cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mapping the current distribution in YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films with striations

Abstract : We have studied the transport current distributions in striated YBa2Cu3O(7-X) (YBCO) films and coated conductors using variable temperature scanning laser microscopy (VTSLM). VTSLM images reveal the location of incomplete separation between filaments due to un-optimized sample processing parameters. When the current flows parallel to the completely separated striations, the current seems to flow within a strip without inter-mixing via the substrate. Initial resistivity measurements on metallic inter-filamentary connections (gold dots) exhibit a semiconducting behavior. VTSLM images clearly show that the current flows between filaments via the metallic inter-connect, indicating the semiconducting resistive behavior is due to the interface between YBCO and metallic layer. The results demonstrate the potential of VTSLM technique in investigating current sharing and normal metal inter-connect issues for the coated conductor development for ac applications.
Closed-Loop Analysis in Semantic Tolerance Modeling

A semantic tolerance modeling scheme based on generalized intervals was recently proposed to allow for embedding more tolerancing intents in specifications with a combination of numerical intervals and logical quantifiers. By differentiating a priori and a posteriori tolerances, the logic relationships among variables can be interpreted, which is useful to verify completeness and soundness of numerical estimations in tolerance analysis. In this paper, we present a semantic tolerance analysis approach to estimate size and geometric tolerance stackups based on closed loops of interval vectors. An interpretable linear system solver is constructed to ensure interpretability of numerical results. A direct linearization method for nonlinear systems is also developed. This new approach enhances traditional numerical analysis methods by preserving logical information during computation such that more semantics can be derived from variation estimations.
Preclinical Stroke Research Gains and Gaps

The Stroke Progress Review Group, commissioned by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to review the status of stroke research in 2011, addressed a variety of clinical and preclinical areas, including progress and unmet needs in preclinical investigation.1 Identified among the latter were the need to develop better molecular, cellular, and animal models of stroke. This finding reflects understandable disappointment that, although such models have been available for >50 years,2 few advances in the treatment of acute stroke have occurred. Numerous authors have addressed possible explanations for this paradox and recommended new approaches,3–6 and the Stroke Progress Review Group produced no new conceptual breakthroughs in this respect. However, there may be value in reflecting again on some of the …
The food mutagen 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline: a conformational analysis of its major DNA adduct and comparison with the 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline adduct.

The heterocyclic amine 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) is one of a group of heterocyclic amine carcinogens that exists in cooked meat and fish. It causes mutations in bacterial and mammalian assays and induces tumors in mammals. MeIQx is converted within cells to a reactive derivative which forms a major covalent adduct at carbon-8 of guanine in DNA. This adduct may alter the DNA conformation at critical stages of the replicative process, and cause mutations which initiate the carcinogenic process. Atomic resolution structures of the MeIQx-damaged DNA are not yet available experimentally. We have carried out an extensive molecular mechanics/energy minimization search to locate feasible structures for the major MeIQx adduct in DNA, using the sequence d(5'-C1-G2-C3-G4[IQ]-C5-G6-C7-3').d(5'-G8-C9-G10-C11-G12-C13-G14-3') with MeIQx modification at G4. We have created 1152 starting conformations which uniformly sampled each of the three flexible torsion angles that govern the MeIQx-DNA orientation at 15 degrees intervals, and minimized their energy. A mixture of conformations was generated, which were separated into families according to the position of the ring system of the carcinogenic amine: major groove, minor groove, and base-displaced-intercalated. While a generally similar mixture had been generated previously for the related carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) [Wu, X., et al. (1999) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12, 895-905], differences were found which could be rationalized in terms of the additional methyl group in the MeIQx.
Robust analysis of variance with Turbo Pascal

A program in Turbo Pascal for robust analysis of variance is presented. A typical data file, the Pascal program listing and the corresponding output are given.
Heat‐induced changes in the conformation of α‐ and β‐crystalline: Unique thermal stability of α‐crystallin

Of the crystallin proteins of the lens, the principal subunit of the beta-crystallin, beta B2 (beta Bp), has been considered to be the only heat-stable protein because it does not precipitate upon heating. In our recent investigations, however, we have found that the alpha-crystallin from bovine lenses is not only heat stable but also does not denature at temperatures up to 100 degrees C. Using circular dichroism and fluorescence to monitor the conformational changes of alpha- and beta B2-crystallins upon heating, we found that alpha-crystallin maintains a high degree of structure, whereas the beta B2-crystallin shows a reversible sigmoidal order-disorder transition at about 58 degrees C.
The emergence of a field: research and training in higher education

