cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative and stereoisomeric determination of light biomarkers in crude oil and coal samples

Abstract Indans and tetralins are considered biological markers (biomarkers). These C9–C11 hydrocarbons are present in small amounts in organic geological samples. Methyl substituted indans or tetralins may possess a stereogenic center (carbon). Thus they can exist as enantiomers and, in the case of disubstituted entities, also as diastereoisomers. The concentrations of 1-methylindan, 1,3-dimethylindan, 1-methyltetralin, and 2-methyltetralin were determined in sixteen crude oil samples of different sources and in fourteen coal samples of different sources and ranks. Deuterated homologues were synthesized as standards to spike the samples and to assure accurate quantitative analysis. A procedure using HPLC fractionation followed by GC/MS analysis allowed the determination of μg/g (ppm) amounts of these compounds in oils. The concentration of substituted indans and tetralins was 3–4 orders of magnitude less in coal than in crude oil. The select ion mass spectrometry (SIM) mode in GC/MS and the deuterated standards allowed detection of the much lower amounts (ng/g, ppb down to pg/g, ppt) of these compounds in coal samples. The stereochemistry of the biomarkers was determined, and the relationship between their relative concentrations and the location and type of the deposits was examined. Racemic mixtures of the indans and tetralins studied were found in all samples of oil and coal. It is postulated that there is an inverse relationship between the retention of stereochemical configuration and the molecular weight of hydrocarbons in crude oil. The chiral retention of configuration cut-off is thought to be between molecular weights of 146 and 208. An excess of cis-1,2-dimethylindan was found in all oil samples (average cis/trans ratio: 3/2). The 2-methyltetralin concentration was found to be about twice that of 1-methyltetralin in all oil and coal samples. Similar concentration correlations were found for the indan derivatives in oils and coals.
Near-Inertial Internal Wave Field in the Canada Basin from Ice-Tethered Profilers

AbstractSalinity and temperature profiles from drifting ice-tethered profilers in the Beaufort gyre region of the Canada Basin are used to characterize and quantify the regional near-inertial internal wave field over one year. Vertical displacements of potential density surfaces from the surface to 750-m depth are tracked from fall 2006 to fall 2007. Because of the time resolution and irregular sampling of the ice-tethered profilers, near-inertial frequency signals are marginally resolved. Complex demodulation is used to determine variations with a time scale of several days in the amplitude and phase of waves at a specified near-inertial frequency. Characteristics and variability of the wave field over the course of the year are investigated quantitatively and related to changes in surface wind forcing and sea ice cover.
Fiberoptic Temperature Sensing For Biomedical Applications

Fiberoptic temperature sensors have found valuable application in several areas of research and treatment in biology and medicine. These include tissue monitoring during electromagnetic heating for cancer therapy, catheter-tip sensors as part of multi-purpose fiberoptic probes, patient monitoring during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and microwave biohazards studies. The advantage of fiberoptic probes compared to more conventional temperature sensors such as thermistors or thermocouples lies in the nonconductive property of the glass or plastic fibers used. This avoids shock hazard to the patient, and perturbation of the readings in electromagnetic environments. Fiberoptic temperature sensors may be classified into one of three general categories: 1) intensity, 2) wavelength, and 3) time-domain. Types of optical sensors which have been successfully employed with fibers include fluorescent materials, semiconductors, birefringent crystals, and Fabry-Perot interferometers. An example of a wavelength-based sensor is described herein; it is a new technique based upon wavelength shifts in a GaAs sensor using broadband illumination and a fast-scanning spectrometer, and appears useful over the biological temperature range of 25-50°C.
Microglia-like cells in the chicken ciliary ganglion.

Abstract Using light and electron microscopy we have identified in the ciliary ganglion of the chick a class of small cells characterized by the electron-dense appearance of both nucleus and cytoplasm, slender cell processes, paucity of mitochondria and microtubules, presence of elongated cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum with narrow lumina, free ribosomes, dense bodies of varying size and coated vesicles. The small, elongated electron-dense cells lack a basal lamina and occur within the satellite sheath surrounding ganglionic perikarya as well as in the endoneurial connective tissue. Occasionally, the small electron-dense cells within the ganglion cell capsule contain phagocytized cell debris. The small electron-dense cells of the ciliary ganglion differ substantially from satellite cells and other types of cell in the endoneurial connective tissue, except those of hematic origin. On the other hand, in their fine structure they closely resemble resting microglial cells of the CNS. We suggest that small electron-dense cells in the ganglion and microglial cells in the CNS belong to the same cell category.
Collision‐induced absorption in mixtures of symmetrical linear and tetrahedral molecules: Methane–nitrogen

The far infrared absorption of a CH4-N2 mixture was measured at 297, 195, and 162 K from 30 to 650/cm. The spectral invariants gamma1 and alpha1, proportional, respectively, to the zeroth and first spectral moments, due to bimolecular collisions between CH4 and N2 were obtained from these data and compared with theoretical values. The theory for collision-induced dipoles between a tetrahedral and a diatomic or symmetrical linear molecule includes contributions not previously considered. Whereas the theoretical values of gamma1 are only somewhat greater than experiment at all temperatures, the theoretical values of alpha1 are significantly lower than the experimental values. From the theoretical spectral moments for the various induced dipole components, the parameters of the BC shape were computed, and theoretical spectra were constructed. Good agreement was obtained at the lower frequencies, but with increasing frequencies the theoretical spectra were increasingly less intense than the experimental spectra. Although the accuracy of the theoretical results may suffer from the lack of a reliable potential function, it does not appear that this high frequency discrepancy can be removed by any conceivable modification in the potential.
Survival of frozen rabbit embryos.

