cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Perceived Isolation Among Midlife and Older LGBT Adults: The Role of Welcoming Aging Service Providers.

Background and objectives Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults are more likely to live alone and less likely to have children compared with their heterosexual counterparts. The lack of immediate family system can render older LGBT adults particularly vulnerable to social isolation and its consequences. The current study utilizes social exclusion theory, which asserts that not only material resources but also engagement with and inclusion into the society are necessary for marginalized people to be integrated into the mainstream. The study examines whether aging service providers (e.g., senior centers, adult day care, transportation, employment services) who are perceived by older LGBT adults as welcoming to LGBT people may reduce this population's perceived isolation. Research design and methods Data were collected through a needs assessment survey designed for the aging LGBT community in North Carolina. Adults aged 45 and over who self-identified as LGBT were recruited at several formal and informal groups. The survey yielded 222 valid responses. The outcome variable was perceived isolation. Key independent variables included having experienced welcoming aging service providers and living alone. Results After controlling for potential confounders and demographics, logistic regression results showed that having experienced welcoming aging service providers was a protective factor against perceived isolation and it also buffered the negative impact of living alone. Discussion and implications The findings provided preliminary evidence for a new direction of intervention research-targeting LGBT cultural competence training for medical and social service providers.
Feasibility and Emotional Impact of Experimentally Extending Sleep in Short-Sleeping Adolescents.

Study Objectives Published experimental sleep manipulation protocols for adolescents have been limited to the summer, limiting causal conclusions about how short sleep affects them on school nights, when they are most likely to restrict their sleep. This study assesses the feasibility and emotional impact of a school-night sleep manipulation protocol to test the effects of lengthening sleep in habitually short-sleeping adolescents. Methods High school students aged 14-18 years who habitually slept 5-7 hours on school nights participated in a 5-week experimental sleep manipulation protocol. Participants completed a baseline week followed in randomized counterbalanced order by two experimental conditions lasting 2 weeks each: prescribed habitual sleep (HAB; sleep time set to match baseline) and sleep extension (EXT; 1.5-hour increase in time in bed from HAB). All sleep was obtained at home, monitored with actigraphy. Data on adherence, protocol acceptability, mood and behavior were collected at the end of each condition. Results Seventy-six adolescents enrolled in the study, with 54 retained through all 5 weeks. Compared to HAB, during EXT, participants averaged an additional 72.6 minutes/night of sleep (p < .001) and had reduced symptoms of sleepiness, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion (p < .05). The large majority of parents (98%) and adolescents (100%) said they would "maybe" or "definitely" recommend the study to another family. Conclusions An experimental, school-night sleep manipulation protocol can be feasibly implemented which directly tests the potential protective effects of lengthening sleep. Many short-sleeping adolescents would benefit emotionally from sleeping longer, supporting public health efforts to promote adolescent sleep on school nights.
Ordered three-fold symmetric graphene oxide/buckled graphene/graphene heterostructures on MgO(111) by carbon molecular beam epitaxy

Theory and experiment demonstrate the direct growth of a graphene oxide/buckled graphene/graphene heterostructure on an incommensurate MgO(111) substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron energy loss, Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations all demonstrate that carbon molecular beam epitaxy on either a hydroxylated MgO(111) single crystal or a heavily twinned thin film surface at 850 K yields an initial C layer of highly ordered graphene oxide with C_(3v) symmetry. A 5 × 5 unit cell of carbon, with one missing atom, forms on a 4 × 4 unit cell of MgO, with the three C atoms surrounding the C vacancy surface forming covalent C–O bonds to substrate oxide sites. This leads to a bowed graphene-oxide with slightly modified D and G Raman lines and a calculated band gap of 0.36 eV. Continued C growth results in the second layer of graphene that is stacked AB with respect to the first layer and buckled conformably with the first layer while maintaining C_(3v) symmetry, lattice spacing and azimuthal orientation with the first layer. Carbon growth beyond the second layer yields graphene in azimuthal registry with the first two C layers, but with graphene-characteristic lattice spacing and π → π* loss feature. This 3rd layer is also p-type, as indicated by the 5.6 eV energy loss feature. The significant sp^3 character and C_(3v) symmetry of such heterostructures suggest that spin–orbit coupling is enabled, with implications for spintronics and other device applications.
A dataset for identifying actionable feedback in collaborative software development