Higher education as a field of study emerged as universities became complex institutions requiring data and interpretation for effective management and governance. The field expanded in the mid-20th century, and now includes many research and other journals, books, and other reports and publications. Academic departments and centers have been established to produce research and analysis, as well as to train professionals for university management. Government agencies also produce data on higher education, and many universities have established departments for institutional research to help them in management and planning. The field of higher education studies has grown along with the massification of postsecondary education worldwide.
Detection of Aeromonas salmonicida in the Mucus of Salmonid Fishes

Abstract Mucus of salmonids was evaluated as a source for nonlethal detection of the pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida in fish. The bacterium was readily isolated from mucus on dilution plates when Coomassie Brilliant Blue agar was the primary plating medium. Kidney samples from the fish that served as sources of mucus were similarly processed. Infection was detected in 56% of mucus samples from lake trout Salvelinus namaycush that were undergoing an epizootic of furunculosis, but only 6% of the kidneys from these fish were positive for the pathogen. Only 1% of asymptomatic brown trout Salmo trutta sampled at another fish hatchery had A. salmonicida in their mucus, and none had a kidney infection. Combined results from the examination of two pools of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar reared at a third hatchery indicated that 37% of these fish had mucus infections caused by A. salmonicida, but only 4% of the kidneys were infected.
High/ultra-high speed imaging as a diagnostic tool.

The ability to see what is happening during an experiment is often critical to human understanding. High and ultra-high speed cameras have for decades allowed scientists to see these extremely short time-scale events; starting with film cameras and now with digital versions of these cameras. The move to digital cameras has invited the use of computer analysis of the images for obtaining quantitative information well beyond the qualitative usefulness of merely being able to see the event. Digital image correlation (DIC) is one of these powerful and popular quantitative techniques, but by no means the only possible image analysis method. All of these analysis techniques ask more of the camera technology than simply providing images. They require high-quality images that are amenable to analysis and do not introduce error sources that compromise the data. Possible error sources include image noise, image distortions, synchronization and spatial sampling issues. As a minimal starting point, the introduced errors must be well understood in order to put error bounds on the results. This is because in many experiments some result is better than no result; with the caveat that the error sources and the relative confidence of the data are understood. The concepts will be framed in relation to ongoing ultra-high speed work being done at Sandia. A call and challenge will be given to begin thinking in more detail about how to successfully turn these cameras into diagnostic instruments.
Rural-urban mortality in developing countries: An index for detecting rural underregistration

This study begins with a brief analysis of past and present urban-rural mortality in those countries which are presently considered to be developed. The same analysis centers in developing countries, for it is thought that their rural mortality should be greater than their urban mortality. Since available statistics generally show the contrary, a way is presented for constructing possible means of sub-registering vital statistics in some areas of these countries. The index would vary to agree with the system of the registry of vital statistics in a given area. Mexico is used as an example—the result of constructing and analyzing the index is to show in which areas there should be a subregistry of deaths. Finally, the cases of India and Taiwan are analyzed in order to confirm the hypothesis that in developing countries there will be a higher mortality rate in. rural than in urban areas.
Simulation of Mechanisms Causing Stunting in Northern Pike Populations

Abstract Some mechanisms hypothesized to cause stunting of northern pike Esox lucius include overpopulation and competition, lack of appropriately sized prey, and lack of thermal refuges in midsummer. The objective of this work was to use an energetics model of northern pike growth over 3 years to test the effects of these mechanisms on stunting. Simulations for females indicated the following: (1) competition-based stunting could occur when food resources were reduced by only 5–10% per individual, such that size at age 3 would be reduced by up to 51%; (2) lack of appropriately sized prey could result in stunting (up to 35% of a northern pike's annual ration often comes from large and rare prey), such that size at age 3 could be reduced 80%; (3) inappropriate thermal regimes could reduce northern pike growth up to 58%, but only under extremely warm conditions.
The Influence of Marianismo Beliefs on Physical Activity of Immigrant Latinas

Purpose: To verify and explicate the impact of marianismo beliefs on the physical activity behaviors of immigrant Latinas. Design/Method: Twenty-eight immigrant Latinas, aged 18 to 40 years, were recruited to participate in two focus group interviews. Data collection and analysis were driven by Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence. Results: Two domain terms were identified: “Life is too fast here” and “The woman is the center of the family.” Six included terms and five cultural themes were specified. Discussion/Conclusions: A combination of marianismo beliefs, acculturation stress, loss of social support, and conflicts between collectivist and individualist values combine to adversely influence physical activity behaviors of immigrant Latinas. Implications for Practice: Physical activity interventions for Hispanic women should capitalize on the strengths of the marianista, address factors leading to acculturation stress among women and their families, and establish bridges of social support among ne...
The Effects of Gender Segregation, Labor Force Participation, and Family Roles on the Earnings of Young Adult Workers.

