cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of behavioral durations in observational studies of social interaction

Many social science disciplines investigate dyadic or triadic social interaction by recording the interactive behaviors as qualitative codes. This article introduces a method for analyzing and interpreting variation in the durations of coded behaviors obtained during such interactions. Using survival analysis and event history analysis as its basis, this article discusses the use of regression techniques that enable the researcher to assess how the distributions of behavioral durations depend on covariate observations. An analysis of conflicts between mothers and children illustrates the discussion, using the proportional hazards model. Behavioral and attitudinal differences among the mother-son dyad predicted variation in the durations of mothers' negative statements to their sons.
The geometric structure of solutions to the two-valued minimal surface equation

Recently, Simon and Wickramasekera (J Differ Geom 75:143–173, 2007) introduced a PDE method for producing examples of stable branched minimal immersions in \({\mathbb{R}^{3}}\). This method produces two-valued functions u over the punctured unit disk in \({\mathbb{R}^{2}}\) so that either u cannot be extended continuously across the origin, or G the two-valued graph of u is a C1,α stable branched immersed minimal surface. The present work gives a more complete description of these two-valued graphs G in case a discontinuity does occur, and as a result, we produce more examples of C1,α stable branched immersed minimal surfaces, with a certain evenness symmetry.
Bio-lithology of northeast Pacific surface sediments

Abstract Seven bio-lithologic areas based on the relative abundances of diatoms, radiolarians, planktonic Foraminifera and lithic elements are defined for northeast Pacific surface sediments from the study of more than 200 gravity cores. These areas are: (1) northern terrigenous sediments with 20% diatoms; (3) glacial marine remnant with diatoms; (4) Katmai volcanic ash; (5) Radiolaria-rich or biologically barren sediments; (6) Globigerina-rich sediments; (7) terrigenous sediments of outer shelf, slope and Great Trough, southern region. Color and benthonic foraminiferal characteristics are included in descriptions of the areas. Interrelated factors of terrigenous sediment supply, abundance of benthonic organisms, preservation of biogenous elements and plankton supply are evaluated. Topography and the major ocean currents of the region seem most responsible for the sedimentation patterns observed.
Recognition of upper miocene neogene zone 18, experimental mohole, guadalupe site.

CORRELATIONS of marine strata using the convenient numerical zones of the Neogene1,2, based on planktonic foraminiferans, represent an important advance in refining and developing greater precision in biostratigraphic correlations. This zona-tion is most effective in tropical and subtropical regions where the nominate planktonic taxa are best developed; progressive difficulty is encountered in applying it away from equatorial areas as these taxa disappear and are replaced by temperate and then by cold-water populations in polar areas. The experimental Mohole (Fig. 1), drilled near Guadalupe Island off Baja California, is significant as far as tropical-temperature planktonic foraminiferal populations are concerned because it is located in a subtropical area in which there is a commingling of tropical and temperate planktonic species3.
Combined gravitational and electromagnetic self-force on charged particles in electrovac spacetimes

We consider the self-force on a charged particle moving in a curved spacetime with a background electromagnetic eld, extending previous studies to situations in which gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations are comparable. The formal expression f ret for the self-force on a particle, written in terms of the retarded perturbed elds, is divergent, and a renormalization is needed to nd the particle’s acceleration at linear order in its mass m and charge e. We assume that, as in previous work in a Lorenz gauge, the renormalization for accelerated motion comprises an angle average and mass renormalization. Using the short distance expansion of the perturbed electromagnetic and gravitational elds, we show that the renormalization is equivalent to that obtained from a mode sum regularization in which one subtracts from the expression for the self-force in terms of the retarded elds a singular part
Identifying the SPARC binding sites on collagen I and procollagen I by atomic force microscopy.

SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) is a matricellular protein associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM). It has been found that the production of collagen I is a requisite for the association of SPARC with ECM, and studies with SPARC-null mice indicate that SPARC plays a role in modifying the structure of collagen fibers. It is not known, however, whether SPARC interacts with the collagen I precursor, procollagen I. In this study, the binding of SPARC to collagen I and procollagen I was verified by surface plasmon resonance. The SPARC-binding sites on collagen I and procollagen I were identified by directly visualizing their complexes using tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM). The characteristic chain end feature in collagen I is not readily detected by AFM, so unambiguous location of the binding sites relative to the C- or N-termini is difficult. In contrast, procollagen I, with its large globular C-propeptide, permits easy identification of the C-terminus. Histograms wer...
Nonuniversal behavior of finite quantum Hall systems as a result of weak macroscopic inhomogeneities.

