cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical looping coal gasification with calcium ferrite and barium ferrite via solid–solid reactions

Coal gasification to produce synthesis gas by chemical looping was investigated with two oxygen carriers, barium ferrite (BaFe2O4) and calcium ferrite (CaFe2O4). Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and fixed-bed flow reactor data indicated that a solid–solid interaction occurred between oxygen carriers and coal to produce synthesis gas. Both thermodynamic analysis and experimental data indicated that BaFe2O4 and CaFe2O4 have high reactivity with coal but have a low reactivity with synthesis gas, which makes them very attractive for the coal gasification process. Adding steam increased the production of hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), but carbon dioxide (CO2) remained low because these oxygen carriers have minimal reactivity with H2 and CO. Therefore, the combined steam–oxygen carrier produced the highest quantity of synthesis gas. It appeared that neither the water–gas shift reaction nor the water splitting reaction promoted additional H2 formation with the oxygen carriers when steam was present. Wyodak coal, which is a sub-bituminous coal, had the best gasification yield with oxygen carrier–steam while Illinois #6 coal had the lowest. The rate of gasification and selectivity for synthesis gas production was significantly higher when these oxygen carriers were present during steam gasification of coal. The rates and synthesis gas yields during the temperature ramps of coal–steam with oxygen carriers were better than with gaseous oxygen.
Reasonable Pluralism and Political Toleration

In this paper, I develop an argument for toleration as emerging from the practice of moral judgment regarding mutually incompatible goods and suggest that something akin to "substantive neutrality" makes the best sense of how to make toleration politically effective.
Developing new predictive alarms based on ECG metrics for bradyasystolic cardiac arrest.

We investigated 17 metrics derived from four leads of electrocardiographic (ECG) signals from hospital patient monitors to develop new ECG alarms for predicting adult bradyasystolic cardiac arrest events.A retrospective case-control study was designed to analyze 17 ECG metrics from 27 adult bradyasystolic and 304 control patients. The 17 metrics consisted of PR interval (PR), P-wave duration (Pdur), QRS duration (QRSdur), RR interval (RR), QT interval (QT), estimate of serum K + using only frontal leads (SerumK2), T-wave complexity (T Complex), ST segment levels for leads I, II, V (ST I, ST II, ST V), and 7 heart rate variability (HRV) metrics. These 7 HRV metrics were standard deviation of normal to normal intervals (SDNN), total power, very low frequency power, low frequency power, high frequency power, normalized low frequency power, and normalized high frequency power. Controls were matched by gender, age (±5 years), admission to the same hospital unit within the same month, and the same major diagnostic category. A research ECG analysis software program developed by co-author D M was used to automatically extract the metrics. The absolute value for each ECG metric, and the duration, terminal value, and slope of the dominant trend for each ECG metric, were derived and tested as the alarm conditions. The maximal true positive rate (TPR) of detecting cardiac arrest at a prescribed maximal false positive rate (FPR) based on the trending conditions was reported. Lead time was also recorded as the time between the first time alarm condition was triggered and the event of cardiac arrest.While conditions based on the absolute values of ECG metrics do not provide discriminative information to predict bradyasystolic cardiac arrest, the trending conditions can be useful. For example, with a max FPR = 5.0%, some derived alarms conditions are: trend duration of PR > 2.8 h (TPR = 48.2%, lead time = 10.0 ± 6.6 h), trend duration of QRSdur > 2.7 h (TPR = 40.7%, lead time = 8.8 ± 6.2 h), trend duration of RR > 3.5 h (TPR = 51.9%, lead time = 6.4 ± 5.5 h), trend duration of T Complex > 2.9 h (TPR = 40.7%, lead time = 6.8 ± 5.5 h), trend duration of ST I > 3.0 h (TPR of 51.9%, lead time = 8.4 ± 8.0 h), trend duration of SDNN > 3.6 h (TPR of 40.7%, lead time = 11.0 ± 8.6 h), trend duration of HRV total power > 3.0 h (TPR of 25.9%, lead time = 7.5 ± 8.1 h), terminal value of ST I 19.4 ms h(-1) (TPR = 25.9%, lead time = 6.7 ± 6.9 h). Eleven trend duration alarms, eight terminal value alarms, and ten slope alarms, achieved a positive TPR with zero FPR. Furthermore, these alarms conditions with zero PFR can be combined by the 'OR'logic could further improve the TPR without increasing the FPR.The trend duration, terminal value, and slope of the dominant trend of the ECG metrics considered in this study are able to predict a subset of patients with bradyasystolic cardiac arrests with low or even zero FPR, which can be used for developing new ECG alarms.
Species survivorship in the Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera; a test of exponential and Weibull models

The species survivorship curve for Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera was fitted to exponential (age-independent) and Weibull (age-dependent) models. Model fits that account for censorship bias have substantially lower slopes (extinction probabilities) than suggested by censored data. The best-fit Weibull model has a shape parameter significantly greater than one (,B = 1.19), which normally indicates an age-dependent increasing probability of extinction. Deviation of Weibull /3 from 1.0 (exponential case) seems closely related to temporal variation in records of very short-lived taxa (?1 my). The shape of the curves are not sensitive to Corrected Species Survivorship adjustment of longevities, but may reflect taxonomic procedure or temporal variability in extinction probability.
Overview of Trends and Policies on International Migration to East Asia: Comparing Japan, Taiwan and South Korea