Abstract Preimplantation stage rabbit embryos were successfully frozen to −196 °C. The effects of various cooling rates, warming rates, thawing procedures, dimethyl sulfoxide concentrations and developmental stages were examined to determine their effects on the survival of Dutch-Belted rabbit embryos. When these factors were optimized, 65 % of the frozen embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Some of these embryos developed into fetuses upon reimplantation to a foster mother.
Reach Out and Teach Me

For a number of years Swarthmore College has offered formal software training sessions in lecture and hands-on formats for faculty and staff. As the technology scene changes, we recognize that each person prefers different learning styles and techniques. Thus, we set out to try to reach faculty and staff by providing a plethora of training options in an effort to meet at least most training needs. In this paper will describe how Swarthmore College's training has evolved to reach people in person, in print, on the web, and on social media. We will also discuss lessons learned as we address the three main problems of offering training via these methods of community outreach.
Fungal Carbon Sequestration

Many soil fungi consist of small, delicate hyphae that permeate a complex matrix of soil particles (see the figure). They are easily damaged, making it difficult to directly observe their activities under undisturbed conditions. On page 1615 of this issue, Clemmensen et al. ( 1 ) use isotopic and molecular techniques to infer that a common group of fungi, the mycorrhizal fungi, can sequester carbon in the soil. This is important because carbon stored in soil over long periods can help to offset the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Most fungal species act as decomposers that elicit a net release of CO2 to the atmosphere, but mycorrhizal fungi could be a notable exception.
The Structure of Neuritic Plaques in the Cerebral Cortex of Aged Rats

Discrete patches of spongiform degeneration have been found in the cerebral cortices of three rats, 28 and 30 months of age. Many of these patches have in their midst a central nonvacuolated region containing a star-shaped homogeneous core. Using Congo red stain, there is evidence for the presence of amyloid in this core. In the electron microscope, this central region is seen to be composed of degenerating and abnormal neuronal processes, reactive neuroglia, and extracellular filamentous material with the fine structural characteristics of amyloid. Microglial cells are uniquely modified to accommodate bundles of these extracellular filaments, which are often contained in furrows that deeply invaginate the surfaces of these cells. On the basis of its three main constituents, the central region is considered to be a form of neuritic plaque. The large complex clearings in the vacuolar region of each lesion appear to be formed by the coalescence of smaller vacuoles in the surrounding neuropil.
A Three-Dimensional Thermal-Mechanical Asperity Contact Model for Two Nominally Flat Surfaces in Contact

The rough surface contact in a tribological process involves frictional heating and thermoelastic deformations. A three-dimensional thermal-mechanical asperity contact model has been developed, which takes into account steady-state heat transfer, asperity distortion due to thermal and elastic deformations, and material yield. The finite-element method (FEM), fast Fourier transform (FFT), and conjugate gradient method (CGM) are employed as the solution methods. The model is used to analyze the thermal-mechanical contact of typical rough surfaces and investigate the importance of thermal effects on the contact performance of surface asperities.
The moderating effects of need for cognition and cognitive effort on responses to multi-dimensional prices

We investigate how need for cognition and cognitive effort associated with multi-dimensional pricing combine to influence demand. Experiment 1 shows that individuals with low (vs. high) need for cognition are less likely to purchase products that list price and relative discount separately. The direction of the effect of need for cognition on demand is found to depend on whether consumers’ inaccurate arithmetic generally leads them to overestimate or underestimate final prices. Therefore, experiment 2 finds that individuals with low (vs. high) NFC are more likely to purchase products that list price and relative surcharge separately. As expected, the effect is eliminated for absolute discounts or surcharges and mediated by recalled purchase prices.
Fluorescence Detection of Heavy Atom Labeling (FD-HAL): A rapid method for identifying covalently modified cysteine residues by phasing atoms

Membrane protein crystallography frequently stalls at the phase determination stage due to poor crystal diffraction and the inability to identify heavy atom derivatization prior to data collection. Thus, a majority of time, effort and resources are invested preparing potential derivatized crystals for synchrotron data collection and analysis without knowledge of heavy atom labeling. To remove this uncertainty, we introduce Fluorescence Detection of Heavy Atom Labeling (FD-HAL) using tetramethylrhodamine-5-maleimide (a fluorescent maleimide compound) to monitor in-gel cysteine residue accessibility and ascertain covalent modification by mercury, platinum and gold compounds. We have tested this technique on three integral membrane proteins (LacY, vSGLT and mVDAC1) and can quickly assess the optimal concentrations, time and heavy atom compound to derivatize free cysteine residues in order to facilitate crystal phasing. This, in conjunction with cysteine scanning for incorporating heavy atoms at strategic positions, is a useful tool that will considerably assist in phasing membrane protein structures.
The New Occupational Structure: What Are the Questions?.

