cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast PokeEMU: Scaling Generated Instruction Tests Using Aggregation and State Chaining

Software that emulates a CPU has many applications, but is difficult to implement correctly and requires extensive testing. Since a large number of test cases are required for full coverage, it is important that the tests execute efficiently. We explore techniques for combining many instruction tests into one program to amortize overheads such as booting an emulator. To ensure the results of each test are reflected in a final result, we use the outputs of one instruction test as an input to the next, and adopt the "Feistel network" construction from cryptography so that each step is invertible. We evaluate this approach by applying it to PokeEMU, a tool that generates emulator tests using symbolic execution. The combined tests run much faster, but still reveal most of the same behavior differences as when run individually.
The Philanthropic Avatar: An Analysis of Fundraising in Virtual Worlds Through the Lens of Social Capital

Unprecedented access to global philanthropic audiences via social media demands creative strategies to identify and motivate donors. One social medium not typically considered in the popular mix is...
Topics in Numerical Analysis

Let the boundary Г be a polygonal line (Fig. 4.1) composed of V straight line segments and vertices. Define nodal points with complex coordinates zj, j=1,...,m on Г such that m>V. Nodal points are located at each vertex of Г and are numbered in a counter-clockwise direction.
Transmission Electron Microscope Study of Illite/Smectite, at GCO/DOE 1 Pleasant Bayou Geopressured Geothermal Test Well, Brazoria County, Texas: ABSTRACT

Six shale samples, two from core and four from hand-picked cuttings, were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques to study the effects of burial metamorphism on mixed-phase illite/smectite (I/S). TEM lattice fringe images from shallower samples show mixed-phase End_Page 1211------------------------------ I/S layers in subparallel orientations relative to each other, commonly with branching and interfingering relationships. Electron diffraction patterns of these shallower samples show very diffuse basal reflections, prominent turbostratic structure, pronounced streaking along z*, and multiple z* orientations in the same diffraction pattern. All of these features indicate a poorly defined interstratification of the mixed-phase I/S: the diffuse basal reflections are probably due to the presence of only a few layers in a diffraction position; the turbostratic structure is due to misalignment of individual layers relative to each other; the z* streaking is due to stacking disorders of the layers in a direction perpendicular to the layers; and the multiple z SUP>* orientations are due to rotational disorder of the layers about an axis parallel with the layers. TEM lattice fringe images from deeper samples show mixed-phase I/S layers arranged in a more parallel fashion, with less branching and interfingering. Electron diffraction patterns for these deeper samples show well-defined basal reflections, and both turbostratic structure and z* streaking are less pronounced. These relationships indicate a more regular interstratification for deeper layers: more layers are in diffraction position, the misalignment of individual layers is less evident, and the stacking disorder perpendicular to the layers is less pronounced. X-ray powder diffractograms have been interpreted to indicate ordering of illite and smectite layers within the mixed-phase I/S. This order is first observed below the "soft" geopressure boundary (0.465 psi/ft) and is prominent below the "hard" geopressure boundary (0.7 psi/ft). However, neither the TEM lattice fringe images nor the electron diffraction patterns show ordering of illite and smectite layers within mixed-phase I/S. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1212------------
Bin-Picking Techniques

Handling parts supplied in bins is an important, generic problem in automated manufacturing. In many factories, containers or bins are commonly used to provide buffer storage for parts as well as to transport parts between machines. Bin supplied parts usually fit into one of three major classes: well-organized, partially organized, and randomly organized (Rosen 1978). Conventional automation requires parts to be well-organized.
Characterization of the putative catalytic domain of two xyloglucan xylosyltransferases (XXTs) involved in the biosynthesis of xyloglucan in Arabidopsis thaliana

Xyloglucan is the primary hemicellulosic component of the primary cell wall in dicotyledonous plants. It is characterized by a β(1-4)-D-glucan backbone that is substituted in a regular pattern with α(1-6)-D-xylose, and can be substituted further with β(1-2)-D-galactose or β(1-2)-D-galactose-α(1-2)-L-fucose disaccharide. Three xyloglucan xylosyltransferases (XXTs), XXT1, XXT2, and XXT5, are responsible for the D-xylosylation of the β(1-4)-D-glucan backbone in Arabidopsis thaliana. They are Golgi-localized type II transmembrane proteins that have putative DXD catalytic centers. All have been shown to interact in a protein complex, XXT2 and XXT5 showing the strongest interaction, and XXT1 and XXT2 have demonstrated αD-xylosyltransferase (XT) activity in vitro. The catalytic mechanism of XXT2 and XXT1, as well as the biological function of XXT5, are still unknown. To study the functional role of DXD motifs, DXD to AXA point mutants were made in two DXD motifs (DWD and DSD) of XXT2 and XXT5. N-terminal truncated versions of these proteins were expressed in E. coli to study in vitro catalytic activity and full-length proteins were stably transformed to xxt knock-out A. thaliana to study their roles in vivo. Results demonstrate that both DWD and DSD motifs are required for XXT2 catalytic activity in vitro. Additionally, it was shown that tXXT2-His could be isolated to >90% purity using both native and hybrid conditions and exhibit XT activity. XXT5mut(1, 2, 12):xxt5 complemented transgenic A. thaliana plants were generated, genotyped, phenotyped, analyzed for protein expression, and analyzed for XyG content in their cell walls. The results show that XXT5 with mutations in the DWD motif can complement the xxt5 phenotype while XXT5 with mutations in the DSD motif only partially complement,
Neuro-ophthalmic complications of IgG4-related disease.

