cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Porter Five Forces and Technology Acceptance Model to Predict Cloud Computing Adoption Among IT Outsourcing Service Providers

As IT outsourcing services are crossing path with cloud computing services in the new dawn of cloud computing era, there is a lacking of research and framework to explain how IT outsourcing service provider will intend to adopt cloud computing based on some competitive analyses of its business environments. This research developed a conceptual framework to measure such intention underpinned on both Porter Five Forces (Porter, 1980) and revised Technology Acceptance Model (Venkatesh & Davis 1996). This paper is only the first phase of this research. Literature review is conducted, research problem is identified, research objective and questions are provided. Conceptual framework, hypotheses as well as the research methodology are also explained in this paper. Lastly, contribution, limitation and conclusion are also included.
The architecture of the parietal cells of the salivary glands of the grasshopper, with special reference to the intracellular canaliculi, Golgi bodies, and mitochondria

The parietal cells of the salivary glands of the grasshopper are large and roughly spherical or sometimes pyramidal in form, scattered for the most part singly among the zymogenic cells of the lobules. They possess a magnificent system of intracellular canaliculi into which their secretions are directly emptied and conveyed to the exterior of the cell. These intracellular canaliculi are strikingly impregnated with osmic-acid methods (Nassonov, Mann-Kopsch) in a manner comparable to the contractile vacuole of Paramecium as described by Nassonov. However, in addition to the impregnated system of intracellular canaliculi, Golgi bodies are found evenly distributed throughout the cell in the form of crescents, semicircles, or ring-like structures typical of insect tissue. Inasmuch as a direct homology between the intracellular canaliculi and the contractile vacuole of Paramecium, both from the point of view of morphology and physiology, seems justified, we question the inference drawn by Nassonov that the impregnated walls of the contractile vacuole in Paramecium actually represent Golgi material. Deduction is made from these and previous studies that the magnificent network of ‘vacuome-Golgi apparatus’ described by Parat and Painleve ('24) in the salivary glands of Chironomus larvae is nothing more or less than intracellular secretory canaliculi. Mitochondria in the parietal cells are abundant in the characteristic form of short rods and filaments. No evidence of a direct transformation of mitochondria into Golgi bodies. as held by Parat, was observed. Golgi bodies and mitochondria show no marked topographical relationship to the intracellular secretory canaliculi.
Determining waveguide coupling efficiency by observing reflected light from the end face

The amount of light coupled into a waveguide depends on end-face irregularities. We have developed a technique to assess the light coupling performance of waveguides by measuring their back reflected light characteristics. The reflected light can be separated into two parts, the specular and the diffuse reflected light. The amount of each gives us information on how well light can be coupled into a waveguide. This technique is especially useful in integrated optics made of polymer materials where end face quality is a strong function of the material preparation technique and processing.
Survival Benefit of Endovascular Descending Thoracic Aortic Repair for the High-Risk Patient

Background Despite acceptable results reported with endovascular thoracic aortic repair (TEVAR), recent studies have questioned the merit of repair in asymptomatic patients considered high risk for open surgery. In this group, advanced age or comorbid conditions may reduce life expectancy, thus limiting the benefit of elective aneurysmectomy. This study was conducted to determine whether elective TEVAR improves survival for this cohort. Methods Forty-six asymptomatic patients with descending thoracic aortic disease were considered high risk for open surgery for reasons of age of 80 years or older (47.8%) or comorbid conditions (84.8%), and were subsequently evaluated for elective TEVAR. Of these, 21 underwent TEVAR, while another 25 patients were excluded from TEVAR on the basis of unfavorable anatomy or refused intervention. Results The mean age of the cohort was 77.0 ± 7.0 years ( p = 0.9 between groups). Prevalent comorbid conditions were similar between groups, and included coronary artery disease ( p = 1.0), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( p = 1.0), and peripheral vascular disease ( p = 0.23). Mean maximum aortic diameter was 6.0 ± 1.4 cm ( p = 0.54 between groups). Indications for intervention included fusiform aneurysm (65.2%) and pseudoaneurysm or penetrating ulcer (32.6%). No 30-day mortality was observed after TEVAR. All-cause mortality in the entire cohort was 50%. Median actual time to mortality was different between groups (control, 9.2 months versus TEVAR, 24.9 months; p = 0.01). Life-table analysis demonstrated improved survival for TEVAR at 24 months ( p = 0.05). Conclusions Although the overall prognosis for the asymptomatic patient with descending thoracic aortic disease at high risk for open surgery is poor, elective endovascular repair improves survival and should be considered a therapeutic option in this setting.
Stress field in the subducting lithosphere and comparison with deep earthquakes in Tonga