In this article I argue that changes in the structure of occupational life over the last half-century have outmoded the classical agenda of questions about occupations and the division of labor. I ...
Model calculations of minor ion populations in the plasmasphere

Recent observations of the density of minor ions at high altitudes in the outer plasmasphere show relative enhancements of O(2+) in regions of simultaneous O(+) enhancements. These regions also exhibit high ion temperatures. Computer simulations of the temperature structure of the plasmasphere under conditions of electron heating in the equatorial region suggest that such heating produces large gradients in both the electron and ion temperature in the ionosphere. These gradients result in an increase in the pressure of the electrons, which increases the polarization field, and of the ions, which results in large plasma scale heights at low altitudes and increased ion densities at high altitudes. The subsequent enhanced flux of O(2+) from the ionosphere produced by collisional drag of O(2+) by O(+) and the increased polarization field results in a significant increase in the O(2+) density above the ionosphere. At higher altitudes the O(2+)-O(+) collisions inhibit the upward flow of O(2+) resulting in a high-altitude peak in the O(2+) density. Above this peak, where collisions with O(+) begin to become insignificant, the O(2+) pressure gradient pushes the O(2+) into the equatorial reservoir. Simulations of conditions of moderate flux tube depletion result in an increase in this effect. The N(+) is also affected by collisions with O(+), but the increase in its density at high altitudes is primarily due to the scale height effect.
Long-term estuarine variability and associated biological response

Corpus Christi Bay, one of seven major Texas estuaries, is characterized by low freshwater inflow, small tidal flushing, low annual rainfall, and high evaporation rates. Minimal exchange of water makes this estuary sensitive to episodic environmental variation caused by sudden surges of freshwater from flooding rains or hurricanes. It is suggested that this episodic variability stimulates estuarine production. For the last 11 years, detailed data have been collected on benthic community structure, primary and secondary productivity, and sediment nutrient regeneration which are combined with other information, such as fishery yields, into a reconstructed long-term data set. During this same period significant environmental changes in the estuary have been documented. In 1979 the lowest salinity recorded over the 11-year record was related to a short-term, high intensity rainfall. The benthos responded with abundance and biomass levels far greater than any other year during the study interval. Correlated with increased benthic production were large increases in shrimp yields. During more subtle changes with respect to freshwater input in 1981, significant alterations in primary productivity were quantified. Primary, secondary, and tertiary carbon production estimates derived from the reconstructed long-term data base indicated the benthos as a major link between primary producers and other consumers. Carbon flow from primary producers, however, appeared inadequate to support benthic production. Nutrient recycling was judged to provide more than 90% of nitrogen needed to support phytoplankton production and was considered a major factor influencing ecosystem function. The matching of biological responses to significant environmental changes in this estuary provided insight into ecosystem function and stressed the importance of short-term variability. Although recycling was identified as a major source of nutrients supporting primary production, it was concluded that episodic environmental change from freshwater input provided a much needed stimulus to productivity. These episodic changes replaced materials lost through recycling and sustained productivity over the long term.
Giant disk galaxies, dwarfs and Lyman alpha clouds

Abstract If one omits early-type galaxies and high-density regions, disk galaxies form a one-dimensional sequence, characterized by galaxy mass (or rotation velocity). This sequence has a top and a bottom end. Three stages are involved in the formation of a galaxy and the complexities explain why the sequence has these two distinct ends. The numerous, low-column-density Lyman alpha ‘forest’ absorption lines at low redshift seem to be mainly associated with galaxy groups, rather than with individual galaxies. ‘Failed dwarf galaxies’ near the bottom end of the mass sequence (where thermal equilibrium matches the Virial temperature) are attractive candidates for providing the absorption.
MicroRNA preparations from individual monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris-a comparison of six commercially available totalRNA extraction kits

