cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tendi: Tensor Disaggregation from Multiple Coarse Views

Multidimensional data appear in various interesting applications, e.g., sales data indexed by stores, items, and time. Oftentimes, data are observed aggregated over multiple data atoms, thus exhibit low resolution. Temporal aggregation is most common, but many datasets are also aggregated over other attributes. Multidimensional data, in particular, are sometimes available in multiple coarse views, aggregated across different dimensions – especially when sourced by different agencies. For instance, item sales can be aggregated temporally, and over groups of stores based on their location or affiliation. However, data in finer granularity significantly benefit forecasting and data analytics, prompting increasing interest in data disaggregation methods. In this paper, we propose Tendi, a principled model that efficiently disaggregates multidimensional (tensor) data from multiple views, aggregated over different dimensions. Tendi employs coupled tensor factorization to fuse the multiple views and provide recovery guarantees under realistic conditions. We also propose a variant of Tendi, called TendiB, which performs the disaggregation task without any knowledge of the aggregation mechanism. Experiments on real data from different domains demonstrate the high effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Rapid implementation of SARS-CoV-2 emergency use authorization RT-PCR testing and experience at an academic medical institution

ABSTRACT An epidemic caused by an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China in December 2019 has since rapidly spread internationally, requiring urgent response from the clinical diagnostics community. We present a detailed overview of the clinical validation and implementation of the first laboratory-developed real-time reverse-transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) test offered in the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital system following the emergency use authority (EUA) guidance issued by the US Food and Drug Administration. Validation was performed on nasopharyngeal and sputum specimens (n=124) using newly designed dual-target rRT-PCR (altona RealStar® SARS-CoV-2 Reagent) for detecting of SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory and lower respiratory tract specimens, including bronchoalveolar lavage and tracheal aspirates. Accuracy testing demonstrated excellent assay agreement between expected and observed values. The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.7 and 23.0 gene copies/reaction for nasopharyngeal and sputum specimens, respectively. Retrospective analysis of 1,694 tests from 1,571 patients revealed increased positivity in older patients and males compared to females, and an increasing positivity rate from approximately 20% at the start of testing to 50% at the end of testing three weeks later. Our findings demonstrate that the assay accurately and sensitively identifies SARS-CoV-2 in multiple specimen types in the clinical setting and summarizes clinical data from early in the epidemic in New York City.
PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil attenuates cardiac microRNA 214 upregulation and pro-apoptotic signaling after chronic alcohol ingestion in mice

Abusive chronic alcohol consumption can cause metabolic and functional derangements in the heart and is a risk factor for development of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. microRNA 214 (miR-214) is a molecular sensor of stress signals that negatively impacts cell survival. Considering cardioprotective and microRNA modulatory effects of sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, we investigated the impact of chronic alcohol consumption on cardiac expression of miR-214 and its anti-apoptotic protein target, Bcl-2 and whether sildenafil attenuates such changes. Adult male FVB mice received unlimited access to either normal liquid diet (control), alcohol diet (35% daily calories intake), or alcohol + sildenafil (1 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 14 weeks (n = 6–7/group). The alcohol-fed groups with or without sildenafil had increased total diet consumption and lower body weight as compared with controls. Echocardiography-assessed left ventricular function was unaltered by 14-week alcohol intake. Alcohol-fed group had 2.6-fold increase in miR-214 and significant decrease in Bcl-2 expression, along with enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and cleavage of PARP (marker of apoptotic DNA damage) in the heart. Co-ingestion with sildenafil blunted the alcohol-induced increase in miR-214, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and maintained Bcl-2 and decreased PARP cleavage levels. In conclusion, chronic alcohol consumption triggers miR-214-mediated pro-apoptotic signaling in the heart, which was prevented by co-treatment with sildenafil. Thus, PDE5 inhibition may serve as a novel protective strategy against cardiac apoptosis due to chronic alcohol abuse.
Term Quantization: Furthering Quantization at Run Time

We present a novel technique, called Term Quantization (TQ), for furthering quantization at run time for improved computational efficiency of deep neural networks (DNNs) already quantized with conventional quantization methods. TQ operates on power-of-two terms in expressions of values. In computing a dot-product computation, TQ dynamically selects a fixed number of largest terms to use from values of the two vectors. By exploiting weight and data distributions typically present in DNNs, TQ has a minimal impact on DNN model performance (e.g., accuracy or perplexity). We use TQ to facilitate tightly synchronized processor arrays, such as systolic arrays, for efficient parallel processing. We evaluate TQ on an MLP for MNIST, multiple CNNs for ImageNet and an LSTM for Wikitext-2. We demonstrate significant reductions in inference computation costs (between $3-10\times$) compared to conventional uniform quantization for the same level of model performance.
When can we safely return to normal? A novel method for identifying safe levels of NPIs in the context of COVID-19 vaccinations

