cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanomechanical characterization of organic matter in the Bakken formation by microscopy-based method

Abstract Organic-rich shales are highly heterogeneous due to the presence of a variety of constituent components. Among them, organic matter is poorly known in terms of mechanical properties due to the lack of high-resolution analytical equipment to isolate organic matter in-situ for mechanical testing. In this study, we proposed a new method to link morphology and geochemical properties of organic matter to its mechanical characteristics at the nanoscale. Kerogen type and thermal maturity, along with mineralogy were evaluated by Rock- Eval 6 pyrolysis/Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Then, the atomic force microscopy PeakForce Quantitative Nano-mechanical Mapping (AFM PeakForce QNM) mode was employed and coupled with optical and electron microscopy, to first visualize and then quantify the elastic properties of organic components in three different samples from the Bakken Formation. Hebamorphinite matrix bituminite and solid bitumen were identified as the main organic constituent, along with oil-prone marine kerogen type II (alginite and acritarch) and also a bacterial-derived granular micrinite-like maceral. Based on Tmax and vitrinite Ro values (or VRo-Eq from Bitumen Ro), thermal maturity of the samples ranged from immature to mature (past peak oil window). The average value of Young's modulus for organic matter was measured in the range of 2.91–11.77 GPa. It was also found that organic matter becomes stiffer with increased thermal maturity. This study exhibits a great potential, as a novel method, for in-situ analysis of mechanical properties of organic matter in shale reservoirs at a fine scale.
Cretaceous Meteor Showers, the Human Ecological “Niche,” and the Sixth Extinction

Mass extinctions are real events that have had a profound effect on the course of biological evolutionary history. In retrospect, it is astonishing that it took a full century and a half since the publication of Cuvier’s (1812) monograph detailing successive episodes of extinction and consequent biotic rebounds—rebounds that modern science attributes to evolution, but that Cuvier understood as separate acts of Creation—for the importance of extinction to come to the fore.
The Effects of Group II Phospholipase A2 on Ras-Induced Metastasis

Expression of a ras oncogene and over-expression of the ras proto-oncogene occur in human neoplasias and are associated with transformation, tumorigenicity and metastasis in animal model systems (1–3). Therefore, the specific ras-induced alterations which facilitate primary tumor growth and metastasis are clearly of interest. The introduction of a ras gene product (p21) in eucaryotic cells causes transformation in vitro. This transformation has also been associated with increased phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity and an increase of PLA2 reaction products (4–8). The immediate reaction products of PLA2 mediated hydrolysis of phospholipids are lysophospholipids and free fatty acids, for example arachidonic acid. These lipids can affect malignancy by different mechanisms. These lipids can also stimulate c-fas expression and cell proliferation (9,10). In addition, PLA2 activity is important in the regulation of the level of free arachidonic acid and thereby participates in the control of the synthesis of other lipid biomediators that can promote tumor growth and metastasis, such as prostaglandins and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (11,12). Among the multiple PLA2s, only a subset is associated with release of arachidonic acid (reviewed in 13 and 14). Transfection of cells with the cDNA encoding for either the low molecular mass, group II PLA2 or the high molecular mass PLA2 (also termed cytosolic or cPLA2) results in increased release of arachidonic acid (15,16). The group II and the high molecular mass PLA2 activities are both increased in tumorigenic and metastatic ras-transfected rat embryo fibroblasts (CREF T24 cells) as compared to the parental cell line, the nontransformed, cloned rat embryo fibroblasts (CREF) [Guthridge et al., submitted]. Thus, we hypothesized that elevated PLA2 activity, resulting in elevated release of arachidonic acid, is important in ras-induced neoplasia. The present study explores this hypothesis. The effect of reducing group II PLA2 activity on the biological properties of ras-transfected cells is determined by analysis of CREF T24 cells transfected with vectors containing an antisense group II PLA2 cDNA. These antisense clones exhibit a reversion of transformed characteristics in vitro and a reduction of spontaneous metastases.
The role of body dissatisfaction as a risk factor for depression in adolescent girls: are the differences Black and White?