Purpose of review IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is increasingly recognized as a fibroinflammatory disease with a plethora of organ-specific manifestations but a particular predilection for head and neck tissues, including the nervous system. This review discusses general features and organ-specific presentations of IgG4-RD as well as treatment considerations, particularly emphasizing features of neuro-ophthalmic interest. Recent findings IgG4-RD is emerging as a common cause of several fibroinflammatory disorders in the head and neck that were previously considered idiopathic, such as sclerosing orbital pseudotumor, orbital myositis, hypophysitis, and hypertrophic pachymeningitis. New and unusual presentations continue to be described, including a number of vascular manifestations. Substantial progress has been made in elucidating the cell types involved in IgG4-RD, and new pathogenic models are being proposed. Although clinicopathologic correlation remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, ancillary tests such as flow cytometry for circulating plasmablasts and PET-computed tomography have high sensitivity, and certain radiologic features are recognized to be particularly suggestive, such as infraorbital nerve enlargement in IgG4-RD orbitopathy. IgG4-RD often responds to steroids but incomplete responses and relapses are common. Rituximab is emerging as a promising new therapy. Summary The current review summarizes manifestations of IgG4RD that are of particular relevance to neuro-ophthalmic practice.
Papilloedema from Dural Venous Sinus Compression by Meningiomas

Intracranial mass lesions may cause intracranial hypertension secondary to venous hypertension when they compress the dural venous sinuses (DVS) and may present with isolated papilloedema, mimicking idiopathic intracranial hypertension. We report a series of 16 patients with isolated papilloedema related to meningiomas compressing the DVS seen from 2012 to 2016 at three institutions. Correct diagnosis was delayed in 10/16 patients and treatment required a multidisciplinary approach, often with multiple sequential interventions, including combinations of acetazolamide, cerebrospinal fluid-shunt, optic nerve sheath fenestration, surgical resection of the meningioma, radiation therapy, and endovascular venous stenting. Two patients also received anticoagulation for venous thrombosis secondary to venous sinus compression.
Influence of tryptophan and related compounds upon the action of a specific gene and the induction of melanotic tumours inDrosophila Melanogaster: With two text-figures

1. L-tryptophan mixed dry with brewers’ yeast, or dissolved in a yeast-agar medium, when fed to larvae of theSu-er bw; st er strain, caused an increase in the incidence of tumours from 4 to over 60%, and in the frequency of erupt eyes from. 9 to over 35%. When embryos were first exposed to pure oxygen, and the same individuals as larvae were subsequently fed tryptophan, the tumour incidence was increased to over 80 % and the erupt eye effect to 50%. Hence, the oxygen treatment must have a long-lasting effect that interacts synergistically with the tryptophan effect. 2. Larvae of this strain have been examined for tumours, and adults for erupt eyes, after the individuals were fed on media containing supplementary tyrosine, phenylalnine anthranilic acid, alanine, indole, serine, or indole plus serine. None of these substances equalled tryptophan in regard to either effect. With respect to melanotic tumours, serine was without effect; phenylalanine produced a slight increase; alanine, about 17%; and tyrosine, or indole plus serine, produced an increase to about 25%. The results with anthranilic acid, and those with indole, were variable in replicated experiments, but both compounds produced a significant increase in the incidence of tumours. In respect to erupt eyes, phenylalanine, or indole plus serine, was without effect. Anthranilic acid or indole produced a slight increase in erupt eyes. Serine, alanine and tyrosine each produced an increase to about 20%. 3. Both indole and serine, when fed alone, proved very toxic. When fed together, this toxicity is seemingly nullified; combination had no effect on the frequency of erupt eyes, and an intermediate effect on the frequency of melanotic tumours. It was shown that the reduction of toxicity and of the respective effects of indole and serine upon the suppression of melanotic tumours and erupt eyes was not due to the coupling of indole and serine by bacterial action. 4. The results obtained with tryptophan, when compared with those obtained with X-rays, oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, suggest the operation of a similar mechanism in these cases, possibly centred on the peroxidative conversion of tryptophan to formylkynurenine.
Fields of Force: Murdoch on Axioms, Duties, and Eros (MGM Chapter 17)