Abstract Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, governing bodies and individuals have relied on a variety of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which posed an acute threat to individuals’ well-being and consistently impacted economic activities in many countries worldwide. NPIs have been implemented at varying levels of severity and in response to widely-divergent perspectives of risk tolerance. Now, concurrently with the introduction of multiple SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the world looks optimistically to a “return to normality”. In this work, we propose a multi-disciplinary approach, combining transmission modeling with control and optimization theory, to examine how risk tolerance and vaccination rates will impact the safe return to normal behavior over the next few months. To this end, we consider a version of the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered transmission model that accounts for hospitalizations, vaccinations, and loss of immunity. We then propose a novel control approach to calibrate the necessary level of NPIs at various geographical levels to guarantee that the number of hospitalizations does not exceed a given risk tolerance (i.e., a maximum allowable threshold). Our model and control objectives are calibrated and tailored for the state of Colorado, USA. Our results suggest that: (i) increasing risk tolerance can decrease the number of days required to discontinue all NPIs; (ii) increasing risk tolerance inherently increases COVID-19 deaths even in the context of vaccination; (iii) if the vaccination uptake in the population is 70% or less, then return to normal behavior within the next year may newly stress the healthcare system. Furthermore, by using a multi-region model accounting for travel, our simulations predict that: (iv) relaxation should take into account regional heterogeneity in transmission and travel; and (v) premature relaxation of NPIs, even if restricted only to low-density regions, will lead to exceeding hospitalization limits even when highly-populated regions implement full-closures. Although the simulations are performed for the state of Colorado, the proposed model of transmission and control methods are applicable to any area worldwide and can be utilized at any geographical granularity.
Streaming mindfulness: Well-being and mindfulness among subscribers to a video streaming service.

Objective Internet and smartphone technology have advanced the dissemination of mindfulness practices and philosophy. This study explored how individuals interact with Spectiv, a subscription-based video streaming service (VSS) that advertises content for meditation, and measured levels of mindfulness and well-being. We hypothesized that users engaging with Spectiv for longer sessions and on a regular basis would report higher levels of mindfulness and well-being. Method A 46-question online survey was developed and distributed to all active subscribers of Spectiv (N = 119). The survey included two validated scales: (1) The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale, and (2) The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. A series of one-way ANOVAs were performed, along with a simple linear regression and descriptive statistics. Results Users reported relaxation as the most common activity. Levels of mindfulness and well-being were significantly higher for users whose session-duration lasted 2 hours (p = .01) and 3 hours (p = .03). Users engaging with the VSS daily had significant levels of both mindfulness (p < .001) and well-being (p < .001). There was no difference between subscription length and mindfulness and well-being. Mindfulness was found to be a significant positive predictor of well-being (p < .0001). Conclusion VSS could be valuable to facilitating mindfulness. Users engaging with a VSS for longer durations and more frequently may be more likely to experience benefits. Future research using controlled designs such as randomized control trials and feasibility studies should be conducted to determine if VSS can maintain or increase levels of mindfulness and well-being.
Long-Range Electrostatic Interactions Significantly Modulate the Affinity of Dynein for Microtubules

The dynein family of microtubule minus-end directed motor proteins drives diverse functions in eukaryotic cells, including cell division, intracellular transport, and flagellar beating. Motor protein processivity, which characterizes how far a motor walks before detaching from its filament, depends on the interaction between its microtubule-binding domain (MTBD) and the microtubule. Dyneins MTBD switches between high- and low-binding affinity states as it steps. Significant structural and functional data show that specific salt bridges within the MTBD and between the MTBD and the microtubule govern these affinity state shifts. However, recent computational work suggests that non-specific, long-range electrostatic interactions between the MTBD and the microtubule may also play a significant role in the processivity of dynein. To investigate this hypothesis, we mutated negatively charged amino acids remote from the dynein MTBD-microtubule-binding interface to neutral residues and measured the binding affinity using microscale thermophoresis and optical tweezers. We found a significant increase in the binding affinity of the mutated MTBDs for microtubules. Furthermore, we found that charge screening by free ions in solution differentially affected the binding and unbinding rates of MTBDs to microtubules. Together, these results demonstrate a significant role for long-range electrostatic interactions in regulating dynein-microtubule affinity. Moreover, these results provide insight into the principles that potentially underlie the biophysical differences between molecular motors with various processivities and protein-protein interactions more generally. Statement of SignificanceThe dynein family of motor proteins drives the motility of multiple cellular functions by walking toward the minus end of microtubules. The biophysical mechanisms of dynein rely on its ability to change affinity for the microtubule as it steps. Specific short-range electrostatic interactions acting at the microtubule-binding domain (MTBD)-microtubule interface are known to govern binding affinity. This study shows that non-specific longer-range electrostatic interactions due to charged amino acids remote from the binding interface also contribute significantly to the binding affinity mechanisms. Our results suggest that subtle differences in the electrostatic charge distribution within the MTBD significantly affect the molecular biophysical motility mechanisms in the dynein family of motors.
GABA and glycine receptors in the nucleus ambiguus mediate tachycardia elicited by chemical stimulation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus

We have previously reported that stimulation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARCN) by microinjections of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) elicits tachycardia, which is partially mediated via in...
The Saccharification Step: Trichoderma Reesei Cellulase Hyper Producer Strains

One of the major applications of cellulases is to produce fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass for biofuels production. The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is known to be hyper producer of cellulases and hemicellulases and it is widely used for commercial scale production of these enzymes using novel fermentation techniques. Some of the T. reesei industrial strains produce over 100 g/l of cellulases. However, there are still technical and economic constraints to the development of cheap commercial cellulase production process. Here, we bring together and discuss the results on T. reesei as cellulase producer, the different kinds of enzymes it expresses, recent genomic, genetic, and metabolic engineering approaches that have helped to improve the biomass degrading enzyme mixture and the strategies adopted to reduce the cost of enzymes during fermentation process. Current efforts and some future perspectives for reducing the cost of enzymes by using cheaper substrates, recycling enzyme during the hydrolysis and fermentation process, and on-site enzyme production in the biorefinery facility are also discussed.
Interlocal Rules and Democracy in the Administration of Cross-Border Policy Communities

The management of contiguous transboundary ecological commons presents a complicated nexus in which at least two forms of governance and culture characterize and attempt to solve commonly shared environmental problems. Two nations with a long history of cross-border environmental cooperation are Canada and the United States. However, the evolution of effective transboundary management of water policy has been hampered by an inadequate understanding of the growth of localized transnational institutions between them. This study analyzes the interlocal natural resource stewardship in the binational Areas of Concern (AOCs) shared by Canada and the United States in the Great Lakes Basin. These AOCs are the St. Clair, St. Marys, and Detroit rivers. Interlocal characterizes a situation in which local entities on either side of a contiguous border make agreements or reach working understandings across international boundaries to solve commonly shared problems. The intent of this paper is to demonstrate the evolvi...
Shuttle/tethered satellite system

A tethered satellite system was conceived as a device to extend the capability of the Space Shuttle to perform scientific/applications investigations and operational activities. The concept envisions a multiple-use tethered system with closed-loop control, capable of supporting a payload or satellite suspended from the Shuttle cargo bay, toward or away from the Earth, at distances up to 100 kilometers from the Shuttle. The background and results of early analyses and feasibility studies are discussed and a design and operational description of the system are presented. Also presented are a discussion of potential applications of the Tethered Satellite System, and plans for an operational verification flight in 1982.
High school initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth Systems Science and Engineering (HIRES)

Recent attention to K-12 education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) has revealed challenges in students' performance and persistence, particularly for groups that are underrepresented STEM fields. STEM shapes people's lives in fundamental ways. However, currently, the U.S. is faced with dual crises (1) a dearth of STEM learners and (2) a lack of learning environments and hands-on opportunities especially for underrepresented communities. Although these challenges are daunting, recent education policy developments are creating an unprecedented opportunity to address them. Individuals, educators, stakeholders and decision-makers across the nation are increasingly seeking methods and strategies to bolster scientific capabilities and the capacity of our teachers and students. This is vital to increase the national STEM talent pool and workforce necessary to sustain the economy and ensure that the U.S. remains a world leader in science and technology. CUNY Remote Sensing Earth System (CREST) Institute and its consortium at the City College of New York expanded the existing successful Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) to create an exemplary science and engineering mentoring program for HS students from underrepresented communities within the five borough of NYC and make them “college ready” especially in fields of Remote Sensing of the Earth. The overarching goals of the project was to expand the number of HS students able to participate in summer research; to introduce pre-college credit bearing courses in MATLAB, GIS and Remote Sensing and introduce students to integrative research and learning modules through hands-on research projects. The objectives of this program was to motivate, inspire, engage and increase the underrepresented minority/underserved and STEM disadvantaged HS students in inter-disciplinary fields of Earth Systems, and Environmental Sciences and Engineering; to engage students in scientific research alongside faculty and graduate mentors; to bring excitement to students/interns through cutting-edge research and help set a STEM career pathways from high school to college. The authors look forward to sharing their summer 2014 High School experience through this presentation.
Small nuclear power plants: Financing ease may balance scaling factor

