cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GENERALIZATION OF THE FIRST HORTON LAW

GENERALIZATION OF THE FIRST HORTON LAW CHRISTIAN WERNER School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine THE CONCEPT of stream numbers, first introduced by Horton and later modified by Strahler, underlies one of the most widely used methods in the description of channel networks (Horton 1945, p. 281 ; Strahler 1952, p. 1 120). Not only does it provide a numerical (but incomplete) characterization of a network‘s topology, but it has also led to the observation and formulation of empirical regularities (e.g., the now famous “laws” established by Horton) and their formal explanation by means of theory construction (Shreve 1966, 1969; Smart 1968; Werner 1970). Nevertheless, the stream number concept is less than satisfactory for at least two reasons: 1 . The disaggregation of channel networks into sets of streams is not based on any geologic or morphologic reasoning, nor does the physiography of a drainage basin and its network lend itself to this type of analysis. Rather, the stream concept as defined by Strahler is a strictly mathematical notion from graph theory (Riordan 1958, p. 135). It is therefore not surprising that it is strongly related only to those concepts which are derived from it, i.e., to the length, slopes, and drainage areas of the streams. Conversely, it exhibits little relation to most of the geomorphic and hydrologic parameters traditionally used in drainage basin and network description (e.g., Anderson 1949; Morisawa 1962; Werner and Smart 1973, p. 293). 2. In determining the stream numbers of a given channel network, each individual stream has to be identified. From these raw data only the stream numbers are obtained, and the remaining information is not utilized. In particular, the stream numbers allow one only to conclude how many streams of a given order merge to form streams of the next higher order; most of the information contained in the data (e.g., how many streams of order i merge with streams of order j when i # j , and from which side in each case) is not used at all, although it holds the key to various generalizations of the Horton Laws and, possibly, to other topologic/morphometric relationships in drainage basins. This paper addresses the second of the two shortcomings of the stream number concept as described above. It offers a partial solution to the problem of data utiliza- tion and derives several interesting conclusions. More specifically: 1 . The use of the raw data is increased by establishing a more detailed description of the network under consideration. 2. Based on this detailed description, the paper gives additional insight into the mathematical structure of channel network topology and provides a new network classification scheme. 3. The First Horton Law is shown to be a special case of the realtionships charac- terizing the patterns of merging streams in topologically random channel networks. THE STREAM MERGER MATRIX OF A CHANNEL NETWORK For the purpose of this paper we define the stream merger matrix, M M , of a channel network of order m as the matrix ( n i j I i, j = 1,2, ..., m), where nfj is defined as the CANADIAN GEOGRAPHER, XIX, 4,1975
Structural and Chemical Evolution of the Layered Li‐Excess LixMnO3 as a Function of Li Content from First‐Principles Calculations

Li2MnO3 is a critical component in the family of “Li-excess” materials, which are attracting attention as advanced cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. Here, first-principle calculations are presented to investigate the electrochemical activity and structural stability of stoichiometric LixMnO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) as a function of Li content. The Li2MnO3 structure is electrochemically activated above 4.5 V on delithiation and charge neutrality in the bulk of the material is mainly maintained by the oxidization of a portion of the oxygen ions from O2− to O1−. While oxygen vacancy formation is found to be thermodynamically favorable for x < 1, the activation barriers for O2− and O1− migration remain high throughout the Li com­position range, impeding oxygen release from the bulk of the compound. Defect layered structures become thermodynamically favorable at lower Li content (x < 1), indicating a tendency towards the spinel-like structure transformation. A critical phase transformation path for forming nuclei of spinel-like domains within the matrix of the original layered structure is proposed. Formation of defect layered structures during the first charge is shown to manifest in a depression of the voltage profile on the first discharge, providing one possible explanation for the observed voltage fade of the Li-excess materials.
Novel sulfonate containing ET based synmetals

Abstract Electrocrystallization of ET in the presence of aromatic and aliphatic sulfonate anions has led to many new ET salts. These new ET based sulfonate complexes are characterized with use of x-ray diffraction, four-probe conductivity measurements, ESR and Raman spectroscopies. A new κ(4 × 4) donor packing motif was observed in (ET)2(C6H5CH2SO3)(H2O). Strong hydrogen bonding between the sulfonate anion S-O and the donor ethylene C-H provides the driving force for the ET salt formation. Many of these new sulfonate salts are highly conductive with some remaining metallic to ~ 4 K.
Mechanism-based affinity capture of sirtuins