Iris Murdoch’s interpreters have often tried to read her as putting forward an alternative form of ethical foundationalism. On this reading, Murdoch is taken to be proposing ‘loving attention’ or ‘the Good’ as a fundamental moral principle that would play the same unifying role as the principle of utility or the categorical imperative. Here, I argue that a careful reading of chapter 17 of Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals shows that the foundationalist reading is untenable. Murdoch, I suggest, is better understood as a methodological descriptivist. She is not simply offering us an alternative moral theory, but a radically different approach to the business of moral philosophy itself.
The cycloaddition way to novel deoxy disaccharide analogs

A novel heterocycloaddition merges 2-thiono-3-ketolactones with carbohydrate glycals to afford materials which resemble disaccharides with an O-glycosidic linkage at the anomeric center and a thioether linking both C-2 and C-2′, thus creating a third heterocyclic ring. Upon desulfurization, these novel cycloadducts afford materials which are models for 2-deoxydisaccharides. Studies with two keto lactones and seven glycals are described.
An Overview of Light Olefins Production via Steam Enhanced Catalytic Cracking

Steam thermal cracking is an established technology for the production of light olefins, such as ethylene and propylene. The shift to lighter, ethane-based feeds means that propylene production from steam crackers will be lower than the corresponding ethylene production. Therefore, alternative technologies have to be developed to produce more propylene to make up for the shortfall from steam cracking. This review looks at the steam catalytic cracking technology, which combines both catalytic cracking and steam cracking to maximize the production of light olefins. This review looks at the effect of catalyst and technology applied in fluid catalytic cracking reactors to enhance light olefins production. The influence of reaction conditions and the reaction mechanism are also presented. The graphical abstract shows the feed and steam being fed into the FCC unit from which light olefins and gasoline are produced as the desired products.
Interpretable deep learning for guided microstructure-property explorations in photovoltaics

The microstructure determines the photovoltaic performance of a thin film organic semiconductor film. The relationship between microstructure and performance is usually highly non-linear and expensive to evaluate, thus making microstructure optimization challenging. Here, we show a data-driven approach for mapping the microstructure to photovoltaic performance using deep convolutional neural networks. We characterize this approach in terms of two critical metrics, its generalizability (has it learnt a reasonable map?), and its intepretability (can it produce meaningful microstructure characteristics that influence its prediction?). A surrogate model that exhibits these two features of generalizability and intepretability is particularly useful for subsequent design exploration. We illustrate this by using the surrogate model for both manual exploration (that verifies known domain insight) as well as automated microstructure optimization. We envision such approaches to be widely applicable to a wide variety of microstructure-sensitive design problems.
Riemann–Liouville Fractional Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and Riemann–Liouville Fractional Polya Integral Inequality and the Generalization to Choquet Integral Case

Here we present the right and left Riemann–Liouville fractional fundamental theorems of fractional calculus without any initial conditions for the first time. Then we establish a Riemann–Liouville fractional Polya type integral inequality with the help of generalised right and left Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives. The amazing fact here is that we do not need any boundary conditions as the classical Polya integral inequality requires. We extend our Polya inequality to Choquet integral setting. See also [2].
Emotion and judgments of scientific research

Scientific research has the power to prompt strong emotional reactions. We investigated the relationship between such reactions and individuals’ understanding and judgments of the research. Partici...
Computational glossary in LIBRAS: an experience in undergraduate program of Information Systems

The deaf have conquered rights in the area of education and, in recent years, with the increase of the enrollment of deaf people in higher education institutions, there is a need to develop new signs in Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) for specific technical terms of several areas of knowledge and related to computing this scenario is no different. Motivated by the entrance of a deaf student in Information Systems undergraduate program of a Public Institution located in the south of Brazil, this work aims to elaborate technical signals of the Information System courses in LIBRAS and to develop a glossary with an interface adapted for the deaf. The construction of this repository of signs in LIBRAS is based on Vygotsky, who worked on defectology and emphasized the use of signs and symbols for the individual’s cognitive development. The deaf student used the glossary in the classroom, which allowed a better understanding of the contents presented. Pedagogical evaluation was performed through descriptive analysis and data collection using the intensive direct observation method and questionnaires. The computational glossary in deaf education presents the potential to develop the capacities that are deprived by the existing communication difficulties, allowing interaction between deaf students, teachers and interpreters.
Chapter 8 – Petroleum Products

This chapter discusses the principal method for separating crude oils into useful products - distillation. The characteristics and major applications of each of the distillation fractions are also treated.
Discussing Drug Use with Health Care Providers Is Associated with Perceived Need and Receipt of Drug Treatment among Adults in the United States: We Need to Talk

