cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Bioinformatic Approach to CLL IGHV Sequence Analysis Identifies Extensive Ig Sequence Archetypes among BothMutated and Unmutated Sequences.

Several recent studies have pointed towards a number of sets of CLL patients with highly similar IgV genes, both in terms of V, D, J segment and light chain use and also heavy chain third complementarity determining region (CDR3) architecture and amino acid composition. These findings support the notion that antigen may drive development or perpetuation of the leukemic cells. To effectively mine the available Ig sequence databases, we developed a novel sequence similarity and clustering algorithm that incorporates the mechanistic knowledge of IgV gene recombination. CDR3 sequences were initially aligned using the conventional blosum62 based scoring matrix, then rescored based on the junctional annotations. In this way, the method gives greater weight to sequence similarity created as a consequence of the VDJ recombination process, rather than simple germline homology. This modified scoring matrix allows the creation of more robust sequence “clusters” and is not restricted to sequences composed of the same germline genes. Preliminary analysis with this method on a collection of more than 1000 CLL IgV gene sequences has identified over 40 clusters, including all that have been previously described. Interestingly, a species abundance estimator indicates additional clusters of IgV genes in CLL remain to be discovered. Additionally, we performed a focused evaluation of over 100 VH4-34 containing sequences expressed by CLL cells of unrelated patients. The VH4-34 gene is among the most commonly used IVH genes expressed in CLL, has a curious bi-phasic distribution of mutational frequencies among different CLL cases, and can encode antibodies with specificity for the linear polylactosamine carbohydrate antigen “i” found on neonatal red blood cells. Prior studies by the Chiorazzi group identified a subgroup of patients with CLL cells that expressed remarkably similar mutated VH4-34 genes encoding isotype-switched Ig. Using the method described above, seven additional clusters of CLL cases that expressed highly related VH4-34-encoded Ig were identified, including three clusters containing sequences with a mutated VH4-34. The mutations seen within these clusters have a spectra that is distinct from other VH4-34 sequences from CLL, normal plasma cells, or marginal zone B cells. Furthermore, within each cluster there were conserved replacement mutations not commonly found in the other VH4-34 sequences. This clearly indicates specific selective pressures subsequent to IgV gene rearrangement and implies that the expressed Ig were selected for binding to several distinct antigens or epitopes. However, redundant antigen specificities encoded by different sequence clusters can not be excluded and the number of driving antigens may still be quite restricted. Comparative analysis of normal sequence collections is ongoing.
Auditor Independence, Client Retention, and Earnings Management

Is the level of earnings management related to the length of audit engagements? Auditors may allow earnings management in order to retain clients longer; this suggests that audit engagements are likely to be longer when earnings management is greater. Alternatively, auditors may restrain earnings management by abandoning those clients with abnormal levels of earnings management; this suggests that audit engagements are likely to be shorter when earnings management is greater. Using a discrete time hazard model, we find that each of our five measures of earnings management is statistically significantly, suggesting that longer engagements are associated with greater levels of earnings management. Our results are consistent with DeFond and Subramanyam's (1998) finding that clients tend to switch away from auditors who allow less discretionary accruals. One interpretation of our results is that mandatory auditor rotation is likely to improve the quality of financial reporting by making auditors more independent.
Integrative Systems Biology Approaches to Identify and Prioritize Disease and Drug Candidate Genes

Although a number of computational approaches have been developed to integrate data from multiple sources for the purpose of predicting or prioritizing candidate disease genes, relatively few of them focus on identifying or ranking drug targets. To address this deficit, we have developed an approach to specifically identify and prioritize disease and drug candidate genes. In this chapter, we demonstrate the applicability of integrative systems-biology-based approaches to identify potential drug targets and candidate genes by employing information extracted from public databases. We illustrate the method in detail using examples of two neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) and one neuropsychiatric disease (Schizophrenia).
Comparison of Predictors of Heart Failure With Preserved Versus Reduced Ejection Fraction in a Multiracial Cohort of Preclinical Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction.

Preclinical diastolic dysfunction (PDD) is a well-known but poorly understood risk factor for heart failure. We aimed to investigate risk factors contributing to progression of PDD to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with echocardiogram from 2003 to 2008 with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, grade I diastolic dysfunction, and free of clinical heart failure were included. The end point was incident HFpEF or HFrEF. Cumulative probabilities were estimated and multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to examine predictors of incident HFpEF and HFrEF. In total, 7,878 patients with PDD (79.2% nonwhite) were included. At the end of follow-up (median 5.9 years), 146 patients developed HFrEF, and 635 patients developed HFpEF. The 10-year cumulative probabilities of HFrEF and HFpEF were 3.1% and 12.6%, respectively. Incidence of HFrEF was significantly lower in non-Hispanic blacks (2.2%) compared with non-Hispanic whites (4.5%). Age, diabetes, myocardial infarction, and renal disease were independent predictors of both HFrEF and HFpEF. Male gender, cerebrovascular accident, and low baseline left ventricular ejection fraction were associated with HFrEF only; whereas pulmonary disease, blood urea nitrogen, and anemia were predictors of HFpEF only. In conclusion, our results revealed a distinct set of predictors of HFrEF and HFpEF in patients with PDD and underscored a differential approach of risk stratification, prevention, and early treatment based on heart failure subtypes.
Software Defined Networking enabled resilience for IEC 61850-based substation communication systems

