cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Duality symmetric quantization of superstrings

A general covariant quantization of a superparticle, Green-Schwarz superstring, and a supermembrane with manifest supersymmetry and duality symmetry is proposed. This quantization provides a natural quantum-mechanical description of curved BPS-type backgrounds related to the ultrashort supersymmetry multiplets. Half-size commuting and anticommuting Killing spinors admitted by such backgrounds in quantum theory become truncated {kappa}-symmetry ghosts. The symmetry of Killing spinors under dualities transfers to the symmetry of the spectrum of states. A GS superstring in the generalized semi-light-cone gauge can be quantized consistently in the background of ten-dimensional supersymmetric gravitational waves. Upon compactification they become supersymmetric electrically charged black holes, either massive or massless. However, the generalized light-cone gauge breaks {ital S} duality. We propose a new family of gauges, which we call black hole gauges. These gauges are suitable for quantization both in flat Minkowski space and in the black hole background, and they are duality symmetric. As an example, a manifestly {ital S}-duality symmetric black hole gauge is constructed in terms of the axion-dilaton-electric-magnetic black hole hair. We also suggest the {ital U}-duality covariant class of gauges for type II superstrings.
Bayesian Modeling of ChIP-chip Data Through a High-Order Ising Model

ChIP-chip experiments are procedures that combine chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and DNA microarray (chip) technology to study a variety of biological problems, including protein-DNA interaction, histone modification, and DNA methylation. The most important feature of ChIP-chip data is that the intensity measurements of probes are spatially correlated because the DNA fragments are hybridized to neighboring probes in the experiments. We propose a simple, but powerful Bayesian hierarchical approach to ChIP-chip data through an Ising model with high-order interactions. The proposed method naturally takes into account the intrinsic spatial structure of the data and can be used to analyze data from multiple platforms with different genomic resolutions. The model parameters are estimated using the Gibbs sampler. The proposed method is illustrated using two publicly available data sets from Affymetrix and Agilent platforms, and compared with three alternative Bayesian methods, namely, Bayesian hierarchical model, hierarchical gamma mixture model, and Tilemap hidden Markov model. The numerical results indicate that the proposed method performs as well as the other three methods for the data from Affymetrix tiling arrays, but significantly outperforms the other three methods for the data from Agilent promoter arrays. In addition, we find that the proposed method has better operating characteristics in terms of sensitivities and false discovery rates under various scenarios.
Pulsed ion beam measurement of defect diffusion lengths in irradiated solids

Radiation-generated point defects in solids often experience dynamic annealing—diffusion and interaction processes after the thermalization of collision cascades. The length scale of dynamic annealing can be described in terms of the characteristic defect diffusion length (Ld). Here, we propose to measure Ld by a pulsed beam method. Our approach is based on the observation of enhanced defect production when, for individual ion pulses, the average separation between adjacent damage regions is smaller than Ld. We obtain a value for Ld of ∼30 nm for float-zone Si crystals bombarded at room temperature with 500 keV Ar ions.
Effect of clofibrate on the handling of dietary and liver fat.

Abstract p -Chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) had a marked effect on the handling of erogenous fat by rats. After an oral fat load, the serum triglyceride response was plotted, and the areas under such curves were compared with the amounts of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) and malic enzyme present in the liver. CPIB and L -thyroxine (T 4 ) increased these enzyme activities; diphenylthiohydantoin and imidazole were also used to inhibit the induction of GPD and enhance the malic enzyme response respectively. Changes in these enzyme activities did not appear to be involved in the CPIB effect on the disposition of oral fat. CPIB completely prevented or corrected the fatty liver produced by feeding orotic acid to intact or thyroidectomized rats, and gave a strong β-lipoprotein band in serum gel electrophresis; T 4 had only a small effect. The effect of CPIB on fat metabolism was therefore not mediated through its enhancement of T 4 effects in the liver.
Dissociative photodetachment of the ethoxide anion and stability of the ethoxy radical CH3CH2O

The ethoxy radical is an important species in combustion chemistry; however, considerable debate regarding the fragmentation pathways exists. In order to examine the stability and dissociation dynamics of the ethoxy radical in the two lowest electronic states, dissociative photodetachment experiments at 3.20 eV were carried out on the ethoxide anion, CH3CH2O–, and its per-deuterated isotopologue. Production of excited radicals by photodetachment of the alkoxide anion was found to lead to only CH3 + H2CO products, with no indication of the energetically allowed H-loss channel, H + CH3CHO. Ab initio calculations for the anionic and neutral surfaces, including relevant isomerization and dissociation barriers, were carried out using the CBS-QB3 method to aid in interpretation of the data. The energetics observed in the photoelectron–photofragment coincidence spectra indicate that the calculated barrier (0.70 eV) for the process CH3CH2O → CH3 + H2CO and the stability of the CH3CH2O radical relative to those pr...
pH sensing via bicarbonate-regulated "soluble" adenylyl cyclase (sAC).

Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is a source of the second messenger cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cAMP). sAC is directly regulated by bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions. In living cells, HCO3- ions are in nearly instantaneous equilibrium with carbon dioxide (CO2) and pH due to the ubiquitous presence of carbonic anhydrases. Numerous biological processes are regulated by CO2, HCO3-, and/or pH, and in a number of these, sAC has been shown to function as a physiological CO2/HCO3/pH sensor. In this review, we detail the known pH sensing functions of sAC, and we discuss two highly-studied, pH-dependent pathways in which sAC might play a role.
Correlation of Landfill and Digester Gas Composition With Gas Turbine Pollutant Emissions

The deployment of small gas turbines at landfills and wastewater treatment plants is attractive due to the availability of waste fuel gases generated at these sites and the need for onsite power and/or heat. The fuel gases produced by these applications typically contain 35 to 75% of the heating value of natural gas and contain methane (CH4 ) diluted primarily with carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and sometimes nitrogen (N2 ). Demonstrations of 30 to 250 kW gas turbines operating on these waste fuels are underway, but little detailed information on the systematic effect of the gas composition on performance is available. Growth in the use of small gas turbines for these applications will likely require that they meet increasingly stringent emission regulations, creating a need to better understand and to further optimize emissions performance for these gases. The current study characterizes a modified commercial natural gas fired 60 kW gas turbine operated on simluated gases of specified composition and establishes a quantitative relationship between fuel composition, engine load, and emissions performance. The results can be used to determine the expected impact of gas composition on emissions performance.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Numerical stability of the cyclic Richardson iteration

The success of the cyclic Richardson iteration depends on the proper ordering of the acceleration parameters. We give a rigorous error analysis to show that, with the proper ordering, the relative error in the iterative method, when properly terminated, is not larger than the error incurred in stable direct methods such as Cholesky factorization. For both the computed approximation $$\tilde u$$ tou=L ?1f satisfies $$\left\| {u - \tilde u} \right\|$$ ? cond (L)?u?2?t and this bound is attainable. We also show that the residual norm $$\left\| {f - L\tilde u} \right\|$$ is bounded by ?L? cond $$(L)\left\| {\tilde u} \right\|2^{ - t} $$ . This bound is attainable for a small cycle lengthN. Our analysis suggests that for a larger cycle lengthN the residuals are bounded by $$\sqrt {cond(L)} \left\| L \right\|\left\| {\tilde u} \right\|2^{ - t} $$ . We construct a theoretical example in which this bound is attainable. However we observed in all numerical tests that ultimately the residual norms were of order $$\left\| L \right\|\left\| {\tilde u} \right\|2^{ - t} $$ . We explain why in practice even the factor $$\sqrt {cond(L)} $$ is never encountered. Therefore the residual stopping criterion for the Richardson iteration appears to be very reliable and the method itself appears to be stable.
Predicting atrial fibrillation and flutter using Electronic Health Records

Electronic Health Records (EHR) contain large amounts of useful information that could potentially be used for building models for predicting onset of diseases. In this study, we have investigated the use of free-text and coded data in Marshfield Clinic's EHR, individually and in combination for building machine learning based models to predict the first ever episode of atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter (AFF). We trained and evaluated our AFF models on the EHR data across different time intervals (1, 3, 5 and all years) prior to first documented onset of AFF. We applied several machine learning methods, including naive bayes, support vector machines (SVM), logistic regression and random forests for building AFF prediction models and evaluated these using 10-fold cross-validation approach. On text-based datasets, the best model achieved an F-measure of 60.1%, when applied exclusively to coded data. The combination of textual and coded data achieved comparable performance. The study results attest to the relative merit of utilizing textual data to complement the use of coded data for disease onset prediction modeling.
Tomato Rab1A Homologs as Molecular Tools for Studying Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase in Plant Cells

Rab proteins attach to membranes along the secretory pathway where they contribute to distinct steps in vesicle-mediated transport. To bind membranes, Rab proteins in fungal and animal cells must be isoprenylated by the enzyme Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (Rab GGTase). We have isolated three tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, M.) cDNAs (LeRab 1A, B, and C) encoding Rab-like proteins and show here that all three are substrates for a Rab GGTase-like activity in plant cells. The plant enzyme is similar to mammalian Rab GGTase in that the plant activity (a) is enhanced by detergent and (b) is inhibited by mutant Rab lacking a prenylation consensus sequence. LeRab1B contains a rare prenylation target motif and was the best substrate for the plant, but not the yeast, Rab GGTase. LeRab1A, B, and C are functional homologs of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rab protein encoded by YPT1 and are differentially expressed in tomato. LeRab1A mRNA, but not that of LeRab1B or C, is induced by ethylene in tomato seedlings and is also upregulated in ripening fruit. The increase in LeRab1A mRNA expression in ripe fruit may be linked to increased synthesis and export of enzymes like polygalacturonase, pectin esterase, and other enzymes important in fruit softening.
Disulfide isoforms of recombinant glia maturation factor β