We show that, at low temperatures, macroscopic inhomogeneities of the electron density in the interior of a finite sample cause a reduction in the measured conductivity peak heights {sigma}{sub {ital xx}}{sup max} compared to the universal values previously predicted for infinite homogeneous samples. This effect is expected to occur for the conductivity peaks measured in standard experimental geometries such as the Hall bar and the Corbino disk. At the lowest temperatures, the decrease in {sigma}{sub {ital xx}}{sup max}({ital T}) is found to saturate at values proportional to the difference between the adjacent plateaus in {sigma}{sub {ital xy}}, with a prefactor that depends on the particular realization of disorder in the sample. We argue that this provides a possible explanation of the {open_quote}{open_quote}nonuniversal scaling{close_quote}{close_quote} of {sigma}{sub {ital xx}}{sup max} observed in a number of experiments. We also predict an enhancement of the {open_quote}{open_quote}nonlocal{close_quote}{close_quote} resistance due to the macroscopic inhomogeneities. We argue that, in the Hall bar with a sharp edge, the enhanced {open_quote}{open_quote}nonlocal{close_quote}{close_quote} resistance and the size corrections to the {open_quote}{open_quote}local{close_quote}{close_quote} resistance {ital R}{sub {ital xx}} are directly related. Using this relation, we suggest a method by which the finite-size corrections may be eliminated from {ital R}{sub {ital xx}} and {italmore » R}{sub {ital xy}} in this case. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less
ODMR determination of the zero field splitting parameters of a conjugated enone

Abstract We have observed the optically-detected ESR transitions of the steroidal enone testosterone acetate at zero field and found the zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters to be | D | = 0.28 cm − and | E | = 0.01 cm − . Approximate theoretical calculations suggest that there are at least three important contributions to the ZFS; spin-spin dipolar interaction, spin-orbit coupling of the emitting 3 (π,π * ) state with the 3 (n,π * ) state, and spin-orbit coupling of the 3 (π,π * ) state with the 1 (n,π * ) state. Thus the calculated ZFS parameters of D = −0.46 cm − and E = −0.014 cm − represent a delicate balance of these three effects. Because of the large spin-orbit coupling effects the ZFS parameters of enone 3 (π,π * ) and 3 (n,π * ) states, and perhaps ketones in general, depend strongly on the separation between (n,π) and (π,π) states. This is a complicating feature which may make it difficult to use ZFS parameters to assign the orbital character of ketone triplet states.
Biomarkers of Plaque Instability

Atherosclerosis is the proximate cause of arterial thrombosis, leading to acute occlusive cardiovascular syndromes. Thrombosis in atherosclerosis usually results from rupture of the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaques with a smaller proportion resulting from superficial endothelial erosion. Ruptured plaques are often associated with intimal and adventitial inflammation, increased size of lipid-rich necrotic core with thinned out collagen-depleted fibrous cap, outward remodeling, increased plaque neovascularity, intraplaque hemorrhage, and microcalcification. By inference, non-ruptured plaques with similar compositional features are considered to be at risk for rupture and hence are labeled vulnerable plaques or high-risk plaques. Identification of vulnerable plaques may help in predicting the risk of acute occlusive syndromes and may also allow targeting for aggressive systemic and possibly local therapies. Plaque rupture is believed to result from extracellular matrix (which comprises the protective fibrous cap) dysregulation due to excessive proteolysis in the context of diminished matrix synthesis. Inflammation is believed to play a key role by providing matrix-degrading metalloproteinases and also by inducing death of matrix-synthesizing smooth muscle cells. Systemic markers of inflammation are thus the most logical forms of potential biomarkers which may predict the presence of vulnerable or high-risk plaques. Several studies have suggested the potential prognostic value of a variety of systemic markers, but regrettably, their overall clinical predictive value is modestly incremental at best, especially for individual subjects compared to groups of patients. Nevertheless, continued investigation of reliable, cost-effective biomarkers that predict the presence of a high-risk plaque and future athero-thrombotic cardiovascular events with greater sensitivity and specificity is warranted.
Travel Mode Choice and Social and Spatial Reference Groups: Comparison of Two Formulations

This paper investigates social influence on mode choice by using two methods for defining reference groups: the ego networks of respondents' social contacts and respondents' spatial or geographic neighbors. The use of social network analysis builds on traditional models of travel behavior that rely on individualistic assumptions about decision making rather than the social context in which travel behavior takes place. First, mode choice is explored with traditional socioeconomic, attitudinal, and trip characteristic variables; in addition, to address social influence, egocentric social network factors consisting of the behaviors of social contacts are incorporated into models to investigate whether the choice of transportation mode made by "egos" (the individuals sampled) was influenced by the behaviors of "alters" (the egos' personal network of contacts). Second, with the use of spatially defined reference groups, neighborhood mode use variables are considered for their potential influence on mode choice...
Enhancing Efficacy of Recombinant Anticancer Vaccines With Prime/Boost Regimens That Use Two Different Vectors

