cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical response of human female breast skin under uniaxial stretching.

Abstract Skin is a complex material covering the entire surface of the human body. Studying the mechanical properties of skin to calibrate a constitutive model is of great importance to many applications such as plastic or cosmetic surgery and treatment of skin-based diseases like decubitus ulcers. The main objective of the present study was to identify and calibrate an appropriate material constitutive model for skin and establish certain universal properties that are independent of patient-specific variability. We performed uniaxial tests performed on breast skin specimens freshly harvested during mastectomy. Two different constitutive models – one phenomenological and another microstructurally inspired – were used to interpret the mechanical responses observed in the experiments. Remarkably, we found that the model parameters that characterize dependence on previous maximum stretch (or preconditioning) exhibited specimen-independent universal behavior.
The Chloroplast Genome and Its Expression

The studies of Schimper, Strasburger, and others in the 1880s demonstrated that chloroplasts in a sense have an existence of their own. Chloroplasts were found to proliferate by division of existing plastids and were passed on to daughter cells at the time of cell division. But more recent findings have indicated that the chloroplasts’ independence is quite limited. Plastids have their own DNA, which is quite distinct from nuclear DNA, and also have the ability to express the genetic information in their DNA. A question with much current interest, however, is the critical one of how much information chloroplast DNA actually contains. Although the total mass of DNA in a chloroplast is generally somewhat more than that in a bacterial cell, the genetic capacity of chloroplast DNA is much less than that of the bacterial chromosome. The reason for this paradox is that chloroplasts contain multiple copies of a relatively small molecule of DNA. As with mitochondria, the information in chloroplast DNA apparently is only that which is required, separate from the nucleus, to synthesize a few necessary functional proteins. However, even to accomplish the synthesis of these relatively few proteins, the chloroplast must contain its own ribosomes and complete machinery for protein synthesis. As work on the biosynthetic capabilities of the chloroplast proceeds, it is becoming quite clear that most of the plastid’s proteins and properties are determined by the nuclear genome and that most of its proteins are synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes.
One-pot growth of two-dimensional lateral heterostructures via sequential edge-epitaxy

Two-dimensional heterojunctions of transition-metal dichalcogenides have great potential for application in low-power, high-performance and flexible electro-optical devices, such as tunnelling transistors, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors and photovoltaic cells. Although complex heterostructures have been fabricated via the van der Waals stacking of different two-dimensional materials, the in situ fabrication of high-quality lateral heterostructures with multiple junctions remains a challenge. Transition-metal-dichalcogenide lateral heterostructures have been synthesized via single-step, two-step or multi-step growth processes. However, these methods lack the flexibility to control, in situ, the growth of individual domains. In situ synthesis of multi-junction lateral heterostructures does not require multiple exchanges of sources or reactors, a limitation in previous approaches as it exposes the edges to ambient contamination, compromises the homogeneity of domain size in periodic structures, and results in long processing times. Here we report a one-pot synthetic approach, using a single heterogeneous solid source, for the continuous fabrication of lateral multi-junction heterostructures consisting of monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides. The sequential formation of heterojunctions is achieved solely by changing the composition of the reactive gas environment in the presence of water vapour. This enables selective control of the water-induced oxidation and volatilization of each transition-metal precursor, as well as its nucleation on the substrate, leading to sequential edge-epitaxy of distinct transition-metal dichalcogenides. Photoluminescence maps confirm the sequential spatial modulation of the bandgap, and atomic-resolution images reveal defect-free lateral connectivity between the different transition-metal-dichalcogenide domains within a single crystal structure. Electrical transport measurements revealed diode-like responses across the junctions. Our new approach offers greater flexibility and control than previous methods for continuous growth of transition-metal-dichalcogenide-based multi-junction lateral heterostructures. These findings could be extended to other families of two-dimensional materials, and establish a foundation for the development of complex and atomically thin in-plane superlattices, devices and integrated circuits.
Evaluation of the Effects of Effluents on Aquatic Life in Receiving Waters—An Overview

Federal water pollution control legislation strongly emphasizes the need to protect aquatic life from adverse effects of effluents. Effluent biomonitoring, therefore, plays an important role in the federal water pollutioncontrol program, and includes two basic functions: (1) measurement of the toxicity and biostimulatory properties of effluents, and (2) measurement of the effects of effluents on the biological integrity of receiving waters, which includes the abundance, species composition, metabolism, and condition of indigenous aquatic organisms. Standardized methods for sample collection and preparation are widely available. However, additional tools are urgently needed to assist biologists in sample analysis and data interpretation. The tools needed include species identification manuals, information on the life histories of aquatic organisms, and descriptive models with which to evaluate field data. The models would describe the standing crop, species composition, and community metabolism expected at a given sampling station in the absence of pollution, taking into account the season of the year, climate, ambient meteorological and hydrological conditions, water chemistry, and the nature of the substrate. Effective data interpretation also requires utilization of available parametric and nonparametric methods for statistical analyses of the field data in order to determine the significance of observed differences in the properties of aquatic communities at "control" and "polluted" sampling stations.
Binaural processing for robust recognition of degraded speech

