cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GALERKIN FINITE ELEMENT APPROXIMATIONS OF STOCHASTIC ELLIPTIC PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

We describe and analyze two numerical methods for a linear elliptic problem with stochastic coefficients and homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. Here the aim of the com- putations is to approximate statistical moments of the solution, and, in particular, we give a priori error estimates for the computation of the expected value of the solution. The first method gener- ates independent identically distributed approximations of the solution by sampling the coefficients of the equation and using a standard Galerkin finite element variational formulation. The Monte Carlo method then uses these approximations to compute corresponding sample averages. The sec- ond method is based on a finite dimensional approximation of the stochastic coefficients, turning the original stochastic problem into a deterministic parametric elliptic problem. A Galerkin finite element method, of either the h -o rp-version, then approximates the corresponding deterministic solution, yielding approximations of the desired statistics. We present a priori error estimates and include a comparison of the computational work required by each numerical approximation to achieve a given accuracy. This comparison suggests intuitive conditions for an optimal selection of the numerical approximation.
Layered dipyridylamide coordination polymers from in situ lactonization of 2-carboxycinnamic acid

Abstract Hydrothermal reaction of divalent metal nitrates with 2-carboxycinnamic acid (H 2 cca) and 3-pyridylisonicotinamide (3-pina) caused in situ rearrangement of the acid precursor to the anionic lactone 1,3-dihydro-3-oxo-1-isobenzofuranacetate (dibf). This resulted in generation of a series of coordination polymer solids of the form [M(3-pina) 2 (dibf) 2 ] n (M = Zn, 1 ; Cd, 2 ; Co, 3 ; Mn, 4 ; Ni, 5 ). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that 1 – 5 are isostructural, manifesting (4,4) grid motifs with capping dibf ligands. Use of the structurally related 3-(2-carboxyphenyl)propionic acid (H 2 cpp) as a precursor avoided any in situ rearrangement. Still, the resulting coordination polymer [Co(3-pina) 2 (Hcpp) 2 ] n ( 6 ) shows a topology virtually identical to 1 – 5 , but with protonated Hcpp carboxylate hydrogen bonding patterns within the grid apertures. Luminescence properties of the d 10 derivatives 1 and 2 are also presented, along with thermal degradation behavior.
Silicon as a free electron metal

Abstract Silicon is treated as a metal in a self consistent perturbation treatment based upon the orthogonalized-plane-wave method (a nonlocal pseudopotential method). The energy of silicon in the diamond structure as well as in metallic structures is computed and compared, leading to the incorrect result that the hexagonal close-packed structure has lower energy. Qualitative consideration of the effects of exchange and correlation in connection with our computed electron distributions in the crystal suggests that the neglect of these effects is responsible for the discrepancy. It also sheds some light on the applicability of the theory to metallic systems.
Technical Efficiency within the US Postal Service and the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970

(1988). Technical Efficiency within the US Postal Service and the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. Applied Economics: Vol. 20, No. 9, pp. 1185-1197.
The Cathedral of Bourges: A Witness to Judeo-Christian Dialogue in Medieval Berry

Begun in 1195, just one year after Chartres, and essentially finished thirty-seven years later, the high Gothic Cathedral of Saint Stephen at Bourges en Berry rose at an auspicious time for Jewish-Christian relations. Several factors impacted positively on the latter. Among them are Berry's position in central France, far from anti-Jewish centers, the Cathedral's deacon, William of Bourges, a renowned scholar and converted Jew, and the cadre of Christian Hebraists, nourished and developed by Deacon William, who disseminated respect for Jewish tradition. The usually ephemeral "respect" was translated at Bourges into several physical structures at the growing cathedral where, in glass and stone, the dialogue between the communions was imaged. Of the many illustrations of this testimony, three are noteworthy: the cathedral's large clerestory windows are assigned in equal numbers to representatives of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures; its decoration, especially in possibly incendiary scenes like the stoning of Stephen, abjures the hate-filled faces found in other venues; most significantly, its spandrel sculptures, just above eye-level on the Western end, portray various characters and events from Creation through Noah according to the rich perspective of the midrash. Unfortunately, the building campaigns at the cathedral and the respectful interaction between Jews and Christians ceased at almost the same time; nevertheless, St. Stephen's still stands as a witness to its once vibrant presence.
Relation of elastic strain distributions determined by diffraction to corresponding stress distributions