BACKGROUND The identification of tumor-associated antigens and the cloning of DNA sequences encoding them have enabled the development of anticancer vaccines. Such vaccines target tumors by stimulating an immune response against the antigens. One method of vaccination involves the delivery of antigen-encoding DNA sequences, and a number of recombinant vectors have been used for this purpose. To optimize the efficacy of recombinant vaccines, we compared primary and booster treatment regimens that used a single vector (i.e., homologous boosting) with regimens that used two different vectors (i.e., heterologous boosting). METHODS Pulmonary tumors (experimental metastases) were induced in BALB/c mice inoculated with CT26.CL25 murine colon carcinoma cells, which express recombinant bacterial beta-galactosidase (the model antigen). Protocols for subsequent vaccination used three vectors that encoded beta-galactosidase--vaccinia (cowpox) virus, fowlpox virus, naked bacterial plasmid DNA. Mouse survival was evaluated in conjunction with antibody and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to beta-galactosidase. RESULTS Heterologous boosting resulted in significantly longer mouse survival than homologous boosting (all P<.0001, two-sided). Potent antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were generated following heterologous boosting with poxvirus vectors. This response was not observed with any of the homologous boosting regimens. Mice primed with recombinant poxvirus vectors generated highly specific antibodies against viral proteins. CONCLUSIONS The poor efficacy of homologous boosting regimens with viral vectors was probably a consequence of the induction of a strong antiviral antibody response. Heterologous boosting augmented antitumor immunity by generating a strong antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response. These data suggest that heterologous boosting strategies may be useful in increasing the efficacy of recombinant DNA anticancer vaccines that have now entered clinical trials.
Methodology to Obtain True Thermal Conductivity of Low Porosity Food Powders

: A technique was developed to measure, at a porosity close to zero, the true thermal conductivity of food powders. Samples of low porosities were prepared by mechanically compressing the food powder using a hydraulic press at pressures up to 3.035 × 105 kPa (abs) in specially designed stainless steel cylinders with a dummy probe in place. Variation in porosity of the samples was less than 5%. Thermal conductivity was measured as a function of porosity (0.086 to 0.7), moisture content (0 to 37%, dry basis), and temperature (30 to 150 °C) by the thermal conductivity probe method. The thermal conductivity values decreased with an increase in porosity and increased with an increase in moisture content and temperature.
The influence of feedstock supply risk on location of stover‐based bio‐gasoline plants

This study models and quantifies spatially referenced probability distributions of corn residue cost and assesses their influence on comparative advantages of different areas of the Corn Belt to attract biofuel plants. Results suggest that irrigated areas of the Corn Belt, despite their relatively low planting density, may result more attractive than some of their rainfed counterparts in the eastern Corn Belt due to low risk in feedstock cost resulting from stability of yields. Therefore, agricultural districts in the Great Plains of the US may not need to pay high subsidies to compete with those in the eastern Corn Belt to attract biofuel firms. Policy restrictions on irrigation due to concerns over groundwater depletion may, however, diminish the relative comparative advantage of the irrigated Corn Belt for biofuel production.
MIRD Dose Estimate Report No. 20: Radiation Absorbed-Dose Estimates for 111In- and 90Y-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan

Absorbed-dose calculations provide a scientific basis for evaluating the biologic effects associated with administered radiopharmaceuticals. In cancer therapy, radiation dosimetry supports treatment planning, dose-response analyses, predictionsoftherapyeffectiveness,andcompletenessofpatientmedical records. In this study, we evaluated the organ radiation absorbed doses from intravenously administered 111 In- and 90 Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan. Methods: Ten patients (6 men and 4 women) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cared for at 3 different medicalcenters,wereadministeredthetracer 111In-ibritumomab tiuxetan and assessed using planar scintillation camera imaging at 5 time points and CT‐organ volumetrics to determine patientspecific organ biokinetics and dosimetry. Explicit attenuation correction based on the transmission scan or transmission measurements provided the fraction of 111 In-administered activity in 7 major organs, the whole body, and remainder tissues over time through complete decay. Time‐activity curves were constructed, and radiation doses were calculated using MIRD methods and implementing software. Results: Mean radiation absorbed doses for 111 In- and for 90 Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan administered to 10 cancer patients are reported for 24 organs and the whole body. Biologic uptake and retention data are given for 7 major source organs, remainder tissues, and the whole body. Median absorbed dose values calculated by this method were compared with previously published dosimetry for ibritumomab tiuxetan and the product package insert. Conclusion: In highdose radioimmunotherapy, the importance of patient-specific dosimetry becomes obvious when the objective of treatment planning is to achieve disease cures, safely, by limiting radiation dose to any critical normal organ to its maximum tolerable value. Compared with the current package insert, we found differences in median absorbed dose by multiples of 24 in the kidneys, 1.8 in the red marrow, 0.65 in the liver, 0.077 in the intestinal wall, 0.30 in the lungs, 0.46 in the spleen, and 0.34 in the heart wall.
Modeling Ion Channel Kinetics with HPC