Body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and depression differentially affect adolescent girls (compared to boys); however, these variables have not been examined in relation to ethnicity. A review of the literature finds that Black adolescent girls are more satisfied with their bodies than White adolescent girls and engage much less frequently in dieting or disordered eating than do White girls in the US. A central question raised by this review is whether body dissatisfaction and pubertal timing are as relevant to our understanding of the etiology of depression in Black girls as they appear to be in White girls. Based on the available data, it does not seem that a risk factor model supporting the role of early pubertal timing, weight increases and body dissatisfaction in the development of depression applies to Black adolescent girls. This review underscores the need for future research with a variety of ethnic minority groups to better understand the etiology of adolescent depression.
Impact of abnormal longitudinal rotation on the assessment of right ventricular systolic function in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Assessment of right ventricular (RV) function plays an important role in patients with cardiopulmonary disease, and current guidelines recommend parameters including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricular systolic excursion velocity (RVS’) to assess RV longitudinal function. We assessed the hypothesis that the previously undescribed motion of RV longitudinal rotation (RVLR) is an independent predictor of both TAPSE and RVS’. Methods: We assessed a series of 100 consecutive patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) undergoing echocardiography. Patients with left ventricular (LV) dilation and dysfunction were excluded. Standard RV parameters were determined using established guidelines, while RVLR and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) measurements were performed using 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking technique. Results: Mean peak RVLR measured −4.2±3.7 degrees. By convention, negative values implied clockwise motion. In a multiple linear regression model, TAPSE could be predicted from a combination of RVLR and RVGLS (R=0.56, P Conclusions: RVLR is an independent predictor of TAPSE and RVS’. Awareness of this motion should be considered in the interpretation of TAPSE and RVS’ values as markers of RV systolic function, as abnormal RVLR may account for exaggerated values, particularly in patients with PH and RV dysfunction.
The Tracer Method: The Dynamic Duo Combining Cognitive Task Analysis and Eye Tracking

This paper introduces The Tracer Method that integrates two common approaches for understanding skilled performance: Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) and Eye Tracking (ET). This combination has the potential to provide information for game designers and human computer interaction researchers that will guide feedback to areas with the greatest payoff. Historically, ET has been used to gain behavioral insight into visual search patterns and attention, whereas CTA has been used to understand higher-level goals, strategies, and decisions. We integrate the two by using CTA to identify key events during the game, and examine ET statistics conditioned on these. In this demonstration, ET behavior was recorded while 17 experienced Overwatch players engaged in competitive play. Through post-game CTA interviews, critical decisions were identified and analyzed post play. Results provide some examples of new insights that can be captured from a combination of these methods, and used for game design, play testing, or evaluation.
Pope Francis’s Missiology of Attraction:

In some contrast to the “New Evangelization” approach of his predecessors, Pope Francis’s approach to mission might be characterized as a “missiology of attraction.” This article explains how a mis...
Envisioning the Third World: Modern Art and Diplomacy in Maoist China

In the mid-1950s, China conducted robust cultural exchange with the Third World in tandem with a parallel political program to influence non-aligned nations in contestation to the Soviet Union and ...
Donor and recipient age matching in heart transplantation: analysis of the UNOS Registry.

The association of donor and recipient age with survival following adult heart transplantation has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the relationship between donor and recipient age on post-transplant survival. We retrospectively reviewed the 2005-2018 UNOS heart transplant database for all adult recipients undergoing first-time isolated heart transplantation. The impact of donor and recipient age on survival was analyzed with Cox proportional hazards modeling using restricted cubic splines. A total of 25 480 heart transplant donor and recipient pairs met inclusion criteria. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated a near-linear association between increasing donor age and decreased survival; in addition, older and younger recipient age was associated with decreased survival. After adjustment, there was no significant interaction between donor and recipient age. Older donors decreased survival similarly in both older and younger recipients. Increasing donor age and both younger and older recipient age are independently associated with worsened post-heart transplant survival. The relationship between donor and recipient age does not significantly affect survival following heart transplant.
Study of Passive dv/dt Filter and Proposed Active Solution for SiC MV Motor Drive

Overvoltage caused by the reflected wave phenomenon is well known in motor drive systems with long cables, which becomes worse for Medium Voltage (MV) SiC motor drive systems. Passive dv/dt filters are widely used to alleviate this overvoltage phenomenon. This paper mustrates the passive dv/dt filter limitations for SiC MV motor drive systems. In addition, an active solution with low power loss is proposed in this paper to suppress the overvoltage resulting from the reflected wave phenomenon in SiC MV motor drives. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed method.
Automated Synthesis of Fluorine-18 Labeled CXCR4 Ligand via the Conjugation with Nicotinic Acid N-Hydroxysuccinimide Ester (6-[18F]SFPy)

The C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor that is overexpressed in numerous diseases, particularly in various cancers and is a powerful chemokine, attracting cells to the bone marrow niche. Therefore, CXCR4 is an attractive target for imaging and therapeutic purposes. The goal of this study is to develop an efficient, reproducible, and straightforward method to prepare a fluorine-18 labeled CXCR4 ligand. 6-[18F]Fluoronicotinic acid-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl ester (6-[18F]FPy-TFP) and nicotinic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (6-[18F]SFPy) have been prepared using 'fluorination on the Sep-Pak' method. Conjugation of 6-[18F]SFPy or 6-[18F]FPy-TFP with the alpha-amino group at the N terminus of the protected T140 precursor followed by deprotection, yielded the final product 6-[18F]FPy-T140. The overall radiochemical yields were 6-17% (n = 15, decay-corrected) in a 90-min radiolabeling time with a radiochemical purity >99%. 6-[18F]FPy-T140 exhibited high specific binding and nanomolar affinity for CXCR4 in vitro, indicating that the biological activity of the peptide was preserved. For the first time, [18F]SFPy has been prepared using 'fluorination on the Sep-Pak' method that allows rapid automated synthesis of 6-[18F]FPy-T140. In addition to increased synthetic efficiency, this construct binds with CXCR4 in high affinity and may have potential as an in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent. This radiosynthesis method should encourage wider use of this PET agent to quantify CXCR4 in both research and clinical settings.
Synthesis and crystal structure of a coordinatively unsaturated organomercury iridium complex (PCP)Ir(HgPh)Cl (PCP = η3-2,6- (tBu2PCH2)2C6H 3)