Background: Describing and evaluating miRNA inventories with Next Generation Sequencing is a goal of scientists from a wide range of fields. It requires high purity, high quality, and high yield RNA extractions that do not only contain abundant ribosomal RNAs but are also enriched in miRNAs. Here we compare 6 disparate and commercially available totalRNA extraction kits for their suitability for miRNA-preparations from Gyrodactylus salaris, an important but small (500 μm in length) monogenean pathogen of Norwegian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Findings: We evaluated 1 salt precipitation method (MasterPure™ Complete RNA Purification Kit, Epicentre), 2 Phenol based extraction methods (mirVana Kit, Ambion, and Trizol Plus Kit, Invitrogen), 1 paramagnetic bead extraction method (RNA Tissue kit, GeneMole) and 2 purification methods based on spin column chromatography using a proprietary resin as separation matrix (Phenol-free Total RNA Purification Kit, Amresco, and ZR MicroPrep Kit, Zymo Research). The quality of the extractions from 1, 10 and 100 individuals, respectively, was assessed in terms of totalRNA yield, RNA integrity, and smallRNA and miRNA yield. The 6 RNA extraction methods yielded considerably different total RNA extracts, with striking differences in low molecular weight RNA yield. The Phenolfree Total RNA Purification Kit (Amresco) showed the highest totalRNA yield, but the best miRNA/totalRNA ratio was obtained with the ZR MicroPrep Kit (Zymo Research). It was not possible to extract electrophoretically detectable miRNAs from Gyrodactylus salaris with the RNA Tissue Kit (GeneMole) or the Trizol Plus Kit (Invitrogen). Conclusions: We present an optimized extraction protocol for single and small numbers of Gyrodactylus salaris from infected Atlantic salmon that delivers a totalRNA yield suitable for downstream next generation sequencing analyses of miRNA. Two of the six tested totalRNA kits/methods were not suitable for the extraction of miRNAs from Gyrodactylus salaris.
Keloids: scar revision

The treatment of keloids can be a long-term, and at times, vexing, dermatologic surgical management problem arising in both white and non-white patients. This paper reviews a number of conventional, as well as novel, therapeutic approaches for the management of this disease of uncontrolled scar growth. Additionally, fundamental aspects of this disease are covered, including clinical, histologic, biochemical, immunologic, endocrinologic, and epidemiologic factors. An understanding of these latter aspects may be useful to the clinician in realizing the best possible therapeutic results. It must be emphasized that, regardless of the technique employed, an observation period of at least 2 years is necessary to effectively limit the chance and degree of recurrence.
Fecal microbiota transplantation for fulminant Clostridium difficile infection in an allogeneic stem cell transplant patient.

We present a case of severe Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in a non-neutropenic allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient who was treated successfully with fecal microbiota therapy after standard pharmacologic therapy had failed. Following naso-jejunal instillation of donor stool, the patient's symptoms resolved within 48 h. Bowel resection was averted. This is the first case in the literature, to our knowledge, to describe fecal microbiota therapy in a profoundly immunocompromised host with severe CDI. We propose that fecal microbiota therapy be considered as a therapeutic option in immunosuppressed patients with refractory severe CDI.
Hemozoin and antimalarial drug discovery.

Recent initiatives to develop more effective and affordable drugs, controlling mosquitoes and development of a preventative vaccine have been launched with the goal of completely eradicating malaria. To this end, Novartis (Surrey, UK) and GlaxoSmithKline (Middlesex, UK) screened their chemical libraries of approximately two million small molecules for antimalarial properties, which resulted in a set of over 20,000 ‘highly druggable’ initial hits. Efforts in academia are centered on specific pathway targets. One such high-throughput screening effort has been focused on hemozoin formation, a unique heme detoxification pathway found in the malaria parasite. This review discusses the current approaches and limitations of high-throughput screening discovery of hemozoin inhibitors. In the future, new methods must be developed to validate the mechanism of action of these hit compounds within the parasite.
Service, quality and human factors

As pressures on the service economy from globalisation increase, new techniques may be appropriate for designing service systems. This paper examines the tradition of service quality and argues that its unique characteristics, such as the joint production of offerings by operators and customers, could benefit from the techniques of human factors. The interaction between human factors and quality is reviewed and four issues are extracted that should be directly applicable to service encounters. These are interface design, the understanding of error causation, a design for operator well-being and human/automation function allocation. A framework is proposed for considering technology explicitly in the design of service systems.
Penetration and Metabolism of DDT in Resistant and Susceptible House Flies and the Effect on Latent Toxicity

The effect of the following factors on the latent toxicity of p,p’ DDT to susceptible (SCR-60) and resistant (Hawaiian) strains of the house fly, Musca domestica (L.), were investigated: (1) rate of cuticular penetration of the insecticide; (2) metabolism of the insecticide in the insect body; and (3) degree of carryover of the insecticide and its metabolites from the larval to the adult stage. Cuticular penetration of DDT was more rapid in the larvae of the susceptible than in the larvae of the resistant strain. Resistance of the larvae of the Hawaiian strain to DDT is attributable to its rapid conversion to the nontoxic derivative DDE (2,2-bis-( p -chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene). No internal DDT was recovered from the Hawaiian strain at any time, indicating complete dehydrochlorination of all the DDT that penetrated. Measurable amounts of DDT could be recovered from the susceptible SCR-60 larvae 1 hr after treatment, increasing to a maximum 96 hr after treatment. The larvae of the SCR-60 strain were limited in their ability to detoxify DDT to DDE. The latent toxicity of DDT to the susceptible SCR-60 strain was due to the carryover of sufficient amounts of unchanged DDT from the larval to the adult stage to cause mortality in the flies shortly after emergence. The living flies contained very little DDT. A small amount of internal DDE was found in both dead and living flies. There was no carryover of DDT in the resistant Hawaiian strain. Only DDE was found internally, indicating complete detoxification of the absorbed DDT.
Tensions and teamwork in nursing and midwifery relationships.

