cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Doxorubicin selection for MDR1/P-glycoprotein reduces swelling-activated K+ and Cl- currents in MES-SA cells

To test the hypothesis that P-glycoprotein enhances swelling currents through regulation of volume-sensitive Cl- channels [recently termed VSOAC (volume-sensitive osmolyte and anion channel)], a human uterine sarcoma cell line (MES-SA) and its doxorubicin-selected counterpart (Dx5) were studied. P-glycoprotein mRNA and protein levels were detected only in Dx5 cells. However, whole cell patch-clamp experiments showed that swollen Dx5 cells (n = 5) produced smaller VSOAC currents than MES-SA cells (n = 4; 106 +/- 26 pA/pF vs. 232 +/- 76 pA/pF at 90 mV). In radioisotopic efflux experiments, both swelling-activated 125I (Cl-) currents (n = 15) and 86Rb (K+) currents (n = 8) were found to be two-to fourfold smaller in the Dx5 (high P-glycoprotein) cells. Inhibitors of P-glycoprotein showed no specificity for the doxorubicin-selected cells (Dx5). Dideoxyforskolin (100 microM) blocked swelling-activated 125I efflux equally in both cell lines, whereas 100 microM verapamil had no effect. Thus, in this cell line, selection for P-glycoprotein expression is associated with reduced swelling currents. These findings suggest that P-glycoprotein expression does not directly facilitate VSOAC.
Physiological, pathological, and engineered cell identity reprogramming in the central nervous system

Multipotent neural stem cells persist in restricted regions of the adult mammalian central nervous system. These proliferative cells differentiate into diverse neuron subtypes to maintain neural homeostasis. This endogenous process can be reprogrammed as a compensatory response to physiological cues, traumatic injury, and neurodegeneration. In addition to innate neurogenesis, recent research has demonstrated that new neurons can be engineered via cell identity reprogramming in non-neurogenic regions of the adult central nervous system. A comprehensive understanding of these reprogramming mechanisms will be essential to the development of therapeutic neural regeneration strategies that aim to improve functional recovery after injury and neurodegeneration. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:499–517. doi: 10.1002/wdev.234 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website
Reviewing the Outcomes and Principles of Effective Instruction

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the outcomes of effective instruction and the importance of those outcomes. The ultimate outcome of effective instruction is that students become lifelong learners. To become lifelong learners, students must learn both content and how to learn independently. Neither is not possible nor is it the responsibility of education to teach everything that the students need to know. It is especially important that students are fluent in tool skills that are necessary for higher-order learning and complex problem solving. The final outcome, being able to work independently, is critical if students are to succeed and to continue to learn beyond the classroom. Ultimately, to be lifelong learners, students need to be able to work independently with what they have already learned and they need to be able to continue to learn new information on their own. Effective instruction provides many opportunities for students to respond, so that they can make the response a part of their repertoire. Watching a competent model is informative and helpful, but students become competent when they actually practice the responses themselves.
Günther and Leibniz-Wolff

(1948). Gunther and Leibniz-Wolff. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 30-39.
Mesenteric ischemia following the correction of adult spinal deformity: case report

Vascular complications are an important adverse event that can be associated with spinal reconstructive surgery. Direct injury of vessels, or indirect traction or compression of vessels, can cause both arterial and venous injury. Indirect compression of the mesenteric vessels is a well-recognized complication of bracing and surgical care of children with spinal deformity (superior mesenteric artery syndrome), but the complication is not common or well recognized in the adult population with spinal deformity. The purpose of this case report is to detail the case of postoperative mesenteric ischemia in a 63-year-old man in whom a posterior approach was used to perform spinal deformity correction. Preoperatively, the patient had had significant lumbar hypolordosis. The reconstructive surgery with the use of posterior-based osteotomies resulted in a shortening of the posterior column of the spine but a relative lengthening of structures anterior to the spine. The significant lordosis achieved by the surgery led to an acute worsening of the mesenteric stenosis suffered by the patient. He required a vascular surgery intervention to restore perfusion to the bowel. Recognition of severe vasculopathy is important in anticipating potential postoperative vascular insufficiency. This case report will inform surgeons and clinicians to have a higher index of suspicion for the exacerbation of vascular insufficiency, including mesenteric pathology, in patients undergoing surgery that involves significant realignment of the spine. Preoperative recognition of vascular insufficiency and treatment of symptomatic disease may limit the occurrence of postoperative vascular complications in spinal reconstructive surgery.
Poster: Occupancy State Detection using WiFi Signals

A large amount of energy could be saved by detecting home occupancy and automatically controlling the lights, HVAC, water heating, and other mechanical systems. Existing systems rely on motion information, which usually fail to detect occupied rooms with stationary people. In this project, we study the possibility of converting commodity WiFi access points to occupancy sensors by exploiting multipath reflections as individual spatial sensors. The proposed method measures fine-grained distortions caused by human body on phase and amplitude of WiFi signals. Our initial results suggest that formulating WiFi parameters into angle of arrival provides a more sensitive metric to measure occupancy.
Strike-Induced Chemosensory Searching in Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Viridis) as a Function of Disturbance Prior to Presentation of Rodent Prey

Prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) exhibited higher rates of tongue flicking after striking and envenomating a mouse than after seeing, smelling, or detecting the warmth of a mouse. Thus, as in several previous studies, chemosensory searching subserved by the vomeronasal system was activated consequent to the delivery of a successful predatory strike. This effect, however, was not observed when the snakes were disturbed (by handling or transportation to a new environment) just prior to being exposed to mice. The same kinds of disturbance did not interfere with strike-induced chemosensory searching in specimens of C. enyo, which are characteristically less likely than C. viridis to exhibit ritualized defensive patterns (Rdps) consequent to disturbance. Thus, for C. enyo the predatory reaction chain appears to be immune or closed to at least some disturbing influences and runs to completion once initiated by a strike. For C. viridis, on the other hand, the chain is vulnerable to interference, probably because cues which elicit Rdps receive attentional priority. It is now interesting to ask if C. viridis eventually will exhibit chemosensory searching after the Rdps subside (usually 10-15 min are required for this); that is, do the animals have a memory system which will cause them to begin searching for the en-venomated prey after the hiatus (retention interval) created by RDPs.
Science to Practice: Molecular-targeted Drug Delivery in Combination with Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Cancer: A Magic Bullet?

By achieving higher chemotherapeutic drug concentrations in target lesions, fewer toxic effects, and improved survival end points in an animal tumor model, the authors conclude that superior tumor treatment with radiofrequency ablation is possible when combined with molecular-targeted drug delivery systems.
English Narrative Language Growth Across the School Year: Young Spanish–English Dual Language Learners:

This study aimed to describe the narrative retell performance of dual language learners (DLLs) in the fall and spring of the school year and examine predictive relationships. Participants included ...
Calcium in the diet: food sources, recommended intakes, and nutritional bioavailability.

Calcium nutritional status among some groups in the United States is suboptimal when judged by calcium intakes and the high prevalence of osteoporosis. Unfortunately, however, it is not clear that increases in calcium intake will have a significant impact on osteoporosis or other chronic diseases that have been linked to calcium nutriture. There is still considerable controversy surrounding the issue of calcium RDAs. The body's ability to adapt to varying levels of calcium intakes, the lack of sensitive indicators of calcium status, and the complexity and slow progression of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis make it very difficult to establish the role of diet in this regard. Great progress has been made in the study of calcium absorption. Much is known about the mechanisms involved in calcium absorption and its regulation. Thus, a rapidly advancing field and further developments will be invaluable to our understanding of the role of diet in calcium nutrition. Calcium bioavailability is affected by diet composition and the chemical form of calcium in foods. The calcium in dairy products is readily absorbed in the intestine. Lactose enhances calcium absorption efficiency under some conditions. Components of plants such as fiber, phytate, and oxalic acid may depress calcium absorption. High intakes of protein increase urinary losses of calcium but this effect may be partially offset by the phosphate association with most high-protein foods. Calcium absorption from salts used in supplement tablets is generally good. Absorption from salts such as calcium carbonate which require acid for dissolution may be poor in persons with achlorhydria unless the tablets are consumed with a meal. The practical significance of factors that may alter calcium bioavailability in normal mixed diets is difficult to assess. It may be a significant factor when calcium intakes are marginal or when absorption by the active transport, vitamin D-dependent process is impaired or not fully developed, i.e., it may be significant when vitamin D status is poor, in the elderly, and in young infants.
Capturing user intent for information retrieval

We study the problem of employing a cognitive user model for information retrieval in which knowledge about a user is captured and used for improving retrieval performance and user satisfaction. In this proposed research, we improve retrieval performance and user satisfaction for information retrieval by building a user model to capture user intent dynamically through analyzing behavioral information from retrieved relevant documents, and by combining captured user intent with the elements of an information retrieval system. We use decision theoretic principles and bayesian networks for building this model. The novelties of our approach lie with the fine-grained representation of the model, the ability to learn user knowledge incrementally and dynamically, the integration of user intent and system elements for improving retrieval performance and the unified evaluation framework to assess the accuracy of user intent captured and effectiveness of our model.
Cyclic Deformation of Intermetallic Alloys

Recent studies of fatigue behavior of intermetallic alloys under both stress and strain control conditions are reviewed. Effects of composition, temperature, frequency and environment on high cycle fatigue, crack growth and low cycle fatigue are discussed. In addition, crack initiation phenomena in Ni3Al single crystals are described and a new model of fatigue crack initiation is outlined.
Profiling Immune Expression to Consider Repurposing Therapeutics for the Ichthyoses.