Abstract Economies of scale are highly significant for conventional light water nuclear power plants, but large units have become very difficult to finance for US utilities. If a small reactor with not quite such an unfavourable scaling factor could be designed, would it find a market? A modelling exercise, in which a hypothetical utility meets its capacity needs by building either 400 MW or 1200 MW nuclear plants, suggests that it might, under the right conditions. The model showed that the economies of scale of large plants tend to be overcome by financing difficulties which are avoided if small units are built. A small reactor would not be in the market alone, however. Competing with it would be other fuels and technologies, as well as the options of joint ownership of large plants, and purchased power.
Nutrition Support in Pancreatitis

The principles of nutritional therapy in the patient with acute pancreatitis have changed dramatically over the past several years. In other disease processes similar to pancreatitis, providing nutritional support to patients, particularly by the enteral route, improves outcome compared to patients who receive no nutritional therapy [1]. Acute pancreatitis is characterized by a catabolic hypermetabolic stress state, commonly producing deterioration of nutritional status. Retrospective evidence suggests that failure to provide nutritional support worsens outcome [2]. We are now better at defining which patients with acute pancreatitis need aggressive nutritional therapy [3—6]. In pancreatitis, route of nutritional support has been shown to impact patient outcome [7, 8]. Failure to maintain gut integrity correlates to worsening overall severity of illness and increased likelihood for complications [8]. We now have a better understanding of the physiologic principles involved in the stimulation of the pancreas and the factors which exacerbate the disease process of pancreatitis. The emphasis of nutritional therapy is gradually shifting from eliminating all stimulation of the pancreas while providing parenteral nutrients, to reducing stimulation to subclinical levels while providing enteric feeding through a nasojejunal tube, thus maintaining gut integrity.
A Telemetry-Based Study of Great Egret (Ardea alba) Nest-Attendance Patterns, Food-Provisioning Rates, and Foraging Activity in Kansas, USA

Abstract. The breeding season is a demanding period in an individual's annual cycle because it must balance energy gains with the competing demands of reproduction and self-maintenance and properly allocate time and energy to both. To better understand how this balance is reached, nest-attendance patterns, food-provisioning rates, and foraging patterns were studied in radio-tagged Great Egrets (Ardea alba) breeding in a mixed-species colony in Wichita, Kansas, from May–August 2010–2013. A total 900 bird-days for 16 Great Egrets (60 ± 32 days/bird) provided 777 records of feeding sites, yielding travel times, flight velocities, and flight distances. Prey-capture rates, capture efficiencies, prey sizes and aggressive interactions were recorded at rivers, ponds, and weirs. A data logger placed in the colony from 2011–2013 recorded 3,390 arrivals and departures by 14 Great Egrets, documenting nest-attendance patterns. Provisioning intervals (196 ± 18 min [SD]; Range = 30–2,044 min) differed among radio-tagged...
Tools for Managing Repository Objects

The past few years have seen the introduction of repository-based computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools which may finally enable us to develop software which is reliable and affordable. With the new tools come new challenges for management: Repository-based CASE changes software development to such an extent that traditional approaches to estimation, performance, and productivity assessment may no longer suffice — if they ever did. Fortunately, the same tools enable us to carry out better, more cost-effective and more timely measurement and control than was previously possible.
Reciprocal relationship between uptake of Ca++ and biosynthesis of glycerolipids from sn-glycerol-3-phosphate by rat liver microsomes.

Abstract The relationship between uptake of Ca ++ and incorporation of sn-[ 14 C]-glycerol-3-phosphate into phosphatidate, diglyceride, and triglyceride was evaluated in microsomes isolated from livers of normal fed male rats. Uptake of Ca ++ was dependent on concentration of Ca ++ (0.1 – 2.5 mM), and accompanied by a decrease in the rate of glycerolipid synthesis. The quantity of Ca ++ ion taken up at 20 μM CaCl 2 in the presence of ATP was equivalent to that observed with 2.5 mM CaCl 2 in the absence of ATP. The ATP dependent uptake of Ca ++ , like the passive uptake at higher concentrations of Ca ++ , was correlated with inhibition of incorporation of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate into phosphatidate. Accumulation of Ca ++ in hepatic microsomes, therefore, appears to result in a calcium-dependent decrease in biosynthesis of phosphatidate and other glycerolipids.
Structural evolution of carbide-derived carbons upon vacuum annealing

