cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Giving to local schools: Corporate philanthropy, tax incentives, and the ecology of need

Abstract This paper extends work on corporate philanthropy by arguing that we need to look not only at legal and institutional factors that shape corporate philanthropic activity but also at the ecology of the “consuming” organizations toward which philanthropic activity is directed. We examine the forces that shape the philanthropic practices of corporations, focusing our analysis on corporate giving to local schools. The analysis draws upon a survey of the philanthropic practices of a representative sample of 2776 corporations in the United States in 2002. Two significant findings emerge: first, higher levels of state corporate taxation are associated with greater levels of giving to local schools. This finding fits well with established arguments about the relationship between tax write-offs and charitable giving—higher taxes provide greater incentives for increasing philanthropic activity. Second the proportion of private schools in a given state is inversely related to philanthropic giving to local schools. We argue that the ecology of the receiving organizations in this area shape the perceptions of need among corporate givers. Corporations that are in states that have more competition between schools and a healthier “market” for education demonstrate less commitment supporting the provision of social services in this area.
Ensuring voters and candidates' confidentiality in E-voting systems

A new method based on cryptography to ensure voters and candidates' confidentiality in the Internet E-Voting, referred to as the Name and vOte separaTed E-voting (NOTE) system, is proposed. In NOTE, an impartial party, the Election Commission (EC) will be responsible for part of the vote counting duties besides collecting and verifying the voter ID. The votes and the candidates' names are separated into two parts during the counting process. EC will hold the candidates' names secret before the tally comes up; the Vote Counting Committee (VCC) only counts the votes and is not involved in unveiling the vote tally by virtue of the anonymity of the candidates. Only EC can disclose the final tally after VCC has counted all votes without knowing who the votes are for during the vote counting procedure. This scheme will effectively ensure voters and candidates' confidentiality, and thus improving election security and fairness.
Self-Repairable Polyurethane Networks by Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Water†

Sugar moieties were incorporated into cross-linked polyurethane (PUR) networks in an effort to achieve self-repairing in the presence of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). When methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (MGP) molecules are reacted with hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer (HDI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to form cross-linked MGP-polyurethane (PUR) networks, these materials are capable of self-repairing in air. This process requires atmospheric amounts of CO2 and H2O, thus resembling plant behavior of carbon fixation during the photosynthesis cycle. Molecular processes responsible for this unique self-repair process involve physical diffusion of cleaved network segments as well as the formation of carbonate and urethane linkages. Unlike plants, MGP-PUR networks require no photo-initiated reactions, and they are thus capable of repair in darkness under atmospheric conditions.
Vibrational analysis of crystalline tri‐L‐alanine

We have found that tri-L-alanine (Ala3) can crystallize in a parallel-chain beta structure in addition to the previously known antiparallel-chain beta structure. Although the chain conformations in each structure are essentially similar, the ir and Raman spectra are distinctively different. We have calculated the normal modes of each structure, and can account in significant detail for these differences. This demonstrates the essential validity of our empirically refined force fields, as well as showing that deeper insights into polypeptide and protein structure can be achieved through the rigorous analyses of normal mode calculations.
Bosom buddies: Close connections between breast and bladder cancer

Just as the name implies, high-grade muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is extremely aggressive. The standard of care is radical surgery and cisplatin-based chemotherapy, but this approach is effective in only 30 to 40% of patients. To improve patient outcomes, it will be important to prospectively identify which patients will respond to therapy and to identify new treatment options for those who will not. Some cancers, including breast cancer, have distinct molecular subtypes, each of which responds differently to therapies. Choi and colleagues set out to elucidate whether MIBC also has distinct molecular subtypes that can inform treatment decisions. Using whole-genome gene expression profiling of 73 primary bladder cancers, the authors identified three major subtypes of MIBC, named according to their gene expression signatures (luminal, basal, and p53-like luminal). Surprisingly, at the molecular level, these subtypes closely resembled breast cancer subtypes. Luminal MIBC showed activation of the potentially druggable peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPAR γ ), estrogen receptor (ER), and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) signaling pathways. Basal MIBC was characterized by squamous differentiation, p63 expression, and activation of the targetable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathways. Patients with basal-like tumors had the poorest outcome, but among these, patients with tumors showing evidence of immune infiltration had a better response to chemotherapy. Last, the p53-like luminal subtype of bladder cancer was resistant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, similar to p53 wild-type breast cancers. Using a similar approach, an independent group led by Damrauer and colleagues also identified subtypes of bladder cancer, recognizing their close relation to breast cancer. Together, these findings support the notion that we have a lot to learn from cross-tissue comparisons in cancer. Discoveries in one tumor type contribute to the understanding and treatment of another. In fact, cancers originating from different tissues can be more closely related at a molecular level than tumors from the same tissue. Maybe the old adage is true for cancer—if you want to know a cancer, get to know its friends. W. Choi et al. , Identification of distinct Basal and luminal subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer with different sensitivities to frontline chemotherapy. Cancer Cell 25 , 152–165 (2014). [[PubMed]][1] J. S. Damrauer et al., Intrinsic subtypes of high-grade bladder cancer reflect the hallmarks of breast cancer biology. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. , published online 10 February 2014 (10.1073/pnas.1318376111). [[Abstract]][2] [1]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24525232 [2]: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1318376111
Rising and Declining Economic Powers: The Sino-US Conflict Deepens