BACKGROUND Drug treatment utilization is low despite a high public health burden of drug use disorders (DUDs). Engaging people at risk for DUDs across a broader range of health care settings may improve uptake of drug treatment. OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of drug use screening/discussions between health care providers and individuals with past-year drug use, and to assess the associations between drug use screening/discussions and perceived need and use of drug treatment. METHODS We analyzed representative cross-sectional data from the 2015 to 2017 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. The sample included adults aged 18 years and above reporting past-year drug use and ≥1 health care visit. We measured correlates of drug use screening/discussions using multinomial logistic regression. Overall and among adults meeting DUD criteria, we used logistic regression to estimate associations between drug use screening/discussions and (1) past-year drug treatment and (2) perceived need for treatment. RESULTS In the full sample (n=21,505), 34.50% reported no screening/discussions, 44.50% reported screening only, and 21.00% reported discussions with providers. Discussions were associated with significantly higher odds of receiving any drug treatment [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=3.52 (2.66-4.65)], specialty drug treatment [aOR=4.13 (2.92-5.82)], and perceived treatment need [aOR=2.08 (1.21-3.59)]. Among people with DUD (n=3,834; 15.69%), discussions were associated with treatment use, but not with perceived need. CONCLUSIONS Discussing drug use with providers may impact people's perceptions of drug treatment need and use, indicating potential opportunities to engage people in addiction treatment. Addressing barriers to discussing drug use across care settings could increase treatment use, particularly among people with DUD.
CHAPTER 2 – Orders of Magnitude and Rates of Convergence

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the orders of magnitude and rates of convergence. In many areas of mathematics, the use of the and symbols of Landau is a great convenience. These symbols give some quantitative meaning to the phrases of the same orders of magnitude and also of the smaller order. Calculations using these symbols correctly are useful preliminaries to numerical work, but these symbols can be misleading if not interpreted properly. The chapter presents sequences that have differing rates of convergence.
World of EdCraft: Challenges and Opportunities in Synchronous Online Teaching

Online teaching at higher educational institutions has become a much higher priority in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but most faculty and staff at these institutions are ill-prepared to adapt their teaching methods and content to this new medium. In this article, we describe our approach to dealing with the challenges and opportunities of synchronous online teaching by borrowing ideas and tools from the gaming community. The gamification of education is a well-known concept, but we found few applications in higher-education settings to rely on when we were forced to move online in March 2020. We hope to remedy this gap by providing colleagues with a step-by-step guide to setting up their own home studios, including a complete listing of the software and hardware that we use and how we use them in three distinct online teaching applications: a large (90-student) graduate healthcare finance course at MIT, an even larger (200-student) undergraduate statistics course at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and a medium-sized (50-student) graduate operations management course at MIT.
NAFLD and HCC: Time to Bridge the Gap.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading etiology for chronic liver disease, affecting over 25% of the global population.(1) The spectrum of NAFLD is diverse, ranging from steatosis to a more progressive form, nonalcoholic steatotohepatitis (NASH) that can lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD is emerging as one of the leading risk factors for hepatocellular cancer (HCC). Despite the growing concern for HCC attributed to NAFLD, the precise HCC risk according to the presence and severity of NAFLD is not well established.
Impact of individual, program and organizational characteristics on software maintenance: a human information processing perspective

Software maintenance is generally defined as all activities that change software in order to keep it operational and responsive to user needs. Even though major portions of time and resources are devoted to it, top management, by historically viewing software maintenance as simply the mending of defects in existing systems, has failed to realize that software maintenance is often an "iceberg", with low visibility but high impact potential for success or failure of a system$\sp1.$ In addition, software maintenance typically accounts for most of the systems life cycle's effort in terms of both cost and labor hours. Though there are indications that senior managers are beginning to attach more importance to it, software maintenance is frequently misunderstood, misrepresented, and undervalued. A number of studies have examined various factors that affect the magnitude of the software maintenance effort in order to find ways to reduce it. Although many factors affecting this effort have been identified (e.g., program size and programmer experience), little progress has been made toward developing a theoretical model that describes their impact on software maintenance effort. In an effort to address this need, this study (a) describes the development of a model of software maintenance effort$\sp2$ based on Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1969) Human Information Processing model and (b) experimentally evaluates predictions based on the model. Empirical evaluation of the software maintenance effort model was conducted through a laboratory experiment. Students from 'C' and Object-Oriented programming courses offered in the College of Business Administration and Department of Computer Science at University of Houston along with professional 'C' programmers were used as subjects for this study. The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the proposed independent variables (program size, complexity of control flow, modularization, variable name mnemonicity, level of commenting, level of semantic knowledge, time pressure, repair request details, and level of debugging cues) and some of their interactions on maintenance effort. Data was collected using the Program Maintenance Performance Testing System (PROMPTS) designed especially for this experiment. Overall, the results of the experiment support the predictions made by the propositions generated using the HIP-based model of software maintenance effort and have four implications for the academic and the practitioner communities. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) ftn$\sp1$In this dissertation, a system or software refers to a collection of related programs that aid in performing a user defined task. $\sp2$Software maintenance effort is measured in terms of the amount of time required to successfully service a maintenance request.
Tremorgenic toxins from Penicillia. I. Colorimetric determination of tremortins A and B.