Recombinant human glia maturation factor beta (r-hGMF-beta) is a single-chain polypeptide (141 amino acid residues) containing three cysteines, at positions 7, 86 and 95. Nascent r-hGMF-beta exists in the reduced state and has no biological activity. The protein can be activated through oxidative refolding by incubation with a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione. Reverse-phase HPLC analysis of the refolded r-hGMF-beta shows the presence of four peaks, corresponding to the reduced form plus three newly generated intrachain disulfide-containing isoforms predicted from the number of cysteine residues. Only one isoform shows biological activity when tested for growth suppression on C6 glioma cells. We infer from the HPLC elution pattern that the active form contains the disulfide bridge Cys86-Cys95.
Context effects on the measurement of organizational credibility

This investigation explored the use of generalized semantic differential scales for measuring organizational credibility. Findings revealed that this use is questionable, but that such findings may be the product of factors such as ego‐involvement and knowledge of a specific organization.
Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis in different ecological regions of Argentina and its association with Amblyomma tigrinum as a potential vector.

Rickettsia parkeri, a newly recognized tick-borne pathogen of humans in the Americas, is a confirmed cause of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Argentina. Until recently, almost all cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis in Argentina have originated from the Parana River Delta, where entomological surveys have identified populations of R. parkeri-infected Amblyomma triste ticks. In this report, we describe confirmed cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis from Cordoba and La Rioja provinces, which are located several hundred kilometers inland, and in a more arid ecological region, where A. triste ticks do not occur. Additionally, we identified questing A. tigrinum ticks naturally infected with R. parkeri in Cordoba province. These data provide evidence that another human-biting tick species serves as a potential vector of R. parkeri in Argentina and possibly, other countries of South America.
Competitive advantage the Toyota way

For a firm to experience long-term sustained competitive advantage it must invest in human resources and deploy its scarce assets in the core areas that can most effectively provide the underpinning of a sustained competitive advantage. Gary R Fane, M Reza Vaghefi, Cheryl Van Deusen and Louis A Woods say that Japanese car maker Toyota is a supreme example of a company that has done just that.
A molecular timescale for caviomorph rodents (Mammalia, Hystricognathi)

Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times are important pieces of information for evolutionary biologists, given that they provide a framework for understanding the evolution of phenotypes. There are now statistical methods that estimate divergence times without assuming that all lineages evolve at the same rate (Huelsenbeck et al., 2000; Sanderson, 1997; Thorne et al., 1998). Here I apply these methods to the neotropical hystricomorph rodents. The hystricomorph rodents are highly diverse in terms of life history traits, body sizes, and overall reproductive strategies (Begall et al., 1999; ScharV et al., 1999). This diversity in life history strategies and body size is accompanied by considerable heterogeneity in rates of molecular evolution (Honeycutt et al., 2003; Huchon et al., 2000; Huchon and Douzery, 2001; Rowe and Honeycutt, 2002). The faster rate of molecular evolution of rodents compared to other mammals has been attributed to the shorter generation times of rodents (Gu and Li, 1993). However, the rate heterogeneity observed among hystricognath rodents suggests that the causes of rate heterogeneity may be more complex than previously thought (Gu and Li, 1993). Huchon and Douzery (2001) have addressed the problem of divergence times among major clades of hystricomorph rodents. Others have estimated divergence times using more complex taxonomic sampling for speciWc groups such as the caviomorph rodents (neotropical hystricomorph rodents) (Galewski et al., 2005; Honeycutt et al., 2003). Among these rodents, the superfamily Octo-
GAG‐augmented polysaccharide hydrogel: A novel biocompatible and biodegradable material to support chondrogenesis

The quality of articular cartilage engineered using a cell-polymer construct depends, in part, on the chemical composition of the biomaterial and whether that biomaterial can support the chondrocytic phenotype. Acknowledging the supportive influence of tissue-specific matrix molecules on the chondrocytic phenotype, we have combined chondroitin sulfate-A (CSA) and chitosan, a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) analog, to develop a novel biomaterial to support chondrogenesis. Chitosan is a polycationic repeating monosaccharide of beta-1,4-linked glucosamine monomers with randomly located N-acetyl glucosamine units. Chitosan may be combined with the polyanionic CSA such that ionic crosslinking results in hydrogel formation. Bovine primary articular chondrocytes, when seeded onto a thin layer of CSA-chitosan, form discrete, focal adhesions to the material and maintain many characteristics of the differentiated chondrocytic phenotype, including round morphology, limited mitosis, collagen type II, and proteoglycan production. Our findings suggest CSA-chitosan may be well suited as a carrier material for the transplant of autologous chondrocytes or as a scaffold for the tissue engineering of cartilage-like tissue.
Actin–Fascin Bundle Formation Under Pressure