The resilience of smart grid hinges on its ability to deliver service in a timely and reliable manner even in the presence of persistent attacks. While digital communications in the smart grid present benefits such as higher data transfer rates, they also increase the attack surfaces, permitting IP-based network attacks, such as DoS attacks. To mitigate these emerging attacks and ensure power system requirements are met, there is a need to incorporate resilient capabilities in smart grid. Security risk assessment is a critical component to ensure smart grid cyber resilience. However, there are few security risk assessment approaches for ensuring resilience in smart grid. In this paper, we develop a security score model within a Software Defined Network (SDN) framework for IEC 61850-based substation communication network. The SDN framework incorporates the security risk score model and SDN principles are leveraged to achieve cyber resilience. We illustrate how SDN relieves our smart grid network of congestion and improves timing performance of IEC 61850 type messages, making them time compliant. The security score model also incorporates the criticality of device in the IEC 61850 network. We implement the security score model in Software Defined Network, which provides the ability to reconfigure the IEC 61850 network in real time. We evaluate the model in an experimental GENI testbed characterized by wide-area network dynamics and realistic traffic scenarios to address IEC 61850 network attacks.
A guide to the bedrock geology of Range Creek Canyon, Book Cliffs, Utah

Range Creek Canyon, located within the Book Cliffs of eastern Utah, contains some of the most abundant and well-preserved archaeological sites in North America. Its cliffs and landscapes provide a canvas for rock art panels and a foundation for granaries, ruins, and artifacts of the prehistoric Fremont Indians. In order to place these Range Creek sites within a geologic context, an illustrated geologic field guide was created for the general public. The guide focuses on the major bedrock formations that crop out in the canyon, as well as many indicators that facilitate geologic interpretation of these rocks. Outcrops of the Paleogene Flagstaff and Colton Formations (~58 to 48 million years old) in Range Creek Canyon were investigated in order to interpret their depositional environments. The lacustrine Flagstaff Limestone contains limestone beds and fossils of freshwater gastropods, oysters, and turtles indicative of lake environments. The unit coarsens upward with an increase of interbedded sandstone, which was deposited in and near ancient river channels. This trend suggests dynamic levels of the ancient lake, with overall encroachment of river systems near the contact with the Colton Formation. The fluvial Colton Formation is characterized by discontinuous, stacked beds of sandstone, representing a succession of migrating river channels and floodplain deposits. The Colton Formation exhibits a general upward trend of increased grain size and increased channel belt (continuous sandstone beds) frequency and lateral extent, implying a transition to higher energy river systems through time. These dynamic, ancient rivers may have been flowing generally northward into Eocene Lake Uinta, recorded in deposits of the Green River Formation north of Range Creek Canyon.
Lifetime Suicidal Behaviors and Career Characteristics Among U.S. Army Soldiers: Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)

The current report presents data on lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation and nonfatal attempts as reported by the large representative sample of U.S. Army soldiers who participated in the Consolidated All-Army Survey of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (N = 29,982). We also examine associations of key Army career characteristics with these outcomes. Prevalence estimates for lifetime suicide ideation are 12.7% among men and 20.1% among women, and for lifetime suicide attempts are 2.5% and 5.1%, respectively. Retrospective age-of-onset reports suggest that 53.4%-70% of these outcomes had preenlistment onsets. Results revealed that, for both men and women, being in the Regular Army, compared with being in the National Guard or Army Reserve, and being in an enlisted rank, compared with being an officer, is associated with increased risk of suicidal behaviors and that this elevated risk is present both before and after joining the Army.
Recommendations for science and technology organizations

The presidential race placed logical fallacies, causality abuse and fact-deficient allegations on full-frontal exhibit. Less obvious is that science fiction often has more impact on policy development than science. It is important that logic centered professions and their organizing bodies help our government develop policies based on logic, data and critical thinking and that science, not science fiction, be utilized in policy development.
The amiloride-blockable sodium channel of epithelial tissue.