This analysis takes a life-course approach to the study of gender inequality in earnings among young adults. The authors construct hypotheses that assess the effects of family role accumulation, earnings atrophy and occupational choice, occupational segregation, and statistical discrimination. The authors find considerable support for the hypothesis that the effects of current labor force attachment, work experience, and occupational segregation are conditioned by family roles. The negative effects of women's representation within occupations are confined to married parents, although the results for women are consistent with social closure explanations, whereas the results for men are more consistent with status composition explanations of the effects of gender segregation. This analysis also reveals interesting differences in the effects of current and prior labor force attachment that are conditioned by gender and life-course group. The results point to the need for more research that studies the relati...
Nerve growth factor (NGF) reverses axotomy-induced decreases in choline acetyltransferase, NGF receptor and size of medial septum cholinergic neurons

Abstract Intraventricular nerve growth factor (NGF) infusion in the adult rat can prevent and also, if delayed, reverse the disappearance of most of the axotomized medial septum cholinergic neurons immunostained for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). We have utilized the delayed NGF treatment protocol to (i) extend to 3 months the delay time between axotomy and NGF treatment, (ii) define the time course of their recovery, (iii) determine that immunostaining for the (lower affinity) NGF receptor (NGFR) parallels loss and reversal of the ChAT marker, and (iv) evaluate changes in cholinergic somal size following axotomy and subsequent NGF treatment. While NGF treatments starting only 7 days after the fimbria-fornix transection (axotomy) almost entirely restored the number of both ChAT- and NGFR-positive medial septum neurons, longer delayed (2–3 weeks) treatment brought about recovery from the baseline of 20–25% to only about 70% of the control numbers. This limited recoverability, however, persisted even after a 95 day delay period. In all cases examined maximal recoveries were achieved within 3–7 days of NGF treatment. Neuronal size analyses provided evidence for an axotomy-induced atrophy. NGF treatments, started with 1 or 2 week delays, not only reversed fully the average somal size loss but also induced an actual hypertrophy of several of those neurons. These results provide additional evidence that at least half of the apparent loss of cholinergic medial septum neurons upon axotomy is due to a loss of markers such as the transmitter-related enzyme ChAT and NGFR rather than to actual neuronal cell death. These results also show that NGF exerts a genuine trophic influence by regulating the size of its target neurons as well as their content of several proteins.
Theory and Fiction: Rorty's View of Philosophy as Literature

Richard Rorty was one of the most committed and respected critics of the distinction between philosophy and literature. He urged philosophers to adapt an ironist stance, characterized by a double commitment to historicism and nominalism, thereby simultaneously abandoning their inveterate representationalism as well as their predilection for hypostasizing abstract concepts. The ensuing return to the individual and contingent was also supposed to facilitate the absorption of philosophy into the realm of literature proper. This brief essay focuses on some aspects of the relationship between philosophy, literature, and history, highlighting thereby the role that theorizing of an abstract kind plays in the construction of fictional worlds—marking out a territory within the crafting of literature itself that draws on the non-nominalist mode of discourse usually favored by philosophers.
A Time-to-First-Spike CMOS Image Sensor

A time-to-first-spike (TTFS) imager was designed such that each pixel outputs a single digital pulse whose timing encodes pixel illumination. For still image applications, this time representation provides a tremendous increase in dynamic range, similar to that of other existing time-based imagers. However, a major advantage of the TTFS imager is that this wide dynamic range can be achieved even for 30 frames/s video applications. A prototype 32times32 TTFS image sensor was fabricated in AMI 0.5 mum CMOS technology. The prototype chip demonstrates a 104 dB dynamic range (limited by the optical equipment), 42 V/electron conversion gain, 1.25 nA/cm2 dark current, and 3.1 mW power consumption at 30 frames/s.
Structure, Sulfatide Binding Properties, and Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation by a Disabled-2 Protein-derived Peptide

Disabled-2 (Dab2) targets membranes and triggers a wide range of biological events, including endocytosis and platelet aggregation. Dab2, through its phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain, inhibits platelet aggregation by competing with fibrinogen for αIIbβ3 integrin receptor binding. We have recently shown that the N-terminal region, including the PTB domain (N-PTB), drives Dab2 to the platelet membrane surface by binding to sulfatides through two sulfatide-binding motifs, modulating the extent of platelet aggregation. The three-dimensional structure of a Dab2-derived peptide encompassing the sulfatide-binding motifs has been determined in dodecylphosphocholine micelles using NMR spectroscopy. Dab2 sulfatide-binding motif contains two helices when embedded in micelles, reversibly binds to sulfatides with moderate affinity, lies parallel to the micelle surface, and when added to a platelet mixture, reduces the number and size of sulfatide-induced aggregates. Overall, our findings identify and structurally characterize a minimal region in Dab2 that modulates platelet homotypic interactions, all of which provide the foundation for rational design of a new generation of anti-aggregatory low-molecular mass molecules for therapeutic purposes.
Undercooling of 63SN-37PB Solder Pastes

