cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The big, the bad, and the beautiful: Biology of the world's largest flowers

Rafflesiaceae, crowned “the greatest prodigy of the vegetable world,” produce the largest flowers in angiosperms. They are also holoparasites residing inside their vine hosts, and emerge only during flowering. The floral gigantism and obligate parasitism of Rafflesiaceae have rendered their structure unrecognizable to most plant biologists. The vegetative body is composed of highly reduced strands of cells embedded in the host tissue, and does not differentiate into leaves, stems, or roots. The flowers look and smell like decaying animal flesh and exhibit numerous features unknown in the vast majority of flowering plants. This unusual combination of characters, alongside their generally elevated rates of molecular evolution among commonly used phylogenetic markers and propensity for host-to-parasite horizontal gene transfer, has obscured the phylogenetic affinities of Rafflesiaceae since their discovery two centuries ago. Here, we review the phylogenetic placement of Rafflesiaceae and how it has informed a deeper understanding of the pattern and magnitude of horizontal gene transfer in parasitic plants. We also examine the vegetative and reproductive morphology of Rafflesiaceae to provide insight into how these unusual plants are constructed, and offer clues on their evolution from tiny flowered ancestors to floral giants.
University systems allow sexual harassers to thrive

It's time for academic institutions to take responsibility for protecting students and staff, says Laurel Issen.
Neighborhood, race and educational inequality

Abstract Education is critical to poverty reduction and upward mobility, and rising education inequality has drawn broad concern in the United States. However, the role of neighborhood context in education remains under-studied. This paper integrates the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, spatial filtering regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR) to explore determinants of student performance in Salt Lake County, and better understand the underlying causes. Path analysis is used to examine the interactions among school performance, student background, and neighborhood environments. We find that over 60% of the variation in student performance can be explained by school resource, student background and neighborhood environments using OLS and spatial filtering regressions. The GWR model further reveals that student performance in the eastern region with a higher percentage of whites, higher household income and higher education levels, is more sensitive to the neighborhood environment than in poorer and more diversified northwestern regions. Finally, path analysis finds that household income and population density influence student performance indirectly by attracting more whites to the neighborhoods. These findings confirm the significance of neighborhood context in students' academic performance, and the importance of integrating GIS spatial analysis tools into studying education inequality.
Enhanced activation and expansion of T cells using mechanically soft elastomer fibers.

Practical deployment of cellular therapies requires effective platforms for producing clinically relevant numbers of high-quality cells. This report introduces a materials-based approach to improving activation and expansion of T cells, which are rapidly emerging as an agent for treating cancer and a range of other diseases. Electrospinning is used to create a mesh of poly(e-caprolactone) fibers, which is used to present activating ligands to CD3 and CD28, which activate T cells for expansion. Incorporation of poly(dimethyl siloxane) elastomer into the fibers reduces substrate rigidity and enhances expansion of mixed populations of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Intriguingly, this platform also rescues expansion of T cells isolated from CLL patients, which often show limited responsiveness and other features resembling exhaustion. By simplifying the process of cell expansion, compared to current bead-based platforms, and improving T cell expansion, the system introduced here may accelerate development of cellular immunotherapy.
Force Modulating Tissue Bridges for Reduction of Tension and Scar: Finite Element and Image Analysis of Preclinical Incisional and Nonincisional Models.

Background Force modulating tissue bridges (FMTB) represent a new class of combined wound closure and scar reduction device designed to optimize the tension milieu of the healing wound. Objectives Engineering analysis and testing in both intact skin and incisional models was undertaken to assess changes in tissue tension associated with device placement and compare to standard suture closure. Methods Nonlinear, large deformation finite element analyses (FEA) were performed to compare the strains applied to tissues with sutures and FMTB. In the incisional model, a freshly euthanized Yorkshire pig received full thickness cutaneous incisions followed by alternating closure with sutures and FMTBs. FMTBs were also applied to intact adult human skin after pattern application. In each of the experiments, photographs were taken preapplication and postapplication and the resultant dot grid pattern changes were analyzed by image recognition algorithms to calculate applied strains. Results FEA indicate compressive stresses at the tissue:suture interface on the order of 4000 mmHg and 20 mmHg at the tissue:FMTB interface. Strain analysis of the sutures and FMTBs applied in the incisional lab testing indicated imposed strains on the tissues of around 40%, with FMTBs providing 10% more compression than sutures and 25% more compression between the applied devices (P = 0.000057). In the longitudinal study, tension reduction of the order of 30% was maintained over the treatment period of 10 days to verify device efficacy. Conclusions FMTBs provide wounds while simultaneously modulating skin tension and thus have the potential to improve scar appearance.
Structure of the Cdc48 ATPase with its ubiquitin-binding cofactor Ufd1–Npl4

