cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The remote application controller

Abstract Many modern design, visualization, and decision support systems involve interdisciplinary working groups. Common requirements to support the efforts of such groups include shared graphical displays and the ability for all involved to interact with the visualizations. Much effort has been expended on the visualization side; somewhat less has been reported on the interactive control side. In this paper, we describe the “remote application controller” (RAC), a Java application running on a personal device that can locate and establish communication with other applications running on the network. The RAC serves two related purposes in this context. When running on personal handheld devices, it allows a group of individuals sharing the same display space to also share control of the applications running in that space. When running either on such devices or on standalone workstations, it allows remote collaborators—in conjunction with another distributed tool we mention—to have separate input and output ports to a visualization application running at a remote location. This effort was initiated before the Jini toolkit from Sun was widely available. Jini provides support for some of the capabilities built into our prototype RAC, hence we are currently reworking those portions to exploit the Jini toolkit and other interactive control and configuration paradigms enabled by this newer technology. Finally, a nice side benefit has been that the RAC architecture provides one easy way to develop effective cross-platform GUIs for arbitrary non-Java-based visualization applications, including the ones originally developed to be run by a single user in a non-collaborative context.
Proper adjuvant selection for foramsulfuron activity

Abstract Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to evaluate the activity of foramsulfuron with various adjuvant combinations. Three annual weed species were evaluated in the greenhouse to determine 80% growth reduction (GR 80 values), and five annual weed species were evaluated under field conditions at a reduced dose of foramsulfuron (67%). In the greenhouse, Echinochloa crus-galli L. (barnyardgrass) was the most sensitive species to foramsulfuron, followed by Setaria faberi Herrm. (giant foxtail) and Abutilon theophrasti Medicus (velvetleaf). Adjuvant selection was important for control of these species. The addition of methylated seed oil (MSO) provided the greatest control of these species followed by non-ionic surfactant (NIS) and crop oil concentrate (COC). The addition of a nitrogen fertilizer had a greater effect on weed control for COC and NIS than for MSO with E. crus-galli and S. faberi . However, the addition of a nitrogen fertilizer, 28% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) or ammonium sulfate, to MSO significantly enhanced A. theophrasti control. In the field, foramsulfuron applied with MSO plus a nitrogen fertilizer provided the greatest level of weed control. Increases in the foramsulfuron dose applied with COC or NIS with a nitrogen fertilizer did not equal the level of weed control achieved with the field dose of foramsulfuron applied with MSO plus UAN.
Scattering features for target recognition using finite rate of innovation model

This paper uses a recently developed finite rate of innovation estimation model [1] to extract the scattering centers of a radar target. The extracted features are then used in a non-cooperative target identification scheme. The contribution lies in realizing that radar backscatter is not band-limited especially ultra-wideband radar backscatter with impulsive scattering models, and thus cannot be sampled using conventional sampling techniques that assume a band-limited signal.
Placing Personal Relationships Research in Context

The articles in this issue are published in the order in which they were submitted. In light of our editorial commitment to international and interdisciplinary scholarship (see Editor’s Preface, Personal Relationships, Volume 14, Issue 1), the members of my team and I are pleased to note that these eight articles and one brief report are authored by 19 scholars representing four disciplines (communication studies, psychiatry, marriage and family therapy, and psychology) and four countries (Israel, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States). One of the articles is the result of interdisciplinary collaboration (“The Initiator Style Questionnaire: A Scale to Assess Initiator Tendency in Couples,” by Wayne H. Denton, Psychiatry and Marriage and Family Therapy, and Brant R. Burleson, Communication Studies). This article reports on the findings from three samples, a community sample (married university employees, members of church groups, and residents of a retirement community), a clinical sample (married adults attending a general psychiatry clinic or a marriage and family therapy clinic), and a sample of adults who responded to advertisements inviting participation in a study of marital communication.
Expression and Characterization of Two Pathogenic Mutations in Human Electron Transfer Flavoprotein