Despite extensive discovery about the mutations underlying genetic skin disorders, there have been few therapeutic advances. Better understanding of the molecular changes that may lead to the phenotypic manifestations of genetic disorders may lead to the discovery of new pharmacologic interventions. The ichthyoses are characterized by scaling, inflammation, and an impaired epidermal barrier. Recent studies have uncovered T helper type 17 skewing in ichthyotic skin, resembling psoriasis, and high frequencies of IL-17– and IL-22–expressing T cells in blood, correlating with severity and transepidermal water loss. Repurposing systemic T helper type 17/IL-23–inhibitory therapies for psoriasis may prove useful for patients with ichthyosis.
An evaluation of arytenoid prolapse following laryngotracheal reconstruction

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) is a collection of procedures used to treat pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis. Arytenoid prolapse is a potential postoperative complication that may lead to upper airway obstruction. This study investigates the incidence, risk factors, and need for surgical intervention for post-LTR arytenoid prolapse. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. METHODS The charts of 107 patients who underwent a total of 119 LTR procedures between 2005 and 2018 at a tertiary free-standing children's hospital were reviewed. RESULTS The incidence of post-LTR arytenoid prolapse was 7.6%. Age, glottic involvement, tracheostomy status, vocal cord paralysis, and balloon dilation had no effect on arytenoid prolapse development. Sixteen percent of procedures performed in children 8 kg (P = .036). One hundred percent 100% of patients with post-LTR arytenoid prolapse had placement of a posterior graft. Multivariate analysis confirmed both weight <8 kg and posterior graft use to be significantly associated with arytenoid prolapse (P = .027 and .039, respectively). Three of the nine patients with arytenoid prolapse were symptomatic and weighed <8 kg at time of surgery. One required voice therapy; two required surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of arytenoid prolapse is 7.6% following LTR. Patients undergoing posterior graft LTR or weigh <8 kg at time of surgery are more likely to develop arytenoid prolapse. Children <8 kg at time of surgery who develop arytenoid prolapse are more likely to be symptomatic and require further intervention. These findings are valuable for preoperative risk assessment of pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 130:247-251, 2020.
Quantitative PCR for Listeria monocytogenes with Colorimetric Detection

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was developed to detect and quantify Listeria monocytogenes in food products. The bacterial DNA was extracted from artificially contaminated food and co-amplified with a synthetic internal standard (IS) using primers specific for the target gene coding for the invasive-associated protein (i.a.p.), a virulence factor of L. monocytogenes (i.a.p.) or IS in the presence of fluorescein-dUTP PCR products were hybridized with biotinylated probes designed for the i.a.p. or IS, and then the hybrids were bound to a streptavidin-coated ELISA plate. An alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antibody to fluorescein was added to the plate and in the presence of substrate, PCR products were quantitated based on an optical density reading. The detection limit for L. monocytogenes experimentally inoculated into milk samples and channel catfish fillets was 20 CFU/ml and 1-2 CFU/g, respectively. Little or no cross reaction was detected in the presence of other spoilage and pathogenic organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The ELISA-mediated PCR technique, when compared to traditional methods, is more rapid (2 working days) for detecting and quantifying L. monocytogenes.
1036. Clinical impact of an antibiotic time out initiative at an academic medical center

Background The Infectious Diseases Society of America’s guideline for implementing antibiotic (abx) stewardship recommends routine review of abx use. Several studies demonstrate antibiotic time out (ATO) programs result in de-escalation, but there is limited evidence of improved outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of ATO.
MILP Modeling of Targeted False Load Data Injection Cyberattacks to Overflow Transmission Lines in Smart Grids

Cyber attacks on transmission lines are one of the main challenges in security of smart grids. These targeted attacks, if not detected, might cause cascading problems in power systems. This paper proposes a bi-level mixed integer linear programming (MILP) optimization model for false data injection on targeted buses in a power system to overflow targeted transmission lines. The upper level optimization problem outputs the optimized false data injections on targeted load buses to overflow a targeted transmission line without violating bad data detection constraints. The lower level problem integrates the false data injections into the optimal power flow problem without violating the optimal power flow constraints. A few case studies are designed to validate the proposed attack model on IEEE 118-bus power system.
Living with terminal hepatocellular carcinoma: The patient and family perspective.