Many polyubiquitinated proteins are extracted from membranes or complexes by the conserved ATPase Cdc48 (in yeast; p97 or VCP in mammals) before proteasomal degradation. Each Cdc48 hexamer contains two stacked ATPase rings (D1 and D2) and six N-terminal (N) domains. Cdc48 binds various cofactors, including the Ufd1-Npl4 heterodimer. Here, we report structures of the Cdc48-Ufd1-Npl4 complex from Chaetomium thermophilum. Npl4 interacts through its UBX-like domain with a Cdc48 N domain, and it uses two Zn2+-finger domains to anchor the enzymatically inactive Mpr1-Pad1 N-terminal (MPN) domain, homologous to domains found in several isopeptidases, to the top of the D1 ATPase ring. The MPN domain of Npl4 is located above Cdc48's central pore, a position similar to the MPN domain from deubiquitinase Rpn11 in the proteasome. Our results indicate that Npl4 is unique among Cdc48 cofactors and suggest a mechanism for binding and translocation of polyubiquitinated substrates into the ATPase.
Market Recognition of the Accounting Disclosure and Economic Benefits of Operating Leases: Evidence from Borrowing Costs and Credit Ratings

We contribute to the current debate on the accounting treatment of operating leases by providing evidence from bond markets and private lending on the market recognition of the role of leasing in determining borrowing costs and credit ratings. Borrowing costs and credit ratings are less sensitive to lease obligations than to debt financing for firms that are financially constrained or have lower marginal tax rates, consistent with theoretical predictions based on tax sharing and bankruptcy costs. Firms closer to ratings borderlines lease more, especially those firms around the investment grade borderline. Our evidence suggests that leasing provides financial flexibility to some firms, relative to debt financing, by preserving or extending credit capacity, and that the credit markets evaluate the economic characteristics of operating leases and treat them differently in their pricing. Our finding on the differential pricing in the credit market is particularly relevant to the current lease accounting debate because the mandatory capitalization under the proposed new accounting rule might curtail such differentiation, diminishing the information value of financial statements. We expect to observe a continuing demand for leases independent of accounting treatments as long as there are economic benefits associated with lease transactions such as preserving or expanding credit capacity.
Large Complex Burrows of Terrestrial Invertebrates: Neoichnology of Pandinus imperator (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae)

Scorpions have comprised a significant portion of the diversity of predatory arthropods since the Late Paleozoic. Many of these animals are active burrowers today and likely have a substantial, if yet unrecognized, trace fossil record. This project involved the study of the burrowing behavior and biogenic structures of the scorpion Pandinus imperator (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Individuals and groups of five animals were placed into sediment-filled terrariums for 30–50 days after which the open burrows were cast and described. Additional experiments were conducted in sediments with two different moisture contents to evaluate the response to this altered environmental condition. Specimens of Pandinus imperator excavated their burrows using the first three pairs of walking legs. The burrow morphologies produced consisted of subvertical ramps, helical burrows, and branching burrows. The burrow elements were elliptical in cross section (12 cm wide × 4 cm high) with concave floors and ceilings. Decreased sediment moisture reduced the complexity of the subsurface structures and reduced the likelihood of their preservation due to gravitational collapse. Burrows of Pandinus imperator were compared to those of the desert scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis, using nonparametric statistics and found to be distinct. Data collected from these and similar neoichnological studies can be applied directly to interpret trace fossil assemblages found in continental paleoenvironments.
Observations on ATP

If we compare calculating with proving, four differences strike the eye: (1) Calculations deal with numbers; proofs, with propositions. (2) Rules of calculation are generally more exact than rules of proof. (3) Procedures of calculation are usually terminating (decidable, recursive) or can be made so by fairly well-developed methods of approximation. Procedures of proof, however, are often nonterminating (undecidable or nonrecursive, though recursively enumerable), indeed incomplete in the case of number theory or set theory, and we do not have a clear conception of approximate methods in theorem-proving. (4) We possess efficient calculating procedures, while with proofs it frequently happens that even in a decidable theory, the decision method is not practically feasible. Although shortcuts are the exception in calculations, they seem to be the rule with proofs in so far as intuition, insight, experience, and other vague and not easily imitable principles are applied. Since the proof procedures are so complex or lengthy, we simply cannot manage unless we somehow discover peculiar connections in each particular case.
The Future of Educational Administration is behind Us

Scholars and practicing administrators face rapid change and information overload in their respective roles in educational leadership. These forces are pushing professors of educational administrat...
Synthesis of non-broadside linear array with sparse Bayesian learning

In this work, a method based on the sparse Bayesian learning is applied to design the excitation coefficient and location of each element for the non-broadside linear array for the given desired radiation pattern. The fast marginal likelihood algorithm is considered to improve the efficiency, and the hyperparameter is estimated pairwise for the complex excitation coefficients.
Clockspeed, competition, and cooperation: incumbent motives and the market for ideas

Entrepreneurs seeking to pioneer new technologies face a critical choice of how to commercialize their innovation into a market served by incumbent firms. Broadly, they may compete directly or seek...
Promoting interest in science through inquiry-based learning in undergraduate linguistics: A case study

In an effort to broaden interest in science, STEM educators advocate for the use of inquiry-based pedagogies. These pedagogies actively engage students in the scientific process, thereby increasing students' scientific literacy, as well as their confidence and interest in science. Although inquiry has been widely implemented in canonical STEM-related fields, students in linguistics, a scientific discipline, can likewise benefit from these approaches. This paper presents a case study of the implementation of inquiry through guided discussion in an undergraduate course in psycholinguistics. Results indicated that students rated the inquiry course as more stimulating/engaging and rated their learning and desire to continue learning as higher.
Family nurse practitioner students' perceptions of readiness and transition into advanced practice.