Defects in electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) or its electron acceptor, electron transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-QO), cause the human inherited metabolic disease glutaric acidemia type II. In this disease, electron transfer from nine primary flavoprotein dehydrogenases to the main respiratory chain is impaired. Among these dehydrogenases are the four chain length-specific flavoprotein dehydrogenases of fatty acid beta-oxidation. In this investigation, two mutations in the alpha subunit that have been identified in patients were expressed in Escherichia coli. Of the two mutant alleles, alphaT266M and alphaG116R, the former is the most frequent mutation found in patients with ETF deficiency. The crystal structure of human ETF shows that alphaG116 lies in a hydrophobic pocket, under a contact residue of the alpha/beta subunit interface, and that the hydroxyl hydrogen of alphaT266 is hydrogen-bonded to N(5) of the FAD; the amide backbone hydrogen of alphaT266 is hydrogen-bonded to C(4)-O of the flavin prosthetic group (Roberts, D. L., Frerman, F. E. and Kim, J-J. P. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93, 14355-14360). Stable expression of the alphaG116R ETF required coexpression of the chaperonins, GroEL and GroES. alphaG116R ETF folds into a conformation different from the wild type, and is catalytically inactive in crude extracts. It is unstable and could not be extensively purified. The alphaT266M ETF was purified and characterized after stabilization to proteolysis in crude extracts. Although the global structure of this mutant protein is unchanged, its flavin environment is altered as indicated by absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy and the kinetics of flavin release from the oxidized and reduced protein. The loss of the hydrogen bond at N(5) of the flavin and the altered flavin binding increase the thermodynamic stability of the flavin semiquinone by 10-fold relative to the semiquinone of wild type ETF. The mutation has relatively little effect on the reductive half-reaction of ETF catalyzed by sarcosine and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenases which reduce the flavin to the semiquinone. However, kcat/Km of ETF-QO in a coupled acyl-CoA:ubiquinone reductase assay with oxidized alphaT266M ETF as substrate is reduced 33-fold; this decrease is due in largest part to a decrease in the rate of disproportionation of the alphaT266M ETF semiquinone catalyzed by ETF-QO.
Reflectivity of Common Materials in the Submillimeter Region

The appearance of an illuminated scene at submillimeter wavelengths is determined by surface reflectivity. Reflectivities of some man-made and natural materials have been measured. The results provide some insight for evaluating possible applications of submillimeter radiation.
Sharing innovative teaching experience in higher education on the web: an interdisciplinary study on a contextualized web 2.0 application for community building and teacher training

This paper presents a case study on a particular higher education environment project (INNOV), where teachers use Web 2.0 applications to create online professional communities through an empowering learning strategy. The study focuses on how teachers, with basic knowledge of Web 2.0 tools will experience community building processes, add professional value to their curriculum and participate in the development of the educational quality strategy of the institution. The project is based on "teaching experience" storytelling, a pedagogic approach used in the development of E-Portfolios for teacher training. INNOV provides teachers with a complete range of interactive tools to share their innovative teaching experiences. The formalized storytelling model allows the fast exploitation of knowledge through the production of various multimedia contents.The paper combines a purely pedagogic observation of technology learning processes through community building, response to innovation and acceptation of sharing strategies in a professional competitive environment. The study shows patterns in adoption, individual motivation and voluntary participation in content production. The interdisciplinary approach of Web Science was helpful for this study: the paper gives solutions for designing an educational web application for teacher training that takes into account the particular context of the institution and ensures that the focus is on theory of teaching rather than on technology (Wubbels, 2007).Following propositions made by Halford, Pope and Carr in their Manifesto for Web Science, the study will look critically at the way Web technologies and Web 2.0 business model are used to build communities in the higher education context, in avoiding to create exclusion, rejection or new forms of inequalities.
Household Life Cycles and Secondary Forest Cover Among Small Farm Colonists in the Amazon

Abstract This paper provides a household-level framework to understand the occurrence of secondary forests. We focus on the role of household life cycles as determinants of secondary vegetation on small farms in tropical Latin America. Following a review of socioeconomic research on secondary growth and a theoretical discussion of life cycle dynamics and land use, we pursue an empirical analysis of the determinants of fallows and abandoned plots among farm lots in Uruara, a colony in the Brazilian Amazon. The findings indicate strong effects of life cycle factors, and bear implications for policies aiming to foster agricultural production alongside forest conservation.
Consistently high sports/exercise activity is associated with better sleep quality, continuity and depth in midlife women: The swan sleep study

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between different physical activity (PA) domains and sleep, and the influence of consistent PA on sleep, in midlife women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: 339 women in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Sleep Study (52.1 ± 2.1 y). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Sleep was examined using questionnaires, diaries and in-home polysomnography (PSG). PA was assessed in three domains (Active Living, Household/Caregiving, Sports/Exercise) using the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey (KPAS) up to 4 times over 6 years preceding the sleep assessments. The association between recent PA and sleep was evaluated using KPAS scores immediately preceding the sleep assessments. The association between the historical PA pattern and sleep was examined by categorizing PA in each KPAS domain according to its pattern over the 6 years preceding sleep assessments (consistently low, inconsistent/consistently moderate, or consistently high). Greater recent Sports/Exercise activity was associated with better sleep quality (diary "restedness" [P Language: en
Myf5 expression during fetal myogenesis defines the developmental progenitors of adult satellite cells