Abstract Microstructure and surface moieties of porous carbons play a significant role in affecting their performance in a variety of applications. While it is well known that high-temperature treatments of porous carbons can influence the microstructure, no systematic studies have been done on carbide-derived carbons. We show that vacuum annealing increases the pore volume and specific surface area of titanium carbide-derived carbon with no significant change in the pore size up to 1500 °C. This treatment produces porous carbons with subnanometer porosity and a specific surface area up to 2000 m 2 /g, while treating the samples at temperatures above 1600 °C increases the pore size above 1 nm because of graphitization and collapse of the micropore structure. The results demonstrate that vacuum treatment can be used to further tune the pore structure and potentially the surface functionality of carbide-derived carbons for supercapacitor electrodes, gas chromatography, sorption, sensing and other applications. Vacuum annealing of carbide-derived carbon is therefore a suitable alternative to conventional microstructure modification methods, such as gas or liquid phase activation, which are subject to substantial sample loss and result in additional surface functionalization.
Sex differences in nonverbal expressiveness: Emotional expression, personality, and impressions

Sex differences in expressiveness are well documented, but the reasons for and correlates of these important differences are not well studied. A comprehensive set of emotion-relevant personality measures was administered to 40 female and 39 male undergraduate participants, who were also videotaped in three situations: engaging in natural social interaction, describing a past emotional experience, and posing various emotions. Videotapes were judged by sets of naive observers as to emotion communicated and overall impression. Expressive females, who appeared friendly and dominant in social interaction, were found to have a hostile/aggressive personality (but this was not true of males). Expressive females also tended to look angry/disgusted when describing happy and sad experiences. The findings suggest that nonverbally skilled, charismatic women (but not men) may often possess a dominant/aggressive but self-controlled personality, in a new twist on the theory that sex differences in expressiveness result in part from the oppression of women in society.
Recovery of exine from mature pollens and spores

Abstract A procedure has been devised for isolation and recovery of exine that is generally applicable to pollens and spores from a range of common species. Particles are suspended in an aqueous solution of 4-O-methylmorphine N-oxide and cyclohexylamine which swells them and loosens the exine layer. Gentle pressure in a teflon/glass tissue grinder releases protoplasts from exine and subsequent treatment with a mixture of cellulase and pectinase destroys attachments between intine and exine layers. The suspension is placed on a NaCl/Percoll step gradient to remove protoplasts and then the exine is cleanly separated from other cellular fragments on a step gradient of CsCl. The entire procedure can be accomplished at room temperature which greatly reduces possibility of chemical or physical modification of the exine. Moreover, the method is readily scaled up to production of exine in gram amounts which allows future study of the structural properties of its major biopolymer, sporopollenin.
Magical hair as dirt: Ecstatic bodies and postcolonial reform in South India

This paper offers an ethnography of the medicalization of matted locks of hair (jade) worn by female ecstatics in a South Indian devi (goddess) cult. These jade are taken by devotees of the devi Yellamma to be a manifestation of her presence in the bodies of women who enter possession states and give oracles. At her temples across the central Deccan Plateau, Yellamma women can be seen wearing heavy locks of matted hair anointed with turmeric, the color and healing properties of which are identified with this devi. Under a recent government-sponsored campaign, reformers cut jade and hand out packets of shampoo as a means of reforming the extended and illicit sexuality of these women. Associations between sexuality and hair practices have long preoccupied anthropologists interested in the relationship between the body and culture. In this paper, I draw on this literature and more than 2 years of field research to consider the encounter between biomedical and Shakta epistemologies of the body dramatized in these jade cutting campaigns. This effort to remake the body as a fit site and sign of modernity elaborates the postcolonial politics of sexuality, gender and religiosity in India.
A nonlinear lower bound on linear search tree programs for solving knapsack problems

By the method of region counting, a lower bound of n log"2nn queries is obtained onlinear search tree programs which solve the n-dimensional knapsack problem. The region counting involves studying the structure of a subset of the hyperplanes defined by the problem. For this subset of hyperplanes, the result is shown to be tight.
Gender Differences in Farm Management

Women farmers comprise a significant, increasing portion of the U.S. farm operator population, yet information on women farmers and the farms they manage is limited. Data from a thirteen-state survey offered a unique opportunity to compare male and female farmers who operate large commercial farms. The survey sample included 2,888 farmers; of these, 112 (4%) were women. The purpose of this study was to identify differences and similarities associated with the gender of the principal farm decision maker of commercial farms in terms of operator characteristics, farm characteristics, farm financial performance, and record keeping and computer use. Significant differences were found in education level, type of farms operated, total acreage farmed, land tenure position, and financial performance. The results of this study are contrasted with those of previous studies that compared male and female farmers but did not distinguish farmers according to the size or type of farm operated. Farm size and type seem to explain some of the differences between farms operated by male and female farmers that have been attributed to gender.
Giving the finger to dating services