In many epithelial tissues which are characterized by very high trans-epithelial resistance, a major component of the permeability of the lumen-facing or apical membrane is a conductance which is selective for Na+over other cations and can be specifically blocked by low concentrations of the potassium-sparing diuretic amiloride (see Fig. 1).
Local memory store (LMStr): A hardware controlled shared scratchpad for multicores

We present an on-chip memory store called “Local Memory Store” (LMStr). The LMStr can be used with a regular cache hierarchy or solely as a redesigned scratchpad memory (SPM). The LMStr is a shared special kind of SPM among the cores in a multicore processor. The LMStr is hardware-controlled in terms of management of the store itself. Yet, compiler support is instrumental in deciding which data items/types should live in the store. Critical data should be stored in the LMStr according to its type (i.e. local, global, static, or temporary). The programmer can provide, at will, hints to the compiler to place certain data items in the LMStr. We evaluate our design using a matrix multiplication micro-application and multiple Mantevo mini-applications. Our results show that LMStr improves data movement by up to 21% compared to cache alone with a mere 3% area overhead. Not only that but LMStr improves the cycles per memory access by up to 40%.
New solar array technology provides 25% more power first flight confirms advantages

The first flight of Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) new Surface Mount Technology (SMT) solar array is already providing 25% more power to its host spacecraft than conventional systems. The revolutionary technology is being used on the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Satellite for High Accuracy Radar Calibration (SHARC) mission, which was deployed from the International Space Station on May 17, 2017. Among other goals, SHARC is demonstrating calibration capabilities needed to track orbital objects such as satellites and debris. The SHARC solar panel was rapidly delivered to AFRL soon after the contract was awarded. The streamlined design, test and manufacturing process allowed the hardware to be completed in just three months. Future missions will continue to demonstrate this short time cycle for design and manufacturing phases — critical to the rapidly emerging small satellite constellation market. Future missions will benefit from our SMT technology in two possible ways. Spacecraft with the same-sized solar array as a traditional system will have more power for payloads, or the panel size could be reduced — giving that weight and volume to other critical systems. It's a win-win scenario at a much lower cost to customers. The patent-pending (Reference 1) technology offers a significantly higher watt density through automation and standardization. The manufacturing process also supports infinite scalability and high reliability by reducing human contact. Power data from the SHARC mission is being used to confirm performance models and project expectations for a broad range of missions.
Technology-based Literacies for Young Children: Digital Literacy through Learning to Code

Most research on literacies afforded by new technologies focuses primarily on older children and adolescents. However, developmentally-appropriate technologies exist for young children, and some technologies designed for older children may be used with a younger age group through adapted learning expectations and curricular supports. This chapter focuses on an area of technology education traditionally seen as academically advanced—learning to code—and describes how learning to code in early childhood can provide a pathway for young children to express themselves creatively as well as gain problem-solving and critical thinking skills through using technological tools added to existing classroom curricula. Innovative technologies used with age-appropriate curricula can teach children about the digital elements of our world along with skills that are beneficial beyond the computer screen.
Detection, Extraction, and Characterization of Biogenic Magnetite

Several difficulties arise when attempts are made to characterize the deposits of magnetite found in metazoans. We are usually forced to deal with very small amounts of material, dispersed in tissues, using indirect methods that are subject to contamination. Magnetite crystals in the abdomens of bees (Gould et al., 1978), and in the heads of pigeons (Walcott et al., 1979), and other vertebrates (Bauer et al., this volume; Perry et al., this volume; Walker et al., this volume) are submicroscopic (<100 nm), occupy a combined volume of 10−10 to 10−8 cm3, and have a mass of 1–100 ng. In organisms of up to 100 kg or more, detecting such quantities of magnetite from its magnetic properties depends on the crystals being highly concentrated in small, recognizable structures, and not uniformly dispersed throughout all the tissues. Extraction and recovery of the crystals likewise depend on their being sufficiently concentrated to be magnetically detectable.
Investigating Large-Scale Data Breach Cases

J. Andrew Valentine is currently a senior investigator and team lead for the Forensics and Incident Response Team within Verizon Business/Cybertrust Inc. Mr. Valentine has led a number of high-profile investigations involving network breach and data compromise within the United States as well as internationally – many of which have led to successful indictment and prosecution. His work is highly regarded by many United States government agencies, such as the FBI, Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Valentine is a highly specialized security professional trained in computer forensics, evidentiary procedures, and investigative techniques. He is well versed in both criminal and civil investigative requirements and regularly interacts with government and state/provincial law enforcement agencies worldwide to transition case evidence and set the stage for prosecution.
Sound Transit to Build Light-Rail Maintenance Facility [Transportation Systems]

Sound Transit in the Seattle, Washington, area held an open house on 17 May 2018 at its site for a new light-rail Operations and Maintenance Facility in Bellevue, Washington. The Operations and Maintenance Facility East (OMF East) is needed to support expansion of the region's lightrail system in the city of Bellevue. As part of its design build contract for the facility, Hensel Phelps will deliver a temporary bike and pedestrian trail connection and identify portions of the construction staging area that can be developed for transit-oriented uses in the future. The Sound Transit Board will take separate action to manage surplus property and approve those development proposals. The budget for this project is USd449.2 million.
Analysis and prediction of stimulated reservoir volumes through hydraulic fracturing: Examples from western Arkoma Basin