Myf5 is a member of the muscle-specific determination genes and plays a critical role in skeletal muscle development. Whereas the expression of Myf5 during embryonic and fetal myogenesis has been extensively studied, its expression in progenitors that will ultimately give rise to adult satellite cells, the stem cells responsible for muscle repair, is still largely unexplored. To investigate this aspect, we have generated a mouse strain carrying a CreER coding sequence in the Myf5 locus. In this strain, Tamoxifen-inducible Cre activity parallels endogenous Myf5 expression. Combining Myf5(CreER) and Cre reporter alleles, we were able to evaluate the contribution of cells expressing Myf5 at distinct developmental stages to the pool of satellite cells in adult hindlimb muscles. Although it was possible to trace back the origin of some rare satellite cells to a subpopulation of Myf5(+ve) progenitors in the limb buds at the late embryonic stage (∼E12), a significant number of satellite cells arise from cells which expressed Myf5 for the first time at the fetal stage (∼E15). These studies provide direct evidence that adult satellite cells derive from progenitors that first express the myogenic determination gene Myf5 during fetal stages of myogenesis.
Energetics of the As vacancy in GaAs: The stability of the 3+ charge state

Total-energy calculations predict that the As vacancy in GaAs adopts a 3+ charge state under p-type conditions, and that the formation energy of ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathrm{As}}^{3+}$ is competitive with that of the gallium interstitial ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{\mathit{i}}^{3+}$. After a breathing-mode relaxation, which reduces the energy by more than 1.5 eV, the nearest-neighbor Ga atoms exhibit a nearly ${\mathrm{sp}}^{2}$ bonding configuration. On the basis of our results we propose that charged anion vacancies with ${\mathrm{sp}}^{2}$-bonded cation neighbors should be examined as possible mechanisms for the compensation of p-type doping in III-V and II-VI semiconductors, and as possible facilitators of acceptor diffusion and anion self-diffusion in these materials.
Abstract A104: Removal of uracil by uracil DNA glycosylase limits pemetrexed cytotoxicity: Overriding the limit with methoxyamine (TRC102) to inhibit base excision repair.

Uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) is a conserved DNA repair protein existing in all types of human cells. Since UDG specifically removes uracil bases from DNA, its repair activity determines cell sensitivity to anticancer agents that are capable of introducing uracil into DNA. We studied the participation of UDG in response to pemetrexed-induced incorporation of uracil into DNA using isogenic human tumor cell lines with or without UDG (UDG+/+/UDG−/−). Results revealed that UDG−/− cells were very sensitive to pemetrexed. Cell killing by pemetrexed was associated with genomic uracil accumulation, stalled DNA replication, and catastrophic DNA strand breaks. In contrast, UDG+/+ cells were >10 times more resistant to pemetrexed due to a rapid removal of uracil from DNA, generating abasic sites (AP sites). Resultant AP sites were efficiently repaired by base excision repair (BER) so that they contributed little to cell death. However, addition of the BER inhibitor methoxyamine (TRC102) synergistically enhanced the cytotoxicity of pemetrexed in UDG proficient cells. MX bound covalently to AP sites to form unrepairable MX-bound AP sites, thereby inhibiting the BER pathway. Importantly, we identified that MX-bound AP sites induced cell death by inactivating UDG and poisoning topoisomerase II. These two genes are highly expressed in lung cancer cells in comparison with normal bone marrow cells. Thus, targeting UDG/BER to enhance pemetrexed cytotoxic effects is a target-based strategy that selectively mediates cytotoxicity on cancer cells through a synthetic lethal mechanism. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A104.
On recursiveness and related topics in linear systems

A decomposition of matrix formal power series (linear systems) is developed. The interconnections between formal power series, realization (Pade approximation), recursiveness (Berlekamp-Massey algorithm), feedback interconnections, (matrix) linear fractional representations, (matrix) continued fractions and the (matrix) Euclidean algorithm are thereby revealed.
Factors Controlling Sulfide Geochemistry in Sub-tropical Estuarine and Bay Sediments

