cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of individual differences in phonological representation

Individual differences in abilities to form, access, and hone phonological representations of words are implicated in the development of oral and written language. This study addressed two important gaps in the literature concerning measurement of individual differences in phonological representation. First, we empirically examined the dimensionality of phonological representation abilities. Second, we empirically compared how well typical measures index various representation-related phonological processing abilities. Specifically, nine measures of accessibility to and distinctness of phonological presentations were administered to 175 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. Confirmatory factor analysis validated three separate but correlated phonological processing abilities, i.e., efficiency of accessing phonological codes, precision of phonological codes as reflected in speech production, and precision of phonological codes as reflected in speech perception. The named phonological processing abilities were equally good measures of a second-order phonological representation factor. While most prototypic measures were excellent indicators of first-order phonological abilities, they were only modest indicators of phonological representation.
Ion Conduction Mechanism of a Viral Proton Channel from Solid-State NMR

Mei Hong, Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IAThe M2 protein of the influenza virus forms a proton-selective channel that is important for the lifecycle of the virus. Using high-resolution magic-angle-spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR spectroscopy, we have obtained rich information on the proton-conduction mechanism in this prototypical ion channel. The proton-selective residue, a histidine in the transmembrane (TM) domain of M2, undergoes microsecond reorientations, at the same time exchanging protons with water molecules. The rate and energy barrier of the reorientation motion and the kinetics of proton exchange are quantified through measurements of 15N exchange NMR spectra, motionally averaged nuclear-spin couplings, and 1H chemical shifts. The pH-dependent charged state and the rotameric structure of the histidine rings were determined from chemical shifts and internuclear distances. Aromatic interactions between the histidine and an adjacent tryptophan residue provide novel insight into the two-orders-of-magnitude difference between the histidine-water proton exchange rate and the actual proton flux into the virion. Comparison of the 15N spectra of wild-type M2 with a mutant with higher proton conductance revealed that histidine - water proton exchange not only involved transformation of the neutral imidazole to the cationic imidazolium, but also involved transitions between the two neutral tautomeric states of histidine, indicating that quantum-mechanical tunneling is a second mechanism for proton relay. Mechanistic insights obtained from the TM domain of M2 are extended to influenza B virus M2 and to a longer construct of the protein to investigate the influence the extra-membrane domains on proton conduction.Acknowledgements: NIH grant GM088204.
NMR anisotropy in irradiated lithium hydride

Abstract Lithium hydride single crystals irradiated with 60Co gamma rays show a motionally narrowed hydrogen signal to pulsed NMR measurements. The transverse relaxation time of this signal shows a marked angular dependence as an oriented crystal is rotated relative to the magnetic field. This orientation effect is considered to be due to wall relaxation of hydrogen gas in cubic bubbles. That portion of the transverse relaxation time caused by wall interactions is shown to be proportional to the dipolar relation (1–3 cos2 α)−1, where α is the laboratory angle of rotation. The longitudinal relaxation time is not affected by crystal rotation.
Epitaxial integration of perovskite-based multifunctional oxides on silicon

Abstract We review recent developments in the epitaxial integration of multifunctional oxide thin film heterostructures on silicon (Si). Perovskite oxides have been extensively studied for use in multifunctional devices due to a wide range of functional properties. To realize multifunctional oxide devices, these multifunctional films should be integrated directly on Si, maintaining high crystalline quality. Molecular beam epitaxy growth of epitaxial SrTiO3 (STO) on Si provides a template for incorporating the epitaxial oxide films on Si. However, the dissimilar physical nature of Si from most oxide materials influences the properties of oxide films on Si, especially with regard to structural defects and thermal strains. Therefore, in this review, we present a comprehensive overview of epitaxial integration of various model oxide systems on Si, addressing how STO/Si can be used to explore the novel phenomenon of oxide heterostructures as well as to realize multifunctional devices.
Nutrient-mediated juvenile hormone secretion in mosquitoes

Abstract Our objective was to determine whether environmental conditions affect the juvenile hormone (J.H.) regulated phase of ovarian development of mosquitoes. Primary ovarian follicles of nutrient-deprived adult Aedes aegypti reared in non-crowded cultures remain in an early, teneral stage of development. After a meal of sucrose or blood, follicles of crowded mosquitoes develop to a stage competent to deposit yolk directly following blood ingestion; a topically-applied analogue of J.H. stimulates the ovaries to develop to a similar stage. A. aegypti collected in nature are of a size suggesting that their follicles would remain in the teneral stage when adults are nutrient-deprived.
Enflurane, Isoflurane and the Eye

The intra-ocular pressure was monitored in ophthalmological patients in whom nitrous oxide/oxygen anaesthesia was supplemented with an inspired concentration of 1% enflurane (10 patients) or 0.7% isoflurane (10 patients). These concentrations are proportionate to 0.6 MAC in oxygen. Both agents caused a significant decrease in intra-ocular pressure, enflurane by a mean of 3.1 mmHg (0.4 kPa) and isoflurane by 2.1 mmHg (0.3 kPa). There was no significant difference between agents. Isoflurane offers an alternative to enflurane in surgery when intra-ocular pressure is of importance.
Glial- and fat-specific expression of the rat glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase-luciferase fusion gene in transgenic mice.

Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) is a metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol-3-phosphate. It provides phospholipid precursors for lipid biosynthesis and energy metabolism. In the brain, GPDH enzymatic activity, protein, mRNA are exclusively associated with oligodendroglial and Bergmann glial cells. Expression of GPDH in the brain increases dramatically during the active period of myelination, and is regulated by extracellular signals. In an effort to understand the mechanism that confers glial-specific expression of GPDH, we have examined the role of the 5′ flanking sequence of the rat GPDH gene in conferring cell-specific expression of reporter gene in transgenic mice. Luciferase reporter constructs containing either the full-length GPDH 5′ flanking region (p4.3), or a distally truncated version (p2.6), were injected into mouse zygotes. Three independent lines of transgenic mice containing the p4.3, and seven lines of mice containing the p2.6 constructs, were analyzed. Luciferase enzyme activity was detectable only in brain and fat, not in other GPDH-positive organs such as liver, muscle, and kidney. Both the full-length and the distally deleted transgenes were expressed similarly in these two organs, indicating that the distal portion of the 5′ flanking region was not required for brain- and fat-specific expression. Immunocytochemical analyses revealed that luciferase immunoreactivity colocalized with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive Bergmann glia in the cerebellum, and myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive oligodendroglia in the cerebral cortex and the brainstem. Results here suggest that the rat GPDH 5′ flanking region directs glial-specific expression of GPDH transcription in the brain, and provide a good model for analyses of changes in glial metabolism in response to extracellular perturbations in vivo. J. Neurosci. Res. 50:300–311, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Clear and independent associations of several HLA-DRB1 alleles with differential antibody responses to hepatitis B vaccination in youth

To confirm and refine associations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes with variable antibody (Ab) responses to hepatitis B vaccination, we have analyzed 255 HIV-1 seropositive (HIV+) youth and 80 HIV-1 seronegatives (HIV−) enrolled into prospective studies. In univariate analyses that focused on HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 alleles and haplotypes, the DRB1*03 allele group and DRB1*0701 were negatively associated with the responder phenotype (serum Ab concentration ≥ 10 mIU/mL) (P = 0.026 and 0.043, respectively). Collectively, DRB1*03 and DRB1*0701 were found in 42 (53.8%) out of 78 non-responders (serum Ab 1,000 mIU/mL) (P < 0.001 for trend). Meanwhile, DRB1*08 was positively associated with the responder phenotype (P = 0.010), mostly due to DRB1*0804 (P = 0.008). These immunogenetic relationships were all independent of non-genetic factors, including HIV-1 infection status and immunodeficiency. Alternative analyses confined to HIV+ youth or Hispanic youth led to similar findings. In contrast, analyses of more than 80 non-coding, single nucleotide polymorphisms within and beyond the three HLA class II genes revealed no clear associations. Overall, several HLA-DRB1 alleles were major predictors of differential Ab responses to hepatitis B vaccination in youth, suggesting that T-helper cell-dependent pathways mediated through HLA class II antigen presentation are critical to effective immune response to recombinant vaccines. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00439-009-0720-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
The attraction of numbers

This article examines different ways of accounting for the numbers on display as monetary contributions to temples in an emigrant village in Fuzhou, China. My aim is to locate the various calculative principles required to bring these lists of discrete sums and partial quantities into felicitous relationships and interaction. Particularly, I outline two different ways of reading ritual numbers from public displays of temple donations: one premised on number’s aggregation as a single monetary sum and the other on number’s amplification as an unfolding topos of cosmic resonance and intensities. Ultimately, I suggest that the numbers inscribed into temple walls can best be seen as boundary objects which provide a common point of departure for engaging various styles of enumeration.
Intensity scales for pure tastes and for taste mixtures

In four series of studies, taste intensities of sour, bitter, sweet, and salt were measured by number matching (magnitude estimation), and by noise matching. The two procedures agreed in their estimates of the power-function exponent for each taste. Representative exponents obtained from the studies are 1.0 to 1.1 for sour and bitter and 1.3 to 1.5 for sweet and salt. In a second set of studies each taste was judged against three or more background levels of a second taste. The results suggest that the power-function exponent is unaffected when a second taste is present in the solution. Whether the intercept changes in taste mixtures was not determined in these experiments.
The Growth and Limits of Arbitrage: Evidence from Short Interest

