cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of dynamic subgrid-scale models in large-eddy simulations of neutral turbulent flow over a two-dimensional sinusoidal hill

Large-eddy simulation (LES) is used to simulate neutral turbulent boundary-layer flow over a rough two-dimensional sinusoidal hill. Three different subgrid-scale (SGS) models are tested: (a) the standard Smagorinsky model with a wall-matching function, (b) the Lagrangian dynamic model, and (c) the recently developed scale-dependent Lagrangian dynamic model [Stoll, R., Porte-Agel, F., 2006. Dynamic subgrid-scale models for momentum and scalar fluxes in large-eddy simulation of neutrally stratified atmospheric boundary layers over heterogeneous terrain. Water Resources Research 42, W01409. doi:10.1029/2005WR003989]. The simulation results obtained with the different models are compared with turbulence statistics obtained from experiments conducted in the meteorological wind tunnel of the AES (Atmospheric Environment Service, Canada) [Gong, W., Taylor, P.A., Dornbrack, A., 1996. Turbulent boundary-layer flow over fixed aerodynamically rough two-dimensional sinusoidal waves. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 312, 1-37]. We find that the scale-dependent dynamic model is able to account, without any tuning, for the local changes in the eddy-viscosity model coefficient. It can also capture the scale dependence of the coefficient associated with regions of the flow with strong mean shear and flow anisotropy. As a result, the scale-dependent dynamic model yields results that are more realistic than the ones obtained with the scale-invariant Lagrangian dynamic model.
The impact of resuspension on sediment mercury dynamics, and methylmercury production and fate: A mesocosm study

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resuspension on the fate and bioaccumulation of mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in shallow estuarine environments, using mesocosms. Two 4-week experiments were conducted in July (Experiment 1) and October (Experiment 2) of 2001 with Baltimore Harbor sediments. Hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria , were introduced into sediments for Experiment 2. Tidal resuspension (4 h on and 2 h off cycles) was simulated, with 3 replicate tanks for each treatment—resuspension (R) and non-resuspension (NR). Sediment cores were collected during the experiments for THg, MeHg, organic content and AVS analyses, and for the determination of methylation/demethylation using Hg stable isotopes ( 199 Hg(II) and CH 3 199 Hg(II)). Zooplankton samples were collected once a week while clams were taken before and after Experiment 2 for THg and MeHg analyses. Our results suggest that the interplay between Hg methylation and MeHg degradation determines the overall MeHg pool in sediments. Sediment resuspension does not appear to directly impact the Hg transformations but can lead to changes in the association to Hg binding phases, influencing Hg methylation. The bioaccumulation results indicate that sediment resuspension can play an important role in transferring sediment MeHg into organisms.
Implications of incidental finding of testicular microlithiasis in paediatric patients.

Abstract Objective To improve understanding of the implications of testicular microlithiasis (TM) in paediatric patients diagnosed incidentally on scrotal ultrasonography (US). Patients and methods 31 boys aged 4–14 years diagnosed with TM based on US between February 2000 and September 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, indications for US, associated inguino-scrotal pathologies and follow-up data were collated. Results A total of 59 testes were evaluated. Fifty-four had TM at US. The most common indication for US was scrotal swelling ( n = 17). Twenty patients (65%) had at least one associated inguino-scrotal pathology related to patent processus vaginalis, with cryptorchidism being the most frequently observed (39%). On follow up (mean 39.6 months), 6 patients documented decrease or resolution of TM, while 2 showed increase in TM density. No testicular malignancy was observed during follow up. Conclusions TM is commonly diagnosed incidentally on US in paediatric patients. A literature review revealed few case reports on its association with testicular malignancy and a prevalence of 4.2% among asymptomatic boys. The spontaneous resolution of TM supports degeneration of seminiferous tubules as the possible cause and further questions its malignant implication. An appropriate surveillance scheme would require involvement of a well-informed patient and parent with good compliance on testicular self-examination.
Use of etanercept in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients

Background Etanercept (Enbrel™, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA), a soluble p75 tumor necrosis factor receptor:FC (TNFR:FC) fusion protein for plasma cytokines, specifically tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), is used in the treatment of immune-mediated rheumatic diseases. To our knowledge, the use of etanercept in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is relatively uncommon. Objective The main purpose of this short review is to examine the safety of etanercept in patients with HIV/AIDS. Methods A Medline search was conducted using the keywords etanercept and HIV and/or AIDS for any published articles between 1966 to the present (September 2004). Results A case report, one case series, and one clinical trial pertained to the use of etanercept in HIV patients. No reports were found on the use of etanercept in AIDS. In addition, two case reports were found documenting the use of infliximab in HIV patients. Discussion Preliminary reports indicate that the administration of etanercept does not appear to increase the morbidity or mortality rates in HIV. The inhibition of TNF-α may actually improve the symptoms of HIV/AIDS-associated aphthous ulcers, cachexia, dementia, fatigue, and fever, as well as help manage concomitant rheumatic diseases and psoriasis. Conclusion The use of etanercept shows promise for applications in disease management in patients with HIV/AIDS. Continued research efforts are necessary to establish the long-term safety and efficacy of etanercept and other biologic agents in this patient population.
3,5,3′-l-Triiodothyronine regulation of β-adrenergic receptor density and adenylyl cyclase activity in synaptosomal membranes of aged rats

