cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-smooth time decomposition for nonlinear models driven by random pulses

Abstract In this work, the time argument is decomposed according to impact interactions in a chain of absolutely rigid and perfectly elastic particles. Such a decomposition leads to explicit equations of the stroboscopic mapping for a general class of dynamical systems. Between the times of observation, the system motion is approximated by the Lie series. For illustration, Duffing's oscillator with no linear stiffness under the sine-modulated sequence of Dirac's pulses, that is a modified Ueda's model, was considered. In some cases, a slight randomization of the pulse times could significantly suppress the mapping chaos which is caused by the system nonlinearity. Monte Carlo simulation showed also that such a small random irregularity of the input can bring out the system orbits more clearly in stroboscopic phase plots of the dynamics. An asymmetric Van der Pol equation under the regular and random pulse sequences was considered as another example which is related to the nerve pulse propagation modeling adopted in Biology. In some cases, irregularity of the pulse times resulted in more organized structures of the stroboscopic diagrams.
Investigation of the triplet states of DNA by optical detection of magnetic resonance using a new slow passage technique

Abstract A new method to obtain slow passage ODMR signals under otherwise impeding conditions is described. The technique is applied to identify the triplet state of DNA as thymine. The zero field splitting constants measured are | D | = (0.203 ± 0.003) cm −1 , and | E | − (0.0123 ± 0.0005) cm −1 . From microwave-induced delayed phosphorescence and slow passage measurements a preliminary kinetic scheme for the triplet state is derived.
Role of leukocyte adhesion in clinical stroke

Activated neutrophils appear to be directly involved in potentiating central nervous system ischemic injury. After initial endothelial adherence, neutrophils can produce capillary plugging with subsequent parenchymal infiltration and resulting cytotoxic neuronal injury. We used an in vitro leukocyte adherence assay to determine if adhesion is increased in acute stroke (within 72 h) or in patients at high risk for stroke (two or more risk factors) compared to matched controls. Neutrophils were isolated using density gradient centrifugation, and adherence to laminin or fibronectin was determined using a myeloperoxidase assay. The adhesion to laminin was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the stroke group (23.6 ± 4.3; n = 14) compared to controls (9.7 ± 2.3; n = 12), with the risk group being intermediate (16.3 ± 4.3; n = 14). Total WBC counts were significantly higher in the stroke 8.0 ± 0.72 and risk 7.8 ± 0.41 groups (p < 0.05), compared to controls 5.3 ± 0.27. These data indicate that neutrophil adherence is increased in acute stroke and suggests that the total number of potentially adherent cells (total neutrophils times percent adherent cells) is greatly increased.
Evolution of Conventions in an Experimental Public Goods Game with Private and Public Knowledge of Advice

We adopt an inter-generational approach to the public goods game where at the end of each session one generation of subjects leave advice for the succeeding generation via free form messages. Such advice can be private (advice left by one player in generation t is given only to her immediate successor in generation t+1) or public (advice left by players of generation t is made available to all members of generation t+1). We find that when advice is public it generates a process of social learning that helps increase contributions over time and also mitigates problems of free riding. Our results suggest that contrary to game theoretic predictions, communities may be able to achieve efficient or near efficient levels of public good provision on the basis of private contributions.
Small things considered: the small accessory subunits of RNA polymerase in Gram-positive bacteria.

The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase core enzyme in Gram-positive bacteria consists of seven subunits. Whilst four of them (α2ββ(')) are essential, three smaller subunits, δ, e and ω (∼9-21.5 kDa), are considered accessory. Both δ and ω have been viewed as integral components of RNAP for several decades; however, e has only recently been described. Functionally these three small subunits carry out a variety of tasks, imparting important, supportive effects on the transcriptional process of Gram-positive bacteria. While ω is thought to have a wide range of roles, reaching from maintaining structural integrity of RNAP to σ factor recruitment, the only suggested function for e thus far is in protecting cells from phage infection. The third subunit, δ, has been shown to have distinct influences in maintaining transcriptional specificity, and thus has a key role in cellular fitness. Collectively, all three accessory subunits, although dispensable under laboratory conditions, are often thought to be crucial for proper RNAP function. Herein we provide an overview of the available literature on each subunit, summarizing landmark findings that have deepened our understanding of these proteins and their function, and outline future challenges in understanding the role of these small subunits in the transcriptional process.
Enhancement of antigen acquisition by dendritic cells and MHC class II-restricted epitope presentation to CD4+ T cells using VP22 DNA vaccine vectors that promote intercellular spreading following initial transfection

