cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-piece Cubic Spline Functions

.M Prenter defines a cubic Spline function in an interval [a, b] as a piecewise cubic polynomial which is twice continuously differentiable in the entire interval [a, b]. The smooth cubic spline functions fitting the given data are the most popular spline functions and when used for interpolation, they do not have the oscillatory behavior which characterized high-degree polynomials. The natural spline has been shown to be unique function possessing the minimum curvature property of all functions interpolating the data and having square integrable second derivative. In this sense, the natural cubic spline is the smoothest function which interpolates the data. Here Two-piece Natural Cubic Spline functions have been defined. An approximation with no indication of its accuracy is utterly valueless. Where an approximation is intended for the general use, one must , of course, go for the trouble of estimating the error as precisely as possible. In this section, an attempt has been made to derive closed form expressions for the error-functions in the case of Two-piece Spline Functions.
PCR-DGGE Analysis of Microbial Community Structure in a Electro-coagulation Membrane Bioreactor

A new submerged electro-coagulation membrane bioreactor( ECMBR) was developed by installing ferric plates on both sides of membrane module in the traditional submerged membrane bioreactor( SMBR) to treat the simulated dying and printing w astew ater w ith active brilliant blue X-BR. The removal efficiency of ECMBR on COD,NH+ 4—N,TN,TP and chroma w as respectively 2. 7%,3. 8%,4. 7%,39. 2% and 28. 6% higher than that of SMBR. The PCR-DGGE analysis w as used to explore the evolution of bacterial community in ECMBR and SMBR. The diversity Shannon index of the w hole bacterial community in ECMBR w as 2. 9, higher than that in SMBR. Moreover,the bacterial community structure underw ent small changes, w ith a 97% similarity in both ECMBR and SMB. The results show ed that it w as possible to enhance the bacterial community diversity by electro-coagulation.
The Role of Pluralistic Ignorance in Internet Abuse

Previous research suggests that computer security countermeasures are effective in preventing computer abuse in organizations. However, the computer abuse problem still persists despite such measures. This study examines the sociological perspective of Internet abuse that explains a causal link between abusive behavior and an actor's psychological state, drawn on theory of pluralistic ignorance (TPI). Pluralistic ignorance is a form of erroneous social interference that is both an immediate cause and a consequence of literal inconsistency between private attitudes and public behavior. Under pluralistic ignorance, mistakenly perceived social norms overwhelm personal attitudes and subsequently lead to overt behavior contrary to an actor's attitude. This new approach contributes to the theoretical body of knowledge on Internet abuse by providing a new angle to view the problem. In addition, it suggests to practitioners that social aspects should be considered, along with technical countermeasures, to reduce ...
The use of unmanned aerial vehicle imagery in intertidal monitoring

Abstract Intertidal monitoring projects are often limited in their practicality because traditional methods such as visual surveys or removal of biota are often limited in the spatial extent for which data can be collected. Here, we used imagery from a small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV) to test their potential use in rocky intertidal and intertidal seagrass surveys in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Images captured by the sUAV in the high, mid and low intertidal strata on a rocky beach and within a seagrass bed were compared to data derived concurrently from observer visual surveys and to images taken by observers on the ground. Observer visual data always resulted in the highest taxon richness, but when observer data were aggregated to the lower taxonomic resolution obtained by the sUAV images, overall community composition was mostly similar between the two methods. Ground camera images and sUAV images yielded mostly comparable community composition despite the typically higher taxonomic resolution obtained by the ground camera. We conclude that monitoring goals or research questions that can be answered on a relatively coarse taxonomic level can benefit from an sUAV-based approach because it allows much larger spatial coverage within the time constraints of a low tide interval than is possible by observers on the ground. We demonstrated this large-scale applicability by using sUAV images to develop maps that show the distribution patterns and patchiness of seagrass.
TweetSight: Enhancing Financial Analysts' Social Media Use

Financial analysts utilize information from heterogeneous sources (e.g. corporate filings, economic indicators, news, and tweets) to generate unique trade ideas through a sensemaking process. In this paper, we seek to understand the role of social media in this process. We conducted a semi-structured interview and identified essential benefits and barriers for the primary social media platform used by the analysts - Twitter. Analysts use Twitter as a query exploration tool, as a bellwether to understand sentiment, and to gauge knock-on effects. Drawing from our findings, we developed four scenarios to guide the design of TweetSight. Finally, we evaluated the design of TweetSight by walking analysts through the prototype. Analysts responded positively to anchoring contextual tweets in news articles to facilitate discovery and exploration of Twitter. Our findings and design implications can be applied more broadly to leverage social media for sensemaking, benefiting various business communities.
Surface characteristics of spleen cell-erythrocyte rosette formation in the grass frog Rana pipiens.