We develop a novel methodology to infer the amount of capital allocated to quantitative equity arbitrage strategies. Using this methodology, which exploits time-variation in the cross-section of short interest, we document that the amount of capital devoted to value and momentum strategies has grown significantly since the late 1980s. We provide evidence that this increase in capital has resulted in lower strategy returns. However, consistent with theories of limited arbitrage, we show that strategy-level capital flows are influenced by past strategy returns and strategy return volatility and that arbitrage capital is most limited during times when strategies perform best. This suggests that the growth of arbitrage capital may not completely eliminate returns to these strategies. (JEL G02, G12, G14, G23)
Orbits and Nonlinear Effects in Terms of the Field Coefficients in the Median Plane

The field coefficients in the median plane are introduced in a scalar potential from which the magnetic field, vector potential, and Lagrangian are obtained. The differential equations to solve the equilibrium orbits, tunes, and nonlinear effects are discussed in terms of these coefficients.
WIVES' AND HUSBANDS' HOUSEWORK REPORTING Gender, Class, and Social Desirability

This investigation places recent research about changes in wives' and husbands' domestic labor in the context of well-known reporting differences between different kinds of housework surveys. An analysis of the “reporting gap” between direct-question reports of housework hours from the National Survey of Families and Households (1988) and time-diary reports from Americans' Use of Time, 1985, shows that both husbands and wives overreport their housework contributions. Furthermore, gender attitudes, total housework, class, education, income, family size, and employment status together significantly affect the overreport, although the variables operate in different ways for wives and husbands. It is concluded that changing and uneven social perceptions of the appropriate domestic roles of women and men have resulted in reporting biases that do not necessarily correspond to actual changes in housework behavior. These findings cast doubt on claims that contemporary husbands are doing more housework than their ...
Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal associations with barley on sewage-amended plots

Abstract Barley plants grown on field plots amended with sewage from two sources were examined for vesicular-arbuscular (VAM) infection. Three treatments (control. 8.2 tonnes sludge ha −1 and 32.9 ha −1 ) were applied annually for 8 yr with no additions during years 9 and 10. A barley crop was grown on the site during each of the 10 yr of the study. Percent VAM infection on barley roots showed no effect of nonindustrial sludge application. The urban-industrial sludge treatments, however, produced a 6-fold drop in infection rate. Little correlation was found between percent VAM infection and available soil P content. Zn concentration in the soil were found to be negatively correlated with VAM infection. This study suggests that there are factors within sludge, in addition to P, that affect mycorrhizal occurrence 2 yr after the last application of sludge to soil.
Frenching of Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.).

Typical frenching of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), as described by Wolf (8), is recognized as producing short internodes, loss of apical dominance, and the development of a rosette of many leaves (polyphylly), giving a witches'-broom effect. The first symptoms appear as a pinhead chlorosis, followed by very chlorotic, newly developing leaves which narrowly elongate with wavy margins. It is possible that the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is the best indicator plant to determine the presence of the frenching factor in the soil. This peculiar development of the leaves of tobacco has never been found to be associated with a pathogenic bacterium, a fungus, or a virus. It is generally recognized as a nonparasitic disease and therefore considered physiological. Steinberg (5, ?) has worked with many tobacco soil organisms which are not considered pathogenic but which might produce a diffusate sufficiently toxic to produce the symptoms of frenching. One of these, Bacillus cereus Frankland and Frankland, was found to be capable of producing the frenching symptoms. Steinberg (7) has found this organism to be present in greater numbers in the rhizosphere of tobacco in soils that contained frenched tobacco than in the soils with normal plants. The origin of this disease is some soil factor. The frenching factor is not in all soils but has been found, in particular, in soils which are known to remain moist during a prolonged drought period, even though tobacco has never been grown in such soils. Continuing the work previously reported (2, 3), it has been demonstrated that the frenching factor, if present, can be made to show its presence by growing tobacco plants at a soil temperature of 35? C. Usually within a period of 5 to 15 days frenching symptoms appear in the newly developing leaves, becoming more distinct and severe with succeeding leaves. When the soil temperature is 21? C, or less, the presence of the frenching factor does not become evident.
Functional integrity of fetal rat liver explants cultured in a chemically defined medium.