Abstract Geologic models built from well logs and natural fracture (NF) parameters obtained at shale and carbonate outcrops/quarries were employed in understand artificial hydraulic fracture (HF) propagation and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) geometries. We applied field HF treatment parameters from an Arkoma Basin well, located 20–25 miles (32–40 km) east of the studied quarries. We matched the microseismic cloud (MC) geometries of three field stages, followed by sensitivity analyses of various HF treatment and reservoir parameters. Geometry matches reveal that the average NF permeability in the Viola Group Limestone is nearly eight times that in the Woodford Shale. The sensitivity analyses (forward modeling) disclosed several likely outcomes. First, a minor (5 × 10−6) increase in the minimum horizontal tectonic strain and ensuing increase in the minimum horizontal stress resulted in a sizeable transformation of the SRV geometry. Second, pumping at a higher net pressure (ISIP increased from 6500 to 7000 psi) diminished the stimulation volume and opened more previously non-dilatable NFs closer to the wellbore. Higher net pressure also triggered more stimulation downward and out of the target zone in the studied area. Third, halving the number of NFs and doubling their final storage apertures significantly magnified the fracturing-fluid efficiency (i.e., lowered leak off into NFs) in areas where it was restricted from flowing through non-dilatable NFs. Additionally, this modification caused greater lateral growth and comparatively large downward (out of target zone) growth of the HF and NF reactivation front, lowering the effectiveness of the HF job. However, halving the number of NFs and doubling their final storage apertures did not result in a substantial change in the SRV geometry upon allowing fluid flow through non-dilatable NFs. Fourth, altering the well-landing depth within the Woodford Shale did not result in a major shift in the overall stimulation geometry or volume. Most importantly, the simulated hydraulic fractures emanating from the wellbore do not span the entire recorded microseismic cloud length and height.
Motion Sickness Susceptibility and Baseline Vestibular and Ocular-Motor Performance in Adolescent Athletes.

Context High school athletes with a history of motion sickness susceptibility exhibit higher baseline vestibular and ocular-motor scores than those without a history of motion sickness susceptibili...
The Inverse Relationship between Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence and Fluorophore-Induced Plasmonic Current

In this work we investigate the relationship between metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) and fluorophore-induced plasmonic current (PC). This is accomplished through measurements of both radiative emission (MEF) and direct electrical current generation between discrete metal nanoparticles upon fluorophore excitation (PC). We have conducted these measurements on silver and gold nanoparticle island films, over a range of nanoparticle sizes and spacing in the films. We have observed an inverse relationship in the magnitude of MEF with PC, where larger and more closely spaced metal nanoparticles are found to result in increased PC and subsequently a decreased MEF. We attribute this effect to the relatively high capacitance and low charging energy of large and closely spaced particles, providing an outlet for plasmon relaxation in the form of electron flow and electrical current generation. These results are significant as they open potential for controlling for and the optimization of both MEF and PC.
Audit Committee Connectedness and Audit Fees

The study examines the effect of audit committees connectedness, measured using network centrality from social network theory, on audit fees. We also test the effect of the same on audit quality and audit timeliness. We find that network centrality measures of audit committees are positively and significantly associated with audit fees. Moreover, we document that audit committees connectedness is associated with better financial reporting quality and audit timeliness, which might explain the increase in audit fees. We conduct several robustness tests and document the same results. Additional analysis indicates that the results are driven by the overall centrality of the audit committee and not by the centrality of committee chairs, committee financial experts, or members of the committee. Our results also hold true for both pre and post SOX period and after controlling for CEO and CFO network centrality measures. Overall, the findings suggest that connected audit committees are associated with higher audit fees because they demand better audit quality and timely dissemination of information.
Toward A Non-Prestressed Precast Long-Span Bridge Girder Using UHP-FRC