Recent evidence indicates that cooperative cellular interactions may occur in amphibia in response to heterologous erythrocytes (RBC) or hapten-carrier (TNP-RBC) conjugates (1). In addition, the immune armament of the amphibia consists of a variety of cell types distinguishable by their location (2), by differences in their surface immunoglobulin (Ig) (3), their response to mitogens (4), and differences in bouyant density and size (5). Thus there is both functional and physical evidence for the involvement of a spectrum of cell types analogous to those found in mammalian systems. Since cell-cell cooperation has been shown to play a key role in the immune response of birds (6) and mammals (7) it is likely that further study of this phenomenon in lower vertebrates will aid in understanding the ontogeny and phylogeny of this important interaction. Fundamental to this understanding is the necessity for a clear definition of the participating cell types.
A Job Sizing Strategy for High-Throughput Scientific Workflows

The user of a computing facility must make a critical decision when submitting jobs for execution: how many resources (such as cores, memory, and disk) should be requested for each job? If the request is too small, the job may fail due to resource exhaustion; if the request is too large, the job may succeed, but resources will be wasted. This decision is especially important when running hundreds of thousands of jobs in a high throughput workflow, which may exhibit complex, long tailed distributions of resource consumption. In this paper, we present a strategy for solving the job sizing problem: (1) applications are monitored and measured in user-space as they run; (2) the resource usage is collected into an online archive; and (3) jobs are automatically sized according to historical data in order to maximize throughput or minimize waste. We evaluate the solution analytically, and present case studies of applying the technique to high throughput physics and bioinformatics workflows consisting of hundreds of thousands of jobs, demonstrating an increase in throughput of 10-400 percent compared to naive approaches.
Reversible Venting Stitch for Fenestrating Valve-less Glaucoma Shunts.

PURPOSE The purpose of this is to describe a venting stitch modification for valveless glaucoma aqueous shunts and characterize early postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medication use following the modification. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective chart review of 61 sequential patients undergoing Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI)-350 implantation at the Doheny Eye Institute. Twenty-four patients received a glaucoma shunt with venting stitch modification (modified BGI) and 37 patients received an unmodified shunt (BGI-only). IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and number of hypotony cases (intraocular pressure ≤5 mm Hg) were compared between the groups. T-tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS At postoperative-day 1, mean IOP was significantly lower compared with preoperatively in the modified BGI group (14 mm Hg; reduced by 51%; P<0.0001) but not the BGI-only group (27 mm Hg; P=0.06). IOP difference between groups persisted till immediately before tube opening (P=0.005) and fewer IOP-lowering medications needed in the modified BGI group (P<0.0001). One case (4.2%) of postoperative hypotony was encountered with BGI modification, which resolved after the stitch was removed in clinic. CONCLUSIONS The venting stitch valveless shunt modification allows for effective, reliable, and safe control of early postoperative IOP.
Exploring unbalanced growth: Understanding the sectoral structure of the South African economy

Abstract This paper presents empirical evidence in support of an account of unbalanced growth in the South African economy: an interaction between sectorally differentiated total factor productivity growth, with a price elasticity of demand below unity. As sectors with faster TFP growth produce more real output over time, their relative prices fall, with the price changes triggering increases in consumption demand that less than offset the price fall. As a result sectoral shares in nominal output decline. This generates a structural shift of the labour factor input to low productivity sectors over time. Policies targeting returns to labour and wage growth alone will be insufficient to address unemployment. Instead, policies targeting the supply side of the economy and international competitiveness are likely more effective for raising employment and growth. The paper is the first to test the TFP-price elasticity mechanism on emerging market data, and a first explanation of unbalanced growth in South Africa.
In situ deposition vapor monitoring

Abstract: In situ deposition vapor monitoring is essential for accurate control of film thickness and elemental composition during physical vapor deposition. This chapter describes current state-of-the-art vapor sensing technologies and compares their relative merits. We review the quartz crystal microbalance, vapor ionization and optical absorption measurement techniques.
Vulvar condylomas and squamous vestibular micropapilloma. Differences in appearance and response to treatment.

A study of 37 women with typical condylomas and so-called squamous micropapilloma was undertaken to determine their response to systemic interferon and/or podophyllin treatment. Thirty lesions were classified as condylomas and 9 as squamous micropapillomas; two women had both lesions. Twenty-six (87%) of 30 condylomas responded, whereas only 1 (11%) of the 9 cases of micropapillomatosis showed a partial response (P less than .001) to podophyllin and/or interferon. Twenty-six biopsies from condylomas in which sufficient DNA was available for analysis contained human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA sequences that hybridized to an HPV 6 + 16 probe mix under nonstringent conditions. In contrast, HPV DNA sequences could not be detected in any of the nine cases of micropapillomatosis. Immunoperoxidase studies performed on these lesions failed to demonstrate viral capsid antigen. Thus, despite certain similarities in the clinical presentation and microscopic features of condylomas and squamous micropapillomas, it is not clear at present whether micropapillomas are HPV-related lesions.
Family Life Education in the Caribbean Islands: Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago

This chapter explores the challenges encountered in developing, implementing, and evaluating FLE programs in the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Family life education is emergent in the Caribbean with several positive outcomes in parenting, family policy, and Health and Family Life Education. The region could benefit from a more formal development and implementation strategy to effectively reach families.
The Dilemma of Faith in Modern Japanese Literature: Metaphors of Christianity

The first book-length study to explore the links between Christianity and modern Japanese literature, this book analyses the process of conversion of nine canonical authors, unveiling the influence that Christianity had on their self-construction, their oeuvre and, ultimately, the trajectory of modern Japanese literature. Building significantly on previous research, which has treated the intersections of Christianity with the Japanese literary world in only a cursory fashion, this book emphasizes the need to make a clear distinction between the different roles played by Catholicism and Protestantism. In particular, it argues that most Meiji and Taishō intellectuals were exposed to an exclusively Protestant and mainly Calvinist derivation of Christianity and so it is against this worldview that the connections between the two ought to be assessed. Examining the work of authors such as Kitamura Tōkoku, Akutagawa Ryūnosuke and Nagayo Yoshirō, this book also contextualises the spread of Christianity in Japan and challenges the notion that Christian thought was in conflict with mainstream literary schools. As such, this book explains how the dualities experienced by many modern writers were in fact the manifestation of manifold developments which placed Christianity at the center, rather than at the periphery, of their process of self-construction. The Dilemma of Faith in Modern Japanese Literature will be of great interest to students and scholars of Japanese modern literature, as well as those interested in Religious Studies and Japanese Studies more generally.
Ambulatory Bladder Cancer Care in the United States

AbstractIntroduction:Contemporary data on bladder cancer care in the United States are lacking. We used nationally representative data to characterize outpatient bladder cancer care in the U.S. and...
Benching Playground Loneliness: Exploring the Meanings of the Playground Buddy Bench.

The buddy bench, a primary school playground implementation designed to eliminate playground loneliness, provides a potential strategy to ensure more children reap the positive benefits of elementary school recess. Through children’s artwork, in-depth interviews, and playground observation this ethnographic study explores the socially constructed meanings of the buddy bench and their implications. Findings show children’s shared meanings of solidarity, inherent worth, empowerment, and a shift in focus from playground bullies to buddies leads to a perceived climate change on the playground. These shared meanings reshape children’s narratives about themselves, loneliness, and the playground experience in a positive manner. This study’s methodology advances the communication field by demonstrating how scholars can use children’s artwork to identify and define children’s socially constructed meanings.
This Old House: Historical Restoration as a Neighborhood Amenity

Property markets do not fully price the publicâ€™s value for historic homes to correct the intergenerational externality associated with historical preservation. While preservation for future generations often provides the primary motivation for Pigovian subsidies, historical preservation or restoration policies may also have significant contemporary amenity effects. This study exploits unique data on the use of rehabilitative tax credits (RTCs) in Virginia to estimate the extent to which historic property investment generates market externalities for nearby nonhistoric properties. Using a difference-in-differences approach, the results indicate that homes in close proximity to RTCs sell at a premium, with only modest liquidity effects.
Skirmisher: The Life, Times, and Political Career of James B. Weaver

Review of: "Skirmisher: The Life, Times, and Political Career of James B. Weaver," by Robert B. Mitchell.
Genomic Applications in Inherited Genetic Disorders

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has revolutioned clinical diagnostics for inherited disorders. The paradigm shift driven by NGS is rooted in its fundamental advances over Sanger sequencing, primarily its ultrahigh throughput and significantly lower cost per base of sequence. These enhanced capabilities have enabled clinical laboratories to go from testing single genes to simultaneously sequencing tens, hundreds, and thousands of genes, even the whole human genome. This dramatic leap in capabilities has yielded dramatic success stories but is also accompanied by numerous new challenges that will face the field for years to come. Despite its relatively recent emergence, NGS has become the primary diagnostic methodology in academic and commercial laboratories, which are continuing to expand the applications of this technology at a rapid pace. Indeed, it is clear that NGS-based genetic tests are applicable to inherit disorders in all stages of life, from preconception carrier screening to diagnosis of fetal, infant, young child, and adult-onset disorders. This chapter presents a brief description of NGS panels, exome, and whole-genome tests for germline variations and discusses their current clinical applications.
Latinx Digital Memory: Identity Making in Real Time:

Recently, there has been an increase in cultural Latinx social media platforms, leading to a renaissance of digital visual cultural memory work around Latinidad. This work focuses on how Latinx dig...
Abstract P4-07-10: Gene expression profiling in immunophenotypic triple negative breast carcinomas harboring HER-2 amplification identifies tumors with distinct molecular signatures and increased ERBB2 gene expression

