cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissociation studies of CH4-C2H6 and CH4-CO2 binary gas hydrates

Abstract The objective of this work was to enhance understanding of gas hydrate dissociation, and provide information to help evaluate gas hydrate processes, such as ocean CO 2 sequestration and CH 4 recovery from natural gas hydrates in deep sea sediments. The composition and dissociation behavior of CH 4 + C 2 H 6 and CH 4 + CO 2 structure I binary gas hydrates were determined using NMR spectral analysis. Single-pulse excitation was used in combination with magic-angle spinning (MAS). Time-resolved decomposition experiments were carried out on sealed, pressurized samples of both binary gas hydrate systems. Decomposition profiles have been obtained for each case. At the experimental conditions of this work, the gas hydrate composition did not change after the dissociation experiments. These results suggest that the unit cell decomposes as a single entity.
Inferior Vena Caval Syndrome and the Sniff Test for Elevated Central Venous Pressure and Its Contributing Factors

A prospective analysis of 50 apparently healthy subjects and intensive care subjects was performed to determine the reliability of two-dimensional ultrasound in the detection of elevated central venous pressure. The sniff technique was used as a means to determine the caval index of the inferior vena cava. Twodimensional images of the inferior vena cava were obtained 3.5 cm inferior to the right atrium where caval respiratory motion and elasticity were observed. Quantitative analysis (percent inspiratory collapse) was determined by measuring the antenor-to-posterior diameter of the inferor vena cava immediately upon the subject's rapid inspiration and expiration. The sniff test of the inferior vena cava has been found to be a sensitive index of central venous pressure-that is, with either increased vena caval dilatation or central venous pressure, the percent collapse of the inferior vena cava is expected to decrease upon the subject's inspiration. Twenty-two of 50 subjects (44%) tested positive with the ...
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Vaporization for the Treatment of Multiple Trichoepithelioma

Three patients with multiple trichoepitheliomas have been successfully treated using carbon dioxide (CO2) laser vaporization.
Effect of the plant peptide regulator, phytosulfokine-α, on the growth and Taxol production from Taxus sp. suspension cultures

Phytosulfokine-alpha (PSK-alpha) is a small plant peptide (5 amino acids) that displays characteristics typically associated with animal peptide hormones. PSK-alpha was originally isolated based on its mitogenic activity with plant cultures; it has been reported to increase production of tropane alkaloids from Atropa belladonna, although its general influence on secondary metabolite production is unknown. The studies reported in this article were initiated to evaluate the effects of PSK-alpha supplementation on production of Taxol (paclitaxel) from plant cell cultures of Taxus sp. particularly when methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is added as an elicitor of secondary metabolism. The response to PSK-alpha supplementation was cell line dependent. Taxus cuspidata P93AF showed no statistically significant response to PSK-alpha supplementation while Taxus canadensis C93AD and T. cuspidata PO93X displayed a concentration-dependent response (up to 100 nM PSK-alpha added in first 24 h of culture) with a decrease in initial growth rate, an increase in cell density (dry weight/fresh weight), and increased Taxol production. More remarkably with T. canadensis (C93AD), a very strong synergistic response of PSK-alpha (100 nM) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA, 100 microM) elicitation was observed, resulting in Taxol level of 35.3 +/- 2.1 mg/L or 1.83 +/- 0.02 mg Taxol/g dry cell weight achieved at day 21, a level of approximately 10-fold higher than for either treatment by itself. Although the level of Taxol production achieved is not remarkable, this synergistic treatment was able to partially revive taxane production in cultures that have lost productivity due to extended time (over 10 years) in continuous subculture.
Potential role of nitration and oxidation reactions in the effects of peroxynitrite on the function of β-adrenoceptor sub-types in the rat