To determine the effect of aging on T3 up-regulation of β-adrenergic receptor activity of purified synaptosomal membranes (SPM), β-adrenergic receptor density (Bmax) and adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity were measured in young (6 months old) and aged (26 months old) male F-344 rats at baseline and after treatment with triiodothyronine (T3), 15 μg/100 g, intraperitoneally for 10 days. The Bmax (fmol/mg protein) as measured by 125I-iodocyanopindolol binding was reduced in aged rats (70.8 ± 4.1) compared to young rats (93.5 ± 11.2). T3 treatment resulted in a significant increase in Bmax of young rats but not in aged rats (P < 0.05). The AC activity (pmol cAMP/mg) in response to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was reduced in aged rats compared to young rats (67.8 ± 2.9 vs 108.3 ± 18.6P < 0.01). The sodium fluoride (NaF) stimulated AC activity was not altered with age. A net isoproterenol stimulated AC activity could not be demonstrated in any age group. T3 treatment did not alter AC activity of SPM. It is concluded that aging is associated with reduced responsiveness to T3-stimulated up-regulation of β-adrenergic receptor number in synaptosomal membranes.
Using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in Teaching: One Criteria, Several Perspectives*

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) has influenced the thinking and operations within organizations from all sectors of the American economy. This paper presents the experiences of three faculty members who have used the Criteria for Performance Excellence and the underlying concepts of the MBNQA to enhance the learning experiences of their students. The authors discuss how Dale's Cone of Experience is employed, by means of concrete exercises and experiences, to better leverage the student's ability to understand the abstract concepts. The formal, end-of-term student evaluations indicate that the described approach has led to a higher level of student engagement in the learning process, as evidenced by more abundant and higher-quality feedback to the instructors.
Vitamin E deficiency in the rat. IV. Alteration in mitochondrial membrane and its relation to respiratory decline

Abstract The respiratory control and rate of oxidation of exogenous NADH in vitro by liver mitochondria from vitamin E deficient rats were studied as a means of providing information concerning possible mitochondrial membrane alterations due to the deficiency. When mitochondria were aged at different temperatures for various periods of time, half-maximal inhibition of respiratory control occurred at lower temperatures and shorter aging periods in deficient mitochondria than in normal ones. Also, respiratory control was lost more rapidly in deficient mitochondria than in normal ones in the presence of either digitonin or low (hypotonic) concentrations of mannitol. Microsomes, both freshly prepared and boiled, dramatically lowered respiratory control and the effect was greater in the deficient mitochondria. Bovine serum albumin overcame the suppressed respiratory control, and exogenously added fatty acids mimiced the action of the microsomes. NADH oxidation by normal mitochondria proceeded slowly in isotonic media, while mitochondria of vitamin E deficient rats oxidized NADH much more rapidly. When mitochondria were subjected to ultrasonic disruption or incubated in hypotonic media, the rates of NADH oxidation by both types of mitochondria were similar. Respiratory decline associated with oxidation of β-hydroxybutyrate by the deficient mitochondria was decreased by including in the medium either a high concentration of NAD + , 0.5 m m oxalacetate, or 2 m m aspartate plus 1 m m α-ketoglutarate. This observation, plus the finding of similar activities of malate dehydrogenase and glutamic-oxalacetic transminase in normal and deficient livers, suggests that the action of each was due to an elevation of the mitochondrial NAD + /NADH ratio via a malate shuttle and cytoplasmic and mitochondrial glutamic-oxalacetate transaminase. It is postulated that the marked mitochondrial respiratory decline in the deficient rats is attributed to a limiting availability of NAD + and a low ratio of NAD + to NADH.
QUARKS, TRIALITY, AND UNITARY SYMMETRY SCHEMES

It is shown that integral eigenvalues of $\frac{Q}{e}$ can be achieved for Gell-Mann's quarks (particles belonging to representations of S${\mathrm{U}}_{3}$ with nonzero triality type) by the introduction of a new additive quantum number for strongly interacting particles and a corresponding alteration of the Gell-Mann-Nishijima formula. A possible framework wherein such ideas can be formulated is provided by an extension of S${\mathrm{U}}_{3}$ symmetry to S${\mathrm{U}}_{4}$ or perhaps a higher unitary symmetry.
The influence of phytoplankton pigments on the colour of sea water