This overview article examines the major similarities and differences among the three countries in East Asia — Japan, Taiwan and Korea — in terms of their immigration policies and observed flows as an introduction to three country-specific papers and a contribution on the simulation of economic impacts of different migration scenarios in Asia. These papers are from a two-year project, “From Origin to Destination: Policy Alternatives for Managing Two-Way Migration Pathways in Asia,” funded by the Korea Foundation. The papers demonstrate important common patterns, including the special treatment of ethnic return migrants, population aging and demands for low-skilled migrant workers in the industrial and service sectors, the strict policy on temporary migration for low-skilled migrant workers, and the concentration of women in marriage migration and as carers in labor migration.
ID: 115: Role of type I and type III interferons in intestinal immunity to homologous and heterologous rotavirus infection

Types I and III IFNs exert common antiviral activities through distinct receptors, and their relative importance for antiviral protection of different organ remains to be fully explored. Mouse strains deficient in type-specific IFN signaling were used to dissect distinct and overlapping contributions of type I and III IFNs to protection against homologous murine (EW-strain) and heterologous simian (RRV-strain) rotavirus infection of the intestine. EW-RV replicated to similar levels in IFN- λ R, IFN- α R, IFN- α / λ R, IFN- α / γ R and STAT1 deficient suckling mice between 2–7 days post-infection (dpi); and only a moderate increase in fecal shedding was observed in IFN- λ R and STAT1 knock-out (KO) mice at 8–9 dpi. In contrast, Rag2 KO mice showed chronic viral shedding, demonstrating that the homologous EW-RV efficiently antagonizes murine IFN responses, with viral clearance dependent upon adaptive immune responses. Unlike EW-RV, replication of the heterologous RRV was significantly increased in gastro-intestinal tract of either IFN- λ R or IFN- α R deficient mice, and was further enhanced in doubly deficient IFN- α / λ R KO animals, demonstrating the sensitivity of RRV to IFN-mediated antiviral protection, and revealing important, and cooperative roles for both type I and type III IFNs in limiting RRV replication. Similarly, both type I and III IFNs helped to limit extra-intestinal RRV spread, whereas type I IFNs were essential for controlling RRV replication in mesenteric lymph nodes. Overall, these results demonstrate a murine host-specific inhibition of IFN’s antiviral activity by EW-RV, but cooperative action by type I and type III IFNs in limiting simian RRV growth and spread in mice.
Inhibition Failure is Mediated by a Disposition Toward Flexible Thinking.

Conflict detection in dual process contexts is a widely studied phenomenon. However, only a small portion of the investigations has studied the role of individual differences in a typical conflict detection paradigm. In this study, participants completed a modified base-rate neglect task, as well as the Cognitive Reflection Task (CRT), and two Thinking Disposition Questionnaires. Results support an individual differences hypothesis in which the CRT prediction of accuracy on the base-rate conflict problems is mediated by the dispositional tendency to engage in flexible thinking.
Treatment of stage A1 prostate cancer: the case for observation

Stage A1 prostate cancer implies indolence. If only well-differentiated low-volume tumors are considered, the rate of cancer growth, clinical progression, and prostate cancer death is exceedingly low. All but a very few of these patients will need observation alone. Younger patients (those less than 60 years of age) and those with more moderately differentiated tumors or with serological or ultrasound evidence of residual cancer need further evaluation. It is likely that patients within this group are those who have in past studies experienced a higher degree of progression and cancer mortality. A stepped-up effort to detect nonpalpable prostate cancer has included PSA and transrectal ultrasound with random biopsies. Prostate cancer screening using a serum test and/or ultrasound has allowed increased detection of otherwise clinically silent cancer (stage A). Occult prostate cancer identified by needle biopsy or detected through elevated PSA levels most often is peripheral zone cancer and more aggressive than that arising in the transitional zone. A reclassification of stage A is therefore needed and a new scheme for TNM staging was recently introduced (Table 4). Because of its more aggressive potential, the new stage T1c will likely require different treatment recommendations than those for traditional stage A1 (T1a). More time and evaluation will be needed to estimate the prognosis of those diagnosed with minimal stage T1c prostate cancer.
Concept Learning for Safe Autonomous AI

Sophisticated autonomous AI may need to base its behavior on fuzzy concepts such as well-being or rights. These concepts cannot be given an explicit formal definition, but obtaining desired behavior still requires a way to instill the concepts in an AI system. To solve the problem, we review evidence suggesting that the human brain generates its concepts using a relatively limited set of rules and mechanisms. This suggests that it might be feasible to build AI systems that use similar criteria for generating their own concepts, and could thus learn similar concepts as humans do. Major challenges to this approach include the embodied nature of human thought, evolutionary vestiges in cognition, the social nature of concepts, and the need to compare conceptual representations between humans and AI systems.
The Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815: A Napoleonic Outpost in Central Europe: Czubaty, Jarosław. Trans. Ursula Phillips London: Bloomsbury Academic 246 pp. $72.99 ISBN 978-1-4725-2357-0 Publication Date: February 2016