Large-scale undercoolings and long incubation periods for solidification of 63Sn-37Pb solder pastes were observed through a differential scanning calorimeter, as functions of cooling rate and contact surface (aluminium versus copper). The undercooling reduced significantly with decreased cooling rate, but even at a rate of 2°C/minute, the undercooling was as large as 35°C for a no-clean solder paste in an aluminium sample pan. Poor wetting conditions (weak flux, nonwetting surfaces) led to large undercoolings and long incubation periods. The undercooling during a typical reflow process in electronic assembly was determined, by a simulated DSC test, to be about 50°C for a no-clean solder paste on bare copper surface. The large undercooling is probably caused by the reduced degree of the heterogeneous nucleation for solidification due to the small size of a solder joint and poor wetting with its contact surface.
Can 1st-Year College Students Accurately Report Their Learning and Development?

Many higher education studies use self-reported gains as indicators of college student learning and development. However, the evidence regarding the validity of these indicators is quite mixed. It is proposed that the temporal nature of the assessment—whether students are asked to report their current attributes or how their attributes have changed over time—best accounts for students’ (in)ability to make accurate judgments. Using a longitudinal sample of over 3,000 first-year college students, this study compares self-reported gains and longitudinal gains that are measured either objectively or subjectively. Across several cognitive and noncognitive outcomes, the correlations between self-reported and longitudinal gains are small or virtually zero, and regression analyses using these two forms of assessment yield divergent results.
Sigma Factor Genes sigC, sigE, and sigG Are Upregulated in Heterocysts of the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120

We used gfp transcriptional fusions to investigate the regulation of eight sigma factor genes during heterocyst development in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. Reporter strains containing gfp fusions with the upstream regions of sigB2, sigD, sigI, and sigJ did not show developmental regulation. Time-lapse microscopy of sigC, sigE, and sigG reporter strains showed increased green fluorescent protein fluorescence in differentiating cells at 4 h, 16 h, and 9 h, respectively, after nitrogen step down.
The Reliability of the Maze Procedure

Investigated maze test comparability and parallel form reliability; investigated whether different teachers could construct comparable maze tests over the same reading passage when given the same d...
Understanding the Religious and Spiritual Dimensions of Students' Lives in the First Year of College

In this study we sought to understand how the first college year impacted students spiritually and religiously. The sample was comprised of 3,680 first-year students from 50 colleges and universities across the country and included individuals representing a variety of racial/ethnic and religious backgrounds. Overall, students became less religiously active, but were more committed to integrating spirituality into their lives after one year. Further, religiousness and spirituality were highly correlated, although personal characteristics, institutional variables, and college experiences were also associated with these constructs.
Generative prior knowledge for discriminative classification

We present a novel framework for integrating prior knowledge into discriminative classifiers. Our framework allows discriminative classifiers such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to utilize prior knowledge specified in the generative setting. The dual objective of fitting the data and respecting prior knowledge is formulated as a bilevel program, which is solved (approximately) via iterative application of second-order cone programming. To test our approach, we consider the problem of using WordNet (a semantic database of English language) to improve low-sample classification accuracy of newsgroup categorization. WordNet is viewed as an approximate, but readily available source of background knowledge, and our framework is capable of utilizing it in a flexible way.
Menstrual function after tubal sterilization

More than 10 million women in the United States have undergone tubal sterilization. There has been concern that this procedure may increase the risk of later menstrual dysfunction. The Collaborative Review of Sterilization (CREST) is a large, multicenter, prospective study of tubal sterilization in the United States. This report describes CREST participants who were interviewed immediately before sterilization and again in annual poststerilization interviews for up to 5 years between 1978 and 1988. The authors analyzed reported changes in six menstrual cycle characteristics for 5,070 women undergoing interval sterilizations. Longitudinal, multivariate regression was used to adjust for baseline menstrual function and other potential confounders. Five years after sterilization, 35% of the CREST participants reported high levels of menstrual pain, 49% reported heavy or very heavy menstrual flow, and 10% reported spotting between periods. In contrast to the fifth year, the first year of follow-up was similar to presterilization menstrual function; in the first year, 27% of participants reported high menstrual pain, 41% reported heavy menstrual flow, and 7% reported spotting. These findings may be affected by aging of the cohort and other study limitations, but they suggest that if tubal sterilization leads to changes in menstrual function, such changes may take some time to develop.
Predicting and Designing Optical Properties of Inorganic Materials