ABSTRACT Objective To explore the practice of midwifery within a busy urban tertiary hospital birth setting and to present findings on the relationships between nurses and midwives in providing maternity care. Design/Method A focused ethnography on midwifery practice conducted over 2 years (2004-2006) in a teaching hospital serving a primarily Medicaid-eligible population in Northern California. Data were collected through participant observations and in-depth interviews with midwives ( N =11) and nurses ( N =14). Practices and relationships among the midwives and nurses were examined in an ethnographic framework through thematic analysis. Findings Two themes described the nature of nursing-midwifery relationships: tension and teamwork. Tension existed in philosophic approaches to care, definitions of safe practice, communication, and respect. Teamwork existed when the midwives and nurses worked in partnership with the woman to develop a plan of care. Changes were brought about to improve the midwife-nurse relationship during the conduct of the study. Conclusions Midwives and nurses experienced day-to-day challenges in providing optimal care for childbearing women. The power of effective teamwork was profound, as was the tension when communication broke down. Failure to include nurses resulted in impaired translation of evidence into practice. All stakeholders in birth practices and policy development must be involved in future research in order to develop effective maternity care models.
New light on sticky sisters

Cohesin, a multisubunit protein complex conserved from yeast to humans, plays a major role in sister chromatid cohesion. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cohesins bind to chromatin before or during DNA replication and remain bound until the metaphase–anaphase transition. In vertebrate cells, however, most cohesins dissociate from chromatin in early mitosis, long before the onset of anaphase. This is clearly shown in the picture above where two Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, one in interphase (top) and one in metaphase (bottom), are stained with a DNA-binding dye (red) and an antibody against XSA1 (green), a recently identified subunit of vertebrate cohesin complexes
Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic tracers in Amazon shelf waters during Amasseds

Abstract A detailed hydrographic survey of the water column of the Amazon shelf was performed using stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to determine the source and fate of waters on the shelf. δ 18 O-H 2 O and δ D measurements were made on water column samples from approximately 60 stations (three depths per station) which were each collected during four Amasseds (A Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf SEDiment Study) cruises: I8909-August 1989, falling river discharge; I9002-March 1990, rising river discharge; I9004-May 1990, peak discharge; I9113-November 1991, minimum discharge. Isotopes were compared with salinity and temperature measurements in order to identify water masses and mixing. The characteristics (salinity, temperature, δ 18 O, δ D and d ) are proposed for the following end-number water masses: river water, open ocean surface water (0–100 m) and open ocean intermediate water (> 300 m). River water: salinity = 0; temperature ≈ 27–29 °C; δ 18 O = –4.2 to –6.8 per mil; δ D ≈ –22.1 to –38.9 per mil; d = 9.4 to 17.0 per mil (compare to d = 10 for Meteoric Water Line). Open ocean surface water (≈ 0–100 m): salinity ≈ 35 to 37; temperature ≈ 25–29 °C; δ 18 O ≈ –1 to +2 per mil; δ D ≈ –3.6 to +10.2 per mil. Open ocean intermediate water (≳300 m): salinity = 34.6 to 35.0; temperature = 4.8 to 9.6 °C; δ 18 O = –0.2 to +0.3 per mil; δ D = –8.72 to –0.95 per mil. Amazon river water follows a seasonal isotopic cycle in response to basin hydrologic processes. River water mixes with equatorial surface ocean water and intermediate ocean waters originating in mid-to-high southern latitudes. Near-surface waters in the region of North Brazil Current retroflection were identical in isotope–salinity space to waters on the outer shelf during November 1991.
Photochemically induced cortical infarction in the rat. 2. Acute and subacute alterations in local glucose utilization.

Local CMRglu (LCMRglu) values were measured by [14C]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography in the rat at 4 h and 5 days following photochemically induced cortical infarction, and these data were compared with neuropathological findings in adjacent serial sections. At both time periods, LCMRglu was markedly reduced within the lesion center, and irregular regions of moderate-to-marked glucose hypermetabolism were noted within the marginal zone of the developing infarct. At 4 h, the hypermetabolic zones were shown by pathological examination to be characterized by normal-sized, moderately hyperchromatic neurons scattered among occasional dark, shrunken neurons within preserved neuropil. In contrast, the hypermetabolic zones at 5 days coincided with foci of intense macrophage infiltration, with dissolution of the neuropil. Significant decreases in glucose utilization were also demonstrated at 4 h within brain structures remote from the site of focal injury. These structures included the lateral and auditory cortices ...
Andromeda: a mission to determine the gamma-ray burst distance scale

