cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congruence, Resistance, Liminality: Reading and Ideology in Three School Libraries

AbstractThis article offers an ethnographic description of the processes of enculturation that occurred within three school libraries, and considers how such libraries may be considered cultural sites in their own right, apart from other aspects of schooling. The study examines third-grade students’ patterns of response to implicit and explicit messages about the value and function of literacy in their lives as they are encoded in the organization of three school libraries, in those libraries’ texts, and in the discursive practices and backgrounds of their librarians. Analysis of these responses leads to an interrogation of two principal accounts of how educational institutions in general attempt to reproduce the social order of late industrial capitalism, either through students’ resistance to dominant ideological practices or through sociolinguistic congruence or incongruence between ways of using words at home and in school. As a counterargument to these two well-known frames of interpretation, the aut...
Pulse Motor Optimization via Mission Charts for an Exoatmospheric Interceptor

The selection of the pulse split and the interpulse delay of a two-pulse exoatmospheric midcourse stage for an exoatmospheric interceptor, which uses a kinetic kill vehicle (KKV) for a direct hit kill, is examined. Mission chart analysis is introduced along with system error trees and is used to select motor parameters that maximize the complete weapon system performance. In this analysis, the interceptor receives measured target updates from a weapon system consisting of a track sensor and a link to the interceptor. Location of the weapon system track sensor is not restricted by this analysis. The interceptor states may be measured by the interceptor, by the weapon system track sensor, or by some combination of these. For specific weapon system and interceptor errors, the mission charts indicate upper and lower limits on the second-pulse burnout time. Ignition of the second pulse anywhere between these bounds leads to a high probability of a successful intercept with the earliest ignition time generally producing the highest average speed. These bounds are a function of 1) the KKV divert capability, 2) the weapon system and interceptor errors, 3) the fraction of second-pulse impulse allotted for midcourse correction divert, and 4) the propellant split between the first and second pulse. As the total mission time to intercept increases, the difference between the upper and lower bounds decreases until the mission becomes infeasible. The system errors and the pulse split determine the maximum feasible mission time. For a specific set of errors, there is a pulse split that optimizes the maximum feasible mission time and intercept range when all system constraints are considered. The maximum feasible intercept range is extremely sensitive to the system errors.
Alternative Splicing Suggests Extended Function of PEX26 in Peroxisome Biogenesis

Matsumoto and colleagues recently identified PEX26 as the gene responsible for complementation group 8 of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders and showed that it encodes an integral peroxisomal membrane protein with a single C-terminal transmembrane domain and a cytosolic N-terminus that interacts with the PEX1/PEX6 heterodimer through direct binding to the latter. They proposed that PEX26 functions as the peroxisomal docking factor for the PEX1/PEX6 heterodimer. Here, we identify new PEX26 disease alleles, localize the PEX6-binding domain to the N-terminal half of the protein (aa 29–174), and show that, at the cellular level, PEX26 deficiency impairs peroxisomal import of both PTS1- and PTS2-targeted matrix proteins. Also, we find that PEX26 undergoes alternative splicing to produce several splice forms—including one, PEX26-Δex5, that maintains frame and encodes an isoform lacking the transmembrane domain of full-length PEX26 (PEX26-FL). Despite its cytosolic location, PEX26-Δex5 rescues peroxisome biogenesis in PEX26-deficient cells as efficiently as does PEX26-FL. To test our observation that a peroxisomal location is not required for PEX26 function, we made a chimeric protein (PEX26-Mito) with PEX26 as its N-terminus and the targeting segment of a mitochondrial outer membrane protein (OMP25) at its C-terminus. We found PEX26-Mito localized to the mitochondria and directed all detectable PEX6 and a fraction of PEX1 to this extraperoxisomal location; yet PEX26-Mito retains the full ability to rescue peroxisome biogenesis in PEX26-deficient cells. On the basis of these observations, we suggest that a peroxisomal localization of PEX26 and PEX6 is not required for their function and that the interaction of PEX6 with PEX1 is dynamic. This model predicts that, once activated in an extraperoxisomal location, PEX1 moves to the peroxisome and completes the function of the PEX1/6 heterodimer.
SU-E-T-217: Intrinsic Respiratory Gating in Small Animal CT