BACKGROUND Utilizing skills identified in previous research on successful role transition, this study evaluated the relationship between a strategically designed practicum course and the readiness for role transition to family nurse practitioner (FNP) in graduate nursing students. METHODS A mixed methods approach evaluated pre- and post-participation survey data for the FNP role preparedness in graduate nursing students in a strategically designed practicum course. The survey addressed 22 skills associated with readiness for role transition and had three open-ended questions to collect narrative student perceptions. RESULTS Mann-Whitney U tests revealed readiness for the FNP role increased from pre to post-participation in the course for 19 out of 22 skills with significant increases (P < 0.05) for one skill and marginally significant increases (P < 0.10) for three skills. Qualitative findings yielded an overall sense of readiness in students for novice FNP roles. CONCLUSION A well-designed practicum course that reviews prior knowledge gained through the program and reinforces critical thinking, assessment, and decision-making skills facilitates role transition from registered nurse to novice FNP.
The role of community context and psychological well-being for physical health: A dyadic study of military couples

Drawing from the social organizational theory of community action and change (SOAC) within a systemic biopsychosocial perspective, associations between community context (military community connect...
Gelatin-Based Microribbon Hydrogels Accelerate Cartilage Formation by Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Three Dimensions

Hydrogels (HGs) are attractive matrices for cell-based cartilage tissue regeneration given their injectability and ability to fill defects with irregular shapes. However, most HGs developed to date...
Onboard Autonomy System for the Slocum Glider

In this paper we present a system for adaptive, long-term underwater exploration and monitoring tasks using buoyancy-driven underwater gliders. To address the limitations of shore-based autonomy for long-term glider deployments, we develop an embedded autonomy system and test it on a TWR Slocum G2 glider. Our system places the autonomy physically within the glider, which greatly diminishes the constraints on the amount of data that can be passed to the autonomy system. Furthermore, our approach eliminates latency in planning that is a result of relying on satellite communications during glider surfacings. In this paper we provide a detailed discussion of the hardware and software components of our embedded navigation (NAV) system. We also demonstrate the capability of the NAV system in the field through results from a pair of sea trials off of the Oregon Coast where the NAV system was used in an adaptive sampling task to identify temperature gradients.
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and the Risk of Cancer: Insights from Clinical Trials and Recent Drug Recalls

The purpose of this review is to familiarize readers with issues surrounding angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and the risk of cancer, both from the perspective of clinical trial data and the more recent concerns about impurities in certain ARB products. Approximately 45.6% of adults in the USA have hypertension. ARB-containing medications are widely used in the USA, with tens of millions of prescriptions written yearly. Whether exposure to certain ARB drug products contributes to the development of cancer has been the topic of a series of publications. Nonetheless, ARBs’ link to cancer, if any, remains inconclusive. Any mechanistic link between ARBs and cancer is poorly understood, with a variety of basic science studies suggesting that ARBs should exert a protective effect. Due to the presence of potentially carcinogenic nitrosamine impurities in certain ARB products, a series of large recalls in the USA and in countries around the world has occurred since 2018. These recalls have occurred in the context of two recent trends affecting antihypertensive drugs: nearly ubiquitous reliance on generic drugs and increased use of manufacturing facilities in China and India to supply the USA. Despite substantial efforts directed toward understanding whether ARBs have the potential to cause cancer, the available studies do not provide a consistent answer, and a causal link remains speculative. The principal conclusion must be that there is not a definitive signal for cancer associated with ARB exposure, although the possibility has not been fully excluded. The problem of nitrosamine impurities in certain ARB products (and some other drug products) is in need of further investigation, so that the risks can be mitigated by eliminating these impurities from the drug supply chain.
The clotting system of monkeys: a comparison of coagulation factors and tests between cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca irus) and humans.