This paper discusses a new combination of techniques that help in improving the accuracy of speech recognition in adverse conditions using two microphones. Classic approaches toward binaural speech processing use some form of cross-correlation over time across the two sensors to effectively isolate target speech from interferers. Several additional techniques using temporal and spatial masking have been proposed in the past to improve recognition accuracy in the presence of reverberation and interfering talkers. In this paper, we consider the use of cross-correlation across frequency over some limited range of frequency channels in addition to the existing methods of monaural and binaural processing. This has the effect of locating and reinforcing coincident peaks across frequency over the representation of binaural interaction and provides local smoothing over the specified range of frequencies. Combined with the temporal and spatial masking techniques mentioned above, this leads to significant improvements in binaural speech recognition.
Ionization Mechanism of Positive-Ion Nitrogen Direct Analysis in Real Time.

Nitrogen can be an inexpensive alternative to helium used by direct analysis in real time (DART), especially in consideration of the looming helium shortage. Therefore, the ionization mechanism of positive-ion N2 DART has been systematically investigated. Our experiments suggest that a range of metastable nitrogen species with a variety of internal energies existed and all of them were less energetic than metastable helium atoms. However, compounds with ionization energies (IE) equal to or lower than 10.2 eV (all organic compounds except the extremely small ones) can be efficiently ionized. Because N2 DART was unable to efficiently ionize ambient moisture and common organic solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile, the most important ionization mechanism was direct Penning ionization followed by self-protonation of polar compounds generating [M+H]+ ions. On the other hand, N2 DART was able to efficiently ionize ammonia, which was beneficial in the ionization of hydrogen-bonding compounds with proton affinities (PA) weaker than ammonia generating [M+NH4]+ ions and large PAHs generating [M+H]+ ions through proton transfer. N2 DART was also able to efficiently ionize NO, which led to the ionization of nonpolar compounds such as alkanes and small aromatics generating [M–(2m+1)H]+ (m=0,1…) ions. Lastly, metastable nitrogen species was also able to produce oxygen atoms, which resulted in increased oxygen adducts as the polarity of organic compounds decreased. In comparison with He DART, N2 DART was approximately one order of magnitude less sensitive in generating [M+H]+ ions, but could be more sensitive in generating [M+NH4]+ ions.
Crisis of Church Decline in and Revitalization of Korean Churches

In this book forum, I expand Jang’s discussion of the crisis of church decline today in S Korea and propose that developing the psychological, in addition to spiritual, maturity of church leaders as well as the laity, is critical to regaining hope in the church, and suggest that the church must prioritize the development of the psychological maturity of people as its foremost mission in contemporary society.
Refractory ventricular fibrillation in patient taking Lamictal

Refractory ventricular fibrillation occurs when there are three or more episodes of ventricular fibrillation within a 24-hour period. We report the first case of a 35-year-old woman without prior medical or family cardiac history who sustained refractory ventricular fibrillation while taking Lamictal for bipolar depression. She presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after a syncopal episode at work. She then sustained a cardiac arrest and required defibrillation in the ED multiple times due to recurrent ventricular fibrillation. The patient received a Subcutaneous Implantable Cardio-Defibrillator and was discharged home. There was no identifiable cardiac or medical cause of her ventricular fibrillation and the electrophysiologist suspected Lamictal caused her refractory ventricular fibrillation.
Inhibition of thrombin generation by the zymogen factor VII: implications for the treatment of hemophilia A by factor VIIa

Factor VII circulates as a single chain inactive zymogen (10 nmol/L) and a trace (∼10-100 pmol/L) circulates as the 2-chain form, factor VIIa. Factor VII and factor VIIa were studied in a coagulation model using plasma concentrations of purified coagulation factors with reactions initiated with relipidated tissue factor (TF). Factor VII (10 nmol/L) extended the lag phase of thrombin generation initiated by 100 pmol/L factor VIIa and low TF. With the coagulation inhibitors TFPI and AT-III present, factor VII both extended the lag phase of the reaction and depressed the rate of thrombin generation. The inhibition of factor Xa generation by factor VII is consistent with its competition with factor VIIa for TF. Thrombin generation with TF concentrations >100 pmol/L was not inhibited by factor VII. At low tissue factor concentrations (
Development and Initial Validation of a Reading-Specific Performance Validity Test: the College Assessment of Reading Effort (CARE)