The problem of converting elastic strain distributions determined by diffraction measurements to stress distributions is discussed. The relation of mean strains measured by powder diffraction to the corresponding mean stresses is well known and regularly employed in residual stress measurements. However, the relation between strain variance and stress variance is not so straightforward. The elastic strain distribution depends on both the variation of strain from point to point in a given direction in a volume, and in all directions at each point in the same volume. In this paper, relations between the strain variance and corresponding stress variance are developed in both two and three dimensions for the case of microstress variations in particulate systems. The two components cannot be separated from a diffraction measurement of the strain distribution but the relations developed provide upper and lower limits on the variance in the stress distribution and are useful for relating diffraction results to models of the material. The results are applied to elastic strain distributions obtained in composite systems from measurements of diffraction peak breadths and modeled using two-dimensional finite element methods.
The DoD residential PEM fuel cell demonstration program

Abstract US Congressional appropriations in Fiscal Years (FY) 2001 through 2003 provided funds to the US Army Engineer Research & Development Center/Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC/CERL) for a demonstration of residential-scale PEM fuel cells at US military facilities. For this program, ‘residential scale’ is defined as projects ranging in size from 1 to 20 kWe, regardless of the application. Successful applicants are required to provide fuel cell power to the application for one year, with an average availability of 90%. Approximately $6m was awarded from the FY 2001 and FY 2002 appropriations, for a total of 45 fuel cells. Some 75% of these are currently in operation, with two having completed the one-year operation period. The remainder will be installed over the next few months. In addition, approximately $3.5m has been provided in the FY 2003 appropriation. A solicitation for this program was issued, pre-proposals were reviewed, and several applicants were selected to submit follow-on full proposals. It is anticipated that awards will be made before the end of 2003. All units are being closely monitored to assess their performance, and lessons learned are being fed back to the fuel cell community to assist in optimized product development and enhanced operational and maintenance procedures.
The calculation of thermodynamic quantities from hysteresis data

Abstract Computations of thermal quantities based upon data exhibiting hysteresis, using any thermodynamic operator, in particular the Clapeyron-Clausius equation, should not be entitled “a thermodynamic analysis” unless corrections are applied to these quantities for the “loss of work” and the concomitant “creation of entropy or heat” by evaluating the area enclosed by the hysteresis loop as the result of the irreversible character of hysteresis. The time-honored symbols, ΔH and ΔS , should be reserved for the enthalpy or entropy increases between defined initial and final states computed from observations that meet the basic requirements of equilibrium functions of state. The cardinal criterion is that the data be tested by LaGrange-Gibbs' method of virtual displacements. Hysteresis data fail to meet this test. No mechanistic hypothesis, regardless of how ingenious or plausible it appears to be as an explanation, can replace this test.
Volume optical memory by two photon interaction

Three-dimensional optical memory devices may be designed to operate by means of two photon interaction in a solid matrix. Photochromic materials have been used in volume memory writing and reading with some success. The information density, cycle times, and stability are some of the parameters addressed in this paper.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modeling and understanding turbulent mixing in a macrotidal salt wedge estuary

[1] A high-resolution three-dimensional numerical simulation is performed with the parallel, unstructured grid SUNTANS model to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of turbulent mixing in a shallow, macrotidal salt wedge estuary that experiences periodic mixing and strong stratification. Unresolved vertical mixing is parameterized with the k − kl closure scheme with the Canuto-A stability functions based on a careful comparison of multiple two-equation closure schemes and stability functions via the generic length scale approach. The predictions of velocity, salinity, Richardson number, and Reynolds stress are in good agreement with field observations, and the top and bottom salinity predictions achieve skill scores of 0.86 and 0.91, respectively. The model shows that the salt wedge starts to strengthen upstream at the beginning of weak ebb and gradually expands downstream during the weak tide. Mixing is most active along a density interface during the weak ebb, while it is most active in a bottom mixed layer during weak flood, consistent with the findings inferred from the observations. Stratification decays during the strong ebb in a mixing event along the horizontal extent of the salt wedge while it is also being advected offshore. Local mixing is shown to account for roughly half of the decay rate of the stratification in this process. Numerical experiments are performed to investigate the response of stratification and mixing to changes in the magnitude of the buoyancy. High sensitivity is shown under intermediate levels of stratification that occur in the real system, which becomes considerably weaker under more extreme conditions.
Booze, Drugs, and Pop Music: Trends in Substance Portrayals in the Billboard Top 100—1968–2008

This paper presents the results of a content analysis of alcohol and drug portrayals in the top 100 Billboard songs from each of the years 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008, thus allowing both a characterization of substance portrayals in music generally and an analysis of changes over time. Of the final sample of 496 songs, 10.3% contained a reference to alcohol and 5.7% contained a reference to drugs. A substantial increase was found over the decades, and in particular over the last two: in 1988, 12% of songs referred to either or both classes of substance, compared to 30% in 2008. Marijuana was by far the most frequently mentioned drug. Both alcohol and drugs were much more likely to be portrayed positively than negatively, especially in recent decades. The results are discussed in terms of relevant theories of media processing and impact.
Quantum cascade laser based standoff photoacoustic chemical detection