Performance improvements for computational sciences such as biology, physics, and chemistry are critically dependent on advances in multicore and manycore hardware. However, these emerging systems require substantial investment in software development time to migrate, optimize, and validate existing science models. The focus of our study is to examine the step???by???step process of adapting new and existing computational biology models to multicore and distributed memory architectures. We analyze different strategies that may be more efficient in multicore vs. manycore environments. Our target application, Kingen, was developed to simulate AMPAR ion channel activity and to optimize kinetic model rate constants to biological data. Kingen uses a genetic algorithm to stochastically search parameter space to find global optima. As each individual in the population describes a rate constant parameter set in the kinetic model and the model is evaluated for each individual, there is significant computational complexity and parallelism in even a simple model run.
Augustine on War and Killing: Another View

Recently R. S. Hartigan examined Augustine's position on war and killing particularly in relation to the fate of the innocent. Although attention was rightly focused on some of the difficulties inherent in Augustine's views, Hartigan's handling of certain supportive texts is, in the view of this writer, open to question. It may be profitable, then, to reconsider his arguments and, more fundamentally, to question his structuring of the problem as a whole.
Religious Reformers and Arabists in Damascus, 1885–1914

The literature on the genesis of Arab nationalism in Syria often mentions a group of religious reformers who influenced the first generation of Arab nationalists. The relationship between reformers and nationalists, however, has not been explored, perhaps because sources mention the influence of liberal sheikhs without suggesting where the sheikhs came from or what they signified. This study traces the social origins and ideological import of the religious reform movement in Damascus, a hitherto neglected phenomenon. The relationship between reformers and Arabists is also discussed so as to shed new light on the beginnings of Arab nationalism and its significance in late Ottoman Syria.
Convolution-sum-based generation of walking patterns for uneven terrains

In generating walking patterns for humanoid robots, a Center-of-Mass trajectory is usually derived from the desired Zero-Moment-Point (ZMP) trajectory. One way to accomplish this is the use of the preview-control method, which tracks the desired ZMP trajectory while minimizing the jerk. Another method, which is more computationally efficient, is based on the convolution-sum method. Although this method is simple to implement, the resulting motion could be jerky. In this paper, we utilize the convolution-sum method to generate walking patterns for slopes and stairs walking while minimizing jerky motions. Furthermore, we extend the method to generate walking patterns for non-uniform terrain walking. This is accomplished by defining certain coordinate frames and maintaining the right-foot posture necessary for achieving robust walking. Computer simulations utilizing Webots were performed to validate the proposed convolution-sum method for the generation of walking patterns for a HOAP-2 humanoid robot.
Differential Expression of the Pituitary Gonadotropin Subunit Genes During Male Rat Sexual Maturation: Reciprocal Relationship Between Hypothalamic Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β Expression

Abstract The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been shown to differentially regulate the expression of the gonadotropin subunit genes in cultures of rat pituitary cells. PACAP is expressed within the hypothalamus, and concentrations of PACAP are 2- to 4-fold higher in the portal circulation than in the general circulation. Therefore, PACAP is a candidate regulator of pituitary function. In the present study, we examined the expression of PACAP mRNA within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) during maturation (Days 20–60) in the male rat and compared this expression to the levels of the gonadotropin subunits, follistatin, and GnRH-receptor mRNAs within the anterior pituitary. Serum concentrations of FSH and LH confirm the established maturational pattern of divergent secretion of LH and FSH. Northern analysis of the gonadotropin subunit mRNAs revealed that FSHβ expression parallels FSH secretion whereas LHβ mRNA concentrations do not change during development. Expres...
Aip1 and Cofilin Promote Rapid Turnover of Yeast Actin Patches and Cables: A Coordinated Mechanism for Severing and Capping Filaments

Rapid turnover of actin structures is required for dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton and cell morphogenesis, but the mechanisms driving actin disassembly are poorly defined. Cofilin plays a central role in promoting actin turnover by severing/depolymerizing filaments. Here, we analyze the in vivo function of a ubiquitous actin-interacting protein, Aip1, suggested to work with cofilin. We provide the first demonstration that Aip1 promotes actin turnover in living cells. Further, we reveal an unanticipated role for Aip1 and cofilin in promoting rapid turnover of yeast actin cables, dynamic structures that are decorated and stabilized by tropomyosin. Through systematic mutagenesis of Aip1 surfaces, we identify two well-separated F-actin-binding sites, one of which contributes to actin filament binding and disassembly specifically in the presence of cofilin. We also observe a close correlation between mutations disrupting capping of severed filaments in vitro and reducing rates of actin turnover in vivo. We propose a model for balanced regulation of actin cable turnover, in which Aip1 and cofilin function together to "prune" tropomyosin-decorated cables along their lengths. Consistent with this model, deletion of AIP1 rescues the temperature-sensitive growth and loss of actin cable defects of tpm1Delta mutants.
Petroleum-Related Foreign Policy: Analytic and Empirical Analyses of Iranian and Saudi Behavior (1948-1974)