Software developers and testers have long struggled with how to elicit proactive responses from their coworkers when reviewing code for security vulnerabilities and errors. For a code review to be successful, it must not only identify potential problems but also elicit an active response from the colleague responsible for modifying the code. To understand the factors that contribute to this outcome, we analyze a novel dataset of more than one million code reviews for the Google Chromium project, from which we extract linguistic features of feedback that elicited responsive actions from coworkers. Using a manually-labeled subset of reviewer comments, we trained a highly accurate classifier to identify acted-upon comments (AUC = 0.85). Our results demonstrate the utility of our dataset, the feasibility of using NLP for this new task, and the potential of NLP to improve our understanding of how communications between colleagues can be authored to elicit positive, proactive responses.
Cysteine-activated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) delivery through caged carbonyl sulfide (COS) donor motifs

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important biomolecule, and controllable H2S donors are needed to investigate H2S biological functions. Here we utilize cysteine-mediated addition/cyclization chemistry to unmask an acrylate-functionalized thiocarbamate and release carbonyl sulfide (COS), which is quickly converted to H2S by carbonic anhydrase (CA).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and White Matter Abnormalities in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (P07.152)

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cognitive impairment, and white matter abnormalities in older adults. BACKGROUND: OSA has been associated with cognitive impairment (Canessa and Ferini-Strambi, 2011) and with white matter changes (Harbison et al. 2003); however, the association between OSA and cerebral white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia has not been previously studied. DESIGN/METHODS: From 419 patients with MCI and dementia referred in 2010-2012 to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, 170 completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, a sleep evaluation (polysomnography), and brain MRI protocol. Mean age of participants was 74 years (SD 11.0). Severity of OSA was measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and the lowest oxygen saturation. Deep and periventricular WMH were assessed on T2-weighted sequences using the Fazekas visual scale. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of the patients had OSA. The extent of WMH was significantly associated with the AHI (r = 0.20, p CONCLUSIONS: Obstructive sleep apnea is common in MCI and in dementia and is associated with cerebral white-matter hyperintensities and poor executive function, but not with impairment of the areas of cognition most characteristically affected in Alzheimer9s disease. This finding suggests that the pathophysiology of both disorders may differ and that treatment of sleep apnea may have beneficial cognitive effects. Disclosure: Dr. Pascual has nothing to disclose. Dr. Roman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Triana has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ting has nothing to disclose. Dr. Spann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Verma has nothing to disclose.
Crystallization and Vitrification in Cryoprotected Aqueous Systems

In the search for improved methods of preserving multicellular systems and recovering them in viable condition, attention must be focussed on the avoidance, or at least the careful control, of crystallization of ice. Although it seems that there may be some aqueous systems from which ice could never crystallize (because the liquid enters the glassy state while it is still in the thermodynamically stable state — for instance H2O + H2Cr2O7 solutions of eutectic composition, (1)), such cases are not of great relevance to cryobiological practice. In most systems there is a close correlation between the ability of the solution to support living cells and the ease with which the solution generates ice crystals during cooling. This is no doubt due to the fact that it is the “free”, or unbound, water which is involved in each function. The cryobiologist’s task is to suppress the latter as far as possible without prejudicing, too much, the former. In this effort, the need to understand the rate of ice nucleation and rate of growth of ice crystals in relation to temperature, pressure, and composition variables, is obvious.
Employment Goals and Settings: Effects of Individual and Systemic Factors:

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) continue to experience high rates of unemployment. Previous research suggests that including an employment goal in an individual’s serv...
CQ: Creativity quotient for climates, attitudes, and thinking skills with eye-tracking:

This article examined a new creativity test designed for engineers, CQ: Creativity Quotient for Climates, Attitudes, and Thinking skills with Eye-Tracking. The creativity quotient expanded and enha...
CARBO-The Carbon Observatory Instrument Suite: the next generation of Earth observing instruments for global monitoring of carbon gases