Although performance validity tests (PVTs) are routinely used in neuropsychological assessment to detect malingering or low-effort test-taking, they are seldom administered to college students seeking academic accommodations and other benefits for reading disabilities. Previous research indicates that between 9.5 and 31% of students seeking learning disability evaluations at university-based clinics provide noncredible test scores indicative of symptom exaggeration or low effort. We developed a brief reading–specific PVT designed for college students participating in reading disability testing: the College Assessment of Reading Effort (CARE). We administered the CARE and standardized reading tests to three groups of students: honest controls, students with documented reading disabilities, and students coached to simulate reading disabilities. Simulators displayed normative deficits on standardized reading measures, similar to the scores earned by students with actual reading disabilities and lower than the scores earned by honest controls. In contrast, CARE scores differentiated simulators from honest examinees with and without disabilities. ROC curve analysis showed that CARE composite scores could be used diagnostically to detect low effort with sensitivity, specificity, and predictive power ≥ 0.90. The CARE offers a time- and cost-effective way to assess performance validity during reading disability testing for postsecondary students.
Identification, Alienation, and ‘Hating the Renaissance’

This essay places political Shakespeare from the 1980s in the context of neoliberal economic transformations that gave rise to the Occupy movement, underfunded public higher education, and left students vulnerable to a market-oriented undervaluation of the humanities. Given the current conjuncture, it argues that cultural materialism and other forms of political criticism seeking to demystify powerful agents of social reproduction need to be rethought. Political criticism risks seeming undialectical: it takes Shakespeare’s positive value for granted and thereby dismisses students’ hard-won literacy, their skill in negotiating and taking pleasure in difficult texts. Extrapolating from the classroom, the essay argues ignoring students’ desire to identify with characters and establish an affective relationship to Shakespeare risks their alienation—the opposite of what we’d wish to accomplish.
Abstract 586: VA-ECMO Increases Urinary Levels of the Biomarker Kidney Injury Marker-1 (KIM-1) in a Preclinical Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Use of trans-valvular pumps and veno-arterial extracor...
New investigations in collective form: the open workshop: by Neeraj Bhatia, New York and Barcelona, Actar Publishers, 2019, 192pp., $39.95 (hard cover), ISBN: 9781948765169

Some may say that in the current discourse of architecture we are witnessing a re-folding of the discipline back onto itself. After years of exploring the edges of the discipline, schools of design...
Effect of pH, temperature, and low light flux on the performance (16% STH) of coupled triple junction solar cell to water electrolysis

Abstract A triple junction (3J) solar cell having 33% efficiency at one Sun condition is integrated with an electrolyzer containing Pt wire electrodes to study the effect of pH, temperature and low flux solar light on H2 production from water. Results indicate that electrolyte conduction affects the rate of reaction mostly due to the large voltage at maximum power (Vmpp) of the PV-cell. Measurements are performed both indoors, under 100–500 mWcm−2 insolation, and outdoors. Electrochemical impedance measurements indicate that the exchange current, ji, depends largely on the electrolyte resistance, r (ji = (Vapp-Veq)/r); where Vapp is applied voltage provided from the cell and Veq is the equilibrium potential for water electrolysis (1.23 V). The small increase in the hydrogen production rate with temperature (Ea = 4.4 kJ mol−1) is largely because of the high Vapp, where above 1.6 V the IV curve enters into the Tafel slope region. The maximum solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (STH) outdoor is found to be about 16% under acidic conditions. The high Vmpp (2.5 V) of the PV cell compared to Vopp (1.7 V) makes the current at maximum power (Impp) the limiting factor.
Early-Universe Simulations of the Cosmological Axion

Ultracompact dark matter (DM) minihalos at masses at and below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}\text{ }\text{ }{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ arise in axion DM models where the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry is broken after inflation. The minihalos arise from density perturbations that are generated from the nontrivial axion self-interactions during and shortly after the collapse of the axion-string and domain-wall network. We perform high-resolution simulations of this scenario starting at the epoch before the PQ phase transition and ending at matter-radiation equality. We characterize the spectrum of primordial perturbations that are generated and comment on implications for efforts to detect axion DM. We also measure the DM density at different simulated masses and argue that the correct DM density is obtained for ${m}_{a}=25.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}11.0\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$.
Urine Dipstick: An Approach to Glucosuria, Ketonuria, pH, Specific Gravity, Bilirubin and Urobilinogen – Undeniable Chemistry

Dipstick urinalysis for glucose, ketones, pH, specific gravity, bilirubin, and urobilinogen is an important tool available to clinicians for screening and diagnosis of several systemic disorders. This chapter will provide an in-depth look at the chemical reactions behind these tests, the clinical significance of a positive or negative result, and suggested next steps in evaluation and management. Reasons for false positive and false negative results will also be discussed.
Does Xistence of Inefficiency Matter to a Neoclassical Xorcist? Some Econometric Issues in Panel Stochastic Frontier Models