The ability to probe for catalytic activities of enzymes and to detect their abundance in complex biochemical contexts has traditionally relied on a combination of kinetic assays and techniques such as western blots that use expensive reagents such as antibodies. The ability to simultaneously detect activity and isolate a protein catalyst from a mixture is even more difficult and currently impossible in most cases. In this manuscript we describe a chemical approach that achieves this goal for a unique family of enzymes called sirtuins using novel chemical tools, enabling rapid detection of activity and isolation of these protein catalysts. Sirtuin deacetylases are implicated in the regulation of many physiological functions including energy metabolism, DNA-damage response, and cellular stress resistance. We synthesized an aminooxy-derivatized NAD+ and a pan-sirtuin inhibitor that reacts on sirtuin active sites to form a chemically stable complex that can subsequently be crosslinked to an aldehyde-substituted biotin. Subsequent retrieval of the biotinylated sirtuin complexes on streptavidin beads followed by gel electrophoresis enabled simultaneous detection of active sirtuins, isolation and molecular weight determination. We show that these tools are cross reactive against a variety of human sirtuin isoforms including SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT5, SIRT6 and can react with microbial derived sirtuins as well. Finally, we demonstrate the ability to simultaneously detect multiple sirtuin isoforms in reaction mixtures with this methodology, establishing proof of concept tools for chemical studies of sirtuins in complex biological samples.
Hemotropic mycoplasmas in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus).

Background: Hemotropic mycoplasmas are epicellular erythrocytic bacteria that can cause infectious anemia in some mammalian species. Worldwide, hemotropic mycoplasmas are emerging or re-emerging zoonotic pathogens potentially causing serious and significant health problems in wildlife. The objective of this study was to determine the molecular prevalence of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) with and without Pseudogymnoascus (Geomyces) destrucans, the causative agent of white nose syndrome (WNS) that causes significant mortality events in bats. Methods: In order to establish the prevalence of hemotropic Mycoplasma species in a population of 68 little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) with (n = 53) and without (n = 15) white-nose syndrome (WNS), PCR was performed targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Results: The overall prevalence of hemotropic Mycoplasmas in bats was 47%, with similar (p = 0.5725) prevalence between bats with WNS (49%) and without WNS (40%). 16S rDNA sequence analysis (~1,200 bp) supports the presence of a novel hemotropic Mycoplasma species with 91.75% sequence homology with Mycoplasma haemomuris. No differences were found in gene sequences generated from WNS and non-WNS animals. Conclusions: Gene sequences generated from WNS and non-WNS animals suggest that little brown bats could serve as a natural reservoir for this potentially novel Mycoplasma species. Currently, there is minimal information about the prevalence, host-specificity, or the route of transmission of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. among bats. Finally, the potential role of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. as co-factors in the development of disease manifestations in bats, including WNS in Myotis lucifugus, remains to be elucidated.
Cortical decoding of individual finger and wrist kinematics for an upper-limb neuroprosthesis

Previous research has shown that neuronal activity can be used to continuously decode the kinematics of gross movements involving arm and hand trajectory. However, decoding the kinematics of fine motor movements, such as the manipulation of individual fingers, has not been demonstrated. In this study, single unit activities were recorded from task-related neurons in M1 of two trained rhesus monkey as they performed individuated movements of the fingers and wrist. The primates’ hand was placed in a manipulandum, and strain gauges at the tips of each finger were used to track the digit’s position. Both linear and non-linear filters were designed to simultaneously predict kinematics of each digit and the wrist, and their performance compared using mean squared error and correlation coefficients. All models had high decoding accuracy, but the feedforward ANN (R = 3D0.76-0.86, MSE = 3D0.04-0.05) and Kalman filter (R = 3D0.68-0.86, MSE = 3D0.04-0.07) performed better than a simple linear regression filter (0.58-0.81, 0.05-0.07). These results suggest that individual finger and wrist kinematics can be decoded with high accuracy, and be used to control a multi-fingered prosthetic hand in real-time.
Vibrissae-Evoked Behavior and Conditioning before Functional Ontogeny of the Somatosensory Vibrissae Cortex

The following experiments determined that the somatosensory whisker system is functional and capable of experience-dependent behavioral plasticity in the neonate before functional maturation of the somatosensory whisker cortex. First, unilateral whisker stimulation caused increased behavioral activity in both postnatal day (P) 3-4 and P8 pups, whereas stimulation-evoked cortical activity (14C 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography) was detectable only in P8 pups. Second, neonatal rat pups are capable of forming associations between whisker stimulation and a reinforcer. A classical conditioning paradigm (P3-P4) showed that the learning groups (paired whisker stimulation-shock or paired whisker stimulation-warm air stream) exhibited significantly higher behavioral responsiveness to whisker stimulation than controls. Finally, stimulus-evoked somatosensory cortical activity during testing [P8; using 14C 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiography] was assessed after somatosensory conditioning from P1-P8. No learning-associated differences in stimulus-evoked cortical activity were detected between learning and nonlearning control groups. Together, these experiments demonstrate that the whisker system is functional in neonates and capable of experience-dependent behavioral plasticity. Furthermore, in contrast to adult somatosensory classical conditioning, these data suggest that the cortex is not required for associative somatosensory learning in neonates.
snoRNA, a novel precursor of microRNA in Giardia lamblia.