Introduction: Breast carcinomas can be classified by hormone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status. HER-2 status is assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Immunophenotypic triple negative breast cancers (iTNBC) may harbor an amplification of HER-2 detected by FISH (iTNBC-FISHAmp) or may be negative by FISH (iTNBC-FISHNeg). The discrepancy between protein expression and gene amplification in these tumors poses relevant questions on tumor biology and for treatment implications. Here we investigate iTNBC-FISHAmp and iTNBC-FISHNeg by gene expression profile. Methods: A total of 40 iTNBC were selected. HER-2 IHC scores (0 or 1+) were annotated. All the tumors were tested by FISH showing 20 iTNBC-FISHAmp and 20 iTNBC-FISHNeg. The tumor morphology was reviewed by 2 pathologists, and stromal tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) were estimated as high (H-sTILs) or low (L-sTILs). The areas of tumor with best cellularity were selected for RNA extraction. Gene expression profiling using a panel of 776 genes across 33 biological signatures was performed using Nanostring technology. Results: ERBB2 gene expression was significantly higher in iTNBC-FISHAmp when compared to iTNBC-FISHNeg tumors (p Citation Format: Paolo Cotzia, Theodore Vougiouklakis, Ursula Andreo, George Jour, Christopher Schwartz, Maryann Kwa, Sylvia Adams, Francisco Esteva, Deborah Axelrod, Freya Schnabel, Matija Snuderl, Farbod Darvishian. Gene expression profiling in immunophenotypic triple negative breast carcinomas harboring HER-2 amplification identifies tumors with distinct molecular signatures and increased ERBB2 gene expression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-07-10.
Young students with Down syndrome: Early longitudinal academic achievement and neuropsychological predictors

Background: We examined longitudinal academic achievement and neuropsychological functioning across two time points in young students with Down syndrome (DS) and a typically developing (TD) compari...
Financial and Business Services : A Guide for the Perplexed

Financial and business services (FABS), including accounting, law and business consulting are crucial for understanding the world economy, and have attracted a lot of interdisciplinary research. Within this literature, however, there is a panoply of concepts that can easily perplex readers, particularly those new to this field of enquiry. This paper a) clarifies terms related to FABS by explaining their origin, evolution and relationships with statistical classifications; b) showcases the variety of data available on FABS, highlighting some important patterns and trends in FABS development; and c) suggests some directions for future research on FABS.
Statins as Host-Directed Therapy for Tuberculosis

Statins are a class of drugs that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis, and are commonly used for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In addition to lowering cholesterol, statins also have broad immunomodulatory properties, and their use has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis. Multiple retrospective cohort studies have shown that statin use is associated with reduced tuberculosis (TB) incidence. Although at clinically recommended drug exposures they lack direct activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), statins enhance the ability of Mtb-infected macrophages to clear intracellular infection by promoting autophagy and phagosome maturation. Recent data have revealed that these biological effects are dependent on inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis and are mediated through the AMPK-mTORC1-TFEB-autophagy axis. Animal model studies have supported a role for statin adjunctive therapy against TB. Thus, the addition of simvastatin to the first-line antitubercular regimen reduced the duration of curative treatment by one month in the standard mouse model of chronic tuberculosis (TB), and pravastatin similarly showed potent, dose-dependent adjunctive activity in this model, as well as in a novel mouse model with human-like necrotic TB lung granulomas. An ongoing randomized clinical trial, Statin Adjunctive Therapy for TB (StAT-TB) is evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and adjunctive activity of pravastatin in patients with drug-susceptible, pulmonary TB.
Post Flywheel Squat Potentiation of Vertical and Horizontal Ground Reaction Force Parameters during Jumps and Changes of Direction

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to determine the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) of vertical and horizontal ground reaction force parameters during jumps and change of direction following flywheel squat exercise using two different flywheel inertias. (2) Methods: Eleven male athletes performed a countermovement jump (CMJ), standing broad jump (SBJ), and “modified 505” change of direction (COD) in a control condition and 6 minutes following three sets of six repetitions of flywheel half squats at one of two inertias (0.029 kg·m2 and 0.061 kg·m2). Peak directional ground reaction force, power, and rate of force development were calculated for each test. (3) Results: Higher inertia flywheel squats were able to acutely enhance CMJ peak vertical force (Bayes Factor (BF10) = 33.5, very strong; δ = 1.66; CI: 0.67, 2.70), whereas lower inertia flywheel squats were able to acutely enhance CMJ peak vertical power (BF10 = 3.65, moderate; δ = 0.93; CI: 0.11, 1.88). The vertical squat exercise induced no PAPE effect on resultant SBJ or horizontal COD ground reaction force parameters, nor were any differences observed between the inertias. (4) Conclusions: Researchers and practitioners should consider the kinetic and kinematic correspondence of a pre-load stimulus to the subsequent sport-specific activity (i.e., flywheel squat to CMJ).
Location, Location, Location: Be Careful Where You Start A Legal War

An effective dispute resolution strategy is dependent on thoughtful analysis of all choices and consideration of their possible outcomes. This article draws on an important lesson-learning decision issued by the Supreme Court of the United States in June 2020 and offers insights on how the location one chooses to commence a lawsuit against a non-signatory to a contract with an arbitration clause can have serious tactical and legal implications for all parties involved. It concludes that, before a party decides to declare legal war against another party in circumstances where an arbitration clause has even the remotest chance of being applicable, it must consider every conceivable avenue that the opposing party could use to require the dispute to be resolved through arbitration. This includes consideration of the applicability of legal doctrines existing in the place of any lawsuit to compel or avoid arbitration, which may vary vastly across legal jurisdictions.
Dietary predictors of prenatal per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances exposure.