e20702 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a growing problem worldwide; incidence of HCC in the U.S. has increased from 1.4 to 2.4 per 100,000 primarily because of people infected by hepa...
Differential Activation of Unconventional T Cells, Including iNKT Cells, in Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND Liver is enriched in several innate-like unconventional T cells, but their role in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is not fully understood. Studies in several acute alcohol feeding models but not in chronic alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) model have shown that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play a pathogenic role in ALD. Here, we investigated the activation of iNKT cells in an intragastric (iG) infusion model of chronic ASH as well as the frequency and cytokine phenotype of 3 different unconventional T cells: iNKT, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT), and CD8+ CD161hi Vα7.2- cells in peripheral blood of ALD patients. METHODS Hepatic iNKT cells were investigated using the iG model of chronic ASH that combines feeding of high-cholesterol/high-fat diet (HCFD) with intragastric feeding of ethanol diet (HCFD + iG Alc). Human iNKT, MAIT, and CD8+ CD161hi Vα7.2- cells were examined by flow cytometry in peripheral blood of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) and chronic alcoholics (ChA) and compared with healthy controls. RESULTS In the iG model of chronic ASH, IFNγ+ iNKT cells accumulate in their livers compared with pair-fed control mice and activated hepatic iNKT cells show high expression of Fas and FasL. Notably, IFNγ+ iNKT cells are also significantly increased in peripheral blood of ChA patients compared with SAH patients. MAIT cells are significantly reduced in all ALD patients, but CD8+ CD161hi Vα7.2- cells are increased in SAH patients. Although MAIT and CD8+ CD161hi Vα7.2- cells displayed a similar cytokine production profile, the production of IFNγ and TNFα is significantly increased in SAH patients, while significant IL-17A production is found in ChA patients. CONCLUSIONS We found that the 3 unconventional T cells are activated in ALD patients showing interesting differences in their frequency and cytokine production profile between SAH and ChA patients. In the iG murine model of chronic ASH, iNKT cells are also activated secreting proinflammatory cytokines suggesting their involvement in liver disease.
Trekking and toddlers: Towards a biocultural analysis of growth among infants and young children in a rural region of the Himalayas.

Objectives Rapid socioeconomic change, associated with development and a growing tourism industry is occurring across the Himalayas. The health impact of this rapid economic development is poorly understood, especially for infants and young children. This study investigated the associations between village level economic differences as indexed by economic development and tourism engagement on infant and young child growth and health in a population of ethnic Tibetans living in the western Himalayas of Nepal. Methods One hundred and fifty nine infants and young children (ages 1-24 months) were enrolled. Anthropometric data (height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness) were collected at a single time point. Village level measurements of tourism and market engagement were incorporated into a scale measuring tourism, healthcare, trail access, agriculture, and involvement in medicinal trade. Village level disease patterns were calculated from morbidity and mortality recalls collected since 2003. Results There were no significant associations between infant weight for age z-score (WAZ), length for age z-score (LAZ), or weight-for-length for age z-score (WLZ) and village altitude, village economic development score, or engagement in tourism. Males had significantly higher LAZ, WAZ, and WLZ compared to females; only females showed a decline in LAZ with age. Triceps skinfold thickness z-score (ZTSF) was inversely associated with village level economic development score in male but not female infants; females ZTSF was positively associated with IYC age. Conclusions While overall size for age indices (WAZ, LAZ, WLZ) were not associated with altitude or village economic development in this population, ZTSF was inversely associated with village economic development in males but not females.
Preparing elementary education teacher candidates to teach with technology: The role of modeling

In teacher education programs, modeling from both teacher education faculty and clinical educators in schools can support teacher candidates’ adoption of new instructional practices. This study exa...
Integrating genetics, morphology, and fungal host specificity in conservation studies of a vulnerable, selfing, mycoheterotrophic orchid

ABSTRACT Mycoheterotrophic plants derive most or all carbon and nutrients from fungal partners and represent poorly understood components of forest biodiversity. Many are rare or endangered yet can be ecological indicators of forest ecosystem function due to their often highly specific fungal host requirements. One such species is the IUCN red-listed (‘vulnerable’), fully mycoheterotrophic orchid, Corallorhiza bentleyi. This recently described species is among the rarest plants in Appalachia, known from five counties in Virginia and West Virginia, USA. The species has a restricted range, small population size, and is self-pollinating. Here we take an integrative approach to conservation genetic assessment in C. bentleyi using floral morphometrics, simple-sequence repeats, and fungal host DNA to characterize variation within and among sampling localities. Morphology reveals some differentiation among individuals from six sampling localities. Surprisingly, most genetic variation is found within localities, contra to the expectation for a selfing species. Fungal host DNA reveals extreme specificity upon a few genotypes of a single ectomycorrhizal host species, Tomentella fuscocinerea, across all localities. We discuss the conservation implications of morphological, genetic, and symbiotic diversity in this vulnerable species, and recommend additional assessment of conservation status based on: an obligate reproductive mode of selfing, preventing benefits of outcrossing among genetically non-identical individuals; extreme host specificity, severely restricting niche space; and highly fragmented habitat under threat from anthropogenic disturbance. This study underscores the importance of integrative conservation assessment, analyzing multiple data sources, and reveals patterns not readily apparent from census-based assessments alone.
Designing the Tax Supermajority Requirement