The title compound (PCP) Ir(HgPh) Cl (1), (PCP = η3-2,6-( t Bu2PCH2)2C6H3), is obtained by the reaction of (PCP) IrHCl and Ph2Hg in toluene solution. Purple crystals of 1 were grown by slow evaporation of benzene solution of 1 and have been studied by X-ray crystallography. The space group is P21/n, a = 13.9384(8) A, b = 15.1095(8) A, c = 15.8148(9) A, β = 111.005(1)°, V = 3109.3(3) A3, Z = 4. The geometry at the iridium center is quasi-square pyramidal with Hg at the apical position; the Cl–Ir–C(PCP) angle is 175.87(8)°. The Ir–Hg–C(Ph) angle is 175.90(9)°. The Hg–Ir bond is unusually short: 2.5251(2) A. This short distance is likely attributable to the absence of a ligand trans to the phenylmercury group. The resulting strong metal–mercury bond may explain the unusual stability of the complex and the failure to eliminate mercury as is commonly observed with organomercury–transition-metal complexes.
UHPC-filled duct connections for accelerated bridge construction of RC columns in high seismic zones

Abstract Substantial attention is being paid to accelerated bridge construction (ABC) in the United States because ABC offers many advantages such as shorter onsite construction time, lower traffic impact, and higher quality structural members. Prefabricated bridge elements and systems are one of the most important ABC components. However, scarcity of seismic performance data for prefabricated element connections has limited the application of ABC in high seismic zones. In this paper, seismic performance of a new column-to-footing connection was experimentally investigated by cyclic testing of a half-scale precast reinforced concrete bridge column connected to the footing incorporating an ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) filled duct connection. The seismic performance of the test model was comprehensively compared with a reference cast-in-place model. Furthermore, connection performance of another half-scale precast bridge column utilizing this type of connection was presented. The former model was design and tested to specifically evaluate the seismic performance of the column utilizing new column-to-footing connection and the latter column was built with eight different materials to investigate the seismic performance of a low-damage precast column detailing for high seismic regions. Nevertheless, UHPC-filled duct connections were incorporated in the column-to-footing connections of the both test models. The test results showed that the UHPC-filled duct connections were emulative of the conventional connection. An analytical model was developed using a finite element computer program to simulate cyclic response of the column. The model incorporated a new analytical technique to include the effect of bond–slip through a modified stress–strain relationship for reinforcing steel. The calculated and measured force–displacement relationships of the column showed good correlation.
Applying bifurcation theory to enzyme kinetics.

Publisher Summary Bifurcation theory is the mathematician's description of how a system changes as environmental parameters are changed. A bifurcation is a qualitative change such as a constant system suddenly oscillating as the temperature is gradually increased. This chapter discusses the Bifurcation theory and its application in enzyme kinetics. Bifurcation theory is a more systematic and general theory of nonlinear systems than the standard steady-state analysis of enzyme networks. Bifurcation theory distinguishes between local bifurcations that are analyzable in a neighborhood about a single point in state space and global bifurcations that are not. A global bifurcation usually requires additional information to what is computable by the local methods. The only global bifurcation which is discussed in this chapter is a homoclinic point. The main experimental feature of a homoclinic bifurcation is that—as a parameter is varied in a region where a stable limit cycle exists, the period will increase to infinity either exponentially or as the square root of the parameter.
Luminance-dependent visual processing enables moth flight in low light

Animals must operate under an enormous range of light intensities. Nocturnal and twilight flying insects are hypothesized to compensate for dim conditions by integrating light over longer times. This slowing of visual processing would increase light sensitivity but should also reduce movement response times. Using freely hovering moths tracking robotic moving flowers, we showed that the moth’s visual processing does slow in dim light. These longer response times are consistent with models of how visual neurons enhance sensitivity at low light intensities, but they could pose a challenge for moths feeding from swaying flowers. Dusk-foraging moths avoid this sensorimotor tradeoff; their nervous systems slow down but not so much as to interfere with their ability to track the movements of real wind-blown flowers.
Experienced Teachers: Agents for Revitalization and Renewal as Mentors and Teacher Educators.