Standoff chemical detection with a distance of more than 41 feet using photoacoustic effect and quantum cascade laser (QCL) operated at relatively low power, less than 40 mW, is demonstrated for the first time. The option of using QCL provides the advantages of easy tuning and modulation besides the benefit of compact size, light weight and low power consumption. The standoff detection signal can be calibrated as a function of different parameters such as laser pulse energy, gas vapor concentration and detection distance. The results yield good agreements with theoretical model. Techniques to obtain even longer detection distance and achieve outdoor operations are in the process of implementation and their projection is discussed.
DYE TECHNIQUES TO REVEAL THE FRACTURE SURFACE OF CONCRETE IN MODE I

The methods of dye penetrant presented here all show the crack front to be nonuniform. Thus, present two-dimensional models must somehow account for this. This width effect (the nonuniform crack front) must be separated from other nonlinear effects or three-dimensional models must be used to account realistically for bridging and other effects.
Calorimetric determination of the half life of plutonium-239

Abstract As part of an interlaboratory effort, this report describes the homogeneity and half-life determinations on an enriched (99.26%) 239Pu-metal sample using calorimetric measurements on the original source material and on several aliquots. Calorimetric-power measurements and analitical data give a specific power of 1928.79 μW/g(239Pu) and a half life of 24,101 yr. The 95% confidence limits for the specific power and half life are ±0.624 μW/g(239Pu) and ± 20 yr, respectively.
In-vitro and intracellular activity of rifabutin on drug-susceptible and multiple drug-resistant (MDR) tubercle bacilli

Rifabutin, a spiropiperidyl derivative of rifampicin, is approved for the prophylaxis of Mycobacterium avium infections in AIDS patients in the US, and for the treatment of M. avium infections, tuberculosis and multiple drug resistant tuberculosis in many countries. In the present study, rifabutin was compared with rifampicin for its activity against drug susceptible and multi-drug resistant tubercle bacilli by several in-vitro and macrophage studies. Rifabutin exhibited similar or greater in-vitro activity than rifampicin as judged by the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and MBC/MIC ratios, as well as continuous exposure and post-antibiotic effect studies. Rifabutin has been shown to be active against some multiple drug resistant strains which were resistant to rifampicin. In macrophage studies with continuous exposure to the drug or when the drug had been removed after 24 h, rifabutin also demonstrated high activity which was better than RMP against intracellular tubercle bacilli. This long-acting intracellular anti-mycobacterial activity may explain, in part, the clinical efficacy of rifabutin.
Diagnosis and management of delirium

Abstract Delirium is a transient, usually reversible, disorder characterized by impaired cognitive function and reduced level of consciousness. The incidence of delirum in patients hospitalized on medical wards ranges from 10–50%, and up to 15% of patients over age 60 develop delirium following surgery. Delirium occasionally occurs during the puerperium. Patients who develop delirium have more complications, longer hospital stays, less improvement in functional status, and higher mortality rates than controls. Although many risk factors have been identified for delirium, medications are a predominant cause. Drugs commonly used in obstetrics and gynecology that may induce delirium in the susceptible individual include narcotic analgesics, antibiotics, uterotonic and anticholinergic agents, and dopamine receptor agonists. This article reviews the risk factors, assessment, outcomes, and clinical management of the delirious patient.
Educational commons and the new radical democratic imaginary

This article reflects on emergent (radical-progressive) languages of democracy to consider what common educational institutions might mean today. It explores distinct philosophical and political tensions that cut across these languages in relation to educational organization and pedagogy including – antagonism versus exodus, transcendence versus immanence, pluralism versus multiplicity, democracy versus communism. In contrast to other theorists in education who have tended to privilege certain conceptual positions in these debates to address a wide range of educational issues, the author argues that these tensions should be read selectively and generatively for linking political questions concerning democracy to educational transformation. In conclusion, the article calls for a language of insurrectional democracy that integrates aspects of each approach and where strategic engagements with, and creative lines of flight out of, public institutions and the State play a role in reimagining a common educatio...
Relieving the data Acquisition Bottleneck in Word Sense Disambiguation

Supervised learning methods for WSD yield better performance than unsupervised methods. Yet the availability of clean training data for the former is still a severe challenge. In this paper, we present an unsupervised bootstrapping approach for WSD which exploits huge amounts of automatically generated noisy data for training within a supervised learning framework. The method is evaluated using the 29 nouns in the English Lexical Sample task of SENSEVAL 2. Our algorithm does as well as supervised algorithms on 31% of this test set, which is an improvement of 11% (absolute) over state-of-the-art bootstrapping WSD algorithms. We identify seven different factors that impact the performance of our system.
Demography, Life History, and Social Structure in Propithecus diadema edwardsi From 1986 -2000 in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