The primary factors that control the concentration of total reduced (inorganic) sulfide in coastal sediments are believed to be the availability of reactive iron, dissolved sulfate and metabolizable organic carbon. We selected nine sites in shallow (<3 m), close to sub-tropical, estuaries and bays along the central Texas coast that represented a range in sediment grain size (a proxy for reactive iron), salinity (a proxy for dissolved sulfate), and total organic carbon (a proxy for metabolizable organic carbon). Based on these parameters a prediction was made of which factor was likely to control total reduced sulfide at each site and what the relative total reduced sulfide concentration was likely to be. To test the prediction, the sediments were analyzed for total reduced sulfide, acid volatile sulfide, and citrate dithionate-extractable, HCl-extractable and total Fe in the solid phase. Using solid-state gold–mercury amalgam microelectrodes and voltammetry, we determined pore water depth profiles of Fe(II) and ΣH2S and presence or absence of FeS(aq). At five of the nine sites the calculated degree of sufildization of citrate dithionite-reactive-iron was close to or greater than 1 indicating that rapidly reactive iron was probably the limiting factor for iron sulfide mineral formation. At one site (salinity = 0.9) dissolved Fe(II) was high, ΣH2S was undetectable and the total reduced sulfide concentration was low indicating sulfate limitation. At the last three sites a low degree of sulfidization and modest total reduced (inorganic) sulfide concentrations appeared to be the result of a limited supply of metabolizable organic carbon. Fe(II)–S(-II) clusters (FeS(aq)) were undetectable in 10 out of 12 bay sediment profiles where ΣH2S was close to or below detection limits, but was observed in all other porewater profiles. Acid volatile sulfide, but not total reduced sulfide, was well correlated with total organic carbon and ranged from being undetectable in some cores to representing a major portion of total reduced sulfide in other cores. Although predicted controls on total reduced sulfide were good for very low salinity water or sandy sediments, they were only right about half the time for the other sediments. The likely reasons for the wrong predictions are the poor correlation of total organic carbon with grain size and differing fractions of metabolizable organic carbon in different sedimentary environments. Differences in sediment accumulation rates may also play a role, but these are difficult to determine in this region where hurricanes often resuspend and move sediments. This study demonstrates the need to examine more complex and often difficult to determine parameters in anoxic “normal marine” sediments if we are to understand what controls the concentration and distribution of sulfides.
N2+ bound quartet and sextet state potential energy curves

The N2(+) potential energies have been determined from a complete active space self-consistent field calculation with active 2s and 2p electrons. A (6s 4p 3d 1f) Gaussian basis set was used together with additional higher angular momentum and diffuse functions. The calculated potential energy curves for the states 4Sigma(mu)(+), 4Pi(g), and 6Sigma(g)(+), for which there are no spectroscopic observations, are presented. The corresponding spectroscopic constants have been determined from a polynomial curve fit to the computed energies near the well minima and are shown. The 6Sigma(g)(+) state is found to be significantly bound, with a minimum at 1.72 A.
A note on the evaluation of BoNTA trial quality

In their systematic review, Zhang et al. evaluate randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) in helping patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Scoring each trial according to the Jadad scale they note that the studies range from 1 to 5 with an average of 4.1, which they interpret as a testimony of the high quality of the studies included. Unfortunately, we cannot share the author's enthusiasm, as a perfect Jadad score of 5 is no guarantee that a study is of good quality.
Problems of Teaching the Indigent

(1979). Problems of Teaching the Indigent. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education: Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 22-26.
Validation of a Finite Element Model of Passive Force and Pressure in Skeletal Muscle

Intramuscular pressure (IMP) has been put forth as a surrogate measure for muscle force. As technological advancements have lead to the creation of smaller IMP microsensors, obtaining IMP readings in the clinic has come closer to becoming a minimally-invasive reality. However, appropriate use of data from these sensors relies upon an understanding of the mechanism of pressure changes within skeletal muscle. To that end, a constitutive model, representing muscle as a transversely isotropic, hyperelastic, and isovolumetric was created [1] for implementation in a finite element simulation. The purpose of this study was to validate this constitutive muscle model with passive elongation tests of skeletal muscle tissue from New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Reaction forces and hydrostatic pressures resulting from applied deformations were determined with the finite element modeling (FEM) approach and were compared with previously published experimental data [2].© 2009 ASME
Effects of ceftriaxone on the acquisition and maintenance of ethanol drinking in peri-adolescent and adult female alcohol-preferring (P) rats.

Abstract Increased glutamatergic neurotransmission appears to mediate the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse, including ethanol (EtOH). We recently reported that the administration of ceftriaxone (CEF), a β-lactam antibiotic known to upregulate glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1) levels/activity, decreased the maintenance of EtOH intake in adult male alcohol-preferring (P) rats. In the present study, we tested whether CEF administration would reduce the acquisition and maintenance of EtOH drinking in adolescent and adult female P rats. The rats were treated with saline or 200 mg/kg ceftriaxone for 7 days (starting at 35 or 75 days old, respectively) followed by the EtOH acquisition test. Five weeks later the effects of CEF were examined regarding the maintenance of EtOH intake. For the maintenance test, half of the animals that received CEF during acquisition received CEF for 7 days and the other half received saline for 7 days. Saline-treated acquisition animals were treated similarly. The results indicated that pretreatment with ceftriaxone reduced the maintenance of EtOH intake in both animals that started as adolescents and those that started as adults. However, the beneficial effect of CEF was more pronounced in rats pretreated with CEF as adults compared with rats pretreated as adolescents. Reductions in EtOH intake by ceftriaxone were paralleled by an upregulation of GLT1 protein levels in both the nucleus accumbens (∼25% in rats starting at both ages) and prefrontal cortex (∼50% in rats starting as peri-adolescents and ∼65% in those starting as adults). These findings provide further support for GLT1-associated mechanisms in high alcohol-consuming behavior, and hold promise for the development of effective treatments targeting alcohol abuse and dependence.
Electron binding motifs of (H2O)n- clusters.