An Argonaute homolog and a functional Dicer have been identified in the ancient eukaryote Giardia lamblia, which apparently lacks the ability to perform RNA interference (RNAi). The Giardia Argonaute plays an essential role in growth and is capable of binding specifically to the m7G-cap, suggesting a potential involvement in microRNA (miRNA)-mediated translational repression. To test such a possibility, small RNAs were isolated from Giardia trophozoites, cloned, and sequenced. A 26-nucleotide (nt) small RNA (miR2) was identified as a product of Dicer-processed snoRNA GlsR17 and localized to the cytoplasm by fluorescence in situ hybridization, whereas GlsR17 was found primarily in the nucleolus of only one of the two nuclei in Giardia. Three other small RNAs were also identified as products of snoRNAs, suggesting that the latter could be novel precursors of miRNAs in Giardia. Putative miR2 target sites were identified at the 3′-untranslated regions (UTR) of 22 variant surface protein mRNAs using the miRanda program. In vivo expression of Renilla luciferase mRNA containing six identical miR2 target sites in the 3′-UTR was reduced by 40% when co-transfected with synthetic miR2, while the level of luciferase mRNA remained unaffected. Thus, miR2 likely affects translation but not mRNA stability. This repression, however, was not observed when Argonaute was knocked down in Giardia using a ribozyme-antisense RNA. Instead, an enhancement of luciferase expression was observed, suggesting a loss of endogenous miR2-mediated repression when this protein is depleted. Additionally, the level of miR2 was significantly reduced when Dicer was knocked down. In all, the evidence indicates the presence of a snoRNA-derived miRNA-mediated translational repression in Giardia.
The MVP sensor planning system for robotic vision tasks

The MVP (machine vision planner) model-based sensor planning system for robotic vision is presented. MVP automatically synthesizes desirable camera views of a scene based on geometric models of the environment, optical models of the vision sensors, and models of the task to be achieved. The generic task of feature detectability has been chosen since it is applicable to many robot-controlled vision systems. For such a task, features of interest in the environment are required to simultaneously be visible, inside the field of view, in focus, and magnified as required. In this paper, we present a technique that poses the vision sensor planning problem in an optimization setting and determines viewpoints that satisfy all previous requirements simultaneously and with a margin. In addition, we present experimental results of this technique when applied to a robotic vision system that consists of a camera mounted on a robot manipulator in a hand-eye configuration. >
Enhanced single- and two-phase transport phenomena using flow separation in a microgap with copper woven mesh coatings

Abstract The temperature difference on a heating wall between the inlet and outlet is usually large during the convective heat transfer in microgaps or microchannels due to the subcooling of the liquid and the entrance effects. In this study, a flow separation technique was developed to experimentally demonstrate that the overall transport processes including pressure drop and heat transfer could be significantly improved. “Flow separation” denotes routing of a portion of the incoming flow through a passive microjet. This flow arrangement was observed to effectively reduce the temperature difference along the flow direction, interrupt the growth of boundary layer in the single-phase regime, as well as to introduce mixing and manage the bubble expansion rate in the two-phase regime. The primary reasons for the pressure drop reduction could be the increased flow area because of the additional auxiliary channel and the effective management of the bubble expansion rate. Specifically, compared with a conventional microgap in the similar working conditions, the average wall temperature during convective boiling was reduced by 2.9 ± 0.6 °C in the steady state at a mass flux of 83 kg/(m2 s) with a 60.4% reduction in the pressure drop. Moreover, CHF in the two-phase regime reached 311 W/cm2 at a mass flux of 373.5 kg/(m2 s).
An extremal result on convex lattice polygons

Abstract The diameter of a convex set C is the length of the longest segment in C , and the local diameter at a point p is the length of the longest segment which contains p . It is easy to see that the local diameter at any point equals at least half of the diameter of C . This paper looks at the analogous question in a discrete setting; namely we look at convex lattice polygons in the plane. The analogue of Euclidean diameter is lattice diameter, defined as the maximal number of collinear points from a figure. In this setting, lattice diameter and local lattice diameter need not be related. However, for figures of a certain size, the local lattice diameter at any point must equal at least ⌊( n − 2)/2⌋, where n is the lattice diameter of the figure. The exact minimal size for which this result holds is determined, as a special case of an exact combinatorial formula.
Continuous and Parallel Optimization of Dynamic Bandwidth Scheduling in WDM Networks