Purpose: Preclinical animal models of lung cancer can provide a controlled test-bed for testing dose escalation or function-based-treatment-planning studies. However, to extract lung function, i.e. ventilation, one needs to be able to image the lung at different phases of ventilation (in-hale / ex-hale). Most respiratory-gated imaging using micro-CT involves using an external ventilator and surgical intervention limiting the utility in longitudinal studies. A new intrinsic respiratory retrospective gating method was developed and tested in mice. Methods: A fixed region of interest (ROI) that covers the diaphragm was selected on all projection images to estimate the mean intensity (M). The mean intensity depends on the projection angle and diaphragm position. A 3-point moving average (A) of consecutive M values: Mpre, Mcurrent and Mpost, was calculated to be subtracted from Mcurrent. A fixed threshold was used to enable amplitude based sorting into 4 different phases of respiration. Images at full-inhale and end-exhale phases of respiration were reconstructed using the open source OSCaR. Lung volumes estimated at the 2 phases of respiration were validated against literature values. Results: Intrinsic retrospective gating was accomplished without the use of any external breathing waveform. While projection images were acquired at 360 different angles. Only 138 and 104 projections were used to reconstruct images at full-inhale and end-exhale. This often results in non-uniform under-sampled angular projections leading to some minor streaking artifacts. The calculated expiratory, inspiratory and tidal lung volumes correlated well with the values known from the literature. Conclusion: Our initial result demonstrates an intrinsic gating method that is suitable for flat panel cone beam small animal CT systems. Reduction in streaking artifacts can be accomplished by oversampling the data or using iterative reconstruction methods. This initial experience will enable freebreathing small animal micro-CT imaging to fuel longitudinal studies of lung function.
Pseudo-inverse multivariate/matrix-variate distributions

Abstract The Moore–Penrose inverse of a singular or nonsquare matrix is not only existent but also unique. In this paper, we derive the Jacobian of the transformation from such a matrix to the transpose of its Moore–Penrose inverse. Using this Jacobian, we investigate the distribution of the Moore–Penrose inverse of a random matrix and propose the notion of pseudo-inverse multivariate/matrix-variate distributions. For arbitrary multivariate or matrix-variate distributions, we can develop the corresponding pseudo-inverse distributions. In particular, we present pseudo-inverse multivariate normal distributions, pseudo-inverse Dirichlet distributions, pseudo-inverse matrix-variate normal distributions and pseudo-inverse Wishart distributions.
Language Contraction, Revitalization, and Irish Women

In Dublin, Ireland, the gendering of Irish Sign Language (ISL) is extreme among women born before 1931 and men born before 1946. These groups are products of two gendersegregated residential schools for the deaf. The language differences emerging from the schools were sufficiently divergent to obscure communication by gender. Yet, as adults, rather than embrace their gendered language differences, most women and men sought ways to eradicate them. Essentially the eradication process nearly eliminated the female form of signing in favor of the male form. Most people in this gendered linguistic generation have followed this cultural convention, but not everyone. This article considers individual and community language practices that challenge, and in some cases subvert, existing cultural norms of gendered linguistic behavior leading both to language contraction and to more recent attempts to revitalize the female form of ISL.
Advances in multiple scale kernel particle methods

A novel approach to multiresolution analysis based on reproducing kernel particle methods (RKPM) and wavelets is presented. The concepts of reproducing conditions, discrete convolutions, and multiple scale analysis are described. By means of a newly proposed semidiscrete Fourier analysis, RKPM is further elaborated in the frequency domain, and the interpolation estimate and the convergence of Galerkin solutions are given. The elimination of a mesh, combined with the properties of the dilation and translation of a window function, multiresolution analysis, wavelet-based error estimators, and edge detection brings about a new generation of hp adaptive methods. In addition, this class of multiple scale reproducing kernel particle methods is particularly suitable for problems with large deformations, high gradients, and high modal density. The current application areas of RKPM include structural acoustics, structural dynamics, elastic-plastic deformation, computational fluid dynamics and hyperelasticity.
Alternate expressions for the near-tip in-plane mixed-mode K-field stresses and displacements

Abstract Alternate expressions for the angular variation of the K-field stresses and displacements around a sharp-crack embedded in an elastic medium subjected to an in-plane mixed-mode (mode-1 and -2) loading are presented. The expressions are derived in terms of the mode-mixity-angle instead of superposing the pure-mode fields. The alternate expressions are derived using complex potentials and the Kolosov–Muskhelishvili method. The mixed-mode stress and displacement fields are presented in the crack-tip Cartesian and polar coordinates. We have obtained the crack-growth-angle in terms of the mixity-angle assuming the maximum hoop- and principal-stress criterions.
eXtreme Chirped Pulse Amplification using Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Implementing a method called “eXtreme Chirped Pulse Amplification”, we demonstrate an all-semiconductor high power mode-locked semiconductor laser system generating ∼1.4kW record peak power.
Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Repair With Partial Allograft, and 10-Year Follow-Up

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are rare congenital or acquired defects that frequently are manifested by rupture into adjacent cardiac structures. Most aneurysms involve a portion of the sinus, and can be surgically treated with primary or patch closure of the defect. We present a case report of a giant aneurysm that involved the entire noncoronary sinus of Valsalva, and describe a previously unreported technique with 10-year follow-up using a partial aortic allograft to reconstruct the abnormal aortic sinus, preserving the native valve leaflets and normal sinus geometry and averting use of prosthetic materials.
Petrogenesis of primitive and evolved basalts in a cooling Moon: Experimental constraints from the youngest known lunar magmas