After reviewing much recent research and theory, the article outlines the current status of developmental stage concepts as a basis for the teacher as an adult learner. There is substantial evidence to support the view that adults who process experience at higher and more complex levels of development perform more adequately in complex human helping roles. Using a developmental model, a system is then outlined for training both mentor teachers and educators of mentor teachers. Such new roles have substantial potential for revitalizing experienced teachers, promoting their developmental growth, and improving the quality of supervision for beginning teachers.
The effect of turbulent medium on image resolution

The degrading effect that a laser beam may be subjected to as it propagates through a turbulent medium was investigated. To accomplish this, the line spread function (LSF) was measured. A computer program was utilized to perform a Fourier transform on the LSF to give the modulation transfer function (MTF) of turbulence. The measurement of the LSF was accomplished by sweeping the focal spot on a coherent light source across a slit that was narrower than the focal spot. The detected intensity of the light, as it traverses the slit, yielded an integrated slice of the Airy disk, the LSF of the beam. A measure of beam degradation was made by comparing the undistorted LSF to the distorted LSF. Beam quality was then expressed using various methods. The LSF was used to find the MTF of the turbulent medium. The MTF is utilized to analyze the effect that the turbulent medium has on resolution. Analytical work has also been done to compare experimental results with theory. >
Involvement of excitatory amino acid receptors and nitric oxide in the rostral ventromedial medulla in modulating secondary hyperalgesia produced by mustard oil

We have recently reported a model of secondary hyperalgesia in which facilitation of the thermal nociceptive tail-flick reflex following topical mustard oil is largely dependent on descending influences from the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). The current study was designed to examine a potential role for excitatory amino acid receptors and nitric oxide in the RVM in modulating this hyperalgesia. Topical application of mustard oil (100%) to the lateral surface of the hind leg of awake rats produced a short-lived (60 min) facilitation of the tail-flick reflex that was dose-dependently attenuated by microinjection of the selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist APV (1-100 fmol) into the RVM. Microinjection of a greater dose of APV (1000 fmol) into the RVM produced a significant inhibition of the tail-flick reflex in the presence, but not absence, of mustard oil. In contrast, microinjection of the non-NMDA receptor antagonist DNQX (10 nmol) into the RVM further enhanced the magnitude and duration of the hyperalgesic response, and produced a facilitation of the tail-flick reflex following injection into the RVM of naive animals. Similar to APV, microinjection of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (100-1000 nmol) into the RVM attenuated mustard oil hyperalgesia, while the greatest dose (1000 nmol) produced a significant inhibition of the tail-flick reflex in the presence, but not absence, of mustard oil. A role for nitric oxide synthase in the RVM in mustard oil hyperalgesia was further demonstrated by a significant increase in the number of NADPH-d labeled cells in the RVM at the time of maximal hyperalgesia. Involvement of NMDA receptors and nitric oxide in the RVM in descending nociceptive facilitation was supported by the observation that microinjection of either NMDA or the NO* donor GEA 5024 into the RVM of naive animals dose-dependently facilitated the tail-flick reflex. The hyperalgesia produced by NMDA injection into the RVM was blocked by prior intra-RVM injection of either APV or L-NAME. These results support the notion that secondary hyperalgesia produced by mustard oil involves concurrent activation of dominant descending facilitatory, as well as masked inhibitory systems from the RVM. Additionally, the data suggest that descending facilitation involves activation of NMDA receptors and production NO* in the RVM, whereas inhibition involves activation of non-NMDA receptors in the RVM.
1/spl times/N/sup 2/ wavelength-selective switches with high fill-factor two-axis analog micromirror arrays

A 1/spl times/N/sup 2/ wavelength-selective switch is demonstrated using a high fill-factor two-axis analog micromirror array and a monolithic 2D collimator array. A 1/spl times/2 (scalable to 1/spl times/14 ) WSS with 50-GHz channel spacing is experimentally demonstrated.
Recognition of primary sequence variations among sperm whale myoglobin components with successive proteolysis procedures.

SUMMARY The minor components of sperm whale myoglobin, Fractions IIIB, IIIA, and II, have been separated from the main component, Fraction IV, most conveniently on SP- or SESephadex. The fractions were analyzed for amino acid composition by standard methods and also by enzymatic digestion with a protease followed by carboxypeptidase C and aminopeptidase M. The three minor fractions differ in composition from each other and from the main fraction. The differences from the main fraction are least for Fraction IIIB and greatest for Fraction IIIA, following the terminology of Nakhleh ((1972) Ph.D. thesis, American University of Beirut). Analyses of peptide fragments from Fraction IIIB confirm the distinction from the main component (Fraction IV) based on over-all analysis. In addition to the long suspected differences in amide content these results reveal other compositional differences and establish the genetic multiplicity of the myoglobin in an individual sperm whale specimen. The observed variations are comparable in degree to those seen among the main components represented in distinct animal species.
Mass Loss Mechanisms for Cool, Low-Gravity Stars

In this paper we explore a number of physical effects relevant to mass loss from cool, low-gravity stars. It is our primary intention to provide a basis for understanding the various mechanisms proposed to explain such quasi-steady and non-steady mass loss. We begin by considering a few general implications of the requirements of mass, momentum, and energy balance and continue by examining in some detail four specific mass loss mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on the basic physical constraints imposed uniformly on all these mechanisms by inferences drawn from observations of a broad range of stars. We suggest that these physical constraints, rather than the techniques used to observe particular objects, should serve as the dominant factor in organizing our thinking about massive, low-speed, late-type stellar winds.
Human embryonic stem cells which express hrGFP in the undifferentiated state and during dopaminergic differentiation.