[1] We present a numerical model of the subducting lithosphere that provides an alternative explanation for stresses causing deep earthquakes. Our model lithosphere is composed of α olivine, β spinel, γ spinel, and perovskite + magnesiowustite. The heat conduction equation is solved to determine temperature conditions in the slab and to locate the equilibrium phase transformations in pressure-temperature space. Volumetric strains in the subducting lithosphere are calculated from the density of individual phases and from the heat released or consumed in the phase changes. These strains are used as sources of stress in the subducting lithosphere. Dislocation creep and Peierls stress creep laws are included in the viscoelastic rheology. Volumetric reductions due to equilibrium phase transformations cause high shear stress in the transition zone because of the variable viscosity inside the subducting slab. Aspects of the model shear stresses are in agreement with observations of high seismic activity in the Tonga-Wadati Benioff zone. Compression is oriented along the dip of the slab, and extension is oriented in the plane perpendicular to the compression axis. Since our model stresses agree with the seismic observations, and because the model stresses are larger than those caused by buoyancy forces, our model provides a possible explanation of stresses causing deep earthquakes. Also, our model does not need metastability of olivine to explain the occurrence of high shear stress in the transition zone.
Combinations of Natural and Anthropogenic Forcings in Twentieth-Century Climate

Ensemble simulations are run with a global coupled climate model employing five forcing agents that influence the time evolution of globally averaged surface air temperature during the twentieth century. Two are natural (volcanoes and solar) and the others are anthropogenic [e.g., greenhouse gases (GHGs), ozone (stratospheric and tropospheric), and direct effect of sulfate aerosols]. In addition to the five individual forcing experiments, an additional eight sets are performed with the forcings in various combinations. The late-twentieth-century warming can only be reproduced in the model with anthropogenic forcing (mainly GHGs), while the early twentieth-century warming is mainly caused by natural forcing in the model (mainly solar). However, the signature of globally averaged temperature at any time in the twentieth century is a direct consequence of the sum of the forcings. The similarity of the response to the forcings on decadal and interannual time scales is tested by performing a principal component analysis of the 13 ensemble mean globally averaged temperature time series. A significant portion of the variance of the reconstructed time series can be retained in residual calculations compared to the original single and combined forcing runs. This demonstrates that the statistics of the variances for decadal and interannual time-scale variability in the forced simulations are similar to the response from a residual calculation. That is, the variance statistics of the response of globally averaged temperatures in the forced runs are additive since they can be reproduced in the responses calculated as a residual from other combined forcing runs.
Targeting and Excitation of Photoactivatable Molecules: Design Considerations for Neurophysiology Experiments

Each chapter in this volume describes in detail the application of one or a group of photosensitive molecules to biological research. In this chapter, we take up general prefatory questions: how to determine which molecules are appropriate to use, and what type of compound delivery and light-targeting apparatus for photoactivation is likely to give satisfactory spatial and temporal performance. We enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of currently available “caged” and genetically encoded photosensitive molecules. We also compare current mature and emerging technologies for patterned light delivery, referring as much as possible to broadly applicable general principles. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview with signposts to more detailed treatments.
Comparison of lactoferrin activity in fresh and stored human milk

Lactoferrin (Lf), the dominant protein in human milk (HM), has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activity in the neonatal gut. Previous studies indicate that freezing significantly decreases the concentration of Lf in HM. The objective of our study was to compare the activity of Lf in fresh and frozen HM over time. HM samples were examined fresh and after storage at −20 °C for 3 and 6 months. Lf concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay, and the activity was measured by examination of nitric oxide (NO) production and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion from rat macrophages exposed to HM samples. After 3 and 6 months at −20 °C, the average decrease in Lf concentrations was 55% and 65%, respectively. The bioactivity of Lf also decreased significantly over 6 months. Freezing HM for 3 or more months significantly decreases Lf levels and activity. Periodically providing fresh HM may benefit vulnerable preterm neonates.
Growth of multiple WS2/SnS layered semiconductor heterojunctions.

Both WS2 and SnS are 2-dimensional, van der Waals semiconductors, but with different crystal structures. Heteroepitaxy of these materials was investigated by growing 3 alternating layers of each of these materials using atomic layer deposition on 5 cm × 5 cm substrates. Initially, WS2 and SnS films were grown and characterized separately. Back-gated transistors of WS2 displayed n-type behavior with an effective mobility of 12 cm2 V−1 s−1, whereas SnS transistors showed a p-type conductivity with a hole mobility of 818 cm2 V−1 s−1. All mobility measurements were performed at room temperature. As expected, the heterostructure displayed an ambipolar behavior with a slightly higher electron mobility than that of WS2 transistors, but with a significantly reduced hole mobility. The reason for this drop can be explained with transmission electron micrographs that show the striation direction of the SnS layers is perpendicular to that of the WS2 with a 15 degree twist, hence the holes have to pass through van der Waals layers that results in drop of their mobility.
Radiation therapy for breast cancer: buyer beware.

“ People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. ” —George Orwell, 1945 ([1][1]) New medical therapies typically follow a common trajectory. They are originally tested in high-risk
Autonomic hyperreflexia following passive stretching to the hip joint.