Abstract We have conducted high-temperature experiments over a range of pressures to constrain the petrogenesis of the youngest sampled lunar magmas, which have contrasting primitive and evolved compositions. Our results indicate that at ∼3 Ga, melting still occurred within the same mantle depth range that produced crystalline mare basalts for the previous ∼1 Ga, although our data cannot support or confirm that the shallowest extents of melting moved deeper into the mantle by ∼3 Ga, as is predicted by most thermal evolution models. Furthermore, melting still occurred in regions with low abundances of heat-producing elements. Basaltic lunar meteorite NEA 003A has some of the lowest abundances of incompatible trace elements among all mare basalts and no negative Eu anomaly. Our experiments show that NEA 003A is multiply saturated with olivine and low-Ca pyroxene on its liquidus at ∼1.1 GPa (∼215 km) and ∼1330 °C. If the primitive NEA 003A liquid composition is a minimally-modified melt, the relatively low Mg# of its source region (73–75), its lack of a Eu anomaly, and its chondritic initial Nd isotopic composition indicate its source region likely escaped mixing during mantle overturn with later-stage magma ocean cumulates that formed after plagioclase saturation. This condition would require the sources of the ultramafic glasses to have experienced cumulate mixing, or for assimilation of later-stage magma ocean cumulates by the ultramafic glass parental magmas before eruption in order to account for their higher Mg#'s and deeper negative Eu anomalies. Alternatively, NEA 003A may have undergone some fractional crystallization, in which case its more primitive source region would be deeper than 215 km and may approach the depth range of the ultramafic glass source regions. Iron- and incompatible trace element-rich basaltic lunar meteorites LAP 02205, NWA 032/479, and NWA 4734 have nearly identical bulk compositions and have a multiple saturation point on their high pressure liquidus at
Current-voltage characteristics of ultrafine-grained ferroelectric Pb(Zr, Ti)O 3 thin films

Room-temperature current-voltage dependence of ultrafine-grained ferroelectric Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 thin films has been investigated. Both strong varistor type behavior and space charge limited conduction (SCLC) were observed. Differences in the current-voltage characteristics are attributed to differences in the nature of the grain boundaries resulting from variations in processing conditions. The strong varistor type behavior is believed to be due to the presence of highly resistive grain boundaries and thus may be termed grain boundary limited conduction (GBLC). A double-depletion-layer barrier model is used to describe the origin of high resistivity of the grain boundaries. It is suggested that the barrier height varies significantly with the applied field due to the nonlinear ferroelectric polarization, and that the barrier is overcome by tunneling at sufficiently high fields. In some other cases, the resistivity of the grain boundaries is comparable to that of the grains, and therefore the intrinsically heterogeneous films degenerate into quasi-homogeneous media, to which the SCLC theory is applicable. As such, a unified grain boundary modeling reconciles different types of conduction mechanisms in the ultrafine-grained ferroelectric thin films. This grain boundary modeling also well accounts for some other dc-related phenomena observed, including abnormal current-voltage dependencies, remanent polarization effect, electrode interface effect, and unusual charging and discharging transients. In addition, many other electrical properties of the ferroelectric films may be better understood by taking the effect of grain boundaries into account.
Noise Trading and Market Efficiency: The Role of Passive Investors

Due to significant agency costs, so called “passive investors” are more likely to engage in speculation and positive feedback trading than in actual passive investment strategies. As a result, all other markets participants engage in some form of willing/unwilling positive feedback trading, which is likely to produce significant and persistent price bubbles. The suspected behavior of “passive investors” is, we argue, the major reason why markets might not be efficient.
An engineering method for computing the dynamic characteristics of case-tube heaters

An analytical procedure for computing the dynamic characteristics of steam case-tube heaters is proposed. The technique is illustrated by an example.
Rapid Assessment of Quality Parameters in Cocoa Butter Using ATR-MIR Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis

The development of sensitive and robust screening tool(s) for assuring the quality of incoming raw materials would supplement the assurances provided by food manufacturer vendor auditing programs. Our aim was to evaluate the ability of attenuated total reflectance mid-infrared (ATR-MIR) spectroscopy in combination with multivariate analysis as a screening tool for the diverse cocoa butter supply. Forty different cocoa butter samples encompassing an acceptable range of compositional variability for the chocolate industry were included. Cocoa butters were characterized for their melt characteristics (melting heat), triacylglycerol content and fatty acid composition (GC-FAME). Soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used for classification and quantification analysis. SIMCA classified all cocoa butters in distinct clusters in a 3-dimensional space but no sample clustering patterns were associated with melt characteristics. Spectral differences responsible for the separation of classes were attributed to stretching vibrations of the ester (–C=O) linkage (1,660–1,720 cm−1). PLSR models showed correlation coefficients >0.93 and prediction errors (SECV) of 1.5 units for melt characteristics, 0.2–0.3 and 0.4–0.8 % for major fatty acids and triacylglycerols, respectively. ATR-MIR spectroscopy combined with pattern recognition analysis provides robust models for characterization and determination of cocoa butter composition.
Sensitivity of Structural Models for Noncollocated Control Systems