Among Western historians, even specialists in the early nineteenth century, a mention of the Duchy of Warsaw would probably elicit a puzzled glance or a vague reference to Napoleonic Wars. Jaroslaw...
New Observations on Nonlinear Waves in Contacting Spherical Granules under Finite Rise-time Shocks

M. Arif Hasan, Sia Nemat-Nasser Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jacobs School of Engineering University of California, San Diego mdhasan@ucsd.edu, sia@ucsd.edu ABSTRACT We consider solitary waves (SWs) generated in a chain of identical elastic spheres (granules) by an applied force (shock) with finite rise and decay durations, and provide new explicit expressions and give simple procedures to establish a priori: (a) whether the peak value of the resulting primary SW would be greater, equal, or less than the peak value of the input force; (b) the peak value of the primary SW (or SWs when a train of SWs (SWT) is generated); (c) the linear momentum in each SW; (d) the number of SWs in a SWT; (e) whether or not the first granule would be ejected, and if it does, the corresponding linear momentum added to the remaining granules; and (f) quantitative estimate of the effect of granules’ properties (radius, density and stiffness) on force amplification/mitigation. Keywords: Granular media; nonlinear dynamics; solitary waves; shock loading; finite rise- and decay-durations.
DTT Stimulation of ATP Synthesis by Chloroplast Thylakoids Correlates with Dark Decay of ATP-Pi Activity

Illumination of chloroplast thylakoids in the presence of DTT activates ATP hydrolysis assayed in subsequent darkness. It also activates ATP synthesis in that the ∆pH required to support a given rate of photophosphorylation is reduced by approximately 0.3 pH units (1;2;figure 2).
EFFECTS OF QUESTION STEM ON STUDENT DESCRIPTIONS OF HISTOGRAMS

Assessment is necessary, but difficult, in statistics education. Multiple choice assessments are common, particularly for research purposes. Open-ended assessments may be more adept at revealing student understanding, but ensuring their validity can be difficult. The study presented here examines differences in student descriptions of histograms for different question prompts and scenarios in order to understand how best to ask such questions in research and teaching situations. The results show that different ways of asking students to describe histograms and different scenarios and shapes of histograms lead to systematic differences in student descriptions of histograms. The paper concludes with suggestions for phrasing questions, both for research and classroom assessment, and provides directions for future research based on our results. First published May 2018 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives
The Role of the Microbiome in Cancer Initiation and Progression: How Microbes and Cancer Cells Utilize Excess Energy and Promote One Another’s Growth

We use an ecological lens to understand how microbes and cancer cells coevolve inside the ecosystems of our bodies. We describe how microbe-cancer cell interactions contribute to cancer progression, including cooperation between microbes and cancer cells. We discuss the role of the immune system in preventing this apparent ‘collusion’ and describe how microbe-cancer cell interactions lead to opportunities and challenges in treating cancer. Microbiota influence many aspects of our health including our cancer risk. Since both microbes and cancer cells rely on incoming resources for their survival and replication, excess energy and nutrient input from the host can play a role in cancer initiation and progression. Certain microbes enhance cancer cell fitness by promoting proliferation and protecting cancer cells from the immune system. How diet influences these interactions remains largely unknown but recent evidence suggests a role for nutrients across the cancer continuum.
Efficient 3D Placement of Access Points in an Aerial Wireless Network

Aerial deployment of access points (APs) to network infrastructure has been shown to be an effective technological solution for rapidly supplying networking services in diverse scenarios, particularly post-disaster networking after major hurricane, tsunami, and earthquake events, or for the purposes of homeland security. A straightforward yet helpful method for deployment of APs in this emerging technology is to consider the problem in two 2D planes, one for users and another for APs. However, considering the need for effectively connecting low-power user devices that may suffer from severe fading due to the blocking of line-of-sight(LoS) transmissions, genuine 3D deployment is very desirable, even though a simpler form of it had been mathematically an open problem until 2017 for 400 years. To meet the engineering requirements, we first leverage 3D random geometric graphs (RGG) to develop the joint optimization of 3D AP placement with a given number of APs for proper coverage. We further propose a computationally-efficient iterative algorithm to effectively deploy the adequate number of APs in 3D space and respond to dynamics of such wireless networks. Our simulations demonstrate the superior performance of this genuine 3D placement of APs over traditional approaches when considering connections for user devices, particularly for larger number of APs in rapid deployment.
The Checkered Legacy of Marvin Farber’s Idiosyncratic Understanding of Phenomenology