Modern first-principles calculations based on density functional theory and related techniques enable the predictive modeling of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of materials without adjustable or empirical parameters. Today, atomistic calculations are an indispensable tool by which to understand the interrelationship between the underlying structure and the measured optical properties and are particularly suited for the design of new materials with desirable optical responses and performance. In this article, we discuss the first-principles design methodology, and we review recent results from the literature that exemplify the predictive power of the method for numerous inorganic materials and nanostructures. We also discuss topics of active research and future opportunities that will enable the wider adoption of atomistic simulation techniques for predictive materials design.
Is microsomal triglyceride transfer protein the missing link in abetalipoproteinemia

In the study reported by Wetterau et al., a recently characterized heterodimeric protein called microsomal triglyceride transfer protein was undetectable on immunoblotting of samples from intestinal biopsies of human subjects with the genetic disorder abetalipoproteinemia. With only one fourth to one fifth the soluble proteins of homogenized intestinal biopsy specimens of normal human subjects and patients with different fat-absorption defects, the 88-kD subunit of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein was clearly detectable. Protein disulfide isomerase, the 55-kD subunit of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, was present in tissue of all subjects tested, including those with abetalipoproteinemia. Consistent results were obtained with an in vitro assay that measures triglyceride transfer between phospholipid membranes: triglyceride transfer continued at constant rates for more than 1 hr in samples from biopsies in normal human subjects, whereas no measurable triglyceride transfer was detected in the same material from abetalipoproteinemia patients. The apparent absence of the 88-kD subunit of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein most likely explains this debilitating disorder. This new observation coincides with the recent articulation of a novel hypothesis about the subcellular mechanisms by which enterocytes and hepatocytes assemble triglyceride-rich particles containing the large hydrophobic protein apolipoprotein B in two steps. In the first step, a small (≈ 200 A), apolipoprotein B–rich microemulsion particle containing small amounts of triglycerides and cholesteryl esters in its core is formed and released into the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The second step requires the synthesis of larger triglyceride-rich particles lacking apolipoprotein B in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Fusion of these two particles is postulated to yield nascent very low density lipoproteins or chylomicrons that can be secreted by hepatocytes and enterocytes, respectively. In classic abetalipoproteinemia patients, no apolipoprotein B is found in blood plasma, and chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins and low-density lipoproteins are absent. The two-step model of triglyceride-rich particle formation predicts that, in the absence of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, newly synthesized apolipoprotein B bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane cannot be core-lipidated and thus cannot be efficiently dissociated from the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane. In other words, the first step cannot occur in the absence of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. Consequently, apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins cannot be produced and sequestered in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum in abetalipoproteinemia, and no such lipoproteins are secreted.
Bovine Abominations: Genetic Culture and Politics in the Netherlands

This article examines how people in the Netherlands attempted to come to terms with the phenomenon of a genetically modified bull, illuminating the levels of enculturation surrounding the production, consumption, and use of new genetic knowledge. The article demonstrates that new genetic knowledge and practices are deeply entangled with Dutch national identity, the social ideal of tolerance, and anxieties about what Dutch identity is and means in relation both to the history of Nazi occupation and to contemporary immigration. In so doing I explore how this new knowledge and practice raise issues regarding purity and the porous border crossings and policings of contemporary biotechnoscience. The article also illustrates that there is no single story of genetics in the Netherlands but that people continually contest its meanings, significance, and appropriate use.
Low-Wavenumber Structure and Evolution of the Hurricane Inner Core Observed by Airborne Dual-Doppler Radar

Abstract The asymmetric dynamics of the hurricane inner-core region is examined through a novel analysis of high temporal resolution, three-dimensional wind fields derived from airborne dual-Doppler radar. Seven consecutive composites of Hurricane Olivia’s (1994) wind field with 30-min time resolution depict a weakening storm undergoing substantial structural changes. The symmetric and asymmetric mechanisms involved in this transformation are considered separately. To zeroth order the weakening of the primary circulation is consistent with the axisymmetric vortex spindown theory of Eliassen and Lystad for a neutrally stratified atmosphere. Vertical shear, however, increased dramatically during the observation period, leading to a strong projection of the convection onto an azimuthal wavenumber 1 pattern oriented along the maximum vertical shear vector. Recent theoretical ideas elucidating the dynamics of vortices in vertical shear are used to help explain this asymmetry. The role of asymmetric vorticity d...
Investigations into the Pd-catalysed cross-coupling of phenylacetylene with aryl chlorides: simple one-pot procedure and the effect of ZnCl2 co-catalysis.