States are rekindling the trend of broad constitutional amendments that require supermajority approval to create or increase taxes. This trend may inadvertently harm states’ already precarious fiscal footing, particularly with several new imminent expenditure demands. States can minimize negative economic consequences, however, through proper supermajority requirement design. This Article makes three contributions. First, it examines broad constitutional tax supermajority requirements’ history, asserted justifications, and effectiveness. This examination concludes that the motivations underlying the first and second supermajority waves differ importantly from those underlying the possible third wave. Recognizing this novel motivation—signaling low-tax competitive advantage—allows this Article to present optimal supermajority provision design principles. Second, this Article investigates several new sources that can generate immense tax revenue for states, but that will likely be obstructed by tax supermajority provisions if not designed properly. This Article also identifies several expenditure demands that are unlikely to be satisfied without new or increased taxes. Finally, this Article presents tax supermajority requirement design principles that achieve a strong low-tax signaling function while allowing flexibility to maintain a low-tax competitive advantage. Fundamentally, the constitutional tax supermajority requirement should expressly encompass personal income tax, business taxes, and fees, while excluding transaction taxes. If a state decides to pursue a broad tax supermajority requirement, these design principles will best position a state to attract businesses and wealthy individuals while also achieving fiscal stability.
Health programming priorities among faith communities in Jefferson County, Alabama

This paper details findings from interviews with 32 faith leaders regarding their interest in and preferences for collaborative health partnerships with an academic center. Participants were willin...
Russia’s Banking Sector in 2018

As of January 1, 2019, the Russian banking system numbered 484 credit organizations. A year earlier then number stood at 542. During the year the number decreased by 58 organizations. Six years ago at the beginning of 2013, the number of credit organizations exceeded one thousand (1094). The Bank of Russia policy aimed at clearing the banking sector has triggered a reduction of the number of banks in operation. Over this period, the Bank of Russia withdrew more than 400 banking licenses. From late 2014 the policy aimed at withdrawing from the market those credit organizations which do not satisfy the requirements of the regulator coincided with the deterioration of the situation in the Russian economy and the imposition of international sanctions on major Russian banks. Correspondingly, already from 2014 the rate of banking license revocation has increased. When in 2013, around 4–5 banks on average per month lost their licenses then in 2014 the rate of banking license revocation increased to 7 lending organizations per month, and during the time of peak manifestations of crisis in the Russian economy and financial system seen in 2015–2016 on average 8 credit organizations per month lost the right to continue their banking activity. The number of revoked banking licenses peaked in 2016: the number of revoked licenses during that year hit 97. Moreover, 2016 saw the peak on the aggregate amount of the bank assets of the banks which lost their banking licenses: RUB 1.7 trillion or 2.0 percent of the overall volume of the banking sector assets.
Polypeptide-based batteries toward sustainable and cyclic manufacturing

Mass demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) consumes enormous resources, thus having a great impact on the battery supply chain. It is essential to create a sustainable manufacturing cycle for LIBs. Recently in Nature, Wooley and collaborators reported an all-polypeptide organic radical battery, demonstrating the potential of sustainable, recyclable metal-free batteries.
Teaching Safety Skills to Children

Abstract Throughout their lives, children may be exposed to a variety of safety threats that can result in harm or even death. These safety threats include: abduction, sexual abuse, poisons, and firearm injuries-among others. Research highlights the need for effective strategies to teach children to recognize a safety threat, and to engage in behaviors that will increase their chances of escaping safely. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the research on teaching safety skills to children. The chapter discusses different approaches to assessment and training, with an emphasis on active learning approaches as the most effective strategies.
Nervous end-structures in the human neurohypophysis; a study with silver carbonate.

Different types of nervous terminations were described in the human neurohypophysis. The fibers of the hypothalamo-hypophysial tract terminate in the ventricular wall, on blood vessels and around pituicytes; they form terminal networks and end-glomeruli.
Subregional analysis of mnemonic functions of the prefrontal cortex in the rat

Evidence is reviewed to support the idea that in the rat prefrontal cortex there are differential sub-regional functional contributions to cognitive and memory function. It is proposed that the prefrontal cortex in the rat can be fractionated in terms of functions associated with a slightly revised rule model that incorporates a domain-specific and a level-of-processing model. It is proposed that there is a hierarchy of lower order, higher order, and highest order rules that can support different subregions of the rat prefrontal cortex. The lower order rules encompass rules associated with reversal learning. The higher order rules encompass rules associated with the different domains or attributes of working memory and cross-modal set switching. The highest order rules encompass rules associated with temporal order memory and paired associate learning and performance. It appears that there is a correspondence between rats and monkeys and between rats and humans in terms of prefrontal cortex function.
What Can be Parallelized in Computational Geometry

This paper has two goals. First, we point out that most problems in computational geometry in fact have fast parallel algorithms (that is, in NC*) by reduction to the cell decomposition result of Kozen and Yap. We illustrate this using a new notion of generalized Voronoi diagrams that subsumes all known instances. While the existence of NC* algorithms for computational geometry is theoretically significant, it leaves much to be desired for specific problems. Therefore, the second part of the paper surveys some recent results in a fast growing list of parallel algorithms for computational geometry.
General design rules for MEMS tunable optical filters