I endeavor to explore Farber’s work leading into the Foundation in order to construct an understanding both of his idiosyncratic interpretation of Husserl, and of what lead to Farber’s break with phenomenology. A great irony of Farber’s career may turn out to be that a scholar so deeply bothered by presuppositions and so committed a methodological pluralist may have discarded phenomenology because of his own philosophical commitments, a fact noted by Farber’s former student, Sang-Ki Kim. In an essay in Farber’s memory, Kim questions whether Farber himself was subject to the limitations and prejudices inherent in his commitments to scientific Marxism and naturalism. Farber’s pervasive interests in naturalism are likely influenced, in part, by consideration for the cancer research of his brother, Sidney. This work will first examine Farber’s attitudes towards metaphysics and naturalism. Second, it will turn to an examination of his interests in logic – which largely prompted his interests in phenomenology. Farber’s methodological pluralism is driven in part by his understanding of logic and in part his other interests. Further disagreements with Husserl will be reappraised in the concluding section of the essay.
MÉTODO DA ESPIRAL DE ENSINO (MEE) – UMA FERRAMENTA PARA A APRENDIZAGEM SIGNIFICATIVA NA ENGENHARIA

: A atuacao profissional do engenheiro depende muito das disciplinas profissionalizantes do curso. As deficiencias de aprendizagem nessas disciplinas afetam o seu desempenho profissional. Um dos principais problemas no processo da sua formacao universitaria e a aprendizagem mecânica. Os metodos de ensino abordados nesse trabalho buscam a aprendizagem significativa, valorizando o processo de ensinagem em disciplinas profissionalizantes da Engenharia Civil. O MEE contempla a distribuicao do conteudo, a avaliacao, a busca das causas e os planos para melhorias em dois ou tres ciclos durante o semestre regular. Sao previstas avaliacoes do conhecimento por meio de mapas conceituais para identificar as lacunas de aprendizagem. Equipes Aleatorias e Desafios em Sala de Aula sao metodologias utilizadas para estimular trabalhos compartilhados e o partilhamento do conhecimento entre os alunos. A aplicacao destas metodologias de ensino nos ultimos quatro anos tem melhorado a aprendizagem dos alunos manifestada no seu desempenho academico.
A high-capacity gene stacking toolkit for the oleaginous microalga, Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779

Abstract Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779 is an oleaginous heterokont microalga that is particularly amenable to synthetic biology approaches. The underlying complex genetic engineering often requires the expression of multiple transgenes (gene stacking). We integrated several techniques into a vector toolkit for multi-gene expression, including: multiple resistance marker genes, bidirectional promoters, and assembly of multiple expression cassettes into a single vector. We developed a series of gateway entry and destination vectors for assembly of two bidirectional promoter expression cassettes, which facilitates combinatorial high-capacity gene stacking. Several endogenous bidirectional promoters were demonstrated to be effective for driving transgene expression, with a dual-luciferase reporter system used to monitor transgene expression under different environmental conditions. The bidirectional promoter between the nitrate reductase and the nitrate transporter genes drives nitrogen source dependent transcription, enabling conditional transgene expression. Lethal concentrations of the antibiotics, Blasticidin, G418, and Nourseothricin, were determined and the corresponding marker genes used for genomic transformation selection.
Chapter 20 – Image Quality

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses image quality. It focuses on the physical nature of the display and ways in which it can be made more compatible with both the human user and the environment in which it is placed. The advent of commercial television, the application of commercial television technology to computer-system displays, and the development of flat-panel displays have done a lot to force the development of image quality measurement techniques. At the same time, only a small number of laboratories and facilities in the United States have the capabilities to make the image quality measurements on a variety of display surfaces. Even those laboratories have some minor disagreement as to the appropriate techniques for measuring certain characteristics of the displays. Moreover, there is some disagreement as to the best image quality metric to be applied to visual displays in general. Nonetheless, a variety of image quality measurements have been made and evaluated in recent years, with a general agreement among display engineers and visual scientists that modulation transfer function-based measures are appropriate and empirically useful.
Cloud Process Coupling and Time Integration in the E3SM Atmosphere Model

In this study, we find significant sensitivity to the choice of time step for the Energy Exascale Earth System Model's atmospheric component, leading to large decreases in the magnitude of cloud fo...
ALTERNATIVES OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FROM THE POSITION OF BUSINESS STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONAL CRITERIA

The article is devoted to topical issues of innovative approaches from the standpoint of entrepreneurial structures and institutional criteria. This study substantiates the relevance of the development, implementation and improvement of approaches to the institutionalization of innovations in the context of globalization. From a theoretical point of view, the evolution of innovations in the system of entrepreneurial structures in the maritime trade market is investigated, theoretical approaches to the study of innovative systems and the principles of global innovative interaction are disclosed. This study presents an institutional approach to the implementation of innovations in the maritime market of Ukraine, as well as summarizes the practical experience of institutionalizing scientific research systems in the global maritime trade market, identifies the need for innovative and modernized development of the national maritime industry.
The Intersection Between Sex and Race in Understanding Substance Co-Use Patterns in Adolescents From the Fragile Families Study:

The current study examined the prevalence of alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis co-use among a longitudinal cohort of youth predominately born to single-parent families. Data were drawn from wave six...
Capital Flight and Fiscal Policy in Developing Countries

This study examines the effect of fiscal policy on capital flight in Ethiopia using time series data from 1970 to 2012, employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The results indicate that past capital flight, changes in debt, and government expenditure had no significant impact on capital flight in Ethiopia, while external debt, taxation, and expenditure practices under different political regimes did have a significant effect. The study details policy implications emerging from the empirical results.
Cryo-EM structure of hexameric yeast Lon (PIM1) highlights importance of conserved structural elements

Lon protease is a conserved ATP-dependent serine protease composed of an AAA+ domain that mechanically unfolds substrates and a serine protease domain that degrades unfolded substrates. In yeast, dysregulation of Lon protease (PIM1) attenuates lifespan and leads to gross mitochondrial morphologic perturbations. Although structures of bacterial and human Lon protease reveal a hexameric assembly, PIM1 was speculated to form a heptameric assembly, and is uniquely characterized by a $\sim$50 residue insertion between the ATPase and protease domains. To understand the yeast-specific properties of PIM1, we determined a high-resolution cryo-EM structure of PIM1 in a substrate-translocating state. Here, we reveal that PIM1 forms a hexamer, conserved with that of bacterial and human Lon proteases, wherein the ATPase domains form a canonical closed spiral that enables pore loop residues to translocate substrate to the protease chamber. In the substrate-translocating state, PIM1 protease domains form a planar protease chamber in an active conformation and are uniquely characterized by a $\sim$15 residue C-terminal extension. These additional C-terminal residues form an alpha-helix that is located along the base of the protease domain. Finally, we did not observe density for the yeast-specific insertion between the ATPase and protease domains, likely due to high conformational flexibility. Biochemical studies to investigate the insertion using constructs that truncated or replaced the insertion with a glycine-serine linker suggest that the yeast-specific insertion is dispensable for PIM1 enzymatic function. Altogether, our structural and biochemical studies highlight unique components of PIM1 machinery and demonstrate evolutionary conservation of Lon protease function.
Analysis of Protein Stability and Ligand Interactions by Thermal Shift Assay

Purification of recombinant proteins for biochemical assays and structural studies is time-consuming and presents inherent difficulties that depend on the optimization of protein stability. The use of dyes to monitor thermal denaturation of proteins with sensitive fluorescence detection enables rapid and inexpensive determination of protein stability using real-time PCR instruments. By screening a wide range of solution conditions and additives in a 96-well format, the thermal shift assay easily identifies conditions that significantly enhance the stability of recombinant proteins. The same approach can be used as an initial low-cost screen to discover new protein-ligand interactions by capitalizing on increases in protein stability that typically occur upon ligand binding. This unit presents a methodological workflow for small-scale, high-throughput thermal denaturation of recombinant proteins in the presence of SYPRO Orange dye.
What can we measure in ϱ−ω interference experiments?

Abstract We show that ϱ − ω interference, if studied in pionic production of both 2π and 3π final states, may allow an experimental separation of the phase of the mixing parameter from the phase difference of the ϱ and ω production amplitudes. We point out that the mixing parameter measured in 2π final states differs from the one measured in 3π final states, unless certain isospin breaking amplitudes are sufficiently small.
Economic Potential of Producing Liquid Transportation Fuels from Biomass

Recently emerging thermochemical processes may become viable methods of converting biomass feedstocks into high-value liquid transportation fuels. In particular, innovative pyrolysis and gasification technologies may present new avenues for converting woody biomass into gasoline, methanol, and ethanol. This paper summarizes the evaluation of the economic potential of three advanced biomass-to-liquid fuel processes: (1) a fast entrained-bed pyrolysis process, in which the wood pyrolyzate is upgraded via two-stage hydrotreating to produce gasoline, (2) a flash ablative pyrolysis process, in which pyrolytic vapors are upgraded via deoxygenation over zeolite catalysts to produce gasoline, and (3) an indirectly heated gasification process, in which the synthesis gas is converted into methanol. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine the economic bounds of these processes and the R&D required to develop them to their full economic potential. The results indicate that gasoline can be produced from a 1000-tpd future biomass conversion plant via fast pyrolysis for about $0.96 per gallon, and via flash pyrolysis for about $1.05. Methanol can be produced at about $0.76 per gallon.
Time-Varying Risk-Return Tradeoff in the Stock Market

Using a semiparametric estimation technique, we show that the risk-return tradeoff and the Sharpe ratio of the stock market increases monotonically with the consumption wealth ratio (CAY) across time. While early studies have commonly interpreted such a finding as evidence of the countercyclical variation in aggregate relative risk aversion (RRA), we argue that it mainly reflects changes in investment opportunities for two reasons. First, we fail to reject the null hypothesis of constant RRA after controlling for CAY as a proxy for the hedge against changes in the investment opportunity set. Second, by contrast with habit formation models but consistent with ICAPM, we find that loadings on the conditional stock market variance scaled by CAY are negatively priced in the cross-sectional regressions. For illustration, we replicate the countercyclical stock market risk-return tradeoff using simulated data from Guo's (2004) limited stock market participation model, in which RRA is constant and CAY is a proxy for shareholders' liquidity conditions.
How Effectively can Grain Boundaries Pin Flux Lines