This paper investigates sensitivity properties of structural models pertinent to robust control system design. Special emphasis is put on noncollocated systems. Sensitivity analysis to parameter variations and boundary conditions is performed on a representative example of a pinned-free beam with end-point mass and inertia and sensors distributed along the beam. The analysis utilizes a transfer matrix representation, which provides a convenient form for demonstrating the sensitivity of zeros and poles to sensors locations and system parameters. Investigation of the applicability of different structural models is also carried out. Comparison of the Euler-Bernoulli theory and Timoshenko beam theory is discussed and the range of parameters for which each theory is applicable is demonstrated.
Simulation method for potential and charge distributions in space charge dominated ion sources

Abstract A numerical simulation method for solving the space charge problem in unipolar, space charge dominated ion sources was developed. The general idea is to divide up the ion source into a grid of discrete cells. The flow of ions (charge) through this cell system is then simulated in time. Information is obtained on space charge and electric field distributions throughout the source. This allows for the calculation of both sensitivity and ion drift times. Time dependent as well as steady problems can be studied with the method. Results for a corona atmospheric pressure ionization and an electrospray ion source are presented. The imaging properties of ion transport in space charge dominated fields are discussed.
Non-rigid object localization and segmentation using eigenspace representation

This paper presents a novel non-rigid object localization and segmentation algorithm using an eigenspace representation. Previous approaches to eigenspace methods for object tracking use vectorized image regions as observations, whereas the proposed method uses each individual pixel as an observation. Localization using the pixel-wise eigenspace representation is robust to noise and occlusions. A unique feature of the approach is that it permits segmentation in addition to localization. Localization and segmentation are carried out by deriving a similarity function in the eigenspace. The algorithm is tested on synthetic and real world tracking examples to demonstrate the performance.
Active and Passive Immunotherapy for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Immunotherapeutic strategies to combat neurodegenerative disorders have galvanized the scientific community since the first dramatic successes in mouse models recreating aspects of Alzheimer disease (AD) were reported. However, initial human trials of active amyloid-beta (Aβ) vaccination were halted early because of a serious safety issue: meningoencephalitis in 6% of subjects. Nonetheless, some encouraging preliminary data were obtained, and rapid progress has been made toward developing alternative, possibly safer active and passive immunotherapeutic approaches for several neurodegenerative conditions. Many of these are currently in human trials for AD. Despite these advances, our understanding of the essential mechanisms underlying the effects seen in preclinical models and human subjects is still incomplete. Antibody-induced phagocytosis of pathological protein deposits, direct antibody-mediated disruption of aggregates, neutralization of toxic soluble proteins, a shift in equilibrium toward efflux of...
‘You’ve got a friend’: African American men’s cross-sex feminist friendships and their influence on perceptions of masculinity and women

Twenty African American men’s cross-sex feminist friendships were studied using the self-expansion model of close personal relationships. Narrative analyses supported the self-expansion model by revealing how feminist insider perspectives shaped men’s constructions of masculinity and their interactions with women. Specifically, two themes emerged from the men’s narratives concerning the advantages of these friendships, namely their affirmative quality and strong emotional bonds. A cognitive dissonance theme also emerged when a man did not act in ways consistent with feminist insider perspectives. Furthermore, a practising ground theme emerged when he resolved the dissonance by changing his behavior. Cross-sex feminist friendships often transcend prevailing expectations about man-woman relationships and offer support to men who challenge mainstreams ideas about masculinity, women, and gender relations.
γ-Tocotrienol and γ-Tocopherol Are Primarily Metabolized to Conjugated 2-(β-carboxyethyl)-6-Hydroxy-2,7,8-Trimethylchroman and Sulfated Long-Chain Carboxychromanols in Rats

The metabolism of gamma-tocotrienol (gamma-TE) and gamma-tocopherol (gamma-T) was investigated in human A549 cells and in rats. Similar to gamma-T, A549 cells metabolized gamma-TE to sulfated 9'-, 11'-, and 13'-carboxychromanol and their unconjugated counterparts. After 72-h incubation with the cells, 90% of long-chain carboxychromanols in the culture media from gamma-TE, but 88% 2-(beta-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (gamma-CEHC), the terminal beta-oxidation metabolite, was in the conjugated form in the plasma. In all groups, conjugated gamma-CEHC accounted for >75% of total metabolites, whereas free CEHC was a minor metabolite. At 10 mg/kg, the plasma concentrations of total metabolites from gamma-TE-supplemented rats were higher (P < 0.05) than those from gamma-T-fed rats. These results demonstrate that in rats, conjugation such as sulfation occurs parallel to beta-oxidation in the liver and is quantitatively important to vitamin E metabolism. Conjugated long-chain carboxychromanols may be novel excreted metabolites during supplementation. Our data also provide in vivo evidence that gamma-TE is more extensively metabolized than gamma-T.
Stroke risk in women: the role of menopause and hormone therapy