Abstract A technique is described for the rapid preparation of large numbers of fetal rat liver explants for the study of developmental changes. Uniform pieces (1 mm3) of liver at 16 and 20 days of gestation were cultured for 3 days in a chemically defined medium in the absence of serum or exogenous proteins. Explants of both gestational ages appeared morphologically normal at the end of 3 days. Net uptakes of glucose remained relatively constant over the culture period. There was an initial loss of protein and DNA which could be largely accounted for by loss of erythropoietic cells. After the first or second day in culture, the DNA content of the explants remained constant. The amount of nonsedimentable protein (nonerythrocyte) released into the medium was 16 to 20 μ per explant per day. Between 40 and 50% of this protein was identified as albumin and α-fetoprotein by immunologic and electrophoretic techniques. A minor protein component was identified as transferrin. These proteins, normally secreted into amniotic fluid, were released in amounts that markedly exceeded their concentrations in the explant. This release was blocked by the presence of cycloheximide in the culture medium. This technique provides a simple method for maintaining viable fetal liver explants in a chemically defined medium, and should be useful for studying metabolic development in antenatal liver.
“Green” approach for self-assembly of platinum nanoparticles into nanowires in aqueous glucose solutions

Abstract A completely “green” synthetic approach has been developed for the reduction and stabilization of Pt nanoparticles followed by self-assembly into nanowires in an aqueous β- d -glucose solution. Hydrothermal treatment initiated the reduction of Pt(IV) ions dispersed in a pH 8.0 β- d -glucose solution. The Pt nanoparticles were stabilized with oxidized glucose molecules. The Pt nanoparticles continued growing into nanowires followed by transformation into cubic nanocrystals with a rough needle surface. Evidence from TEM and FT-IR spectra reveal that carboxylate groups, which are generated by the oxidation of β- d -glucose, strongly interact with and stabilize the surface of these Pt nanostructures.
Interactive Technology: Enhancing Business Students’ Content Literacy

Abstract Technology seems to have defined this generations’ persona. It follows that integrating technology into higher education courses is imperative. Educators understand the impact information communication technology has on students and as such can capitalize on students’ experience with technology to incorporate WEB 2.0 tools. Studies have shown that incorporating interactive WEB 2.0 technology has positive effects on student performance. This case study proves that integration on a collaborative site builds on content area literacy skills. The sample was drawn from two undergraduate business courses. Recommendations based on the results and limitations were made.
Quality Assessment of Systematic Reviews on Short Dental Implants

Background: Critical analysis of published systematic reviews may help in understanding their strengths and weaknesses and identifying areas that need improvement. Short dental implants are becoming an important addition to the existing dental armamentarium. The aim of this overview is to analyze the quality of published systematic reviews focused on short dental implants using established checklists such as the assessment of multiple systematic reviews (AMSTAR).Methods: A search was conducted to retrieve reviews that used a systematic approach in article selection focusing on short dental implants in humans. Based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 10 reviews were selected. Two independent reviewers appraised the quality of the selected reviews using AMSTAR and the checklist proposed by Glenny et al. in 2003. Each article was given a total score based on the number of criteria that it fulfilled.Results: Six reviews satisfied ≤4 of the 11 AMSTAR items, and only two reviews satisfied ...
Cascoplecia insolitis (Diptera: Cascopleciidae), a new family, genus, and species of flower-visiting, unicorn fly (Bibionomorpha) in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber

Abstract Cascoplecia insolitis (Cascopleciidae), a new family, genus, and species of Bibionomorpha are described from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new family is characterized by the following combination of characters: small size (wing length, 3.2 mm); head reduced, deflexed; antennomeres 2–12 sinuate; three ocelli raised on an extended horn-like protuberance; mouthparts reduced except for well developed maxillary palps with elongate terminal palpomere; femora long; all tibiae with apical spines; pulvilli and empodia pad-like, setose; Sc terminates at half wing length; r-m crossvein located before middle of wing; R 2 + 3 longer than Rs; R 4 + 5 more than twice the length of Rs; bRs longer than dRs. The fossil presents an interesting combination of strongly canalized (conserved) and de-canalized (specialized) characters. Pollen grains associated with the tarsi show that Cascoplecia was a flower-visitor that probably pollinated angiosperms in the Burmese amber forest.
Design of RFID mesh network for Electric Vehicle smart charging infrastructure

With an increased number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) on the roads, charging infrastructure is gaining an ever-more important role in simultaneously meeting the needs of the local distribution grid and of EV users. This paper proposes a mesh network RFID system for user identification and charging authorization as part of a smart charging infrastructure providing charge monitoring and control. The Zigbee-based mesh network RFID provides a cost-efficient solution to identify and authorize vehicles for charging and would allow EV charging to be conducted effectively while observing grid constraints and meeting the needs of EV drivers.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH HIV INFECTION AND TUBERCULOSIS CAUSED BY MULTIPLE-DRUG– RESISTANT BACILLI