Induction of immune responses against microbial antigens using DNA is an attractive strategy to mimic the immunity induced by live vaccines. Although DNA vaccines are efficacious in murine models, the requirement for multiple immunizations using high doses in outbred animals and humans has hindered deployment. This requirement is, in part, a result of poor vaccine spreading and suboptimal DC transfection efficiency. Incorporation of a signal that directs intercellular spreading of a DNA-encoded antigen is proposed to mimic live vaccine spreading and increase dendritic cell (DC) presentation. Bovine herpes virus 1 tegument protein, BVP22, is capable of trafficking to surrounding cells. To test the hypothesis that BVP22 enhances spreading and antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells, a DNA construct containing BVP22, fused in-frame to a sequence encoding a T cell epitope of Anaplasma marginale, was generated. A construct with reversed BVP22 sequence served as a negative control. Immunocytometric analysis of transfected primary keratinocytes, human embryonic kidney 293, COS-7, and Chinese hamster ovary cells showed that BVP22 enhanced intercellular spreading by > or = 150-fold. Flow cytometric analysis of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) positively selected from cocultures of transfected cells and APCs showed that 5% of test APCs were antigen-positive, compared with 0.6% of control APCs. Antigen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation demonstrated that BVP22 enhanced DC antigen presentation by > or = 20-fold. This first report of the ability of BVP22 to increase DNA-encoded antigen acquisition by DCs and macrophages, with subsequent enhancement of major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted CD4+ T cell responses, supports incorporating a spreading motif in a DNA vaccine to target CD4+ T cell-dependent immunity in outbred animals.
Infant mortality: a call to action overcoming health disparities in the United States

Among all of the industrialized countries, the United States has the highest infant mortality rate. Racial and ethnic disparities continue to plague the United States with a disproportionally high rate of infant death. Furthermore, racial disparities among infant and neonatal mortality rates remain a chronic health problem in the United States. These risks are based on the geographical variations in mortality and disparities among differences in maternal risk characteristics, low birth weights, and lack of access to health care.
Predicting alcohol use by adolescent males

An attempt was made to predict alcohol use among 101 American white boys aged 13-16. The model combined genetic and social variables. The analysis revealed evidence of a genotype-environment interaction and thus the use of either the biological or social variables alone poorly predicts alcohol use.
Remediation in data visualization: two examples of learning in real-time data processing environments

Our poster is an exploration of the effects of quantifying physical experiences and refashioning them into new, interactive, live experiences through data visualization; in other words, we are exploring how data visualizations are designed to teach and effect change.
PDE and tensor based approach for parietal dynamic tracking in ultrasound sequences

A method for pericardial and endocardial edge extraction of the left ventricle (LV) in 2-D short axis echocardiographic sequence is presented. The proposed algorithm consists in two steps: nonlinear anisotropic diffusion filtering and directional geodesic active contours. These step are based on both PDE and tensors. Tensor formalism gives access to structure orientation of the acoustic density field. This provides a more robust algorithm by using the whole image information. Sample experimental results are shown for myocardium edge detection in 2-D short-axis ultrasound sequences.
Embedded system engineering using C/C++ based design methodologies

This paper analyzes and compares the effectiveness of various system level design methodologies in assessing performance of embedded computing systems from the earliest stages of the design flow. The different methodologies are illustrated and evaluated by applying them to the design of an aircraft pressurization system (APS). The APS is mapped on a heterogeneous hardware/software platform consisting of two ASICs and a microcontroller. The results demonstrate the high impact of computer aided design (CAD) tools on design time and quality.
Join and data redistribution algorithms for hypercubes

An important aspect of database processing in parallel computer systems is the use of data parallel algorithms. Several parallel algorithms for the relational database join operation in a hypercube multicomputer system are given. The join algorithms are classified as cycling or global partitioning based on the tuple distribution method employed. The various algorithms are compared under a common framework, using time complexity analysis as well as an implementation on a 64-node NCUBE hypercube system. In general, the global partitioning algorithms demonstrate better speedup. However, the cycling algorithm can perform better than the global algorithms in specific situations, viz., when the difference in input relation cardinalities is large and the hypercube dimension is small. The usefulness of the data redistribution operation in improving the performance of the join algorithms, in the presence of uneven data partitions, is examined. The results indicate that redistribution significantly decreases the join algorithm execution times for unbalanced partitions. >
The effect of annealing on moment density and phase formations in Fe-N films

Fe-N films are prepared by argon-nitrogen reactive RF sputtering at a total pressure of 6 mTorr, an argon flow rate of 100 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) and a nitrogen flow rate R of 0 to 30 sccm. For R or=12%) are observed. For R=30 sccm, no phase changes are observed at all annealing temperatures and the moment is found to be constant ( Delta sigma /sub s/ >
On the statistical detection problem for multiple signals