Although women have a lower risk of stroke during middle age than men, the menopausal transition is a time when many women develop cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, during the 10 years after menopause, the risk of stroke roughly doubles in women. Endogenous oestrogen concentrations decline by 60% during the menopausal transition, leading to a relative androgen excess, which could contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk factors in women. Earlier onset of menopause might affect the risk of stroke, but the data are not clear. Because of the stroke risk associated with it, hormone therapy is recommended only for treatment of vasomotor symptoms, and some formulations might be safer than others. More research is needed to understand which women are at greatest stroke risk during midlife and to identify the safest formulation, dose, and duration of hormone therapy that can be used to treat vasomotor symptoms without increasing the risk of stroke.
PCR detection of malaria parasites in desiccated Anopheles mosquitoes is uninhibited by storage time and temperature

Reliable methods to preserve mosquito vectors for malaria studies are necessary for detecting Plasmodium parasites. In field settings, however, maintaining a cold chain of storage from the time of collection until laboratory processing, or accessing other reliable means of sample preservation is often logistically impractical or cost prohibitive. As the Plasmodium infection rate of Anopheles mosquitoes is a central component of the entomological inoculation rate and other indicators of transmission intensity, storage conditions that affect pathogen detection may bias malaria surveillance indicators. This study investigated the effect of storage time and temperature on the ability to detect Plasmodium parasites in desiccated Anopheles mosquitoes by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Laboratory-infected Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes were chloroform-killed and stored over desiccant for 0, 1, 3, and 6 months while being held at four different temperatures: 28, 37, -20 and -80°C. The detection of Plasmodium DNA was evaluated by real-time PCR amplification of a 111 base pair region of block 4 of the merozoite surface protein. Varying the storage time and temperature of desiccated mosquitoes did not impact the sensitivity of parasite detection. A two-way factorial analysis of variance suggested that storage time and temperature were not associated with a loss in the ability to detect parasites. Storage of samples at 28°C resulted in a significant increase in the ability to detect parasite DNA, though no other positive associations were observed between the experimental storage treatments and PCR amplification. Cold chain maintenance of desiccated mosquito samples is not necessary for real-time PCR detection of parasite DNA. Though field-collected mosquitoes may be subjected to variable conditions prior to molecular processing, the storage of samples over an inexpensive and logistically accessible desiccant will likely ensure accurate assessment of malaria parasite presence without diminishing PCR-detection of parasites in mosquitoes stored for at least six months.
Startle reflex potentiation during aversive picture viewing as an indicator of trait fear.

Measures of fearfulness and measures of psychopathy show positive and negative associations, respectively, with startle reflex potentiation during unpleasant picture viewing. We tested the hypothesis that a common bipolar trait dimension underlies these differing associations. Blink responses to noise probes were recorded during pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures in 88 undergraduates assessed with a battery of self-report scales indexing fear and psychopathy/fearlessness. A significant positive association was found between an omnibus index of fear, consisting of scores on the first component from a principal components analysis of these various scales, and startle potentiation during aversive picture viewing. This association was most robust, across participants overall and within gender subgroups, for scenes that were most directly threatening. Implications for psychophysiological research on individual differences and psychopathology are discussed. Descriptors: Startle blink reflex, Affective pictures, Individual differences, Fear The potentiation of the startle blink reflex in the presence of aversive stimuli is a well-documented finding in both animal and human literatures. Research with humans has provided evidence of individual differences in the magnitude of this effect. One line of research has demonstrated positive associations between the degree of aversive startle potentiation and measures of dispositional fear and negative affect. Another has demonstrated negative associations between the magnitude of aversive startle potentiation and psychopathy (psychopathic personality), a clinical construct believed to entail deficits in fear reactivity. The current study was undertaken to bridge these two lines of research by investigating the relationship between affective modulation of the startle blink reflex and a bipolar trait dimension defined by measures of dispositional fear on one hand and measures of fearlessness/psychopathy on the other. The primary study hypothesis was that aversive startle potentiation would serve as a continuous physiological indicator of this bipolar trait dimension.
An X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Cheddar Cheese

Summary An attempt has been made to follow the changes which occur during the ripening of Cheddar cheese by x-ray diffraction analysis. The diffraction pattern of the cheese protein after aging is markedly different from the pattern of the fresh cheese. The pattern appears to be due to crystalline material, although the identification of the material has not been made as yet. Standard patterns were made and "d" spacing values were calculated for the amino acids occurring in casein in order to determine whether the characteristic pattern was due to an amino acid of low solubility. By the extraction of the aged cheese in hydrated n-butyl alcohol, amino acids were extracted from the cheese and identified. Leucine and isoleucine were obtained from cheese 24 hours after being made. Tyrosine, and probably tryptophane were also identified in the extract obtained from ripened cheese. A long interplanar spacing of 39.7A was obtained from cheese protein. This spacing represents the length of a side chain from the main chain and corresponds closely with the radius of the casein particle which Svedberg determined to be 41.7A to 59.9A.
JAK2 kinase inhibitors and myeloproliferative disorders.