Abstract 1. 1. The concentration of blood coagulation factors in Macaco irus, the cynomolgus monkey, was determined in an attempt to compare with man the ability of monkey plasma to correct deficiencies in selectively depleted clotting factor substrates. 2. 2. In addition, commonly used tests of hemostatic function were performed. 3. 3. The values for tests of the intrinsic, extrinsic, and fibrinolytic phases of coagulation in monkey and human plasma were found to be similar.
Outcomes of Dialogic Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Strengthening Brand Loyalty Through Online Brand Community Engagement, Brand Trust and CSR Authenticity: An Abstract

Grounded in Morgan and Hunt’s Commitment-Trust Theory of Relationship Marketing, the current research examines the effects of dialogic communication (DC) of CSR through digital media on brand loyalty (LOYT) mediated by customers’ online brand community engagement (OBCE) and brand trust (TRUST). To test the proposed mediation model, we conducted a national survey with a representative sample (N = 1022), randomly drawn from Qualtrics’ U.S. panel. After ensuring the validity, reliability and model fit of the measurement model, we tested the postulated model using a structural equation modeling procedure. All proposed hypotheses were supported showing (1) the direct effects of dialogic communication on CSR authenticity and OBCE; (2) the direct effects of OBCE on brand trust and brand loyalty; (3) indirect effects of dialogic communication on brand loyalty through OBCE and brand trust; and (4) the indirect effects of CSR authenticity on brand loyalty through OBCE and brand trust.
Knee Society Award Papers Are Highly Cited Works

Since 1993, The Knee Society has presented three annual awards recognizing the best research papers presented at the annual meetings. To date, no quantitative evaluation has determined whether the selection process identifies the most meritorious papers based on subsequent citations. In the absence of validation of this process, it is unclear whether the journal readership should view the award-winning papers as those with potentially greater impact for the specialty. (1) Are award papers cited both more than nonaward papers published in the same Knee Society proceedings issue of CORR® and more than all other knee research papers published in all issues of CORR® during any given year? (2) Does the award selection process identify potentially highly influential knee research? Subsequent citations for each award and nonaward paper published in The Knee Society proceedings issue for 2002 to 2008 were determined using the SCOPUS citation index. The citations for all papers on knee surgery published in CORR® during the same years were also determined. Mean citations for an award paper were statistically greater than for a nonaward paper: 86 (SD 95; median 55; 95% confidence interval [CI] of the mean, 44–128) versus 33 (SD 30; median 24; 95% CI of the mean, 28–37; p < 0.001). Mean number of citations for award papers was also higher than for all other knee research papers published in nonproceedings issues of CORR®: 86 (SD 95; median 55; 95% CI of the mean, 44–128) versus 30 (SD 31; median 20; 95% CI for the mean, 25–35; p < 0.001). Twelve of the 22 (54.6%) award papers were in the top five cited papers from the proceedings issue for the respective year versus 24 of the 190 (12.6%) of the nonaward papers (difference in the percentages is 41.9% and the 95% CI for the risk difference is 20.6%–63.3%; p < 0.001). In 3 of 7 years, an award paper was the most cited knee paper published in CORR®. The selection process for The Knee Society scientific awards identifies potentially influential papers that are likely to be highly cited in future research articles about the knee. The selection process for Knee Society Award Papers appears to identify papers that are potentially influential in the field of knee surgery and are likely to be highly cited in future published articles. As such, these award papers deserve special attention from the readership.
Bacterial communities in the rumen and feces of lactating Holstein dairy cows are not affected when fed reduced-fat dried distillers' grains with solubles.

Abstract Reduced-fat dried distillers’ grains with solubles (RF-DDGSs) are co-products of ethanol production and contain less fat than traditional distillers’ grains. The fat in corn is ~91% unsaturated, and it is toxic to rumen microorganisms so it could influence the composition of the rumen microbiome. It has been demonstrated that RF-DDGS is a suitable ration ingredient to support the high-producing dairy cow, and this feedstuff is a promising alternative protein source for lactating dairy cows. The current study aims to better understand the effect of RF-DDGS on the rumen and fecal bacterial composition in lactating dairy cows. Thirty-six multiparous (two or three), mid-lactation Holstein cows (BW = 680 ± 11 kg; 106 ± 27 DIM) were randomly assigned to two groups which were fed a control diet made up of corn, corn silage, and alfalfa hay supplemented with expeller soybean meal or with added RF-DDGS (20% of the DM) containing approximately 6.0% fat. Whole rumen contents (rumen fluid and digesta; esophageal tubing method) and feces (free-catch method) were collected on day 35 of the experimental period, after the 14-d acclimation period. Rumen contents and feces from each cow were used for DNA extraction. The bacterial community composition in rumen and fecal samples was assessed via the 16S rRNA gene by using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla in rumen contents. The fecal microbiota was dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi. RF-DGGS increased bacterial richness, evenness, and Shannon diversity in both rumen and fecal samples and was associated with several taxa that had different abundance in treatment versus control comparisons. The RF-DGGS, however, did not significantly alter the bacterial community in the rumen or feces. In general, these findings demonstrated that dietary inclusion of RF-DDGS did not impose any serious short-term (within 30 days) health or production consequences, as would be expected. With this study, we present further evidence that inclusion of 20% (DM basis) RF-DDGS in the diet of lactating dairy cows can be done without consequence on the microbiome of the rumen.
From education to empowerment: Redesigning the role of students in college health promotion.