The Carbon Observatory Instrument Suite, or CARBO, consists of four carbon observing instruments sharing a common instrument bus, yet targeted for a particular wavelength band each with a unique science observation. They are: a) Instrument 1, wavelength centered at 756 nm for oxygen and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) observations, b) Instrument 2, centered at 1629 nm, for carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) observation, c) Instrument 3, centered at 2062 nm for carbon dioxide and d) Instrument 4, centered at 2328 for carbon monoxide (CO) and methane. From low-Earth orbit, these instruments have a field-of-view of 10 to 15 degrees, and a spatial resolution of 2 km square. These instruments have a spectral resolving power ranging from ten to twenty thousand, and can monitor columnaverage dry air mole fraction of carbon dioxide (XCO2) at 1.5 ppm, and methane (XCH4) at 7 ppb. These new instruments will advance the use of immersion grating technology in spectrometer instruments in order to reduce the size of the instrument, while improving performance. These compact, capable instruments are envisioned to be compatible with small satellites, yet modular to be configured to address the particular science questions at hand. Here we report on the current status of the instrument design and fabrication, focusing primarily on Instruments 1 and 2. We will describe the key science and engineering requirements and the instrument performance error budget. We will discuss the optical design with particular emphasis on the immersion grating, and the advantages this new technology affords compared to previous instruments. We will also discuss the status of the focal plane array and the detector electronics and housing. Finally, we report on a new approach – developed during this instrument design process - which enables simultaneous measurement of both orthogonal polarization states (S and P) over the field-of-view and optical bandpass. We believe this polarization sensing capability will enable science observations which were previously limited by instrumental and observational degeneracies. In particular: improved sensitivity to all species, better sensitivity to surface polarization effects, better constraints on aerosol scattering parameters, and superior discrimination of the vertical distribution of gases and aerosols.
Construing the Legality of Solitary Confinement: Analysis of United States Federal Court Jurisprudence

This article analyzes the constitutional parameters of solitary confinement, administrative segregation, and/or punitive isolation within correctional facilities in the United States. After briefly discussing the harmful effects of isolation and the number of inmates subject to this type of confinement, it explains the U.S. Supreme Court’s “atypical and significant hardship” standard for assessing the legality of segregation. Evaluation of 68 cases decided by the 12 U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals reveals how each Circuit decides when conditions of segregation amount to an “atypical and significant hardship” for the inmate, creating a liberty interest protected by the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process clause. Due to the Supreme Court’s ambiguity, the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals lack agreement on (1) when liberty interests attach and (2) which confinement conditions outside of segregation should serve as a comparison baseline to assess “atypicality” and “hardship.” While inmates possess limited liberty interests when placed in segregation, the physical and psychological harms wrought by segregation, isolation, and solitary confinement are rarely considered when courts make constitutional determinations of such practices.
Design of Ducted Propulsors for Towing Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

We describe the numerical simulation based design method for marine propulsor which can be used for towing Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). The thrust loading coefficient of the propulsor is very high due to the drag of the payload. The base geometry of the propeller used in this study is Ka-4–70 propeller with nozzle no. 22. The CFD model is validated using the experimental results for the open-water performance tests. The stator of the propulsor is designed using basic principles of axial compressor design technique. The effect of stator's thickness is calculated on propulsor's performance. The geometry of the propulsor is parametrized in CAESES. The performance of the propulsor is calculated using high-fidelity CFD RANSE solver in StarCCM+.
Development of clinical trials to extend healthy lifespan

Significant progress in defining the biology of aging, particularly in animal models, supports the geroscience hypothesis, which posits that by therapeutically targeting biological aging, the onset of multiple age-related diseases can be delayed "en suite". Geroscience investigators are preparing to test this hypothesis in humans for the first time. In this review, we describe development of large-scale clinical trials designed to determine if multiple age-related health conditions can be simultaneously alleviated with interventions targeting the underlying biology of aging. We describe the rationale and collaborative, consensus building approach used to design the first aging outcomes trial called Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME). Through this case study, we outline features that could be more broadly extended to other geroscience-guided clinical trials, including a process for selecting biochemical and molecular markers of biologic age and we provide a perspective on the potential impact of clinical trials targeting aging.
Development and validation of the Child Welfare Provider Stigma Inventory

SummaryAn initial validation of the Child Welfare Provider Stigma Inventory is reported. The Child Welfare Provider Stigma Inventory assesses stigmas held by child welfare professionals toward clie...
Stalin’s Nomads: Power and Famine in Kazakhstan. By Robert Kindler. Translated by Cynthia Klohr. (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018. PP. xiii, 360. $28.95.)

Neither famine nor nomadism is an easy subject to research. They are even more difficult when they concern the Soviet Union under its dictator Joseph Stalin. While the turbulent history of Kazakhst...
Factors that influence discarding in the Gulf of Mexico commercial grouper-tilefish IFQ reef fish fishery