Abstract By summing the absorbency of phytoplankton pigments with that of pure water, the absorption of the blue portion of the spectrum is markedly increased. As the concentration of phytoplankton pigments increases, the diminution of blue light gradually shifts the wave length of maximum transmission toward the green. At the concentration of phytoplankton pigments normally found in the open ocean, the red chlorophyll band has little influence on water colour. Inadequancies in present methods for detection of absorption bands in natural waters is attributed to wide band widths of filters used in submarine photometers. Poor spectral curves applicable to colour analysis in particulate systems are obtained by conventional spectrophotometric techniques because a large portion of the scattered light never reaches the photo-detector. Improvements for spectral analysis are suggested.
Quality of Life and Autonomy in Emerging Adults with Early-Onset Neuromuscular Disorders

Emerging adulthood is an important period in the development of one’s identity and autonomy. The ways in which identity and autonomy are viewed by emerging adults and how they impact quality of life (QoL) in individuals with early-onset neuromuscular conditions is not yet known. This study focused on understanding and exploring relationships between self-perceptions of emerging adulthood, autonomy, and QoL. Five previously validated measures were incorporated into an online survey and distributed to young adults with early-onset neuromuscular conditions and unaffected controls. Topics explored included individuals’ views regarding their overall QoL, disease-specific QoL, components of emerging adulthood, and autonomy. We found that a sense of higher disease impact was associated with a lower Overall General QoL. Additionally, perceptions of key autonomy factors “negativity” and “instability” were uniquely associated with Overall General QoL in the case group as compared to controls, whereas “attitudinal autonomy” (attaining the ability to plan and follow through with goals) was important to this age group regardless of health status. The specific factors of emerging adulthood and autonomy that were significantly correlated with Overall General QoL can be used for developing targeted counseling and interventions to improve QoL for individuals and their families.
THE USE OF MODEL MATERIALS IN PREDICTING FORMING LOADS IN METALWORKING

Abstract : The laws of perfect and approximate similarities in metal forming indicate that perfect similarity in deforming two different materials is practically impossible to achieve. Approximate similarity, however, is easy to obtain, and proves to be very useful in predicting forming loads in extrusion and forging processes. Analysis of friction in model experiments shows how interface friction can be taken into account in model studies. Backward and forward extrusion loads are predicted from plasticine model experiments and the results are compared with data for various steels. The agreement between predicted and actual loads is generally well within engineering accuracy.
A Note on Confidence Interval Estimation in Measurement Error Adjustment

Abstract The goal of adjusting for covariate measurement error is generally to obtain valid point and confidence interval estimates for the parameters of a regression model that would be applied if all covariates were error-free. In this article, we point out a potentially undesirable feature of many standard adjusted confidence intervals. Specifically, the coverage can be unbalanced, in the sense that failure to encompass the true parameter of interest may occur much more often with the lower bound above the true value than with the upper bound below that value (or vice-versa). Since hypothesis tests about the true parameter typically have a direct connection with the adjusted confidence interval, this unbalancedness can have bearing upon the critical properties of such tests, and can be especially detrimental if one-sided alternatives are being considered. We illustrate this problem in the simple context of an additive-normal measurement error problem in linear regression, and we provide a partial solut...
The Shu complex, which contains Rad51 paralogues, promotes DNA repair through inhibition of the Srs2 anti-recombinase

The Shu complex, which contains RAD51 paralogues, is involved in the decision between homologous recombination and error-prone repair. We discovered a link to ribosomal DNA (rDNA) recombination when we found an interaction between one member of the Shu complex, SHU1, and UAF30, a component of the upstream activating factor complex (UAF), which regulates rDNA transcription. In the absence of Uaf30, rDNA copy number increases, and this increase depends on several functional subunits of the Shu complex. Furthermore, in the absence of Uaf30, we find that Shu1 and Srs2, an anti-recombinase DNA helicase with which the Shu complex physically interacts, act in the same pathway regulating rDNA recombination. In addition, Shu1 modulates Srs2 recruitment to both induced and spontaneous foci correlating with a decrease in Rad51 foci, demonstrating that the Shu complex is an important regulator of Srs2 activity. Last, we show that Shu1 regulation of Srs2 to double-strand breaks is not restricted to the rDNA, indicating a more general function for the Shu complex in the regulation of Srs2. We propose that the Shu complex shifts the balance of repair toward Rad51 filament stabilization by inhibiting the disassembly reaction of Srs2.
Results of phase 2 randomized study of low-dose decitabine with or without valproic acid in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia.