Statistics, the science of uncertainty, provides us with tools to help understand and thence navigate a complex world. Sometimes, when we hear perplexing ideas, statistics and a bit of empirical energy can help reduce confusion. This essay is about two such puzzles. The first, dealing with data usage by a computer dating service, was not completely unraveled, but at least one plausible hypothesis was dismissed as unworkable and thus increased the likelihood of a competing one. The second puzzle, which dealt with an apparent quirk in assortative mating among college students, was cleared up completely. The solution to both puzzles involved gathering a modest amount of data and making a scatterplot.
Insulin Receptor Carbohydrate Units Contain Poly-N-Acetyllactosamine Chains

The insulin receptor was immunoprecipitated from cultured human lymphocytes (IM-9) and rat hepatocytes (Fao) after biosynthetic labeling with [3H]glucosamine or [3H] mannose, and the nature of the carbohydrate units was investigated. Digestion of the receptor from IM-9 lymphocytes with E. freundii endo-β-galactosidase increased the migration of the insulin receptor α- and β-subunits on sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gels and sharpened the electrophoretic bands; the α-subunit was converted from an apparent mol wt (Mr) of 123,000 to a Mr of 118,000, and the β-subunit from a Mr of 92,000 to 89,000. The susceptibility of the insulin receptor to this enzyme indicates that its carbohydrate units contain poly-N-acetyllactosamine sequences. Affinity chromatography of receptor glycopeptides on Concanavalin-A-Sepharose revealed that the poly-N-acetyllactosamine units were attached to multiantennary glycopeptides that accounted for over 75% of the [3H]glucosamine incorporated into the IM-9 lymphocyte insulin r...
Primate ecology, rainforest conservation, and economic development: Building a national park in Madagascar

At the end of the twentieth century, the future of primate ecology is interlocked with that of the world's tropical forests. Most primate species occur in rainforests, which are disappearing at an astounding rate.1,2 It is clear that conservation of tropical forests and their rich faunas must take place within the context of the economic development of the countries in which they are situated. Further, the conservation of these resources must prove valuable to the peoples who own them.3–6 The international community, including World Bank and USAid, have made it a priority to fund projects combining rural development programs linked with park management.7 In 1987, the Malagasy government asked me to help them establish a national park at Ranomafana, in southeast Madagascar. This article provides a brief description of the route we followed establishing this park. Undoubtedly, many of the problems and opportunities we faced, and the solutions we arrived at, were unique to Madagascar at this particular time; others, I hope, will be broadly applicable to conservation efforts throughout the world.
A method for designing multiload component dynamometers incorporating octagonal strain rings

To optimize the design of force dynamometers incorporating octagonal ring elements it is important to be able to predict the dynamometer sensitivities. Previous methods relying on thin ring theory have been inadequate because octagonal rings often have a thickness which cannot be considered thin and, further, the thickness is not uniform. In this paper, empirical equations that describe the deflections, strains and von Mises stresses of individual octagonal rings due to radial, tangential and axial forces are developed using finite-element models. These models are loaded and constrained to simulate the most common uses of octagonal rings in force dynamometers. A nonlinear regression routine is used to develop the above equations from the data given by the finite-element analysis. The performance of these equations is evaluated and presented in tabular form. A procedure is also outlined to describe the use of these equations in the design of six-load-component dynamometers.
Three loop analysis of the critical O ( N ) models in 6 − ε dimensions

We continue the study, initiated in [L. Fei, S. Giombi, and I. R. Klebanov, Phys. Rev. D 90, 025018 (2014)], of the $O(N)$ symmetric theory of $N+1$ massless scalar fields in $6\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ dimensions. This theory has cubic interaction terms $\frac{1}{2}{g}_{1}\ensuremath{\sigma}({\ensuremath{\phi}}^{i}{)}^{2}+\frac{1}{6}{g}_{2}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{3}$. We calculate the three loop beta functions for the two couplings and use them to determine certain operator scaling dimensions at the IR stable fixed point up to order ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{3}$. We also use the beta functions to determine the corrections to the critical value of $N$ below which there is no fixed point at real couplings. The result suggests a significant reduction in the critical value as the dimension is decreased to 5. We also study the theory with $N=1$, which has a ${Z}_{2}$ symmetry under $\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\phi}$. We show that it possesses an IR stable fixed point at imaginary couplings which can be reached by flow from a nearby fixed point describing a pair of $N=0$ theories. We calculate certain operator scaling dimensions at the IR fixed point of the $N=1$ theory and suggest that, upon continuation to two dimensions, it describes a nonunitary conformal minimal model.
A Compact 100 MeV Accelerator Based On Plasma Wakefields