Abstract Adopting a comparative historical approach informed by Marxist theory of imperialism, this study demonstrates the tendencies toward conflict between past and present rising and declining imperial powers. In the present context the study compares and contrasts two types of imperialism: a highly militarised US empire based on wars and territorial occupations and a market-driven Chinese empire driven by an alliance of state, foreign and national capital. Both imperial systems are influenced by “overseas” diasporas. In the case of the USA, an internal Zionist power configuration loyal to Israel subordinates Washington's Middle East policies to the economically prejudicial interests of a militarist state (Israel), while in the case of China the overseas diaspora facilitates and promotes investments and trade enhancing China's dynamic economic expansion. The emerging contradictions between and within the two conflicting styles of empire building, point to the need for a social transformation, enhancing...
Mathematical Models of a Three-Nation Arms Race

Three models of a three-nation arms race are presented: an all-against-all model, a model in which two nations are allied against the third, and a model in which one of the nations has a secret alliance with the other two. In the all-against-all situation, the model predicts an infinitely explosive arms race as each country fears an alliance of the other two. In the two-sided alliance, the model predicts that there will be an mitial increase until the weaker side approaches parity, after which there will be a mutual deescalation. If one nation signs secret treaties with each of the others, then it immediately deescalates. The other two nations then enter a two-sided arms race in which there will be an initial increase until the weaker nation reaches parity followed by mutual deescalation. These models suggest that two-way arms races would not infinitely escalate if it were not for the fear of third party alliances.
Viscoelastic response of anisotropic biological membranes. Part II: Constitutive models

In Part I of this series [7] we described the structure of the biopolymer interlayers found in the shell of the mollusk Haliotis rufescens (the red abalone). There we described how the layers can be viewed as a viscoelastic composite reinforced by a network of chitin fibrils arranged in an often nearly unidirectional architecture. Mechanical testing documented the response to tensile testing of layers removed via demineralization. Herein in Part II we describe a general viscoelastic constitutive model for such layers that may be both transversely isotropic or orthotropic as would follow from the network of nearly aligned chitin fibrils described by Bezares et al. in Part I [7]. Part III of this series will be concerned with applying the models to more fully describing the response of these types of biological membranes to mechanical loading.
Joint Transmitter and Receiver Polarization Optimization for Scattering Estimation in Clutter

Controlling the polarization information in transmitted waveforms enables improving the performance of radar systems. We consider the design of optimal polarizations at both the radar transmitter and receiver for the estimation of target scattering embedded in clutter. The goal is to minimize the mean squared error of the scattering estimation subject to an average radar pulse power constraint. Under the condition that the target and clutter scattering covariance matrices are known a priori, we show that such a problem is equivalent to the optimal design of a radar sensing matrix that contains the polarization information. We formulate the optimal design as a nonlinear optimization problem and then recast it in a convex form and is thus efficiently solvable by semi-definite programming (SDP). We compare the sensing performance of the optimally selected polarization over conventional approaches. Our numerical results demonstrate that a significant amount of power gain is achieved in the target scattering estimation through such an optimal design.
Comparison of a liposomal amphotericin B formulation (AmBisome) and deoxycholate amphotericin B (Fungizone) for the treatment of murine paracoccidioidomycosis

The therapeutic efficacy of a liposomal amphotericin B preparation (AmBisome), was compared with that of conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate suspension (Fungizone), in a murine model of acute pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis. In two separate experiments, 21- to 24-day-old male BALB/c mice were infected intranasally with either 4·1 × 107 or 1·6 × 107 viable yeasts of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolate Gar and treated intravenously three times per week for 2 weeks with various doses of AmBisome, Fungizone, empty liposomes or no treatment. In the first study, 27 mg kg-1 of AmBisome improved survival over controls (P<0·05) and reduced lung burdens of P. brasiliensis over controls (P<0·01) or those treated with 1 mg kg-1 of AmBisome, but was equivalent to 1 mg kg-1 of Fungizone. Treatment with empty liposomes was equivalent to no treatment. In the second dose-escalating experiment, mice were treated with 0·6 mg kg-1 of Fungizone or 0·6, 5, 15 or 30 mg kg-1 of AmBisome. All regimens prolonged survival o...
Electrocardiography and repolarization abnormalities in cardiac safety: Benefits and limitations of fully automated methods for QT measurement