Abstract ▪Objective:To determine the clinical manifestations of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis caused by multiple-drug-resistant bacilli compared with t...
Peripheral Neuropathy with Microtubule-Targeting Agents: Occurrence and Management Approach

Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs), which include vinca alkaloids, taxanes, and the recently introduced epothilone, ixabepilone, are widely used chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of patients with cancer. MTAs interfere with the normal structure and function of microtubules, leading to cell-cycle arrest and tumor cell death. Microtubule function is critical to normal neuronal function, thus MTA therapy is commonly associated with some form of neuropathy. There is poor agreement between tools for clinical assessment of MTA-associated peripheral neuropathy, and standardization of grading scales is needed to reduce variability. For a majority of patients, MTA-associated neuropathy is mild to moderate in intensity and reversible, but it can be severe and resolve incompletely. The incidence and severity of MTA-associated neuropathy is drug, dose, and schedule dependent. The first-generation vinca alkaloids (eg, vincristine) are associated with severe mixed sensory and motor neuropathy, whereas the newer vinca alkaloids (eg, vinorelbine, vinflunine) induce a milder sensory neuropathy. Taxane-associated sensory neuropathy occurs more often with standard (polyoxyethylated castor oil-based) and albumin-bound paclitaxel than with docetaxel. The incidence and presentation of peripheral neuropathy with ixabepilone, alone or in combination with capecitabine, are similar to that with taxanes. Management of neuropathy may involve reducing or delaying the MTA dose, or in severe persistent or disabling cases discontinuing treatment. Reversal of neuropathy after dosage intervention appears to be more rapid with ixabepilone than with other MTAs.
Abuelita Epistemologies: Counteracting Subtractive Schools in American Education

This autoethnographic inquiry examines the intersection of elder epistemology and subtractive education, exploring how one abuelita countered her granddaughter’s divestment of Mexican-ness. I demonstrate how the grandmother used abuelita epistemologies to navigate this tension and resist the assimilative pressures felt by her granddaughter from school by consistently modeling, at home, a love for Mexican language and culture. I argue that grandmothers play a vital role in rooting young people to their linguistic and cultural assets, a sacred function that many Mexican elders have preserved and brought forward from the precontact era in the Americas to the contemporary era.
Influence of Allowable Interruption Period on Estimates of Accelerometer Wear Time and Sedentary Time in Older Adults

The criteria one uses to reduce accelerometer data can profoundly influence the interpretation of research outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of 3 different interruption periods (i.e., 20, 30, and 60 min) on the amount of data retained for analyses and estimates of sedentary time among older adults. Older adults (N = 311, Mage = 71.1) wore an accelerometer for 7 d and reported wear time on an accelerometer log. Accelerometer data were downloaded and scored using 20-, 30-, and 60-min interruption periods. Estimates of wear time, derived using each interruption period, were compared with self-reported wear time, and descriptive statistics were used to compare estimates of sedentary time. Results showed a longer interruption period (i.e., 60 min) yields the largest sample size and the closest approximation of self-reported wear time. A short interruption period (i.e., 20 min) is likely to underestimate sedentary time among older adults.
Application of the Slow Invariant Manifold Correction for Diffusion

Slow invariant manifolds (SIM) are calculated for spatially inhomogeneous closed reactive systems to obtain a model reduction. A robust method of constructing a onedimensional SIM by calculating equilibria and then integrating along heteroclinic orbits is extended to two new cases: i) adiabatic systems, and ii) spatially inhomogeneous systems with simple diffusion. The adiabatic condition can be modeled as a new algebraic constraint in the limit of unity Lewis number. Diffusion effects on the SIM are examined for systems with small characteristic lengths. A diffusion correction is obtained by using a Galerkin method to project the infinite dimensional dynamical system onto a low dimensional approximate inertial manifold. This projection rigorously accounts for the coupling of reaction and diffusion processes, and an analytic length and time scale coupling is shown. An example is demonstrated on a system of NO production which highlights the correlation between an established isothermal spatially homogeneous technique and the new techniques.
Cycles within Cycles Domestic Violence, Welfare, and Low-Wage Work

The domestic violence literature documents the cyclical nature of women's relationships with violent partners. Furthermore, research on low-income women also indicates that many cycle between welfare and low-wage work. This qualitative study illustrates how these cycles intersect in the lives of 17 low-income battered women. Longitudinal in-depth interviews reveal three factors that may contribute to cycling in and out of both work and abusive relationships: lack of court-ordered child support, lack of formal child care, and interference or abuse that limits the woman's ability to work. The women's stories illustrate the limitations of the Family Violence Option. More flexible policies are needed to address domestic violence among Temporary Assistance to Needy Families recipients.
A multistage representation of the Wiener filter based on orthogonal projections