Purpose of review The pathophysiology of Philadelphia-chromosome negative myeloproliferative disorders has significantly advanced with the discovery of JAK2V617F. The prevalence of JAK2V617F mutation has made it a much anticipated target for inhibition; this review will update and assess progress. Recent findings Many agents have been studied in preclinical trials, of which few have entered clinical trials. Data from the clinical trials are limited and mostly in the form of abstracts and reviews. Summary The prevalence of the JAK2V617F mutation in the classic Philadelphia-chromosome negative myeloproliferative disorders has made it a much anticipated target for inhibition. Present in greater than 90% of patients with polycythemia vera and approximately 50% of patients with essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis, it has been hoped that targeted inhibition of JAK2V617F would achieve similar disease control as imatinib mesylate has produced in chronic myeloid leukemia. However, JAK2V617F in the Philadelphia-chromosome negative myeloproliferative disorders, unlike bcr/abl tyrosine kinase in chronic myeloid leukemia, is not a causative but rather a secondary somatic mutation. As the JAK2 inhibitors move into phase III clinical trials, their efficacy and role in therapy is becoming clearer; however, there are still many questions needing answers.
Low power coordination in wireless ad-hoc networks

Distributed wireless ad-hoc networks (DWANs) pose numerous technical challenges. Among them, two are widely considered as crucial: autonomous localized operation and minimization of energy consumption. We address the fundamental problem of how to maximize the life-time of the network by using only local information while preserving network connectivity. We start by introducing the care-free sleep (CS) theorem that provides provably optimal necessary and sufficient conditions for a node to turn off its radio while ensuring that global connectivity is not affected. The CS theorem is the basis for an efficient localized algorithm that decides which node will turn its radio off, and for how long. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated using numerous simulations of the performance of the algorithm over a wide range of network parameters.
Parallel Paths to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes: Evidence Matters

Gaps and disparities in delivery of heart failure education by nurses and performance in accomplishing self-care behaviors by patients with advanced heart failure may be factors in clinical decompensation and unplanned consumption of health care. Is nurse-led education effectively delivered before hospital discharge? Nurse leaders must understand the strength of nurses' knowledge base related to self-care principles and important barriers to best practice. Nurses may not be comfortable teaching patients about dry weight, meal planning, heart failure medications, or progressive steps of activity and exercise. Further, clinical nurses may not have time to provide in-depth education to patients before discharge. Equally important, research is needed to learn about factors that enhance patients' adherence to heart failure self-care behaviors, because adherence to recommendations of national, evidence-based, heart failure guidelines improves clinical outcomes. Thus, nurses and patients are on parallel paths related to setting the foundation for improved self-care adherence in advanced heart failure. Through research, we found that nurses were not adequately prepared as heart failure educators and that patients did not believe they were able to control heart failure. In 2 educational intervention studies that aimed to help patients understand that they could control fluid management and follow a strict daily fluid limit, patients had improved clinical outcomes. Thus, misperceptions about heart failure can be overcome with interventions that move beyond communicating "what" self-care behaviors are recommended. Research results reflect that evidence matters! Systems and processes are needed to support nurses' knowledge, comfort, and frequency in delivering self-care education before discharge, increase the accuracy of patients' beliefs about controlling heart failure, and enhance patients' desire to adhere to guideline-recommended heart failure self-care behaviors. This article describes the development of the parallel paths of nurse and patient programs of research and explores translation of findings into practice and development of clinical translational research.
Cytomorphologic Findings of Malignant Mesothelioma in FNA Biopsies and Touch Preps of Core Biopsies

Background Given the lack of recent literature regarding the aspiration cytology of immunohistochemically confirmed malignant mesothelioma (MM), we were interested in reviewing the experience of our institution and establishing useful morphologic criteria. Methods Seventeen aspiration and touch preparation specimens with a diagnosis of MM obtained between 2002-2013 were reviewed along with 20 cases of adenocarcinoma and 16 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. The utility of a number of morphologic features was evaluated. Results In most cases of MM, a consistent pattern emerged. Aspirates and touch preps were cellular with irregularly shaped 2 and 3 dimensional clusters. The individual cells were predominantly angulated and had dense cytoplasm with eccentric nuclei. In every case, a minority of tumor cells contained prominent microvacuoles. The chromatin pattern tended to be fine with small nucleoli. While most cases were cytologically monotonous, five cases displayed striking pleomorphism and three cases contained occasional large atypical cells. Two cases contained metachromatic background material. Features which were most useful in discriminating MM from adenocarcinoma were angulated cell shape(P = 0.0002), dense cytoplasm(P = 0.0001), and cytoplasmic microvacuoles(P = 0.0001). In our material, cases of squamous cell carcinoma were often difficult to distinguish from MM. Useful discriminatory features present in squamous cell carcinoma included ink dot nuclei(P = 0.0003), a “dirty” cystic, necrotic background (P = 0.0027) and tumor balls with peripheral spindling(P = 0.0041). Conclusion Most cases of MM have a consistent appearance in core biopsy touch preps and FNAs. Distinguishing MM from adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma can be facilitated by evaluating a few key morphologic features. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:14–19. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ubiquitous data management in knowledge sifter via data-DNA