Summary from only given. Tunable optical filters are important for applications such as DWDM optical networks. Micromechanically actuated filters are desirable because of their wide tuning range, design flexibility and high yield. The device structure consists of epitaxial layers forming a single Fabry-Perot cavity, having two distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and an air gap in-between. We recently reported >100 nm tuning around 1550 nm using a torsional structure. The purpose of this paper is to determine how scalable the various designs are and to establish the design rules. The design flow chart for a MEMS filter using deflection beams is shown.
Infrasonic waves generated by supersonic auroral arcs

[1] A finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model of infrasound propagation in a realistic atmosphere is used to provide quantitative interpretation of infrasonic waves produced by auroral arcs moving with supersonic speed. The Lorentz force and Joule heating are discussed in the existing literature as primary sources producing infrasound waves in the frequency range 0.1–0.01 Hz associated with the auroral electrojet. The results are consistent with original ideas of Swift (1973) and demonstrate that the synchronization of the speed of auroral arc and phase speed of the acoustic wave in the electrojet volume is an important condition for generation of magnitudes and frequency contents of infrasonic waves observable on the ground. The reported modeling also allows accurate quantitative reproduction of previously observed complex infrasonic waveforms including direct shock and reflected shockwaves, which are refracted back to the earth by the thermosphere.
Catalytic cracking of carinata oil for hydrocarbon biofuel over fresh and regenerated Zn/Na-ZSM-5

Abstract Catalytic cracking of carinata oil over fresh and regenerated Zn/Na-ZSM-5 catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor at 450 °C was carried out to produce hydrocarbon biofuel. The effect of the fresh and regenerated Zn/Na-ZSM-5 on the hydrocarbon biofuel’s quality and yield was discussed. Characterization of the catalyst, hydrocarbon biofuel and gas were carried out. The hydrocarbon biofuel yield obtained over regenerated Zn/Na-ZSM-5 increased but the coke yield and distillation residual yield decreased, compared to fresh Zn/Na-ZSM-5. The regeneration of Zn/Na-ZSM-5 had a minor influence on the density of the hydrocarbon biofuel, but the higher heating value (HHV) decreased, and the viscosity and acid value increased over regenerated Zn/Na-ZSM-5. The regeneration of Zn/Na-ZSM-5 reduced the decarboxylation, decarbonylation and dehydrogenation of carinata oil, which caused the lower content of CO2, CO, H2 and light hydrocarbons (C1–C5). A preliminary test of the distillation residual mixture upgrading over fresh Zn/Na-ZSM-5 was performed, suggesting that the distillation residual mixture could be recycled for further upgrading. The produced gas including H2, CO and light hydrocarbons might be reused as syngas for ether power generation or production of value chemicals.
The T = Tz + 2 GDR and the dipole states of the A = 6 and 14 nuclei

Abstract The isospin properties of the giant dipole resonance (GDR) built on states with isospin T = Tz + 1 are discussed. Results of a shell-model calculation with realistic interactions for dipole transitions to various low-lying states in 6Li, 6He, 14N and 14C are presented. The T = Tz + 2 component of the GDR in 14N decaying to the 0+ T = 1 state is predicted at the surprisingly low energy Ex = 26.0 MeV.
Photoinitiated Destruction of Composite Porphyrin−Protein Polymersomes

Bilayer vesicles assembled from amphiphilic diblock copolymers (polymersomes) adopt asymmetric structures when loaded with moderate concentrations (≥1.5 mg/mL) of horse spleen ferritin (HSF) or its iron-free variant (HSAF). Incorporation of both ferritin and a zinc porphyrin dimer (PZn2) generates photoresponsive vesicles: irradiation with focused light of near-UV to near-IR wavelengths induces polymersome deformation and destruction on the minute time scale. To investigate this phenomenon, polymersomes were loaded with dye-labeled ferritin and PZn2. Confocal microscopy identified BODIPY-FL-labeled ferritin at the membrane, whereas Cy3-labeled ferritin was found both at the membrane and throughout the aqueous core. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments confirmed that Cy3- and BODIPY-FL-labeled ferritin and PZn2 exhibited slow diffusion at the membrane, consistent with membrane association. Furthermore, micropipette aspiration experiments revealed increased elastic moduli and altere...
The self-reinforcing nature of crime

Crime is not evenly distributed in the population. There are various explanations for this fact, each of which plays a role in the public debate about solutions. We point out that attempts to trace crime to exogenous factors in the environment or in the moral character of citizens may be doomed to disappointment. Crime is a mutually reinforcing activity, and therefore enforcement parameters or aspects of moral character do not uniquely determine the crime rate. The uneven distribution of crime may simply be an expression of multiple equilibria, and there is no obvious way to make the system coordinate on low-crime equilibria rather than high-crime equilibria.
Fatigue crack propagation in austenitic stainless steels