Autonomic hyperreflexia is a common complication occurring in patients with cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries. Signs and symptoms consist of a rapid rise of blood pressure accompanied by bradycardia, sweating, and a characteristic pounding headache. Usual precipitating stimuli are related to abnormalities or manipulation of bladder, bowel, or other abdominal viscera. Cutaneous and proprioceptive stimuli are less frequent provoking factors. This article describes three patients with autonomic hyperreflexia related to passive stretching of the hip joints. CASE REPORTS Patient 1. Five months after an automobile accident, a 21-year-old man with a complete anesthetic paraplegia below T1 noted daily headaches related to self-performed flexion of the hip. The range of motion achieved included passive straight leg raising almost pulling the ankle to the ear on both sides (passive straight leg raising range, 0–125° bilaterally).…
Modeling the constant-current distance-voltage mode of scanning tunneling spectroscopy

We demonstrate the relationship between sample density of electronic states and constant-current distance-voltage spectra starting from the usual expressions for tunneling current in scanning tunneling microscopy experiments. First-order differential equations are derived for the tip position as a function of voltage drop across the tunnel junction for both square and trapezoidal barrier transmission functions. Numerical solutions of the square barrier equation are carried out for different sample density of states and compared with self-consistent integration of the tunneling integral equation. It is shown that normalization of the distance vs voltage spectra by taking logarithmic derivatives reproduces the peak positions in the sample density of states usually to within 0.1 eV. The use of differential equations is proposed as an accurate method for analyzing experimental data and applied to the example case of the \ensuremath{\pi}${}^{*}$ orbital of the $c$(8 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 2) phase of benzoate on Cu(110).
Monitor Appraisal and Anlysis of Disinfection Health Quality in Medical Health unints of Guangzhou Haizhu district

OBJECTIVE Monitor the quality of matter,the ambient air and the ultraviolet radiation intensity of medical units belong to Guangzhou haizhu district,provide the scientific basis to prevent and control infectious disease and courtyard infects.METHODS According to the natioal GB15981-1995,GB15982-1995 health standard,the ambient air,the object surface,the medical care personnel hand,the disinfectant in use,the antisepitc medical thing,the pressure steam sterilizer,the ultravioet radiation intensity and so on of medical health units belong to haizhu area were monitored two times every year.RESULTS In 2005,investigated and gathered 1 207 pieces of sample,there are 1 167 pieces of sample are qualified,the qualified rate is 96.7%.Compare with the average level of Guangzhou,the difference is not significance.CONCLUSIONS Unceasingly strengthens the disinfection health quality of medical health unit,controls the infectious disease and the courtyard infects occurrence in medical health units,provides the health high quality health service for the people.
Evaluating mapreduce system performance: a simulation approach

Scale of data generated and processed is exploding in the Big Data era. The MapReduce system popularized by open-source Hadoop is a powerful tool for the exploding data problem, and is widely employed in many areas involving large scale of data. In many circumstances, hypothetical MapReduce systems must be evaluated, e.g. to provision a new MapReduce system to provide certain performance goal, to upgrade a currently running system to meet increasing business demands, to evaluate novel network topology, new scheduling algorithms, or resource arrangement schemes. The traditional trial-and-error solution involves the time- consuming and costly process in which a real cluster is first built and then benchmarked. In this dissertation, we propose to simulate MapReduce systems and evaluate hypothetical MapReduce systems using simulation. This simulation approach offers significantly lower turn-around time and lower cost than experiments. Simulation cannot entirely replace experiments, but can be used as a preliminary step to reveal potential flaws and gain critical insights. We studied MapReduce systems in detail and developed a comprehensive performance model for MapReduce, including sub-task phase level performance models for both map and reduce tasks and a model for resource contention between multiple processes running in concurrent. Based on the performance model, we developed a comprehensive simulator for MapReduce, MRPerf. MRPerf is the first full-featured MapReduce simulator. It supports both workload simulation and resource contention, and it still offers the most complete features among all MapReduce simulators to date. Using MRPerf, we conducted two case studies to evaluate scheduling algorithms in MapReduce and shared storage in MapReduce, without building real clusters. Furthermore, in order to further integrate simulation and performance prediction into Map- Reduce systems and leverage predictions to improve system performance, we developed on- line prediction framework for MapReduce, which periodically runs simulations within a live Hadoop MapReduce system. The framework can predict task execution within a window in near future. These predictions can be used by other components in MapReduce systems in order to improve performance. Our results show that the framework can achieve high prediction accuracy and incurs negligible overhead. We present two potential use cases, prefetching and dynamic adapting scheduler.
In praise of high-pass filters

For the control of a mechanical system in which the all the position variables but none of the velocity variables are measured, a reduced-order observer approaches a bank of high-pass filters. Use of high-pass filters in place of reduced-order observers can offer advantages in robustness and in implementation. Several examples are presented to show these advantages.
Preliminary Multipole Calculations of the SSC Vertical Bending Magnets