[PdCl{C6H3(OPPri2)2-2,6}] 1 catalyses the coupling of electron-rich, electron-neutral and electron-deficient aryl chlorides with phenylacetylene in the presence of ZnCl2 as co-catalyst to give the products in modest to excellent yields.
Asymptotic Crack-Tip Fields in Perfectly Plastic Solids Under Mixed Mode II/III Loading Conditions

In this paper, governing equations and solutions for asymptotic singular and nonsingular crack-tip sectors in perfectly plastic materials are first summarized under combined in-plane and out-of-plane shear loading conditions. The crack-tip fields under mixed mode II/III loading conditions are then investigated. An assembly of crack-tip sectors is adopted with stress discontinuities along the border of the two constant stress sectors. The solutions of the crack-tip fields under pure mode II, mixed mode II/III, and nearly pure mode III loading conditions are presented. The trends of the angular variations of the mixed mode II/III crack-tip stresses agree with those of the available computational analysis and the asymptotic analysis for low strain hardening materials. The pure mode II crack-tip stresses are similar to those of Hutchinson, and the nearly pure mode III stresses are similar to those of the pure mode III crack-tip field of Rice.
Exploring population genetic structure in three species of Lesser Antillean bats

We explore population genetic structure in phyllostomid bats ( Ardops nichollsi , Brachyphylla cavernarum and Artibeus jamaicensis ) from the northern Lesser Antilles by investigating the degree to which island populations are genetically differentiated. Our hypothesis, that the island populations are genetically distinct because of a combination of founding events, limited migration and genetic drift exacerbated by catastrophe-induced fluctuations in population size, is derived from a priori hypotheses erected in the literature. The first prediction of this hypothesis, that within each species island populations are monophyletic, was tested using a parametric bootstrap approach. Island monophyly could not be rejected in Ardops nichollsi ( P = 0.718), but could be rejected in B. cavernarum ( P 100 km of ocean can be explained either by interisland migration or by incomplete lineage sorting of ancestral polymorphism in the source population. As an a posteriori test of lineage sorting, we used simulations of gene trees within a population tree to suggest that lineage sorting is an unlikely explanation for the observed pattern of nonmonophyly in Artibeus jamaicensis ( P W < 0.01; P SE = 0.04), but cannot be rejected in B. cavernarum ( P W = 0.81; P SE = 0.79). A conservative interpretation of the molecular data is that island populations of Artibeus jamaicensis , although isolated geographically, are not isolated genetically.
Pool boiling on nano-textured surfaces

Abstract Pool boiling on nano-textured surfaces was studied experimentally and theoretically for ethanol and water as working fluids. The nano-textured surfaces were copper platelets covered with copper-plated electrospun nanofibers. In addition, for comparison pool boiling on the corresponding bare copper surfaces was experimentally studied. The results revealed that the heat flux and heat transfer coefficient in boiling on the nano-textured surfaces were about 3–8 times higher than those on the bare copper surfaces. This stems from the fact that nano-textured surfaces promote bubble growth by increasing the average temperature of fluid surrounding growing bubbles, as our experimental and theoretical results show. Hence, nano-textured surfaces comprised of copper-plated nanofibers facilitate bubble growth rate and, thus, increase bubble detachment frequency. On the other hand, the critical heat flux (CHF) on the nano-textured surfaces was found to be very close to its counterpart on the bare copper surfaces. However, the heat flux on the nano-textured surfaces in transition boiling was significantly higher than on the bare copper ones, since the presence of nanofibers prevented bubble merging and delayed formation of vapor film. The wall temperature is about 10 °C lower on the nano-textured surfaces. In transitional boiling the heat flux on nanofiber mats reduces much slower than on the bare surfaces.
Oops, Our Earnings Were Indeed Preliminary

The market reacts to earnings surprises when firms report different earnings in SEC filings from earnings reported just a few weeks earlier in preliminary earnings announcements. This is a new finding. When SEC filings include material new information, investors incorporate this in pricing company shares. Market reactions are stronger in the case of downward earnings revisions than upward earnings revisions, but an inverse drift in abnormal returns occurs for upward earnings revisions after the SEC filing date. Finally, it is documented that security analysts revise their forecasts upon the preliminary earnings announcement, but ignore the new information in the SEC filings.
Home use of albuterol for asthma exacerbations.