Some years ago, a theorist on flux pinning would have dismissed the idea that grain boundaries can pin fluxoids in type II superconductors, because the width of a grain boundary is usually much smaller than the coherence length, ξ In recent years, some indirect evidence has appeared which suggests that grain boundaries can be very effective flux pinners. A number of investigators [1–7] have found an inverse relationship between the critical current density, J c , and average grain size, 〈D〉, in elemental, alloy, and compound superconductors. The fact that J c or the pinning force density, F p , correlates with 〈D〉 in numerous metals and alloys, even after cold work, demonstrates that grain boundaries can indeed be very potent flux pinners when present in a sufficiently high density (i.e., when the grain size is small) and that in some cases, they are even superior to crystal dislocations for pinning.
Informatics and multiplexing of intact protein identification in bacteria and the archaea

Although direct fragmentation of protein ions in a mass spectrometer is far more efficient than exhaustive mapping of 1–3 kDa peptides for complete characterization of primary structures predicted from sequenced genomes, the development of this approach is still in its infancy. Here we describe a statistical model (good to within ∼5%) that shows that the database search specificity of this method requires only three of four fragment ions to match (at ±0.1 Da) for a 99.8% probability of being correct in a database of 5,000 protein forms. Software developed for automated processing of protein ion fragmentation data and for probability-based retrieval of whole proteins is illustrated by identification of 18 archaeal and bacterial proteins with simultaneous mass-spectrometric (MS) mapping of their entire primary structures. Dissociation of two or three proteins at once for such identifications in parallel is also demonstrated, along with retention and exact localization of a phosphorylated serine residue through the fragmentation process. These conceptual and technical advances should assist future processing of whole proteins in a higher throughput format for more robust detection of co- and post-translational modifications.
Selected Technical Spin Offs from the Space Program

The report describes some of the problems which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has encountered in getting people to understand how the general public has profited from the technical discoveries of the space program. Next, it describes NASA's Technology Utilization Program and comments on it. It then describes some of the many spin-offs from the space program. These include examples from management technology, communications, aeronautics, medicine, fabrics highway safety, and weather forecasting.
Comparative In Vitro Activities and Postantibiotic Effects of the Oxazolidinone Compounds Eperezolid (PNU-100592) and Linezolid (PNU-100766) versus Vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium

The activities of the oxazolidinone antibacterial agents eperezolid (PNU-100592) and linezolid (PNU-100766) were compared with that of vancomycin against clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n = 200), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 100), and vancomycin-susceptible and -resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium (n = 50). Eperezolid and linezolid demonstrated good in vitro inhibitory activity, regardless of methicillin susceptibility for staphylococci (MIC at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited [MIC90] range, 1 to 4 μg/ml) or vancomycin susceptibility for enterococci (MIC90 range, 1 to 4 μg/ml). In time-kill studies, eperezolid and linezolid were bacteriostatic in action. A postantibiotic effect of 0.8 ± 0.5 h was demonstrated for both eperezolid and linezolid against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis, and E. faecium.
Wafer scale profiling of photonic integrated circuits

We demonstrate a thermal profiling technique for wafer-scale testing of optical distribution in photonic integrated circuits. The technique is used to quantify the absorption coefficient of a subthreshold diode laser for varying operating conditions.
The missing heritability of behavior: The search continues

Genetic variation altering behavior is elusive. This commentary discusses implications for the search for “missing heritability” posed by a unified series of studies from the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research. Endophenotypes are measured in a longitudinal cohort including twins, analyzed for heritability and genetically mapped via genome-wide association and genome sequencing. The genes identified account for a fraction of the heritability, but the manner in which the studies were conducted points to explanations other than methodology. The MCTFR data are an unprecedented addition to the research information commons. Other gene discoveries will follow when they are analyzed in new ways and in combination with other studies. Even larger samples may be needed. Alternatively or in addition, locus identification, especially rare alleles, may require the study of families and population isolates with founder characteristics.
Depression of Calcium Dynamics in Cardiac Myocytes-a Common Mechanism of Halogenated Hydrocarbon Anesthetics and Solvents

Individual halogenated hydrocarbons (HC) have recently been demonstrated to depress Ca2+ dynamics in cardiomyocytes during excitation-contraction coupling. In the present study, eight widely used HC were systematically compared for their effects on Ca2+ dynamics in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by means of spectrofluorometric analysis of fura-2-Ca(2+)-binding. Cells were exposed to dichloromethane (DCM), dichloroethane (DCE), 1,1,2-trichloroethane (112-TCE), trichloroethylene (TRI), halothane (HAL), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (111-TCE), perchloroethylene (PER), or pentachlorethane (PCE) in an environmentally controlled chamber. All HC tested decreased the height of electrically induced cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) transients in a concentration-dependent and reversible manner (IC50 0.15-18.06 mM) without significant effects on diastolic [Ca2+]i. The increase in [Ca2+]i induced by depolarization with 90 mM KCl was inhibited to a lesser degree. Investigations with thapsigargin (100 nM) and ryanodine (1 microM)-inhibitors of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum-provided evidence that the tonic Ca2+ response after KCl depolarization depends mainly on sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx. The potency of the eight HC to inhibit Ca2+ dynamics in cardiomyocytes correlated with their octanol/water partition coefficients. Results support the hypothesis that alteration of Ca2+ dynamics in cardiomyocytes is a common mechanism of cardiotoxic HC actions.
Low power counting via collaborative wireless communications