During early phase drug safety trials in humans, prolongation of the rate-corrected QT interval has become a surrogate marker for heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization that can cause potentially fatal arrhythmic events. “Thorough QT” studies have been designed to test for clinically significant QT prolongation by new drugs, with “positive controls” used to assess sensitivity of the method Measurement of the QT interval may be done manually, automatically, or by adjudication of selected automated samples. Automated measurement of QT is improving, but in the absence of a universally accepted ECG definition of the end of the T wave, QT measurements have become proprietary engineering solutions that differ among ECG core labs and among algorithm developers. Alternative measures of repolarization beyond QT interval alone might further increase the benefit of fully automated ECG algorithms in drug safety testing.
Radiative Corrections to the Casimir Force and Effective Field Theories

Radiative corrections to the Casimir force between two parallel plates are considered in both scalar field theory of one massless and one massive field and in QED. Full calculations are contrasted with calculations based on employing ``boundary-free'' effective field theories. The difference between two previous results on QED radiative corrections to the Casimir force between two parallel plates is clarified and the low-energy effective field theory for the Casimir effect in QED is constructed.
Transient, three-dimensional heat transfer model for the laser assisted machining of silicon nitride: I. Comparison of predictions with measured surface temperature histories

Abstract Laser assisted machining (LAM), in which the material is locally heated by an intense laser source prior to material removal, provides an alternative machining process with the potential to yield higher material removal rates, as well as improved control of workpiece properties and geometry, for difficult-to-machine materials such as structural ceramics. To assess the feasibility of the LAM process and to obtain an improved understanding of governing physical phenomena, experiments have been performed to determine the thermal response of a rotating silicon nitride workpiece undergoing heating by a translating CO 2 laser and material removal by a cutting tool. Using a focused laser pyrometer, surface temperature histories were measured to determine the effect of the rotational and translational speeds, the depth of cut, the laser-tool lead distance, and the laser beam diameter and power on thermal conditions. The measurements are in excellent agreement with predictions based on a transient, three-dimensional numerical solution of the heating and material removal processes. The temperature distribution within the unmachined workpiece is most strongly influenced by the laser power and laser-tool lead distance, as well as by the laser/tool translational velocity. A minimum allowable operating temperature in the material removal region corresponds to the YSiAlON glass transition temperature, below which tool fracture may occur. In a companion paper [1] , the numerical model is used to further elucidate thermal conditions associated with laser assisted machining.
Extending a partial nowhere-zero 4-flow

In [J Combin Theory Ser B, 26 (1979), 205–216], Jaeger showed that every graph with 2 edge-disjoint spanning trees admits a nowhere-zero 4-flow. In [J Combin Theory Ser B, 56 (1992), 165–182], Jaeger et al. extended this result by showing that, if A is an abelian group with |A| = 4, then every graph with 2 edge-disjoint spanning trees is A-connected. As graphs with 2 edge-disjoint spanning trees are all collapsible, we in this note improve the latter result by showing that, if A is an abelian group with |A| = 4, then every collapsible graph is A-connected. This allows us to prove the following generalization of Jaeger's theorem: Let G be a graph with 2 edge-disjoint spanning trees and let M be an edge cut of G with |M| ≥ 4. Then either any partial nowhere-zero 4-flow on M can be extended to a nowhere-zero 4-flow of the whole graph G, or G can be contracted to one of three configurations, including the wheel of 5 vertices, in which cases certain partial nowhere-zero 4-flows on M cannot be extended. Our results also improve a theorem of Catlin in [J Graph Theory, 13 (1989), 465–483]. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 30: 277–288, 1999
The role of zeolite pore structure during deactivation by coking

Residues accumulating within the cavities of a small-pore zeolite, isolated by extraction, are composed of a series of aromatics up to a distinct cutoff at pyrene. Similar analysis of partially-regenerated catalyst reveal pathways by which residue oxidation can occur and pathways by which these residues can participate during methanol decomposition.
Surface Orientation From Two Camera Stereo With Polarizers