Background To reduce symptoms and emergency department (ED) visits, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines recommend early treatment of acute asthma symptoms with albuterol and oral corticosteroids. Yet, ED visits for asthma are frequent and often occur several days after onset of increased symptoms, particularly for children from low-income, urban neighborhoods. Objectives To describe home use of albuterol and identify factors associated with appropriate albuterol use. Methods A total of 114 caregivers in the intervention group of a randomized trial to reduce emergent care for low-income, urban children completed a structured telephone interview with an asthma nurse to evaluate home management of their child’s acute asthma symptoms. Interviews lasted approximately 20 minutes and were conducted from November 5, 2003, through September 30, 2005. Albuterol use as reported by caregivers was categorized as appropriate or inappropriate based on NAEPP recommendations. Results Albuterol use for worsening asthma symptoms was categorized as appropriate for only 68% of caregivers and was more likely if the children had an ED visit or hospitalization for asthma in the prior year. The remaining 32% of caregivers used albuterol inappropriately (overtreatment or undertreatment). Appropriate albuterol use was not associated with caregiver report of having an asthma action plan (AAP) or a recent primary care physician visit to discuss asthma maintenance care. Conclusions Caregivers reported that they would use albuterol to treat their child’s worsening asthma symptoms, but many described inappropriate use. Detailed evaluation of proper albuterol use at home may provide insight into how health care professionals can better educate and support parents in their management of acute exacerbations and more effective use of AAPs.
Empowering Future Organizational Leaders For The 21st Century

In today’s 21 st century environment, organizations must identify with their stakeholders not only in products and services they provide, but the organization today must adhere to values consistent to their stakeholders. Organizational leaders must create high performance organizations in order to compete in a global mega-economic world, the old schema of business as usual and inundated policies and procedures must be rooted out in order for the organization to compete by identifying and sustaining diversified employees within a global economy.
Dark current characterization of irradiated solar cells

A decrease in ideality factor of GaAs solar cells due to irradiation with 1MeV electron radiation resulted in decreased open circuit voltage and maximum power. Dark current-voltage measurements suggest that 1 MeV electron radiation primarily affects dark current produced at voltages greater than 0.5 V. The dark saturation current of irradiated solar cells increased but a simultaneous decrease in ideality factor caused a reduction of the open circuit voltage. The reduced ideality factor further indicates a change in the primary recombination mechanism.
The Promise and Perils of Ultraviolet

This research critically investigates the UltraViolet© technology and argues that this technology offers consumers a form of conspicuous consumption that endorses a culturally important type of commodity fetishism. Unlike P2P exchange of files, or locally streaming content, or even DVD ownership, UltraViolet™ technology attempts to emulate the successes of all three areas of media use without drawing attention to the socioeconomic consequences that adoption of its model endorses. It demands that consumers participate in an economic exchange of capital that requires (1) the purchase of legally “sanctioned media”; (2) pay for its licensure validation process to confirm one’s ownership rights and also (3) purchase access to the very content that consumers already own. UltraViolet™ accomplishes this under a marketing rhetoric of liberating users from the constraints of physical media like Blu-Ray discs by espousing the portability and utility of an all-digital, streaming model of viewer consumption. To evaluate these claims, this research pursues a political economic analysis of this technology that examines these exchanges of capital and the emerging consumption model with its attendant cultural costs for contemporary consumers of digital entertainment.
Learning hierarchical representations for face verification

Most modern face recognition systems rely on a feature representation given by a hand-crafted image descriptor, such as Local Binary Patterns (LBP), and achieve improved performance by combining several such representations. In this paper, we propose deep learning as a natural source for obtaining additional, complementary representations. To learn features in high-resolution images, we make use of convolutional deep belief networks. Moreover, to take advantage of global structure in an object class, we develop local convolutional restricted Boltzmann machines, a novel convolutional learning model that exploits the global structure by not assuming stationarity of features across the image, while maintaining scalability and robustness to small misalignments. We also present a novel application of deep learning to descriptors other than pixel intensity values, such as LBP. In addition, we compare performance of networks trained using unsupervised learning against networks with random filters, and empirically show that learning weights not only is necessary for obtaining good multilayer representations, but also provides robustness to the choice of the network architecture parameters. Finally, we show that a recognition system using only representations obtained from deep learning can achieve comparable accuracy with a system using a combination of hand-crafted image descriptors. Moreover, by combining these representations, we achieve state-of-the-art results on a real-world face verification database.
Common Bacterial Infections of the Skin in Children

Skin infections are more easily understood if one considers the reason for their occurrence. These reasons can be considered under two rubrics: the host defenses and their impairments, and the invading organisms (mainly staphylococcus and streptococcus).
How Far Can We Go with Deliberative Research at Dangerous Places

This paper reflects on several past research projects that required convening deliberative discussions in dangerous places. It raises questions about the safety of participants, collaboration with government agencies, and working within the constraints of ethical research practices. The reflection offers practical insights into the conduct of deliberative research and practice in difficult and dangerous locations.
Political behavior in family- and founder-controlled firms