This paper proposes to model and represent an object's digital persona by means of a conceptual model that uses fragments of schemata that are termed data-DNA. The object may be a person, place or thing of interest; it may be either physical or virtual; and it supports interactions between and among objects. The goal is to provide a framework in which to represent an object's context, capabilities, preferences and intent as it interacts with other objects in both the physical and virtual worlds it inhabits.
Set of Secondary Emission Standards for Calibration of the Spectral Responsivity in Emission Spectroscopy

Technical spectra are reported for a series of six secondary emission standards based on the commercially available fluorophors: tryptophan, alpha-NPO, tetraphenylbutadiene, coumarin 153, DCM, and LDS 751. These spectra cover the wavelength range between 300 and 800 nm with significant spectral overlap and conform to the requirements of secondary emission standards. Standard emission spectra are determined by averaging the technical spectra obtained from three independently calibrated fluorescence spectrometers. A method for generating the wavelength-dependent correction file by using these standards is outlined. Comparison to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS)-reported quinine sulfate spectrum illustrates the accuracy of both the emission standards and the method of generating a complete emission correction file. With the use of the standards and method reported here, the accuracy of the emission correction is estimated to be better than 10% for the entire wavelength range and significantly better over the wavelength region of a typical spectrum.
Ultrasensitive laser measurements without tears

Several easily implemented devices for doing ultrasensitive optical measurements with noisy lasers are presented. They are all-electronic noise cancellation circuits that largely eliminate excess laser intensity noise as a source of measurement error and are widely applicable. Shot-noise-limited optical measurements can now easily be made at baseband with noisy lasers. These circuits are especially useful in situations where strong intermodulation effects exist, such as current-tuned diode laser spectroscopy. These inexpensive devices ~parts cost ’$10! can be optimized for particular applications such as wideband or differential measurements. Although they cannot eliminate phase noise effects, they can reduce amplitude noise by 55‐70 dB or more, even in unattended operation, and usually achieve the shot-noise limit. With 1-Hz signal-to-noise ratios of 150‐160 dB, they allow performance equal or superior to a complex heterodyne system in many cases, while using much simpler dual-beam or homodyne approaches. Although these devices are related to earlier differential and ratiometric techniques, their noise cancellation performance is much better. They work well at modulation frequencies from dc to several megahertz and should be extensible to ’100 MHz. The circuits work by subtracting photocurrents directly, with feedback applied outside the signal path to continuously adjust the subtraction for perfect balance; thus the excess noise and spurious modulation ideally cancel at all frequencies, leaving only the shot noise. The noise cancellation bandwidth is independent of the feedback bandwidth; it depends only on the speeds of the photodiodes and of the bipolar junction transistors used. Two noise-canceled outputs are available; one is a high-pass filtered voltage proportional to the signal photocurrent and the other is a low-pass filtered voltage related to the log ratio of the signal and comparison photocurrents. For reasonable current densities, the noise floors of the outputs depend only on the shot noise of the signal beam. Four variations on the basic circuit are presented: low noise floor, high cancellation, differential high power, and ratio-only. Emphasis is placed on the detailed operation and design considerations, especially performance extension by compensation of the nonideal character of system components. Experience has shown that some applications advice is required by most users, so that is provided as well. © 1997 Optical Society of America
Identifying Technical Content Training Needs of Georgia Agriculture Teachers

Joerger (2002)emphasized the need for appropriate and timely pre-service and in- service activities for agriculture teachers to ensure that they are properly equipped to contend with changing conditions in agriculture education. The Committee on Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools Board on Agriculture of theNational Research Council (1988)stated “...in-service education programs must be revised and expanded to develop more competent teachers... in and about agriculture” (p. 7). While researchers can agree that appropriate pre-service and in-service training need to be provided to teachers, it is much more difficult to identify what trainings are most appropriate and most needed.
Role of phospholemman phosphorylation sites in mediating kinase-dependent regulation of the Na+-K+-ATPase.