Prosimian lemurs differ fundamentally from anthropoid primates in many traits related to social structure. By exploring the demography of Milne-Ed- wards' sifakas (Propithecus diadema edwardsi), and com- paring it to other well-studied primates, we explore the effect of demographic and life-history factors on social structure. Specifically, we compare lemur survivorship and fertility patterns to two published composite models: one created for New World and another created for Old World monkeys. Using longitudinal data collected on in- dividual Propithecus diadema edwardsi from four study groups from 1986 -2000 in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, we quantify 1) group composition, 2) birth seasonality, 3) interbirth interval, 4) life-table values, and 5) population growth estimates. The mortality, survivor- ship, and life-expectancy schedules indicate high infant and juvenile mortality. Fertility remains high until death. The intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate indicate a shrinking population. We suggest that high mortality rather than low fertility causes the observed population decline. While sifaka survivorship closely re- sembles New World patterns, fertility resembles Old World patterns, i.e., like New World monkeys, few sifakas survive to reproductive age, and those that do, reproduce at a slow rate resembling the Old World pattern. This necessarily impacts social structure. An adult sifaka at the end of her lifespan will have one only daughter who survives to reproductive age, compared to 3.4 for New World or 2.7 for Old World monkeys. Demography limits the formation of large kin-based groups for sifakas, and survivorship and fertility patterns do not easily permit sifakas to form large same-sex family groups. Am J Phys Anthropol 125:61-72, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Understanding MOCVD Gas Chemistry to Reduce the Cost of Ownership for GaN LED and AsP CPV Technologies

As compound semiconductors continue to make inroads into common electronic devices, it is critically important to lower the cost of the primary metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) epitaxial process, which creates the foundation for the devices. Both GaN-based light-emitting diode (LED) and AsP-based concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) markets have been focused on simultaneous cost-reduction, cycle time reductions, and device efficiency improvements, which can be realized utilizing higher growth rates and operating pressures. To achieve these goals, it has become increasingly important to understand the underlying growth mechanisms that drive the chemistry within the MOCVD process. Higher growth rates and higher operating pressures both result in parasitic gas-phase particle formation, which degrades the physical, electrical and optical properties of the deposited layers. In extreme cases, it can reduce the deposition efficiency to the point where increasing the reactant constituents results in reduced growth rates. In this paper, we will examine the tradeoffs that need to be made to achieve good crystal quality with abrupt interfaces, smooth surface morphology, and good minority carrier properties for films deposited at high growth rates and high pressure. While exceptional device performance has been achieved for both GaN-based LEDs and AsP-based CPV cells, it is primarily cost that is limiting full-scale adoption of compound semiconductors into these potentially enormous markets.
A New Approach to the Measurement of Adaptive Behavior: Development of the PEDI-CAT for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The use of current adaptive behavior measures in practice and research is limited by their length and need for a professional interviewer. There is a need for alternative measures that more efficiently assess adaptive behavior in children and youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) is a computer-based assessment of a child's ability to perform activities required for personal self-sufficiency and engagement in the community. This study evaluated the applicability, representativeness, and comprehensiveness of the Daily Activity, Social/Cognitive, and Responsibility domains for children and youth with an ASD. Twenty professionals and 18 parents provided feedback via in-person or virtual focus groups and cognitive interviews. Items were perceived to represent relevant functional activities within each domain. Child factors and assessment characteristics influenced parents' ratings. In response to feedback, 15 items and additional directions were added to ensure the PEDI-CAT is a meaningful measure when used with this population.
Presence of soldier larvae determines the outcome of competition in a polyembryonic wasp.

Soldier-producing polyembryonic wasps are the only social animals that develop as parasites inside the bodies of other insects. Characterizing the kin composition of broods is central to understanding the evolution of the soldier caste in these unique social insects. Here we studied the role of soldiers in mediating the outcome of competition among clones of the polyembryonic wasp Copidosoma floridanum. Soldier-producing female clones usually monopolized host resources, whereas soldierless male clones usually coexisted in hosts. Behavioural experiments further indicated that early-emerging soldiers are specialized to combat intraspecific competitors and later-emerging soldiers are specialized for defence against interspecific competitors. Taken together, our results point to intraspecific competition as a major selective force in the evolution of the soldier caste. Our data also present an evolutionary conundrum: given the benefit of soldiers, why are male clones functionally soldierless?
Biomechanical predictors of retrospective tibial stress fractures in runners