The exceptional compression strength and ductility of ultra-high-performance fiberreinforced concrete (UHP-FRC) can revolutionize the design of reinforced concrete structural members. While the maximum useable compressive strain, ecu, for conventional plain concrete is assumed to be 0.003 in current design codes (ACI 318 Building Code and AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications), UHP-FRC’s ecu is 5 to 10 times higher. Underestimating the compressive ductility of UHP-FRC limits the allowable maximum amount of longitudinal reinforcement, which in turn leads to limited flexural capacity of the members. Conventional reinforced concrete members are designed with a smaller amount of reinforcement to meet tension-controlled behavior. This design approach in turn leads to 1) a small ultimate flexural capacity, 2) a large amount of cracking and wider crack widths under service loads, which lead to a reduced memberstiffness, 3) cracks that are less likely to close after overloading, 4) a small compression zone depththat allows cracks to propagate deeply, which further reduces the stiffness, 5) large strains inrebars, which reduce aggregate interlock and shear strength, and 6) considerable yielding of rebars,which causes bond deterioration. Contrary to the conventional design concept, a new ductile concrete strong-reinforcement (DCSR) design concept is investigated in this study. A maximum useable compressive strain of 0.015 is considered for UHP-FRC, which allows a concrete memberto maintain tension-controlled behavior while using a high amount of steel rebars. Accordingly,the flexural capacity of the section increases. This approach allows the UHP-FRC’s high compressive strength to be effectively utilized in the compression zone. The synergistic interaction of strong steel and tensile strength of UHP-FRC considerably increases the cracking resistance of the member. In addition, the number and size of initial microcracks are limited due to the strongbridging effect of a high amount of steel. Therefore, the member maintains its stiffness and smalldeflection under service loads. This feature permits eliminating prestressing in bridge girders,where an uncracked section is desired under service loads. Besides experimental evidence, aprototype single-span 250-ft long non-prestressed UHP-FRC decked bulb-tee (DBT) girder was designed using the DCSR concept. Finite element analysis with AASHTO loading confirms thatthe new UHP-FRC girder satisfies code requirements. The experimental and analytical resultsshow that conventional precast prestressed concrete girders can be replaced by the new nonprestresseddecked UHP-FRC girders.
The function of the ideal in liberal democratic contexts

The nature of state governance in consolidated liberal democracies has important implications for the ideal theory debate. The states of these societies are polycentric. Decision-making power withi...
Stravinsky and the Russian Period: Sound and Legacy of a Musical Idiom

Van den Toorn and McGinness take a fresh look at the dynamics of Stravinsky's musical style from a variety of analytical, critical and aesthetic angles. Starting with processes of juxtaposition and stratification, the book offers an in-depth analysis of works such as The Rite of Spring, Les Noces and Renard. Characteristic features of style, melody and harmony are traced to rhythmic forces, including those of metrical displacement. Along with Stravinsky's formalist aesthetics, the strict performing style he favoured is also traced to rhythmic factors, thus reversing the direction of the traditional causal relationship. Here, aesthetic belief and performance practice are seen as flowing directly from the musical invention. The book provides a counter-argument to the criticism and aesthetics of T. W. Adorno and Richard Taruskin, and will appeal to composers, critics and performers as well as scholars of Stravinsky's music.
Vital Signs: Quality-of-Life Indicators for Virginia’s Technology Corridor

During the 1990s 12 counties and 5 cities in western Virginia joined the growing number of areas across the country in designing and tracking so-called “quality-of life” indicators. This region, first called the “New Century Region” and later “Virginia’s Technology Corridor,” participated in a comprehensive visioning process that provided the foundation for “Vital Signs,” a community quality-of-life indicators project. This chapter traces the background of Vital Signs and its initial structure and funding sources. It provides an overview of the process for choosing initial indicators, the project’s research design, and how the research was analyzed. Also included in the chapter are discussions of objective data (environmental, social, and economic statistics) gathered from the most reliable sources available at the time and subjective data (individuals’ perceptions of their quality of life) gathered from a mail survey to 3,200 households throughout the region. Analysis of both the objective and subjective research provided policymakers in western Virginia guidance in enhancing existing programs or creating new programs to meet the needs of the region. The chapter concludes with lessons learned during the first six years of the project.
Using Pattern Recognition in Controller Adaptation and Performance Evaluation

This work presents pattern recognition-based methods for controller adaptation and performance evaluation. These methods comprise a passive model-based adaptive control algorithm that is simple to use, easy to understand, stable, and fairly robust in a wide variety of applications. Controller adaptation in this work uses excitation diagnostics to initiate batch-wise regression of a process model to dynamic closed-loop process data. The process model is then employed in model-based controller tuning relations to update the controller's character. Controller performance evaluation is used to determine appropriate adjustments to the tuning relations such that an accurate process model will produce desired controller performance. These adaptive techniques are implemented using vector quantizing neural networks as efficient pattern recognition tools. The adaptive algorithm is presented in a structure that allows for the implementation of these advanced techniques without requiring the replacement of an existing feedback controller. This is demonstrated using a simulated nonlinear third order process and an IMC tuned PI controller with Smith Predictor.
Relational approach to work: conceptual definition and scale development

The aim of this study is to conceptually define and develop a scale to measure relational behavior in the workplace associated with theorized differences in how women and men approach work. Drawing from the gender studies and organizational literatures, the construct is defined and a relational approach to work scale is developed. Data were collected from a sample of 223 graduate students with work experience. Findings show preliminary evidence of reliability and validity.
The incidence and immediate respiratory consequences of pulmonary aspiration of enteral feed