Many scientific and Grid applications require high-speed circuits of guaranteed bandwidth for scheduled transfers. Offline optimization of dynamic scheduled bandwidth demands is an efficient way of finding the near-optimal solution to the bandwidth scheduling problem. In this paper, we propose a continuous and parallel optimization method to address the dynamic and deterministic bandwidth scheduling problem in next generation wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) networks. In this method a greedy algorithm and genetic algorithm are run in parallel in separate threads and both of them take the Dynamic Scheduled Bandwidth Demand (D-SBD) as their input. The user gets his response only from the greedy algorithm and hence he will get a deterministic answer in a short amount of time. The genetic algorithm takes as one of its inputs the output of the greedy algorithm and does the optimization of the D-SBDs with minimizing blocking probability as its fitness function. The greedy algorithm copies the optimized reservation database of the genetic algorithm at regular intervals. The user submitting a D-SBD request is unaware of the optimization done by the genetic algorithm. This method is evaluated using both trace-driven simulation of real network traffic from the DOE ESnet network and stochastic traffic in ESnet network topology and a 24 node network topology. We also compare our approach with an earlier proposed method called re-optimization at blocking. Adding the genetic algorithm improves the performance of the network (in terms of blocking probability) compared to using only the greedy approach or the re-optimization at blocking method.
Origin of the 150-K anomaly in LaFeAsO: competing antiferromagnetic interactions, frustration, and a structural phase transition.

From all-electron fixed-spin-moment calculations we show that ferromagnetic and checkerboard antiferromagnetic ordering in LaFeAsO are not stable and the stripe antiferromagnetic configuration with is the only stable ground state. The main exchange interactions between Fe ions are large, antiferromagnetic, and frustrated. The magnetic stripe phase breaks the tetragonal symmetry, removes the frustration, and causes a structural distortion. These results successfully explain the magnetic and structural phase transitions in LaFeAsO recently observed by neutron scattering. The presence of competing strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions suggests that magnetism and superconductivity in doped LaFeAsO may be strongly coupled, much like in the high- cuprates.
Subcellular mechanisms of presenilin-mediated enhancement of calcium signaling.

Abstract Mutations in presenilin-1 ( PS1 ), the leading cause of early-onset, autosomal-dominant familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD), enhance calcium signaling mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ). To elucidate the subcellular mechanisms underlying this enhancement, we used high resolution line-scanning confocal microscopy to image elementary calcium release events (“puffs”) in Xenopus oocytes expressing wild-type or mutant PS1. Here we report that mutant PS1-rendered puffs more sensitive to IP 3 and increased both the magnitude and the rate of calcium release during each event. These effects were not attributable to quantitative changes in the levels of IP 3 receptors or their distribution on the ER, but were instead associated with an abnormal elevation of ER calcium stores. Together, our results suggest that the effects of mutant PS1 on calcium signaling are manifested predominantly at the level of the regulation of calcium stores rather than via perturbations in the numbers or activity of IP 3 -activated calcium release channels.
A Comparative Analysis of Mass Mobilization, Regime Change and Reform in Egypt and Yemen

Egypt and Yemen provide two very interesting practical inferences in understanding contemporary mass mobilization. Whilst deriving an inductive analysis, the paper compares the causes and mechanisms of the mass mobilization to understand the underlying factors for the variations in regime change and reforms. Although the movements in Egypt and Yemen shared significant similarities, there are also defined differences in the nature of society, regional and international response to the mass mobilizations. The paper argues that variations in regime change and reforms are largely driven by reasons of political history, changes in the nature and structure of society and the prominent role of regional and global power players.
Serum Cotinine and Chronic Pain: NHANES 2003-2004.

Purpose: Tobacco smoke exposure continues to be the leading preventable risk factor for many diseases and has the potential to be a risk factor for chronic pain. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of chronic pain with smoking, secondhand smoke exposure and non-smoking using serum cotinine (and self-report of living with someone who smokes in the home) to identify the tobacco exposure groups. Methods: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003- 2004 was used for this study. Participants were queried about pain duration and had serum cotinine levels determined during the course of the NHANES examination/survey. Participants, ages 20 years and above, with complete data on chronic pain, cotinine level, sex, race/ethnicity, and responses concerning living with someone who smoked in the home were included in the study (n=4429). Results: The adjusted odds ratio of tobacco smoke exposure on chronic pain was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.59; p=0.0220) for participants with a serum cotinine level >10 ng/mg (smokers) as compared with individuals who had a non-detectable serum cotinine level. For individuals with a serum cotinine level >0.011 ng/mg to 10 ng/ mg who identified as living with someone who smoked in the home, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.47, 1.65; p=0.6785) as compared with individuals who had a non-detectable serum cotinine level. Conclusion: Chronic pain is a complex situation with many factors affecting it. Similarly, smoking is a complex addiction. The interplay of chronic pain and cotinine levels in this study were significant.
Local structure and dynamics of liquid acetone by heterodyned 2D IR spectroscopy