Both kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb have been shown separately to be related with a history of tibial stress fractures (TSFs)in female runners. However, it is likely that these factors interact together to increase the risk of a TSF. This study was conducted to determine which combination of kinematic and kinetic factors are the best predictors of retrospective TSF in female distance runners. Total 30 female runners who had previously sustained a TSF were recruited, along with an age and mileage matched control group (n ¼ 30). Subjects ran overground at 3.7 m/s while kinematic and kinetic data were recorded. Five trials from each subject were used for data analysis and ensemble means were calculated for both groups. The kinematic variables of peak hip adduction (HADD), peak knee internal rotation (KIR) and knee adduction (KADD), peak rearfoot eversion (RFEV) were entered into a binary logistic regression along with the kinetic variables of vertical instantaneous load rate (VILR) and absolute free moment (FM). The variables HADD, FM and RFEV were able to correctly predict a history of TSF in 83% of cases. Increases in HADD, FM and RFEV (odds ratios of 1.29, 1.37 and 1.18) were associated with an elevated risk of having a history of TSF. The addition of VILR, KIR and KADD did not improve the ability to predict previous injury. Based on these results, HADD, FM and RFEV appear to be the most important of the variables of interest in terms of predicting retrospective TSF in female runners.
Ocean bottom pressure waves predicted in the tropical Pacific

[1] Using a mass-conserving (non-Boussinesq) Pacific Ocean model and TOPEX/POSEIDON sea-surface height measurements, we document previously unreported bottom pressure waves (BPWs), associated with large-amplitude eddies (vortices) both north and south of the Equator. The bottom pressure signals, defined as the vertically integrated water-mass anomalies, are found to propagate westward across the Pacific Ocean with an approximate 4-mbar amplitude (1 mbar = 100 Newton/m2, approximately equivalent to 1 cm of sea surface height), continuously interacting with topographic features. Their wavelength is about 1100 kilometers, phase speed is about 0.5 m/s, and period is about 30-days, all consistent with the known properties of tropical instability waves (TIWs). These results suggest that the constantly evolving tropical instability eddies might have strong bottom pressure signals, therefore, likely alias the U.S.-German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measurements, which have a monthly-sampling period.
The [4+2], not [2+2], Mechanism Occurs in the Gold‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Oxygen Transfer Reaction of 2‐Alkynyl‐1,5‐Diketones

[2+2] or [4+2]? Mechanistic studies on the gold-catalyzed intramolecular oxygen transfer of 2-alkynyl-1,5-diketones were performed using isotopic experiments and quantum chemical calculations. The results demonstrate that the transformation follows a [4+2] pathway instead of the previously proposed [2+2] path (see scheme). Various substrates were employed in the reaction and the corresponding products were obtained in excellent yields. Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Robot-assisted vessel harvesting for penile revascularization.

ABSTRACT Introduction Ideal candidates for penile revascularization include young patients with documented vasculogenic erectile dysfunction usually resulting from pelvic trauma. Historically, large midline incisions were necessary to harvest the epigastric vessels for penile revascularization. We report our experience with robot-assisted epigastric vessel harvesting for use in penile revascularization procedures. Aim To describe our technique and experience with robot-assisted vessel harvesting for use in penile revascularization. Methods Five patients were selected for penile revascularization. Each patient suffered pelvic crush injuries resulting in post-traumatic erectile dysfunction. Each patient had no significant prior medical history and had normal erectile function prior to injury. Penile duplex Doppler ultrasound studies using vasoactive agents demonstrated decreased arterial inflow. Complementary pelvic angiography documented the corresponding arterial lesions. Each patient underwent attempted penile revascularization using a modified Virag-V technique. The epigastric artery was harvested robotically and transposed through a 3 cm incision at the base of the penis. Microscopic revascularization was performed by anastamosing the epigastric artery to the deep dorsal vein. Distal dorsal vein ligation of the subcoronal plexus was performed to limit glans hyperemia. Main Outcome Measures Description of a new method of vessel harvesting for penile revascularization. Results Penile revascularization was successful in four out of five patients. One patient had complete thrombosis of the deep dorsal penile vein and underwent subsequent penile prosthesis implantation. Each patient undergoing successful revascularization was discharged home two days postoperatively and has reported resumption of sexual activity. Conclusions The robot-assisted approach to epigastric vessel harvesting is an ideal minimally-invasive complement to penile revascularization. This procedure negates the need for a large midline incision and may shorten recovery time. Our described technique offers a novel option for the application of minimally-invasive technology, but longer-term follow-up is needed to further evaluate the success of penile revascularization. Raynor MC, Davis R, and Hellstrom WJG. Robot-assisted vessel harvesting for penile revascularization.
Reconstitution of Long-Term T Helper Cell Function after Zidovudine Therapy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 asymptomatic patients infected with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 4 patients with AIDS were analyzed before and during therapy with zidovudine for T helper cell (Th) function. Th function improved by more than fourfold to one or more of three stimuli tested in 9 (75%) of 12 asymptomatic patients on zidovudine therapy and in 3 of 4 patients with AIDS. Only 6 (7.4%) of 80 untreated HIV-infected control patients showed spontaneous improvement in Th function (P less than 10(-6)). Improved Th function was detected as early as 5 weeks into therapy in 6 patients and continued to be evident for greater than 1 year after start of therapy in 6 patients and for greater than 2 years in 2 patients. No correlation was observed between improved Th function and changes in CD4+ or CD8+ cell numbers or in levels of serum HIV p24 antigen or beta 2-microglobulin. These results suggest inclusion of in vitro Th function as a useful marker in determining the efficacy of antiretroviral drug therapy of HIV-infected patients.
MACF1 gene structure: a hybrid of plectin and dystrophin.