College health promotion departments frequently employ peer health educators to disseminate relevant education and conduct outreach to their student body. While there are certainly benefits to these programs, this approach is outdated and does little to empower students or engage them in the process of health promotion. In this viewpoint article, I describe the Community Health Organizer model, which expands students' role in peer engagement and advocacy beyond the traditional peer educator or peer counseling programs. Finally, I provide recommendations for college health practitioners interested in implementing a similar model on their campuses.Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1920603.
Endovascular management of ruptured choroidal aneurysms associated with moyamoya syndrome: A two-patient case report & review of the literature.

Abstract Ruptured choroidal microaneurysms associated with moyamoya syndrome are rare entities. Their small size and deep/distal location make them challenging to treat. Both surgical and endovascular treatment options carry significant risk of stroke. Here we present a two-patient case report of ruptured choroidal microaneurysms treated with Nbutyl cyanoacrylate (nBCA) endovascular embolization utilizing neuromonitoring and provocative testing during one of the cases. We also present a review of the literature evaluating surgical and endovascular treatment of these aneurysms.
Nonstandard Null Lagrangians and gauge Functions for Newtonian Law of Inertia

New null Lagrangians and gauge functions are derived and they are called nonstandard because their forms are different than those previously found. The invariance of the action is used to make the Lagrangians and gauge functions exact. The first exact nonstandard null Lagrangian and its gauge function for the law of inertia are obtained, and their physical implications are discussed.
High-Heat-Flux Effects in Wire Heat Gages

buckling criterion is established and, furthermore, a simple for­ mula for buckling criterion with reasonable accuracy for engi­ neering purposes is obtained. Special attention is paid to exactly satisfying the boundary conditions, and the solution thus obtained is compared with that of Klosner and Forray.1 This paper is a brief report on reference 2. The ideas and the principles of the author's method are: first, by the use of Duhamel's analogy, the thermal-stress problem can be converted into the isothermal problem subjected to an appro­ priate imaginary hydrostatic pressure and imaginary body forces; secondly, two-dimensional plane-stress problems involving body forces can be solved rigorously by the principle of virtual dis­ placements provided the displacements are given at the edges; and finally, these displacements expressing the boundary condi­ tions can be so defined that the conservation of the straightness of the edges after heating may be satisfied. The stresses obtained in this manner can be used in calculating the buckling criterion of the plate. The displacements in the plane of the plate may be expressed as By inspecting the boundary conditions imposed on the prob­ lem, the validity of the solutions by Klosner-Forra y and the author can be shown. The Klosner-Forray solution will be exact when the tensile rigidity of the web is zero, while the author's solution will be exact when it is infinitely large. In the region located between these two limiting cases, both solutions give approximate values. From the fact that the thermal buck­ ling of rectangular plate simply supported b}^ the web is mainly due to the restriction of expanding plate by the web of lower temperature than the plate, and that even if the web is weak and the buckling* is due mainly to the nonuniformity of the tempera­ ture distribution in the plate, such distribution may not happen in such a weak web or, in other words, a weak-heat-sink struc­ ture; the author's solution may be suitable in the case of buckling of supersonic wing panels. In the example calculated, the buckling parameter of the author's solution is somewhat lower than the Klosner-Forray value.
SU-E-J-20: Identifying Predictors for Translational and Rotational Shifts of Liver SBRT Patients

Purpose: Identifying predictors of translational and rotational offsets for liver SBRT treatment may be of assistance in determining if the use of a 6D couch is more advantageous for particular patients. Methods: From February 2013 to February 2015, 85 patients received liver SBRT for HCC or metastases. CBCT imaging was used for each patient and offsets recorded. There were 399 initial CBCT registrations performed. 184 registrations contained angular offsets. The mean offsets for patients in the superior/inferior, anterior/posterior, and lateral dimension were 4mm, 4mm, and 3mm, respectively. The mean absolute angular yaw, pitch, and roll were 0.2°, 0.3°, and 0.3°, respectively. Mean GTV, PTV, and Liver volume was 46.6, 153.3, and 1435.2cc’s. 59 patients were male and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.2kg/m2. Hepatic segments were characterized as anterior/posterior left/right, superior/inferior, or lateral/medial by established anatomic classification. Chi-squared test and Multinomial Logistic Regression were used for univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analyses. Results: Offsets ≥ 2mm, 5mm, and 10mm occurred 82.5%, 49.4%, and 9.5% of the time, respectively. While kV imaging prior to CBCT decreased the frequency of 2 and 5mm offsets on UVA, on MVA BMI’s >20 predicted for offsets. On UVA and MVA, lateral lesions were more likely to have ≥ 10mm shift. Offsets ≥ 0.2°, 0.5°, and 1° occurred 76.1%, 68.5%, and 42.9% of the time, respectively. Lateral lesions were more likely on MVA to experience ≥ 0.2° and 0.5° shifts, while previous kV images were the only variable that predicted for shift < 1°. No dosimetric parameter predicted for translation or rotation offsets on MVA. Conclusion: BMIs <20 predict for smaller translations during liver SBRT, while lateral lesions predict for greater translation and rotation offsets. Patients treated with lateral lesions might benefit more from the angular capability of a 6D couch.
Experiments with a large aperture parametric acoustic receiving array