Multiple pulse two-dimensional IR spectroscopy is a promising approach to obtain ultrafast snapshots of molecular structures in the condensed phase. Here we show that nonlinear IR spectroscopy exposes the dynamics of the local structure of liquids: results for liquid acetone are obtained. The liquid responds like a molecular excitonic system undergoing structure fluctuations. Isotope dilution with acetone-2-13C shifts the C=O frequencies by ~40 cm−1, allowed measurement of the coupling of labeled and unlabeled molecules. Results from new heterodyned 2D transient grating experiments reveal the dynamics of intermolecular energy transfer.
Solgel growth of vanadium dioxide thin films

Vanadium dioxide undergoes a reversible thermally induced semiconductor—metal phase transition near 70°C.1 Associated with this transition, the material exhibits large changes in its optical, electrical, and magnetic characteristics with respect to temperature.1,2 The extent of these changes depends on the stoichiometry and homogeneity of the VO2 film. By substituting various dopant transition metal ions into the VO2 lattice, the observed transition temperature may be raised or lowered depending on the percent and valence of the dopant ions added.
Contract Formation Issues in Employment Arbitration

American courts operate under the strong presumptions that the Federal Arbitration Act makes nearly all claims arbitrable and nearly all arbitration agreements enforceable. However, the FAA Section 2 provides that arbitration agreements shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds that exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract. This apparent reservation of a broad role for state contract law is undercut significantly by two Supreme Court doctrines: the FAA preemption doctrine (which forbids state courts and legislatures from singling out arbitration agreements for inferior treatment) and the separability doctrine (which requires that contract-law challenges directed at the contract as a whole - as opposed to at the arbitration clause specifically - be decided by arbitrators rather than courts). The Court has interpreted both of these doctrines broadly. Though the broad interpretation of these doctrines has been extensively criticized, the effect nonetheless has been to constrict the applicability of state contract law to arbitration agreements. This, in turn, has created considerable tension between those doctrines and the Section 2 reservation of state contract law. This article discusses and evaluates several potential limitations on the preemption and separability doctrines, particularly as applied to employment arbitration agreements, which would preserve a broader role for state contract law. The Supreme Court's FAA preemption and separability doctrines frame the big picture of the scope of state authority regarding arbitral contract formation. After discussing and evaluating these doctrines, this article shifts focus and examines in detail how state courts have applied state contract law to employment arbitration agreements. State contract law, of course, differs considerably from state to state. This article does not examine in detail this state-to-state variation generally (e.g., on different approaches to mutuality), but instead focuses specifically on how this variation affects judicial approaches to employment arbitration agreements. This article examines five issues that often are raised in contract-formation challenges to the enforceability of employment arbitration agreements: notice, consent, the employer's retention of a right unilaterally to modify the agreement, non-reciprocal obligations to arbitrate, and consideration.
Ochrotrichia graysoni, A New Species of Caddisfly from Virginia (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae)

The male and female of Ochrotrichia graysoni n. sp. are described and illustrated. Characteristics of the adult male suggest affinities with the tenanga group. The most recent key to the species of Ochrotrichia is modified to include this new species.
Lower Flammability Limits of Hydrogen and Light Hydrocarbons at Subatmospheric Pressures

The knowledge of flammability limits is essential in the prevention of fire/explosion when handling combustible gases and vapors. In this study, the lower flammability limits (LFLs) of hydrogen–air, methane–air, ethane–air, n-butane–air, and ethylene–air were measured in a closed cylindrical vessel (inner diameter 10.22 cm, length 100 cm) with upward flame propagation, at room temperature (20 °C) and initial pressure of 1.0, 0.7, 0.5, 0.3, and 0.1 atm. The LFL of hydrogen initially decreased with pressure from 1.0 to 0.3 atm, and then the LFL increased with the further decrease of pressure. In contrast, the LFLs of the hydrocarbons increased when the pressure decreased from 1.0 to 0.1 atm, except for methane for which the LFL did not change with pressure. The adiabatic flame temperatures (AFTs) at the obtained LFL concentrations of hydrogen and the hydrocarbons were also calculated at subatmospheric pressure conditions. The behaviors of the AFTs of hydrogen and the hydrocarbons were similar to those of th...
The Selection of Federal Political Executives

Central to the problem of obtaining intelligent and effective management and policy direction in the federal government are the sources and procedures used in the selection of federal political executives. These executives, occupying positions usually subject to presidential appointment and senatorial confirmation, constitute the "key group in making representative government work within the executive branch."' Through them the President directs and controls his administration, creates political support, and establishes lines of defense for his political program. Increasing attention has been paid to the selection process in recent years because of frequent reports of extreme difficulty in recruiting able people, inability to retain their services, and allegations that those who have served have proven less than adequate. The problem as broadly stated by the (Jackson) subcommittee on National Policy Machinery of the Senate Committee on Government Operations is: "how to make the quality of appointments of private citizens to national services keep pace with the spiraling complexity and difficulty of foreign policy and defense problems."2 The information available on the backgrounds of men who have served as political executives, the duration of their terms, the procedures used in their selection and their reactions to the prospect of government service-in short, the information to substantiate these charges-has hitherto been highly impressionistic, based on inadequate data, out of date, or tinged with ideological preferences. To cite but a few examples, C. Wright Mills characterized the second team of the political directorate in his Power Elite' on the basis of a rela-
Physiological-based pharmacokinetic modeling of endotoxin in the rat.