Andromeda is a wide-field, imaging, hard x-ray/soft gamma-ray instrument capable of detecting gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) a factor approximately 20 times fainter than GRO/BATSE. During one-year of a two-year mission, it could determine whether GRBs are Galactic or cosmological in origin by searching for an excess of bursts towards the nearby Andromeda galaxy (M31). As a pointed, imaging instrument with sensitivity in the 10 - 200 keV band significantly better than previous coded-aperture instruments, Andromeda is capable of carrying out important secondary science objectives: for example, studying the soft-gamma- repeater and x-ray transient populations of M31 and the Galactic bulge. Andromeda is a coded aperture gamma-ray telescope consisting of a hexagonal coded mask coupled to an alkali- halide imaging scintillation detector, a flight-proven technology adapted from the balloon- borne Caltech gamma-ray imaging payload (GRIP). The new instrument is optimized for the 10 - 200 keV band and has 1.5 degree angular resolution over a 17 degree FWHM field of view. Andromeda is designed to be a small, low-cost mission, and draws its design largely from existing instrumentation. Andromeda was submitted to the STEDI program, and will also be proposed as a NASA Small Explorer.
Towards Efficient and Scalabale Omniscient Debugging for Model Transformations

Model transformations (MTs) are central artifacts in model-driven engineering (MDE) that define core operations on models. Like other software artifacts, MTs may possess defects (bugs). Some MDE tools provide support for debugging. In this paper, we describe an omniscient debugging technique. Our technique enhances stepwise execution support for MTs by providing the ability to traverse, in either direction, the execution history of a live debugging session. We also introduce a proof of concept prototype applying the described technique and a preliminary study of the scalability, in terms of memory consumption, and performance, in terms of time to execute.
New challenges for professional counsellors: The higher education international student population

Using a 50-item, self-report questionnaire, 640 international students enrolled at an urban university campus provided needs assessment data based on the geographical region of their country of origin. Additionally, the students’ perceptions regarding changes they experienced since coming to the United States are also reported. The authors conclude with a discussion of the study's implications for professional counsellors in higher education. Recommendations are proffered for the mental health services and programs needed by this special population of students based on the information obtained from the investigation.
Whey Protein Fractionation with Polyethylene Glycol

Abstract Fractionation of whey proteins with polyethylene glycols 1,450, 6,000, and 20,000 was studied at pH 4.6, 6.0, and 7.0 and at 4 and 23C. Whey proteins were most susceptible to precipitation by polyethylene glycols at pH 4.6 and most resistant to precipitation at pH 6.0. At pH 4.6, 6,000 and 20,000 were more effective precipitation agents than 1,450. Temperature did not affect precipitation ability at any pH. The order of precipitation of individual whey proteins from whey was dependent on glycol concentration and protein molecular weight. The concentration required to precipitate each whey protein was inversely related to protein molecular weight, e.g., immunoglobulins, bovine serum albumin, β -lactoglobulin, and α -lactalbumin were selectively precipitated from pH 4.6 whey at 2 to 14, 12 to 25, 12 to 30, and 25 to 50% polyethylene glycol 6,000, respectively. Factors that affect physical properties of whey proteins apparently determine their susceptibility to precipitation by the glycols.
Comparison of Embedded System Design for Industrial Applications

This paper presents a survey on embedded systems design and applications. Several platforms for embedded systems, including microcontrollers, microprocessors, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processors, and application-specific integrated circuits are discussed and compared. A survey of embedded system-based industrial applications is presented. Examples of real-life design decisions specific to development of such systems are also presented. The carefully selected three design case study examples include industrial control of wind tunnel with emphasis on actuator control, a mobile robot navigation system with emphasis on integration and synchronization of several subsystems, and optimized implementation of computationally intensive control system on a small microcontroller system.
Gene Therapy to Inhibit the Calcium Channel β Subunit: Physiological Consequences and Pathophysiological Effects in Models of Cardiac Hypertrophy

Calcium cycling figures prominently in excitation-contraction coupling and in various signaling cascades involved in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. We hypothesized that genetic suppression of the L-type calcium channel accessory beta-subunit would modulate calcium current and suppress cardiac hypertrophy. A short hairpin RNA template sequence capable of mediating the knockdown of the L-type calcium channel accessory beta-subunit gene was incorporated into a lentiviral vector (PPT.CG.H1.beta(2)). Transduction of ventricular myocytes in vivo with the active short hairpin RNA partially inhibited the L-type calcium current. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, L-type calcium channel accessory beta-subunit gene knockdown reduced calcium transient amplitude. Similarly, [(3)H]leucine incorporation was attenuated in PPT.CG.H1.beta(2)-transduced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes compared with nonsilencing controls in a phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy model. In vivo gene transfer attenuated the hypertrophic response in an aortic-banded rat model of left ventricular hypertrophy, with reduced left ventricular wall thickness and heart weight/body weight ratios in PPT.CG.H1.beta(2)-injected rats at four weeks post transduction. Fractional shortening was preserved in rats treated with PPT.CG.H1.beta(2). These findings indicate that knockdown of L-type calcium channel accessory beta-subunit is capable of attenuating the hypertrophic response both in vitro and in vivo without compromising systolic performance. Suppression of the calcium channel beta subunit may represent a novel and useful therapeutic strategy for left ventricular hypertrophy.
Anterior cingulate cortex and insula response during indirect and direct processing of emotional faces in generalized social anxiety disorder