The Wiener filter is analyzed for stationary complex Gaussian signals from an information theoretic point of view. A dual-port analysis of the Wiener filter leads to a decomposition based on orthogonal projections and results in a new multistage method for implementing the Wiener filter using a nested chain of scalar Wiener filters. This new representation of the Wiener filter provides the capability to perform an information-theoretic analysis of previous, basis-dependent, reduced-rank Wiener filters. This analysis demonstrates that the cross-spectral metric is optimal in the sense that it maximizes mutual information between the observed and desired processes. A new reduced-rank Wiener filter is developed based on this new structure which evolves a basis using successive projections of the desired signal onto orthogonal, lower dimensional subspaces. The performance is evaluated using a comparative computer analysis model and it is demonstrated that the low-complexity multistage reduced-rank Wiener filter is capable of outperforming the more complex eigendecomposition-based methods.
Conceptual design of a Europa Lander mission

A Europa Lander mission has been assigned high priority for the post-2005 time frame in NASA's Space Science Enterprise Strategic Plan. Its primary scientific goals are to characterize the surface material from a recent outflow and look for evidence of pre-biotic and possibly biotic chemistry. The mission concept involves landing a single spacecraft on the surface of Europa with the capability to acquire samples of material from 1 meter below the surface, perform detailed chemical analysis of the samples, and transmit the results directly to Earth. Because of the large velocity change required (4 km/sec), the propulsion system comprises over 85% of the 1000 kg launch mass. The spacecraft will require novel, lightweight, radiation-tolerant components; new devices for acquiring, distributing, and processing surface material; miniaturized organic chemistry instruments; and capability to perform an autonomous precision landing on Europa's hazardous surface.
On the typical case complexity of graph optimization

In combinatorial optimization problems that exhibit phase transition it is a frequently observed phenomenon that the algorithmically hard instances are concentrated around the phase transition region. The location, the size and sometimes the mere existence of this critical region, however, may depend on several factors: on the choice of an ''order parameter'', on the solving algorithm or on the probabilistic model. We investigate a large class of graph optimization problems and show that this concentration of hardness is in fact a more general phenomenon, if we focus on the complexity of finding or approximating the optimal value (such as the size of a maximum clique), rather than finding a witness (an actual maximum clique). Specifically, we prove that for a general class of graph optimization problems there is always a critical region of input instances in which the hardness is sharply concentrated in the following sense: (1) if the inputs that fall in the critical region are excluded, then the remaining task cannot be NP-hard, unless unlikely complexity collapses happen; (2) the critical region is a small, vanishing subset of all inputs. Thus, in this sense, the hardness of the overall task is necessarily caused by a small, exponentially vanishing critical region of the possible inputs. This concentration of hardness is invariant in the sense that it does not depend on the choice of any order parameter, or on a specific solving algorithm or on the choice of a particular probabilistic model within the considered broad family. Since a random input, drawn by any probability distribution in the family, falls almost surely outside the critical region, therefore, it is justified in a rigorous sense that the typical case complexity of these problems is easier than their worst case complexity and this phenomenon remains invariant for a broad class of models.
Effect of Initiating a Multidisciplinary Care Clinic on Access and Time to Treatment in Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The establishment of a multidisciplinary pancreas tumor clinic led to improved patient access to consultations and shorter time to initial treatment in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.
PAC Duo SoC performance analysis with ESL design methodology

PAC Duo System on Chip (SoC) is a high performance and low power multimedia tri-core SoC designed at SoC Technology Center (STC) of Industrial Technology and Research Institute (ITRI). We are facing a situation of continuous increasing of design complexity, when we integrate more components and try to evaluate the system performance or do further architecture exploration. In this paper, we present a system-level virtual platform and simulation environment for performance profiling and evaluation based on electronic system-level (ESL) design methodology. Through the fine-tuning of functionality, timing, and simulation speed, the resulted virtual platform achieves a high accuracy with a less than 10% of the cycle count error against RTL simulation with an 80∼150 times simulation performance improvement. With this methodology, the system function evaluation and performance profiling can be easily realized. We also show the experimental results for various multimedia applications compared with RTL simulation and further demonstrate how the virtual platform successfully predicts the real chip performance of the evaluation board.
Improved Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis for Typing Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

A rapid protocol for subtyping vancomycin-resistant enterococci by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis is reported. The procedure is simple and potentially cost-effective and allows reproducible subtyping of the strains in approximately 1 day.
Regions and levels: measuring and mapping users' relevance judgments