It is has been established that the excess electrons in small (i.e., n ≤ 7) (H2O)n- clusters are bound in the dipole field of the neutral cluster and, thus, exist as surface states. However, the motifs for the binding of an excess electron to larger water clusters remain the subject of considerable debate. The prevailing view is that electrostatic interactions with the “free” OH bonds of the cluster dominate the binding of the excess electron in both small and large clusters. In the present study, a quantum Drude model is used to study selected (H2O)n- clusters in the n = 12−24 size range with the goal of elucidating different possible binding motifs. In addition to the known surface and cavity states, we identify a new binding motif, where the excess electron permeates the hydrogen-bonding network. It is found that electrostatic interactions dominate the binding of the excess electron only for isomers with large dipole moments, whereas in isomers without large dipole moments polarization and correlation ...
Influence of worksite environmental tobacco smoke on serum lipoprotein profiles of female nonsmokers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the workplace on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL-C subfractions, and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and apo B in female workers. Premenopausal women free from factors known to influence HDL-C (cigarette smoking, vigorous physical exercise, etc) who were not taking oral contraceptives, were moderate consumers of alcohol, caffeine, and dietary fat, and were between the ages of 21 and 50 years participated in one of two groups: (1) nonsmokers who had never smoked cigarettes and were generally free from ETS exposure (nonsmokers), and (2) nonsmokers who had never smoked but were subjected to concentrated doses of ETS at least 6 hours per day, 4 days per week, for at least the past 6 consecutive months (ETS-exposed). A third group consisting of current cigarette smokers who smoked a minimum of 20 cigarettes per day for at least the past 5 consecutive years served as smoking controls (smokers). Subjects were matched by group as closely as possible with regard to criteria that can influence blood lipoprotein levels. Participants were solicited from taverns and restaurants where they were employed. It was hypothesized that individuals chronically exposed to ETS would demonstrate unfavorable lipoprotein profiles. Results showed that HDL-C, HDL2, and apo A-I were significantly (P
Sputtered carbon on particulate media

The application of a thin, amorphous, carbon film to the surface of particulate magnetic media has been demonstrated as an alternative to liquid lubrication, eliminating the problems such as stiction, lube retention, and loss associated with traditional liquid lubricants. It also eliminates the necessity of nonmagnetic, load-bearing, alumina particles. The carbon has been deposited onto disks by DC magnetron sputtering from a graphite target. Extensive functional tests, including start/stop, stiction, accelerated wear, and pin-on-disk, have shown that carbon overcoat performs well on various types of particulate media and under a wide range of environmental conditions. The surface topography and chemistry of the particulate media uniquely enhance the tribological behavior of sputtered carbon on its surface, unlike ultrasmooth, thin-film magnetic media with carbon overcoat, which have been shown to be very sensitive to environmental conditions. >
Towards a pareto-optimal solution in general-sum games

Multiagent learning literature has investigated iterated two-player games to develop mechanisms that allow agents to learn to converge on Nash Equilibrium strategy profiles. Such equilibrium configuration implies that there is no motivation for one player to change its strategy if the other does not. Often, in general sum games, a higher payoff can be obtained by both players if one chooses not to respond optimally to the other player. By developing mutual trust, agents can avoid iterated best responses that will lead to a lesser payoff Nash Equilibrium. In this paper we work with agents who select actions based on expected utility calculations that incorporates the observed frequencies of the actions of the opponent(s). We augment this stochastically-greedy agents with an interesting action revelation strategy that involves strategic revealing of one's action to avoid worst-case, pessimistic moves. We argue that in certain situations, such apparently risky revealing can indeed produce better payoff than a non-revealing approach. In particular, it is possible to obtain Pareto-optimal solutions that dominate Nash Equilibrium. We present results over a large number of randomly generated payoff matrices of varying sizes and compare the payoffs of strategically revealing learners to payoffs at Nash equilibrium.
Calibrating Water Depths of Ordovician Communities: Lithological and Ecological Controls on Depositional Gradients in Upper Ordovician Strata of Southern Ohio and North-Central Kentucky, USA