Generalized social anxiety disorder (gSAD) is associated with a heightened neural sensitivity to signals that convey threat, as evidenced by exaggerated amygdala and/or insula activation when processing face stimuli that express negative emotions. Less clear in the brain pathophysiology of gSAD are cortical top down control mechanisms that moderate reactivity in these subcortical emotion processing regions. This study evaluated amygdala, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity in gSAD with a novel “Emotional Faces Shifting Attention Task” (EFSAT), an adaptation of perceptual assessment tasks well-known to elicit amygdala response. In healthy volunteers, the task has been shown to engage the amygdala when attention is directed to emotional faces and the ACC when attention is directed to shapes, away from emotional faces. During functional MRI, 29 participants with gSAD and 27 healthy controls viewed images comprising a trio of faces (angry, fear, or happy) alongside a trio of geometric shapes (circles, rectangles, or triangles) within the same field of view. Participants were instructed to match faces or match shapes, effectively directing attention towards or away from emotional information, respectively. Participants with gSAD exhibited greater insula, but not amygdala, activation compared to controls when attending to emotional faces. In contrast, when attention was directed away from faces, controls exhibited ACC recruitment, which was not evident in gSAD. Across participants, greater ACC activation was associated with less insula activation. Evidence that individuals with gSAD exhibited exaggerated insula reactivity when attending to emotional faces in EFSAT is consistent with other studies suggesting that the neural basis of gSAD may involve insula hyper-reactivity. Furthermore, greater ACC response in controls than gSAD when sustained goal-directed attention is required to shift attention away from social signals, together with a negative relationship between ACC and bilateral insula activity, indicate the ACC may have served a regulatory role when the focus of attention was directed to shapes amidst emotional faces.
Validation of a Computerized Adaptive Version of the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP).

This is a validation study of a computerized adaptive (CAT) version of the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality (SNAP) conducted with 413 undergraduates who completed the SNAP twice, 1 week apart. Participants were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 retest groups: (a) paper-and-pencil (P&P) SNAP, (b) CAT, (c) P&P/CAT, and (d) CAT/P&P. With number of items held constant, computerized administration had little effect on descriptive statistics, rank ordering of scores, reliability, and concurrent validity, but was preferred over P&P administration by most participants. CAT administration yielded somewhat lower precision and validity than P&P administration, but required 36% to 37% fewer items and 58% to 60% less time to complete. These results confirm not only key findings from previous CAT simulation studies of personality measures but extend them for the 1st time to a live assessment setting.
Restricting lignin and enhancing sugar deposition in secondary cell walls enhances monomeric sugar release after low temperature ionic liquid pretreatment

Background Lignocellulosic biomass has the potential to be a major source of renewable sugar for biofuel production. Before enzymatic hydrolysis, biomass must first undergo a pretreatment step in order to be more susceptible to saccharification and generate high yields of fermentable sugars. Lignin, a complex, interlinked, phenolic polymer, associates with secondary cell wall polysaccharides, rendering them less accessible to enzymatic hydrolysis. Herein, we describe the analysis of engineered Arabidopsis lines where lignin biosynthesis was repressed in fiber tissues but retained in the vessels, and polysaccharide deposition was enhanced in fiber cells with little to no apparent negative impact on growth phenotype.
Sleep Disturbances and Attention Deficit Disorder

The relationship of sleep disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), comorbidity associated with ADHD, and treatment with stimulant medications was determined using 2 sleep questionnaires completed by the parents in a study of children aged 6 to 12 years treated at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Nonlinear polarization conversion using microring resonators.

We present a design of a polarization converter between linear, circular, and elliptic accomplished with an on-chip high-Q dielectric microring resonator. Nonlinear polarization switching can be accomplished at modest input intensities because of the high-intensity compression in the ring. We predict an optical bistability effect making the polarization of the transmitted light dependent on its spectral or intensity history. © 2007
Design of a scalable opto-electronic neural system using free-space optical interconnects

The authors describe a three-dimensional opto-electronic neural system that uses a hybrid silicon VLSI-based opto-electronic integrated circuit (OEIC) technology to implement the neurons and their associated synapses and fixed, free-space optical diffractive elements to interconnect the neurons. The architecture provides full connectivity between neurons, flexible functionality of neurons and synapses, accurate electronic fan-in, and biologically inspired dendritic-type fan-in processing. The system requirements for neural network implementations are addressed. The architecture is described, and the technological feasibility of the system is discussed. Optimal data encoding methods are proposed. Low-area circuit designs with learning capabilities that achieve high linear dynamic range are presented. >
Development of Combined Optical Cell and Sieverts-type Apparatus for in-situ Measurement of Hydrogen Storage Materials