This study analyzes foreign policy behavior in the realm of international energy politics. The model we developed states that conflict and cooperation between importers and exporters of oil are related to the development of oil issues by the host countries which are undergoing the process of oil industrialization. Three issue sets are identified and each is related to the foreign policy behavior of the exporters directed toward the western oil importers. The issue sets include (1) development of the emergent oil industries, (2) distribution of the profits therefrom, and (3) the control and ownership of the oil industries. The model depicting aspects of the evolution of oil issues is operationalized utilizing difference equations, and correspondence with event/interaction data is tested for two cases: Iran and Saudi Arabia. Between 53% and 98% of the variance in measured cooperative and conflictual petroleum behavior is explained.
Optimal Manifold Representation of Data: An Information Theoretic Approach

We introduce an information theoretic method for nonparametric, nonlinear dimensionality reduction, based on the infinite cluster limit of rate distortion theory. By constraining the information available to manifold coordinates, a natural probabilistic map emerges that assigns original data to corresponding points on a lower dimensional manifold. With only the information-distortion trade off as a parameter, our method determines the shape of the manifold, its dimensionality, the probabilistic map and the prior that provide optimal description of the data.
Binding of Candida albicans enolase to plasmin(ogen) results in enhanced invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Infection by the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans has been increasing over recent years. In an attempt to understand the molecular mechanism of Candida invasion across host tissues, the relationship of C. albicans enolase to human plasminogen/plasmin was investigated. C. albicans enolase is a cell-surface protein and an immunodominant antigen in infected patients’ sera. Plasminogen is an abundant plasma protein. Several lines of evidence support the binding of C. albicans enolase to human plasminogen. Firstly, it was found that various Candida strains were able to bind to plasminogen and its active form, plasmin. Secondly, recombinant Candida enolase was retained in a nickel-chelating affinity column matrix that can bind 125I-labelled plasminogen or plasmin in a dose-dependent manner. Plasmin(ogen)-specific inhibitors, such as e-aminocaproic acid and aprotinin, can effectively block plasmin-binding activity. Thirdly, as with many plasminogen receptors, binding of Candida enolase to plasmin(ogen) is lysine-dependent, whereas little inhibition occurred with arginine, aspartate and glutamate. Fourthly, immobilized enolase enhanced plasminogen's affinity for streptokinase at least tenfold, as demonstrated by its activation of plasmin activity. To elucidate the biological significance of this result, it was demonstrated that the plasmin(ogen)-bound Candida cells were able to induce fibrinolysis activity in a matrix-gel assay. Furthermore, plasmin-bound Candida cells had an increased ability to cross an in vitro blood–brain barrier system. The results given here indicate that Candida enolase is a plasminogen- and plasmin-binding protein and that the interaction of C. albicans enolase with the plasminogen system may contribute to invasion of the tissue barrier.
(1) H-NMR quantification of major saccharides in açaí raw materials: a comparison of the internal standard methodology with the absolute intensity qNMR method.

Introduction While the use of internal standard methodology for qNMR is a proven and reliable form of quantification, simplified alternative approaches are needed. Agilent's absolute intensity qNMR utility software is a valuable alternative that has not yet been subjected to validation in the peer-reviewed literature. Objective To provide validation of Agilent's absolute intensity qNMR method with a specific application to natural product quantification by measuring saccharide content in acai materials. Methods In order to validate the method, calibration test samples of ibuprofen were prepared in DMSO-d6 at nine different concentrations and measured with 1H-NMR. A minimum of 40 spectra were collected for each sample, and the absolute intensity utility was used for quantification. The same methodology was then applied to the acai materials, creating triplicates for each of the materials and using 3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanesulphonic acid sodium salt in water-d2 as both the solvent and internal standard. 1H-NMR spectra were collected, and the amounts of glucose, sucrose and fructose were determined using both the internal standard approach and the absolute intensity qNMR method. Results Applying the absolute intensity utility to the ibuprofen samples demonstrated a linear response (R2 = 0.99943). For the acai investigations, results obtained from the absolute intensity method were comparable to those obtained from the internal standard approach, with percentage differences ranging from 0.5–6.2%. Conclusion This study demonstrates the accuracy, precision and reliability of Agilent's absolute intensity qNMR method. In addition, practical information is provided for assessing the saccharide contents of acai materials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neuroarchitectronics and Neuromorphological Molecular Processing Platforms