Mammalian MACF1 (Macrophin1; previously named ACF7) is a giant cytoskeletal linker protein with three known isoforms that arise by alternative splicing. We isolated a 19.1-kb cDNA encoding a fourth isoform (MACF1-4) with a unique N-terminus. Instead of an N-terminal actin-binding domain found in the other three isoforms, MACF1-4 has eight plectin repeats. The MACF1 gene is located on human Chr 1p32, contains at least 102 exons, spans over 270 kb, and gives rise to four major isoforms with different N-termini. The genomic organization of the actin-binding domain is highly conserved in mammalian genes for both plectin and BPAG1. All eight plectin repeats are encoded by one large exon; this feature is similar to the genomic structure of plectin. The intron positions within spectrin repeats in MACF1 are very similar to those in the dystrophin gene. This demonstrates that MACF1 has characteristic features of genes for two classes of cytoskeletal proteins, i.e., plectin and dystrophin.
Radiation transfer in the fluid frame: an addendum

Abstract We discuss in greater detail the derivation of the radiation transfer equation given in a previous paper of ours, clarify a notation which led to a misunderstanding and, finally, reject an erroneous criticism of our equation.
The nature of multinational firm boundaries: Transaction costs, firm capabilities and foreign market entry mode

Under the rubric of internalization theory, transaction cost-based arguments have been dominant in addressing multinational firms' mode of foreign market entry decisions. Another line of argument addresses this decision by focusing more closely on firms' capabilities. This paper presents, and empirically tests, the arguments underlying the mode of foreign market entry decision from these two perspectives. Stronger support was found for the organizational capability perspective. The results suggest that it is the considerations related to the efficient and effective development and deployment of a firm's capabilities, under the constraint of bounded rationality, rather than the level of transaction costs and the efficiency of the transaction under the assumption of opportunism which is increasingly critical in determining the entry mode choice. This shifts the main focus of attention away from market failure due to high transaction costs and demands greater attention to capability-related issues. It appears that, in the quest to remain competitive in the dynamic and global economy of today, firms may oft need to trade off transaction cost-related concerns against capability-related ones in making firm boundary decisions.
Context awareness in Amit

This paper presents the context awareness capabilities of Amit. Amit is a tool that includes both a language and an efficient run-time execution mechanism, aimed at reducing the complexity of active applications. It follows the observation that in many cases, there is a gap between current tools that enable to react to a single event (following the ECA: Event-Condition-Action paradigm), and the reality, in which reaction is relevant only in certain contexts in response to patterns over event histories. Context awareness in Amit takes into account event information, time and location to introduce the concept of situation. The concept of situation is an extension of the concept of composite event in its context awareness capability; it results in additional expressive power, flexibility and usability.
Number of Adult Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Occupying a Comb: A Standard for Estimating Colony Populations

This article is the copyright property of the Entomological Society of America and may not be used for any commercial or other private purpose without specific written permission of the Entomological Society of America
Age-Related Performance in a Multiple-Task Environment

Younger and older adult participants performed a dynamic multiple-task requiring concurrent processing of 4 independent tasks. Component-task performance emphasis (i.e., task priorities) was biased by differential point allocations across task components. After training, the point structure was modified. Older adults exhibited larger multiple-task performance deficits compared with younger adults; however, the age-related gap in multiple-task performance decreased with practice. The age-related performance difference increased again when task emphasis was changed, but not when demands were changed. Consistent with the training data, the age-related differences diminished again with additional experience on this new task-component emphasis. The data suggest that higher-order, strategic processing may be an important source of age-related differences in complex multiple-task performance. Actual or potential applications of this research include the facilitation of techniques for age-related comprehensive usability testing for products of even moderate complexity.
Mechanical performance of laminated discs