The problem of detecting signals in noise is reviewed for the multiple input model, where each of the inputs can contain one of many possible signals. The detection procedure for this model becomes, in general, the testing of multiple hypotheses. Two detection criteria are examined for choosing among multiple hypotheses and it is found that, for both criteria, the decision is based on the likelihood functions for the various signals. Systems for computing likelihood ratios are examined in detail for the multiple input case. A multidimensional matched filter is considered and its relationship to the likelihood ratios is shown. Optimum signals are determined for the two-hypothesis problem.
The Role of Frozen Section Analysis of Margins during Breast Conversation Surgery

Purpose. The role of frozen section analysis during breast conversation surgery is undefined. Assessment of margins using eprmanent section evaluation is the standard method of ensuring complete tumor excision. If the margin is positive, however, surgical re-excision is necessary to reduce the likelihood of subsequent local recurrence. Therefore, biopsy of the surgical cavity with immediate pathological evaluation during lumpectomy was performed to evaluate the effect on local recurrence, the number of re-excisions, and cosmesis. Patients and Methods. One hundred sixty patients underwent attempted lumpectomy with frozen section margin determination. One hundred forty patients were available for long-term follow-up (mean = 57 months, median = 46 months). All patients underwent attempted breast conservation surgery, which consisted of tumorectomy with excision of a greater than 1-cm rim of grossly normal tissue. Tumor margins were obtained by intraoperative biopsy with frozen section analysis of the lumpectomy cavity walls. Results. In 21 patients (15%), frozen section analyses (FSA) revealed positive margins, resulting in immediate re-excision. In seven of these patients (%), margins were persistetly positive, and these patients therefore underwent mastectomy. Fourteen patients were successfully re-excised to a negative margin. The sensitivity and specificity of FSA were 91% and 100%, respectively. Five percent of patients definitively managed by lumpectomy with FSA of margins recurred locally. The mean cosmesis score after radiotherapy was 7.0 out of a possible 10, correlating with a good to excellent result. Discussion. The accuracy of FSA, low recurrence rate, avoidance of reoperation, and good cosmesis indicate that intraoperative frozen section analysis should be adopted as a safe and effective method of margin analysis during breast conservation surgery.
Pole retrieval by eigenvector methods

Two new eigenvector methods for identifying the poles of a linear system from observations of its transient response are presented. The methods have the desirable properties of completely eliminating the spurious zeros associated with the degeneracy of the noise subspace and, at the same time, using this degeneracy to improve the quality of the pole estimates. This is accomplished either by forming appropriate linear combinations of the noise subspace eigenvectors or by working with the signal subspace. The relationship of these methods to MUSIC is discussed and some simulation results are presented.
Reduction of Uncertainties in Prediction of Wake-Vortex Locations

Lift-generated vortex wakes of subsonic transport aircraft are known to pose a rolling-moment hazard to in-trail following aircraft. Hazardous wake encounters are now avoided by maintaining in-trail separation distances that are larger than needed for other operational considerations. To increase airport capacity, considerable effort has been devoted to the development of techniques and procedures by which vortex wakes can be accurately located as a function of time, so that following aircraft can avoid them with less in-trail spacings. To improve the accuracy with which vortex wakes can be located, a study of the uncertainties associated with the determination of the time-dependent location of vortex wakes and on ways to reduce the uncertainties are reported
Gender differences in survival and antipredatory behavior in stalk-eyed flies

Exaggerated eye span of stalk-eyed flies is a classic example of the evolution of an extravagant male ornament resulting from sexual selection. Increased male eye span may entail costs associated with production and/or maintenance, including potential locomotor costs that may increase predation risk. However, behavioral responses by individuals may alter the relationship between a morphological trait and performance, increasing expected overall fitness. Antipredator behavior and survival of male and female Teleopsis dalmanni were quantified during pairwise interactions between individual flies and an actively foraging, generalist arachnid predator (Phidippus audax). Male and female flies were compared under the assumption that female stalk length is closer to the optimum set by natural selection. There were significant differences in behaviors between the sexes, with males spending more time engaged in aggressive actions. Interestingly, males also exhibited increased survival relative to females. Within males, survivors did not differ from nonsurvivors in any of the morphological measures, including eye span, but there was a significant difference in abdomen bobbing, grooming, and flight. These results highlight the importance of behavior in the ability of stalk-eyed flies to effectively elude predators, but they do not support the hypothesis that male stalk-eyed flies suffer increased predation due to exaggerated eyestalks. Key words: antipredator behavior, predation risk, sexual selection, stalk-eyed flies. [Behav Ecol]
Pooling Restaurant Reservations to Increase Service Efficiency