The cause of a respiratory deterioration in a critically ill patient frequently remains unknown. Pulmonary aspiration of enteral feed during tracheal intubation may be recognised at the bedside by the appearance of feed in the tracheal aspirate but is commonly unrecognised. To reduce aspiration it is important to be able to detect it at the bedside and hence alter management to reduce risk factors. Techniques to detect feed aspiration using food colouring have poor sensitivity and are linked with mortality in septic patients [1]. The standard glucose oxidase strip method for detecting aspiration is also insensitive because the glucose levels in feeds are similar to those of normal tracheal aspirates. We have previously described a modified glucose oxidase test strip method with an improved sensitivity [2] whereby the glucose concentration of the feed is markedly increased.
Pea Protein Isolates: Novel Wall Materials for Microencapsulating Flaxseed Oil

This study investigated the potential of three commercially available pea protein isolates (PPIs), Nutralys (Roquette, USA), PP (Znaturals, USA), and Pulseplus80 (AGT, Canada) as wall materials for microencapsulating flaxseed oil. Microencapsulation with spray drying was conducted with PPIs at 10 % concentration and varied flaxseed-oil-to-wall-material ratios (1:5, 1:3.3, and 1:2.5). All three PPIs emulsion prepared using 1:5 core-to-wall ratio were stable. Microencapsulation efficiencies (MEs) at 1:5 core-to-wall-material ratio were 90.46, 84.9, and 71.9 % for Nutralys, PP, and Pulseplus80, respectively. Results show that when the core-to-wall-material ratio increased to 1:2.5, the MEs decreased to 67.9, 75.6, and 44.6 % for Nutralys, PP, and Pulseplus80, respectively. Proximate composition of PPIs influenced the functional properties and emulsion stability and, ultimately, MEs. Electrophoresis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were conducted to determine differences in these three proteins. This study also evaluated microcapsules prepared with 1:5 ratio for water content, water activity, solubility, and morphological properties. Findings demonstrate that PPI, a natural, low-cost, allergen-free ingredient can be used effectively as a wall material for microencapsulation at a 10 % solid concentration.
Newly Arrived West Indian Adolescents

Abstract This study explores patterns of adjustment among newly arrived West Indian adolescents. In particular, it focuses on the concurrent developmental and cultural transitions of immigration and adolescence. Barriers to adjustment and patterns of identity formation are explored and discussed within the context of a typological developmental model. Findings of this study are based on the responses of 25 newly arrived adolescents from six Caribbean countries regarding their adjustment to New York City schools. The data analysis identifies various structural and immigration-based factors, which challenge the social and psychological adjustment of new immigrant adolescents. It highlights the effect of culture and immigration on attachment to school and society and supports the need for increased social work intervention in mediating between homes and schools of new immigrants.
Attaining remission in generalized anxiety disorder: venlafaxine extended release comparative data.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental disorder that is characterized by excessive anxiety or worry. Traditionally, the treatment goal for GAD has been the attainment of a treatment response, clinically defined as a 40% to 50% symptomatic improvement relative to baseline. However, there is growing consensus among clinical psychiatrists that the treatment goal should be remission, a virtually asymptomatic state that corresponds to a score of or = 70% symptomatic improvement from baseline. Venlafaxine extended release (XR), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is the first pharmacotherapeutic agent to be indicated for both depression and GAD. This article reviews the efficacy data from several short- and long-term placebo-controlled studies of venlafaxine conducted to evaluate the potential of this agent to facilitate remission. Total scores on the HAM-A and the Clinical Global Impressions scale were used as the primary variables; scores for the HAM-A psychic and somatic anxiety factors and for the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale were used as secondary variables. Venlafaxine XR showed a substantial effect size in the individual HAM-A items of worry, anxiety, and behavior at interview. The pooled analysis of 2 long-term studies indicated that the scores of venlafaxine remitters separated from those of responders by the second month, resulting in an overall increase in remitters. The results of these studies demonstrate the strong potential of venlafaxine XR in facilitating remission in GAD.
Professional Development Aligned with AP Chemistry Curriculum: Promoting Science Practices and Facilitating Enduring Conceptual Understanding

The recent revisions to the advanced placement (AP) chemistry curriculum promote deep conceptual understanding of chemistry content over more rote memorization of facts and algorithmic problem solving. For many teachers, this will mean moving away from traditional worksheets and verification lab activities that they have used to address the vast amounts of content in the AP chemistry course. Moreover, a substantial shift in teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning of chemistry will be needed to facilitate the transformation of their instructional practices. Research has shown that such substantial shifts in beliefs and practices also requires a shift in professional development (PD) models, away from the traditional one-day to one-week workshops and toward PD that is sustained, coherent, content- and inquiry-focused, and supported. This paper uses the Target Inquiry (TI) program as an example of this latter type of PD to highlight important considerations in developing PD experiences that will suppor...
Comparing uterine electromyography activity of antepartum patients versus term labor patients