We present a simple method for determining the 3-D orientation of a flat surface from the specular reflection of light, exploiting the polarizing properties of materials. Existing methods which compute surface orientation from specular reflection are purely intensity based and need to rely upon precise knowledge of how specularly reflecting light rays are initially incident upon the material surface. These methods require elaborate structured lighting environments which involve much preliminary calibration. The method presented here computes surface orientation independent of any a priori knowledge of the geometry of specular reflection, as long as specular reflection occurs into the camera sensor from points of interest at which orientation is to be constrained. This obviates the need for any structured lighting. By observing how the transmitted intensity of specularly reflected light through a polarizing filter is varied by rotating the filter, one can determine the specular plane of incidence in which the path of specular reflection must lie. Under the assumption that the surface normal is contained in the specular plane of incidence, a determination of two nonparallel specular planes of incidence from a stereo pair of cameras yields a computation of the surface normal from their planar intersection. For flat surfaces the correspondence of points between the stereo pair of cameras need not be precise, only that the intersecting specular planes of incidence correspond to two points that lie on the same flat surface, or on two flat surfaces with equivalent orientation. This is a much weaker correspondence requirement than for conventional parallax stereo.
Yields and seasonal variation of phytochemicals from Juniperus species of the United States

Abstract The ten most widespread and dominant species of Juniperus (juniper) in the United States were analyzed for their yields of hexane and methanol soluble phytochemicals from the leaves, bark/sapwood, and heartwood. The yields of volatile heartwood oils, a commercial commodity, varied from 4·92% to a low of 0·21%. The yields of hexane soluble components in the heartwood ranged from 0·44 to 7·6% dry wt, while the methanol soluble fraction varied from 2·8 to 6·8% dry wt. The yields from the bark/sapwood were comparable: the hexane fraction ranged from 0·46 to 4·4% dry wt; the methanol fraction varied from 2·4 to 6·2% dry wt. The majority of the extractable chemicals in the above-ground biomass were found in the leaves with the hexane extraction accounting for 5·4 to 16·7% dry wt and the methanol extraction yielding 23·8 to 35·2% dry wt. Seasonal examination of the leaves of Juniperus monosperma and J. osteosperma revealed that the hexane extractable components increase toward the end of the growing season, reaching a maximum during the winter and declining in the spring. The methanol extractables exhibited minor, but significant, changes throughout the year.
Reversible Inhibition of the Motility of Human Spermatozoa by Cytochalasin B

Cytochalasin B inhibits the motility and metabolism of washed human spermatozoa at low concentrations (20 to 200 μM). Spermatozoal motility (primarily the frequency of flagellar contraction) declines slowly after addition of the antibiotic but is not abolished even after treatment for several hours. The addition of caffeine or dibutyrylcyclic adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate to washed sperm suspensions increases the percentage of motile cells, the frequency of flagellar contraction, and the rate of glycolysis. These effects are blocked by cytochalasin B. However, cytochalasin B-treated spermatozoa regain their responsiveness to these agents when the antibiotic is washed out of supporting media. These effects are discussed in terms of an interaction of cytochalasin B with the sperm plasma membrane.
The proposed directive on multi-territorial licensing for online music: Is competition a good idea?

Traditionally, collecting societies worked on a territorial basis, granting single repertoire and territorially restricted licences. Their activities had been, to a considerable extent, subject to competition law based intervention. Internet has challenged territoriality and, at the same time, created new forms of exploitation of works. On that basis, the former justification for territoriality was put into question by some commentators and the Commission itself. Building on former initiatives and case law, the Commission has on July 2012 presented a proposal for a Directive which, among other things, addresses this problem, establishing a scheme for multi-territorial licensing for online music. This paper briefly evaluates the Proposal in that regard, concluding that it should be abandoned.
Primary Neonatal Hyperparathyroidism—An Unusual Cause of Failure to Thrive

The case of a 6-day-old infant with pathologic findings of primary neonatal hyperparathyroidism is presented. This is one of the youngest patients to be reported, and similar cases in the neonatal period are summarized. Suggestive signs and symptoms include hypotonia, weakness, weight loss, constipation, and vomiting. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels are diagnostic of this condition; electrocardiograms and bone roentgenograms are helpful adjuncts. Prompt suspicion and diagnosis may salvage infants with this rare condition, for surgical extirpation of the hyperplastic parathyroid glands is the treatment of choice.
Endometriosis of the Ureter can Present as Renal Failure: A Case Report and Review of Endometriosis Affecting the Ureters

Of the female subjects with pelvic endometriosis 1.2 per cent are found to have involvement of the genitourinary tract. Ureteral obstruction secondary to endometriosis is uncommon and usually is unilateral. We report a case of renal failure with hypertension due to bilateral ureteral obstruction from pelvic endometriosis. Ureteral endometriosis and its treatment are discussed. In premenopausal women presenting with bilateral obstruction of the distal ureters endometriosis should be part of the differential diagnosis.
Compartmentation of carbohydrate metabolism in vascular smooth muscle