This article examines whether restaurant reservations should be locked to specific tables at the time the reservation is made or whether the reservations should be pooled and assigned to tables in real time. In two motivating studies, the authors find that there is a lack of consensus in the restaurant industry on handling reservations. Contrary to what might be expected based on research that shows the benefits of resource pooling in other contexts, a survey of 425 restaurants indicated that more than 80% lock reservations to tables. In two simulation studies, the authors determine that pooling reservations enables a 15-minute reduction in table turn times more than 15% of the time, which consequently increases service efficiency and enables a restaurant to serve more customers during peak periods. Pooling had the most consistent advantage with higher customer service levels, larger restaurants, customers who arrive late, and larger variation in customer arrival time.
Double-diffusive convection in a porous medium

An experimental study has been carried out to examine double-diffusive convection in a porous medium. The experiments were performed in a horizontal layer of porous medium consisting of 3 mm diameter glass beads contained in a box 24 cm × 12 cm × 4 cm high. The top and bottom walls were made of brass and were kept at different constant temperatures by separate baths, with the bottom temperature higher than that of the top. The onset of convection was detected by a heat flux sensor and by the temperature distribution in the porous medium. When the porous medium was saturated with distilled water, the onset of convection was marked by a change in slope of the heat flux curve. The temperature distribution in the longitudinal direction in the middle of the layer indicated a convection pattern consisting of two-dimensional rolls with axes parallel to the short side. This pattern was confirmed by flow visualization. When the porous medium was saturated with salinity gradients of 0.15% cm−1 and 0.225% cm−1, the onset of convection was marked by a dramatic increase in heat flux at the critical ΔT, and the convection pattern was three-dimensional. When the temperature difference was reduced from supercritical to subcritical values, the heat flux curve established a hysteresis loop. Results from linear stability theory, taking into account effects of temperature-dependent viscosity, volumetric expansion coefficients, and a nonlinear basic state salinity profile, are discussed.
Networked Authoritarianism and Social Media in Azerbaijan

The diffusion of digital media does not always have democratic consequences. This mixed-methods study examines how the government of Azerbaijan dissuaded Internet users from political activism. We examine how digital media were used for networked authoritarianism, a form of Internet control common in former Soviet states where manipulation over digitally mediated social networks is used more than outright censorship. Through a content analysis of 3 years of Azerbaijani media, a 2-year structural equation model of the relationship between Internet use and attitudes toward protest, and interviews with Azerbaijani online activists, we find that the government has successfully dissuaded frequent Internet users from supporting protest and average Internet users from using social media for political purposes.
Draft Genome Sequence of a vanA-Type Vancomycin-Resistant Reference Strain, Enterococcus faecium ATCC 51559.

ABSTRACT Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium has emerged as a multidrug-resistant pathogen in hospital settings. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of a high-level vancomycin-resistant strain, E. faecium ATCC 51559, which is employed as a standard laboratory vanA genotype-positive control strain for clinical and laboratory studies.
Design for Remanufacturing

Design for remanufacturing (DfR{eman}) can be a viable opportunity to maximise the utility of products and value to businesses and consumers while also maximising the amount of waste that can be diverted from landfills. Products that incorporate DfR{eman} principles from their conception can display greater economic, environmental and social benefits to manufacturers and society than products that incorporate remanufacturing strategies as an afterthought to product design. This paper summarises the opportunities DfR{eman} can offer product designers and manufacturers as a tool to enhance a product's sustainability.
Sleep Apnea in Type 2 Diabetes

IN BRIEF Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) alters glucose metabolism, promotes insulin resistance, and is associated with development of type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a key moderator of the effect of OSA on type 2 diabetes. However, chronic exposure to intermittent hypoxia and other pathophysiological effects of OSA affect glucose metabolism directly, and treatment of OSA can improve glucose homeostasis.
Energy Metabolism and Thermoregulation in Large White-toothed Shrew(Crocidura lasiura)

In order to understand the adaptive ecophysiological characterstics of large white-toothed shrew(Crocidura lasiura),we messured the energy metabolism and themoregulation of this animal.Our results showed that: large white-toothed shrew could keep a stable body temperature of(36.40±0.05)℃ at the ambient temperature(Ta) of 17.5～27.5 ℃.The thermal neutral zone(TNZ) was 20～30 ℃.The basal metabolic rate(BMR) was(4.37±0.14) ml O2/(g·h).The heat conduction was(0.32±0.01) ml O2/(g·h·℃).The energy intake,digested energy,and metabolizable energy intake was(4.40±0.43) kJ/(g·d),(4.03±0.40) kJ/(g·d) and(3.95±0.39) kJ/(g·d) respectively,while the digestibility and metabolizable energy efficiency was(91.41±0.88)% and(89.58±0.87)%,respectively.These results suggest that large white-tooched shrews had relative lower body temperature,relative lower thermal conductance,high BMR,wider TNZ,higer low critical temperature,and high digestibility.
Intervention effect of excessive occupational hazards in manufacturers in Nanshan District of Shenzhen City