A colorimetric method is described to estimate tremorgenic mycotoxins from various penicillia. The assay depends upon the formation of blue color by methanolysis of the tremorgens. Both tremortin A and tremortin B after methanolysis have the same absorption maximum at 630 mμ. Ergosterol, viridicatin, and some other ether-soluable compounds show no color reaction with this assay method. A rapid assay method for determination of both tremortins in P. palitans was achieved by combining TLC with the colorimetric method.
Cambridge Handbook of Institutional Investment and Fiduciary Duty: Have institutional fiduciaries improved securities class actions? A review of the empirical literature on the PSLRA’s lead plaintiff provision

In 1995, Congress substantially revamped the governance of securities class actions when it created the lead plaintiff provision as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. This paper reviews the empirical literature evaluating that provision. The story that emerges from these studies is of a largely successful statutory innovation that has markedly improved the conduct of these cases. There is little doubt that passage of the PSLRA spurred institutions to become more active in securities class actions. Overall, the results of that participation are positive. Existing studies demonstrate that cases with institutional lead plaintiffs settle for more and are subject to a lower rate of dismissal than cases with other kinds of lead plaintiffs, although some questions remain regarding whether these results are driven by institutional self-selection of higher quality cases. One study has shown that institutional participation is correlated with at least some improvements in corporate governance. Institutional lead plaintiffs have had their largest impact on attorneys’ fees. Not only is institutional participation correlated with lower fees and greater attorney effort, but there is evidence to suggest that institutions have created an economically significant positive externality - a reduction in fee awards even in cases without institutional plaintiffs. Institutional participation, however, has not been an unalloyed good. Other studies suggest that institutional investors are subject to their own agency costs, particularly in the form of pay-to-play arrangements with plaintiffs’ law firms. Those arrangements appear to eliminate some of the beneficial effects associated with institutional service as lead plaintiffs.
Niebla de Unamuno más allá de Kierkegaard. Amor y polifonía como superación del naturalismo

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17227/01234870.39folios173.185 In this essay I seek to highlight some insights that help to shed light on the intellectual relation between Unamuno and Kierkegaard, especially in the context of Mist, based on the idea of love developed by both authors. Better supported readings of these similarities are based on an understanding of the importance of the pseudonyms in the work of Kierkegaard and the idea of “indirect communication”. I advance three points of analysis to refine the comparisons between Unamuno and Kierkegaard: 1. A theoretical framework that considers the dialogic nature of the work of both authors, 2. take into account the intellectual context in which Mist emerged, including the opposition of Unamuno to realistic naturalism, and 3. a rigorous reading of Unamuno and Kierkegaard that respects the specific characteristics of their works. Throughout the paper I will make clear the importance of the idea of polyphony in both authors, particularly in Unamuno’s Mist. I argue that the points of contact between Kierkegaard and Unamuno, although numerous, deep down can hide different concepts of love, especially when taking into account the line of interpretation of “indirect communication”.
The Genetic Dependence of Recombination in Recd Mutants of Escherichia Coli

RecBCD enzyme has multiple activities including helicase, exonuclease and endonuclease activities. Mutations in the genes recB or recC, encoding two subunits of the enzyme, reduce the frequency of many types of recombinational events. Mutations in recD, encoding the third subunit, do not reduce recombination even though most of the activities of the RecBCD enzyme are severely reduced. In this study, the genetic dependence of different types of recombination in recD mutants has been investigated. The effects of mutations in genes in the RecBCD pathway (recA and recC) as well as the genes specific for the RecF pathway (recF, recJ, recN, recO, recQ, ruv and lexA) were tested on conjugational, transductional and plasmid recombination, and on UV survival. recD mutants were hyper-recombinogenic for all the monitored recombination events, especially those involving plasmids, and all recombination events in recD strains required recA and recC. In addition, unlike recD+ strains, chromosomal recombination events and the repair of UV damage to DNA in recD strains were dependent on one RecF pathway gene, recJ. Only a subset of the tested recombination events were affected by ruv, recN, recQ, recO and lexA mutations.
Test‐retest stability of cardiovascular and subjective responses to intravenous cocaine in humans

Sixteen male i.v. cocaine users were measured on their cardiovascular and subjective responses to placebo followed on a separate day by 40 mg i.v. cocaine injections. They were retested within 2 weeks, again receiving placebo and 40 mg i.v. cocaine injections in a random order on separate days. Significant increases in baseline (pre-injection) heart rates during the later sessions were interpreted as possibly reflecting conditioning effects. There were no significant differences in post-injection increases in cardiovascular or subjective responses between the initial and later 40 mg conditions, which might have been indicative of tolerance or sensitization development. Test-retest correlations, indicative of response stability, were moderate to high for any particular timepoint for blood pressure, heart rate, and subjective responses, but pre- vs. post-injection change scores were stable across testings on these measures only under placebo. With the possible exception of some subjective responses, there was little evidence of test-retest stability in responses (change scores) to the 40 mg cocaine injection.
Stereoselective Metabolism of Anthracene, 9-Methylanthracene, 9,10-Dimethylanthracene, 9-Chloroanthracene, and 9-Nitroanthracene by Liver Microsomes of Neonatal Male B6C3F1 Mice