Metrics that aggregate the state of neighboring nodes are frequently used in wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we present two primitives that exploit simultaneous communications in 802.15.4 radios to enable a polling node to calculate with low power the number (or set) of its neighbors where some state predicate of interest holds. In both primitives, the poller assigns transmission powers and response lengths to its respective neighbors for their simultaneous response to each of its poll requests. The two primitives adopt complementary schemes for power assignment such that the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the respective signal from each neighbor is significantly different from that of all others in one primitive and nearly equivalent to that of the others in the other. The first primitive, LinearPoll, suits sparse networks and consumes energy that is linear in the size of its neighborhood, whereas the second primitive, LogPoll, suits dense networks and consumes constant energy. Compared to the state-of-the-art solutions that use multiple sub-carriers, our primitives are simpler and more compute-efficient while provide estimation with comparable quality. Compared to single-carrier solutions, our primitives achieve comparable quality at less than half the energy cost or richer information at comparable energy cost. They are also compatible with other radio physical layers. Based on our implementation for CC2420 radios on the TelosB platform, we evaluate the primitives in different wireless environments and neighborhood topologies to study their performance, the tradeoff between their estimation accuracy and energy cost, and methods for tuning their critical parameters, and we compare them with baseline counting protocols.
A Study on undoped CsI crystals

Abstract This report summarizes main results of a study on scintillation properties and radiation resistance of large size undoped cesium iodide (CsI) crystals produced in former Soviet Union. The results of this study indicate that with existing quality, undoped CsI crystal may be used in high counting rate environment with integrated radiation dosage up to 10 krads. Improvements in radiation resistance are needed, however, if they are to be used in very high radiation environment, such as SSC and LHC.
Adapter protein 14-3-3 is required for a presynaptic form of LTP in the cerebellum.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of granule cell–Purkinje cell synapses in the mouse cerebellum requires phosphorylation by protein kinase A of the active-zone protein RIM1α at Ser413. Here, we show that the adapter protein 14-3-3 readily binds phosphorylated Ser413 in RIM1α, and that presynaptic transfection with a dominant-negative 14-3-3η mutant, or a RIM1α mutant with enhanced 14-3-3 binding, inhibits LTP. Thus, RIM1α phosphorylation triggers presynaptic LTP in part through recruitment of 14-3-3 to phospho-Ser413–RIM1α.
Essential woman: Anthropological perspectives on gender

Josephides, Lisette. The Production of Inequality: Gender and Exchange Among the Kewa. London: Tavistock, 1985. x + 242 pp. including references and indices. $35.00 cloth. Moore, Henrietta L. Space, Text and Gender: An Anthropological Study of the Marakwet of Kenya. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986. vix + 213 pp. including bibliography and index. $39.50 cloth.
Analysis and design of a recurrent neural network for linear programming

Linear programming is an important tool for system optimization and modelling. This paper presents a recurrent neural network with a time-varying threshold vector for solving linear programming problems. The proposed recurrent neural network is proven to be asymptotically stable in the large and capable of generating optimal solutions to linear programming problems. An op-amp based analog circuit design for realizing the recurrent neural network is described. The asymptotic properties of the proposed recurrent neural network for linear programming are analyzed. A detailed example is also presented to demonstrate the performance and operating characteristics of the recurrent neural network. >
Synthesis of aromatic polyethers containing 2,6(7)‐dihydroxy [1,3,5(6),7(8)‐tetramethylanthracene] units

Friedel–Crafts copolymerization of 4,4′ bis(2,6-dimethylphenoxy-4-Phenyl)sulfone with methylene chloride used both as comonomer and solvent leads to linear and soluble aromatic polyethers containing 2,6(7)-dihydroxy[1,3,5(6),7(8)-tetramethylanthracene] units. The polymerization proceeds by multiple electrophilic substitutions that lead first to diphenylmethane and then to dihydroanthrylene units, followed by dihydrogenation.
Kinetic studies of Haemophilus influenzae 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.