In vascular smooth muscle, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis are independently regulated. Previous studies indicated that the independent regulation of these pathways was related to a compartmentation of carbohydrate metabolism. To further study carbohydrate metabolism, glucose transport and the incorporation of radiolabel from glucose into glycogen and lactate were measured after the oxidative and glycolytic pathways were independently altered. Ouabain stimulated mechanical activity, oxygen consumption, and glycogenolysis, whereas lactate production was decreased. Although glycogenolysis was substantial, glucose was the only substrate for lactate, indicating that intermediates derived from glycogen do not mix with those from glucose uptake. Thus glycogenolysis and glycolysis are carried out by independent enzymatic pathways. Insulin-stimulated lactate production and glucose transport without affecting the other parameters. Again, lactate was produced only from glucose. Phenytoin decreased isometric tension and oxygen consumption, whereas stimulating lactate production and glycogenolysis. Glycogen was the primary substrate for the lactate produced. Our findings indicate that the compartmentation of substrate utilization is ascribable to the coordination of glycogenolysis with increases in oxygen consumption and the coupling of glycolysis to the Na-K-adenosine triphosphatase. The coupling of independent energy providing pathways to specific endergonic processes indicates a mechanism by which cellular energetic efficiency may be optimized.
186 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING FEBRILE 29- TO 60-DAY-OLD INFANTS: A 3-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW FROM BIRMINGHAM.

Purpose This retrospective study examines 29- to 60-day-olds who presented to an emergency department (ED) between 1/1/02 and 12/31/04 with a chief complaint of fever. A set of criteria can predict which patients will not have serious bacterial infections (SBI). Methods Fever is defined as ≥ 100.4°F rectally. Exclusion criteria: previous vaccination (other than hepatitis B), surgeries (other than circumcision), antibiotics, immune deficiency syndromes, non-well appearance, and signs of bacterial infection. Inclusion criteria were well appearance with a complete blood count (CBC) with a white blood cell count (WBC) of 5,000 to 20,000 with a band/neutrophil ratio of 40, and negative Gram stain. A univariate analysis of each variable against predictability of positive cultures and SBIs was performed using EPISTAT. The chi-square of each variable was used to calculate a two-tailed p value. Results Of 552 charts, there were 565 diagnoses; 434 had a fever by our definition. Of these 434, 111 met the inclusion criteria. Of these 111 patients, 110 did not have an SBI (one patient had a urinary tract infection). Of the 323 patients with fever who failed to meet the inclusion criteria, 187 had either a bacterial or serious viral infection. The prevalence of SBI in our study is 15% (83/552) from all causes and 10% (56/552) culture proven. The inclusion criteria have a positive predictive value of 99.1% (110/111), specificity of 98.6% (70/71), sensitivity of 31.2% (110/352), and negative predictive value of 22.4% (70/312) for predicting negative SBI. The inclusion criteria have a positive predictive value of 99.1% (110/111), specificity of 97.8% (44/45), sensitivity of 29.1% (110/378), and negative predictive value of 14.1% (44/312) at predicting negative cultures. Of the criteria, well appearance (p Conclusion A large number of patients are seen in the ED for fever. Many may be safely discharged home without antibiotics.
The Use of Bowel in Urologic Reconstructive Surgery

Intestinal surgery involves an operative space shared by both general surgeons and urologists and is a border region where these 2 surgical disciplines often intersect. Urologists routinely use both small and large bowel for reconstructive procedures and surgeons often encounter such reconstructions of the urinary tract. It is essential for surgeons to understand the urologic indications for using intestinal segments for reconstructive procedures, the variety of such reconstructions, the anatomic landmarks and potential pitfalls that should be considered when intraoperatively encountering such reconstructions, and the potential metabolic consequences of the incorporation of bowel segments into the urinary collecting system.
There's gold in them that - documents? The demographic evolution of Nevada's Comstock, 1860 through 1910, and the intersection of census demography and historical archaeology.

The premise of this work is that the interpretation of historic communities is most effective when it is derived from both the physical evidence and the written record. As an introduction to the use of manuscript censuses by archaeologists, the purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it will explain the uses of manuscript censuses in historical archaeology as well as their limitations. Second, it will provide an example of the uses of these data sources. Third, it will offer a simple model for historical archaeology based on these data. To this end, the demographic evolution of Nevada’s Comstock from 1860 though 1910 is examined in order to both explain potential uses of census materials and to provide a baseline for understanding population processes on the Comstock in particular, and mining communities in the Inter-Mountain West during this time period. The paper concludes that census data are integral to understand demographic processes at a particular point in time, examining trends through time, and portraying an historical community.
Novel pathogenic CHEK2 mutations in African Americans with breast cancer: Results of a Breast Cancer Family Registry study.