Studies of the dependence of fascin:actin bundle formation on thermodynamic properties are important for understanding cell processes such as migration and differentiation. We report a novel approach utilizing an expanded equilibrium polymerization Flory–Huggins type model to model fascin:actin bundle formation under thermodynamic pressure. A free energy expression that considers both polymer solution physics and both the deactivation of fascin and propagation of fascin:actin bundles was derived for this system. Using this free energy expression, we report the composition’s dependency on pressure while varying: fascin to actin molar ratios [1,3, and 6], initial F-actin concentration [9.52 × 10−9–5.7 × 10−8 mM], specific volume, and K deact. Bundle formation was shown to increase as a function of pressure and to be limited by F-actin. Furthermore, our model was able to quantitatively predict an optimal size parameter for the deactivated fascin molecule (s F = 4645) and for the deactivation equilibrium constant (K deact = 2.66 × 108). These results present a novel approach to study fascin cross-linking of actin bundles and provide avenues for future experiments to develop a more comprehensive understanding of cell–matrix interactions.
Vacuum arc ion sources for particle accelerators and ion implantation

The vacuum arc is a generator of highly ionized metal plasma. This method of plasma production can be used to construct a high-current metal ion source. A succession of such metal-vapor vacuum arc ion sources has been developed at Berkeley. Beams from 50 of the solid metals of the periodic table have been produced with mean ion energy up to several hundred keV, and with pulsed beam currents in the ampere range. Typically the source is repetitively pulsed with a pulse length of 250 mu s and a duty cycle of the order of 1%. A DC embodiment from which a large-area titanium beam with steady-state ion current of 600 mA was produced has been tested. A 50-cm-diameter set of beam formation grids has been used to form a beam of area 1000 cm/sup 2/ at an energy of 100 keV and a pulsed beam current of approximately 10 A. The source can also be seen as a tool for the study of vacuum arc plasmas. Vacuum arc ion charge state distributions have been studied in this way. The general features and performance characteristics of the sources and their use for accelerator injection and ion implantation applications are described. >
Personal Reflections on Big Science, Small Science, or the Right Mix

Late June, 1969, at a suburban Philadelphia day camp. There was much to look forward to: color war, soccer, nature hikes, bug juice, barbecues, swimming, softball, and, of course, no school! But I paid little attention, as for me these paled compared with the upcoming big event, the much-anticipated launch of Apollo 11, the rocket that would fulfill President Kennedy’s call to land men on the moon and bring them back home. During the next few weeks, my parents and I spent hours glued to the TV; and my parents quietly endured the smell of glue emanating from model rockets and lunar modules taking form in my room. Some 20 years later, Bernadine Healy, Director of the National Institutes of Health, called for a moon shot for women’s health. The resulting Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) would be a big science effort that would invest substantial resources, enabling scientists to address questions about hormone replacement therapy, supplementation with Vitamin D and calcium, and diet as interventions that might prevent serious health conditions faced by postmenopausal women. Like National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s moon shot, the National Institutes of Health’s WHI succeeded1; a national team of top-notch scientists enrolled well over 100 000 women into several randomized trials and observational studies. The surprising findings of the relative harms of hormone replacement therapy led to sweeping changes in clinical practice and likely played a role in the past decade’s decline in breast cancer incidence. Now, 25 years later, American science and engineering face an uncertain future. Although big science projects have always generated controversy, shrinking budgets have invited only more criticism. The United States invests a lower proportion of its Gross Domestic Product into research and development than several other economically developed nations.2 Of perhaps greater concern, there has been …
Acid exposure activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in Barrett's esophagus.

Abstract Background & Aims: To explore mechanisms whereby acid reflux might contribute to carcinogenesis in Barrett's esophagus (BE) we studied: (1) the effects of acid on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in a Barrett's adenocarcinoma cell line (SEG-1); and (2) the ability of acid to activate the MAPK pathways in vivo in patients with BE. Methods: SEG-1 cells were exposed to acidic media for 3 minutes, and the activities of 3 MAPKs (ERK, p38, and JNK) were determined. Proliferation was assessed using flow cytometry; cell growth and apoptosis were assessed using cell counts and an apoptosis ELISA assay. MAPK activation was studied in biopsy specimens taken from patients with BE before and after esophageal perfusion for 3 minutes with 0.1N HCl. Results: Acid-exposed SEG-1 cells exhibited a significant increase in proliferation and total cell numbers, and a significant decrease in apoptosis. These effects were preceded by a rapid increase in the activities of ERK and p38, and a delayed increase in JNK activity. PD 98059 abolished the acid-induced increase in G0/G1 and decrease in subG0 phases of the cell cycle. Both SB 203580 and DN-JNK½ inhibited the acid-induced progression from G0/G1 to G2/M. The acid-induced decrease in apoptosis was abolished by inhibition of either ERK or p38. In the patients, acid exposure significantly increased the activity of p38 in the metaplastic epithelium. Conclusions: Acid increases proliferation and survival, and decreases apoptosis in SEG-1 cells by activating the MAPK pathways. Acid also activates the MAPK pathways in BE in vivo. These findings suggest that acid might contribute to carcinogenesis in BE through activation of MAPK pathways. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:299-307
We Can Make Principalship Induction Less Traumatic.