Laminated discs are one of the enabling technologies to increase areal density of a recording disc drive to beyond 100 G/in/sup 2/. Enhanced damping characteristics do, however, come at the expense of axial rigidity of the substrates. This work demonstrates that by varying the polymer thickness, damping and axial rigidity of the substrates can be tailored to achieve desirable performance. Laminated glass-ceramic substrates are shown to offer effective damping even with poor lamination. Disc deflection during a shock event is damped out within a few cycles of vibration for the laminated discs, which should provide additional margin for head slap damage. There is no significant clamping induced distortion found for the laminated discs. Overall, mechanical performance of the laminated discs are satisfactory provided the lamination process is optimal.
Navigating the issues of multidisciplinary student teams serving university spin-offs

Improving the commercialization of university research has become a national priority. Most existing programs focus on training and supporting faculty and students to be the entrepreneur. However, programs are also needed to train and support those who will serve the entrepreneur. This chapter asserts that professionals with specific expertise in serving entrepreneurs are a critical, yet overlooked, part of the “innovation ecosystem” necessary to commercialize university research. It provides an overview of the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic at the University of Washington, which provides a multidisciplinary teaching, research, and service platform that assists University spin-offs while developing the next generation innovation ecosystem. Bringing together law, business, and engineering students to work with tech transfer licensing officers and faculty researchers to spin off a university technology involves many challenges. Yet, it can be done and the benefits are manifold. This chapter outlines three key issues for this kind of program. First, who is the client: the tech transfer office or the faculty researcher? Second, how to mediate among the different visions for how to commercialize the technology through the spin-off – including whether the technology is ready for commercialization or needs to undergo further translational work. And third, how to ensure that all the different students are being properly supervised and that all project members are keeping appropriate confidentiality toward the technology and business plans. The chapter shows how the missteps, conflicts, and confusion that naturally arise for each team project actually provide the best teaching moments for team members, supervisors, and faculty alike.
Postulating Traumatic Stress Disorders.

This special issue of Biological Psychiatry, “Understanding PTSD: From Mind to Molecules,” is focused on neurobiological studies that inform our scientific approach to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By virtue of the requirement that a lifethreatening stressor precede its onset, PTSD is distinguished from other mental disorders. Although mental health clinicians and researchers acknowledge the contributions (and presumably very complex interactions) of psychological, social, and biological factors in the generation of virtually all mental disorders, only PTSD (and the other trauma and stressorrelated disorders with it shares a chapter in DSM-5) has exposure to a traumatic stressor or stressors as a mandatory antecedent. In other words, PTSD is the quintessential biopsychosocially determined disorder; as such, it demands the efforts of a diverse and eclectic set of researchers and experimental methods to understand its etiology and consider novel approaches to its treatment. Such is the spirit of this special issue, where we have brought together a multitalented group of basic and translational researchers to share their insights into the nature of PTSD and its potential prevention and management. The time frame of inquiry begins very early in development, with Rodgers and Bale (1) describing an intriguing body of preclinical work positing the transgenerational transmission of stress through male germ cells; this work has been echoed in clinical studies demonstrating not only an increase in PTSD among adult offspring of survivors of extreme trauma (i.e., the Holocaust) but also a possible epigenetic reflection of that increased risk in glucocorticoid-relevant genes or their promoters (2). Bock et al. (3) review and insightfully integrate a body of animal and human literature that emphasizes possible molecular bases for prenatal stress exposures adversely affecting emotional and cognitive development of the brain. Zannas et al. (4) provide a comprehensive review of epigenetic studies relevant to PTSD and in so doing forge a path for future research in this area, highlighting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Together, these articles paint a picture of the brains of certain individuals being primed in utero to experience stressful life experiences differently than others. How can we begin to tie together these observations with findings of specific genetic vulnerabilities for PTSD that may operate through altering stress responsiveness (e.g., FKBP5 and allele-specific demethylation in association with childhood trauma exposure (5))? What is the physiologic and molecular nature of this altered brain response to stress? There is evidence that exposure of the hippocampus to glucocorticoids after stress results in a PTSD-like set of memory impairments that includes the inability to restrict fear to the appropriate context (i.e., there is an overgeneralization of the fear response (6)). Could it be that the hippocampus of individuals at risk for PTSD is exposed to functionally elevated levels of
U.S. Immigrants’ Attitudes Toward Libertarian Values