Does the presence of inefficiency affect estimation of the production function? This paper shows that one cannot ignore inefficiency in estimating the production function simply because standard neoclassical production theory does not recognize its existence. Exclusion of inefficiency can cause inconsistency in the estimates of the technology parameters due to omitted variables which are determinants of inefficiency. We show how one can avoid this inconsistency in estimating the production technology irrespective of whether one is interested in estimating inefficiency or not. Our proposed estimation methods use two state-of-the-art stochastic frontier (SF) panel models. Since distributional assumptions are often a bone of contention even among the followers of the SF approach, we focus on estimation methods that do not rely on distributional assumptions for the inefficiency and noise components.
A Popular Brazilian Music

This article considers how four different authors remember the cultural movement of the 1960s. More specifically, it delves into the musical landscape in Brazil during the military dictatorship from 1964 to 1968. From Bossa Nova, to Tropicalia, to a so called “musica popular Brasileira (MPB)”, a number of academics have investigated how these musical traditions are related to diverse conceptions of national identity. Assessing the works of Roberto Schwarz, David Treece, Christopher Dunn and Sean Stroud, this article demonstrates an unanimous agreement about the lasting effects of the Tropicalia movement of 1968 on the national consciousness. While Trecee argues it demonstrates the disillusionment of leftist artists, Schwarz poses that the movement sought to highlight contradictions of this time. Moreover, Dunn and Stroud argue that the musical movements of 1968 are intricately related to the rise of both a single national music — MPB — as well as that of a vibrant counterculture.
Clobazam Retention Rate in Pediatric Epilepsy (P1.5-031)

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of clobazam (CLBZ) in children with epilepsy, using treatment persistence (retention rate) without additional therapy as the primary outcome measure. Background: CLBZ is a benzodiazepine with US FDA approval for treating seizures in patients with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) since 2011, but is used broadly for refractory epilepsy. Post-marketing studies are helpful for informing use of the medication in practice. Design/Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at two US comprehensive pediatric epilepsy centers. Children ages 0–21 years starting clobazam for the first time between 1/1/2012 and 1/1/2017, outside of a clinical trial, with at least one follow-up visit were included. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated for time to CLBZ discontinuation, and time to CLBZ failure, defined as discontinuation of CLBZ or addition of another antiepileptic therapy. The impact of concomitant valproate (VPA), and patient and epilepsy characteristics were evaluated using Cox regression. Results: Queries of the electronic medical records found 1601 potentially eligible patients. For this work in progress, 400 charts were reviewed resulting in 196 eligible patients (97 female) included in the analysis cohort. Median age at CLBZ initiation was 10 years (IQR 5–15). Fifty-six (30%) had a diagnosis of LGS. Median follow-up was 31 months (IQR 18–45). Probability of CLBZ continuation was at 67% at 12 months, and 53 % at 24 months. Median time to CLBZ discontinuation was 27 months. Probability of CLBZ success (continuation without addition of another therapy) was 44% % at 12 months, and 29 % at 24 months. Median time to CLBZ failure was 10.5 months. LGS diagnosis did not impact CLBZ success rate (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.59–1.2, p=0.346). Concurrent treatment with VPA and/or the ketogenic diet did not impact success rate. Conclusions: Treatment persistence of CLBZ is comparable to treatment persistence of other AEDs in refractory childhood epilepsy populations. Disclosure: Dr. Gonzalez-Giraldo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nutt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kossoff has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kessler has nothing to disclose.
Characterizing networking performance and interrupt overhead of container overlay networks

Containers, an emerging service to manage and deploy applications into isolated boxes, are quickly increasing in popularity in the cloud and edge computing. In order to provide connectivity among multiple hosts, cloud providers adopt overlay networks, which not only impose significant overhead in throughput and latency in containerized applications, but also consume more CPU resources of the system. Through profiling and code analysis, this paper reveals that the overwhelming interrupts, as well as its load imbalance in the kernel processing contribute to the inefficiency of the container overlay networks. Specifically, every packet in container networks might raise multiple software interrupts compared to that in VM networks. Our results indicate that the container network throughput drops 2/3 and the tail latency increases more than 37 times if the interrupt overhead is not well optimized.
The Anomalies in Temperature Anomalies

It is standard procedure in the study of global warming to deseasonalize the temperature time series monthly means into monthly “temperature anomalies” by subtracting the corresponding monthly mean temperatures in a reference period. This procedure contains the assumption that the seasonal cycle is fixed and unchanging. This assumption is found to be invalid because the source data from measurement stations show that long term trends in the twelve calendar months are not uniform. An alternative procedure is proposed for the study of warming trends net of the seasonal cycle that involves the study of the calendar months separately using a “trend profile” tool to investigate trends within the full span. The proposed methodology is robust to the changes in the seasonal cycle.
The balance of giving versus receiving social support and all-cause mortality in a US national sample