Author(s): Eick, Stephanie M; Goin, Dana E; Trowbridge, Jessica; Cushing, Lara; Smith, Sabrina Crispo; Park, June-Soo; DeMicco, Erin; Padula, Amy M; Woodruff, Tracey J; Morello-Frosch, Rachel | Abstract: BackgroundPer- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are commonly detected in a variety of foods and food packaging materials. However, few studies have examined diet as a potential source of PFAS exposure during pregnancy. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined prenatal PFAS levels in relation to self-reported consumption of meats, dairy products, and processed foods during pregnancy.MethodsParticipants were enrolled in the Chemicals in Our Bodies study, a demographically diverse pregnancy cohort in San Francisco, CA (N = 509). Diet was assessed using a self-reported interview questionnaire administered during the second trimester. Participants were asked on average how many times a day, week, or month they ate 11 different foods since becoming pregnant. Responses were categorized as at least once a week or less than once a week and foods were grouped into three categories: processed foods, dairy products, and meats. Twelve PFAS (ng/mL) were measured in second trimester serum samples. We investigated relationships between consumption of individual dairy products, meats, and processed foods and natural log-transformed PFAS using separate linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, and nativity.ResultsSeven PFAS were detected in ≥65% of participants. Consumption of dairy milk and cheese at least once per week was moderately associated with elevated levels of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA) relative to those who ate dairy products less than once week. The strongest associations observed were with PFDeA for dairy milk (β = 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.39) and PFNA for cheese (β = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.41). Eating fish, poultry, and red meat at least once per week was associated with higher levels of perfluoroundecanoic acid, PFDeA, PFNA, and perflucorooctane sulfonic acid.ConclusionsResults indicate that consumption of animal products may contribute to elevated prenatal PFAS levels.
Lateral Buckling of I-Beams Subjected to Unequal End Monment

Experimental investigation into elastic and inelastic lateral buckling of aluminum alloy I-beams subjected to unequal end moments; approximate method for determining inelastic buckling strength of I-beams with this type of loading; suggestions by which nonuniform bending could be handled more accurately in present design specifications.
SmMLCK: Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (vertebrates)

Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (SmMLCK) is the key regulatory enzyme controlling the initiation of smooth muscle contraction. It is associated with the thick filament and is regulated by Ca2+ and calmodulin. In response to increased intracellular concentrations of Ca2+, myosin light chain kinase is activated by calmodulin and phosphorylates the 21 kDa myosin regulatory light chains at S19. This phosphorylation event permits actin to activate myosin ATPase and results in muscle contraction. SmMLCK is monomeric. It is genetically distinct from the MLCK found in skeletal muscle fibers SkMLCK. Rabbit and chicken SmMLCKs are highly conserved with the exception of a 175-residue insert in the N-terminal region of the rabbit sequence. Within this 175-residue insert sequence (residues 112–288), 15 copies of a 12-residue repeat of unknown function were found. This insert sequence accounts for the greater size of rabbit compared to chicken SmMLCK. A number of mutations have been introduced into the chicken SmMLCK cDNA. They are primarily in the autoregulatory domain.
The Push and the Pull: Deficit Models, Ruby Payne, and Becoming a “Warm Demander”

Despite a caveat at the end of A Framework for Understanding Poverty (1996/2005), Ruby Payne’s deficit model has led researchers to criticize her effect on White pre-service teaching students (Smiley and Helfenbein in Multicult Perspect 13(1):5–15, 2011; Gorski in Educ Leadersh 65:32–36, 2008a, Equity Excell Educ 41(1):130–148, b). However, according to the cover, there are over one million copies of Payne’s Framework in circulation and the text remains pervasive in both K-12 school districts and schools of education across the country. As educators will likely encounter the ideas in the Framework, if not the text itself, in their teacher education program or shortly thereafter, this paper suggests that those who teach the teachers explicitly engage in a critical dialogue with the Framework in the hopes of leading educators to deeper understandings of their own positionality in teaching the Other. The authors propose a cultural studies approach that seeks to contextualize both the discursive strategies of the Framework but also to disrupt the “perceived wisdom” of the majoritarian narratives in Payne’s book as illustrated by the "push and pull" experienced by this teacher. By using data and counter-storytelling, teacher educators can lead teacher candidates to observe the struggles of teachers in the field and infuse a more ethical foundation for their interactions with the Other (Solorzano and Yosso in Qual Inq 8(1):23–44, 2002).
Different expression of KCa and KATP channel and relationship to tumor permeability in syngeneic and non-syngeneic rat model