PURPOSE Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) which express a reporter gene consistently during all phases of differentiation would be valuable for basic research on cell transplantation. In this study, we describe karyotypically-abnormal variant hESCs, BGO1V2-EFG, which express hrGFP driven by the EF1 promoter. METHODS BGO1V2-EFG cells were analyzed by using immunocytochemistry, single cell-based confocal image, and in vitro differentiation, including dopaminergic differentiation. RESULTS Undifferentiated BGO1V2-EFG cells expressed pluripotent ESC markers and retained the ability to differentiate into cell types of all three germ layers. BGO1V2-EFG cells maintained stable and robust hrGFP expression in vitro in the undifferentiated state and during differentiation. The EF1 promoter retained activity during dopaminergic differentiation, as 76% of tyrosine hydroxlase (TH)-positive cells co-expressed hrGFP by confocal analysis. Treated with sodium butyrate (0.02 mM to 2.0 mM), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC), during differentiation did not affect hrGFP expression, although TH expression was reduced by higher concentrations of sodium butyrate. CONCLUSION BGO1V2-EFG cells maintain stable and robust hrGFP expression in the undifferentiated state and during neural differentiation. Especially, the EF1 promoter was effective in driving hrGFP expression during dopaminergic differentiation. BGO1V2-EFG cells may be useful for transplantation studies in Parkinson disease animal models.
Comparison of Thyroidal Iodide Accumulation and Thyroxine Secretion in Euthyroid Subjects

Fractional thyroidal and renal radioiodine clearance and renal 127I excretion were measured in 152 euthyroid subjects. Thyroidal 127I accumulation (A) was calculated from the basic formula of Stanbury et al. with short-term thyroidal and extrathyroidal radioiodine clearance measurements substituted for 48-hr thyroidal radioiodine uptake. Appropriate corrections were included for diurnal variations in renal radioiodine clearance, lag time in urine collections, and losses of iodine in uncollected urine and in sweat and stools. Thyroxine 131I degradation (H4) was measured by whole body counting techniques and compared with calculated thyroidal 127I accumulation in 29 subjects on a mean calculated daily iodine intake of 387 μg. Significant negative correlation of thyroidal radioiodine uptake and renal iodine excretion was observed (p < 0.001). The correlation and regression coefficients of these indices were, however, low (0.33 and 0.238). In addition, mean daily thyroidal 127I accumulation exceeded daily thy...
On base-cover metacompact products

Abstract Generalizing results of Yang Gao, Lei Mou and Shangzhi Wang, as well as a result of the author, we prove that a topological space is locally compact and metacompact if and only if its product with every compact space is base-cover metacompact.
Evaluating the Use of Digital Product Repositories to Enhance Product Dissection Activities in the Classroom

Product dissection has been used successfully in a variety of ways to actively engage students in their learning; however, using product dissection in the classroom does have drawbacks: products, tools, and their upkeep can be costly, workspace and storage space can be difficult to obtain, and even the best crafted dissection assignments can end in chaos. Recent cyberinfrastructure initiatives seek to create ubiquitous, comprehensive, interactive, and functionally complete digital environments for research communities that consist of people, data, information, tools, and instruments. With product dissection as our unifying theme, we are applying cyberinfrastructure tools and technologies to undergraduate engineering education and assessing the impact of these tools on student learning. Specifically, the project combines product dissection activities at three universities with two digital design repositories CAD modeling and animation, video, and MediaWiki technology to enable cyberinfrastructure-based product dissection activities. Lessons learned from these efforts are presented from the students' perspectives as well as that of the faculties in both engineering and computer science. The implications for implementing the developments on a national scale are discussed along with ongoing research.
Glycosylation of asparagine-28 of recombinant staphylokinase with high-mannose-type oligosaccharides results in a protein with highly attenuated plasminogen activator activity.