The dichotomous bipolar approach to relevance has produced an abundance of information retrieval (IR) research. However, relevance studies that include consideration of users' partial relevance judgments are moving to a greater relevance clarity and congruity to impact the design of more effective IR systems. The study reported in this paper investigates the various regions of across a distribution of users' relevance judgments, including how these regions may be categorized, measured, and evaluated. An instrument was designed using four scales for collecting, measuring, and describing end-user relevance judgments. The instrument was administered to 21 end-users who conducted searches on their own information problems and made relevance judgments on a total of 1059 retrieved items. Findings include: (1) overlapping regions of relevance were found to impact the usefulness of precision ratios as a measure of IR system effectiveness, (2) both positive and negative levels of relevance are important to users as they make relevance judgments, (3) topicality was used more to reject rather than accept items as highly relevant, (4) utility was more used to judge items highly relevant, and (5) the nature of relevance judgment distribution suggested a new IR evaluation measure—median effect. Findings suggest that the middle region of a distribution of relevance judgments, also called “partial relevance,” represents a key avenue for ongoing study. The findings provide implications for relevance theory, and the evaluation of IR systems.
Coincidence Detection of Place and Temporal Context in a Network Model of Spiking Hippocampal Neurons

Recent advances in single-neuron biophysics have enhanced our understanding of information processing on the cellular level, but how the detailed properties of individual neurons give rise to large-scale behavior remains unclear. Here, we present a model of the hippocampal network based on observed biophysical properties of hippocampal and entorhinal cortical neurons. We assembled our model to simulate spatial alternation, a task that requires memory of the previous path through the environment for correct selection of the current path to a reward site. The convergence of inputs from entorhinal cortex and hippocampal region CA3 onto CA1 pyramidal cells make them potentially important for integrating information about place and temporal context on the network level. Our model shows how place and temporal context information might be combined in CA1 pyramidal neurons to give rise to splitter cells, which fire selectively based on a combination of place and temporal context. The model leads to a number of experimentally testable predictions that may lead to a better understanding of the biophysical basis of information processing in the hippocampus.
Self-Assessment as a Dilemmatic Communicative Practice: Talk among Psychics in Training

This study examines meetings of pedagogical importance in a community whose members are training to become certified psychic readers. During these sessions, called “cleanout meetings,” psychics in training report to their peers about the readings they completed earlier that night. Using grounded practical theory and action implicative discourse analysis, this study takes a communicative and practical approach to self-assessment as students give accounts of their readings. In this context of cleanout meetings, self-assessment takes on two forms that implicate it as a dilemmatic practice whereby participants manage evaluation and acceptance in their reports of their performances. The discussion section raises issues related to talking about the self and achievement in everyday contexts, especially in learning environments.
Causal Role of Prefrontal Cortex in Strengthening of Episodic Memories through Reconsolidation

Summary Memory consolidation is a dynamic process. Reactivation of consolidated memories triggers reconsolidation, a time-limited period during which memories can be modified [1–4]. Episodic memory refers to our ability to recall specific past events about what happened, including where and when [5]. However, it is unknown whether noninvasive stimulation of the neocortex during reconsolidation might strengthen existing episodic memories in humans. To modify these memories, we applied repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) [6] over right lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region involved in the reactivation of episodic memories [7, 8]. We report that rTMS of PFC after memory reactivation strengthened verbal episodic memories, an effect documented by improved recall 24 hr postreactivation compared to stimulation of PFC without reactivation and vertex (control site) after reactivation. In contrast, there was no effect of stimulation 1 hr postreactivation (control experiment), showing that memory strengthening is time dependent, consistent with the reconsolidation theory. Thus, we demonstrated that right lateral PFC plays a causal role in strengthening of episodic memories through reconsolidation in humans. Reconsolidation may serve as an opportunity to modify existing memories with noninvasive stimulation of a critical brain region, an issue of fundamental importance for memory research and clinical applications.
The Clostridium difficile cpr Locus Is Regulated by a Noncontiguous Two-Component System in Response to Type A and B Lantibiotics

ABSTRACT The intestinal pathogen Clostridium difficile is known to grow only within the intestines of mammals, yet little is known about how the bacterium subsists in this environment. In the intestine, C. difficile must contend with innate defenses within the host, such as cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) produced by the host and the indigenous microbiota. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of activation and regulation of the CprABC transporter system, which provides resistance to multiple CAMPs and shows homology to the immunity systems of bacterial antimicrobial peptide producers. The CprABC system proved to be controlled by a noncontiguous two-component system consisting of the CprK sensor kinase and an orphan response regulator (CD3320; CprR). The CprK-CprR regulators were shown to activate cprABCK transcription in a manner similar to that by lantibiotic regulatory systems. Unlike lantibiotic producer regulation, regulation by CprK-CprR was activated by multiple lantibiotics produced by diverse Gram-positive bacteria. We identified a motif within these lantibiotics that is likely required for activation of cpr . Based on the similarities between the Cpr system and lantibiotic systems, we propose that the CprABC transporter and its regulators are relatives of lantibiotic systems that evolved to recognize multiple substrates to defend against toxins made by the intestinal microbiota.
Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of MR Imaging