Abstract Stereoselective metabolism of anthracene, 9-methylanthracene (9-M-A), 9, 10-dimethylanthracene (9, 10-DMA), 9-chloroanthracene (9-Cl-A), and 9-nitroanthracene (9-nitro-A) by liver microsomes of neonatal (15-day old) male B6C3F1 mice in the presence of a NADPH regenerating system was conducted. After incubation, reversed-phase HPLC separation, and spectral analyses the following were identified: anthracene trans-1,2-dihydrodiol, 9-M-A trans-1,2- and -3,4-dihydrodiol, 9,10-DMA trans-1,2-dihydrodiol, 9-Cl-A trans-1,2- and -3,4-dihydrodiol, and 9-nitro-A trans-1,2- and -3,4-dihydrodiol. Circular dichroism (CD) spectral analysis indicated the major enantiomers of the anthracene, 9-M-A, 9,10-DMA, and 9-Cl-A trans-dihydrodiols all had R,R absolute configurations. These results indicate that these compounds are metabolized in a stereoselective manner by liver microsomes of neonatal male B6C3F1 mice.
Association of education with dietary intake among young adults in the bi-ethnic Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort.

Objective: To examine associations of changes in dietary intake with education in young black and white men and women. Design: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a multi-centre population-based prospective study. Dietary intake data at baseline and year 7 were obtained from an extensive nutritionist-administered diet history questionnaire with 700 items developed for CARDIA. Setting: Participants were recruited in 1985–1986 from four sites: Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oakland, California. Subjects: Participants were from a general community sample of 703 black men (BM), 1006 black women (BW), 963 white men (WM) and 1054 white women (WW) who were aged 18–30 years at baseline. Analyses here include data for baseline (1985– 1986) and year 7 (1992–1993). Results: Most changes in dietary intake were observed among those with high education ($12 years) at both examinations. There was a significant decrease in intake of energy from saturated fat and cholesterol and a significant increase in energy from starch for each race–gender group (P , 0.001). Regardless of education, taste was considered an important influence on food choice. Conclusion: The inverse relationship of education with changes in saturated fat and cholesterol intakes suggests that national public health campaigns may have a greater impact among those with more education.
Transgenic live-bearing fish and crustaceans produced by transforming immature gonads with replication-defective pantropic retroviral vectors.

Transgenic animals have been routinely produced by microinjecting or electroporating naked DNA into 1-cell-stage embryos or unfertilized eggs. However, these techniques are inapplicable to live-bearing fish and many crustacean species for which unfertilized or newly fertilized eggs are not readily obtainable. In the present study, replication-defective pantropic retroviral vectors carrying a reporter gene (neoR or β-gal) were used to directly transform the immature ovary or testis of a live-bearing fish (Poeciliopsis lucida) and crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). The fraction of the progeny derived from these treated individuals shown to contain the neoR reporter gene by an assay based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was significant. The PCR-positive individuals were crossed with nontransgenic individuals, and about 50% of the resulting progeny carried the transgene, suggesting that the F1 animals are germline transgenic. Integration of the transgenes was confirmed by detecting the junction fragments of the genomic DNA associated with transgene constructs. Expression of reporter genes was detected by a reverse transcription–nested PCR assay. These results showed that transgenic live-bearing fish and crustaceans could be easily produced by directly transforming the immature gonads with replication-defective pantropic retroviral vectors.
Tau(273-284): A Molecular Dynamics Study of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Conformations in the Presence of Osmolytes

In contrast to traditional protein structural paradigms, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) represent a unique class of proteins which have very few stable secondary structures. This inherent disorder in native structure allows IDPs to adopt a wide variety of extended and compact conformations upon binding to nearby macromolecules which enable them to perform a large number of vital physiological functions. Here we focus on the microtubule associated tau protein, a classic example of a highly-soluble IDP which helps regulate microtubule growth in the brain. Dysfunctions in tau (i.e. taupathies) are often implicated in Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, as large quantities of tau cross-beta sheets can accumulate and potentially inhibit proper brain function, in additional to deregulating further microtubule growth. Our work builds on our previous studies [1] where we investigated the conformational properties of a fragment of tau which is highly associated with aggregation, specifically the R2/wt tau residues 273-284 (sequence GKVQIINKKLDL). Here we use replica exchange molecular dynamics to study the effect of two important osmolytes, trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO) and urea, on the folding and aggregation of R2/wt. The overarching goal of our study is aimed at understanding what factors facilitate or inhibit tau aggregation, and identifying (to the extent possible) what physiological factors affect the folding of IDPs since there is still a considerable amount of information to be learned about how these proteins operate in the human body.[1] L. Larini, M. M. Gessel, N. E. LaPointe, T. D. Do, M. T. Bowers, S. C. Feinstein, and J. E. Shea, “Initiation of assembly of tau(273-284) and its Delta K280 mutant: an experimental and computational study,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 15 (23), 8916-8928 (2013).
Let Me Count the Ways: Mechanisms of Gene Regulation by miRNAs and siRNAs