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the magnetics calculations performed on the vertical bending magnets of the Superconducting Super Collider ring. These magnets are among the special dipole magnets needed in the interaction regions of the collider ring. Each magnet consists of two Collider Dipole Magnet (CDM) cold masses rotated by 90 degrees and placed in a single cryostat. The distance between the beam tube centerlines varies between 0.45 and 0.606 m. The cold mass used for the calculations is the General Dynamics version B coil cross-section. The main concern is whether the CDM cold masses are able to shield the field sufficiently to prevent significant “cross-talk” between the cold masses as well as magnetization of the asymmetrically placed cryostat. The calculations were performed with a 180 degree finite element model of the magnet cross-section. The calculation approach and the results will be discussed in this paper.
Theoretical and Conceptual Models of Age and Ethnicity

This chapter will provide an overview of various theoretical and conceptual models in an attempt to clarify the relationships between a variety of therapeutic interventions that address social and health issues among vulnerable populations of cancer survivors. Quality of life (QOL) is presented as a major physical and psychosocial outcome associated with all aspects of cancer survival, along with the Stress and Coping Mechanism. Theories of aging and ethnicity, concepts of mastery and self-efficacy, the Strength-based Perspective, Locus of Control, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Resilience Model, and the Culture and Social Class Model, are a few examples. These theories also assist in understanding the challenges different age and ethnic groups face when living with a life threatening disease such as cancer. Although some theories have focused on older adults from different ethnic age groups, few theories have addressed the barriers and challenges that young children and young adult cancer survivors face in society today.
Fostering Family-Teacher Partnerships: Principles in Practice

Twenty-first century educators of young children need skills and dispositions for building partnerships with the families of all their students. Educators worldwide frequently teach children from families whose backgrounds, including socioeconomic status and home language, are different from their own. This article introduces 12 principles for fostering strengths-based partnerships with families and then describes a service-learning project in two early childhood teacher education courses in which university students implemented these principles as they worked to develop partnerships with families of young dual language learners. Students' written reflections on the service-learning project detailed their significant shifts in thinking regarding communication with the families and assumptions they held about them.
Transiently expressed ATG16L1 inhibits autophagosome biogenesis and aberrantly targets RAB11-positive recycling endosomes

The membrane source for autophagosome biogenesis is an unsolved mystery in the study of autophagy. ATG16L1 forms a complex with ATG12-ATG5 (the ATG16L1 complex). The ATG16L1 complex is recruited to autophagic membranes to convert MAP1LC3B-I to MAP1LC3B-II. The ATG16L1 complex dissociates from the phagophore before autophagosome membrane closure. Thus, ATG16L1 can be used as an early event marker for the study of autophagosome biogenesis. We found that among 3 proteins in the ATG16L1 complex, only ATG16L1 formed puncta-like structures when transiently overexpressed. ATG16L1+ puncta formed by transient expression could represent autophagic membrane structures. We thoroughly characterized the transiently expressed ATG16L1 in several mammalian cell lines. We found that transient expression of ATG16L1 not only inhibited autophagosome biogenesis, but also aberrantly targeted RAB11-positive recycling endosomes, resulting in recycling endosome aggregates. We conclude that transient expression of ATG16L1 is not a physiological model for the study of autophagy. Caution is warranted when reviewing findings derived from a transient expression model of ATG16L1.
The Dose-Match Interaction in Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) Transplantation: An Analysis of the Impact of Cell Dose and HLA-Match on the Disease-Free Survival (DFS) of 989 Patients Transplanted with Single Units for Hematologic Malignancy.

Total nucleated cell (TNC) dose and HLA-match are both recognized determinants of engraftment, transplant-related mortality (TRM), and DFS after UCB transplantation (UCBT). However, how to “trade off” dose and match in unit selection is not well defined. Therefore, we analyzed the impact of pre-freeze TNC dose and HLA-match upon 3 year transplant outcomes after 3-6/6 HLA-A, B antigen, DRB1 allele matched UCBT provided by the NCBP. Patients were transplanted with myeloablative conditioning using single units for the treatment of acute (n = 768) or chronic (n = 156) leukemia or myelodysplasia (n = 65) between 1993–2005. The 989 patients with outcome data to date (91% of single unit grafts provided in this interval) had a median age of 9 years (range 0–62). Individually, decreasing TNC dose adversely affected engraftment, TRM, and DFS as previously shown, whereas increasing HLA-mismatch adversely impacted these outcomes as well as the incidence of severe acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD). For example, using recipients of 5/6 units as a reference, the relative risk (RR) for grades III-IV aGVHD for recipients of 6/6 units was 0.3 (p = 0.03); for 4/6 unit recipients was 1.6 (p = 0.003); and for 3/6 unit recipients was 2.1 (p = 0.002). An analysis of the 3 year DFS combining both pre-freeze TNC dose and HLA-match, using recipients of 5/6 matched 2.5–4.9 x 10 7 /kg units as the reference, is shown. Notably, within the dose range transplanted to date, recipients of 6/6 units had a significantly superior DFS which was not explained by other variables such as age, disease risk, or transplant center. In contrast, recipients of 3/6 units had inferior DFS, also regardless of dose. Further, recipients of 5/6 units with a TNC 2.5–4.9 x 10 7 /kg (mean 3.5) had a DFS that was similar to those receiving larger 4/6 units ≥ 5.0 x 10 7 /kg (mean 5.9) but with a lower risk of severe aGVHD. Recipients of small ( 7 /kg) units that were either 5/6 or 4/6 matched had significantly inferior outcome. This data has significant implications for the practice of unit selection for patients with hematologic malignancy. Most importantly, it suggests that the best transplant survival can be obtained by selecting a 6/6 HLA-matched unit, although the cell dose threshold for these units has not been established. If no 6/6 units are available, 5/6 units above a dose of 2.5 x 10 7 /kg are superior to 4/6 units of any dose. In addition, small ( 7 /kg) 5/6 or 4/6 units are inadequate as a single unit graft. Units that are 3/6 HLA-matched should also be avoided. Finally, this analysis suggests improved UCBT outcome will be dependent upon the ability to obtain units that are both of sufficient TNC dose and HLA-match requiring an increase in the global inventory of ethnically and racially diverse UCB units of high cell dose.
A big data platform integrating compressed linear algebra with columnar databases