We have previously measured the distribution and pharmacokinetics of biosynthetically radiolabeled endotoxin of Salmonella typhimurium following intraperitoneal (IP) dosing (200 μg/kg) in Sprague-D...
Intraerythrocyte pH and physiochemical homogeneity.

SummaryIn order to determine the physiochemical homogeneity of the human red cell, intraerythrocyte pH was simultaneously measured using the weak acid 5,5-dimethyl-oxazolidine-2,4-dione (DMO) and the weak base nicotine. If a cell is homogeneous, such measurements will yield the same result. If a cell is heterogeneous, the DMO reading will be closer to the highest pH in the cell system, while the nicotine will read closer to the lowest pH. The results show no significant difference between the intracellular pH obtained by either of these methods (average by DMO = 7.10, by nicotine = 7.06 at an average external pH of 7.33). We conclude that the human erythrocyte is physiochemically homogeneous.
Effect of Physical Activity Interventions for Girls on Objectively Measured Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract Introduction Most girls are not meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines, and 30% are overweight or obese. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence for PA intervention effects on accelerometer-measured PA, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat (% BF) among girls. Methods The Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, PsychInfo, and SportDISCUS databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published from 1985-2014. Studies with a PA intervention and outcomes of accelerometer-measured PA, BMI, or % BF were included. Results Fifteen studies were reviewed. PA, BMI, and % BF were measured in 5, 15, and 10 studies, respectively. Effect sizes (ES) were highly variable. In one intervention, PA increased (ES = −0.17 to 0.08); in two interventions, BMI was reduced (ES = −0.11 to 0.62); and in five interventions, % BF was lowered (ES = 0.12 to 0.93). Discussion Future research should involve preadolescent girls, improve methods for handling missing data, include objective measures of PA, and increase intervention attendance rates.
Dynamic web service composite model based on QOS

The model of a web service composing model based on QoS is proposed,it can dynamically select and bind the best suitable web service that meets QoS requirements of users.Compared to previous model,the service broker is extended.Provided binding function can save the history information and calling context to improve access efficiency.Morever,it supports to divide the web services;rearranges and optimizes the calling sequence of services.The result of performance analysis indicates it can improve efficiency greatly.
Abstract A41: The heat shock transcription factor HSF1 induces ovarian cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a 3-D spheroid growth model.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer, with over 200,000 women diagnosed each year and over half of those cases leading to death. These poor statistics are related to a lack of early symptoms and inadequate screening techniques. This results in the cancer going undetected until later stages when the tumor has metastasized through a process that requires the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). In lieu of traditional monolayer cell culture, EMT and cancer progression in general is best characterized through the use of 3D spheroid models. Compared to other cancers, ovarian cancer has very limited treatment options to date, with cisplatin and paclitaxel being the most common and efficient. Recently, a significant increase in heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) expression has been found in highly malignant ovarian cancer. HSF1 is the regulator of the heat shock response (HSR) and promotes the transcription of heat shock proteins (HSPs). Previous studies have shown that HSF1-induced chaperone activity may act to stabilize multiple oncogenes within many different cancer types. This leads to cancer proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and metastasis. In this study, we examine gene expression changes through microarray analysis in spheroid versus monolayer ovarian cancer cells treated with TGFβ to induce EMT. Interestingly, EMT and stress response pathways, including the heat shock response, were all significantly affected by 3D growth. HSF1 knockdown was utilized in both 2D and 3D cultures to further study this response. HSF1 knockdown is shown to inhibit ovarian cancer progression in both monolayer and spheroid model cells. Moreover, HSF1 knockdown in spheroid cells has a significantly greater impact on EMT markers than it does in 2D cultures. This indicates HSF1 may be a utilized as a target for chemotherapeutics in ovarian cancer patients and could potentially have implications in other such hormonal cancers. Citation Format: Trillitye Paullin, Chase Powell, Menzie Christopher, Robert Hill, Christopher Martyniuk, Sandy Westerheide. The heat shock transcription factor HSF1 induces ovarian cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a 3-D spheroid growth model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A41.
Zinc binding ligands and complexes in zinc metabolism.