This paper focuses on the exploratory studies of neuromorphological molecular processing platforms (NMPPs) implemented utilizing molecular processing modules (NPMs). The processing can be implemented utilizing electrochemomechanical transitions, conformational changes, optoelectronic effects, electron transport, etc. The behavioral evolutions (conformational changes, controlled electron transport and other switchings) of molecular devices (Mdevices) can be utilized. For example, if molecular electronic devices (MEdevices) guarantee operational IV characteristics and can be interfaced, molecular integrated circuits (MICs) can be engineered. Various three-dimensional (3D) MPMs and MICs have been envisioned to implement datapath, memory and other subsystems in MPPs. The ability to accomplish parallelism, reconfiguration and adaptive networking will lead to design of NMPPs. We examine various molecular processing primitives, including multi-terminal MEdevices which form molecular gates (Mgates). By aggregating molecular primitives, utilizing cultured neurons or employing Mgates, neuronal hypercells ("hypercells) can be engineered as a baseline modular primitive. The aggregated "hypercells form MPMs and MICs. This paper focuses on further developments of molecular signal processing utilizing the premise of natural information processing.
Defects in [1, 6-DI(N-Carbazolyl)-2, 4-Hexadiyne] Diacetylene Crystals

The effect of solution concentration on the morphology of [l, 6-di(N-carbazolyl)-2, 4-hexadiyne] (DCHD) diacetylene crystals has been studied by conventional TEM, SAED, and HREM. Crystals obtained by evaporating 0.1 wt% DCHD-chloroform solution on amorphous carbon films are fibrous (about 3 fum wide and 100 fum long) and have defects such as kinks, pores, cracks, and dislocations. Two characteristic single crystal textured morphologies are found in these crystals: (1) a microfibrillar structure consisting of highly-oriented crystallites, with greater axial sizes than lateral sizes, slightly misorienting with a standard deviation of 3°; and (2)a ‘cross-hatched’ structure consisting of highly-oriented crystalline domains separated by two groups of obliquely oriented boundary planes which make (45+/-3)° and (37+/-3)° angles respectively with the [001] chain direction. Crystals obtained by evaporating more dilute (0.01 wt%) DCHD-chloroform solutions onto amorphous carbon films are about 0.1-0.2 fum long and 0.05-0.1 /fum wide and have the chain axis oriented perpendicular to the carbon support film. For these crystals, lateral-chain-invariant (LCI) small angle grain boundaries have been found in HREM images of the [001] zone axis.
Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Steers Given an Oral Dose and Daily Supplement of Yucca-derived Sarsaponin1

Abstract Three hundred sixty-eight crossbred yearling steers (BW = 334 ± 17 kg) were used in a 134-d experiment to compare fnishing diets based on dry-rolled corn, with (YUCCA) and without (control) yucca-derived sarsaponin. On d 0, cattle assigned to YUCCA were orally drenched with 50 mL of SarStart Plus (SarTec Corp., Anoka, MN), and control cattle were orally drenched with a equivalent amount of water. Steers receiving YUCCA were supplemented with 1 g/d per steer of a dried yucca extract (SarStart DSC) for the first 30 d on feed, and then with 0.5 g/d per steer from d 31 to harvest. Starting on d 20 and ending on d 61, weekly fecal samples were taken via rectal palpation from approximately one-third of the steers. A subsample consisting of 280 randomly selected samples was used to assess starch concentration in feces. Total fecal collections were used to estimate diet DM digestibilities for 18 of the 54 pens over a 96-h sampling period. Dry matter intake, ADG, G:F, fecal starch concentration, and apparent total-tract DM digestibility were not different (P > 0.15) for YUCCA and control. In addition, dress yield, carcass weight, USDA quality grade, USDA yield grade, and percentage of liver abscesses were also not different (P > 0.13). Oral drenching of SarStart Plus at processing and daily administration of SarStart DSC in the feed had no effect on growth performance, carcass characteristics, or DM digestibilities.
Experimental investigation of spatial and temporal variation in estuarine growth of age-0 juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Abstract Many ecological processes that occur during fish early life history stages are influenced by body size and multiple factors often work synergistically across space and through time to generate variation in body size among individuals. We conducted a replicated field experiment that was designed to quantify the level of spatial and temporal variation in growth of age-0 juvenile red drum during the 2–3 month estuarine recruitment period. The experiment was conducted over 53 consecutive days during fall (Oct–Dec) 2004 in a southeastern North Carolina estuary that has demonstrated consistent annual recruitment of red drum juveniles. After field capture and laboratory acclimatization, fish (30–52 mm TL; 0.19–1.11 g wet weight) were placed in pairs into one of three replicated field cages positioned at six sites along the estuarine salinity gradient. Growth was monitored for five consecutive 10–11 day intervals, with fish replaced between each interval. Time (experimental interval), space (estuary region), and the time × space interaction were evaluated for their effect on juvenile red drum growth. Results demonstrated a significant decrease in growth rates through time and significantly faster growth rates in the central region of the estuary with no significant interaction. The temporal variation in growth appeared to be mostly driven by declining fall water temperatures throughout the estuary. The consistent spatial variation in growth, with fastest growth realized in the central region, regardless of time, may have been partially due to consistent salinity differences among estuary regions. Moderate salinities (15–25 ppt) may enhance osmoregulatory efficiency in juvenile red drum and allow greater scope for growth. The degree of spatial and temporal variability in growth observed in this study implies that the timing of estuarine arrival and initial settlement habitat may have a strong influence on size at age patterns of first year red drum in North Carolina, and thus may impact early juvenile survival and eventual year-class success.
Blueprints and Fantasies: A Review and Analysis of Extremist Fiction