While numerous studies exist on the benefits of social support (both receiving and giving), little research exists on how the balance between the support that individuals regularly give versus that which they receive from others relates to physical health. In a US national sample of 6,325 adults from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, participants were assessed at baseline on hours of social support given and received on a monthly basis, with all-cause mortality data collected from the National Death Index over a 23-y follow-up period. Participants who were relatively balanced in the support they gave compared to what they received had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who either disproportionately received support from others (e.g., received more hours of support than they gave each month) or disproportionately gave support to others (e.g., gave many more hours of support a month than they received). These findings applied to instrumental social support (e.g., help with transportation, childcare). Additionally, participants who gave a moderate amount of instrumental social support had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who either gave very little support or those who gave a lot of support to others. Associations were evident over and above demographic, medical, mental health, and health behavior covariates. Although results are correlational, one interpretation is that promoting a balance, in terms of the support that individuals regularly give relative to what they receive in their social relationships, may not only help to strengthen the social fabric of society but may also have potential physical health benefits.
User Acceptance and Willingness to Pay for Connected Vehicle Technologies: Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis

The preferences of drivers and their willingness to pay (WTP) for connected vehicle (CV) technologies were estimated with the use of adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) analysis, the newest such method available. More than 500 usable surveys were collected through an online survey. Respondents were asked to choose from variously priced CV technology bundles (e.g., collision prevention, roadway information system). The study found that the acceptance level of the CV technologies was high, given that an absolute majority of survey respondents had the highest preferences for the most comprehensive technology bundle in each attribute. However, a comparison of the average importance of each attribute, including bundle prices, implied that price would be an important constraint and would influence CV deployment rates. At the attribute level, collision prevention technology received the highest importance score (i.e., the safety benefits most appealed to drivers). The ACBC analysis seemed to mimic well the tra...
Molecular Beam Stabilized Argon Laser

The frequency of a 5145‐A argon‐ion laser has been locked to an absorption line in a molecular beam of I2. The drift of the laser frequency was less than 20 kHz or Δν/ν<3 × 10−11 for the duration of a run which lasted about 20 min. A molecular‐beam external reference is attractive because transitions observed in the isolated conditions in the beam do not suffer shifts due to collisions or collisional broadening and, if the molecular beam is excited orthogonally, Doppler broadening can be virtually eliminated.
The Business Models of E-Marketplace

An electronic marketplace (EM) is an inter-organizational information intermediary that enables participating buyers and sellers to exchange information about price and product offerings and to cooperate on commodity exchange. Prior researches on EM design have not defined EM business model clearly. With a review of existing literatures on business model, this paper developed taxonomy of EM business models and classified existing EMs business model from a network role perspective. Further discussion of the evolution of EM business model is provided at the end.
Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought

The first classic of 21st-century anthropology."--John Tooby and Leda Cosmides, University of California, Santa Barbara. Many of our questions about religion, says renowned anthropologist Pascal Boyer, are no longer mysteries. We are beginning to know how to answer questions such as "Why do people have religion?" Using findings from anthropology, cognitive science, linguistics, and evolutionary biology, Religion Explained shows how this aspect of human consciousness is increasingly admissible to coherent, naturalistic explanation. This brilliant and controversial book gives readers the first scientific explanation for what religious feeling is really about, what it consists of, and where it comes from.
Magnetohydrodynamic Flow in a Manifold and Multiple Rectangular Coolant Ducts of Self-Cooled Blankets

The magnetohydrodynamic flow of a liquid metal through a manifold that feeds an array of electrically coupled rectangular ducts with thin conducting walls is investigated. This geometry is typical ...
Comparison of the "nursing" and other parental behaviors of nulliparous and lactating female rats.

Virgin female rats display maternal behaviors after continuous exposure to pups (sensitization) that are in some respects similar to those of postpartum females. We herein provide a detailed comparison of the "nursing" and other parental behaviors of maternally sensitized virgin females and postpartum lactating dams. Ovariectomized and intact virgin females were exposed to pups until displaying maternal behavior. On the females' fourth day of maternal responsiveness, the pups were removed for 3 h and then returned, and subject-litter interactions were observed for 45 min. Behavior of maternal virgins was compared with that of lactating dams observed on day 4 postpartum interacting with either suckling pups or pups unable to suckle due to perioral anesthesia. Ovariectomy had no effect on behavior of virgins. Retrieval and licking of pups were deficient in virgins compared with lactating dams. Suckled dams showed prolonged kyphosis (upright crouched nursing), whereas nonsuckled dams displayed little kyphosis but rather were often in a hunched position over pups. Some aspects of quiescent "nursing" behaviors of virgins were surprisingly similar to those of suckled dams, including the latency to and duration of quiescence. Nonsuckling pup stimulation elicited more kyphosis in virgins than in lactating dams, which was still much less than in suckled dams. Virgins also "nursed" pups in hunched and prone postures. Differences between sensitized and postpartum females in their maternal behaviors likely reflect differences in motivation as well as sensory inputs they receive from pups. In particular, sensory regulation of "nursing" behaviors is influenced by reproductive state because nonsuckling pups elicit different postural responses in sensitized and lactating mothers.
What if we knew all the genes for a quantitative trait in hybrid crops