Abstract This study examined the hemodynamic responses elicited by the β-adrenoceptor agonist, isoproterenol (1 and 10 μg/kg, i.v.) before and after administration of (i) peroxynitrite (10 × 10 μmol/kg, i.v.), (ii) the thiol chelator, para-hydroxymercurobenzoic acid (pHMBA, 75 μmol/kg, i.v.), and (iii) the electron acceptor, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT, 10 μmol/kg, i.v.) in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. The tachycardia elicited by the lower dose of isoproterenol was diminished whereas the tachycardia elicited by the higher dose was not attenuated after administration of peroxynitrite. The falls in hindquarter and renal vascular resistances elicited by both doses of isoproterenol were substantially diminished whereas the isoproterenol-induced falls in mesenteric vascular resistance were not changed after administration of peroxynitrite. All of the isoproterenol-induced responses were markedly attenuated after administration of pHMBA or NBT. These findings suggest that the oxidation and/or nitration of β-adrenoceptors impair the ability of isoproterenol to bind to and/or activate these G protein-coupled receptors. β1-, β2- and β3-adrenoceptors contain extracellular cysteine residues susceptible to oxidation (i.e., disulfide-bridge formation) whereas only the β1- and β2-adrenoceptors contain extracellular tyrosine residues susceptible to nitration. These findings also suggest that sustained impairment of β1- and β2-adrenoceptor function by peroxynitrite is due to nitration of extracellular tyrosine residues in these receptors. By analogy, β3-adrenoceptors may not be permanently affected by peroxynitrite because these receptors are devoid of extracellular tyrosine residues.
Localized migration and dispersal by the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci

Laboratory populations of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, have been shown to consist of both migratory and trivial flying morphs. The behavior of these forms as part of the process of short-range migration was examined under field conditions. Insects were marked in a field of melons using fluorescent dust during two consecutive growing seasons. During the first growing season, passive traps used to collect living whiteflies, were placed along 16 equally spaced transects radiating from the field to a distance of up to 1.0 km. Wind out of the north-east consistently carried migrating whiteflies to traps placed along transects in the south-western quadrant because cold air drainages dictate wind direction during early morning hours in the desert South-west. For this reason, during the second season traps were laid out over fallow ground in a rectangular grid extending 2.7 km to the south-west of the marked field. If dispersal was entirely passive, patterns could be described using a diffusion model. Statistical examination of the data, however, demonstrated that the distribution on all days was patchy. Geostatistical techniques were used to describe the observed patchiness. Traps in the immediate vicinity of the marked field caught more whiteflies than the daily median. Large numbers were also collected from near the periphery of the grid. White-flies were far less prevalent in the grid's center. As a result, the distribution of captured whiteflies can be described as bimodal. These patterns confirm behavior observed in the laboratory, i.e., a portion of the population are trivial fliers that do not engage in migration and are consequently captured in traps near the field, and a portion initially respond to cues associated with skylight, ignoring cues provided by the ground, and fly for a period of time before landing in distant traps. During both years movement out of the field had an exaggerated directional component on 13 of 14 days.
Concentration polarization at the phase boundary of an external tubular reverse osmosis membrane

Abstract The salt concentration polarization at the phase boundary of external reverse osmosis membranes supported by horizontal and vertical tubes in stationary saline water at sea depth has been studied in an approximate way. Distributions of salt concentration and water flux along the perimeter of horizontal tubular membrane channel and along the tube of vertical tubular membrane channel have been found and presented. For horizontal tubes it is found that the salt concentration at the upper stagnation point, the radius and the membrane constant are the factors which affect the salt concentration and water flux distributions. For vertical tubes the membrane constant is the main factor for salt concentration and water flux distributions.
Aspects of Aqueous Iron and Manganese (II/III) Self-Exchange Electron Transfer Reactions

Ab initio methods were applied to the calculation of the reorganization energy λ and the electronic coupling matrix element VAB for the outer-sphere Fe(OH2)6II/III and Mn(OH2)6II/III self-exchange electron transfer (ET) reactions. For the Fe case, we find an appreciable effect on VAB depending on whether the minority spin electron occupies the dxy orbital or a mixture of dxz/dyz orbitals in the FeII ion. While these two possible nearly isoenergetic electron accepting states alter the magnitude and distance dependence of VAB, they do not affect the internal reorganization energy λI to any significant level. The magnitude and distance dependence of VAB are found to be strongly dependent on encounter orientation, as expected. VAB values for corner-to-corner encounter orientations are substantially larger at any given ET distance considered than those for face-to-face encounter orientations. Values of the decay parameter β are in good agreement with well-accepted values. The adiabaticity criterion is tied to ...
Verification of FLASH cache coherence protocol by aggregation of distributed transactions