Abstract Haemophilus influenzae 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-phospho- d -gluconate:NADP + 2-oxidoreductase (decar☐ylating), EC 1.1.1.44) was purified 308-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity with a 16% recovery through a five-step procedure involving salt fractionation and hydrophobic and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme was demonstrated to be a dimer of M r 70 000, and to catalyze a sequential reaction process. The enzyme was NADP-specific and kinetic parameters for the oxidation of 6-phosphogluconate were determined for NADP and four structural analogs of NADP. Coenzyme-competitive inhibition by adenosine derivatives was significantly enhanced by the presence of a 2′-phosphoryl group consistent with the observed coenzyme specificity of the enzyme. The purified enzyme was effectively inhibited by 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide phosphate, but at concentrations higher than that observed to inhibit growth of the organism. Rates of inactivation of the enzyme by N -ethylmaleimide were suggestive of sulfhydryl involvement in the reaction catalyzed.
Texture synthesis from multiple sources

Recent advances in texture synthesis have made it possible to synthesize textures based on examples. However, most of these algorithms can take only a single texture as the input and output a similar homogeneous texture. This is insufficient for textures that have progressively variant patterns or combined visual characteristics from several different sources. We present a new algorithm for synthesizing textures from multiple sources. We demonstrate two specializations of our algorithm that are particularly useful: generating texture mixtures from different inputs and synthesizing solid textures from multiple 2D views.
Generation and Propagation of Inertia–Gravity Waves from Vortex Dipoles and Jets

Abstract This study investigates gravity wave generation and propagation from jets within idealized vortex dipoles using a nonhydrostatic mesoscale model. Two types of initially balanced and localized jets induced by vortex dipoles are examined here. These jets have their maximum strength either at the surface or in the middle levels of a uniformly stratified atmosphere. Within these dipoles, inertia–gravity waves with intrinsic frequencies 1–2 times the Coriolis parameter are simulated in the jet exit region. These gravity waves are nearly phase locked with the jets as shown in previous studies, suggesting spontaneous emission of the waves by the localized jets. A ray tracing technique is further employed to investigate the propagation effects of gravity waves. The ray tracing analysis reveals strong variation of wave characteristics along ray paths due to variations (particularly horizontal variations) in the propagating environment. The dependence of wave amplitude on the jet strength (and thus on the ...
Protein that makes sense in the Argentine ant

With a protein-based approach, we have identified and cloned the cDNA encoding a chemosensory protein (LhumCSP) in the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. The open reading frame of the cloned cDNA encoded a signal peptide (20 residues), and a mature protein (pI 4.62) of 106 amino acid residues. The calculated molecular mass (12,453 Da) was in agreement with the molecular mass measured by on-line chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (12,448 Da), given the formation of two disulfide bridges. LhumCSP shared sequence similarity with various CSPs, particularly those identified and/or cloned from moth species. Also, LhumCSP showed the hallmark of the chemosensory proteins, i.e., four well conserved cysteine residues. The antennal protein was not detected in non-olfactory tissues (leg and thorax) contrary to a putative pheromone-binding protein isolated from the thorax of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. In addition, these findings suggest that, as in Orthopterans and Phasmids, the protein that makes sense in the Argentine ant is not an odorant-binding protein, but rather a chemosensory protein.
Nephrectomy during operative management of retroperitoneal sarcoma

Background: Complete resection of a retroperitoneal sarcoma often requires removal of adjacent organs. In this study we evaluated the role of nephrectomy during operation for retroperitoneal sarcoma. Methods: Between July 1982 and July 1995, 75 of the 371 (20%) patients who underwent resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma at MSKCC underwent concommitant nephrectomy. Data concerning the reasons for nephrectomy, degree of sarcomatous renal involvement, and survival were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Fifty-four patients (72%) underwent nephrectomy during the initial resection, and 21 (28%) during a resection of a recurrent or persistent tumor. The most common reason for nephrectomy was total encasement by sarcoma (n=40; 53%), followed by dense adherence of the tumor to the kidney (n=21; 28%), and the direct invasion of the kidney by tumor (n=2; 3%). Pathology demonstrated an absence of kidney invasion in the majority of cases (55 of 75; 73%). Renal capsular invasion was present in 11 of 75 (15%), renal parenchymal invasion in 7 of 75 (9%), and renal vein invasion in 2 of 75 (3%) of cases. There were no significant differences in survival based on degree of sarcoma involvement of the kidney, tumor grade, or whether the resection was for primary or recurrent disease. The 53 patients who underwent a complete gross resection of all tumor had a significantly improved long-term survival compared to the 20 patients who did not (50% versus 20% DFS at 5 years, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions: Decisions for concomitant nephrectomy during resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma should be based on whether this maneuver will provide a complete resection of all gross tumor, in which case the long-term disease-free survival of 50% is comparable to the reported 5-year survival of all patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma who are completely resected.
Visual attention affects brain blood flow

THE brain is extremely dependent on an uninterrupted supply of blood-borne nutrients because of its high metabolic rate. The effect of cerebral activity on the provision of blood to the brain, howerer, is not fully understood, particularly with respect to higher mental function. For human subjects, there is conflicting data concerning the possibility that intellectual effort increases the rate of flow of blood through the brain1,2. We now report that cerebral blood flow may in part be regulated by the extent of mental activity. Our experimental animal was the chick, which has an anatomy such that minor changes in cerebral blood flow are readily detectable.