Plant genomics programs are expected to decipher the sequence and function of genes controlling important traits. Most of the important traits in crops are quantitative and are controlled jointly by many loci. What if we knew all the genes for a quantitative trait in hybrid crops? Will genomics enhance hybrid crop breeding, which currently involves selection on the basis of phenotypes rather than gene information? With maize (Zea mays L.) as a model species, I found through computer simulation that gene information is most useful in selection when few loci (e.g., 10) control the trait. With many loci (≥50), the least squares estimates of gene effects become imprecise. Gene information consequently improves selection efficiency among hybrids by only 10% or less, and actually becomes detrimental to selection as more loci become known. Increasing the population size and trait heritability to improve the estimates of gene effects also improves phenotypic selection, leaving little room for improvement of selection efficiency via gene information. The typical reductionist approach in genomics therefore has limited potential for enhancing selection for quantitative traits in hybrid crops.
An efficient general iterative algorithm for dataflow analysis

Existing iterative algorithms for global dataflow analysis have demonstrable shortcomings; either they can be used only for a limited class of problems or they are needlessly inefficient in some cases. We review several algorithms, pointing out weaknesses and develop a new algorithm that can be used for a wide class of problems and has a runtime that compares favorably ro runtimes of existing algorithms.
Angular Dependence of Reversible Transverse Susceptibility in Magnetic Nanoparticles

We present angular dependence measurements of reversible transverse susceptibility for two different single magnetic domain nanoparticle systems. A modified alternating gradient magnetometer was used for the measurements. This study supplements previous reversible transverse susceptibility measurements, usually performed at a limited number of angles by inductive techniques. The angular dependence measurements reveal several features in reversible transverse susceptibility of oriented magnetic nanoparticles that have previously gone undetected. The theoretically predicted peaks at the coercive magnetic field, HC, appear only at certain narrow, primarily nonorthogonal angular orientations. In addition, we find that the magnitude of the reversible transverse susceptibility has a maximum at angles different from both the easy and hard nanoparticle axes, which might have important consequences for use of such nanoparticles in enhancement of magnetic resonance signals
Proteolysis of band 3 is enhanced by anti-Rho(D) binding to the red cell membrane.

Abstract Surface radioiodinated human red cells were incubated with IgG fractions and the radioelectrophoretic profile of the ghost membranes determined. The patterns of Rh o (D)-negative membranes exposed to anti-Rh o (D) IgG and Rh o (D)-positive membranes exposed to non-immune IgG fractions remalned intact. Membranes of Rh o (D)-positive membranes following incubation with anti-Rh o (D) IgG showed a sharp reduction in the quantity of intact band 3, the main glycoprotein of the red cell membrane. This process was significantly abrogated in the presence of protease inhibitors. The results suggest a possible role for IgG binding in promoting the generation of band 3-derived fragments described by others as normal constituents of isolated ghosts.
Role of Zinc Volatilization on the Microstructure Development of Manganese Zinc Ferrites

The role of Zn atmosphere on the microstructure development of Mn-Zn ferrite prepared by alcholic dehydration was investigated. Discontinuous grain growth and intragranular porosity were observed throughout the specimen when a low oxygen partial pressure was employed during sintering. The microstructure of Mn-Zn ferrite sintered in air resembled a mixture between Mn ferrite (uniform grain size) and Zn ferrite (exaggerated grain growth). Exaggerated grain growth was also observed on the surface of Mn ferrite sintered in the presence of a Zn-rich atmosphere. The presence of Zn vapor phase enhanced the grain growth kinetics. The overall results indicate that a strict control of atmosphere is required in order to achieve a uniform pore-free microstructure.
Prescribing antiepileptic drugs: should patients be switched on the basis of cost?