While there has been much discussion of libertarians' (generally although not universally favorable) attitudes toward liberal immigration policies, the attitudes of immigrants to the United States toward libertarian values have not previously been examined. Using data from the 2010 General Social Survey, we asked how American-born and foreign-born residents differed in attitudes toward a variety of topics upon which self-reported libertarians typically hold strong pro-liberty views (as described by Iyer et al., 2012). The results showed a marked pattern of lower support for pro-liberty views among immigrants as compared to US-born residents. These differences were generally statistically significant and sizable, with a few scattered exceptions. With increasing proportions of the US population being foreign-born, low support for libertarian values by foreign-born residents means that the political prospects of libertarian values in the US are likely to diminish over time.
Making Connections in Middle-Class Suburbs? Low-Income Mexican Immigrant Young Men, Social Capital, and Pathways to High School Graduation

This study explores access to social capital for low-income Mexican immigrant young men in a middle-class suburb and how social capital influences educational attainment. In-depth interviews with 20 Mexican immigrant young men in one Chicago suburb provide insights into how network composition is shaped by structures within high school. Findings also highlight how respondents’ diverse and nonlinear educational pathways, in turn, are shaped by characteristics of their social networks. Implications for future research are discussed.
Independent sitting development and the emergence of associated motor components.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the relationship between the emergence of independent sitting ability and the presence of underlying motor components (reflexes, automatic postural reactions, and flexion and extension movement patterns). Ten full-term, nonhandicapped infants were tested longitudinally for the presence of underlying motor components as they attained three performance levels of sitting ability between the ages of 4 and 7 months. A total of 26 observations was collected across the 10 infants. The time of each testing session was based on the infants' attainment of each successive sitting performance level. Underlying motor components were assessed at each testing session to determine whether a consistent sequence of component emergence developed and whether those components were associated with a specific performance level of sitting. The results indicated that no consistent sequential pattern of motor component emergence existed. The data showed that the pattern of underlying component emergence was highly variable across the infants at similar levels of sitting ability, although some components were associated highly with specific performance levels. The data suggest that the attainment of independent sitting in nonhandicapped infants is described best as a continuous developmental process, rather than a discontinuous “stage” phenomenon.
Liberal Peace Across the Taiwan Strait? The U.S. Strategic Ambiguity Policy in the Era of Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)

This paper examines the implications of deepening of economic interdependence on cross-strait relations. While greater economic liberalization, culminated in the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in June 2010, is a huge progress forward in ameliorating Taiwan Strait tensions, Taiwan has become asymmetrically dependent on China. As Beijing’s leverage over Taiwan increases, the island could suffer from negative security externalities. In light of the PRC’s burgeoning military and economic capabilities and continued political ambition over Taiwan, the author argues that cross-strait peace and stability ultimately depends on the power and will of the United States. since the Truman era, America’s interest and strategic ambiguity policy, rooted in the Wilsonian vision of an open China, have aimed at promoting China’s democratization and a peaceful resolution of the cross-strait impasse, in which any outcome must also have the assent of the Taiwanese people. Both Taipei and Washington, therefore, must strengthen their security ties in order to hedge against Beijing’s potential threats and to ensure a robust peace under ECFA.
Solving the Kidney Shortage via the Creation of Kidney Donation Co-operatives (Online Appendix)

This is the Online Appendix to "Kidney Coop: Proof of Concept," which is available online at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2390356.
Quantum chemistry studies of electronically excited nitrobenzene, TNA, and TNT.

The electronic excitation energies and excited-state potential energy surfaces of nitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitroaniline (TNA), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) are calculated using time-dependent density functional theory and multiconfigurational ab initio methods. We describe the geometrical and energetic character of excited-state minima, reaction coordinates, and nonadiabatic regions in these systems. In addition, the potential energy surfaces for the lowest two singlet (S0 and S1) and lowest two triplet (T1 and T2) electronic states are investigated, with particular emphasis on the S1 relaxation pathway and the nonadiabatic region leading to radiationless decay of S1 population. In nitrobenzene, relaxation on S1 occurs by out-of-plane rotation and pyramidalization of the nitro group. Radiationless decay can take place through a nonadiabatic region, which, at the TD-DFT level, is characterized by near-degeneracy of three electronic states, namely, S1, S0, and T2. Moreover, spin–orbit coupling constants fo...
Essential growth factor in serum dialysate for chick skeletal muscle fibroblasts.

SummaryChick skeletal muscle fibroblasts in monolayer cultures grow actively in homologous undialyzed serum supplemented with Medium 199. Dialysis of chicken serum removes a factor essential for growth and maintenance of these cells. The deficiency syndrome in cultures with dialyzed serum can be corrected by chicken serum dialysate, but not by inositol, cholesterol, vit. B12, spleen nucleoprotein fraction, or by a more complex synthetic nutrient, NCTC 109. Proteosepeptone at 0.1% may be substituted for serum dialysate to restore full activity of whole serum.