Abstract Fatigue crack growth rate was found to be independent of grain size in 309S stainless steel, for grain sizes of 45 and 480 μm. The data were compared to literature results for a variety of stable and unstable austenitic alloys, and were shown to agree well.
Cloning of a mammalian DNA methyltransferase

Cloning and sequencing of cDNA clones has shown that mammalian DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase comprises a 1000-amino acid (aa) N-terminal region of unknown function and a 570-aa C-terminal region that is clearly related to bacterial type-II cytosine restriction methyltransferases. These findings indicate that the mammalian enzyme contains at least two structural domains and suggest a common evolutionary origin for mammalian and prokaryotic DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferases.
"Tyrannical Femininity" in Nawal El Saadawi's Memoirs of a Woman Doctor

In African literature, a substantial body of scholarship deals with gender cleavages but the tension opposing the cultural construction of femininity and women's subjective consciousness lacks attention. This article exam- ines the resistance against the cultural elements that mark women's bod- ies as female. A consideration of the novel Memoirs of a Woman Doctor by Nawal el Saadawi, one of the leading Egyptian feminist writers, reveals the contradictions embedded in women's self-oppressive struggle against patriarchy. The interconnection of resistance and oppression indicates how women's liberatory practices are inseparable from the patriarchal realm. The major flaw of the feminist discourse resides in the configuration of men and women in terms of oppressors and oppressed and the subsequent reinscription of the already existing and socially sanctioned sexual binaries. Reshaping the relationships between men and women in a new light of partnership rather than antagonism for a resolution of the problems they face together is more empowering for the feminist writer.
Crystallization mechanisms for supercooled liquid Xe at high pressure and temperature: Hybrid Monte Carlo molecular simulations

We report hybrid Monte Carlo molecular simulation results on the crystallization of supercooled liquids of xenon at high temperature and high pressure. We simulate the entire crystallization process, i.e., the nucleation event as well as the subsequent growth of the critical nucleus, at $P=4.46\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ and $P=87.96\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$. In both cases, we carry out the simulations at a temperature 25% below the melting temperature. We demonstrate that the crystallization mechanism strongly depends on pressure. At $P=4.46\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, crystal nucleation and growth both proceed through the face centered cubic (fcc) polymorph. At $P=87.96\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, throughout nucleation and growth, the crystallites are always predominantly of the body centered cubic (bcc) form. However, at $P=87.96\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, our simulations reveal that the crystallization mechanism is rather complex. Precritical as well as large postcritical crystallites can often be described as composed of several blocks: a large block of the thermodynamically stable bcc polymorph and smaller metastable fcc blocks, which gradually convert into the stable bcc form. We rationalize these results in terms of the relative stability of the phases involved and compare the crystallization mechanism of xenon to those recently observed on model systems.
Global water assessment and potential contributions from Earth Systems Science

Earth Systems Science has made significant strides over the last decade in developing consistent, high quality, spatially-contiguous, and in many cases real-time bioegoephysical data sets. Many of these data sources depict key elements of the land-based water cycle. To date, this information has been poorly integrated into global water assessment and vulnerability studies. This paper presents a review of newly-emerging Earth Systems Science products together with a strategy for entraining these into global water assessments. The text highlights several conceptual, technical, and institutional obstacles that require attention before a successful integration can be realized. A major challenge rests in developing a common conceptual framework and nomenclature to bridge gaps between the physical sciences and current generation of water resource assessments, which have traditionally relied heavily on descriptive case studies and a socioeconomic approach. Another goal of this paper is to better articulate the scope of human control of the terrestrial water cycle – beyond climate change alone – and to quantify its impact on sustainable water supplies. Opportunities for integration across disciplines are identified, and specific recommendations are formulated. An argument is made for the unique role that geographically-referenced continental and global-scale analysis can play in future assessments of freshwater resources and water-related vulnerability.
RISING TRAJECTORIES, FALLING RESIDUES, AND EXPERIMENT.