The downregulation of gene expression by miRNAs and siRNAs is a complex process involving both translational repression and accelerated mRNA turnover, each of which appears to occur by multiple mechanisms. Moreover, under certain conditions, miRNAs are also capable of activating translation. A variety of cellular proteins have been implicated in these regulatory mechanisms, yet their exact roles remain largely unresolved.
Inactivation of Bronchial Mucous Proteinase Inhibitor by Cigarette Smoke and Phagocyte-Derived Oxidants

Freshly prepared aqueous solutions of cigarette smoke suppressed the elastase inhibitory capacity (EIC) of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor present in bronchial mucus (BMPi) and human seminal plasma (HUSI-I). Thin-layer gel-immunofiltration analysis of mixtures of smoke-treated BMPi and human leukocyte elastase showed decreased elastase: BMPi complexes, increased uncomplexed BMPi and increased free elastase. Phenolic antioxidants prevented the suppression of the EIC of BMPi or HUSI-I by cigarette smoke. In addition, treatment of BMPi or HUSI-I with chemical oxidants caused a similar suppression of EIC. Furthermore, treatment of BMPi or HUSI-I with the phagocyte-derived oxidizing system, myeloperoxidase + H2O2 + Cl-, suppressed EIC. Finally, the functional activity of BMPi was significantly reduced in tracheal aspirates of human smokers compared to that of nonsmokers. These results support the hypothesis that local inactivation of BMPi in the conducting airways of the lung by inhaled cigarette smoke or by phagocyte-derived oxidants may play a role in the pathogenesis of obstructive lung disease in smokers.
Urinary Albumin-Creatinine Ratio, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, and All-Cause Mortality Among US Adults With Obstructive Lung Function

BACKGROUND Elevated urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) predict all-cause mortality, but whether these markers of kidney damage and function do so in adults with obstructive lung function (OLF) is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between UACR and eGFR and all-cause mortality in adults with OLF. METHODS Data of 5,711 US adults aged 40 to 79 years, including 1,390 adults with any OLF who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994), were analyzed. Mortality follow-up was conducted through 2006. RESULTS During the median follow-up of 13.7 years, 650 adults with OLF died. After maximal adjustment, mean levels of UACR were higher in adults with moderate-severe OLF (7.5 mg/g; 95% CI, 6.7-8.5) than in adults with normal pulmonary function (6.2 mg/g; 95% CI, 5.8-6.6) ( P = .003) and mild OLF (6.2 mg/g; 95% CI, 5.5-6.9) ( P = .014). Adjusted mean levels of eGFR were lower in adults with moderate-severe OLF (87.6 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ; 95% CI, 86.0-89.1) than in adults with normal lung function (89.6 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ; 95% CI, 88.9-90.3) ( P = .015). Among adults with OLF, hazard ratios for all-cause mortality increased as levels of UACR, modeled as categorical or continuous variables, increased (maximally adjusted hazard ratio for quintile 5 vs 1: 2.23; 95% CI, 1.56-3.18). eGFR, modeled as a continuous variable but not as quintiles, was significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS UACR and eGFR, in continuous form, were associated with all-cause mortality among US adults with OLF.
The evolution of a thin, amorphous neodymium hydroxide film to the C-type oxide—an HREM study

High-resolution electron microscopy accompanied by the collection of atomic-level images at video rates, followed by frame-by-frame analysis of the video record has been used to study the decomposition of Nd(OH)3 to the oxide. The reaction is observed to go through the intermediate NdOOH to C-type Nd2O3. This sequence is shown to be in agreement with thermal and X-ray analyses. Analysis of the video record shows an amorphous phase crystallizing to the hydroxide which, in turn, decomposes to the oxyhydroxide in the [-1 1 1] zone. From this a crystal of the C-type sesquioxide in the [7 1 11] zone emerges with a minimal reconstruction except the removal of a tilt boundary that existed in the oxyhydroxide. Efforts are being made to propose an atomic-level mechanism for the structure orientational observations resulting from the loss of water.
Females in dentistry: variations in psychological androgyny.

This study assessed the variations of psychological androgyny among females in dentistry. By means of the Bem Sex-role Inventory, 27 female dental students, 38 dental hygiene students, and 26 denta...
Temperature dependent water adsorption on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 single crystal

Abstract Temperature dependent infrared study of water adsorption on the bc -plane of a Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 (Bi2212) single crystal reveals that water is molecularly physisorbed, and forms hydrogen-bonded clusters in the temperature range of 85–150 K. Although dissociative adsorption is expected on surfaces terminated with Ca–O and Cu–O groups, no dissociated species is detected. The main absorption bands occur between 3200 and 3500 cm −1 and are assigned to the O–H stretching and the overtone of O–H bending. For exposures higher than 1.0 L, the sticking coefficients are similar for different temperatures. The features in the O–H stretch region for water clusters red-shift as a function of temperature between 85 and 140 K. Water clusters have an amorphous structure between 85 and 140 K, and form a crystalline structure at 150 K.
TRAF6-mediated ubiquitination regulates nuclear translocation of NRIF, the p75 receptor interactor.