The Parametric Acoustic Receiving Array (PARRAY) is a receiving array which achieves the directional reception characteristics of a continuous end-fire line array by the use of only two transducers (pump and hydrophone). The PARRAY synthesizes a virtual receiving array with acoustic aperture equal to the pump-hydrophone separation. Since the PARRAY is a system involving a number of active components which are required to process signals with wide dynamic ranges, the implementation of a practical and useful PARRAY involves meeting stringent system self-noise requirements. A PARRAY with 340 m pump-hydrophone separation operating over the 35 to 800 Hz range has been tested in a fresh water lake, with results showing that the self-noise level of the PARRAY is below the ambient noise level in this environment. A description of the PARRAY implementation is presented with the test results.
Interlanguage binary data streams: A C#.NET to Java prototype

This paper presents a prototype application programming interface for transmitting binary data between two different languages, Java and C#, along with a standard for encoding the data types. The standard calls for big-endian data transmission with either UTF8 or UTF16 character encoding and LEB128 string length encoding. The prototype API was found to be as efficient as Java's binary data streams and far more efficient than text based data exchange (XML, TSV, and CSV). This standard is flexible enough to support other languages such as C, C++.
Ecological genetics and genomics of plant defences: evidence and approaches

Herbivores exert significant selection on plants, and plants have evolved a variety of constitutive and inducible defenses to resist and tolerate herbivory. Assessing the genetic mechanisms that influence defenses against herbivores will deepen our understanding of the evolution of essential phenotypic traits.Ecogenomics is a powerful interdisciplinary approach that can address fundamental questions about the ecology and evolutionary biology of species, such as: which evolutionary forces maintain variation within a population? and What is the genetic architecture of adaptation? This field seeks to identify gene regions that influence ecologically-important traits, assess the fitness consequences under natural conditions of alleles at key quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and test how the abiotic and biotic environment affects gene expression.Here, we review ecogenomics techniques and emphasize how this framework can address long-standing and emerging questions relating to anti-herbivore defenses in plants. For example, ecogenomics tools can be used to investigate: inducible vs. constitutive defenses; tradeoffs between resistance and tolerance; adaptation to the local herbivore community; selection on alleles that confer resistance and tolerance in natural populations; and whether different genes are activated in response to specialist vs. generalist herbivores and to different types of damage.Ecogenomic studies can be conducted with model species, such as Arabidopsis, or their relatives, in which case myriad molecular tools are already available. Burgeoning sequence data will also facilitate ecogenomic studies of non-model species. Throughout this paper, we highlight approaches that are particularly suitable for ecological studies of non-model organisms, discuss the benefits and disadvantages of specific techniques, and review bioinformatic tools for analyzing data.We focus on established and promising techniques, such as QTL mapping with pedigreed populations, genome wide association studies, transcription profiling strategies, population genomics, and transgenic methodologies. Many of these techniques are complementary and can be used jointly to investigate the genetic architecture of defense traits and selection on alleles in nature.
Why Keynes’ A Treatise on Money might have Greater Relevance Today than His General Theory?

Asset price speculation has come to play a central role in economic life in the age financial liberalization in a way that is reminiscent of the era right before the Great Depression. In his A Treatise on Money, financial variables and asset price speculation was an integral part of Keynes’ account of the business cycle dynamics. In his General Theory, Keynes commented on financial markets extensively, but did not use his insights on asset price speculation explicitly in his theory of output determination. In later years, Minsky’s interpretation of the General Theory bridged this gap in Keynes’ two works, by reviving his earlier emphasis on financial variables and speculation. But the paper argues that Minsky might not have gone far enough, on account of having overlooked that part of Keynes’ argument in the Treatise on asset price speculation which is of relevance in understanding business cycle dynamics today.
Nucleosome interactions with a human Alu element: Transcriptional repression and effects of template methylation

Alu interspersed repetitive elements possess internal RNA polymerase III promoters which are strongly transcribed in vitro, yet these elements are nearly silent in somatic cells. To examine whether repression by chromatin proteins could contribute to the low level of Alu expression, a conserved Alu element from the fourth intron of the human alpha-fetoprotein gene was reconstituted with purified octamer or tetramer particles. Analysis of reconstitutes revealed that this Alu element directed translational and rotational positioning of octamers as well as tetramers. In vitro transcription experiments with reconstituted templates demonstrated that RNA polymerase III-dependent transcription of the Alu element was profoundly repressed by positioned octamer particles. Furthermore, complete CpG methylation of this template enhanced the capacity of tetramers to repress transcription.
A series of potentially abortive ova recovered from fertile women prior to the first missed menstrual period.