Time allocation, budget, community involvement, supervision, and authority are only a few of the issues first-year principals are bombarded with. The "rookie year" can be less traumatic with more effective induction and supervision programs.
Summary and future directions

In this chapter, we summarize the book by first listing and analyzing what we view as major milestone studies in the recent history of developing the deep learning-based ASR techniques and systems. We describe the motivations of these studies, the innovations they have engendered, the improvements they have provided, and the impacts they have generated. In this road map, we will first cover the historical context in which the DNN technology made inroad into ASR around 2009 resulting from academic and industry collaborations. Then we select seven main themes in which innovations flourished across-the-board in ASR industry and academic research after the early debut of DNNs. Finally, our belief is provided on the current state-of-the-art of speech recognition systems, and we also discuss our thoughts and analysis on the future research directions.
Dietary regulation of pancreatic enzyme synthesis, secretion and inactivation in the rat.

Dietary regulation of the synthesis, secretion and inactivation of trypsin, chymotrypsin and amylase was studied in rats fed a nitrogen-free ration or diets containing casein, whole-egg protein or hydrolysates of these proteins. Meas urements of the enzyme content of the pancreas after an 11-hour fast showed that substitution of the nitrogen-free diet for the casein diet depressed synthesis of the 3 enzymes, whereas replacement with whole-egg protein usually increased synthesis of trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen but not amylase. Relatively more of the amino acid supply of the pancreas was diverted to chymotrypsinogen and less to amylase when whole-egg protein was fed. The reverse was true when casein was given. Rats fed the nitrogen-free diet synthesized relatively more trypsinogen. With respect to trypsino gen and chymotrypsinogen, the secretory response elicited by hydrolyzed casein and hydrolyzed egg protein was similar to the one evoked by casein. However, hydrolyzed egg protein was not equivalent to whole-egg protein. Interpretation of these results is based on the premise that dietary protein regulates pancreatic enzyme synthesis, in part, through amino acid pool(s) in the pancreas. The observation that the nitrogen- free diet retarded the rate of inactivation of amylase more than did the protein or hydrolyzed protein diets may be related to a protective effect of starch which was included in the nitrogen-free diet. The results of previous studies suggest that dietary proteins influence the tryptic, chymotryptic and amylolytic activities of
Mass Transfer and Textural Changes during Processing of Apples by Combined Methods

Mass transfer and textural changes of ‘Red Delicious’ apple slices and cylinders during osmotic adjustment of aw by the combined method approach were studied at 30, 40 and 50°C. Mass transfer of water and sugar in the treated apple followed typical log-normal behavior with most changes occurring during early stages of the process. The changes followed Crank's equation for diffusion. A negative correlation between apple texture and sugar diffusion was observed. Softening, as well as mass transfer changes, occurred at early stages of osmotic treatment. The texture changes were most pronounced at the edges of the apple tissue where the sugar had penetrated. Softening and sugar uptake were more pronounced when apples were acidified. Apples became firm within 2 hr of the process, when the external layer of the apple cylinders penetrated by sugar was trimmed. Calcium chloride beyond 0.30% minimized tissue softening, but the typical crispy structure of the fresh apple was not restored.
Algorithms for Power System Fault Location and Line Parameter Estimation

This paper presents a novel power system transmission line fault location algorithm that is applicable for the scenarios where transmission line parameters are not available. A set of equations involving the unknown fault location are formulated based on pre-fault and fault data, solution to which leads to the fault location. A method is also described for determining the positive sequence line parameters by utilizing pre-fault data, which are then harnessed to estimate fault location together with the fault data.
Neurotransmitter visualization in schizophrenia

Background: Although the history, interview, and examination of the patient provide the foundation for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, nuclear neuroimaging investigations constitute promising tools to elucidate the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Imaging studies of neuroreceptors constitute research tools to investigate the role of dysfunction of the acetylcholinergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, cannabinoid, opioid, and nicotinic systems in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of schizophrenia and related conditions. People with the phenotype of the clinical syndrome of schizophrenia likely represent multiple distinct genotypes with poorly characterized biological traits. Thus, the population of people manifesting the clinical syndrome of schizophrenia likely contains several heterogeneous biological subgroups yet to be specified. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that the positive symptoms result from an excess of intrasynaptic dopamine, an excitatory neurotransmitter, and the negative symptoms result from a deficit of intrasynaptic dopamine. Accordingly, a group of people with schizophrenia likely have reduced intrasynaptic dopamine in the tonic, resting, basal state, and increased intrasynaptic dopamine in the excited, aroused, phasic state. Additionally, the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that dysfunction of glutamate, another excitatory neurotransmitter, in the prefrontal region results in excessive concentrations of dopamine in the striata resulting in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Methodology/Principal Findings: Published research about the nuclear neuroimaging techniques to identify neurotrans- mitters in people with schizophrenia are reviewed. Conclusions/Significance: Future research including neuronuclear imaging and genetic evaluations is needed to characterize the biological subgroups of people with the clinical syndrome of schizophrenia. Neuronuclear imaging studies will likely refine the measurement of neurotransmitters in the presynaptic, synaptic, and postsynaptic regions in people with schizophrenia and healthy people. Imaging studies of neuroreceptors during the administration of putative therapeutic agents for schizophrenia will help determine the optimal dose. In the future the research findings summarized in this article will likely be translated into clinical practice.
Flexibility of BIV TAR-Tat: models of peptide binding.