We attempt here a limited experimental test of a recent speculation that the Regge residue function, $\ensuremath{\beta}(s)$, shows an exponential or faster decrease with $\ensuremath{\alpha}(s)$ as $s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ to insure polynomial boundeness for the total amplitude.
Carbon-13 NMR of quinone methides

The 13C NMR spectra of four ortho- and seven para-quinone methides were assigned using chemical shift and long-range carbon-proton coupling information. The carbonyl shifts are compared with those in ortho- and para-benzoquinones. The chemical shifts of the carbonyls of the p-quinone methides are observed at δ 186.2–186.4 for the three ortho-di-tert-butyl-substituted compounds and at δ 180.7–181.5 for the four ortho-oxy-substituted compounds. In the three o-quinone methides with meta, para-dioxy substituents, the carbonyl signals are at δ 184.2–185.4. The carbonyl signal of the one o-quinone methide with no oxygen substitution is shifted downfield to δ 200.9, apparently as a result of hydrogen bonding to the nearby hydroxyl.
Decoupled control of stiffness and permeability with a cell-encapsulating poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate hydrogel

Hydrogels are increasingly used as a cell encapsulation and transplantation device. The successful use of a hydrogel greatly relies on an ability to control hydrogel stiffness which affects structural integrity and regulates cellular phenotypes. However, conventional strategies to increase the gel stiffness lead to decrease in the gel permeability and subsequently deteriorate the viability of cells encapsulated in a gel matrix. This study presents a strategy to decouple the inversed dependency of permeability on the stiffness of a hydrogel by chemically cross-linking methacrylic alginate with poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDA). As expected, gel stiffness represented by elastic modulus was tuned over one order of magnitude with the concentration of methacrylic alginate and the degree of substitution of methacrylic groups. In contrast, swelling ratio of the hydrogel indicative of gel permeability was minimally changed because of multiple hydrophilic groups of alginate, similar to function of proteoglycans in a natural extracellular matrix. Furthermore, viability of neural cells encapsulated in a hydrogel of PEGDA and methacrylic alginate rather increased with hydrogel stiffness. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate an advanced biomaterial design paradigm which allows one to culture cells in a 3D matrix of varying rigidity. This study will therefore greatly expedite the use of a hydrogel system in both fundamental studies and clinical settings of cell therapies.
Comparison of four approaches to a rock facies classification problem

In this study, seven classifiers based on four different approaches were tested in a rock facies classification problem: classical parametric methods using Bayes' rule, and non-parametric methods using fuzzy logic, k-nearest neighbor, and feed forward-back propagating artificial neural network. Determining the most effective classifier for geologic facies prediction in wells without cores in the Panoma gas field, in Southwest Kansas, was the objective. Study data include 3600 samples with known rock facies class (from core) with each sample having either four or five measured properties (wire-line log curves), and two derived geologic properties (geologic constraining variables). The sample set was divided into two subsets, one for training and one for testing the ability of the trained classifier to correctly assign classes. Artificial neural networks clearly outperformed all other classifiers and are effective tools for this particular classification problem. Classical parametric models were inadequate due to the nature of the predictor variables (high dimensional and not linearly correlated), and feature space of the classes (overlapping). The other non-parametric methods tested, k-nearest neighbor and fuzzy logic, would need considerable improvement to match the neural network effectiveness, but further work, possibly combining certain aspects of the three non-parametric methods, may be justified.
Submanifold averaging in riemannian and symplectic geometry

We give a construction to obtain canonically an \"isotropic average\" of given $C1$-close isotropic submanifolds of a symplectic manifold. To do so we use an improvement of Weinstein's submanifold averaging theorem (obtained in collaboration with H. Karcher) and apply \"Moser's trick\". We also present an application to Hamiltonian group actions.
Stochastic programming for decentralized newsvendor with transshipment

Abstract This paper discusses a family of two-stage decentralized inventory problems using a unifying framework (taxonomy) depicted as a multilevel graph. This framework allows us to model and link different problems of competing retailers who independently procure inventory in response to uncertain demand and anticipated inventory decisions of other retailers. In this family of problems, in the ex-post stage, the retailers exercise recourse actions in response to the realized demand and competitors' chosen procurement levels. For example, retailers could coordinate inventory transshipment to satisfy shortage with overage based on profit sharing agreements. Our framework provides a unifying parsimonious view using a single methodological prism for a variety of problems. Equally importantly, as recourse options are laid out, our framework clarifies and contributes a modeling connection between problems in a clear taxonomy of models. This unifying perspective explicitly links work that appeared in isolation and offers future research directions.
DNA replication and progression through S phase

Initiation and completion of DNA replication defines the beginning and ending of S phase of the cell cycle. Successful progression through S phase requires that replication be properly regulated and monitored to ensure that the entire genome is duplicated exactly once, without errors, in a timely fashion. Given the immense size and complexity of eukaryotic genomes, this presents a significant challenge for the cell. As a result, DNA replication has evolved into a tightly regulated process involving the coordinated action of numerous factors that function in all phases of the cell cycle. We will review our current understanding of these processes from the formation of prereplicative complexes in preparation for S phase to the series of events that culminate in the loading of DNA polymerases during S phase. We will incorporate structural data from archaeal and bacterial replication proteins and discuss their implications for understanding the mechanism of action of their corresponding eukaryotic homologues. We will also describe the concept of replication licensing which protects against genomic instability by limiting initiation events to once per cell cycle. Lastly, we will review our knowledge of checkpoint pathways that maintain the integrity of stalled forks and relay defects in replication to the rest of the cell cycle.