Abstract Over a period of ten years, twenty-eight early conceptuses have been found in a group of 136 potentially pregnant women of known fertility who submitted to hysterectomy for a variety of therapeutic reasons. Twelve of these early human ova were abnormal and of these seven were certainly destined to abort. Four of the latter might not even have caused clinical evidence of pregnancy because of their extreme abnormality. The ova destined to abort, either with or without evidence of their ability to produce clinical pregnancy, showed such fundamental defects as multinucleated blastomeres, absence of embryonic disc and/or chorionic cavity, or profound hypoplasia of the future placental tissue. None of these patients in whom abnormal ova were found showed any clinical or pathological evidence that maternal environment per se played any part in the production of the abnormal ovum. In other words, the endometrium was normal in all cases. The evidence, such as it is, indicates that the defective fertilized ovum is due to intrinsic “ “germ plasm” quality rather than to its environment and is the main factor in the production of spontaneous abortion.
Tagging sacred space in the Dura-Europos synagogue

Tagging sacred space in the Dura-Europos synagogue Karen B. Stern One day in the middle of the 3rd c.1 a visitor scratched two simple words, “I (am) H � iya”, into a doorpost of the synagogue in Roman Dura-Europos. The Aramaic letters of the text are carved irregularly and largely enough to have been visible from the building’s elaborately decorated assembly hall. But unlike other elegantly painted inscriptions from the synagogue that clearly announce the names and donations of esteemed benefactors, the presence of this terse graffito, limited to a pronoun and a personal name, initially appears inexplicable. How, if at all, can we make sense of this crudely carved text, placed so ostentatiously in this sacred setting?
Wavelength-coded multifocal microscopy

A wavelength-coded multifocal microscope incorporating multiplexed and wavelength-coded holographic gratings to generate wavelength-selective multifocal planes is presented. The focal planes are longitudinally spaced on the object plane, and each focal plane is probed by a designated wavelength. The recording of the multiplexed gratings takes place at a single wavelength by utilizing the Bragg degeneracy property; thus the maximum sensitive wavelength of blue 488 nm is used for recording, but the device is operated at a broad wavelength band of interest, all the way to red 633 nm. We present the design, implementation, and experimental image data demonstrating this microscope's ability to obtain biological tissue structures simultaneously at different focal planes using broadband illumination by LEDs.
Structure of polyurethane elastomers. X-ray diffraction and conformational analysis of MDI-propandiol and MDI-ethylene glycol hard segments

Abstract X-ray diffraction and conformational analysis have been used to investigate the structure of polyurethane hard segments prepared from diphenylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate (MDI) with propandiol (PDO) and ethylene glycol (EDO) as chain extenders. The results are compared with those obtained previously for MDI-butandiol (BDO) hard segments. In the latter system, the poly(MDI-BDO) chains are fully extended with an all- trans conformation for the O(CH 2 ) 4 O unit, and a monomer repeat of 18.95 A. The unit cell is triclinic with a tilted base plane such that adjacent chains are staggered along the fibre axis. In contrast both poly(MDI-PDO) and poly(MDI-EDO) adopt unstaggered structures, i.e. the chains are in register and the unit cell base planes are perpendicular to the chain axis. The monomer repeats of 16.2 A for poly(MDI-PDO) and 15.0 A for poly(MDI-EDO) are shorter than the predicted repeats for fully-extended chains, indicating that these polymers have contracted conformations containing some gauche CH 2 groups. Conformational analysis shows that the 16.2 A repeat for poly(MDI-PDO) can be achieved with the O(CH 2 ) 3 O unit in the trans-gauche + - gauche + - trans or gauche + - trans-trans-gauche + conformations. Similarly the 15.0 A repeat for poly(MDI-EDO) is predicted for the gauche + - trans-gauche − conformation for the O(CH 2 ) 2 O unit. These conformations are of higher energy than the all- trans fully-extended chains. This may explain the higher crystalline perfection of the poly(MDI-BDO) hard segments, for which crystallization in the all- trans form will probably provide a greater driving force for phase separation.
Characterization of anionic/cationic sequential IPNs. II. Studies of swelling, modulus, and alternate phase staining with CsF and LiI