Abstract Factors potentially affecting fish discarding were evaluated for species managed under the Gulf of Mexico grouper-tilefish individual fishing quota (GT-IFQ) program. Thirteen commercially important species are managed under the GT-IFQ program. Some of the more commonly caught species in the program include red grouper (Epinephelus morio), gag (Mycteroperca microlepis), speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps), and blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps). It is necessary to determine why discards are occurring to develop a future discard mitigation strategy. Logistic models were constructed using data from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s (SEFSC) Reef Fish Observer Program (RFOP) with covariates of fish length, available allocation, gear type, calendar year quarter, and year to infer reasons for discarding. The results from RFOP models in conjunction with self-reported discard information from the SEFSC Supplemental Discard Logbook program determined that discarding due to fish length selection, not related to minimum a size limit, is occurring for golden tilefish, speckled hind, yellowedge grouper (Epinephelus flavolimbatus), and snowy grouper (Hyporthodus niveatus). Other dynamics such as multi-species quota discarding are likely responsible for discards of blueline tilefish. Based on the results of the study, potential changes to the GT-IFQ program such as additional flexibility measures were identified as potential management strategies for decreasing discards. A similar approach to inferring why discarding is occurring could be used in the other regions for more effective management promoting long-term sustainability of valuable fisheries.
Dynamic DNA nanotechnology: toward functional nanoscale devices

Dynamic DNA nanotechnology involves the creation of nanoscale devices made of DNA whose primary function arises from their ability to undergo controlled motion or reconfiguration. In the past two decades, dynamic DNA nanotechnology has evolved to the point where it is now being employed in devices intended for applications in sensing, drug delivery, computation, nanorobotics, and more. In this review article, we discuss the design of dynamic DNA nanodevices and the characterization and prediction of device behavior. We also identify a number of continuing challenges in dynamic DNA nanotechnology and discuss potential solutions to those challenges.
Smell, Taste, and Viscerosensation

The neural pathways that process the sensations of smell, taste, and viscerosensation are, at least initially, anatomically separate from one another. Nevertheless, each of these three senses ultimately provides essential data to the skeletomotor and visceromotor systems that main- tain the internal environment (survival of the individual) and control reproduction (perpetuation of the species). In fact, the three usually work in concert to guide the acquisition of metabolic fuels as well as successful mating behavior.
Conditioned taste avoidance induced by the combination of heroin and cocaine: Implications for the use of speedball

Abstract Speedball (heroin + cocaine) is a prevalent drug combination among intravenous drug users. Although its use is generally discussed to be a function of changes in the rewarding effects of either or both drugs, changes in the aversive effects of either drug may also be impacted (weakened) by the combination. To address this latter possibility and its potential role in the use of speedball, the present studies examined the interaction of cocaine and heroin in taste avoidance conditioning. In Experiment 1, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given access to a novel saccharin solution and then injected with either vehicle or heroin (3.2 mg/kg, IP) followed immediately by various doses of cocaine (10, 18 or 32 mg/kg, SC). At the two lowest doses of cocaine, only animals injected with the drug combination (H + C) displayed a taste avoidance relative to control subjects (taste avoidance was induced with both the combination and the high dose of cocaine). At no dose did animals injected with the combination of heroin and cocaine drink more than animals injected with cocaine alone. In Experiment 2, male Sprague-Dawley rats were similarly treated but injected with vehicle or cocaine (10 mg/kg) followed by injections of various doses of heroin (1.8, 3.2, 5.6 or 10 mg/kg). At the three highest doses of heroin, only animals injected with the drug combination (C + H) displayed significant avoidance relative to control subjects (no avoidance was evident with the combination of cocaine and the low dose of heroin). At no dose did animals injected with the combination of cocaine and heroin drink more than animals injected with heroin alone. Together, these results suggest that the aversive effects of heroin and cocaine are not attenuated by co-administration by cocaine and heroin, respectively. The importance of this for the use of speedball was discussed.
Subsolid pulmonary nodules: Controversy and perspective

Ground glass and part-solid nodules, collectively referred to as subsolid nodules, present a challenge in management, with a high risk of malignancy but, when malignant, demonstrating indolent behavior. Emerging data suggest longer follow-up intervals and shorter duration of follow-up is likely appropriate in these nodules. Additionally, definitive therapy is shifting to less aggressive approaches such as sub-lobar resection. Patients may benefit from individualized approaches, incorporating both patient and imaging features to determine whether treatment is necessary.
Schmidt-EKF-based Visual-Inertial Moving Object Tracking

In this paper we investigate the effect of tightly-coupled estimation on the performance of visual-inertial localization and dynamic object pose tracking. In particular, we show that while a joint estimation system outperforms its decoupled counterpart when given a "proper" model for the target’s motion, inconsistent modeling, such as choosing improper levels for the target’s propagation noises, can actually lead to a degradation in ego-motion accuracy. To address the realistic scenario where a good prior knowledge of the target’s motion model is not available, we design a new system based on the Schmidt-Kalman Filter (SKF), in which target measurements do not update the navigation states, however all correlations are still properly tracked. This allows for both consistent modeling of the target errors and the ability to update target estimates whenever the tracking sensor receives non-target data such as bearing measurements to static, 3D environmental features. We show in extensive simulation that this system, along with a robot-centric representation of the target, leads to robust estimation performance even in the presence of an inconsistent target motion model. Finally, the system is validated in a real-world experiment, and is shown to offer accurate localization and object pose tracking performance.
Factor Analysis and Variance Partitioning in Intelligence Test Research: Clarifying Misconceptions:

This article addresses conceptual and methodological shortcomings regarding conducting and interpreting intelligence test factor analytic research that appeared in the Decker, S. L., Bridges, R. M....
Fundamentals of Jet Propulsion with Applications

This introductory 2005 text on air-breathing jet propulsion focuses on the basic operating principles of jet engines and gas turbines. Previous coursework in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics is elucidated and applied to help the student understand and predict the characteristics of engine components and various types of engines and power gas turbines. Numerous examples help the reader appreciate the methods and differing, representative physical parameters. A capstone chapter integrates the text material into a portion of the book devoted to system matching and analysis so that engine performance can be predicted for both on- and off-design conditions. The book is designed for advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate students in aerospace and mechanical engineering. A basic understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics is presumed. Although aircraft propulsion is the focus, the material can also be used to study ground- and marine-based gas turbines and turbomachinery and some advanced topics in compressors and turbines.
A New Technique for Automatic Monitoring of Fish Ventilatory Patterns and Its Possible Use in Screening Tests for Chronic Toxicity

Laboratory determinations of maximum acceptable toxicant concentrations (MATC) for fish are currently derived from long-term chronic toxicity tests. Recent evidence suggests that toxicant levels near the MATC will induce measurable changes in fish ventilatory patterns in a relatively short period of time. Unfortunately, most ventilatory data are analyzed manually; this greatly limits the amount of data that can be analyzed. A computerized system is described that records and analyzes ventilatory data from the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). A total of 1174 min of data was gathered from 22 acclimated fish that had not been exposed to toxicants. The computer-analyzed results were 0.7 percent below the opercular rate values and 39.0 percent below the coughing rate values determined by visual examination of the same ventilatory patterns. Whole-body movements of the fish, which can mask the ventilatory patterns, were present in only 0.4 percent of the data. The computer detected 25 percent less movement than was seen visually. The potential for using this system in a toxicant screening test with bluegills and other fish is discussed.
Decentralized smart sensor scheduling for multiple target tracking for border surveillance

Border surveillance requires regular patrolling to prevent intruders from crossing across, emphasizing the need for an automated network of sensing devices that is capable of detecting and estimating multiple moving targets. This paper proposes a fusion-driven decentralized sensor scheduling scheme that enables dynamic space-time clustering around multiple moving targets for energy-efficient track estimation. Each sensor node runs a Probabilistic Finite State Automata (PFSA) that controls the sensing and communication devices in an energy-efficient manner. This decentralized scheduling scheme is validated and compared with traditional scheduling schemes. The results show that the proposed scheme conserves energy while maintaining accurate track estimation.
YB-1 and MTA1 protein levels and not DNA or mRNA alterations predict for prostate cancer recurrence.

// Christine Moore Sheridan 1 , Tristan R. Grogan 2 , Hao G. Nguyen 1 , Colette Galet 3 , Matthew B. Rettig 3,4 , Andrew C. Hsieh 1,5,6 and Davide Ruggero 1 1 Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA 2 Statistic Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA 3 Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System-West Los Angeles, CA, USA 4 Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA 5 Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA 6 Present address: Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA Correspondence to: Matthew B. Rettig, email: // Andrew C. Hsieh, email: // Davide Ruggero, email: // Keywords : translation control, prostate cancer, PSA recurrence, biomarker, YB-1 Received : January 27, 2015 Accepted : February 03, 2015 Published : March 03, 2015 Abstract Attempts to identify biomarkers to detect prostate tumorigenesis, and thus minimize prostate cancer progression and inform treatment decisions have primarily focused on alterations at the DNA and mRNA levels, ignoring alterations at the level of protein synthesis control. We have previously shown that the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, frequently deregulated in prostate cancer, specifically induces the synthesis of proteins that contribute to metastasis, most notably YB-1 and MTA1, without altering mRNA levels thereby demonstrating the importance of translation control in driving the expression of these genes in cancer.Here, we analyze genomic sequencing and mRNA expression databases, as well as protein expression employing an annotated tissue microarray generated from 332 prostate cancer patients with 15 years of clinical follow-up to determine the combined prognostic capability of YB-1 and MTA1 alterations in forecasting prostate cancer outcomes. Remarkably, protein abundance, but not genomic or transcriptional alterations of YB-1 and MTA1, is predictive of disease recurrence, exhibiting a dose-dependent effect on time to PSA recurrence, an indicator of tumor relapse. Moreover, high protein levels of YB-1 and MTA1 are associated with a 3-fold increased risk for requiring future hormone therapy or radiation therapy. Importantly, YB-1 and MTA1 protein levels significantly increase the predictive capacity of a clinical model for prostate cancer recurrence. These findings demonstrate that protein abundance of YB-1 and MTA1, irrespective of DNA or mRNA status, can predict for prostate cancer relapse and uncover a vast underappreciated repository of biomarkers regulated at the level of protein expression.
The History and Success of the public–private project on germplasm enhancement of maize (GEM)