The properties of recombinant staphylokinase (SakSTAR) expressed in Pichia pastoris cells have been determined. The single consensus N-linked oligosaccharide linkage site in SakSTAR (at Asn28 of the mature protein) was occupied in approximately 50% of the expressed protein with high-mannose-type oligosaccharides. The majority of these glycans ranged in polymerization state from Man8GlcNAc2to Man14GlcNAc2, with the predominant species being Man10GlcNAc2 and Man11GlcNAc2. Glycosylated SakSTAR (SakSTARg) did not differ from its aglycosyl form in its aggregation state in solution, its thermal denaturation properties, its ability to form a complex with human plasmin (hPm), the amidolytic properties of the respective SakSTAR-hPm complexes, or its ability to liberate the amino-terminal decapeptide required for formation of a functional SakSTAR-hPm plasminogen activator complex. However, this latter complex with SakSTARg showed a greatly reduced ability to activate human plasminogen (hPg) as compared with the same complex with the aglycosyl form of SakSTAR. We conclude that glycosylation at Asn28 does not affect the structural properties of SakSTAR or its ability to participate in the formation of an active enzymatic complex with hPm, but it is detrimental to the ability of the SakSTAR-hPm complex to serve as a hPg activator. This is likely due to restricted access of hPg to the active site of the SakSTARg-hPm complex.
Scalable and Memory-Efficient Clustering of Large-Scale Social Networks

Clustering of social networks is an important task for their analysis, however, most existing algorithms do not scale to the massive size of today&#x00E2;s social networks. A popular class of graph clustering algorithms for large-scale networks, such as PMetis, KMetis and Graclus, is based on a multilevel framework. Generally, these multilevel algorithms work reasonably well on networks with a few million vertices. However, when the network size increases to the scale of 10 million vertices or greater, the performance of these algorithms rapidly degrades. Furthermore, an inherent property of social networks, the power law degree distribution, makes these algorithms infeasible to apply to large-scale social networks. In this paper, we propose a scalable and memory-efficient clustering algorithm for large-scale social networks. We name our algorithm GEM, by mixing two key concepts of the algorithm, Graph Extraction and weighted kernel k-Means. GEM efficiently extracts a good skeleton graph from the original graph, and propagates the clustering result of the extracted graph to the rest of the network. Experimental results show that GEM produces clusters of quality comparable to or better than existing state-of-the-art graph clustering algorithms, while it is much faster and consumes much less memory. Furthermore, the parallel implementation of GEM, called PGEM, not only produces higher quality of clusters but also achieves much better scalability than most current parallel graph clustering algorithms.
Characterization of the transactivation domain in the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator (PGC-1)

The PGC-1s (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activators) are a family of transcriptional regulators that induce the expression of various metabolic genes. PGC-1 proteins stimulate genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation and hepatic gluconeogenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that the PGC-1α and β isoforms interact with nuclear receptors through the conserved LXXLL (leucine-X-X-leucine-leucine) motifs. In the present study, we have investigated the mechanisms by which these PGC-1 isoforms stimulate gene expression. We have determined that the N-terminus of PGC-1 is responsible for transcriptional activation. Two conserved peptide motifs were identified in the N-terminus of PGC-1α and β isoforms. These domains were named AD1 and AD2 (activation domain 1 and 2). Deletion of both of these motifs decreased the induction of various PGC-1-regulated genes including the PEPCK (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) and CPT-I (carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I) genes. It was determined that amino acids containing a negative charge in AD1 and the leucine residues in AD2 were important for the transcriptional induction of the PEPCK and CPT-I genes. Disruption of the AD motifs did not diminish the ability of the PGC-1α protein to associate with the PEPCK or CPT-I genes. In addition, deletion of the AD domains did not eliminate the ability of PGC-1α to interact with the thyroid hormone receptor. The data indicate that the AD1 and AD2 motifs mediate the induction of many PGC-1- responsive genes, but they do not contribute to the recruitment of PGC-1 to target genes.
Phytoplankton Pigments from the Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner: Comparisons with Surface Measurements

The removal of atmospheric effects from Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) images reveals eddy-like ocean turbidity patterns not apparent in the original calibrated images. Comparisons of the phytoplankton pigment concentrations derived from the corrected CZCS radiances with surface measurements agree to within less than 0.5 log C, where C is the sum of the concentrations of chlorophyll a plus phaeopigments a (in milligrams per cubic meter).
A novelty seeking phenotype is related to chronic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity reflected by hair cortisol.

Reduced hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) activity is associated with greater novelty seeking in humans. Hair cortisol represents an integrated proxy measure of total cortisol production/release over an extended period of time and may be a valuable tool for tracking the HPA system. Sampling approaches (collection of blood, saliva, urine, or feces) for socially housed nonhuman primates present a number of technical challenges for collection particularly when repeated sampling is necessary. Herein we describe a relationship between cortisol levels measured in hair collected from 230 socially housed female vervet (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) monkeys and a free-choice novelty seeking phenotype. A predator-like object was placed at the periphery of the outdoor enclosures for 30 min and speed of approach (latency to approach within 1 m) and persistence of interest (number of 1 min intervals within 1 m) were scored. A composite Novelty Seeking score, combining these two measures, was calculated. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC = .68) for two different objects across years indicated that this score reflects a stable aspect of temperament. Hair samples were collected from each subject approximately 3–6 months following the second assessment; cortisol levels were determined from the hair. A significant inverse relationship of Novelty Seeking score with hair cortisol level (p < .01) was noted. The high hair cortisol groups had significantly lower Novelty Seeking scores than the low cortisol groups both years (p's < .05). These results suggest that low average cortisol levels promote novelty seeking, while high average levels inhibit novelty seeking behavior.
Effects of clausal structure and word frequency in sentence processing