Several novels have attained popularity in the extreme right subculture, most notably, The Turner Diaries—a tale of race war that convulses America. Some observers have characterized these novels as blueprints for revolution and terrorist campaigns. The medium of fiction can be an effective vehicle for propagandizing to those persons who may not be amenable to non-fiction political treatises. This article reviews some of the more popular extremist novels. By doing so, it provides insight into the worldviews and aspirations of the contemporary extreme right.
Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching, Standards-Based Mathematics Teaching Practices, and Student Achievement in the Context of the Responsive Classroom Approach:

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Responsive Classroom (RC) approach, a social and emotional learning intervention, on changing the relations between mathematics teacher and classroom inputs (mathematical knowledge for teaching [MKT] and standards-based mathematics teaching practices) and student mathematics achievement. Work was conducted in the context of a randomized controlled trial. Participants were 88 third-grade teachers and their 1,533 students. A multigroup path analysis accounting for fidelity of implementation revealed no direct or indirect effects linking MKT to student achievement in the RC or control condition. The same analysis revealed different findings for the RC versus control teachers. In the RC group only: (a) Teachers trained in RC who used more RC practices showed higher use of standards-based mathematics teaching practices, and (b) higher use of standards-based mathematics teaching practices related to greater improvements in math achievement. No comparable findings...
Sensitivity of Forecast Rainfall in a Texas Convective System to Soil Moisture and Convective Parameterization

The impact of soil moisture on the forecast of a small-scale convective system, and sensitivity of results to the convective parameterization used, are investigated through Eta Model simulations (run in an operationallike setting) of a convective system occurring on 27 May 1997 in Texas. The event was influenced by a southwestward-propagating gravity wave from early morning convection in Arkansas that intersected a slowmoving cold front, releasing extreme conditional static instability. Isolated heavy rainfall, over 100 mm, occurred in some regions. A control simulation with 22-km horizontal resolution reasonably simulated the event, even though mesoscale influences such as the gravity wave important to this event are often poorly captured by numerical models. A series of sensitivity tests were performed to examine the impact of soil moisture on the simulations. Two different convective parameterizations were used for the tests. Although domain average precipitation is found to generally vary in a straightforward way with soil moisture, peak precipitation in the regions of intense convection shows more complex behavior. Sensitivity of precipitation amounts to soil moisture differs significantly among runs having different convective parameterizations. For instance, with the Kain‐Fritsch convective scheme, relatively dry soil is found to result in stronger convective outflows that converge with stronger ambient flow to greatly enhance the precipitation in the region where heaviest rainfall occurs. With the Betts‐Miller‐Janjic scheme, drier soil generally results in less precipitation than in the control run, although some enhancement in peak amount does occur within a narrow range of drying. The differences between the peak quantitative precipitation forecasts in the runs is primarily due to the inclusion of a convective downdraft in the Kain‐Fritsch parameterization, and its impact on secondary convective development. Additional sensitivity tests find limited impact from prescribed vegetation coverage. A final sensitivity test shows that precipitation amounts are even more strongly affected by the vertical resolution of the data used to initialize the shallow but moist boundary layer than by variations in the soil moisture or vegetation fraction.
An Individual-Based Approach for Studying System-Wide Properties of Ecological Networks

Abstract Various measures have been defined to capture universal system-wide properties of ecological networks, such as cycling index, throughflow analysis, and storage analysis. Current methodologies are mainly applicable to steady-state networks, greatly limiting their application. Effects of environmental impacts, seasonal variations, and climate shifts are interesting issues that are not accommodated by current methodologies. We introduce a simulation-based approach that eliminates these shortcomings. Using a stochastic individual-based algorithm called Network Particle Tracking (NPT), we redefine current ecosystem measures. While these new definitions agree with the current ones for steady-state systems, they are applicable to dynamic ecosystem models as well.
Citizen-Initiated Contacting: A Multivariate Analysis

One major way citizens interact with local government is through individual contacts with public officials. Applying multivariate analysis to data from a 1985 study of three Florida cities, the authors find that need (defined as perceptions of government mis- or inaction) and awareness of whom to contact best explains contacting by people who clearly attach no larger social significance to their acts (particularized-referent contactors). On the other hand, social-referent contactors (those who see their contacts as affecting both themselves and others) are more likely to be people with both higher socioeconomic status and a greater sense of need.
Analytic solutions of the PRISM equations for Gaussian polymers

The polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM) equations for the collective structure of macromolecular liquids are simplified using the Wiener-Hopf factorization technique. This approach is expected to be useful in systems exhibiting strongly different length scales. As an application, melts and solutions of Gaussian flexible polymers are considered. It is shown that PRISM theory in agreement with experiments predicts liquid like packing for high polymer concentrations and mean-field like scaling laws for the dilute to semidilute crossover at the Θ-temperature. In a systematic expansion the range of validity and the leading corrections to the low density scaling law description are calculated.
Fast, Ratiometric FRET from Quantum Dot Conjugated Stabilized Single Chain Variable Fragments for Quantitative Botulinum Neurotoxin Sensing.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) presents a significant hazard under numerous realistic scenarios. The standard detection scheme for this fast-acting toxin is a lab-based mouse lethality assay that is sensitive and specific, but slow (∼2 days) and requires expert administration. As such, numerous efforts have aimed to decrease analysis time and reduce complexity. Here, we describe a sensitive ratiometric fluorescence resonance energy transfer scheme that utilizes highly photostable semiconductor quantum dot (QD) energy donors and chromophore conjugation to compact, single chain variable antibody fragments (scFvs) to yield a fast, fieldable sensor for BoNT with a 20–40 pM detection limit, toxin quantification, adjustable dynamic range, sensitivity in the presence of interferents, and sensing times as fast as 5 min. Through a combination of mutations, we achieve stabilized scFv denaturation temperatures of more than 60 °C, which bolsters fieldability. We also describe adaptation of the assay into a microarray fo...
Dysfunctional telomeres induce p53-dependent and independent apoptosis to compromise cellular proliferation and inhibit tumor formation.

Aging is associated with progressive telomere shortening, resulting in the formation of dysfunctional telomeres that compromise tissue proliferation. However, dysfunctional telomeres can limit tumorigenesis by activating p53-dependent cellular senescence and apoptosis. While activation of both senescence and apoptosis is required for repress tumor formation, it is not clear which pathway is the major tumor suppressive pathway in vivo. In this study, we generated Eμ-myc; Pot1b(∆/∆) mouse to directly compare tumor formation under conditions in which either p53-dependent apoptosis or senescence is activated by telomeres devoid of the shelterin component Pot1b. We found that activation of p53-dependent apoptosis plays a more critical role in suppressing lymphoma formation than p53-dependent senescence. In addition, we found that telomeres in Pot1b(∆/∆) ; p53(-/-) mice activate an ATR-Chk1-dependent DNA damage response to initiate a robust p53-independent, p73-dependent apoptotic pathway that limited stem cell proliferation but suppressed B-cell lymphomagenesis. Our results demonstrate that in mouse models, both p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis are important to suppressing tumor formation.
Application of immunochromatography test strip for rapid detection of Mycotoxin

Rice mycotoxin contamination is on the rise in our country, rice quality and safety is a matter of national economy and people's livelihood. The detecting limits of immunochromatography test strip for aflatoxin B1, DON and ZEN were about 0.005 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg, respectively, which were confirmed by the analysis experiment using the three kinds of mycotoxin standard solution. The accuracy and precision of the rapid detection method was analyzed by calculating the recovery rate and coefficient of variation. Finally, the rapid detection method was applied in Ningxia rice. Results showed that the three kinds of mycotoxin rapid detection by colloidal gold immunechromatography test strip has high sensitivity, good specificity, simple operation and the characteristics of reading results by the naked eye. It is suitable for the rapid detection in rice filed.
Dark Humor in Films of the 1960s

In the 1960s, themes which had previously been dealt with only in the most serious fashion were suddenly subject to burlesque, or parody, as filmmakers and audiences sought to move beyond the strained seriousness that characterized many of the most respected problem films of the 1960s. In such films as Roger Gorman’s The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and A Bucket of Blood (1959), Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), Theodore J. Flicker’s The President’s Analyst (1967), and many others, viewers embraced a new vision of the world unfettered by the constraints of prior censorship.
Student Loans under the Risk of Youth Unemployment

While most college graduates eventually find jobs that match their qualifications, the possibility of long spells of unemployment and/or underemployment—combined with ensuing difficulties in repaying student loans—may limit and even dissuade productive investments in human capital. The author explores the optimal design of student loans when young college graduates can be unemployed and reaches three main conclusions. First, the optimal student loan program must incorporate an unemployment compensation mechanism as a key element, even if unemployment probabilities are endogenous and subject to moral hazard. Second, despite the presence of moral hazard, a well-designed student loan program can deliver efficient levels of investments. Dispersion in consumption should be introduced so the labor market potential of any individual, regardless of the family’s financial background, is not impaired as long as the individual is willing to put forth the effort, both during school and afterward, when seeking a job. Third, the amounts of unemployment benefits and the debt repayment schedule should be adjusted with the length of the unemployment spell. As unemployment persists, benefits should decline and repayments should increase to provide the right incentives for young college graduates to seek employment.