Background Hypomethylating agents have shown activity in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Pre-clinical and single-arm trials have suggested that adding histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors may synergize the epigenetic modulation of hypomethylating agents and improve treatment results.
Multicore Processors and Database Systems: The multicore transformation (Ubiquity symposium)

Database management systems are necessary for transaction processing and query processing. Today, parallel database systems can be run on multicore platforms. Presented within is an overview of how multicore machines have impacted the design and implementation of database management systems.
Triethylsilane–Trifluoroacetic Acid

[617-86-7] C6H16Si (MW 116.31) InChI = 1S/C6H16Si/c1-4-7(5-2)6-3/h7H,4-6H2,1-3H3 InChIKey = AQRLNPVMDITEJU-UHFFFAOYSA-N [599-00-8] C2HF3O2 (MW 114.03) InChI = 1S/C2HF3O2/c3-2(4,5)1(6)7/h(H,6,7) InChIKey = DTQVDTLACAAQTR-UHFFFAOYSA-N (useful reducing agent combination for ‘ionic hydrogenation’ of many functional groups1) Physical Data: see Triethylsilane and Trifluoroacetic Acid. Solubility: Et3SiH: insol H2O; sol hydrocarbons, chlorocarbons, ethers. CF3CO2H: sol H2O, chlorocarbons, ethers. Form Supplied in: both are colorless liquids; widely available in pure form. Purification: simple distillation, if needed. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: triethylsilane is a flammable, nonpyrophoric liquid, physically similar to comparable hydrocarbons. Proper precautions should be taken to vent possible hydrogen buildup when opening vessels in which triethylsilane is stored. As with all organosilicon hydrides, it is capable of releasing hydrogen gas upon storage, particularly in the presence of acids, bases, or fluoride-releasing salts. Trifluoroacetic acid is a corrosive, toxic acid that produces serious chemical burns upon contact with skin.
Exercise echocardiography reveals subclinical cardiac dysfunction in young adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Objective Anthracyclines (AC) have contributed significantly to increased survival rate in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), although the use of these drugs is limited due to cardiotoxicity. The aim was to evaluate heart muscle function in asymptomatic adult survivors of ALL treated in early childhood in relation to the combined effects of AC and other potential cardiotoxic factors. Procedure Twenty-three young adult ALL survivors who had all received treatment with median 120 (120–400) mg AC/m2 before the onset of puberty were examined median 21 years after remission and compared with 12 healthy controls. Basal echocardiography including two-dimensional (2D) M-mode and Doppler examination was performed, followed by a maximal exercise stress test and stress echocardiography immediately after stress test and after 5 min recovery. Results We found significant differences in systolic function between patients and controls at maximal exercise despite absence of reported symptoms from the patients. The most marked difference was in ejection fraction at stress 59.5% (32.6–81.1) and 77.3% (66.2–85.3), respectively (P < 0.00006). Ten out of 23 patients reduced their ejection fraction at stress compared with at rest; this was not found in any of the controls. Cardiovascular risk factors such as GH deficiency and a high proportion of trunk fat did not have an impact on cardiac function. Conclusions With very long follow up in a homogenous cohort of ALL survivors, we found subclinical cardiac dysfunction with exercise stress echocardiography even after low doses of AC. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:835–840. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Adjuvant radiation therapy after surgical resection of solitary brain metastasis: association with pattern of failure and survival.

Abstract We reviewed patients treated by resection of solitary cerebral metastasis at the Mayo Clinic from January 1, 1972, to December 1, 1982. Eighty-five patients rendered clinically disease-free and who received intramural follow-up after craniotomy were studied. Adjuvant whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) was delivered to 34, and 51 were observed after craniotomy. Pattern-of-failure analysis showed a much smaller incidence of subsequent brain relapse in the adjuvant WBRT group than in the observation group (21% versus 85%, respectively). Multivariate analysis utilizing 17 patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics showed adjuvant WBRT to have the strongest association with brain control (p
Secondary organic aerosol formation from ozone-initiated reactions with nicotine and secondhand tobacco smoke

We used controlled laboratory experiments to evaluate the aerosol-forming potential of ozone reactions with nicotine and secondhand smoke. Special attention was devoted to real-time monitoring of the particle size distribution and chemical composition of SOA as they are believed to be key factors determining the toxicity of SOA. The experimental approach was based on using a vacuum ultraviolet photon ionization time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (VUV-AMS), a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and off-line thermal desorption coupled to mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) for gas-phase byproducts analysis. Results showed that exposure of SHS to ozone induced the formation of ultrafine particles (<100 nm) that contained high molecular weight nitrogenated species (m/z 400e500), which can be due to accretion/acidebase reactions and formation of oligomers. In addition, nicotine was found to contribute significantly (with yields 4e9%) to the formation of secondary organic aerosol through reaction with ozone. The main constituents of the resulting SOA were tentatively identified and a reaction mechanism was proposed to elucidate their formation. These findings identify a new component of thirdhand smoke that is associated with the formation of ultrafine particles (UFP) through oxidative aging of secondhand smoke. The significance of this chemistry for indoor exposure and health effects is highlighted.
Foreword: The Future of Federalism, from the Bottom Up