A13 CHEK2, encoded on chromosome 22q, is a protein kinase that is involved in cell-cycle checkpoint control by causing arrest in G1 and G2 after DNA damage. The protein-truncating CHEK21100delC mutation abolishes the protein kinase activity of CHEK2 and increases the risk of breast cancer. Germline mutations/variations in CHEK2 were studied in high-risk African Americans from the Northern California site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry (n = 198) and Howard University Hospital (n = 62). High risk criteria for hereditary breast cancer included a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, bilateral breast cancer, or early-onset (age 40 years or less) breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers were excluded. The entire CHEK2 coding and intron flanking regions were examined using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography and putative mutations/variations were delineated by DNA sequencing. These experiments revealed two novel mutations: R180C and 1135delTC. Mutation R180C is not located in a functional domain but may affect protein folding and function as the mutation was deemed intolerant by the bioinformatic analysis tool Sort Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) that compares homologous sequences in different organisms. Mutation 1135delTC is protein truncating and located in the important kinase domain of CHEK2 in close proximity to the 1100delC mutation; therefore, 1135delTC is expected to be pathogenic. The yeast Rad53 gene is homologous to the human CHEK2 gene. The wild type human CHEK2 gene has been demonstrated to complement the deleted yeast Rad53 gene. Therefore, yeast complementation allows evaluation of the effect of potentially pathogenic mutations. Site-directed mutagenesis of the human wild type gene was used to generate plasmids with the 1100delC, 1135delTC and R180C mutations. Introduction of the human wild type CHEK2 gene into the Rad53 deleted yeast resulted in growth in selective media; whereas introduction of the latter three mutations yielded no growth in selective media and growth in control non-selective media. We conclude that the 1135delTC and R180C mutations are pathogenic because they are detrimental to the function of the protein. These findings are significant because 1135delTC is the only other protein-truncating mutation discovered to date in this gene. Screening for CHEK2 variations in the African-American population should include the pathogenic R180C and 1135delTC mutations.
Outcome of Late Febrile Seizures

The clinical and EEG features, the occurrence of subsequent seizures, and the neurologic outcome in 50 children who had febrile seizures (FS) after 5 years of age were studied at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
Gyroscopes: Current and Emerging Technologies

Gyroscopes and accelerometers are unique devices, the critical input sensors for inertial navigation and surveying systems. Among the many types of gyroscopes only a few have proved adequate for precise inertial applications. These are the ring laser gyroscope (RLG), electrostatic suspended gyroscopes (ESG), air-bearing floated-gimbal spinning mass gyroscopes, and dynamically tuned rotor gyroscopes (DTG). All have been developed to a high art among precision instruments, with supremely low noise and bias errors. Extensive acceptance of inertial navigation systems in commercial flight service, particularly using RLGs, has also required and stimulated development of practical and competitve reliability, cost, and lifetime.
The effect of reinforcement on preferences for simple classification concepts.

Reinforcement was delivered followingchanges in color or in shape of geometric stimuli. It was found that this training produced differences in strength of preferences for classification bases of shape (when shape changes were reinforced) or of color (when color changes were reinforced) in a subsequent categorization task. There was, however, no evidence that conditioning of peripheral orienting responses to changes in shape or color occurred through reinforcement during training. It appeared that while reinforcement delivered in relation to systematic stimulus changes (and assumed orienting responses) did influence the formation of shape or color preferences, its role did not depend on maintenance or enhancement of the peripheral orienting response.
Trials to slow progression and prevent disease onset.

Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are largely symptomatic and improve cognition. Only a single trial of selegiline and vitamin E has been demonstrated to delay progression of the time to clinically important endpoints in this disease. Effective treatments currently under development are designed to either slow the rate of progression or delay the time of onset. Classes of agents currently being investigated include: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, growth factors, hormones, and drugs designed to prevent the deposition or enhance the removal of amyloid. In addition to trials designed to slow the rate of progression, several primary prevention trials have already been initiated. Finally, a series of trials designed to prevent the development of AD in patients with mild cognitive impairment have been initiated.
A New Species of the Bivalve Genus Nucinella from the Eocene of Louisiana

Mr. James E. Allen of Alexandria, Louisiana, a dedicated collector and student of the Eocene faunas of this State recently brought to Tulane University a minute bivalve that he had not been able to identify from the: literature at his disposal. He found the specimen in material collected from a slunmp block of Cook Mountain Formation, (Claibornian), Middle Eocene, on the east bank of the Sabine River, near Columbus, Sabine Parish, Louisiana. The specimen was a left valve of a species of Nucinella, a genus that the writer had studied in some: detail on an earlier occasion (sec Vokes, 1956) and which has not previously been reported from the lower Tertiary deposits of the Gulf Coastal Plain.
Improved TDEM formation using fused ladar/digital imagery from a low-cost small UAV