Key foundational components of Big Data frameworks include efficient large-scale storage and high-performance linear algebra. This paper discusses efficient implementations that utilize compression techniques inspired by columnar relational databases for improving space and time profiles for vector and matrix operations. In addition, linear algebra operations are integrated with columnar relational algebra operations both in dense and compressed forms. For several of the operations substantial speedups are obtained by operating directly on the compressed relations, vectors and matrices. Advantages of mixing and matching relational and linear algebra operations are also pointed out. Both serial and parallel implementations are provided in the ScalaTion Big Data Analytics Framework.
Real or Ideal? A Narrative Literature Review Addressing White Privilege in Teacher Education:

A narrative literature review was conducted to examine how researchers address the concept of White privilege in teacher education using critical race theory. A Boolean search revealed 26 articles ...
E-band Nd 3+ amplifier based on wavelength selection in an all-solid micro-structured fiber.

A Nd3+ fiber amplifier with gain from 1376 nm to 1466 nm is demonstrated. This is enabled by a wavelength selective waveguide that suppresses amplified spontaneous emission between 850 nm and 1150 nm. It is shown that while excited state absorption (ESA) precludes net gain below 1375 nm with the exception of a small band from 1333 nm to 1350 nm, ESA diminishes steadily beyond 1375 nm allowing for the construction of an efficient fiber amplifier with a gain peak at 1400 nm and the potential for gain from 1375 nm to 1500 nm. A peak small signal gain of 13.3 dB is measured at 1402 nm with a noise figure of 7.6 dB. Detailed measurements of the Nd3+ emission and excited state absorption cross sections suggest the potential for better performance in improved fibers. Specifically, reduction of the fiber mode field diameter from 10.5 µm to 5.25 µm and reduction of the fiber background loss to 20 dB over 30 nm of bandwidth. Such an amplifier would have a form factor and optical properties similar to current erbium fiber amplifiers, enabling modern fiber optic communication systems to operate in the E-band with amplifier technology similar to that employed in the C and L bands.
A trilateration scheme for relative positioning

We introduce a trilateration scheme that evaluates the 3-dimensional (3-D) relative position between a reference spacecraft and a target spacecraft using raw-range measurements from a distance baseline of known locations, which we call “anchors”. The anchors can be antennas of a ground-based network (e.g., Deep Space Network (DSN) or Near Earth Network (NEN) stations), or satellites of a space-based network (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) or tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS)). We define raw-range as the range that includes all the systematic errors that occur during range measurements. A unique feature of this approach is that accurate relative position is derived from a “differencing function” of raw-range measurements of the reference spacecraft and target spacecraft, thereby eliminating most of the systematic errors, such as media effects, ephemeris errors, instrument delays, clock bias, etc. There can be an arbitrary number of target spacecraft, and relative positioning of target spacecraft with respect to the reference spacecraft can be done simultaneously. In this paper, we first assume an idealized system in which clocks on the reference and target spacecraft are synchronized, with clocks of the anchors synchronized as well.2 We develop a novel iterative algorithm that computes the relative position of the target spacecraft with respect to the reference spacecraft. We illustrate the relative positioning method using the scenario of a network of three ground stations (i.e., the anchors) at Goldstone, California, USA, Madrid, Spain, and Marlargue, Argentina tracking two spacecraft at geosynchronous orbit distance. We demonstrate that the algorithm converges to sub-meter accuracy in estimating the relative position, in the presence of random errors and systematic errors in raw-range measurements, and in the presence of angular errors in estimating the pointing vectors between the anchors and the reference spacecraft. Next, we relax the requirement of perfect time synchronization between spacecraft, and show that by using an additional anchor, one can estimate and remove the clock biases between the reference and target spacecraft. We add a ground station at Kourou to the above example of three ground stations of Goldstone, Madrid, and Marlargue, and demonstrate that the updated algorithm also converges to meter-level accuracy (sub-meter in some cases) in the presence of clock biases in addition to the random errors, systematic errors, and angular errors as shown in the above case. We compare this scheme with a similar trilateration scheme for relative positioning scheme first proposed by Montenbruck in 2002.
Family Centered Treatment, Juvenile Justice, and the Grand Challenge of Smart Decarceration:

Purpose:Responding to social work’s grand challenge of smart decarceration, this study investigated whether Family Centered Treatment (FCT), a home-based service for juvenile court-involved youth, ...
Tunable Rh2(II,II) Light Absorbers as Excited-State Electron Donors and Acceptors Accessible with Red/Near-Infrared Irradiation

A series of dirhodium(II,II) paddlewheeel complexes of the type cis-[Rh2(μ-DTolF)2(μ-L)2][BF4]2, where DTolF = N,N′-di(p-tolyl)formamidinate and L = 1,8-naphthyridine (np), 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,8-naphthyridine (pynp), 2-(quinolin-2-yl)-1,8-naphthyridine (qnnp), and 2-(1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)quinoxaline (qxnp), were synthesized and characterized. These molecules feature new tridentate ligands that concomitantly bridge the dirhodium core and cap the axial positions. The complexes absorb light strongly throughout the ultraviolet/visible range and into the near-infrared region and exhibit relatively long-lived triplet excited-state lifetimes. Both the singlet and triplet excited states exhibit metal/ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (ML-LCT) in nature as determined by transient absorption spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry measurements. When irradiated with low-energy light, these black dyes are capable of undergoing reversible bimolecular electron transfer both to the electron acceptor methyl viologen and ...
MONTE CARLO OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL BROWNIAN SHEETS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Monte Carlo of two-dimensional Brownian sheets. A Brownian sheet with an r-dimensional parameter set is a mean zero Gaussian process, defined on the positive orthant of r-dimensional Euclidean space having covariance. Such processes arise as the limit of partial sum processes on an r-dimensional grid. The chapter presents the results of a Monte Carlo experiment in which approximations to Brownian sheets are obtained as partial sums of Normal (0,1) rvs. Accurate estimates of quantiles of M2 can be obtained by using the program with increased sample size, and estimates of quantiles for the tied down version of M2 can be obtained by suitably transforming the partial sum process.
Sex Education of the Visually Impaired Child: The Role of Parents.

Sexuality is an integral part of one's self-concept. As such it effects mental health and social behaviors. Visually impaired children are deprived of the major mode of learning about gender differ...
An Analysis of Educational Technology-Related Doctoral Programs in the United States

This descriptive study seeks to understand the differing requirements of doctoral programs in educational technology-related fields in the United States. Using a document analysis approach with five data sources, we found 59 different institutions (55 campus-based and 4 online) offered doctoral degrees with 33 different degree titles that satisfied a foundational set of curriculum criteria. Among these 59 institutions, total credit hours requirements ranged from 42 credit hours to 113 credit hours and total dissertation credit hours spanned from 1 to 45 credit hours to complete a doctoral degree. Among the nine universities who offered both Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees, the requirements of the total credit hours were varied, but the same or higher total dissertation hours were required for the Ph.D. program than for the Ed.D. program.
Structural and Lipid Biochemical Correlates of the Epidermal Permeability Barrier

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structural and lipid biochemical correlates of the epidermal permeability barrier. A pivotal point in terrestrial adaptation is prevention of desiccation and maintenance of internal water homeostasis. The outermost integumentary tissue, the epidermis, maintains a reserve of germinal cell layers whose proliferation, stratification, and differentiation result in the production of the outermost layer, the anucleate stratum corneum. The stratum corneum has heterogeneous tissue structure possessing a selected array of enzymatic activity. The sequestration of lipids to intercellular domains and their organization into a unique multilamellar system have broad implications for permeability barrier function, water retention, desquamation, and percutaneous drug delivery. Yet, the functions and organization of specific lipid species in this membrane system are still unknown. Further, elucidation of the molecular architecture and interactions of lipid and nonlipid components of the stratum corneum intercellular domains will be a prerequisite for a comprehensive understanding of stratum corneum function.
Modeling the Hydrodynamics of Materials Processing

During the past decade, fluid dynamics has emerged as a useful quantitative tool for understanding the physical phenomena that operate in materials processing. One of the most important examples is crystal growth from the melt. The lecture will take this as an paradigm, to show how digital simulation has been used to obtain insight into these complicated situations.
Maturation of collagen fibrils in the corneal stroma results in masking of tyrosine-rich region of type V procollagen.