The essential role of the trace element zinc in both the prenatal and post-natal periods of mammalian development has been well documented (Underwood, 1977; Hurley, 1980; Prasad, 1976). Zinc is important in many ways: it is required for the activity of numerous enzymes (Parisi and Yallee, 1969), and is important for stability of biological membranes (Chvapil, 1973), for integrity and synthesis of nucleic acids (Dreosti et al., 1972; Dreosti and Hurley, 1975; Eckhert and Hurley, 1977; Eichhorn et al., 1973), and for synthesis of proteins and lipids (Underwood, 1977). Based on the large number of important reactions that involve zinc, it is reasonable to suppose that metabolism of this element is under some regulation. It has been suggested that the primary site of zinc homeostasis is the intestine (Cotzias et al., 1962; Cousins, 1979a, 1979b; Weigand and Kirchgessner, 1976a, 1976b, 1980). Currently, most investigators think that zinc homeostasis in the intestine, occurring through absorption or excretion of the element (or both), is mediated in part by low molecular weight (LMW) ligands. This area of nutrition research has been the subject of considerable recent interest, especially because of reports of dietary zinc deficiency in various age groups of several human populations (Prasad, 1976; Hambidge et al., 1972, 1976; Jameson, 1976, 1981). Zinc deficiency in humans has been correlated with a number of disorders, including congenital malformations and complications of pregnancy, poor growth and development during infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and impaired immunocompetence.
The tail at scale: how to predict it?

Scale-out applications have emerged as the dominant Internet services today. A request in a scale-out workload generally involves task partitioning and merging with barrier synchronization, making it difficult to predict the request tail latency to meet stringent tail Service Level Objectives (SLOs). In this paper, we find that the request tail latency can be faithfully predicted, in the high load region, by a prediction model using only the mean and variance of the task response time as input. The prediction errors for the 99th percentile request latency are found to be consistently within 10% at the load of 90%for both model and measurement-based testing cases. Consequently, the work in this paper establishes an important link between the request tail SLOs and the low order task statistics in a high load region, where the resource provisioning is desired. Finally, we discuss how the prediction model may facilitate highly scalable, tail-constrained resource provisioning for scaleout workloads.
Regulation of protein kinase C betaII by its C2 domain.

The C2 domain serves as a membrane-targeting module in a diverse group of proteins that includes the conventional protein kinase Cs. This work examines the mechanism by which the C2 domain targets protein kinase C to membranes. Molecular modeling identified two highly-charged surfaces on the C2 domain of protein kinase C βΙΙ: the Ca2+ binding site which contains five aspartates and a basic face positioned behind the Ca2+ site that contains seven lysine residues. Both surfaces were mutated to assess their role in Ca2+-dependent membrane binding. Surprisingly, removal of four positive charges on the basic face had no effect on protein kinase C's lipid or Ca2+ sensitivity, revealing that the basic face does not provide determinants involved in lipid binding, nor is it positioned close enough to the membrane to enhance nonspecific recruitment by its electropositive face. In contrast, replacement of two negative charges with two positive charges in the Ca2+ binding site decreased protein kinase C's affinity b...
Cardiorespiratory fitness moderates the effect of an affect-guided physical activity prescription: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Physical activity (PA) interventions have a clear role in promoting mental health. Current PA guidelines directed toward specific PA intensities may have negative effects on affective response to exercise, and affective response is an important determinant of PA adherence. In this randomized trial of 67 previously inactive adults, we compared the effects of a PA prescription emphasizing the maintenance of positive affect to one emphasizing a target heart rate, and tested the extent to which the effect of the affect-guided prescription on PA is moderated by cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). We found the effect of an affect-guided prescription was significantly moderated by CRF. At one week, for participants with lower CRF (i.e. poor conditioning), the affect-guided prescription resulted in significantly greater change in PA minutes (M = 240.8) than the heart rate-guided prescription (M = 165.7), reflecting a moderate-sized effect (d = .55). For those with higher CRF (i.e. good conditioning), the means were in the opposite direction but not significantly different. At one month, the same pattern emerged but the interaction was not significant. We discuss the implications of these findings for the type of PA prescriptions offered to individuals in need.
Challenges in Routine Clinical Chemistry Testing: Analysis of Small Molecules

Clinical chemistry is the area of laboratory medicine with the largest volume of tests, and it accounts for the majority of clinical decisions impacted by laboratory results. Although the frequency of errors in clinical chemistry has been minimized by automation and high accuracy of analytical instrumentation, contemporary assay technology, and strict quality management programs, occasional results are inconsistent with the clinical situation, indicating possible erroneous test results. In this chapter, the most frequent sources of inaccurate results in commonly ordered small molecule analytes, including creatinine, urea, ammonia, uric acid, glucose, electrolytes, blood gases, lactate, bilirubin, and lipid profiles, are discussed. Pre-analytical causes of variation, including physiologic and pathologic conditions, patient preparation, sample collection, and specimen processing, are also addressed. Common assay methodologies are discussed, highlighting common sources of interferences and analytical errors.
Self-Referenced Coherent Diffraction X-Ray Movie of Ångstrom- and Femtosecond-Scale Atomic Motion