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare uterine electromyography of patients delivering >24 hours from measurement with laboring patients ≤24 hours from measurement. Study design Fifty patients (group 1: labor, n = 24; group 2: antepartum, n = 26) were monitored using transabdominal electrodes. Group 2 was recorded at several gestations. Uterine electrical “bursts” were analyzed by power-spectrum from 0.34 to 1.00 Hz. Average power density spectrum (PDS) peak frequency for each patient was plotted against gestational age, and compared between group 1 and group 2. Frequency was partitioned into 6 bins, and associated burst histograms compared. Results Group 1 was significantly higher than group 2 for gestational age (39.87 ± 1.08 vs 32.96 ± 4.26 weeks) and average PDS peak frequency (0.51 ± 0.10 vs 0.40 ± .03 Hz). Histograms were significantly different. A correlation coefficient of .41, with significance, was found with PDS vs gestation. Conclusion Uterine electromyography in antepartum patients is significantly lower than in laboring patients delivering ≤24 hours from measurement.
The effect of within-session instruction on lumbopelvic motion during a lower limb movement in people with and people without low back pain

The purpose of the current study was to examine how effectively people with and people without low back pain (LBP) modify lumbopelvic motion during a limb movement test. Nineteen subjects with LBP and 20 subjects without LBP participated. Kinematic data were collected while subjects performed active hip lateral rotation (HLR) in prone. Subjects completed trials (1) using their natural method (Natural condition) of performing HLR, and (2) following standardized instructions to modify lumbopelvic motion while performing HLR (Modified condition). Variables of interest included (1) the amount of HLR completed prior to the start of lumbopelvic motion, and (2) the maximum amount of lumbopelvic motion demonstrated during HLR. Compared to the Natural Condition, all subjects improved their performance during the Modified condition by (1) completing a greater amount of HLR prior to the start of lumbopelvic motion, and (2) demonstrating less lumbopelvic motion (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). There was a tendency for people without LBP to demonstrate a greater difference in maximal lumbopelvic rotation between the Natural and Modified conditions (P = 0.07). In conclusion, people are able to modify lumbopelvic motion following instruction. Further study is needed to determine if people without LBP improve lumbopelvic motion following instruction to a greater extent than people with LBP.
Microbiology: Slicer for DNA

Many bacteria and archaea protect themselves from viruses and other invasive genomes through a genetic interference pathway. The small RNAs that guide this defence specify the direct cleavage of foreign DNA.
Manipulations of signalling environment affect male competitive success in three-spined sticklebacks

Breeding adult male three-spined sticklebacks,Gasterosteus aculeatusL., develop an elaborate breeding signal, the primary component of which is ventral red coloration. In laboratory dominance tests staged under illumination conditions that maintained or eliminated male perceived coloration, this study examined (1) the relationship between male coloration and fighting ability and (2) the applicability of three hypotheses for the current function of male coloration in male–male competitive interactions. In pairs of males from a Long Island, NY, population matched for size and prior dominance experience, the more brightly coloured males were more likely to initiate and win under white light. The effect of colour on dominance success was lost under replicates illuminated by coloured-light treatments that masked the signal by eliminating its visual contrast. The loss of competitive advantage associated with more conspicuous coloration was not an artefact of illumination manipulations, since the effects seen under white light were maintained under a coloured-light treatment that maintained male coloration. These data suggest that red belly coloration of males functions as a threat signal.
On the size and distribution of rings and coherent vortices in the Sargasso Sea

[1] The container motor vessel CMV Oleander, which operates between New Jersey and Bermuda, crosses the Gulf Stream and Sargasso Sea all year round on a semiweekly schedule. Using an acoustic Doppler current profiler, measurements of upper ocean currents have been made on a regular basis since the fall of 1992. In this paper we examine the database for evidence of axisymmetric coherent vortices including the distribution and intensity of cold core rings. To detect the existence of coherent vortices, the patterns of current vectors averaged between 40 and 80 m depth were fit to an axisymmetric Gaussian vortex model. The parameters of the model were axis location, maximum tangential, or swirl, speed, and radius at which the maximum swirl was measured. We were able to distinguish between the well-known cold core “rings” (CCRs) pinched from the Gulf Stream, and a population of cyclonic and anticyclonic “vortices” in the Sargasso Sea. Both the rings and the Sargasso Sea vortices showed radii of 64 ± 18 km, albeit with different swirl speeds. The rings, close to the Gulf Stream, exhibited a typical maximum swirl speed of 0.98 ± 0.40 m s−1 and a center relative vorticity of 0.64 ± 0.35 × 10−4 s−1, almost 80% of the planetary vorticity for the region. The more uniform population of Sargasso Sea vortices contained approximately equal numbers of cyclones and anticyclones, with mean speeds of +0.43 and −0.55 m s−1, and center relative vorticities of +0.24 × 10−4 s−1 and −0.29 × 10−4 s−1, respectively.
Genetics of human immune response to allergens.