[Objective]To investigate the effect of intervention measure on enterprises with air chemical hazardous agents exceeding standard in workplace so as to prompt the occupational disease prevention.[Methods]A total of 30 manufacturers with air chemical hazardous agents exceeding national standard in workplace by witnessed inspections from January 2008-December 2010 were selected for comparative analysis before and after intervention.[Results] Most of the standard-exceeded chemical occupational hazards could met the requirements after intervention,but the manganese and inorganic compounds control was difficult to implement.The occupational health management and the index rate of emergency management measures focusing at personal protection were significantly improved after intervention.[Conclusion]The intervention measures are effective and feasible but the protection facilities of welding process should be further improved in the container producing enterprise,shipbuilding enterprise,machinery manufacturing corporation.
Preparation and application of quick-penetration Beta-cypermethrin EC

Objective According to the actuality of some regions utilized DDVP to control pest,one insecticide had been developed to substitute it with low toxicity and high efficiency. Methods Accelerating knocking rapidity of Beta-cypermethrin by selecting penetrant,and having experiment on the quality and efficacy according to correlation PRC state criterion. Results The Quick-penetration Beta-cypermethrin EC was developed by common ingredient.The knocking time of 50% on pest was equal to DDVP,but the toxicity was much lower than DDVP. Conclusion The insecticide on pest control was safe,effective and economical.
Odortypes Determined by the Major Histocompatibility Complex in Mice

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), a string of at least 50 or more genes, has been subject to a vast amount of cellular and molecular analysis because of its critical role in governing the immune response [1]. These genes, the products of which are found on most cell surfaces, are so polymorphic that they uniquely code every individual, save identical twins. These genes have also been shown to provision mice with an individual olfactory signal or odortype [2–6], found most strongly in urine and apparently serving to regulate mating preferences [7–9] and maintenance of pregnancy [10,11]. MHC-selective mating depends on familial imprinting, as shown by the altered mating choices of appropriately fostered males [12]. In the context of familial MHC imprinting, and in other reproductive contexts such as maternal identification of progeny in relation to nursing, it is necessary to know whether MHC odortypes are expressed in early life, not only to elucidate further the reproductive significance of MHC odortypes but also because data on the early expression of MHC odortypes are essential to a number of potential studies on the generation of odortypes.
Abnormal combinations of nuclear and cytoplasmic systems in frogs and toads.

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates the development of genetic differences that lead to hybrid inviability. It is pointed out that the species level of divergence can be reached with no hybrid inviability at any stage of the divergence. For example, rana pipiens and rana palustris are full species, and no herpetologist regards them as anything else. Their hybrids are entirely normal, so there is no reason to suppose that hybrid inviability was ever a concomitant of their divergence. It is probable that there is no necessary relation, in allopatric populations, between hybrid inviability and evolutionary divergence at the lowest levels. When two populations are evolving in different regions, the thing of primary evolutionary importance is the adaptation of each to its own environment. If the two happen to adapt in different ways, they are said to diverge. The genetic basis of this adaptation may or may not be of a sort that leads to hybrid inviability if the two are crossed. This divergence need not involve the development of different external characters, and if it does not, the chances of detecting it are reduced. There is no reason that adaptation should involve the development of differences that can be used conveniently by taxonomists.
Lymphocyte Identity and Genomic Switches

Naive CD4+ helper T lymphocytes can adapt to many fates upon encountering environmental stimuli and differentiate into a spectrum of effector or regulatory lineages. In the early days, immunologists defined their functionality by expression of a small handful of signature genes. With the present extraordinary capabilities to gain genome-wide information on gene transcription, chromatin state, and transcription factor recruitment, we now come to appreciate the importance of a vast majority of genomic region outside of annotated genes. This is where many regulatory elements including enhancers exist, serving as a platform for transcription factors and operating as switches for genes in proximity and at a distance. Regions of strong and extensive deposition of enhancer marks represent super-enhancers (SEs). Distinctive super-enhancer structure associates with key genes that define cell phenotype as well as highly sensitive drug targets. Accumulating evidence on chromatin state indicates that cell identity is established by converging sequential actions of pioneer transcription factors, signal-dependent transcription factors, and lineage-defining master transcription factors. Chromatin state integrates past and current action of transcription factors and presents it as epigenetic fingerprints. Deciphering fine genomic fingerprints and identifying genomic switches will pave the way for deeper understanding of identity, plasticity, and functionality of cell lineages.
Choosing to Interact: Exploring the Relationship between Learner Personality, Attitudes, and Tutorial Dialogue Participation.