To assess the costs of switching from one antiepileptic drug (AED) to another, all associated direct and indirect costs, not only drug acquisition costs, must be considered. The perspective of the healthcare system evaluated in cost-effectiveness analysis is of crucial importance. Multiple clinical factors can influence clinical decisions regarding switching AEDs. The economic cost of poorly controlled epilepsy is enormous and the most cost-effective intervention is an AED that provides total seizure control. Cost-minimisation studies have evaluated costs associated with various medications. If only efficacy and adverse events were considered, then the ‘older’ AEDs were generally more cost effective than the ‘newer’ AEDs. Most studies only examine very specific clinical situations and are not suitable for establishing general clinical recommendations. The pharmacoeconomics of AED choice is highly country specific. While switching to generic formulations is, in general, cost effective, some changes may be detrimental and more costly than remaining on the trade name preparation. For example, as a result of differences in bioavailability and possible loss of seizure control, changing patients to generic phenytoin and carbamazepine can be problematic. Fosphenytoin may only be cost effective in certain clinical situations compared with intravenous phenytoin. Seizure control should not be sacrificed on the basis of costs alone, as the major endpoint in treating epilepsy with AEDs is seizure control without adverse effects. Switching AEDs in clinical practice still depends on the individual clinical situation and choosing AED therapy solely on the basis of initial acquisition costs is unlikely to be cost effective in the long-term care of patients with epilepsy.
Adherence to tetrahydrobiopterin therapy in patients with phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error in phenylalanine metabolism due to deficiency of the enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Treatment includes restriction of dietary phenylalanine, and in some individuals, supplementation with the PAH cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (sapropterin dihydrochloride). A survey was conducted among patients with PKU who had been prescribed sapropterin to assess reasons for continuing or discontinuing the drug. The primary reason that sapropterin responders discontinued the drug was because of side effects, followed by insufficient reduction of blood phenylalanine and insurance issues. Conversely, those who remained on therapy cited increased tolerance for dietary protein as the main reason for continuation, along with lower blood phenylalanine concentrations and feeling better. This study suggests that adherence to sapropterin therapy is mainly dependent upon the increase in dietary protein allowed when on the drug.
Results of a randomized trial to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among Filipino American women

Abstract Background This paper reports the first evaluation of an intervention to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among Filipino American women. Methods Filipino women over 40 years of age were recruited through nine community-based organizations and six churches in Los Angeles County. After completion of a short baseline interview, all women were invited to attend a group session with some of their peers and a female Filipino health educator. Women within each organization were randomized to receive a cancer screening module (intervention) or a physical activity module (control). Telephone follow-up interviews 12 months after the group session assessed the impact of the intervention. Results Of the 530 women invited, 444 (84%) attended a session. At baseline and follow-up, screening rates for breast and cervical cancer did not differ between study groups. Moderate increases in screening rates (9 to 12 percentage points) were observed in both arms of the study. Among relatively recent immigrants who had spent less than 10 years in the United States, mammography screening increased substantially more in the intervention arm than under the control condition (a 27 vs 6 percentage point increase, P Conclusion Our intervention was only effective in increasing cancer screening among relatively recent immigrants who had very low baseline screening rates.
Tuberous sclerosis complex, mTOR, and the kidney: report of an NIDDK-sponsored workshop

Remarkable basic and translational advances have elucidated the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling network in the pathogenesis of renal disease. Many of these advances origi...
The Effect of Resecting the So-Called “Chalaziferous Region” of the Hen’s Oviduct on the Formation of Subsequent Eggs

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE absence of chalazae in early oviducal eggs has often been observed. Hansen (1933) found that the chalazae became visible at about the time the inner thin white was formed, that is. while the egg was in the uterus. He believed that the chalazae were formed from the viscous, thick white by a rotation of the egg contents while the viscous white is fixed at the two poles. He attributed these movements to a flow of salt solution into the egg which also took part in the formation of the inner thin white. Richardson (1935), on the other hand, held the view that the chalazae were secreted by a specific part of the oviduct. He described mucous cells in a portion of the oviduct located between the funnel (the latter being approximately 3.5 cm. long) and the cephalic end of the magnum (albumen secreting region). These cells make up . . .
Floral mimesis inThelymitra nuda (Orchidaceae)

Insect pollination occurred inThelymitra nuda R. Br. on sunny days when the ambient temperature exceeded 20 °C. The flower buds on a raceme opened subsynchronously displaying the brightly-colored, actinomorphic perianth and exposed the contrastingly-colored, scented and ornamented column. InT. nuda the staminodes and the filament of the fertile stamen are fused to one another producing an inflated hood over the anther. This staminodal hood is terminated in two non-ornamental, but brightly-colored, central lobes and two terete lateral lobes bearing approximately 400 white trichomes. Each trichome bears a double chain of 30–40 spherical, rugulose cells. Female bees, in the genusLasioglossum (Halictidae), were observed to land directly on the hood and curled their bodies around the four lobed tip of the staminodal complex. The bees attempted to forage on the lobes as if they were collecting pollen from fertile, poricidal stamens. These bees applied thoracic vibration to the yellowish central lobes and actively scraped the trichome clusters (Pseudopollen) with their forelegs. Bees carried the pollinaria ofT. nuda dorsally on their abdomens. Abdominal contact with the rostellum appeared to occur when the female bee disengaged herself from the staminodal hood. Observations made of bees on co-blooming flowers, and analyses of pollen loads collected by bees suggested that the orchid flower mimics the guild of blue-purple flowers that lack floral nectar but offer pollen in poricidal anthers. The models ofT. nuda are co-bloomingLiliaceae in the generaDichopogon andThysanotus. However, nectarless, buzz-pollinated flowers are also extensively distributed over the orchid’s range. More than 30% of the flowers in theT. nuda population had their pollinaria removed, suggesting a high capacity for cross-pollination in an orchid genus usually considered to be self-pollinated via mechanical autogamy. This study confirmed previous predictions that column modifications represented a trend towards pseudanthery.
Clustered SS-tree