Purpose. To determine the molecular form of type V procollagen in collagen fibrils in mammalian corneal stromas. Methods. The presence of the tyrosine-rich region in the NHy-propeptide of type V procollagen in collagen fibrils was examined in human, bovine, and mouse corneas and human corneal fibroblast cultures by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblot analysis using a polyclonal antibody specific for this region. The antibody was generated using a glutathione Stransferase-fusion peptide. Results. The tyrosine-rich region was detected readily in frozen sections of 5- to 6-month-old mouse corneal stromas without the need for any unmasking techniques, indicating that this domain is exposed on the surface of striated collagen fibrils. In contrast, frozen sections of adult human and bovine corneas did not label with the polyclonal sera to the tyrosine-rich region. Immunoblot analysis of bacterial collagenase digests of human and bovine corneas, however, indicated that peptide fragments containing the tyrosine-rich region of type V procollagen and of the expected molecular weight of 70 to 85 kDa were present. Further immunofluorescence microscopic studies and immunoblot analysis of mouse corneas at different ages and of collagen fibrils formed in human corneal fibroblast cultures over time indicated that, initially, the tyrosine-rich region of type V procollagen could be detected in all these collagen fibrils; however, as the age of the mouse and the culture increased, the ability to detect this region decreased. Conclusions. These results suggest that, in vivo, the tyrosine-rich region of type V procollagen is retained on type V procollagen molecules within mammalian collagen fibrils from corneal stromas and that this region becomes masked as collagen fibrils mature or the species ages. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996; 37:2047-2059.
A novel mouse model of hemangiopericytoma due to loss of Tsc2

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare vascular tumor, which is thought to originate from pericytes. However, no direct evidence for the cell of origin has been found, and the mechanism of HPC tumorigenesis is poorly understood. Here we report that loss of the tumor suppressor gene Tsc2 in pericytes using a FoxD1 promoter driven cre allele (Foxd1tm1(GFP/cre) Amc, FoxD1GC) leads to the formation of HPC in multiple sites. Tsc2ffFoxD1GC mice had stunted growth with seizures and tail and hind limb tremor with a median survival of 110 days. They also showed recombination in brain, spinal cord, tongue, liver, intestine and skeletal muscle. Distinctive perivascular tumors consisting of cells with oval nuclei and scant cytoplasm were identified in multiple sites in all Tsc2ffFoxD1GC mice. Immunohistochemistry staining showed a high expression of phospho-S6-S240/244, a hallmark of activated mTORC1, as well as pericyte markers NG2 and vimentin in these tumors. In summary, we demonstrate that loss of Tsc2 in pericytes generates HPC, the first mouse model of HPC reported.
Effects of high copper concentrations on soil invertebrates (earthworms and oribatid mites): : Experimental results and a model.

Data in the literature on the toxicity and uptake of copper by soil invertebrates are contradictory. Copper toxicity and bioaccumulation studies were therefore performed using earthworms and oribatid mites. Field-simulating experiments in soil-filled plastic containers showed that earthworms try to escape moderately toxic situations and that they are much more sensitive than oribatid mites to temporary high Cu2+ concentrations in soils. The total copper concentration in the bodies of the earthworm species Octolasium cyaneum was measured in experiments with different soil types and different amounts of added CuSO4. The copper concentrations in the earthworms increased in response to the higher concentrations of the copper fraction extractable with 2.5% acetic acid in the soil. Furthermore, internal copper concentrations showed a slight tendency to oscillate. The worms died when the concentrations within their bodies exceeded about 100-120 ppm, calculated on a dry weight basis. To interpret the experimental results, a compartment model is proposed which describes the dynamics of different fractions of copper in worms living in varying soil environments. Applying this model, the different reports on toxicity and uptake of copper in the literature no longer contradict each other.
Prognostic value of minimal residual disease and polyclonal plasma cells in myeloma patients achieving a complete response to therapy.

8030Background: Achievement of a complete response (CR) to therapy has been associated with improved outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). More recently, increasing application of minima...
Consumers as time travellers: the moderating effects of risk perception and construal level on consumers’ responses to temporal framing

This study investigated the conditions under which temporal framing is more effective in explaining consumers’ responses to ads. Two experiments were conducted with a 2 (temporal framing: near-futu...
Inching towards precision medicine for multiple myeloma with causal network models.

e19526Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the 2nd most prevalent blood cancer. For each molecular subtype of MM defined by molecular profiles, mechanisms underlying prognosis and drug response are...
Understanding Human Genetic Disease With the Fly

Abstract For more than 100 years Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) have been a useful tool for understanding genetics. Flies and humans are remarkably similar, with flies having homologs to approximately 75% of human disease-causing genes. Given the pace with which new disease-associated variants are being identified in humans, the study of flies may be an excellent means to investigate the pathogenicity of these variants and the underlying biology of disease-associated genes. In this chapter, we will describe the primary tools that Drosophila biologists use to manipulate gene expression, and explain how to apply them to the study of human genetic disease. We will also present examples demonstrating the successful application of these tools to several human genetic diseases.
Topical dual-probe staining using quantum dot-labeled antibodies for identifying tumor biomarkers in fresh specimens