The tremendous effectiveness of intelligent tutoring systems is due in large part to their interactivity. However, when learners are free to choose the extent to which they interact with a tutoring system, not all learners do so actively. This paper examines a study with a natural language tutorial dialogue system for computer science, in which students interacted with the JavaTutor system through natural language dialogue over the course of problem solving. We explore the relationship between students’ level of dialogue interaction and learner characteristics including personality profile and pre-existing attitudes toward the learning task. The results show that these learner characteristics are significant predictors of the extent to which students engage in dialogue with the tutoring system, as well as the number of task actions students make. By identifying students who may not engage with tutoring systems as readily, this work constitutes a step toward building adaptive systems that successfully support a variety of students with different attitudes and personalities.
A Biclustering Method to Discover Co-regulated Genes Using Diverse Gene Expression Datasets

We propose a two-step biclustering approach to mine co-regulation patterns of a given reference gene to discover other genes that function in a common biological process. Currently, several successful methods utilize Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) based gene expression analysis across all samples in datasets. However, microarray datasets are fraught with spurious samples or samples of diverse origin, and many genes/proteins that function in the same biological pathway may be missed. The novel PCC based biclustering algorithm introduced in this paper identifies subsets of genes with high correlation by stringently filtering the data and reducing false negatives due to spurious or unrelated samples in a dataset. Then, correlation information extracted from resulting biclusters are synthesized. We applied our method using the breast cancer associated tumor suppressors, BRCA1 and BRCA2, as the reference proteins to reveal genes and proteins important in the complex process of breast tumor formation. Experiments on 20 very large datasets showed that the top-ranked genes were remarkably enriched for genes that regulate the mitotic spindle and cytokinesis. The results imply that BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins, which are considered to be DNA repair factors, have critical function regarding the mitotic spindle as well. Initial biological verification reveal that this identified factor function to control both centrosome dynamics, and also, surprisingly, DNA repair. Thus, this biclustering approach is successful at identifying proteins with highly related function from extremely complex datasets, and permits novel insights into gene function.
High volume ULE segment production

It is expected that many of the next generation large ground based telescopes will utilize a segmented design for the primary mirror and, in some cases, the secondary mirror. Corning Incorporated (Corning) presents a process to manufacture segment mirror blanks from Corning ULE titania silicate glass in segment sizes ranging from 1.0 m to 1.8 m flat to flat. This paper will review ULE properties and describe the facilities, equipment, resources, and processes required to produce a few hundred to a few thousand mirror segment blanks for extremely large telescope (ELT) applications.
A Criterion-Referenced Approach to Student Ratings of Instruction

We developed a criterion-referenced student rating of instruction (SRI) to facilitate formative assessment of teaching. It involves four dimensions of teaching quality that are grounded in current instructional design principles: Organization and structure, Assessment and feedback, Personal interactions, and Academic rigor. Using item response theory and Wright mapping methods, we describe teaching characteristics at various points along the latent continuum for each scale. These maps enable criterion-referenced score interpretation by making an explicit connection between test performance and the theoretical framework. We explain the way our Wright maps can be used to enhance an instructor’s ability to interpret scores and identify ways to refine teaching. Although our work is aimed at improving score interpretation, a criterion-referenced test is not immune to factors that may bias test scores. The literature on SRIs is filled with research on factors unrelated to teaching that may bias scores. Therefore, we also used multilevel models to evaluate the extent to which student and course characteristic may affect scores and compromise score interpretation. Results indicated that student anger and the interaction between student gender and instructor gender are significant effects that account for a small amount of variance in SRI scores. All things considered, our criterion-referenced approach to SRIs is a viable way to describe teaching quality and help instructors refine pedagogy and facilitate course development.
Ultrafast atomic-scale structural response in monolayer and multilayer transition metal dichalcogenides

Femtosecond x-ray studies of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide films reveal ultrafast in-plane and out-of-plane responses, including compression of the out-of-plane lattice spacing, structure factor modulations, and in-plane dynamics occurring on few picosecond time-scales.
Breast sound speed tomography from B-mode data

Cancerous breast tumors have been shown to have higher sound speeds than healthy tissue; so accurate sound speed imaging is potentially valuable in cancer detection. We have constructed a volume breast ultrasound (VBUS) scanner that measures sound speed using standard B-mode technology. The objective of this study was to validate VBUS scanner sound speed measurements. Methods: The VBUS scanner automatically images the patient's pendant breast without compression, while a rotational motor acquires approximately 140 B-Mode images over 360 degrees in under 30 seconds using a commercially-available B-Mode transducer; a second motor sets the slice elevation. B-Mode images contain information from a reflector opposite the breast from the transducer that provide time delays for each RF A-line. Back-projection using a graphics processing unit (GPU) produces a 3-dimensional sound speed image. Scanner performance was measured using test phantoms and patient volunteers. Results: Sound speed reconstruction was 1 second per slice. Sound speed accuracy was within 98% and images were able to identify lesions down to 2.4 mm in the breast test phantoms. Sound speed images were also obtained from healthy volunteers as part of validating performance and determining that the scanner is ready for clinical evaluation. Conclusions: Our volume breast ultrasound (VBUS) scanner utilizes conventional US imaging technology to image sound speed. Our results show encouraging resolution and contrast that could potentially improve breast cancer detection and diagnosis, especially in women with dense breasts.
“Theological” Medical Morality? A Response to Joseph Fuchs