TRAF6 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates signaling from members of the tumor necrosis factor and Toll-like receptor superfamilies, including the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Recently, TRAF6 was shown to bind to another p75 cytoplasmic interactor, NRIF, and promote its nuclear localization. Here, we demonstrate that NRIF is a substrate for TRAF6-mediated K63 polyubiquitination and that this modification is necessary for its nuclear translocation. Activation of p75 resulted in NRIF polyubiquitination, association with TRAF6 and nuclear localization. NRIF was polyubiquitinated by TRAF6 in vitro and in cultured cells, and this was abrogated by mutation of K19 in the amino-terminus of NRIF. The K19R mutant NRIF displayed reduced TRAF6 association and neurotrophin-dependent nuclear localization. In neurons from traf6−/− mice, NRIF failed to enter the nucleus in response to p75 activation, and polyubiquitination and nuclear localization were attenuated in traf6−/− brain. Finally, unlike wild-type NRIF, the K19R NRIF failed to reconstitute p75-mediated apoptosis in nrif−/− neurons. These results reveal a unique mechanism of p75 signaling and a novel role for K63-linked ubiquitin chains.
Association of diabetes with amnestic and nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) through Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related and vascular pathology and may also increase the risk of nonamnestic MCI (naMCI) through vascular disease mechanisms. We examined the association of type 2 diabetes with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and MCI subtype (aMCI and naMCI) overall and by sex. Methods Participants were Olmsted County, Minnesota residents (70 years and older) enrolled in a prospective, population-based study. At baseline and every 15 months thereafter, participants were evaluated using the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a neurological evaluation, and neuropsychological testing for a diagnosis of normal cognition, MCI, and dementia by a consensus panel. Type 2 diabetes was ascertained from the medical records of participants at baseline. Results Over a median 4.0 years of follow-up, 348 of 1450 subjects developed MCI. Type 2 diabetes was associated (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) with MCI (1.39 [1.08–1.79]), aMCI (1.58 [1.17–2.15]; multiple domain: 1.58 [1.01–2.47]; single domain: 1.49 [1.09–2.05]), and the hazard ratio for naMCI was elevated (1.37 [0.84–2.24]). Diabetes was strongly associated with multiple-domain aMCI in men (2.42 [1.31–4.48]) and an elevated risk of multiple domain naMCI in men (2.11 [0.70–6.33]), and with single domain naMCI in women (2.32 [1.04–5.20]). Conclusions Diabetes was associated with an increased risk of MCI in elderly persons. The association of diabetes with MCI may vary with subtype, number of domains, and sex. Prevention and control of diabetes may reduce the risk of MCI and Alzheimer's disease.
Five-year climatic trend in the Northern Hemisphere (reply)

DRS STARR AND OORT REPLY: Hawson's contention that local changes in instruments and in the method of reducing the data would explain the downward trend in hemispheric mean temperature seems highly improbable. These factors may be important in the case of a few radiosonde stations used in the analyses. In our sample of more than 600 upper air stations, however, the instruments and procedures between different countries vary so widely that the quite systematic changes are more compatible with the interpretation of a real 5-yr trend.
A comparative analysis of regression and neural networks for university admission

Abstract Universities are faced annually with a tremendous quantity of student applicants. The size of the applicant pool taxes the resources of the admissions staff. If admissions counselors are able to spend a greater amount of time with individual applicants, then the enrollment yield (total number of enrollments) from these applicants will increase. Neural networks provide a method for categorizing student applicants and determining the likelihood that they will enroll at an institution if accepted. A comparison of neural networks against the traditional modeling technique of logistic regression is performed to show improvements gained via neural networks. The developed neural networks effectively halved the student applicant load for each counselor at a small private university.
GREEN'S FUNCTIONS FOR FERMION SYSTEMS WITH PAIRING CORRELATIONS

Abstract The Bogoliubov-Valatin canonical transformation is used to transform the Hamiltonian for a system of interacting fermions, to that for a system of quasi particles in which an important part of the pairing interaction has been absorbed into the free quasi particle. Field theoretic Green's functions, which do not in general conserve the number of quasi particles, are introduced to treat the interaction between the quasi particles. These Green's functions are shown to satisfy an infinite set of coupled integral equations, which can be conveniently represented graphically. The infinite set of equations can be terminated by neglecting the interaction Hamiltonian above some arbitrarily chosen equation. The Green's function equations are then solved in the special case where the sum of quasi particles created and annihilated is four, neglecting self-energy terms, and using a pairing plus Coulomb interaction of the type important in superconductivity. A secular equation for the energy eigenvalues is obtained which is examined for the cases of no pairing interaction and no Coulomb interaction. When the Coulomb interaction alone is present the secular equation becomes that obtained by Sawada et al. for plasmons. When the pairing interaction alone is present, the energy spectrum for excitons, bound pairs of quasi particles, is obtained. It is shown that one of the excitons is a phonon.