Phospholemman (PLM) is a major target for phosphorylation mediated by both PKA (at Ser68) and PKC (at both Ser63 and Ser68) in the heart. In intact cardiac myocytes, PLM associates with and inhibit...
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LONGITUDINAL FIELD, COUPLED WITH DEPOLARIZATION IN ACTIVATING FROG TWITCH MUSCLES

Effective excitation, preceding the mechanical response in frog twitch muscles, involves two distinct events: depolarization of the excitable membrane and the flow of internal currents. To distinguish between the effects of these two potential factors in activation of the contractile machinery, experiments ought to be conducted in which one or the other is excluded. Our experiments are designed to distinguish between these effects by indirect methods. Depolarization in a longitudinal electric field can be expected to be greatest at the ends where current leaves the muscle fibers (space constant at [K] = 16 mM/liter is >1 mm.), whereas the internal longitudinal current is known to be greatest in the middle portion. Depolarization, therefore, should affect the ends more strongly and internal current the middle portion. Our experiments show that non-propagating frog twitch muscles shorten, during isotonic work, along their whole length and not only at their ends, when effectively stimulated in a longitudinal A.C. field. At a field strength about twice the new threshold value (at [K]o = 16 mM) shortening is distinctly greater in the middle portion of the muscle than at the ends. The muscles, although temporarily non-propagating, remain intact throughout the experiment, as demonstrated by complete recovery after repolarization. These findings may be taken as an indication that internal currents are more directly linked to activation than is depolarization, but the latter is an essential priming step, which must precede or coincide with effective current flow.
Bicarbonate exchangers SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 are localized at the apical membrane of porcine vas deferens epithelium.

The goal of this study was to test for expression of HCO3− exchangers SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 in primary cultures of porcine vas deferens epithelial cells (1°PVD) and native porcine vas deferens. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that mRNA coding for SLC26A6 was six times more abundant than mRNA coding for SLC26A3 in 1°PVD cells. Western blot analyses combined with surface biotinylation of 1°PVD demonstrated SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 immunoreactivities in whole-cell lysates and apical surfaces of monolayers. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) of the 1°PVD cell monolayers demonstrated that SLC26A3 immunoreactivity was primarily in the apical region but present throughout the basal-apical cellular axis, whereas SLC26A6 immunoreactivity was present in the apical region and sometimes accumulated in the nuclear region. LSCM also demonstrated SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 immunoreactivities present along the entire apical lining of the native porcine vas deferens epithelium and in basal cells. The patterns and apparent abundance of SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 immunoreactivities in the proximal vas deferens were not different from the corresponding immunoreactivities in the distal region. There is no evidence of preferential expression of SLC26A3 or SLC26A6 in any portion of the vas deferens, as has been proposed for epithelia that secrete HCO3− in other duct systems. Thus, vas deferens epithelia express transporters throughout the duct that can contribute to rapid alkalinization of the luminal contents as it has been demonstrated in vivo.
So Nice to See You Again: Physician Continuity and Outcomes for Heart Failure∗

In this issue of JACC: Heart Failure , Sidhu et al. [(1)][1] set out to determine whether physician continuity improves outcomes for patients with heart failure (HF) treated and released from the emergency department (ED). They report that, indeed, HF patients who are seen by a familiar physician
Theoretical Effects of Mortality Fear on Environmental Regulatory Non-Compliance

Empirical studies from the field of existential psychology point to the possibility that the fear of death could be contributing to a lack of compliance with environmental regulations. A key theory within the field of experimental existential psychology, Terror Management Theory, has shown that reminders of mortality affect a broad range of behaviours; in many cases including activities that have little or no logical connection to death. Studies in this area have also shown that increased awareness of death can be triggered by a range of events, again, some seemingly unrelated to mortality. Terror Management Theory has been applied to other non-compliance behaviours, and its potential links with environmental regulatory non- compliance warrant investigation. This paper sets out a number of pathways by which the fear of death may be a factor in primary producer environmental regulatory non-compliance, together with examples of empirical studies which support the validity of each component of these paths.
Computational homogenization at extreme scales

Abstract Multi-scale simulations at extreme scales in terms of both physical length scales and computational resources are presented. In this letter, we introduce a hierarchically parallel computational homogenization solver that employs hundreds of thousands of computing cores and resolves O ( 10 5 ) in material length scales (from O ( cm ) to O ( 100 nm ) ). Simulations of this kind are important in understanding the multi-scale essence of many natural and synthetically made materials. Thus, we present a simulation consisting of 53.8 Billion finite elements with 28.1 Billion nonlinear equations that is solved on 393,216 computing cores (786,432 threads). The excellent parallel performance of the computational homogenization solver is demonstrated by a strong scaling test from 4,096 to 262,144 cores. A fully coupled multi-scale damage simulation shows a complex crack profile at the micro-scale and the macroscopic crack tunneling phenomenon. Such large and predictive simulations are an important step towards Virtual Materials Testing and can aid in development of new material formulations with extreme properties. Furthermore, the high computational efficiency of our computational homogenization solver holds great promise for utilizing the next generation of exascale parallel computing platforms that are expected to accelerate computations through orders of magnitude increase in parallelism rather than speed of each processor.