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the Latin American Maize Project (LAMP) that was the first coordinated international project for evaluating a major world crop. A coordinated and cooperative effort, the germplasm enhancement of maize (GEM) project was organized among public and private sectors. The project provides the corn industry, early breeding lines by using germplasm enhancement to improve and adapt useful exotic germplasm. Throughout the world, approximately 50,000 accessions of corn exist in germplasm banks and, until recently, many had never been evaluated for useful traits. Evaluation is important in identifying potentially valuable traits in accessions, but most countries cite the lack of useful evaluation information as a major bottleneck to increasing germplasm utilization. US agricultural research includes three sectors: Federal programs, state programs in land-grant and other universities, and private industry. Both the state and federal programs are considered as the public sector. The private sector in 1994 employed 509.8 SYs, while the public sector employed 35.3 SYs. This represents a serious constraint in human resources and expertise preventing the public sector from carrying out a major maize enhancement effort without private involvement. The objective of GEM is to provide, to the maize industry, materials developed using germplasm enhancement of useful exotic germplasm, with the ultimate aim of improving and broadening the germplasm base of maize hybrids grown by American farmers. GEM provides the social returns to justify its public support, and the potential for private returns to justify private participation. One factor in its success seems to be its federal leadership that provides the funding certainty that would be difficult to achieve with university leadership and grant funding. Another factor in GEM's success is its collaboration between the public and private corn breeding sectors. Finally, GEM is careful to make sure that only the best germplasm is used.
Bridging HPC and grid file i/o with IOFSL

Traditionally, little interaction has taken place between the Grid and high-performance computing (HPC) storage research communities. Grid research often focused on optimizing data accesses for high-latency, wide-area networks, while HPC research focused on optimizing data accesses for local, high-performance storage systems. Recent software and hardware trends are blurring the distinction between Grids and HPC. In this paper, we investigate the use of I/O forwarding -- a well established technique in leadership-class HPC machines-- in a Grid context. We show that the problems that triggered the introduction of I/O forwarding for HPC systems also apply to contemporary Grid computing environments. We present the design of our I/O forwarding infrastructure for Grid computing environments. Moreover, we discuss the advantages our infrastructure provides for Grids, such as simplified application data management in heterogeneous computing environments and support for multiple application I/O interfaces.
Are End-Users Satisfied by Using Digital Libraries?

There are many books and journal articles written and published about the Digital Library (also denoted as Electronic library or Virtual Library which present the definition, description, components, usefulness, etc. of the Digital Library - but nothing has been mentioned or written about the satisfaction of the users for accessing needed information. A questionnaire was developed to survey the behavior of end-users and measure their understanding levels of the meaning of the Digital Library. Below are the results of the global survey. Electronic copyright and licensing as well as their effects upon research and education are discussed.
An Optical Survey for Very Faint Quasar Candidates

In recent years the development of fast optical telescopes with large corrected fields, of fine-grained, high DQE emulsions such as IIIa-J/F, and the use of rapid scanning microdensitometers and computers, have all made deep photometric studies of large areas of the sky tractable. I am in the process of conducting such a survey using the prime focus cameras of the CTIO and KPNO 4-meter telescopes. Sky-limited plates are taken in four colors defined by filter/emulsion characteristics. Pertinent information about the photometric system is given in Table 1. The large database from this survey of about fifteen areas of the sky is being used to address many problems both extragalactic and galactic in nature. A preliminary report on studies of faint blue stellar objects, quasar candidates, will be presented here for seven of the fifteen fields. Table II lists some information about the fields used for this study.
Effects of alcohol on the outer hair cell protein Prestin (775.2)