Joseph Fuchs is a skillful and experienced articulator of the contemporary meaning of “natural law” in the Roman Catholic tradition of ethics. Over twenty years ago, he contributed a major discussion of the question whether “natural law” is a purely philosophical concept in Catholic tradition, or whether it can be grounded theologically [4], The fact that the conversation has continued for decades indicates that it is of key importance to the intelligibility of natural law ethics as Christian ethics, and also that the question is one not easily settled. I will devote my comments to four issues suggested by Fr. Fuchs’s present treatment. An initial concern already has received our attention: (1) the premises and method of the particular philosophy in mind when we address the relation of philosophical thinking to Catholic medical ethics. The next three issues are pertinent specifically to the theological foundations — and ramifications — of natural law philosophy as interpreted within Catholic tradition. These are: (2) the relevance of Scripture to Catholic ethics; (3) the authority of the Church as interpreter of a philosophically-based ethical tradition; and (4) a proposal regarding the interdependence of theological and philosophical resources in Catholic moral reflection.
A Cognitive Approach for Gateway Relocation in Wireless Sensor Networks.

Wireless sensor networks are composed of a number of sensors probing their surroundings and disseminating the collected data to a gateway node for processing. Numerous military and civil applications have emerged over the last few years for wireless sensor networks. In many of these applications, sensors and gateways are placed in harsh environments. Therefore, protecting snsors and the gateway is critical for ensuring the robustness of the network operation. Gateway relocation has been pursued as means for boosting network-related performance metrics, such as throughput and energy consumption. However, we argue that relocating without taking safety concerns into consideration may cause the gateway to move dangerously close to one or multiple serious events in the environment. In this paper, we present GRASP, a new algorithm for Gateway Relocation for Adaptive Safety and Performance requirements/goals. GRASP employs an evolutionary neural network to estimate the risk at the new proposed gateway position before the relocation process takes place. Our experimental validation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of GRASP. Introduction and Preliminaries In the past few years, wireless sensor networks (WSN) have received increasing interest from the scientific and engineering communities due to their potential use in many applications such as target tracking, disaster management, border control and battlefield surveillance (Akyildiz et al. 2002; Estrin et al. 1999; Karl & Willig 2005; Min et al. 2001; Pottie & Kaiser 2004). Components of the WSN include sensors, gateways, command nodes, and monitored phenomena (Figure 1). Sensors are miniaturized battery-operated devices equipped with a communication subsystem. The main function of WSN is to collect data and report any abnormal conditions happening in an area of interest. These conditions are reported by close-by sensors and transmitted as packets, often over multi hop paths, to a central unit called gateway for analysis. The gateway interfaces the WSN to command and control centers, reporting serious findings and/or required data. The reported data may indicate that some moving tarCopyright c © 2006, American Association for Artificial Intelligence (www.aaai.org). All rights reserved. gets crossed in from outside the deployment area, the irruption of a fire, etc. Sensors consume energy every time they are involved in data transmission. Thus, highly active sensors tend to lose their energy faster than inactive ones. Once all the onboard energy supply drains, the sensor becomes dysfunctional. Therefore, an important goal in WSN is to minimize the transmission power in order to keep sensors alive for the longest time possible.
Verrucous psoriasis: A rare variant of psoriasis masquerading as verrucous carcinoma.

Verrucous psoriasis (VP) is a rare variant of psoriasis characterized by hyperkeratotic, papillomatous plaques that clinically resemble verrucous carcinoma (VC) in lesion appearance and distribution.1, 2 It is amenable to medical treatments.3, 4, 5 Conversely, VC, a rare subtype of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, is treated with surgical excision.1 Histologically, they may be difficult to differentiate. Ancillary positive p16 staining can help confirm a diagnosis of VC in equivocal cases. When diagnosing VC, it would be beneficial to consider a differential diagnosis including VP, verruca vulgaris, deep fungal infection, leishmaniasis, and hypertrophic lichen planus, which are responsive to medical treatment. Early consideration of medical therapy in uncertain cases could aid in the avoidance of unnecessary procedures and their complications. We present a patient with VP of the heel that was initially diagnosed as VC and excised. Recovery was complicated by graft breakdown and poor wound healing over 2 years.
Ley de la Vida: Latina/o Immigrant Parents Experience of Their Children’s Transition to Higher Education

Using an emerging model of family engagement in higher education and the concept of parental role construction as a framework, this study presents the Ley de la Vida (Law of Life) process to explor...
Of Pathways, Processes, and Orbitofrontal Cortex.

Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) predicts the consequences of our actions and updates our expectations based on experienced outcomes. In this issue of Neuron, Groman et al. (2019) precisely ablate pathways between the OFC, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens to reveal their separable contributions to reinforcement learning.
Present-day mass wasting in sulfate-rich sediments in the equatorial regions of Mars

Abstract Present-day topographic changes are observed on steep slopes in equatorial regions of Mars that are associated with sulfate-rich sediments. Hydrated sulfates are known to be present in many sedimentary deposits on Mars. We document volume changes in the form of mass movements and gullies over these regions. We have estimated erosion rates of ~12 mm/yr (or ~1.2–120 mm/yr with uncertainties) over steep slopes on sulfate-rich mounds in Ganges Chasma, much higher than Mars average erosion rate near a few μm/yr. At this rate, the mounds would have shrunk in diameter by ~18,000 km over 3 b.y., which greatly exceeds the width of the canyon, supporting suggestions that these sediments once filled the canyons. Due to the soft nature of typical sulfate-rich sediment, it is susceptible to mass wasting, and active eolian processes may remove loose material to maintain steep slopes. The water in hydrated sulfates could potentially be extracted and used as a resource for future humans on Mars, and our results suggest that such deposits would be mechanically weak.
Grandma's Living Large: Her Reverse Mortgage - Saving Grace or Terrific Waste

Using the COVER model for ethical decision making, this fictional case looks at the ethics of the reverse mortgage.
Utility of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire to Monitor Patient Beliefs in Systemic Vasculitis

Objective To assess the validity and clinical utility of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) to measure illness perceptions in multiple forms of vasculitis. Methods Patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu’s arteritis (TAK), ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and relapsing polychondritis (RP) were recruited into a prospective, observational cohort. Patients independently completed the BIPQ, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and a Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) at successive study visits. Physicians concurrently completed a Physician Global Assessment (PhGA) form. Illness perceptions, as assessed by the BIPQ, were compared to responses from the full-length Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and to other clinical outcome measures. Results 196 patients (GCA=47, TAK=47, RP=56, AAV=46) were evaluated over 454 visits. Illness perception scores in each domain were comparable between the BIPQ and IPQ-R (3.28 vs 3.47, p=0.22). Illness perceptions differed by type of vasculitis, with the highest perceived psychological burden of disease in RP. The BIPQ was significantly associated with all other patient-reported outcome measures (ρ=0.50-0.70, p Conclusion The BIPQ is an accurate and valid assessment tool to measure and monitor illness perceptions in patients with vasculitis. Use of the BIPQ as an outcome measure in clinical trials may provide complimentary information to physician-based assessments.
Conditions and timing of incorporation of ophiolite into orogenic crust during oblique convergence, Central Anatolia

Ophiolitic fragments scattered over a wide area of Central Anatolia exhibit varying degrees of metamorphism, from unmetamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies, although geochemical similarities suggest they are all part of the Central Anatolian Ophiolite (CAO). Magmatic crystallization of oceanic crust in the CAO at ~ 91 Ma coincided with high-grade metamorphism of rocks that underlie the southern, highest grade part of the CAO, raising questions about the tectonic relationship of the ophiolite to underlying metasedimentary and plutonic rocks. New geochronology results show that the 40Ar/39Ar hornblende age of amphibolite-facies metagabbro in the high-grade metamorphic part of the CAO is ~ 87 Ma, similar to hornblende ages from amphibolite in the underlying Nigde metamorphic/plutonic massif. Biotite in a deformed quartzofeldspathic rock associated with high-grade meta-ophiolitic rocks yielded an 40Ar–39Ar age of ~ 78 Ma, similar to biotite ages from the Nigde Massif. Hornblende in gabbro from unmetamorphosed CAO yielded an older 40Ar/39Ar age of ~ 90 Ma, similar to the previously determined crystallization age of the ophiolite. These data indicate that the southern part of the ophiolite was incorporated into and therefore metamorphosed and deformed with the orogenic mid-crust now exposed in the Nigde metamorphic–plutonic complex, whereas the northern, unmetamorphosed part of the ophiolite was obducted onto the continent. This distinct difference in different parts of the ophiolite may indicate oblique collision or irregularities in the continental margin, resulting in part of the ophiolite being incorporated into the orogenic crust and subsequently exhumed and cooled with it, and another part being obducted.