This foreword considers the Symposium participants’ contributions in three groups before making concluding points. Part I begins theoretically, with Professor Ilya Somin’s reframing of federalism’s primary value as political freedom actualized by “foot voting” and Professor Roderick Hills’s proposed method of allocating rights and powers between jurisdictions. It then turns to three case studies of federalism in action at the state and tribal level: Professor Michelle Bryan’s examination of hotly contested federal land use decisions; Assistant United States Attorney Danna Jackson’s report on the implementation of federally restored tribal criminal jurisdiction over domestic violence cases; and Professor Matthew Fletcher’s study of tribal disruption as a strategy for negotiating with — and possibly a sovereignty- vindicating model for — state and local governments. It concludes with two state responses to the federal government and their consequences, Professor Robert Mikos’s proposal for state indemnification of federal criminal defense costs, and Professor Abigail Moncrieff’s and Jonathan Dinerstein’s prediction that states’ victory over conditional spending might lose them more autonomy than they won.Part II draws on these contributions to develop a tentative model of states as more complicated than often portrayed in federalism discussions. Each state is a “they,” not an “it,” at least as much and probably more than the federal government, and future analysis of federalism might more accurately account for this. This foreword concludes that whatever is retained or surrendered, the future of federalism will be more complicated and more durable than either side of current debates anticipates.
Adaptive Anisotropic Meshing For Steady Convection-Dominated Problems

Obtaining accurate solutions for convection–diffusion equations is challenging due to the presence of layers when convection dominates the diffusion. To solve this problem, we design an adaptive meshing algorithm which optimizes the alignment of anisotropic meshes with the numerical solution. Three main ingredients are used. First, the streamline upwind Petrov–Galerkin method is used to produce a stabilized solution. Second, an adapted metric tensor is computed from the approximate solution. Third, optimized anisotropic meshes are generated from the computed metric tensor by an anisotropic centroidal Voronoi tessellation algorithm. Our algorithm is tested on a variety of two-dimensional examples and the results shows that the algorithm is robust in detecting layers and efficient in avoiding non-physical oscillations in the numerical approximation.
Flight test results of loose integration of dual airborne laser scanners (DALS)/INS

Aircraft positioning and navigation capability much be robust to ensure continuity of operation. Such navigation information is largely provided by an inertial navigation system (INS), which is a self-contained autonomous system. INS is usually integrated with GPS measurements to improve its accuracy and a GPS/INS package is a common feature of most navigation systems. However, these systems suffer degraded performance in non-GPS environments; such as when GPS is denied due to interference or jamming, or when GPS is unavailable as in Lunar or Martian scenarios. In recent years, the challenge of navigating in non-GPS environments has generated much interest. With this same objective, we investigate the use of dual airborne laser scanners (DALS), integrated with an INS for navigation in non-GPS and unknown terrain environments. In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept demonstration of the DALS/INS autonomous navigation system with flighttest data, collected onboard Ohio Universitypsilas DC-3 aircraft over Athens, OH.
Fenestrated medial patella plica.

Summary Fenestrated medial patellar plicae are unusual. In a review of 1,000 consecutive knee arthroscopies, the incidence of this finding was 1.8%. These fenestrations may vary in size and shape from being small, circular, and only 5 mm in diameter to being lengthwise openings 3–4 cm long. There is a high prevalence of associated medial knee symptoms (80%) that are relieved by complete resection. Since the plical fenestration does not appear to abrade the articular cartilage, symptoms are probably the result of medial wall inflammation.
Flow analysis for concurrent, reactive, real-time systems

One of the widely used techniques in software safety analysis is fault tree analysis. The paper discusses the use of flow analysis techniques for supporting fault tree generation from software specifications. Earlier work on flow analysis techniques has focused on sequential systems. We discuss how system characteristics such as concurrency and real time reactive features impact the flow analysis techniques. The paper discusses concepts and algorithms that can be used in performing flow analysis for concurrent reactive real time systems.
Regional variation in sweet suppression

Differences in the sweet-blocking efficacy of 2-(4-methoxyphenoxy) propanoic acid (PMP) for different sweeteners (sucrose and aspartame) and for various exposure areas of the mouth were found. Twenty participants rated sweetener solutions with and without PMP for sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami for stimulation of anterior tongue, posterior tongue and whole-mouth areas. For sweetness ratings, suppression was significant for all stimulation areas. In the presence of PMP, stimulation of the posterior tongue yielded significantly higher sweetness ratings than stimulation of the anterior tongue for aspartame but not for sucrose. Sourness and bitterness ratings were significantly higher for anterior tongue than posterior tongue stimulations for aspartame but not for sucrose. The increases in sourness ratings in the presence of PMP were likely because of the sour taste PMP has at the concentration used. Results imply a difference between the front and the back of the tongue in the mechanisms involved in the perception of sweetness.
The rotational dynamics of kinetoplast DNA replication