Formation of a Textured Digital Elevation Model (TDEM) has been useful in many applications in the fields of agriculture, disaster response, terrain analysis and more. Use of a low-cost small UAV system with a texel camera (fused lidar/digital imagery) can significantly reduce the cost compared to conventional aircraft-based methods. This paper reports continued work on this problem reported in a previous paper by Bybee and Budge, and reports improvements in performance. A UAV fitted with a texel camera is flown at a fixed height above the terrain and swaths of texel image data of the terrain below is taken continuously. Each texel swath has one or more lines of lidar data surrounded by a narrow strip of EO data. Texel swaths are taken such that there is some overlap from one swath to its adjacent swath. The GPS/IMU fitted on the camera also give coarse knowledge of attitude and position. Using this coarse knowledge and the information from the texel image, the error in the camera position and attitude is reduced which helps in producing an accurate TDEM. This paper reports improvements in the original work by using multiple lines of lidar data per swath. The final results are shown and analyzed for numerical accuracy.
Authenticating the Tradition Through Linguistic Arguments

Copious examples in the writings of Mongolian Buddhist authors demonstrate the significance of the Kāvyadarśa in the development of the Mongolian poetic tradition. Numerous versified eulogies, prayers, verses recited at the time of ritual offerings, benedictions in colophons, and other poetic works written by Mongolian scholars of the late seventeenth through the early twentieth centuries evidence their authors’ attempts to follow Daṇḍin’s principle of alaṃkāras and the influence of other theoretical principles of the Kāvyadarśaon their writings. Although the Kāvyadarśawas translated into the Mongolian language in the first half of the eighteenth century, at the time of the formation of the Mongolian Danjur by Khalkha translator Gelegjaltsan (Dge legs Rgyal mtshan), Mongolian Buddhist scholars had become well acquainted with the Kāvyadarśa through the Tibetan translations of this text and through indigenous Tibetan commentaries on it. However, it is plausible that already in the Yuan court of the thirteenth century, and slightly later in the fourteenth century, some Mongolian scholars had access to the Kāvyadarśain its first, complete Tibetan version, which was produced in the latter part of the thirteenth century.
Weight of Evidence Frameworks in Evaluation of Adverse Outcome Pathways

Weight of Evidence (WoE) is an assessment mechanism used to systematically consider a collection of scientific data that addresses a specific hypothesis. WoE frameworks are used to help form a reasonable conclusion based on all available information, and are commonly utilized in risk assessment. They have recently been applied to toxicological assessments that seek to understand Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), or the cascade of physiological events that link toxicant exposure to a downstream adverse health outcome. In case studies, WoE methods have proven useful in assessing AOPs and estimating pathway-based risk. However, WoE approaches vary considerably and have received criticism for their lack of transparency, reproducibility, and quantitative rigor. The subjective nature of qualitative WoE constructs has led to a push for a quantitative methodology that is consistent, objective, and robust. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief background on WoE methodology and its historical use in AOP discovery, as well as highlight progress in the development of a standardized quantitative WoE framework. An example of a newly proposed standardized quantitative WoE framework for AOPs is discussed, and gaps and suggested improvements are examined in order to identify next steps towards making quantitative WoE methods for AOPs more objective, transparent, and reproducible.
Haz que nos importe, Breaking Bad

When the idea first struck, it intrigued me. I think in hindsight what struck me in one of those moments of inspiration was not a plot or a big idea; it was a character who I found very intriguing—the character I didn't even have a name for who became Walter White.
Model Construction of Early Warning for Frequently Outage Complaint Based on Data Mining

At present, frequent outages have become the major source of power customer complaints and, seriously affect improvement of customer service satisfaction. The current control of frequent outages, complaints has been in a passive state of compensation, which can only get half the result with twice the, effort and has caused adverse perception of customers. In response to this problem, this article takes the, initiative to prevent as a starting point, through studying rules of complaints business for the frequent power outage, constructs the early warning model of the frequent outages complaints, which takes statistics, of outages as the data mining object and uses Chinese word segmentation matching algorithm as data, mining technology and displays through network map technology, and eventually realizes a frequent power, outage scientific and accurate complaints warning. It provides an accurate reference for properly arrange of, troubleshooting and maintenance of the power supply enterprises and line reconstruction plans, offers, technical support for the forward service gateway and lays a solid foundation for effectively reducing the volume of complaints.
The Functions of (Meta)Data: Lessons Learned with a Fedora Digital Repository