Abstract A new approach in determining local residue flexibility from base-amino acid contact frequencies is applied to the twelve million lattice chains modeling BIV Tat peptide binding to TAR RNA fragment. Many of the resulting key features in flexibility correspond to RMSD calculations derived from a set of five NMR derived structures (X. Ye, R. A. Kumar, and D. J. Patel, Protein Data Bank: Database of three-dimensional structures determined from NMR (1996)) and binding studies of mutants (L. Chen and A. D. Frankel, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 5077–5081 (1995)). The lattice and RMSD calculations facilitate the identification of peptide hinge regions that can best utilize the introduction of Gly or other flexible residues. This approach for identifying potential sites amenable to substitution of more flexible residues to enhance peptide binding to RNA targets could be a useful design tool.
Defining the Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Lobectomy for Typical Bronchopulmonary Carcinoid Tumors

Background Treatment guidelines for typical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors recommend observation alone after resection of stage I-IIIA disease, but there are limited data related to the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in the setting of nodal metastases found at operation. Methods Patients in the National Cancer Data Base (NDCB) who underwent lobectomy for typical carcinoid and had metastatic nodal disease were stratified by the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared between groups. Next, patients were propensity matched using a 3:1 nearest-neighbor algorithm, and adjusted outcomes were compared. Finally, long-term survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method with comparisons based on the log-rank test. Results Overall, 4,612 patients were identified, among whom 629 (13.6%) had positive lymph nodes at the time of operation. Of them, adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 37 patients (5.9%). There were no baseline differences between patients who did and those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients treated with chemotherapy demonstrated a survival disadvantage at 5 years (69.7% versus 81.9%; p = 0.042). After propensity matching, all baseline characteristics between groups were highly similar. There remained a trend toward inferior 5-year survival for patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, although the difference no longer met statistical significance (69.7% versus 80.9%; p = 0.096). Conclusions Adjuvant chemotherapy is not associated with improved survival among patients who undergo lobectomy for typical carcinoids and nodal metastases. These data support current treatment guidelines.
Helium isotope studies in the Mojave Desert, California: implications for groundwater chronology and regional seismicity

We report helium isotope and concentration results for groundwaters from the western Mojave River Basin (MRB), 130 km east of Los Angeles, CA. The basin lies adjacent to the NW–SE trending San Andreas Fault (SAF) system. Samples were collected along two groundwater flowpaths that originate in the San Gabriel Mountains and discharge to the Mojave River located f32 km to the northeast. Additional groundwater samples were collected from Mojave River Deposits underlying the Mojave River. The primary objective of this study is to identify and quantify crustal and mantle helium contributions to the regional groundwater system. A total of 27 groundwaters, sampled previously for chemistry and isotope systematics (including 14 C activity) have measured helium concentrations that increase along flowpaths from 9.9 � 10 � 8 to 1.0 � 10 � 4 cm 3 STP g � 1 H2O. Concomitantly, 3 He/ 4 He ratios decrease from 0.84RA to 0.11RA (RA equals the 3 He/ 4 He ratio in air=1.4 � 10 � 6 ). We did not record 3 He/ 4 He ratios equivalent to crustal-production values (f0.02RA) in any sample. Dissolved helium concentrations were resolved into components associated with solubility equilibration, air entrainment, mantle-derivation, in-situ production within the aquifer, and extraneous crustal fluxes. All samples contained the first four components, but only older samples had the superimposed effects of helium derived from a crustal flux. The radiogenic He component has chronological significance, and good concordance between 4 He and 14 C ages for younger groundwaters (<25,000 year) demonstrates the integrity of the 4 He-chronometer in this setting. Helium-rich waters could also be dated with the 4 He technique, but only by first isolating the whole crustal flux (3–10 � 10 � 6 cm 3 STP cm � 2 year � 1 ). Mantle-derived 3 He ( 3 Hem) is present in all MRB samples irrespective of distance from the SAF. However, regional-aquifer groundwaters near the terminus of the flowpath have a significantly greater content of mantle-derived 3 He in comparison with more modern samples. We propose that faults in the basin other than the SAF may be an additional source of mantle-derived helium. The large range in 3 Hem concentrations may be related to fault activity; however, groundwaters with lower and more constant 3 Hem contents may indicate that seismic activity along the SAF has been
Nature's Materiality and the Circuitous Paths of Accumulation: Dispossession of Freshwater Fisheries in Cambodia