Summary Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), from trypanosomatid mitochondria, is a network containing several thousand catenated minicircles that is condensed into a diskshaped structure in vivo. kDNA synthesis involves release of individual minicircles from the network, replication of the free minicircles and reattachment of progeny at two sites on the network periphery ~180° apart. In Crithidia fasciculata, rotation of the kDNA disk relative to the antipodal attachment sites results in distribution of progeny minicircles in a ring around the network periphery. In contrast, Trypanosoma brucei progeny minicircles accumulate on opposite ends of the kDNA disk, a pattern that did not suggest kinetoplast motion. Thus, there seemed to be two distinct replication mechanisms. Based on fluorescence microscopy of the kDNA network undergoing replication, we now report that the T. brucei kinetoplast does move relative to the antipodal sites. Whereas the C. fasciculata kinetoplast rotates, that from T. brucei oscillates. Kinetoplast motion of either type must facilitate orderly replication of this incredibly complex structure.
Modernization and Tradition in an Age of Globalization: Cultural Values in Chinese Television Commercials

The authors analyzed commercials (N = 496) shown on 3 Chinese TV stations in the summer of 2000 to uncover the dominant value themes and identified 13 value themes as applicable in the current sample. This study found that the most dominant value themes in the Chinese commercials were product quality/effectiveness, family, modernity, beauty/youth, and pleasure indicating the prevalence of utilitarian values and the coexistence of both traditional and modern values in the world of Chinese advertising. Value themes identified in this study are compared with previous conceptualizations and discussed in the context of globalization and Chinese cultural change.
A Comparative Study of Ensemble Feature Selection Techniques for Software Defect Prediction

Feature selection has become the essential step in many data mining applications. Using a single feature subset selection method may generate local optima. Ensembles of feature selection methods attempt to combine multiple feature selection methods instead of using a single one. We present a comprehensive empirical study examining 17 different ensembles of feature ranking techniques (rankers) including six commonly-used feature ranking techniques, the signal-to-noise filter technique, and 11 threshold-based feature ranking techniques. This study utilized 16 real-world software measurement data sets of different sizes and built 13,600 classification models. Experimental results indicate that ensembles of very few rankers are very effective and even better than ensembles of many or all rankers.
Challenges and opportunities with big data

The promise of data-driven decision-making is now being recognized broadly, and there is growing enthusiasm for the notion of "Big Data," including the recent announcement from the White House about new funding initiatives across different agencies, that target research for Big Data. While the promise of Big Data is real -- for example, it is estimated that Google alone contributed 54 billion dollars to the US economy in 2009 -- there is no clear consensus on what is Big Data. In fact, there have been many controversial statements about Big Data, such as "Size is the only thing that matters." In this panel we will try to explore the controversies and debunk the myths surrounding Big Data.
Development of Self-assembled Muscle-powered Microdevices

As microcomponents in engineered systems, biological muscles have unique advantages such as large force transduction, utilization of biochemical fuel, and self-assembly from single cells, over other inorganic actuators for biomedical engineering applications. Successful integration of muscles with inorganic fabricated structures and electronics promises the capability of precisely characterizing muscles' mechanical properties and fabricating self-assembled controllable autonomous structures powered by ubiquitous glucose. However, the use of extracted muscle tissue from animals on these devices is impractical and inefficient, as the tissues must be dissected and incorporated into each device by hand with crude interfaces between the biological tissue and inorganic materials. Integration of muscle with fabricated structures would be optimally achieved through self-assembling muscle cells on MEMS. The construction of self-assembled muscle-powered MEMS structures is complicated by the stringent requirements to spatially direct the cell growth, control the tight connection of these differentiated structures with MEMS structures, and enable the cells and the integrated hybrid freedom to move. Conventional and soft photolithography techniques have been extensively employed to pattern the growth of a variety of cell types and investigate their interaction with substrate in the micrometer level. However, all studies are only suitable for patterning static cells on an immobile surface, so a novel system of spatially patterning the contractible cells must be developed to enable the cells and the integrated hybrid devices to be free to move. We present a novel system of self-assembling myocytes on MEMS devices. This system has shown its capability of spatially and selectively directed growth and differentiation of myocytes into single muscle bundles, attachment of these functional bundles to MEMS structures, and the controlled partial release of the resultant hybrid devices. Two groups of self-assembled muscle-MEMS devices, force-measuring cantilevers and muscle-powered microrobots have been created. Here the further detailed studies of this system are discussed, especially the concept of the self-assembly and the material interfacial problems in this system.
Effect of substrate characteristics on microbial community structure, function, resistance, and resilience; application to coupled photocatalytic-biological treatment