Anionic/cationic interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were synthesized by sequential polymerization from crosslinked polystyrene, PS, as polymer I and crosslinked poly(4-vinyl pyridine), P(4-VP), as polymer II. Ionomeric substitution of the two networks was based on sulfonation and quaternization of the phenyl and pyridine rings, respectively. The swelling, morphological, and dynamic mechanical behavior of ionomeric and unsubstituted IPNs was explored as a function of overall IPN composition. A theoretical analysis of the unsubstituted IPNs via the Thiele–Cohen equation showed that essentially no additional physical or chemical crosslinks were developed in the swollen state. Modulus studies showed that network I tends to dominate the mechanical properties in the bulk state. Swelling studies on the ionomeric IPNs as a function of pH demonstrated a complex change in behavior with the addition of NaCl, possibly due to an ionic screening effect. Electron microscopy involved alternate staining of the anionic and cationic phases using CsF and Lil and showed a two-phase structure, with the possibility of additional phases within phases due to separation of the ionomeric components. Comparison of the two staining techniques yielded strong evidence of a positive/negative–negative/positive phase contrast, depending on the phase being stained. In each case, domains were less than 100 nm (1000 A), with the domain size decreasing as the P(4-VP) content increased. Also, a phase inversion appeared to occur between 50 and 80% P(4-VP). The dynamic mechanical studies supported the two-phase morphology and gave evidence of significant molecular mixing between the phases.
Order in Langmuir-Blodgett films of lead and cadmium stearate: an X-ray diffraction study

Abstract We have studied monolayer and multilayer Langmuir-Blodgett films of lead stearate and cadmium stearate using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. We find that although these two types of films have similar in-plane structures, lead stearate forms better ordered films: the correlation length increases with the number of layers in lead stearate but levels off at the three-layer value in cadmium stearate. The lattices of adjacent lead ion layers are correlated, but adjacent cadmium layers are not.
Sectional Modeling of a Centrifugal Compressor

The prediction of compressor performance using steady-state methods has had limited success for multistage configurations. Accepted limitations of the computational methods such as streamline curvature effects have been ignored because of a more dominant issue of the interface between the rotating and stationary components and the change in pitch between the vaned-stationary components. The most common model reported in the literature for centrifugal compressor stage analysis is known as the frozen-rotor or implicit model. Its selection, however, is normally driven for numerical stability reasons not for accuracy. The literature has shown that this method does not provide physically correct solutions for off-design predictions. The current work attempts to improve the steady-state modeling approach by employing an interface modeling that assumes that the tip speed is much greater than the through flow velocity. This model is referred to as circumferential averaging and is less stable than the frozen rotor model. The next proposed improvement is to model all of the vaned-stationary passages in order to preserve geometric periodicity. The last novel improvement is in the area of the diffuser inlet region where a portion of the secondary flow path is included to resolve the entrance loss into the diffuser. This approach was used to model two sections of a high pressure centrifugal compressor. The results are presented for design and off-design flows. The calculations are compared with test data taken from full scale testing.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Protein Modification: Palmitoylation in G-protein signaling pathways

The reversible palmitoylation of G proteins and their receptors is involved both in receptor desensitization and in association and disassociation of G alpha subunits with the plasma membrane.
Web-a-where: geotagging web content

We describe Web-a-Where, a system for associating geography with Web pages. Web-a-Where locates mentions of places and determines the place each name refers to. In addition, it assigns to each page a geographic focus --- a locality that the page discusses as a whole. The tagging process is simple and fast, aimed to be applied to large collections of Web pages and to facilitate a variety of location-based applications and data analyses.Geotagging involves arbitrating two types of ambiguities: geo/non-geo and geo/geo. A geo/non-geo ambiguity occurs when a place name also has a non-geographic meaning, such as a person name (e.g., Berlin) or a common word (Turkey). Geo/geo ambiguity arises when distinct places have the same name, as in London, England vs. London, Ontario.An implementation of the tagger within the framework of the WebFountain data mining system is described, and evaluated on several corpora of real Web pages. Precision of up to 82% on individual geotags is achieved. We also evaluate the relative contribution of various heuristics the tagger employs, and evaluate the focus-finding algorithm using a corpus pretagged with localities, showing that as many as 91% of the foci reported are correct up to the country level.
Pathways Into Corrosion Related Naval Applications

The cost of corrosion to the US military is huge. In 2006–2007 the US Navy spent $3.2 Billion on corrosion related maintenance on ships alone. Additional funds were expended maintaining US Navy aircraft, helicopters and land vehicles. The cost of corrosion must be controlled. It is apparent that extraordinary cost reductions are needed to bring the problem under control. In order to achieve such dramatic improvements changes from conventional methods of construction, inspection and monitoring are necessary. There are ample opportunities for active material technologies if the researcher understands the fundamental corrosion problem. In this paper the author outlines information on US Navy corrosion concerns including examples of recent request for information data calls. It is hoped that this paper will help researchers in the SMASIS community understand the needs associated with US naval corrosion.
Renal phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity and ammonia excretion during acute acidosis in the rat.

SummaryThe role of elevated renal phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity in enhancing ammonia excretion in response to an acute acid load was evaluated in adult rats. Although enzyme activity was approximately threefold higher in “adapted” rats, ammonia excretion rate during the 24 hr following administration of an acute acid load was not significantly greater than from rats with normal enzyme activity. This observation represents an example of dissociation between elevated phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity and ammonia excretion response to an acute acid load.