Purpose Rapid, intra-operative identification of tumor tissue in the margins of excised specimens has become an important focus in the pursuit of reducing re-excision rates, especially for breast conserving surgery. Dual-probe difference specimen imaging (DDSI) is an emerging approach that uses the difference in uptake/clearance kinetics between a pair of fluorescently-labeled stains, one targeted to a biomarker-of-interest and the other an untargeted isotype, to reveal receptor-specific images of the specimen. Previous studies using antibodies labeled with either enhanced Raman particles or organic fluorophores have shown promising tumor vs. normal diagnostic performance. Yet, the unique properties of quantum dot-labeled antibody complexes (QDACs), which provide spectrally-distinct fluorescence emission from a common excitation source, make them ideal candidates for this application. Herein, we evaluate the diagnostic performance of QDAC-based DDSI in excised xenografts. Procedures Excised fresh specimens of normal tissue and human tumor xenografts with elevated expression of HER2 were stained with a HER2-targeted QDAC and an untargeted QDAC isotype. Stained specimens were imaged on a custom hyperspectral imaging system capable of spectrally separating the quantum dot signatures, and images processed using the DDSI approach. The diagnostic performance of this technique under different incubation temperatures and probe concentrations was evaluated using receiver-operator characteristic analysis. Results HER2-targeted QDAC-DDSI was able to distinguish HER2(+) tumors from normal tissue with reasonably high diagnostic performance; however, this performance was sensitive to temperature during the staining procedure. Area under the curve values were 0.61 when staining at room temperature but increased to over 0.81 when staining at 37 °C. Diagnostic performance was not affected by increasing stain concentration. Conclusions This study is the first to report dual-probe difference imaging of specimens using QDACs and hyperspectral imaging. Our results show promising diagnostic performance under certain conditions, and compel further optimization and evaluation of this intra-operative margin assessment technique.
Performance Benefits of Reciprocal Vicarious Learning in Teams

Team members’ vicarious learning from other members’ knowledge and experience is a critical component of learning and performance in interdependent team work contexts. Yet, our understanding of vic...
Performance in Collegiate-Level Baseball Players After Elbow Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction.

Background:The increase in ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) elbow reconstructions over the past 20 years has affected younger athletes more than any other age group. Although return to play and post...
Recorp: Receiver-Oriented Policies for Industrial Wireless Networks

The next generation of Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) systems will require wireless solutions to connect sensors, actuators, and controllers as part of feedback-control loops over real-time flows. A key challenge in such networks is to provide predictable performance and adaptability to variations in link quality. We address this challenge by developing Receiver Oriented Policies (RECORP), which leverages the stability of IIoT workloads to build a solution that combines offline policy synthesis and run-time adaptation. Compared to schedules that service a single flow in a slot, RECORP policies share slots among multiple flows by assigning a coordinator and a set of candidate flows in the same slot. At run-time, the coordinator will dynamically execute one of the flows depending on what flows the coordinator has already received. The net effect of this strategy is that a node can dynamically repurpose the retransmissions remaining after receiving the data of an incoming flow to service other incoming flows opportunistically. Therefore, the flows that are executed in a slot can be adapted in response to the variable link conditions observed at run-time. Furthermore, RECORP also provides predictable performance: a policy meets the end-to-end reliability and deadline constraints of flows given probabilistic link qualities. When RECORP policies and schedules are configured to meet the same end-to-end reliability target of 99%, larger-scale multihop simulations show that across typical IIoT workloads, policies provided a median improvement of 1.63 to 2.44 times in real-time capacity as well as a median reduction of 1.45 to 2.43 times in worst-case latency.
Engineered citrate synthase improves citramalic acid generation in Escherichia coli

The microbial product citramalic acid (citramalate) serves as a five-carbon precursor for the chemical synthesis of methacrylic acid. This biochemical is synthesized in Escherichia coli directly by the condensation of pyruvate and acetyl-CoA via the enzyme citramalate synthase. The principal competing enzyme with citramalate synthase is citrate synthase, which mediates the condensation reaction of oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA to form citrate and begin the tricarboxylic acid cycle. A deletion in the gltA gene coding citrate synthase prevents acetyl-CoA flux into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and thus necessitates the addition of glutamate. In this study the E. coli citrate synthase was engineered to contain point mutations intended to reduce the enzyme's affinity for acetyl-CoA, but not eliminate its activity. Cell growth, enzyme activity and citramalate production were compared in several variants in shake flasks and controlled fermenters. Citrate synthase GltA[F383M] not only facilitated cell growth without the presence of glutamate, but also improved the citramalate production by 125% compared with the control strain containing the native citrate synthase in batch fermentation. An exponential feeding strategy was employed in a fed-batch process using MEC626/pZE12-cimA harboring the GltA[F383M] variant, which generated over 60 g/L citramalate with a yield of 0.53 g citramalate/g glucose in 132 hr. These results demonstrate protein engineering can be used as an effective tool to redirect carbon flux by reducing enzyme activity and improve the microbial production of traditional commodity chemicals.