Advanced oxidation (AO) coupled with biodegradation is an emerging treatment technology for wastewaters containing biologically recalcitrant and inhibitory organics, including those containing chlorinated aromatic compounds. The composition of the AO effluent organics can vary significantly with reaction conditions, and this composition can affect the performance of subsequent biodegradation. Three synthetic effluents were used to mimic varying degrees of AO of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol: 4-chlorocatechol to mimic light transformation, 2-chloromuconic acid to mimic moderate transformation, and acetate to mimic extensive transformation. The substrates were fed to identical chemostats and analyzed at steady state for removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), biomass concentration, and bacterial diversity. The chemostat fed acetate performed best at steady state. The 2-chloromuconic acid chemostat was next in terms of steady-state performance, and the 4-chlorocatechol reactor performed worst, correlating with degree of AO transformation. A spike of 100 μM 2,4,5-trichlorophenol was then applied to each chemostat. The chemostat fed 4-chlorocatechol exhibited the best resistance to the perturbation in terms of maintaining consistent community structure and biomass concentration, whereas the performance of the acetate-fed chemostat was severely impaired in these categories, although it quickly regained capacity to remove organics near pre-perturbation levels demonstrating good resilience. The opposing trends for steady-state versus perturbed performance highlight tradeoffs inherent in coupled chemical-biological systems.
The Long Term Effects of Rural Postings on Health Workers' Careers in Ethiopia: Results of a Natural Experiment

International attention has recently been drawn to the problems of attracting, retaining, and motivating health workers in developing countries, particularly to more remote areas - the so-call human resources in health (HRH) crisis. Ethiopia, with less than one doctor per 100,000 citizens, and virtually no physicians outside urban areas, provides an acute manifestation of this crisis. Rural postings are viewed negatively for both "flow" and "stock" reasons: current living standards may be reduced if the quality of infrastructure, children's education, and general consumption possibilities is low in rural areas; but the medium- to long-term impact of a rural posting on a health worker's future career may represent an important additional cost. Current costs can be offset by higher wages, better housing conditions, etc. However, estimating the size of the longer-term impact - which is necessary if suitable incentives are to be designed - is fraught with selection-induced identification problems. In this paper, we use a unique feature of the Ethiopian health worker allocation mechanism to resolve this problem. Until recently, new medical and nursing school graduates in Ethiopia were assigned to their first posting via a national lottery. We use this natural experiment to assess the long term effects of rural postings on the careers of doctors and nurses, using data from a new survey of about 1,000 health workers in Addis Ababa and two other regions of Ethiopia. We also investigate the impact of the end of the lottery system on the ability of the government to attract workers to remote areas, and on health worker absenteeism.
Numerical Simulations of the XR-5 Hall Thruster for Life Assessment at Different Operating Conditions

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been investigating the applicability of Aerojet Rocketdyne's XR-5 thruster, a 4.5 kW class Hall thruster, for deep-space missions. Major considerations for qualifying the XR-5 for deep-space missions are demonstration of a wide throttling envelope and a usable life capability in excess of 10,000 h. Numerical simulations with the 2-D axisymmetric code Hall2De are employed to inform the qualification process by assessing erosion rates at the thruster surfaces in a wide range of throttling conditions without the need for conducting costly endurance testing. In previous work at JPL by Jorns et al., the anomalous collision frequency distribution for 11 different throttling conditions of the XR-5 spanning 0.3-4.5 kW were identified based on probe measurements of the electron temperature in the near plume region. In this paper, we provide estimates for the erosion rates at the channel walls and pole covers for the same 11 conditions. Uncertainties in the plasma measurements and in the anomalous collision frequency distribution are addressed by determining upper and lower bounds of the erosion rates. Results suggest that erosion of the walls only occurs in the last 5% of the acceleration channel and the rate of such erosion decreases as the geometry of the thruster changes in time due to magnetic shielding. A quasi-zero-erosion state is eventually achieved in all the examined throttling conditions. Examination of the results for pole surface erosion and estimated cathode life indicates that the XR-5 propellant throughput capability will exceed 700 kg, which provides 50% margin over the usable throughput capability of 466 kg as already demonstrated in wear testing.
Direct Observation of the Stepping Behavior of E. Coli UvrD Helicase

Helicases are a diverse set of enzymes that play an essential role in genome maintenance by converting chemical energy into the mechanical work of unzipping nucleic acid duplexes. E. coli UvrD is a prototypical superfamily 1 helicase involved in methyl-directed mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair. Recent measurements have shown that it is able to both unwind and rezip the DNA duplex. Structural, ensemble kinetic, and single-molecule studies have provided insights into the unwinding mechanism of this helicase, but there has not yet been a direct observation of the individual motor steps involved in the process. Here, we use high-resolution optical tweezers to observe directly the stepping behavior of UvrD at a single-molecule level as it unwinds and rezips a DNA hairpin. Interestingly, we measure a step size of 3-4 base pairs for both unwinding and rezipping activities. Furthermore, our analysis of the stepping kinetics indicates that a single rate-limiting step governs the process, which is consistent with ensemble studies measuring an unwinding step size of 4-5 base pairs per rate-limiting step. However, previous studies have determined that 1 ATP molecule is hydrolyzed per base pair translocated, and would predict 3-4 rate-limiting steps per unwinding step. Our results therefore suggest a mechanism whereby UvrD rapidly unwinds 3-4 base pairs, and then must slowly “reset” itself in order to continue its unwinding cycle.
Beyond Single Readability Measures: Using Multiple Sources of Information in Establishing Text Complexity:

A focus of the Common Core State Standards/English Language Arts (CCSS/ELA) is that students become increasingly more capable with complex text over their school careers. This focus has redirected attention to the measurement of text complexity. While suggesting multiple criteria for this task, the CCSS/ELA offers a single measure of text complexity—Lexiles. Additional quantitative data are available—including the two components of a Lexile rating—that can provide more comprehensive views of text complexity. The two “intra-lexile” measures and two others (referential cohesion and an index of words in a text that are predicted to be “hard.”) are applied to sets of exemplars for grade bands 2–3 and 4–5 within the CCSS/ELA. These analyses suggest that conclusions about text complexity vary considerably when multiple quantitative measures, rather than a single, omnibus index, are used.
Float Types in Construction Spatial Scheduling

AbstractEarlier studies investigated spatial scheduling to link schedules of construction activities to workspace availability and constraints. However, previous models lacked the ability to quantify criticality in a manner similar to the critical path method. Previous spatial scheduling models did not provide seamless integration with site logistics planning of material staging and temporary facilities. This paper therefore extracts various float types that can exist in a spatial schedule. Three activity float metrics are defined using singularity functions: shift, rate, and combined floats. An algorithm is established to generate space float contours for a construction site. A validation example demonstrates the new float concepts and space float contours. This research makes two contributions to body of knowledge of construction scheduling. First, activity float metrics expand the capabilities of spatial scheduling models to assess the criticality of activities. Second, the concept of space float enabl...
PITUITARY AND CNS TRH RECEPTORS

Publisher Summary Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH, thyroliberin, pGlu-His-ProNH2) was the first hypothalamic releasing hormone to be structurally characterized. Although its best-known actions are on the anterior pituitary gland, where it stimulates release of thyrotropin (TSH) and prolactin, TRH has a wide distribution in the central nervous system (CNS) and a variety of central effects, both of which suggest that it has a more general role as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. More recently, evidence has accumulated for the presence of and actions of TRH in the gastrointestinal tract as well. Within a few years of the discovery of TRH, binding of radioactive TRH to apparent receptors in various pituitary preparations was reported. Later, similar binding was reported in the CNS. This chapter examines the evidence that binding sites for TRH are receptors and the methodology of these studies. It also considers some selected recent results. In spite of more than 10 years of study, there remain many unresolved questions about TRH receptors.
TOXICITIES OF SELECTED CHLOROANILINES TO FOUR STRAINS OF YEAST

The growth inhibitions of the yeast strains Pichia sp., Rhodotorula sp., Rhodotorula rubra and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker) by aniline (A), and the chloroanilines 4-C1-A; 2,4-Cl2-A; 2,6-Cl2-A; 3,5-Cl2-A; 2,3,4-Cl3-A; 2, 3, 5,6-Cl4-A; and 2,3,4,5,6-Cl5-A were determined. In all cases, the toxicities were found to increase in the order A < 4-C1-1 < 2,6-Cl2-A < 2,4-Cl2-A < 3,5 Cl2-A < 2,3, 4-Cl3-A. Linear structure-activity correlations were obtained for the toxicites as dependent on the octanol/water partition coefficients. The chloroaniline toxicities are also linearly correlated with those to Photobacterium phosphoreum and with the growth inhibitions by the corresponding chlorophenols to the same yeast species.
Online learning of power allocation policies in energy harvesting communications

We consider the problem of power allocation over a time-varying channel with an unknown distribution in energy harvesting communication systems. In this problem, the transmitter needs to choose its transmit power based on the amount of stored energy in its battery with the goal of maximizing the average rate obtained over time. We model this problem as a Markov decision process (MDP) with the transmitter as the agent, the battery status as the state, the transmit power as the action and the rate obtained as the reward. The average reward maximization problem over the MDP can be solved by a linear program (LP) that uses the transition probabilities for the state-action pairs and their mean rewards to choose a power allocation policy. Since the rewards associated the state-action pairs are unknown, we propose an online learning algorithm called UCLP that learns these rewards and adapts its policy with time. The UCLP algorithm solves the LP at each time-step to choose its policy using the upper confidence bounds on the rewards. We prove that the reward loss or regret incurred by UCLP is upper bounded by a constant.