Prestin, a transmembrane motor protein, is a member of the SLC26 family and is highly expressed in mammalian outer hair cells located in the cochlea. Outer hair cells, in response to changes in membrane potentials, adjust in length and rigidity. The production of these mechanical changes is thought to amplify the vibrations in the cochlea, increasing hearing sensitivity in mammals by 100-fold. Since its identification in 2000, prestin has been found to be the motor protein in outer hair cells and is necessary for electromotility of the outer hair cell and for cochlear amplification. At this point, while the structure of prestin remains a mystery, previous experiments have indicated that prestin is sensitive to the levels of cholesterol in the cell membrane. Alcohols, which are also known modulators of lipid bilayer properties, could have the potential to have an impact on prestin function. It has been established that the link between the nonlinear capacitance of prestin and its electromotility is a surro...
Comparing Comprehensive Care and Departmental Clinical Education Models: Students’ Perceptions at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry

In summer 2012, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry transitioned from a departmental clinical education model to a comprehensive care/group leader model. The aim of this study was to investigate the perspectives of the fourth-year class of dental students who, because the transition took place during their training, had experienced treating patients under both educational models. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was designed to assess the students’ opinions on the efficiency of their effort, availability of specialty faculty, stress, collaboration with classmates, and availability of exposure to different practice styles and techniques under the two systems. The students were also given an opportunity to provide open-ended feedback on the shortcomings and advantages of the systems. The Class of 2013 had 81 students, 55 of whom participated in the survey for a response rate of 67.9%. The majority (86%) of the respondents preferred the comprehensive care model and reported feeling that, in it, they were able to accomplish more comprehensive dentistry with greater consistency of supervision from faculty in a more patient-centered environment than in the departmental model. However, 56 percent considered having the same group leader for two years a disadvantage and recommended rotation of at least one group leader every six months. The results of this survey can help this college and other dental schools that are seeking to optimize their educational model to best serve students’ educational experience and the dental needs of their patient population.
WAR, WOMEN, AND POLITICAL WISDOM

One of the most perceptive and ambidextrous social commentators of our day, Augustinian scholar Jean Bethke Elshtain furnishes in ever fresh ways through her writings a bridge between the ancient and the modern, between politics and ethics, between timeless moral wisdom and cultural sensitivity. To read Elshtain seriously is to take the study of culture as well as the “permanent things” seriously. But Elshtain is no mere moralist. Neither is she content solely to dwell in the domain of the theoretical. For it is Elshtain the citizen—the creatively engaged and contributing citizen—whom the reader encounters on virtually every page of her writings. But reader beware: Elshtain does not shy away from controversy. At the same time, she is anything but a controversialist. In the essay that follows, several prominent themes that emerge from Elstain's writings—civic responsibility, justice, gender, and war—are considered afresh. Whether one agrees with her positions or not, one is forced to confess in the end that she cares deeply about the common good. And this alone makes her required reading for any engaged citizen of the republic.
Development of plaque on enamel. Parallel investigations.

Intact human enamel was used to study the development of dental plaque. This procedure involved placing cylinders of surface enamel in an appliance that was worn by one subject up to seven days. By using a technique of slight demineralization of the enamel, pellicle and plaque could be sectioned along with the enamel for light and transmission microscopy. Scanning electron microscopic and microbiologic studies were also performed on the specimens. Microbiologic investigation of two day old samples from the one individual revealed the presence of streptococci and a smaller number of Neisseria. Streptococcus sanguis was the predominant streptococcal species. Early samples of dental plaque appeared to have more desquamated epithelial cells than seven day old plaques. Electron micrographs suggest that bacteria may digest these epithelial cells. An apparent distinction between bacteria adjacent to the enamel and bacteria adsorbed to the surface of the enamel was. noted. Adsorbed bacteria appeared to alter their morphology and excrete an extracellular material which later formed a pellicular layer. Seven day old samples characteristically showed an alignment of rods superior to the adsorbed cocci. The formation of dental plaque on enamel cylinders may better simulate “in vivo” conditions than previous techniques.
Catechol metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls inhibit the catechol-O-methyltransferase-mediated metabolism of catechol estrogens.