Time-resolved femtosecond x-ray diffraction patterns from laser-excited molecular iodine are used to create a movie of intramolecular motion with a temporal and spatial resolution of 30 fs and 0.3 A. This high fidelity is due to interference between the nonstationary excitation and the stationary initial charge distribution. The initial state is used as the local oscillator for heterodyne amplification of the excited charge distribution to retrieve real-space movies of atomic motion on angstrom and femtosecond scales. This x-ray interference has not been employed to image internal motion in molecules before. In conclusion, coherent vibrational motion and dispersion, dissociation, and rotational dephasing are all clearly visible in the data, thereby demonstrating the stunning sensitivity of heterodyne methods.
Harnessing Insect-Microbe Chemical Communications To Control Insect Pests of Agricultural Systems

Insect pests cause serious economic, yield, and food safety problems to managed crops worldwide. Compounding these problems, insect pests often vector pathogenic or toxigenic microbes to plants. Previous work has considered plant-insect and plant-microbe interactions separately. Although insects are well-understood to use plant volatiles to locate hosts, microorganisms can produce distinct and abundant volatile compounds that in some cases strongly attract insects. In this paper, we focus on the microbial contribution to plant volatile blends, highlighting the compounds emitted and the potential for variation in microbial emission. We suggest that these aspects of microbial volatile emission may make these compounds ideal for use in agricultural applications, as they may be more specific or enhance methods currently used in insect control or monitoring. Our survey of microbial volatiles in insect-plant interactions suggests that these emissions not only signal host suitability but may indicate a distinctive time frame for optimal conditions for both insect and microbe. Exploitation of these host-specific microbe semiochemicals may provide important microbe- and host-based attractants and a basis for future plant-insect-microbe chemical ecology investigations.
The geographic distribution of trace elements in the environment: the REGARDS study

Research on trace elements and the effects of their ingestion on human health is often seen in scientific literature. However, little research has been done on the distribution of trace elements in the environment and their impact on health. This paper examines what characteristics among participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study are associated with levels of environmental exposure to arsenic, magnesium, mercury, and selenium. Demographic information from REGARDS participants was combined with trace element concentration data from the US Geochemical Survey (USGS). Each trace element was characterized as either low (magnesium and selenium) or high (arsenic and mercury) exposure. Associations between demographic characteristics and trace element concentrations were analyzed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models. Individuals who reside in the Stroke Belt have lower odds of high exposure (4th quartile) to arsenic (OR 0.33, CI 0.31, 0.35) and increased exposure to mercury (OR 0.65, CI 0.62, 0.70) than those living outside of these areas, while the odds of low exposure to trace element concentrations were increased for magnesium (OR 5.48, CI 5.05, 5.95) and selenium (OR 2.37, CI 2.22, 2.54). We found an association between levels of trace elements in the environment and geographic region of residence, among other factors. Future studies are needed to further examine this association and determine whether or not these differences may be related to geographic variation in disease.
The value implications of target debt issuance in withdrawn takeovers: What role do country-specific M&A regulations play?

Abstract Under the implicit assumption of well-developed capital markets and strong investor protection, finance theory predicts that managers of target firms will respond to a takeover threat by increasing firm leverage. Leverage increases target management’s negotiating position with the bidder, potentially thwarting the acquisition altogether. Target management should therefore have less incentive to increase leverage where investor protections are weak and financial regulations favor incumbents. Examining changes in firm leverage in an international sample of target firms, we find that targets significantly increase leverage around takeover attempts, but only in countries with well-developed capital markets and strong investor protections. These target firms realize negative abnormal returns around debt issuance announcements, especially those between takeover announcement and withdrawal. Further, target shareholders suffer significantly negative long-term returns after the takeover bid is withdrawn. Negative returns are significantly mitigated, but not eliminated, with high performance target managers in place.
Building a Real-Time Geo-Targeted Event Observation (Geo) Viewer for Disaster Management and Situation Awareness

Situation awareness plays an important role in disaster response and emergency management. Displaying real-time location-based social media messages along with videos, pictures, and hashtags during a disaster event could help first responders improve their situation awareness . A geo-targeted event observation (Geo) Viewer was developed for monitoring real-time social media messages in target areas with four major functions: (1) real-time display of geo-tagged tweets within the target area; (2) interactive mapping functions; (3) spatial, text, and temporal search functions using keywords, spatial boundaries, or dates; and (4) manual labeling and text-tagging of messages. Different from traditional web GIS maps, the user interface design of GeoViewer provides the interactive display of multimedia content and maps. The front-end user interface to visualize and query tweets is built with open source programming libraries using server-side MongoDB. GeoViewer is built for assisting emergency responses and disaster management tasks by tracking disaster event impacts, recovery activities, and residents’ needs in the target region.