Limestone and shale facies of the Upper Ordovician Grant Lake Formation (Katian: Cincinnatian, Maysvillian) are well exposed in the Cincinnati Arch region of southern Ohio and north-central Kentucky, USA. These rocks record a gradual change in lithofacies and biofacies along a gently northward-sloping ramp. This gradient spans very shallow, olive-gray, platy, laminated dolostones with sparse ostracodes in the south to offshore, nodular, phosphatic, brachiopod-rich limestones and marls in the north. This study uses facies analysis in outcrop to determine paleoenvironmental parameters, particularly those related to water depth (e.g., position of the photic zone and shoreline, relative degree of environmental energy). Within a tightly correlated stratigraphic interval (the Mount Auburn and Straight Creek members of the Grant Lake Formation and the Terrill Member of the Ashlock Formation), we document the occurrence of paleoenvironmental indicators, including desiccation cracks and light-depth indicators, such as red and green algal fossils and oncolites. This permitted recognition of a ramp with an average gradient of 10-20 cm water depth per horizontal kilometer. Thus, shallow subtidal ("lagoonal") deposits in the upramp portion fall within the 1.5-6 m depth range, cross-bedded grainstones representing shoal-type environments fall within the 6-18 m depth range and subtidal, shell-rich deposits in the downramp portion fall within the 20-30 m depth range. These estimates match interpretations of depth independently derived from faunal and sedimentologic evidence that previously suggested a gentle ramp gradient and contribute to ongoing and future high-resolution paleontologic and stratigraphic studies of the Cincinnati Arch region.
Structure and properties development in poly(phenylene sulfide) fibers. II. Effect of one-zone draw annealing

In this article, we discuss the role of one-zone drawing followed by annealing in enhancing the structure and properties of fibers manufactured from Fortron® linear poly(phenylene sulfide) resins. The interaction effects of the polymer molecular weight (MW), melt-spinning process parameters, and draw-annealing process conditions were also elucidated. Several tools used to probe the investigation were tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light optical microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering, and small-angle X-ray scattering. This study showed that the optimum drawing temperature was around 95°C. A considerable improvement in the fiber tensile properties was observed upon drawing and annealing under optimum processing conditions. Fibers with tenacities close to 5 g/den were obtained. The development of the tensile properties was statistically correlated with the morphological changes in the fibers. The routes to achieving fibers with optimum tensile properties were shown to be different for resins with different MWs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthetic Aperture Radar

The general theory of side-looking synthetic aperture radar systems is developed. A simple circuit-theory model is developed; the geometry of the system determines the nature of the prefilter and the receiver (or processor) is the postfilter. The complex distributed reflectivity density appears as the input, and receiver noise is first considered as the interference which limits performance. Analysis and optimization are carried out for three performance criteria (resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and least squares estimation of the target field). The optimum synthetic aperture length is derived in terms of the noise level and average transmitted power. Range-Doppler ambiguity limitations and optical processing are discussed briefly. The synthetic aperture concept for rotating target fields is described. It is observed that, for a physical aperture, a side-looking radar, and a rotating target field, the azimuth resolution is ?/? where ? is the change in aspect angle over which the target field is viewed, The effects of phase errors on azimuth resolution are derived in terms of the power density spectrum of the derivative of the phase errors and the performance in the absence of phase errors.
Automated Agent Synthesis for Situation Awareness in Service-Based Systems

Service-based systems have many applications, such as collaborative research and development, e-business, health care, environmental control, military applications, and homeland security. In dynamic service-oriented computing environment, situation awareness (SAW) is needed for system monitoring, adaptive service coordination and flexible security policy enforcement. Furthermore, various application software systems in such environments often need to reuse situational information for providing better quality of service. Hence, to greatly reduce the development effort of situation-aware application software in service-based systems as well as supporting runtime system adaptation, it is necessary to automate the development of reusable and autonomous software components, called SAW agents, for context acquisition, situation analysis and reactive behavior of the systems. In this paper, an automated agent synthesis approach for SAW in service-based systems is presented. This approach is based on AS^3 calculus and logic, and our declarative model for SAW.
Expression and hormonal regulation of rat ovarian interleukin-1β converting enzyme, a putative apoptotic marker: endocrine- and paracrine-dependence

Abstract It is the purpose of this paper to assess the expression, cellular localization, and hormonal regulation of rat ovarian interleukin (IL)-1β converting enzyme (ICE), a putative apoptotic marker. In agreement with previous observations ICE transcripts were noted in relatively increased abundance in the thymus, lung, spleen and small intestine. Although ICE transcripts were barely expressed in the untreated, immature rat ovary, they were apparent throughout a simulated estrous cycle. The in vivo expression of ovarian ICE rose gradually from 6 h after ovulation triggering to a peak (1.74-fold increase versus control, P P P P P
Mapping the genome of Miscanthus sinensis for QTL associated with biomass productivity