The catechol metabolites of estradiol, 2- and 4-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2 and 4-OHE2, respectively) are potent signaling molecules and are hypothesized to be central to estrogen-linked carcinogenesis. Methylation by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is the principal means of catechol estrogen (CE) deactivation in the liver and other tissues. The present studies were conducted to determine the effects of PCBs and catechol metabolites of PCBs on the COMT-mediated catabolism of 4-OHE2 and 2-OHE2in vitro and in vivo. Liver homogenates of female Sprague–Dawley rats treated with Aroclor 1254 for 21 days (5 mg/kg/day) showed a 30 and 40% reduction of COMT activity toward 2-OHE2 and 4-OHE2, respectively. Incubation of [3H]-β-estradiol with these same liver homogenates, followed by HPLC analysis, demonstrated an elevation of CEs and a nearly complete reduction in levels of methylated catechol estrogens. In classical enzyme kinetics studies, COMT was demonstrated to have a high affinity for catechol PCBs, with Km's approximately equivalent to those of CEs. Catechol PCBs were also potent inhibitors of CE O-methylation. These data suggest that PCBs may significantly alter the metabolism of catechol estrogens in vivo and that this effect may be mediated by catechol metabolites of PCBs. It is further speculated that methyltransferase inhibition by PCB catechols may contribute to PCB-mediated endocrine effects and liver carcinogenesis.
Low cost runway incursion detection system for general aviation airports

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to a freshman engineering design project where students were required to design a novel low cost runway incursion detection system that might have future application for small general aviation airport operations by applying sound engineering problem solving criterion. Given the direction of Aviation towards autonomous navigation, this project provides a meaningful medium to educate freshman engineering students on both concept and teamwork principles. The goals of the project were (a) to introduce collaboration across disciplines given the students' intended majors, (b) to enhance scientific inquiry, (c) to foster communication among the group as well as enhance communication between the students and the client who provides the project objectives, and (d) the group management structure and its implication as it applies to achieving the overall objectives of the project. As an integrated department with both Engineering and Aviation Science faculty, it was natural for the Aviation Science faculty to serve as clients, who then generate plausible problems that can benefit both the Aviation Science and Engineering students in the program and these problems are then used as the basis for a structured engineering design approach for introducing engineering design fundamentals to the freshman engineering class. The unique nature of the assignment lies in the need for the concept to be low cost and practical. Team leadership styles were evaluated and compared against design outcomes. This paper examines both the engineering aspect of the students' learning as well as their leadership growth and interaction between group members as well as the interaction with the client. With students from various engineering backgrounds involved in the course, this paper also provides the audience the ability to examine the applicability of this approach to other subject areas.
Thrown Away Like Rubbish - Disposal of the Dead in Ancient Greece

In this article, the literary and archaeological evidence for burial practices that can be associated with the English expression ‘to be disposed of like rubbish’ are discussed. These disposal methods (ataphon rhiptesthai) include the exposure of corpses to carrion animals, to the elements, as well as the disposal of corpses into the sea, pits or natural fissures without burial rites. They also include cases in which graves were dug up in order to throw their contents out. Here, the Greek expressions for the English phrase ‘to be thrown away like rubbish’ are explored, as well as its relation to Morris’ (1987) influential concept of the ‘non-formal burial’. The analysis of the symbolism of various disposal methods has been based on both literary and archaeological sources. Also addressed are issues such as the intersection of the exclusion from full and proper burial procedures with social status and social groups. Lastly, the dangers for the living and the dead associated with casually disposed of human remains are briefly tackled, including the transformation of the souls of the deceased into spirits and their loss of human-ness.
Gene expression in amphibian embryogenesis.

The study of molecular events during the embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis has advanced as a result of the availability of molecular markers, i.e., nucleic acid and antibody probes for genes that are expressed in a temporally and spatially regulated fashion during development. In this article we summarize results on the localized expression of keratin genes and on the reconstruction of regulated transcription of the gastrula/neurula-specific DG42 gene. Furthermore, we discuss experiments that investigate molecular events during mesoderm induction and provide information on the nature of the inducing principle.
Pseudo-Anosov mapping classes and their representations by products of two Dehn twists

Let \( \tilde S \) be a Riemann surface of analytically finite type (p, n) with 3p − 3 + n > 0. Let a ∈ \( \tilde S \) and S = \( \tilde S \) − {a}. In this article, the author studies those pseudo-Anosov maps on S that are isotopic to the identity on \( \tilde S \) and can be represented by products of Dehn twists. It is also proved that for any pseudo-Anosov map f of S isotopic to the identity on \( \tilde S \), there are infinitely many pseudo-Anosov maps F on S − {b} = \( \tilde S \) − {a, b}, where b is a point on S, such that F is isotopic to f on S as b is filled in.
Linear fractional representations of uncertain systems

Abstract We present a new systematic procedure to find low-order linear fractional representations of systems with polynomial parametric uncertainty. The idea is to exploit the structure of the uncertainty to decompose a multidimensional polynomial matrix into sums and products of simple factors for which minimal linear fractional representations can be obtained. This approach is implemented in the structured tree decomposition algorithm, which generates a tree whose leaves are simple factors. An example is presented to illustrate the advantages of this approach. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.