A parallel high-sensitivity hydrogen sorption, and in situ Raman/IR emissivity measurement system has been developed using a stainless-steel sample cell with a sapphire window to act as a bridge between the PCT and optical measurements. The cell can be pressurized up to 4.5 MPa and heated up to 723 K. The system can measure small changes in hydrogen content, down to 0.5 μg, allowing for characterization of small quantities of powers and thin films. Hydrogen desorption in LiNH2 - LiBH4 - MgH2 nanocomposites has been studied by in-situ Raman and PCT measurement, while that of MgH2 powers and thin films has been studied by in-situ PCT and IR emissivity. In powder samples, qualitative trend is observed between changes in the Raman peak intensity/IR emissivity and the amount of hydrogen absorbed or desorbed.
Characteristics and Recruitment Paths of Certified Nursing Assistants in Rural and Urban Nursing Homes

: Context: Most nursing home care is provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs), but little is known about rural CNAs. Purpose: To develop a representative geographic profile of the CNA workforce, focusing on paths leading to present job. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2004 National Nursing Assistant Survey (NNAS), a nationally representative survey of 3,017 CNAs; analysis was restricted to 2,897 currently working CNAs. Location was categorized as metropolitan, micropolitan, or neither (other rural county). Demographics included age, sex, race, education, income, and years at present job. Analyses were weighted to reflect the complex sampling design. Findings: CNAs in micropolitan and other rural nursing homes were more likely to be white and US citizens than were urban CNAs. Rural or micropolitan CNAs were more likely to note “job close to home” as a reason for becoming a CNA than were urban CNAs (70.8%, 66.3%, and 43.6%, respectively; P < .001). Over half of CNAs (52.2%) entered the field from a different job category. CNAs in micropolitan and small rural counties were more likely than urban CNAs to report being trained at a nursing facility (61.4%, 65.4%, 52.5%; P < .001) rather than community college or other site. Informal means (family and friends) were the most common recruitment path. Conclusions: Career-changers (individuals entering the CNA role from another job) represent a major recruitment target. The prevalence of informal networks in CNA recruitment history suggests that nursing homes seeking to become “employers of choice” will be advantaged when recruiting.
Patterns of Regulation from mRNA and Protein Time Series

The rapid advance of genome sequencing projects challenges biologists to assign physiological roles to thousands of unknown gene products. We suggest here that regulatory functions and protein-protein interactions involving specific products may be inferred from the trajectories over time of their mRNA and free protein levels within the cell. The level of a protein in the cytoplasm is governed not only by the level of its mRNA and the rate of translation, but also by the protein's folding efficiency, its biochemical modification, its complexation with other components, its degradation, and its transport from the cytoplasmic space. All these co- and post translational events cause the concentration of the protein to deviate from the level that would result if we only accounted for translation of its mRNA. The dynamics of such deviations can create patterns that reflect regulatory functions. Moreover, correlations among deviations highlight protein pairs involved in potential protein-protein interactions. We explore and illustrate these ideas here using a genetically structured simulation for the intracellular growth of bacteriophage T7.
Invasive Group C Streptococcus Infection Associated with Rhabdomyolysis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in a Previously Healthy Adult

Infections with Group C Streptococci can lead to severe disease, particularly in individuals with underlying illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, malignancy or immunosuppression. We report the first case of rhabdomyolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to Group C Streptococcus in a previous healthy male. A toxic shock-like syndrome associated with Group C and Group G Streptococci has been reported. However, unlike with Group A Streptococci, production of endotoxins by these organisms is less well defined. We tested the patient's isolate for its ability to produce superantigenic toxins and to induce a mitogenic response. Although it is not known whether Group C Streptococci require special growth conditions for the production of superantigens, we could not demonstrate either the production of exotoxins or the induction of a mitogenic response.
Instability waves in a subsonic round jet detected using a near-field phased microphone array

We propose a diagnostic technique to detect instability waves in a subsonic round jet using a phased microphone array. The detection algorithm is analogous to the beam-forming technique, which is typically used with a far-field microphone array to localize noise sources. By replacing the reference solutions used in the conventional beam-forming with eigenfunctions from linear stability analysis, the amplitudes of instability waves in the axisymmetric and first two azimuthal modes are inferred. Experimental measurements with particle image velocimetry and a database from direct numerical simulation are incorporated to design a conical array that is placed just outside the mixing layer near the nozzle exit. The proposed diagnostic technique is tested in experiments by checking for consistency of the radial decay, streamwise evolution and phase correlation of hydrodynamic pressure. The results demonstrate that in a statistical sense, the pressure field is consistent with instability waves evolving in the turbulent mean flow from the nozzle exit to the end of the potential core, particularly near the most amplified frequency of each azimuthal mode. We apply this technique to study the effects of jet Mach number and temperature ratio on the azimuthal mode balance and evolution of instability waves. We also compare the results from the beam-forming algorithm with the proper orthogonal decomposition and discuss some implications for jet noise.