This paper examines recent conflicts over freshwater fisheries in Cambodia using the notion of accumulation through dispossession as a conceptual starting point. Despite a recent material turn, theoretical literature on the political economy of the environment has only partially incorporated an ecologically nuanced view of nature into analyses of its transformation under processes of capital accumulation. The biophysical characteristics of riverine fisheries are predicated on the ecohydrologic dynamics of water flows, and these characteristics dictate strategies of appropriation for both subsistence and commercial use. The complexity of these material characteristics is compounded in the case of Cambodian fisheries, where an array of state- and market-driven processes promote the dispossession of resources and constrain the livelihood opportunities of rural communities dependent on fishing. Theories of capital accumulation and how accumulation induces socioecological conflicts can be very useful, firstly, for explaining the origins of environmental conflicts and, secondly, for grounding the analysis of such conflicts in the politics of accumulation as mediated by state actors. Conversely, theoretical framings of primitive accumulation must examine the “things” being accumulated (eg riverine fisheries) in far more biophysically specific ways, and must recognize the circuitous pathways, particularly in cases involving developmental states, that strategies of accumulation follow.
Mutational and Phylogenetic Analyses of the Mycobacterial mbt Gene Cluster

The mycobactin siderophore system is present in many Mycobacterium species, including M. tuberculosis and other clinically relevant mycobacteria. This siderophore system is believed to be utilized by both pathogenic and nonpathogenic mycobacteria for iron acquisition in both in vivo and ex vivo iron-limiting environments, respectively. Several M. tuberculosis genes located in a so-called mbt gene cluster have been predicted to be required for the biosynthesis of the core scaffold of mycobactin based on sequence analysis. A systematic and controlled mutational analysis probing the hypothesized essential nature of each of these genes for mycobactin production has been lacking. The degree of conservation of mbt gene cluster orthologs remains to be investigated as well. In this study, we sought to conclusively establish whether each of nine mbt genes was required for mycobactin production and to examine the conservation of gene clusters orthologous to the M. tuberculosis mbt gene cluster in other bacteria. We report a systematic mutational analysis of the mbt gene cluster ortholog found in Mycobacterium smegmatis. This mutational analysis demonstrates that eight of the nine mbt genes investigated are essential for mycobactin production. Our genome mining and phylogenetic analyses reveal the presence of orthologous mbt gene clusters in several bacterial species. These gene clusters display significant organizational differences originating from an intricate evolutionary path that might have included horizontal gene transfers. Altogether, the findings reported herein advance our understanding of the genetic requirements for the biosynthesis of an important mycobacterial secondary metabolite with relevance to virulence.
Adjoint-Functions and Temporal Learning Algorithms in Neural Networks

The development of learning algorithms is generally based upon the minimization of an energy function. It is a fundamental requirement to compute the gradient of this energy function with respect to the various parameters of the neural architecture, e.g., synaptic weights, neural gain, etc. In principle, this requires solving a system of nonlinear equations for each parameter of the model, which is computationally very expensive. A new methodology for neural learning of time-dependent nonlinear mappings is presented. It exploits the concept of adjoint operators to enable a fast global computation of the network's response to perturbations in all the systems parameters. The importance of the time boundary conditions of the adjoint functions is discussed. An algorithm is presented in which the adjoint sensitivity equations are solved simultaneously (i.e., forward in time) along with the nonlinear dynamics of the neural networks. This methodology makes real-time applications and hardware implementation of temporal learning feasible.
Katrina Karkazis. Fixing Sex: Intersex, Medical Authority, and Lived Experience. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2008

Physicians and feminists alike will be drawn to Fixing Sex: Intersex, Medical Authority, and Lived Experience, Katrina Karkazis' sensitive yet trenchant critique of the contemporary medical managem...
Positive solutions of singular IVPs for integra-differential equations

We study singular initial value problems for integro-differential equations of the form u′(t) = f(t, u(t)) + ∫0t K(t, s, u(s))ds, t ∈ (0,1], u(0) = 0, where f (t, x) is singular at x = 0. We prove the existence of a positive solution by means of the lower and upper solutions method and the Brouwer fixed point theorem in conjunction with perturbation methods to approximate regular problems.
Research Leading to High Throughput Manufacturing of Thin-Film CdTe PV Modules: Annual Subcontract Report, September 2004--September 2005

