos or of Hipparchos' Babylonian sources (note Pliny 7.193: Epigenes apud Babylonios ... obseruationes siderum coctilibus laterculis inscriptas docet). First, the three outer planets by their conjunctions generate thunder and lightning (fulgurationes being watery, fulmina containing the dry exhalation). Then the events called trabes and faces are formed from
Molecular mechanism for missense suppression in E. coli.

THE missense mutation trpA36 results in a Gly (GGA)→Arg (AGA) amino acid substitution at position 211 of the tryptophan synthetase A protein1. Suppressors of trpA36 have been derived by mutation in glyT, the gene specifying tRNAGGA/GGly 2, and in glyU, which specifies tRNAGGGGly 1 (refs 2–4). Transfer RNA from strains carrying either of the glyTsuA36 or glyUsuA36 alleles inserts glycine into polypeptides, in vitro and in vivo, in response to the arginine codon, AGA3,5,6. We report here a comparison of the nucleotide sequences of tRNAGGA/GGly 2 and tRNAsuA36(HA)Gly 2; the glyTsuA36(HA) mutation results in a C→U base change at the 3′-end of the anticodon of tRNAGGA/GGly 2, which causes a subsequent, enzyme-catalysed modification of the A directly adjacent to the 3′-end of the anticodon.
Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of the Impurities in Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotides

Abstract Commercial preparations of several different nicotine adenine dinucleotides were examined by liquid chromatography on an octadecylsilane column (Margolis, S., et al., Clin. Chem., 22, 1322, 1976). Seven impurity peaks were detected in NADP+, eight in NADPH, and five in NAD+. The estimated purity of NADP+ from different commercial suppliers varied from 89 to 95 percent. For NADPH the purity ranged from 77.5 to 96 percent and for NAD+ from 90 to 93.5 percent. Preparations of NAD+ contained AMP, ADPR, nicotinamide, and two unidentified impurities. The impurities found in NADP+ and NADPH preparations did not correspond to compounds that we could identify. Four of the impurity peaks found in NADPH form under acidic storage conditions. Five of the impurity peaks observed in NADP+ and three of the impurity peaks in NAD+ form as products of alkali-catalyzed rearrangements.
Bait and Switch: Synthetic GEFs Divert an Input Signal to Diverse Cellular Responses

The Rho family GTPases regulate many cellular functions including the organization, mechanics, and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. Re-engineering the highly conserved autoinhibitory structure of GEFs, Yeh et al. (2007) generated novel synthetic proteins that regulated Rho GTPase signaling and cell morphology, highlighting the power of protein module engineering.
A Study of the Affective Responses Elicited by Occupational Stimuli.

Abstract In this study the semantic differential was used to assess the properties of affect elicited by occupational stimuli. Vocationally committed men studying medicine ( N = 119), business ( N = 120), and engineering ( N = 83) responded to a semantic differential containing occupational concepts representing the fields of medicine, business, engineering, the clergy, and law enforcement. A factor analysis of the data yielded a semantic space for all three groups composed of three orthogonal dimensions of affect called Evaluation, Activity, and Potency, in that order of salience. Tests of factorial similarity indicated that the semantic spaces of the three groups were virtually identical. It was concluded that occupational stimuli elicit Evaluative, Activity, and Potency responses, and that all three affective dimensions should be used when predicting occupational behavior.
Footholds and foundations: setting freshmen on the path to lifelong learning

Purpose – The paper seeks to provide an empirical study demonstrating the value of one‐shot instruction assessment, and student learning, with the software, LISA.Design/methodology/approach – This is an outcome‐based quantitative study, using performance‐based software for assessment.Findings – The University of North Texas librarians developed Library Instruction Software for Assessment (LISA) to assess one‐shot library instruction sessions. The study used a pre‐test, post‐test and post‐post‐test to test freshmen in English classes. The pre‐test revealed that students had more difficultly using some tools more than others, namely the catalog. The post‐test showed that student performance searching the catalog and Academic Search Premier improved with library instruction. However, students' ability to find the “Help page” decreased. This decreased number was attributed to the importance of teaching navigation skills in library instruction sessions. The post‐post‐test taken at the end of the semester demon...
Torsion of a Viscoelastic Cylinder

Finite torsional deformations of an incompressible viscoelastic circular cylinder are studied with its material modeled by two constitutive relations. One of these is a linear relation between the determinate part of the second Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor and the time history of the Green-St. Venant strain tensor, and the other a linear relation between the deviatoric Cauchy stress tensor and the left Cauchy-Green tensor, its inverse, and the time history of the relative Green-St. Venant strain tensor. It is shown that the response predicted by the latter constitutive relation is in better agreement with the test data, and this constitutive relation is used to compute energy dissipated during torsional oscillations of the cylinder.
Photoionization-pumped x-ray lasers using ultrashort-pulse excitation

Recent advances in the production of ultrashort x-ray pulses by using femtosecond laser-produced plasmas coupled with the development of terawatt ultrashort-pulse lasers may make possible ultrashortpulse photoexcited x-ray lasers. I examine the creation of a population inversion on the K-alpha transition of neon at 1.5 nm by using the photoionization scheme first suggested by Duguay and Rentzepis in 1967. It is shown that this laser can be produced by using a pump laser of ~ 10 J in 50 fs, provided that a sufficiently bright laser-produced plasma x-ray source can be created. Recent experimental and theoretical results are discussed that verify the potential feasibility of this scheme.
Observations on variation in the ultrastructure of the proximal testicular ducts of the Ground Skink, Scincella lateralis (Reptilia: Squamata).

The North American Ground Skink, Scin- cella lateralis, is a member of the most speciose family of lizards, the Scincidae. The only descriptions of the testicu- lar ducts of skinks concern the light microscopy of 13 species in eight other genera. We combine histological observations with results from transmission electron microscopy on a sample of skinks collected throughout the active season. The single rete testis has squamous epithe- lium with a large, indented nucleus and no junctional complexes between cells or conspicuous organelles. Nuclei of sperm in the rete testis area are associated with cyto- plasmic bodies that are lost in the ductuli efferentes. The ductuli efferentes have both ciliated and nonciliated cells and show little seasonal variation except for the narrowing of intercellular canaliculi when sperm are absent. When the ductus epididymis contains sperm, the anterior one- third lacks copious secretory material around luminal sperm, whereas in the posterior two-thirds sperm are em- bedded in a dense matrix of secretory material. Light and dark principal cells exist and both contain saccular, often distended rough endoplasmic reticula, and widened intercellular canaliculi that bridge intracellular spaces. Junctional complexes are lacking between principal cells except for apical tight junctions. Electron-dense secretory granules coalesce at the luminal border for apocrine release. The cranial end of the ductus deferens is similar in cytology to the posterior ductus epididymis. Each of the nine squamates in which the proximal testicular ducts have been studied with electron microscopy has some unique characters, but no synapomorphies for squamates as a group are recognized. J. Morphol. 274:429-446, 2013. 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A microprocessor-based psychopathology laboratory: IV. Software design

Software designed for the microprocessor-based psychopathology laboratory provides a powerful data collection and maintenance package. A library of prepackaged well-documented program modules has been developed to aid in developing and maintaining programs to administer experiments, to store, retrieve, and interpret data. A simple, but powerful, data base system allows new experiments to be incorporated easily, and obsolete experiments to be deleted. The data collection programs are independent of the general data base, permitting them to be moved to dedicated remote systems as necessary. The data are stored in raw form to permit the researcher to try novel approaches in interpreting existing data.