The University of Connecticut Libraries began building a Fedora digital repository last year. Because of the differences between Fedora and relational databases, it was necessary to understand how Fedora works with objects and data streams. The repository team realized that with Fedora, there existed several options on how to store data. This realization encouraged looking at metadata differently. For starters, we began to emphasize functions over types of metadata. Secondly, we saw the advantages of striping meta from the word metadata. This change allowed us to conceptualize a broader application of functional data within the repository. My presentation would like to explore our emphasis on the functions of data rather than types of metadata and how this is helping to create a better digital repository. Fedora and the University of Connecticut
Secretome of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a group of heterogeneous non-hematopoietic cells with self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation potential, and have been widely used for cell-based therapies. While the mechanisms for the beneficial effects of MSCs on tissue repair and regeneration are complex and not fully understood, paracrine signaling is believed to be at least partially responsible for their therapeutic benefits. MSCs express and secret a large number of paracrine factors with a wide spectrum of biological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, anti-apoptosis, metabolism, immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. The regulation on the expression and production of the paracrine factors and related signaling molecules in MSCs are complex, and involves a variety of signaling pathways including Akt, STAT-3, p38 MAPK, and TNF receptors. The paracrine function of MSCs is closely associated with the species, age, and gender of the sources, and environmental factors like hypoxia, as well as the presence of stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor. Some disease conditions especially diabetes mellitus have significant impact on paracrine signaling of MSCs. Significant challenges remain on understanding how paracrine mechanisms work on the target tissues of MSCs, and how to design a therapeutic regimen with different paracrine factors to achieve an optimal outcome for tissue protection and regeneration.
Heated lakes on Mars

This chapter examines the potential heat sources for Martian lakes, the implications of sedimentary and associated hydrothermal deposits for determining the history of climate on Mars, and for the search for deposits containing evidence of microbial habitability. The sedimentary deposits in lakes are important for studying the nature of habitable environments for microbial life on Mars and represent high-priority landing sites for future rover missions, such as MSL. Geomorphic evidence for the past existence of liquid water lakes on Mars and their associated sedimentary deposits continues to grow. The primary heat sources in large impact craters on Mars after their formation are, impact melts primarily generated by the shock wave, heat deposited in the basement below the transient cavity from passage of the shock wave, and additional heat in the central uplift from the uplifted geothermal gradient. Large volcanic centers on Mars such as Tharsis and Elysium likely produced long-lived hydrothermal systems that would have had a major effect on driving groundwater circulation in the surrounding regions and possibly producing lakes and possibly oceans. Essentially all lakes that could occur on Mars can be heated by solar energy or the heat flow from the typical geothermal gradient, but these sources of energy are small. Heated lakes may represent ideal sites to search for evidence of biotic or prebiotic organic processes on Mars.
Information creation as a process: With an emphasis on creation

Much attention has been paid to the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education since it was adopted two years ago, though the frame “Information Creation as a Process” has not received as much consideration in the literature as other frames. “Scholarship as a Conversation” and “Authority is Constructed and Contextual” are more prevalent topics, and I suspect that is because “Information Creation as a Process” seems straightforward by comparison.
Metabolomic richness and fingerprints of deep-sea coral species and populations

From shallow water to the deep sea, corals form the basis of diverse communities with significant ecological and economic value. These communities face many anthropogenic stressors including energy and mineral extraction activities, ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures. Corals and their symbionts produce a diverse assemblage of compounds that may help provide resilience to some of these stressors. We aim to characterize the metabolomic diversity of deep-sea corals in an ecological context by investigating patterns across space and phylogeny. We applied untargeted Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry to examine the metabolomic diversity of the deep-sea coral, Callogorgia delta, across three sites in the Northern Gulf of Mexico as well as three other deep-sea corals, Stichopathes sp., Leiopathes glaberrima, and Lophelia pertusa, and a shallow-water species, Acropora palmata. Different coral species exhibited distinct metabolomic fingerprints and differences in metabolomic richness including core ions unique to each species. C. delta was generally least diverse while Lophelia pertusa was most diverse. C. delta from different sites had different metabolomic fingerprints and metabolomic richness at individual and population levels, although no sites exhibited unique core ions. Two core ions unique to C. delta were putatively identified as diterpenes and thus may possess a biologically important function. Deep-sea coral species have distinct metabolomic fingerprints and exhibit high metabolomic diversity at multiple scales which may contribute to their capabilities to respond to both natural and anthropogenic stressors, including climate change.
Introduction to Siegel Modular Forms

In this chapter, we will begin with a problem of representation of integers or matrices by quadratic forms. This acts as a starting point to the introduction of Siegel modular forms.
A School Leadership Framework for Dual Language

This chapter presents a social justice leadership framework for principals pursuing dual language education (DL) and focuses on schools serving Latinx communities. The purpose of this framework is to highlight the principal’s role in creating more equitable schools for Latinx emergent bilinguals (EBs) and to foster a multi-dimensional social justice perspective that focuses on closing achievement gaps while equally valuing meaningful parent engagement and the rich cultural and linguistic assets of students and their community. We focus on the principal not because we are arguing for a model of heroic leadership that centers the principal as the dominant change agent, but because research on DL and EBs has primarily ignored this important position.