This paper presents a method to verify the correctness of protocols and distributed algorithms. The method compares a state graph of the implementation with a specification which is a state graph representing the desired abstract behavior. The steps in the specification correspond to atomic transactions, which are not atomic in the implementation.
Experimental Analysis of Vehicle Operation Parameters Affecting Emission Behavior of Public Transport Buses with Alternative Diesel Fuels

Key results are presented from an exhaust emission study conducted on more than 105 buses in idling condition and selected sample buses from seven fleets in real-world operating conditions in Toledo, Ohio, of the effects of varying vehicular operation parameters on public transport bus emissions. It was observed that for the same amount of time in operation, vehicles in idling mode produced higher average concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide than those in on-road operation. Operating the vehicles in normal engine idling mode and with higher engine temperatures was found to reduce vehicular emissions by up to 30% to 42% as compared with fast idling and lower or colder engine temperatures. Performing regular preventive maintenance reduced emission concentrations by 15% to 20%. The results also highlight that a combination of multiple influencing factors including engine technology, vehicle age, vehicular maintenance, fuel, and past and present operating condi...
State-constrained agile missile control with adaptive-critic-based neural networks

In this study, we develop an adaptive-critic-based controller to steer an agile missile that has a constraint on the minimum flight Mach number from various initial Mach numbers to a given final Mach number in minimum time while completely reversing its flightpath angle. This class of bounded state space, free final time problems is very difficult to solve due to discontinuities in costates at the constraint boundaries. We use a two-neural-network structure called "adaptive critic" in this study to carry out the optimization process. This structure obtains an optimal controller through solving optimal control-related equations resulting from a Hamiltonian formulation. Detailed derivations of equations and conditions on the constraint boundary are provided. For numerical experiments, we consider vertical plane scenarios. Flight Mach number and the flightpath angle are the states and the aerodynamic angle of attack is treated as the control. Numerical results bring out some attractive features of the adaptive critic approach and show that this formulation works very well in guiding the missile to its final conditions for this state constrained optimization problem from an envelope of initial conditions.
Electrically Heated Catalysts for Cold-Start Emission Control on Gasoline- and Methanol-Fueled Vehicles

Cold-start emissions from current technology vehicles equipped with catalytic converters can account for over 80 percent of the emissions produced during the Federal Test Procedure (FTP). Excessive pollutants can be emitted for a period of one to two minutes following cold engine starting, partially because the catalyst has not reached an efficient operating temperature. Electrically heated catalysts, which are heated prior to engine starting, have been identified as a potential strategy for controlling cold-start emissions. This paper summarizes the emission results of three gasoline-fueled and three methanol-fueled vehicles equipped with electrically heated catalyst systems. Results from these vehicles demonstrate that heated catalyst technology can provide FTP emission levels of nonmethane organic gases (NMOG), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NO[sub x]) that show promise of meeting the Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards established by the California Air Resources Board.
OSCILLATING CANTILEVER-DRIVEN ADIABATIC REVERSALS IN A PARAMAGNETIC ATOM WITH THE HYPERFINE INTERACTION

We have verified theoretically, an opportunity for the measurement of a nuclear spin state in a paramagnetic atom with oscillating cantilever-driven adiabatic reversals (OSCAR) technique in magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM), which has been applied for a single electron spin detection. We have developed a semi-classical approach, where the electron–nuclear spin system is treated as a quantum mechanical one while the motion of a ferromagnetic particle on the cantilever tip is considered classically. Our computations support the idea of the measurement of a nuclear spin state by detection of a single electron spin. The effect of magnetic noise is also discussed.
Vertical Transmission of Key West Dengue-1 Virus by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes from Florida