In today’s economically developed societies, IgEmediated allergic responses are regarded more as a hindrance than a help. Nevertheless, the ability to make such responses has probably played an important role in protecting our distant ancestors from the scourges of parasitic disease and, indeed, this function is probably still important in many underdeveloped countries.’ We may, therefore, regard the current relatively high prevalence of atopic allergy in the Western world as an unwanted vestige of a previously useful immune function. It seems likely that a genetic capacity toward hyperresponsiveness of the IgE system and concomitant high prevalence of allergy have exerted a weak selective disadvantage in white Europeans since Neolithic times, as parasitic disease became a decreasingly less severe problem. In modem man, the main selective pressure on specijc immune response has almost certainly been infectious disease-in particular, that caused by pathogens which strike before puberty with a high rate of mortality. Several authorP5 have argued convincingly that many of today’s common infectious diseases probably evolved only in the last 5,000 or 6,000
Controlled growth of quantum dots on mesa top

For ridge-shaped GaAs mesas grown by selective area epitaxy in the oxide opening of the patterned substrate, the width of the mesa top can be controlled by growing a calculated thickness of the GaAs. InAs can then be selectively grown on the mesa top to obtain well defined rows of self-organized quantum dots. The shape of the oxide opening is tailored in this study to achieve the desired dot distributions along the length of a ridge. The results show individual row control of the dots which makes possible the design of novel device structures.
Physical Chemistry of a Heterogeneous Medium: Transport Processes in Comet Nuclei

We present a time-dependent transport model of a binary gas mixture through a porous comet nucleus. We critically discuss the modeling of this process in previous cometary models. We give the relationship between the time tc required to reach steady state and the permeability of the porous nucleus. It is shown that tc is very short (about a few seconds to a very few hours) compared to the rotation time (tR ~ a few hours to 1 day). We show qualitatively what the effect of the structure of the nucleus on the H2O-to-CO ratio could be for a comet approaching the Sun. We find that H2O/CO = f(P) (where P represents the total pressure) passes through a maximum. We use this to propose an indirect method to study the internal physical heterogeneity of comet nuclei by using the H2O-to-CO ratio. It is shown that our approach considerably improves the modeling of mass transport in porous comet nuclei.
Stiffness identification of two‐ and three‐dimensional frames

Four widely used structural system identification methods are presented. Based on Bayesian estimation theory, two new formulae and their derivations are shown. Time domain responses of two frames when subjected to the ground motion of the El Centro earthquake are computed then transformed to the frequency domain. Frequencies and mode shapes of frames are extracted from Fourier spectra. Using these frequencies and mode shapes, a parametric study is conducted, and the system identification methods are compared and discussed. The importance of a prior analytical model on the rate of convergence of the revised parameters is investigated. Recommendations are given regarding the feasibility of each method for more accurate estimation. A model suitable for parameter identification of three-dimensional frames is presented. This model, with different identification methods, is used to estimate the parameters of a two-storey frame.
Para to ortho transition of metallic dimers on Si(001)

Extensive electronic structure calculations are performed to obtain the stable geometries of metals like Al, Ga, and In on the Si(001) surface at 0.5 ML(monolayer) and I ML coverages. Our results coupled with previous theoretical findings explain the recent experimental data in a comprehensive fashion. At low coverages, as shown by previous works, "para" dimers give the lowest energy structure. With increasing coverage beyond 0.5 ML, "ortho" dimers become a part of low-energy configurations leading toward a para to ortho transition at I ML coverage. For In, mixed staggered dimers (ortho and para) give the lowest energy configuration. For Ga, mixed dimers are nonstaggered, while for Al para to ortho transition of dimers is complete. Thus at intermediate coverages between 0.5 and 1 ML, the ortho and para dimers may coexist on the surface. Consequently, this may be an explanation of the fact that the experimental observations can be successfully interpreted using either orientation. A supported zigzag structure at 0.5 ML, which resembles (CH) x , does not undergo a dimerization transition, and hence stays semimetallic. Also, unlike (CH), the soliton formation is ruled out for this structure.
A quantitative analysis software tool for mass spectrometry–based proteomics

We describe Census, a quantitative software tool compatible with many labeling strategies as well as with label-free analyses, single-stage mass spectrometry (MS1) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) scans, and high- and low-resolution mass spectrometry data. Census uses robust algorithms to address poor-quality measurements and improve quantitative efficiency, and it can support several input file formats. We tested Census with stable-isotope labeling analyses as well as label-free analyses.