4630 The blood-brain tumor barrier (BTB) significantly limits the delivery of therapeutic drugs to brain tumors. In this study, we investigated the effect of bradykinin, minoxidil sulfate and KCO912 on tumor permeability in syngeneic and non-syngeneic rat models, and the expression of bradykinin 2 (B2) receptor, K Ca channel and K ATP channel in the tumors of these two different models. Tumor permeability in 9L tumor-implanted Fischer or Wistar rats was determined by measuring the uptake of [ 14 C]-sucrose. Expression of B2 receptor, K Ca channel or K ATP channels was assayed by immunostaining and Western blot analysis. Intravenous infusion of bradykinin selectively increase the transport of [ 14 C]-sucrose to 9L tumors significantly in Fischer (17.81 ± 1.15 μg/kgmin) and Wistar (12.54 ± 1.50 μg/kgmin) rats as compared with their respective PBS-treated controls (Fischer, 7.88 ± 0.70 μg/kgmin; Wistar, 6.42 ± 0.42 μg/kgmin). Intravenous infusion of minoxidil sulfate or KCO912 significantly increase tumor permeability in Wistar rats with 9L tumors (11.72 ± 0.90 μg/kgmin, 10.86 ± 1.98 μg/kgmin respectively) when compared with controls, but not in Fischer rats. Immunostaining and Western blot analysis revealed that 9L tumor cells express B2 receptor, K Ca channel and K ATP channel in vitro. After implantation, B2 receptor and K Ca channel were found in 9L tumor of Fischer and Wistar rats. However, a higher level of K ATP channel expression was found in 9L tumors of Wistar rats than that of Fischer rats. This higher K ATP channel expression is consistent with the BTB permeability results. The different expression of K ATP channel in syngeneic and non-syngeneic rat models suggests difference in immunogenecity of 9L tumor cells in the two rat strains may have a role in regulating the expression of K ATP channel while having less impact on K Ca channel expression in tumors. Therefore, the relative expression of these two targets of biochemical modulation of BTB permeability in human glioma may help to develop strategies to enhance delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to brain tumors.
Image sensor with focal plane extraction of polarimetric information

A novel focal plane imaging sensor capable of real time extraction of polarization information is presented. The imaging system consists of a photo array of 256 by 256 linear current mode active pixel sensors (APS). Analog processing circuitry is included at the focal plane for noise suppression and computation of the Stokes parameters. The imaging sensor was fabricated in 0.18/spl mu/m process with 10/spl mu/m pixel pitch and 75% fill factor. An array of micro polarizer is designed and fabricated separately and is mounted on top of the imaging array. Simulation results of the imaging sensor are presented.
Developing a Conceptual Framwork for Modeling Deviant Cyber Flash Mob: A Socio-Computational Approach Leveraging Hypergraph Constructs

In a Flash Mob (FM) a group of people get together in the physical world perform an unpredicted act and disperse quickly. Cyber Flash Mob (CFM) is the cyber manifestation of flash mob coordinated primarily using social media. Deviant Cyber Flash Mob (or, DCFM) is a special case of CFM, which is categorized as the new face of transnational crime organizations (TCOs). The DCFM phenomenon can be considered as a form of a cyber-collective action that is defined as an action aiming to improve group's conditions (such as, status or power). In this paper, we conduct a conceptual analysis of the DCFMs and model the factors that lead to success or failure with groundings in collective action and collective identity formation theories. Mathematical constructs of hypergraph are leveraged to represent the complex relations observed in the DCFM social networks. The model's efficacy is demonstrated through a test scenario.
Optical MCM interconnect using hybrid integration of GaAs optoelectronics with a glass signal routing layer

In this paper, we present a MCM chip to chip optical interconnect layer in which optoelectronic devices are integrated onto a glass light-guiding substrate. Rather than solder bump bonding, we used the epitaxial lift-off technique for optoelectronic integration. This integration technique facilitates mixed material integration, so that we are able to choose the most cost effective and high performance material for each function in the integration. We report successful integration of emitters and detectors onto a glass substrate, demonstrating that thin-film epitaxial lift-off technology is compatible with the proposed optical interconnect system. An optical interconnection is demonstrated in which light propagating, in both a waveguide mode and substrate modes is routed by a grating to the receiving photodetector.
s- and p-Wave neutron spectroscopy: Part III-b. Area analysis of neutron resonances including effect of doppler broadening

Abstract The method of area analysis of neutron resonances observed in transmission experiments has been extended to include the effect of Dopplerbroadening of these resonances. A Breit-Wigner single-level formula including interference between resonance scattering and potential scattering was assumed for the total cross section.
Matrices and their Kirchhoff graphs