Specific overall objectives of this subcontract are improvement in baseline field performance of manufactured CdTe PV modules while reducing environmental, health and safety risk in the manufacturing environment. Project objectives focus on four broad categories: (1) development of advanced front-contact window layers, (2) improved semiconductor film deposition, (3) development of improved accelerated life test procedures that indicate baseline field performance, and (4) reduction of cadmium-related environmental, health and safety risks. First Solar has significantly increased manufacturing capacity from less than 2 MW/yr to more than 20 MW/yr, while increasing the average module total-area power conversion efficiency from 7% to >9%. First Solar currently manufactures and sells 50-65-W thin-film CdTe PV modules at a rate of about 1.9 MW/month. Sales backlog (booked sales less current inventory divided by production rate) is more than a year. First Solar is currently building new facilities and installing additional equipment to increase production capacity by 50 MW/yr; the additional capacity is expected to come on line in the third quarter of 2006.
Focused ion beam milling: A method of site-specific sample extraction for microanalysis of Earth and planetary materials

Argon ion milling is the conventional means by which mineral sections are thinned to electron transparency for transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis, but this technique exhibits significant shortcomings. In particular, selective thinning and imaging of submicrometer inclusions during sample milling are highly problematic. We have achieved successful results using the focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out technique, which utilizes a 30 kV Ga + ion beam to extract electron transparent specimens with nanometer scale precision. Using this procedure, we have prepared a number of Earth materials representing a range of structures and compositions for TEM analysis. We believe that FIB milling will create major new opportunities in the field of Earth and planetary materials microanalysis, particularly with respect to ultraprecious mineral and rock samples.
Academic, Professional, and Community Outcomes of a Faculty-Mentored BASW Research Experience

This article examines the perceptions of bachelor of arts in social work (BASW) students engaged in faculty-mentored research projects. Students worked with faculty mentors on various research projects over the course of an academic year. The study assessed the effect of this experience on multiple factors such as skill improvement, interest in research, and perceptions of research. The research team developed a survey to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from participants. BASW students reported that the research mentorship was beneficial, with the majority reporting improved research skills, increased understanding of research, and a stronger connection to the social work research community. The research team identifies changes that could improve the experience and makes suggestions for future programming and research.
Rumen papillae morphology of beef steers relative to gain and feed intake and the association of volatile fatty acids with kallikrein gene expression

Abstract Feed costs are the most expensive input in beef production. Improvement in the ability of beef cattle to convert feed into meat would lower feed inputs and reduce the cost of production. The rumen epithelium is responsible for absorption and metabolism of nutrients and microbial by-products, and may play a significant role in gain or feed intake. Our objective was to determine the relationships among rumen papillae morphology, gene expression, volatile fatty acid concentrations, and gain and feed intake. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were collected on a crossbred population of beef steers over three feeding trials. Based on feed intake and weight gain differences, 48 steers were selected for the project (16 from each feeding study). At harvest, rumen epithelial samples were taken from three locations in the rumen of each animal. The number of papillae on 1 cm 2 of epithelium was counted to determine density. Papillae ( n =30) from each sample were measured for length and width. The density, length, and width were combined to determine surface enlargement factor (SEF). None of the morphological characteristics of the papillae (length, width, density or SEF) were associated with feed intake or gain ( P ≥0.10). Ruminal fluid was collected from steers ( n =15) in the third trial for volatile fatty acid (VFA) analysis to determine if a relationship between VFA and ADG or ADFI existed. No differences in volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were associated ( P ≥0.17) with ADFI or ADG. VFA variation was also evaluated for a relationship with kallikrein ( KLK ) genes since ruminal butyrate concentrations have previously been associated with the transcript abundance KLK genes. Additionally, qRT-PCR data showed that variation in the transcript abundance of KLK6,8-10, and 13 associated with feed intake in our first trial of steers. Thus, we evaluated the transcript abundance of eight KLK genes in rumen papillae from steers in the third trial ( n =16). Expression levels of KLK5 correlated with valerate concentrations in the rumen ( P , KLK10 correlated with acetate concentrations in the rumen ( P KLK12 correlated with acetate and butyrate concentrations in the rumen ( P KLK9 and KLK10 were associated with gain. While rumen papillae morphology was not associated with beef steer gain or intake, our data suggests members of the kallikrein gene family have a relationship with the VFA environment in the rumen, and also appear to play a role in the highly correlated traits of ADG and ADFI.
Megakaryocytopoiesis in experimental iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is associated with increased platelet production. The megakaryocytic response to both moderate and severe iron deficiency anemia has been assessed in rats maintained on a low-iron diet. In animals with moderate anemia, the proportion of immature megakaryocytes and 24-hr tritiated thymidine labeling index were increased with no change in megakaryocyte concentration, size, or mitotic index. This indicates that increased platelet production is achieved by an increased rate of influx of precursor cells into the megakaryocyte compartment with an increased rate of efflux. In severe anemia, however, not only were the labeling index and the proportion of immature cells increased, but megakaryocyte size and mitotic index were significantly increased with a marked decrease in megakaryocyte concentration. This suggests that the circulating platelet mass is maintained by an increased platelet output per megakaryocyte with higher ploidy. Thus, in chronic iron deficiency anemia, megakaryocytopoiesis changes depending on the duration and degree of iron deficiency, with a more rapid turnover at first and increased polyploidy later.