A phoneme-monitoring task was employed to test the effects of clausal structure and lexical ambiguity on sentence processing. Results supported the hypothesis that the clause serves as a psychologically real unit of sentence processing, with the semantic interpretation of each clause being assigned at the clause boundary. The frequency of the ambiguous or control word preceding the critical item in the phoneme-monitoring task was also found to affect the results obtained, with higher frequency words leading to longer mean reaction times.
Short wavelength and polarized phase shifting fringe projection imaging of translucent objects

Measuring surface topography of translucent objects with phase shifting fringe projection method is a challenge because of the reduced fringe contrast due to the scattering inside the object. The internal structure also has an impact to the measurement. We present a new phase shifting fringe project imaging method to measure three-dimensional surface shapes of translucent objects. This method employs polarized short wavelength to increase the fringe contrast by reducing the internal scattered light from reaching the camera.
Effect of surface-active stabilizers on the microstructure and stability of coconut milk emulsions

Abstract The effect of homogenization and surface-active stabilizers (0–1 wt% sodium caseinate, whey protein isolate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate) on the microstructure and colloidal stability of coconut milk was determined using measurements of particle size and creaming, as well as microscopy. The freshly prepared coconut milk emulsions (1.8–2% protein, 17–18% fat) had large (d43∼10 μm) but non-flocculated droplets. Homogenization reduced the primary droplet size but induced flocculation. Adding small-molecule surfactants after the homogenization step can displace coconut proteins from the interface and break up these flocs, but adding them before homogenization increased the efficiency of the homogenization step and produced stable, submicron-sized emulsion droplets. Adding protein stabilizers did not break up the flocs of coconut milk droplets when added after homogenization, but did increase the efficacy of the homogenization step when added prior to it. Adding stabilizers to non-homogenized coconut milk had no effect on the structure or properties of the emulsions.
"Imaging the Addicted Human Brain: from Molecules to Behavior"

Addiction is a disorder that involves complex interactions between a wide array of biological and environmental variables. Studies employing neuroimaging technology paired with sophisticated behavioral measurement paradigms have led to extraordinary progress in elucidating many of the neurochemical and functional changes that occur in the brains of addicts. Although large and rapid increases in dopamine have been linked with the rewarding properties of drugs, the addicted state, in striking contrast, is marked by significant decreases in brain dopamine function. Such decreases are associated with dysfunction of prefrontal regions including orbitofrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus. In addiction, disturbances in salience attribution result in enhanced value given to drugs and drug-related stimuli at the expense of other reinforcers. Dysfunction in inhibitory control systems, by decreasing the addict's ability to refrain from seeking and consuming drugs, ultimately results in the compulsive drug intake that characterizes the disease. Discovery of such disruptions in the fine balance that normally exists between brain circuits underling reward, motivation, memory and cognitive control have important implications for designing multi-pronged therapies for treating addictive disorders.
Four new species of cicadas from Papua New Guinea (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae)

Abstract Four species of cicadas are described as new: Diceropyga duffelsi sp. nov. (Cicadinae, Dundubiini, Cosmopsaltriina), Lembeja gulfensis sp. nov. (Cicadettinae, Prasiini), Gymnotympana boeri sp. nov. and Gymnotympana leucogramma sp. nov. (Cicadettinae, Chlorocystini). The species are illustrated and distinguished from known species in their respective genera.
Explaining supply chain as an “opportunistic coalition”

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain competition between buyers and sellers within the same supply chain network. It suggests that supply chain can be best described as an opportunistic coalition between the powerful and ambitious ones.Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses the arguments and counter‐arguments on outsourcing and also supply chain management as presented in the academic literature. Then it analyses some of the prevailing practices in supply chain, and uses concepts of power, team and opportunistic alliance to suggest that supply chain could best be described as an opportunistic alliance.Findings – Buyers and suppliers are always engaged in power struggles, even though they may be cooperating to run the supply chain smoothly. The degree of one party's success in such a struggle is determined by the extent of the others' dependence on it. The dependence is reliant on one's control over the process of defining, designing and producing the goods and service...
Managing Artificially Drained Low-Gradient Agricultural Headwaters for Enhanced Ecosystem Functions

Large tracts of lowlands have been drained to expand extensive agriculture into areas that were historically categorized as wasteland. This expansion in agriculture necessarily coincided with changes in ecosystem structure, biodiversity, and nutrient cycling. These changes have impacted not only the landscapes in which they occurred, but also larger water bodies receiving runoff from drained land. New approaches must append current efforts toward land conservation and restoration, as the continuing impacts to receiving waters is an issue of major environmental concern. One of these approaches is agricultural drainage management. This article reviews how this approach differs from traditional conservation efforts, the specific practices of drainage management and the current state of knowledge on the ecology of drainage ditches. A bottom-up approach is utilized, examining the effects of stochastic hydrology and anthropogenic disturbance on primary production and diversity of primary producers, with special regard given to how management can affect establishment of macrophytes and how macrophytes in agricultural landscapes alter their environment in ways that can serve to mitigate non-point source pollution and promote biodiversity in receiving waters.
Effects of flow on meiofauna colonization in artificial streams and reference sites within the Illinois River, Arkansas