The fundamental relationship between matrices over the rational numbers and a newly defined type of graph, a Kirchhoff graph, is established. For a given matrix, a Kirchhoff graph represents the orthogonal complementarity of the null and row spaces of that matrix. A number of basic results are proven, and then a relatively complicated Kirchhoff graph is constructed for a matrix that is the transpose of the stoichiometric matrix for a reaction network for the production of sodium hydroxide from salt. A Kirchhoff graph for a reaction network is a circuit diagram for that reaction network. Finally it is conjectured that there is at least one Kirchhoff graph for any matrix with rational elements, and a process for constructing an incidence matrix for a Kirchhoff graph from a given matrix is discussed.
Precipitation sensitivity to alloy composition in Fe-Cr-Mn austenitic steels developed for reduced activation for fusion application

Special austenitic steels are being designed in which alloying elements like Mo, Nb, and Ni are replaced with Mn, W, V, Ti, and/or Ta to reduce the long-term radioactivity induced by fusion reactor irradiation. However, the new steels still need to have properties otherwise similar to commercial steels like type 316. Precipitation strongly affects strength and radiation-resistance in austenitic steels during irradiation at 400--600/degree/C, and precipitation is also usually quite sensitive to alloy composition. The initial stage of development was to define a base Fe-Cr-Mn-C composition that formed stable austenite after annealing and cold-working, and resisted recovery or excessive formation of coarse carbide and intermetallic phases during elevated temperature annealing. These studies produced a Fe-12Cr-20Mn-0.25C base alloy. The next stage was to add the minor alloying elements W, Ti, V, P, and B for more strength and radiation-resistance. One of the goals was to produce fine MC precipitation behavior similar to the Ti-modified Fe-Cr-Ni prime candidate alloy (PCA). Additions of Ti+V+P+B produced fine MC precipitation along network dislocations and recovery/recrystallization resistance in 20% cold worked material aged at 800/degree/C for 166h, whereas W, Ti, W+Ti, or Ti+P+B additions did not. Addition of W+Ti+V+P+B also produced fine MC, but caused somemore » sigma phase formation and more recrystallization as well. 29 refs., 14 figs., 9 tabs.« less
On the maximal Bochner-Riesz conjecture in the plane for <2

We give a new estimate on the maximal Bochner-Riesz operator in the plane, for p < 2; as a corollary we obtain an almost everywhere convergence result for certain Bochner-Riesz means. This work was inspired by discussions with Michael Christ and Chris Sogge.
Ex Ovo Model for Directly Visualizing Chick Embryo Development

We describe a technique for removing and growing chick embryos in culture that utilizes relatively inexpensive materials and requires little space. It can be readily performed in class by university, high school, or junior high students, and teachers of any grade level should be able to set it up for their students. Students will be able to directly observe the chick’s development from 3 days post-fertilization to the point at which it would normally hatch. Observing embryonic development first hand, including the chick embryos’ natural movements, gives students a full appreciation for the complexity and wonder of development. Students can make detailed observations and drawings, and gain understanding of important principles in developmental biology. Finally, we suggest various ways in which this project can be adapted to allow students in advanced classes to design and implement their own projects for investigating teratogenic effects on development using the ex ovo model of chick development.
Platelet activation in clinical coronary artery disease and spasm

Current concepts of atherogenesis, based on animal models, suggest a role for platelets in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, possibly through the release of alpha granule constituents. Platelets may also contribute to the development of vascular spasm through thromboxane A2 production. Platelet activation in the coronary circulation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) should occur if these hypotheses apply clinically. We measured aortic and coronary sinus plasma levels of the platelet alpha granule constituent beta-thromboglobulin (B-TG) and thromboxane B2 (TX B2) by radioimmunoassay in 15 patients with severe atherosclerotic CAD, seven patients with angiographically normal coronaries, and five patients undergoing evaluation for coronary artery spasm (CAS). Compared with the controls, CAD patients had significantly greater transmyocardial release of B-TG (11.1 +/- 8.1 ng/ml, mean +/- SEM vs 62.5 17.2, p less than 0.05 by rank sum test); TX B2 gradients showed a similar trend but the difference was not statistically significant (-0.08 +/- 0.03 ng/ml vs 0.22 +/- 0.02, 0.05 less than p less than 0.10). Three of the five patients studied developed CAS which was associated with acute elevation in coronary sinus TX B2; the two non-CAS patients with drug provocation had undetectable coronary sinus TX B2. We conclude that abnormal platelet activation takes place in the coronary circulation of CAD patients, and that production of acute myocardial ischemia by CAS occurs with increased coronary sinus TX B2.
Decrypting the Sequence of Structural Events during the Gating Transition of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels Based on an Interpolated Elastic Network Model

Despite many experimental and computational studies of the gating transition of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs), the structural basis of how ligand binding couples to channel gating remains unknown. By using a newly developed interpolated elastic network model (iENM), we have attempted to compute a likely transition pathway from the closed- to the open-channel conformation of pLGICs as captured by the crystal structures of two prokaryotic pLGICs. The iENM pathway predicts a sequence of structural events that begins at the ligand-binding loops and is followed by the displacements of two key loops (loop 2 and loop 7) at the interface between the extracellular and transmembrane domain, the tilting/bending of the pore-lining M2 helix, and subsequent movements of M4, M3 and M1 helices in the transmembrane domain. The predicted order of structural events is in broad agreement with the Φ-value analysis of α subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mutants, which supports a conserved core mechanism for ligand-gated channel opening in pLGICs. Further perturbation analysis has supported the critical role of certain intra-subunit and inter-subunit interactions in dictating the above sequence of events.
Advances in growth of fiber crystal by the LHPG technique. Application to the optimization of Yb3+-doped CaF2 laser crystals