In light of rising energy costs, lignocellulosic ethanol has been identified as a renewable alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuels. In an attempt to reach government mandated ethanol production levels, potential plant biofeedstock candidates have been investigated, and cold-tolerant, perennial accessions within the C4 grass genus Miscanthus have been identified as leading contenders in the Midwestern US. To facilitate the development of improved cultivars through marker-assisted breeding, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) study was conducted on a full-sib, F1 mapping population segregating for flowering time, height, leaf width, and yield using a genetic map consisting of 846 segregating SNP and SSR markers. This was a 3 year study investigating the genetic architecture underlying traits important to biomass production in a population of 221 progeny from a cross between M. sinensis ‘Grosse Fountaine’ and M. sinensis ‘Undine’ established in the spring of 2010; 72 QTLs with LOD scores above the genome-wide, permuted threshold equivalent to a P-value of 0.05 were identified across 13 traits. Of the 36 QTLs identified in 2011, 22 were detected again the following year. Both the use of spring emergence and vigor rating as a covariate to account for variation related to differences in establishment increased the power to detect QTLs in the 2 year establishment period. Finally, a dry period in the middle of the 2012 growing season suggested that yield declines were due to a decrease in tiller diameter.
Dynamic stiffness formulation for structural elements: A general approach

Abstract A general theory to develop the dynamic stiffness matrix of a structural element is outlined. Substantial saving in computer time can be achieved if explicit analytical expressions for the elements of the dynamic stiffness matrix are used instead of numerical methods. Such expressions can be derived with the help of symbolic computation. The application of the dynamic stiffness matrix to calculate the natural frequencies of a structure is discussed with particular reference to the Wittrick-Williams algorithm. The method presented is fairly general.
Cannabinoid-dependent potentiation of inhibition at eye opening in mouse V1

Cannabinoid (CB) signaling is a well established regulator of synaptic transmission. Recent work demonstrated that CB release is necessary for the induction of inhibitory synaptic plasticity. In primary visual cortex (V1) CB receptors are present throughout life, though their level of expression is developmentally regulated. In the input layer of V1 (layer 4, L4) these receptors show low levels of expression and colocalize with GABAergic terminals suggesting that they may play an important role in regulating GABAergic transmission. Here we show that in the developmental window extending from eye opening to the onset of the critical period for visual cortical plasticity L4 inhibitory inputs onto pyramidal neurons are highly sensitive to activation of CB release. More specifically, application of synthetic and endogenous CB receptors agonists led to a significant increase in the amplitude and frequency of both spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents and miniature inhibitory post-synaptic currents. This form of inhibitory potentiation is activity-dependent, induced by repetitive bursting of pyramidal neurons and regulated by the time of eye opening. CB-dependent regulation of inhibitory drive may be a mechanism for the regulating L4 pyramidal neurons excitability and function at a time in which V1 transitions from being activated by spontaneous activity to being driven by visual inputs.
Experimental study of the tearing instability theory

Abstract The tearing modulus theory and three point bend (TPB) specimens were used to study the behavior of stable-unstable crack growth in ductile fracture. A formula for calculating the applied tearing modulus ( T app ) of TPB specimens was derived. The effects of material hardening and load system compliance were considered. A highly adjustable multi-layer fixture was used in the experimental study. The process that crack growth became unstable from slow stable state was seen with increasing load system compliance. Thus the effectiveness of the tearing modulus theory proposed by Paris et al. was verified through the test results.
Nitric oxide reductase (norB) genes from pure cultures and environmental samples

A PCR-based approach was developed to recover nitric oxide (NO) reductase (norB) genes as a functional marker gene for denitrifying bacteria. norB database sequences grouped in two very distinct branches. One encodes the quinol-oxidizing single-subunit class (qNorB), while the other class is a cytochrome bc-type complex (cNorB). The latter oxidizes cytochrome c, and the gene is localized adjacent to norC. While both norB types occur in denitrifying strains, the qnorB type was also found in a variety of nondenitrifying strains, suggesting a function in detoxifying NO. Branch-specific degenerate primer sets detected the two norB types in our denitrifier cultures. Specificity was confirmed by sequence analysis of the norB amplicons and failure to amplify norB from nondenitrifying strains. These primer sets also specifically amplified norB from freshwater and marine sediments. Pairwise comparison of amplified norB sequences indicated minimum levels of amino acid identity of 43.9% for qnorB and 38% for cnorB. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the existence of two classes of norB genes, which clustered according to the respective primer set. Within the qnorB cluster, the majority of genes from isolates and a few environmental clones formed a separate subcluster. Most environmental qnorB clones originating from both habitats clustered into two distinct subclusters of novel sequences from presumably as yet uncultivated organisms. cnorB clones were located on separate branches within subclusters of genes from known organisms, suggesting an origin from similar organisms.
Climate Change Attitudes of Zoo and Aquarium Visitors: Implications for Climate Literacy Education