Despite frequent disturbances from flow, stream meiofauna form diverse and abundant assemblages suggesting that they are resistant and/or resilient to flow disturbances. Stream flow profoundly influences benthic invertebrate communities but these effects remain poorly understood. We examined the influence of flow on meiofauna colonization at small spatial scales (2–3 m) using artificial streams in conjunction with similar sites (flow, depth, substrates) in the reference stream (Illinois River, Arkansas). Colonization of meiofauna was found to be rapid and generally increased with flow rates examined (1–2, 6–7, and 11–12 cm s−1). Six of the 10 most abundant taxa successfully completed colonization in artificial channels (equaled or exceeded reference benthic densities) within 5 days. Benthic meiofauna were more abundant in fast flows in artificial channels and in fast and slow flows in reference stream sites. A diverse assemblage of meiofauna was collected from the plankton which was dominated by rotifers, copepods (mostly nauplii), dipterans, and cladocerans. Densities of drifting meiofauna (potential colonists of the benthos) were low (5 no. l−1) and similar among artificial channels and reference sites regardless of flow rates (F 1,18 = 2.19, p = 0.1407). Although densities were low, the numbers of drifting meiofauna were more than sufficient to colonize the benthos. Less than 0.65% of the drifting meiofauna were needed to colonize the substrates of artificial streams. The benthic assemblage paralleled that of the plankton, consisting mainly of rotifers, copepods (mainly nauplii), and dipterans. Evidence for active control over dispersal was observed as meiofauna densities varied between the plankton and benthos over the diel cycle (F 1,18 = 6.02, p = 0.0001 and F 1,18 = 9.88, p = 0.006, respectively). Rotifers, copepods, and nematodes were more abundant in the plankton during the day and in the substrates at night. These results suggest that meiofauna assemblages can change rapidly in response to alterations of habitat patches by disturbance.
Gravity waves and acoustic waves generated by submarine earthquakes

Abstract The time harmonic problem of the propagation of gravity waves and acoustic waves in the ocean by vertical oscillation of a block of ocean floor is treated analytically. It is found that the evanescent modes of gravity waves change into the propagating modes of acoustic waves at frequencies above the cut-off frequencies. Therefore, the common assumption of an incompressible ocean water invites serious errors in the pressures and the tsunami waves near the source. From the propagating acoustic wave spectra, it is shown that the size and the amplitude of the oscillating source can be determined far in advance of tsunami arrival.
The realist revival in political philosophy, or: Why new is not always improved

Realist political philosophy has enjoyed a remarkable revival in recent years, with prominent intellectual figures (for example, Raymond Geuss, Bernard Williams) promoting an identifiably ‘realist’ alternative to neo-Kantianism. Yet contemporary Realists either ignore or caricature mid-century (or classical) international realists (for example, E.H. Carr, Hans Morgenthau, Reinhold Niebuhr), whose theoretical contributions have also recently generated a substantial revival of interest among international political theorists. However, they have done so at a high cost: recent philosophical-minded realists unwittingly reproduce conceptual ambiguities plaguing mid-century international realist contributions to political ethics. Unlike its mid-century predecessor, realist political philosophy also fails to analyze political ‘realities’ in any but the most abstract fashion. Realist political philosophy still primarily constitutes an anti-Kantian gesture, but by no means a cogent theoretical alternative.
A New Method of Analysis of the Structure of H α and D α

The interferometer pattern due to a group of spectral lines can be expressed as a Fourier series, and the coefficients of this series can be regarded as the quantities to be measured. These coefficients can also be computed in terms of the positions, intensities, and the parameters describing the shapes of the lines. Although the equations cannot be explicitly solved for the latter quantities in terms of the Fourier coefficients, numerical means can be used to find the parameters which best reproduce the observed values. This method has been applied to two plates of ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ and ${\mathrm{D}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$. The results indicate that to fit the observations with the four strongest lines given by the theory it is necessary to make the separations of the two most intense components some 2 percent less than the theoretical value.
A generalized discontinuous Galerkin (GDG) method for Schrödinger equations with nonsmooth solutions

In this paper, we propose a new generalized discontinuous Galerkin (GDG) method for Schrodinger equations with nonsmooth solutions. The numerical method is based on a reformulation of Schrodinger equations, using split distributional variables and their related integration by parts formulae to account for solution jumps across material interfaces. The proposed GDG method can handle time dependent and nonlinear jump conditions [@f]=f(@f^-,@f^+). Numerical results for 1D and 2D time dependent Schrodinger equations validate the high order accuracy and the flexibility of the method for various types of interface conditions.