Following the 2009 and 2010 dengue-1 (DENV-1) outbreaks in Key West, FL, we used Florida Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes and DENV-1 isolated from Key West in 2010 to test the hypothesis that if the 2009 and 2010 DENV-1 genome sequences are similar, then vertical transmission of DENV-1 from infected Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes to their eggs could have served as an interepidemic reservoir between outbreaks. We also investigated the ability of Florida Aedes albopictus (Skuse) mosquitoes to vertically transmit DENV-1. In addition, we determined the rates of infection and dissemination of these Florida mosquito species for DENV-1 and the effect of DENV-1 infection on oviposition success and number of mosquito eggs laid by females. Vertical transmission of DENV-1 was documented, with rates of 11.11% (2 out of 18) for Ae. albopictus and 8.33% (3 out of 36) for Ae. aegypti. Approximately 93% (111 out of 119) of Ae. aegypti that fed on DENV-1 in blood became infected, and 80% (89 out of 111) of infections were disseminated. Similarly, 93% of Ae. albopictus became infected (53 out of 57), and 85% (45 out of 53) of infections were disseminated. No significant differences were detected in numbers of eggs laid by either species after imbibing DENV-1 in blood, suggesting little cost of infection on number of eggs laid. Our results demonstrate that Florida Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes are competent vectors for DENV-1, whose maintenance between the 2009 and 2010 Key West outbreaks may have been facilitated by vertical transmission.
Influence of the Thyroid on Calcium and Phosphate Concentrations in Extracellular Fluid Compartments

Thyrocalcitonin is known primarily as a hypocalcemic agent; however, the influence of phosphate on the activity of thyro-calcitonin and the influence of the hormone on phosphate itself have not been extensively studied. Therefore, the work reported here was instigated to study the effect of phosphate on the hypocalcemic effects produced by stimulation of endogenous thyrocalcitonin secretion, and later resulted in a study of the influence of the thyroid on plasma calcium levels in the presence of high phosphate challenge. Comparison was made between thyroid-intact and thyroidectomized rats, all bearing functional parathyroid auto-transplants. Our study was focused on the plasma calcium and phosphate changes induced by high phosphate challenge produced by peritoneal lavage or nephrectomy. The experiments presented evidence that endogenous secretion of thyrocalcitonin could be evoked by peritoneal lavage containing high calcium, even in the presence of high circulating phosphate levels. However, of greater s...
Effects of Electrons and Holes on the Transition Layer Characteristics of Linearly Graded P-N Junctions

The dc theory of p-n junctions has been extended, taking into account the mobile carriers or electrons and holes in the transition region. The linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is solved by using a linearization parameter ?, which is a measure of the relative importance of the fixed, ionized impurity space charge compared with the mobile carrier or electron and hole charges in the transition region of the p-n junction. It is found that both the transition layer width and the transition carrier capacitance associated with the electrons and holes in the transition region increase exponentially with applied voltage under forward bias condition. A calculation of the recombination-generation current at a forward bias beyond the built-in or diffusion voltage is now possible with the present theory. The dc theory of junction capacitance compares favorably with experimental measurements of a wide variety of nearly linear-graded diffused silicon junctions.
Combined finite element-modal solution of three-dimensional eddy current problems

The reliability of finite-element methods for modal analysis of two- and three-dimensional eddy-current problems is addressed. Separation of variables is used to convert transient-eddy-current problems into an ordinary differential equation in time and linear combination of normal modes in space. The eigensolution of the vector wave equation by the usual finite-element basis functions usually results in numerical instabilities that render the procedure worthless. It has been found that the root cause of these instabilities is the improper approximation of the null space of the curl operator. Three different methods that eliminate the instabilities completely have been developed. The first method uses C/sup 1/ or derivative continuous finite elements; the second uses tangential vector basis functions developed in a companion paper; and the third uses ordinary Lagrangian finite elements but places them in a special mesh pattern so that C/sup 1/ continuous polynomials are possible, although C/sup 1/ continuity is not imposed. >
Jealousy, a creation of human culture?