MR offers by far the most sensitive technique for detecting multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and has proved to be an important paraclinical tool for diagnosing MS and monitoring therapeutic trials. Technologic advances of MR in recent years have dramatically improved our understanding of MS disease. This review will focus on the contribution of MR imaging in MS and provide a discussion of conventional and advanced nonconventional MR techniques with regard to current findings, clinical correlations, and future directions.
Approximation to First Passage Probability

In the theory of random vibration, a problem of considerable practical importance is to determine the probability, called first passage or first excursion probability, that the structural response will pass out of safety bounds or thresholds for the first time within a specified time interval. Within the framework of point process approach, a recurrence solution for approximating the first passage probability of a Gaussian random process, stationary or nonstationary, is suggested herein. Numerical results of the present approximation are displayed along with the results of other approximations. It is shown that the accuracy of the present approximation is satisfactory compared with the results of numerical simulation.
Extending Wrongful Death Benefits to Kinship-Care Relationships

Over six million children are raised not by a biological parent but by grandparents or other relatives. These families face many difficulties not shared by traditional biological parent relationships, but have the same or even greater emotional bonds. Although many states have recognized the prevalence of these relationships, most states still ignore these relationships in the context of wrongful death actions. While all states and the federal government provide for recovery by family members in the event of wrongful death, the recovery is limited to immediate next-of-kin in most jurisdictions. In this article, I argue that legislatures should amend their wrongful death statutes to include grandparents, grandchildren, and other relatives in kinship care relationships within the class of survivors who may recover in wrongful death actions. Although it may be an uphill battle in an era of tort reform, several states have successfully expanded the class of beneficiaries without a significant increase in overall on jury awards in wrongful death cases. In addition, expanding the class of beneficiaries is consistent with the compensatory goals of tort law.
Transcatheter implantation of SAPIEN 3 valve in native right ventricular outflow tract for severe pulmonary regurgitation following tetralogy of fallot repair

Pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) is indicated in patients with significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR), stenosis (PS), or mixed pulmonary valve disease. While once an exclusively surgical procedure, many patients can undergo transcatheter PVR (TPVR) with excellent early outcomes (Haas et al. 2013, Clin. Res. Cardiol. Off. J. German Cardiac Soc. 102:119-128; Kenny et al. 2011, J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 58:2248-2256; Cheatham et al. Circulation 2015, 131:1960-1970). The available transcatheter options continue to expand, but the majority of cases performed in the United States involve the use of FDA approved Melody valve (Medtronic; Minneapolis, MN) or the SAPIEN (Edwards Lifesciences; Irvine, CA) family of valves. The SAPIEN 3 valve (S3) recently received FDA approval for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. We report the first S3 implantation in the pulmonary position for treatment of chronic pulmonary regurgitation and progressive right ventricular dilation in an 18 year old male with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Music Scores: Retroconversion or Recataloging?

Many libraries across the country are planning projects to convert the manual records for their music scores into machine- readable form. Although the typical problems of music retrospective conversion are well documented, music librarians must also consider the quality of the paper records which will be used to find matching records in the bibliographic utilities. The paper records may not contain the kind of bibliographic information needed to determine if a matching record exists, especially if past cataloging practices with regard to music scores diverged from accepted national norms. In some libraries, what is called "music retroconversion" might be more aptly termed "music recataloging." Libraries are encouraged to do a trial project to discover the characteristics of their manual records before choosing a method for the "retroconversion" of music scores.
Inelastic Behavior of Threaded Piping Connections: Reconciliation of Experimental and Analytic Results

Modeling the behavior of piping systems with threaded joints is difficult because the joints do not act as rigid connections. At one level of approximation the connection can be modeled as a semi-rigid connection using a rotational spring. This study modeled a straight pipe using either Euler-Bernoulli beam elements [4] or Finite Element Analysis (FEA) shell elements and a support condition using the rotational spring. Laboratory tests were conducted on 1 in. diameter specimens of black iron Schedule 40 pipe in a cantilever configuration. The specimen was loaded monotonically into the inelastic region. A Ramberg-Osgood model [5] was used to represent the rotational spring and the correlation between test results and analytical predictions was quite good.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Rights, Recognition, and the Order of Shalom: On Wolterstorff’s Political Theology

Nicholas Wolterstorff’s The Mighty and the Almighty is an intervention in the field of Christian political theology. He argues that traditional political theology in both its premodern and contempo...