Climate literacy education can occur in a variety of formal and informal learning settings across an individual’s life span. There is increasing recognition that informal learning settings such as zoos and aquariums have an opportunity to greatly contribute to individuals’ science learning. Here we present the results of a large-scale survey study of U.S. zoo and aquarium visitors (N = 3,594) designed to gain information about this audience that could guide the development of relevant climate literacy resources. The questionnaire included items from the ‘‘Global Warming’s Six Americas’’ validated segmentation procedure to allow comparisons of the climate change attitudes of zoo and aquarium visitors with the published results representing the American public. It also included items that further explored the environmentally relevant characteristics of audiences who visit zoos and aquariums. Guided by a conservation psychology theoretical framework, these items addressed visitors’ environmental behavior predispositions, affective connections to wildlife and nature, concern for animals, and social experiences at the zoo or aquarium. Furthermore, visitors rated their interest in learning more about global warming and their trust in zoos as sources of global warming information. Analyses compared the mean ratings across ‘‘Six Americas’’ segments on these items. Results indicate that as compared to the general public, a greater proportion of zoo and aquarium visitors fall within the ‘‘alarmed’’ and ‘‘concerned’’ segments of the ‘‘Six Americas’’ continuum, and a smaller proportion falls within the ‘‘cautious,’’ ‘‘disengaged,’’ ‘‘doubtful,’’ and ‘‘dismissive’’ segments. Additionally, mean ratings for all behavior, affective, concern, experience, interest, and trust items significantly differ across Six Americas segments. These findings offer audience profile information complementary to that provided by the Six Americas research team and that may be used to guide climate literacy resource development. 2014 National Association of Geoscience Teachers. [DOI: 10.5408/13-078.1]
Sulfolobus Mutants, Generated via PCR Products, Which LackPutative Enzymes of UV Photoproduct Repair

In order to determine the biological relevance of two S. acidocaldarius proteins to the repair of UV photoproducts, the corresponding genes (Saci_1227 and Saci_1096) were disrupted, and the phenotypes of the resulting mutants were examined by various genetic assays. The disruption used integration by homologous recombination of a functional but heterologous pyrE gene, promoted by short sequences attached to both ends via PCR. The phenotypic analyses of the disruptants confirmed that ORF Saci_1227 encodes a DNA photolyase which functions in vivo, but they could not implicate ORF Saci_1096 in repair of UV- or other externally induced DNA damage despite its similarity to genes encoding UV damage endonucleases. The success of the gene-disruption strategy, which used 5′ extensions of PCR primers to target cassette integration, suggests potential advantages for routine construction of Sulfolobus strains.
Topographically Divergent and Convergent Connectivity between Premotor and Primary Motor Cortex

This study was undertaken to determine the topographic organization of connections between the forelimb representations of the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and the primary motor cortex (M1). Intracortical microstimulation techniques were used in three experimentally naive squirrel monkeys to delineate the M1 and PMv forelimb representations in the hemisphere contralateral to the dominant hand. Small amounts of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) were then injected in the PMv distal forelimb representation. Following tangential sectioning, the location of the injection core in PMv and BDA-labeled cell bodies and synaptic boutons in M1 were documented in relation to functional topography. Whereas the injection core was mainly located within the distal forelimb representation in PMv, BDA-labeled cell bodies and terminals were distributed over comparable proportions of proximal and distal forelimb representations in M1. These results suggest that neuronal populations within PMv send topographically divergent outputs to M1 and receive topographically convergent inputs from M1. Finally, we found that PMv projections to M1 were not evenly distributed but rather were directed consistently to three domains within the rostro-lateral portion of M1. To our knowledge, this is the first descriptionof such aconsistent clustering ofPMvterminals within M1.
Shear-lens photography for holographic stereograms

There are several methods for recording two-dimensional perspective views for a holographic stereogram. Most of these use photographic transparencies recorded with a conventional camera. The subject often is a real object or a graphic image produced by a computer. In both cases the more accurately the recording geometry matches the holographic projection geometry the more realistic the stereogram image will appear. This paper compares several recording techniques. Special emphasis is given to the 'shear lens' technique which uses a moveable camera lens designed to maximize resolution and angle of view. An example is described in detail.
Load-Independent Friction: MoO3 Nanocrystal Lubricants

The behavior of the model lubricant system molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been characterized as a function of thermal oxidation on the atomic to nanometer scales with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). STM studies of single-crystal MoS2 surfaces showed that the initial stages of thermal oxidation produce atomic-scale pits and then molybdenum oxide (MoO3) nanocrystals 1−5 nm in diameter. The densities of pits and MoO3 nanocrystals and the size of MoO3 nanocrystals increased with increasing oxidation time. UHV AFM friction measurements made on these same samples exhibited a direct relationship between defect density and friction for short oxidation times. After longer oxidation times when well-defined MoO3 nanocrystals were present, load-independent friction was observed. A model, which involves adhesion of MoO3 nanocrystals to the AFM probe tip end, has been developed to explain this first observation of load-independent friction. The implicati...