Purpose – The political behavior of founders, families and their firms in the form of campaign contributions has not been explored by family business scholars. Yet partisan and ideological campaign contributions raise a range of governance issues and hold implications for myriad stakeholders, including investors, employees, customers and the public. The purpose of this paper compares and contrasts the campaign contributions of founder- and family-controlled firms relative to managerially governed firms and develops theoretical explanations for observed differences. Design/methodology/approach – This paper develops a “principal owner” hypothesis based upon a typology of firm ownership characteristics (founder/family control or not; publicly traded or privately held). This hypothesis is tested by multivariate empirical analyses of the campaign contributions of 251 firms across 14 industries with four types of ownership structures. Findings – Founder- and family-controlled firms are more partisan and ideolog...
Ultrasonic Signal Acquisition and Processing platform based on Zynq SoC

Ultrasonic testing systems have been widely used in medical and industrial fields, demanding strict requirements for processing speed and re-configurability of the hardware system. This paper presents a prototype of a reconfigurable, high performance, low cost and real-time Ultrasonic Signal Acquisition and Processing (USAP) platform based on Zynq System-on-Chip (SoC). The USAP platform consists of five major components: Multi-level voltage power supply; High voltage pulse generation; Ultrasonic signal acquisition; Sampling control unit and Digital signal processing module. The system uses Xilinx Zynq SoC as main processor and controller. It combines both ARM processor and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) on the same chip, which makes the system capable of doing complex system configuration and performing high speed data processing. With this arrangement, the developed system is highly reconfigurable, where software and hardware configuration can be changed on both ARM and FPGA. This paper presents a system design flow of a complete ultrasonic testing system which is capable of acquiring ultrasonic data and performing advanced signal processing algorithms in real-time.
Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles: Financially Viable Option?

Natural gas vehicles are being developed because of increasing concerns about energy dependence, air quality and emissions, and, more recently, climate change. The major advantage of natural gas vehicles is their lower fuel cost. Several economic and technical factors such as limited range and availability of relevant infrastructure prevent widespread adoption of natural gas vehicles. A model for the financial analysis of the possibility of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles being competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles is offered. The model evaluates the extent to which commuters find adoption of CNG vehicles to be economically viable in the United States. The results indicate that the percentage of commuters who would adopt CNG vehicles is small, even if fueling infrastructure were fully developed and CNG vehicles were widely available for purchase. A larger number of vehicle miles traveled and increased gasoline prices encourage commuters to adopt CNG vehicles, while higher fuel economy and purch...
Acute heart failure in bone marrow transplantation: Impact of intravenous immune globulin as adjuvant therapy

16512 Background: Little is known regarding management or treatment of cardiac failure after bone marrow transplantation. We investigated the management, treatment and outcome of new onset acute de...
Multimodal Sentiment Intensity Analysis in Videos: Facial Gestures and Verbal Messages

People share their opinions, stories, and reviews through online video sharing websites every day. The automatic analysis of these online opinion videos is bringing new or understudied research challenges to the field of computational linguistics and multimodal analysis. Among these challenges is the fundamental question of exploiting the dynamics between visual gestures and verbal messages to be able to better model sentiment. This article addresses this question in four ways: introducing the first multimodal dataset with opinion-level sentiment intensity annotations; studying the prototypical interaction patterns between facial gestures and spoken words when inferring sentiment intensity; proposing a new computational representation, called multimodal dictionary, based on a language-gesture study; and evaluating the authors' proposed approach in a speaker-independent paradigm for sentiment intensity prediction. The authors' study identifies four interaction types between facial gestures and verbal content: neutral, emphasizer, positive, and negative interactions. Experiments show statistically significant improvement when using multimodal dictionary representation over the conventional early fusion representation (that is, feature concatenation).
Implications of time/frequency synchronization tradeoff of quasi-synchronous multi-carrier DS-CDMA for robust communications at lower VHF

A prime objective in tactical environments is reliable, ad hoc communication among multiple users robust to lapses in coordination methods such as GPS or centralized base stations. Classical approaches to multi-user communications relying on tight node synchronization and/or power control are infeasible in ad hoc infrastructure-poor scenarios. In this paper, we study multi-user coding strategies with greatly reduced synchronization requirements (compared to conventional systems such as cellular) ideally suited for mobile near-ground nodes in harsh tactical environments. We exploit quasi-synchronous (QS) direct sequence (DS) code division multiple access (CDMA) codes transmitted over multiple carriers (MC). These codes are characterized by a zero cross-correlation zone (ZCZ), a measure of the delay tolerance among transmitters over which perfect code orthogonality still holds at the receiver. Using multiple carriers extends the ZCZ in time, thereby relaxing the time synchronization requirement, but tightening the frequency synchronization requirement. We study this tradeoff in this paper. We also argue that the QS MC-DS-CDMA system will have superior performance at lower VHF because of reduced multipath, reduced frequency offset, and better penetration relative to UHF or microwave systems in dense urban environments [1]–[4]. We develop an experimental testbed based on software-defined radios (SDR) and analyze the proposed approach at the lower VHF band.