Abstract The laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique is suitable to grow crystalline fibers and has been successfully applied for the general study of a lot of optical materials as laser crystals. Our general approach on the research of diode-pumped Yb 3+ -doped host crystals is presented through typical example of CaF 2 fluoride, which is considered among the important laser crystals either for basic or applied reasons. Spectroscopic characterizations were carried out. Especially, Yb 3+ ( 2 F 5/2 ) excited level experimental decay time dependence on Yb 3+ ion concentration is analyzed by using our own approach on the synthesis of a concentration gradient fiber grown in the laboratory. Our main objective is to contribute to have a better understanding of concentration quenching mechanisms not only in laser crystals but more generally in luminescent materials.
Genotype-dependent cooperation of ionizing radiation with BRAF inhibition in BRAF V600E-mutated carcinomas

Background A substantial proportion of solid tumors carry the BRAF V600E mutation, which causes activation of the MEK/MAPK pathway and is a poor prognostic indicator. Patients with locally advanced human cancers are often treated with external beam radiation therapy. Given the association of Raf overactivation with radioresistance, we hypothesized that, in BRAF V600E-mutated carcinomas, there would be combinatorial activity between radiation and PLX4720, a specific BRAF V600E-inhibitor. Methods Two BRAF V600E-mutated cancer cell lines and one BRAF-V600E wildtype (WT) cancer cell line were obtained. We performed cell viability assays and clonogenic assays using combinations of radiation and PLX4720. We assessed MEK and MAPK phosphorylation at different PLX4720 concentrations with western blotting, and cell cycle progression was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results Our results show combinatorial, additive activity between radiation and PLX4720 in BRAF V600E-mutated cell lines, but not in the BRAF WT line. In BRAF V600E-mutated cells, there was a PLX4720 concentration-dependent decrease in MEK and MAPK phosphorylation. In cells with BRAF V600E mutations, PLX4720 caused cell cycle arrest at G1, and, when combined with radiation, caused a combined G1 and G2 cell cycle arrest; this pattern of cell cycle effects was not seen in the BRAF WT cell line. Conclusions These data suggest additive, combinatorial activity between radiation and PLX4720 in cancers carrying BRAF V600E mutations. Our data has potential for translation into the multimodality treatment of BRAF V600E-mutated cancers.
When the Latin‐American Comes to College

Author's Summary— Latin-American students in our institutions of learning should in no sense be segregated from the other students by isolating them in groups. They should be allowed free social contact with Americans so that they can better learn our ways and understand our civilization and ideals.
Enhanced photoresponse in curled graphene ribbons

Graphene has become one of the most promising materials for future optoelectronics due to its ultrahigh charge-carrier mobility, high light transmission, and universal absorbance in the near-infrared and visible spectral ranges. However, a zero band gap and ultrafast recombination of the photoexcited electron–hole pairs limit graphene's potential in photovoltaic generation. Recent studies have shown that hot carriers can enhance photovoltaic generation in graphene p–n junctions through the photothermoelectric effect (PTE). It is, therefore, desirable to synthesize graphene nanostructures with an intrinsic PTE-induced photocurrent response. Here we report a simple method to synthesize quasi-one dimensional (quasi-1D) curled graphene ribbons (CGRs) that generate a photocurrent response with two orders of magnitude enhancement. Scanning photocurrent and photoluminescence measurements reveal that the photocurrent response is primarily attributed to the PTE and that the infrared emission may arise from thermal radiation. These results offer a new way to fabricate graphene-based optoelectronics with an enhanced photoresponse.
Effects of adsorbed carbon and oxygen on the chemisorption of H2 and Co on Mo(100)

Abstract The deposit of carbon and oxygen adatoms on Mo(100) was characterized by AES and LEED. Carbon was introduced by the thermal cracking of ethylene; several ordered structures were observed as a function of coverage with carbon atoms residing on four-fold sites. The Mo(100)—O system exhibited two different sequences of LEED patterns depending on the adsorption temperature of oxygen. The effects of adsorbed carbon and oxygen on the chemisorption properties of Mo(100) was investigated by FDS. The presence of either carbon or oxygen severely hindered the ability of Mo(100) to dissociatively adsorb hydrogen or carbon monoxide. The amount of CO dissociated was directly related to the available four-fold sites on the carbide surfaces. The molecular adsorption of CO was not significantly affected by the adlayers. It was found that one monolayer of adsorbed oxygen reduced the binding energy of molecular CO considerably more than the same amount of adsorbed carbon. A continuous shift in the binding energy of CO with the C/O ratio on the surface was observed.