We present an efficient indexing method called clustered SS-tree for high dimensional database for approximate nearest neighbor queries. The main idea of this approach is to cluster data before creating the index and then apply filtering of index nodes based on angle property in high dimension for efficient searching for clustered SS-tree provides several orders of magnitude better performance than exact nearest neighbor search of SS-tree and VA file.
Fusion of Plant Protoplasts at the Interface of a Glucose and a Sucrose-Polyethylene Glycol Solution

Summary An improved PEG method for protoplast fusion provides for a high percentage of viable heterokaryocytes freely suspended in a liquid medium. In this method, a mixture of protoplasts from two different species in a low density glucose solution was gently placed on top of a high density sucrose-polyethylene glycol solution layer on a cover slip in a petri dish. After the protoplasts settled at the interface of the two solutions, a hypotonic solution adjusted to pH 10 was added on top of the solutions in the dish to provide an osmotic and pH shock to the aggregated protoplasts. As a result the protoplast mixture now contained up to 30 % heterokaryocytes. Most (50 – 80 %) of the heterokaryocytes and parental protoplasts were viable after such treatment.
COMPARISON OF PLASMA CATECHOL LEVELS FROM CORD BLOOD AND INFANT VENOUS BLOOD IN THE NEONATAL DIAGNOSIS OF MENKES DISEASE. † 861

Partial deficiency of the copper-containing enzyme dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) in Menkes disease (MD) produces abnormal plasma and CSF levels of neurochemicals affected by this enzyme. We previously reported the predictive value of catechol levels, assayed by HPLC, for the diagnosis of Menkes disease in the early neonatal period, during which other biochemical markers are unreliable (J Inher Metab Dis 16:907-908, 1993). The present work compared catechol levels (pg/ml) in cord blood to those in infant venous blood obtained just after birth from three Menkes disease infants born during 1995: Table
Chromatin structure of heat‐shock‐inducible genes and abscisic acid‐inducible genes in wheat

We have asked if the induction of gene expression by heat shock or by the phytohormone abscisic acid is accompanied by a change in chromatin structure as assayed by general DNase I sensitivity of the coding region of the responsive genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Stephens). Using nuclei isolated from wheat seedlings, we show by Southern blot hybridization that members of the WHSP 17 gene family (encoding a low-molecular-weight heat-shock protein) become more sensitive to DNase I upon heat shock. This result indicates that the induction of heat-shock genes is accompanied by a change in chromatin conformation in plants, as has been previously demonstrated in animal systems. Abscisic acid has previously been shown to induce the transcription of a 7S globulin gene and inhibit the expression of ribulose 1,5-bisphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit genes in wheat seedlings. We found both of these genes to be sensitive to DNase I before abscisic acid treatment, and we found no change upon treatment.
Engineering Information Service Infrastructure for Ubiquitous Computing

This paper describes a software framework for the development of a ubiquitous computing environment for distributed engineering information services. Two fundamental issues are addressed: universal...
A Darwinian approach to the origin of life cycles with group properties

A selective explanation for the evolution of multicellular organisms from unicellular ones requires knowledge of both selective pressures and factors affecting the response to selection. Understanding the response to selection is particularly challenging in the case of evolutionary transitions in individuality, because these transitions involve a shift in the very units of selection. We develop a conceptual framework in which three fundamental processes (growth, division, and splitting) are the scaffold for unicellular and multicellular life cycles alike. We (i) enumerate the possible ways in which these processes can be linked to create more complex life cycles, (ii) introduce three genes based on growth, division and splitting that, acting in concert, determine the architecture of the life cycles, and finally, (iii) study the evolution of the simplest five life cycles using a heuristic model of coupled ordinary differential equations in which mutations are allowed in the three genes. We demonstrate how changes in the regulation of three fundamental aspects of colonial form (cell size, colony size, and colony cell number) could lead unicellular life cycles to evolve into primitive multicellular life cycles with group properties. One interesting prediction of the model is that selection generally favors cycles with group level properties when intermediate body size is associated with lowest mortality. That is, a universal requirement for the evolution of group cycles in the model is that the size-mortality curve be U-shaped. Furthermore, growth must decelerate with size.