In the Plasma Wakefield Accelerator short electron bunches accelerate by surfing on ultra-high gradient plasma waves excited by a lower voltage, higher current electron beam. This paper reviews the concept of and recent progress on the Plasma Wakefield Accelerator. Proof-of-principle experiments have recently been carried out at Argonne National Laboratory and modelled at UCLA. Computer simulations of the experimental conditions confirm the importance of non-linear beam self-pinching and wave steepening in the experiment. The results of the experiment are encouraging for a next phase of experiments to demonstrate a 100 MeV compact accelerator ( < 1 to 2 meters) based on a plasma wakefield device driven by a laser photo-injector linac.
Induced production of invertase in sugar-beet root by γ-irradiation: Role of RNA.

Gamma-irradiation dosages between 100 and 200 krad greatly stimulate the development of invertase activity in sugar-beet tissue. However, exposure of tissue to 800 krad virtually eliminates the production of invertase. The production of the enzyme in control and irradiated tissue requires RNA and protein synthesis. Failure of 5-fluorouracil to inhibit the development of invertase implies that the synthesis of ribosomal RNA is not required for enzyme production. A close correlation between irradiation-stimulated methylation of sRNA and enzyme production is noted. We suggest that the synthesis or modification of some RNA required for the translation of “masked invertase RNA” is stimulated by γ-irradiation.
Human Annulus Fibrosus Lamellae Generate Significant Multi-Axial Forces and Moments in Biaxial Extension

Low back pain is a widespread public health issue affecting about 75% of Americans in their lifetime [1]. In many individuals, the origin remains unknown in spite of decades of research. However, intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration has been theorized as a major precursor to nonspecific low back pain [2,3].Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A CD40 Kozak sequence polymorphism and susceptibility to antibody-mediated autoimmune conditions: the role of CD40 tissue-specific expression

Previously, we and others have demonstrated the association of a C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), in the Kozak sequence of CD40, with Graves' disease (GD). Here, using an expanded data set of patients, we confirm the association of the CD40 SNP with GD (n=210, P=0.002, odds ratio (OR)=1.8). Subset analysis of patients with persistently elevated thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and/or thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies (Abs), (TPO/Tg Abs), after treatment (n=126), revealed a significantly stronger association of the SNP with disease (P=5.2 x 10(-5), OR=2.5) than in GD patients who were thyroid antibody-negative. However, the CD40 SNP was not associated with TPO/Tg Abs in healthy individuals. Next, we tested the CD40 SNP for association with Myasthenia Gravis (MG), which, like GD is an antibody-mediated autoimmune condition. Analysis of 81 MG patients found no association of the SNP with disease. Functional studies revealed significant expression of CD40 mRNA and protein in the thyroid (target tissue in GD) but not in skeletal muscle (target tissue in MG). Combined, our genetic and tissue expression data suggest that the CD40 Kozak SNP is specific for thyroid antibody production involved in the etiology of GD. Increased thyroidal expression of CD40 driven by the SNP may contribute to this disease specificity.
The Functions of Spanish in the School Lives of Mexicano Bilingual Children.

Abstract This qualitative study was concerned with examining the first language of young Mexicano bilinguals who had already learned enough English to work in all-English classrooms. In order to capture natural language usage within the school setting, five focal children were chosen, observed and audiotaped throughout their school day, for a period of roughly four months. This research presents data on the functions that Spanish continued to serve in the lives of these developing bilinguals. Additionally, it describes the competence they showed in their Spanish. Throughout their school day, in different roles, and in distinct contexts, the children used Spanish in varied and complex ways: (a) to provide information and assistance with school work; (b) to seek explanations, information and clarification; (c) to provide their own self-talk which helped them think through problems, plan strategies and assess their own work; d) to establish and maintain a variety of social relationships, juggling changes in ...
Subset Selection Circumvents the Square Root Law

The square root law holds that acceptable embedding rate is sublinear in the cover size, specifically O(square root of n ), in order to prevent detection as the warden's data and thus detector power increases. One way to transcend this law, at least in the i.i.d.case, is to restrict the cover to a chosen subset whose distribution is close to that of altered data. Embedding is then performed on this subset; this replaces the problem of finding a small enough subset to evade detection with the problem of finding a large enough subset that possesses a desired type distribution. We show that one can find such a subset of size asymptotically proportional to n rather than the square root of n . This works in the case of both replacement and tampering: Even if the distribution of tampered data depends on the distribution of cover data, one can find a fixed point in the probability simplex such that cover data of that distribution yields stego data of the same distribution. While the transmission of a subset is not allowed, this is no impediment: wet paper codes can be used, else in the worst case a maximal desirable subset can be computed from the cover by both sender and receiver without communication of side information.
Adaptive resource management algorithms for periodic tasks in dynamic real-time distributed systems

We present adaptive resource management middleware techniques for periodic tasks in dynamic real-time distributed systems. The techniques continuously monitor the application at run-time for adherence to the desired real-time requirements, detect timing failures or trends for impending failures (due to workload fluctuations), and dynamically allocate resources by replicating subtasks of application tasks for load sharing. The objective of the techniques is to minimize (end-to-end) missed deadline ratios of the tasks. We present "predictive" resource allocation algorithms that determine the number of subtask replicas that are required for adapting the application to a given workload situation using statistical regression theory. The algorithms use regression equations that forecast subtask timeliness as a function of external load parameters such as number of sensor reports and internal resource load parameters such as CPU utilization. To evaluate the performance of the predictive algorithms, we consider algorithms that determine the number of subtask replicas using empirically determined heuristic functions. We implemented the resource management algorithms as part of a middleware infrastructure and measured the performance of the algorithms using a real-time benchmark. The experimental results indicate that the predictive algorithms outperform the heuristic strategies under the workload conditions that were studied.
The Surface Tension of Milk. A Review

Summary Methods of measurement of surface tension applicable to milk have been reviewed. Objectives of surface tension studies included: detection of adulteration; relations of surface tension to the formation of foams or emulsions; to bacterial growth; to the species, ass, buffalo, cow, goat, mare, whale, and woman; to heat treatments; to homogenization; and to developed off-flavors. Milk derivatives studied include: (a) solutions of the proteins casein, β -lactoglobulin, Rowland albumin and globulin, and σ -proteose; (b) wheys, acid, rennet, salt, or ultrafilter; (c) milk acidified with hydrochloric, lactic, or butyric acid; and (d) cream, ice cream, or evaporated milk. Free fatty acids and proteins appear to be the surface-active constituents causing the surface tension of milk or milk products to be lower than that of water.
Plasmonic mode interactions with organic semiconductor gain media in nano-confined geometries

Coupling of gain materials to metallic nanostructures and thin films offers an avenue for amplification of plasmonic modes in both confined and extended geometries. In the past decade, a deeply sub-wavelength analogue to the laser, using surface plasmons instead of photons, has been proposed and demonstrated. Additionally, propagating surface plasmon polaritons on extended metallic films have been amplified using gain media to achieve chip-scale propagation lengths. Here, we investigate a core-shell nanoparticle structure amenable to amplification of resonant surface plasmon modes using a gold nanorod as the core and an organic polymer semiconductor gain medium as the shell. Organic semiconducting polymer gain media are of interest because, unlike laser dye molecules, they do not undergo significant concentration quenching in the solid-state and, therefore, can result in a high chromophore density in the optical near-field of the metal nanostructure. For investigations of resonant surface plasmon mode amplification, we fabricate gold nanorod-F8BT core-shell nanoparticles through a miniemulsion synthesis process. A more distinct threshold in emitted intensity as a function of optical pump energy is observed from these hybrid structures and neat F8BT nanoparticles compared to dissolved F8BT molecules. However, spectral narrowing is not observed from these structures, potentially due to the low heterostructure yield and poor spectral overlap between the absorption and emission bands of the F8BT with the pump laser and the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance of the nanorods, respectively. Future work will focus on increasing heterostructure yield, employing a red-emitting gain material such as MEH-PPV to couple to longitudinal surface plasmon modes and alternative thin-film geometries in which plasmonic mode-emitter interactions can be easier to control.
TGFβ-related pathways: roles in Caenorhabditis elegans development

Genetic and molecular analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans has produced new insights into how TGF beta-related pathways transduce signals and the developmental processes in which they function. These pathways are essential regulators of dauer formation, body-size determination, male copulatory structures and axonal guidance. Here, we review the insights that have come from standard molecular genetic experiments and discuss how the recently completed genome sequence has contributed to our understanding of these pathways.
Porous carbon nanofibers from electrospun polyacrylonitrile/SiO2 composites as an energy storage material

Abstract Porous carbon nanofibers with large accessible surface areas and well-developed pore structures were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent thermal and chemical treatments. They were directly used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries without adding any non-active materials such as polymer binders or electronic conductors. The electrochemical performance results show that porous carbon nanofiber anodes have improved lithium-ion storage ability, enhanced charge–discharge kinetics, and better cyclic stability compared with non-porous counterparts. The unique structures and properties of these materials make them excellent candidates for use as anodes in high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.