To refute the position that jealousy is primarily a creation of human culture, two hypotheses were tested. The first was that jealousy in cats and dogs is frequently inferred by humans. The second ...
Adaptive-length median filters for image processing

The authors propose algorithms using adaptive-length median filters, for improving impulse-noise-removal performance for image processing. The algorithms can achieve significantly better image quality than regular (fixed-length) median filters when the images are corrupted by impulse noise. One of the advantages of the algorithms is that, when realized in hardware, the additional circuitry required is rather simple. Furthermore, the algorithms can easily be integrated into efficient hardware realizations for median filters. Performance-simulation results and implementation issues are discussed. >
State estimation and feedforward tremor suppression for a handheld micromanipulator with a Kalman filter

Active compensation of physiological tremor for handheld micromanipulators depends on fast control and actuation responses. Because of real-world latencies, real-time compensation is usually not completely effective at eliminating unwanted hand motion. By modeling tremor, more effective cancellation is possible by anticipating future hand motion. We propose a feedforward control strategy that utilizes tremor velocity from a state-estimating Kalman filter. We demonstrate that estimating hand motion in a feedforward controller overcomes real-world latencies in micromanipulator actuation. In hold-still tasks with a fully handheld micromanipulator, the proposed feedforward approach improves tremor rejection by over 50%.
Helical Tomotherapy for Parotid Gland Tumors

Purpose To investigate helical tomotherapy (HT) intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) as a postoperative treatment for parotid gland tumors. Methods and Materials Helical tomotherapy plans were developed for 4 patients previously treated with segmental multileaf collimator (SMLC) IMRT. A primary planning target volume (PTV64) and two secondary PTVs (PTV60, PTV54) were defined. The clinical goals from the SMLC plans were applied as closely as possible to the HT planning. The SMLC plans included bolus, whereas HT plans did not. Results In general, the HT plans showed better target coverage and target dose homogeneity. The minimum doses to the desired coverage volume were greater, on average, in the HT plans for all the targets. Minimum PTV doses were larger, on average, in the HT plans by 4.6 Gy ( p = 0.03), 4.8 Gy ( p = 0.06), and 4.9 Gy ( p = 0.06) for PTV64, PTV60, and PTV54, respectively. Maximum PTV doses were smaller, on average, by 2.9 Gy ( p = 0.23), 3.2 Gy ( p = 0.02), and 3.6 Gy ( p = 0.03) for PTV64, PTV60, and PTV54, respectively. Average dose homogeneity index was statistically smaller in the HT plans, and conformity index was larger for PTV64 in 3 patients. Tumor control probabilities were higher for 3 of the 4 patients. Sparing of normal structures was comparable for the two techniques. There were no significant differences between the normal tissue complication probabilities for the HT and SMLC plans. Conclusions Helical tomotherapy treatment plans were comparable to or slightly better than SMLC plans. Helical tomotherapy is an effective alternative to SMLC IMRT for treatment of parotid tumors.
Evaluating Hadoop for Data-Intensive Scientific Operations

Emerging sensor networks, more capable instruments, and ever increasing simulation scales are generating data at a rate that exceeds our ability to effectively manage, curate, analyze, and share it. Data-intensive computing is expected to revolutionize the next-generation software stack. Hadoop, an open source implementation of the MapReduce model provides a way for large data volumes to be seamlessly processed through use of large commodity computers. The inherent parallelization, synchronization and fault-tolerance the model offers, makes it ideal for highly-parallel data-intensive applications. MapReduce and Hadoop have traditionally been used for web data processing and only recently been used for scientific applications. There is a limited understanding on the performance characteristics that scientific data intensive applications can obtain from MapReduce and Hadoop. Thus, it is important to evaluate Hadoop specifically for data-intensive scientific operations -- filter, merge and reorder-- to understand its various design considerations and performance trade-offs. In this paper, we evaluate Hadoop for these data operations in the context of High Performance Computing (HPC) environments to understand the impact of the file system, network and programming modes on performance.
Exploiting synchronous and asynchronous DVS for feedback EDF scheduling on an embedded platform

Contemporary processors support dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) to reduce power consumption by varying processor voltage/frequency dynamically. We develop power-aware feedback--DVS algorithms for hard real-time systems that adapt to dynamically changing workloads. The algorithms lower execution speed while guaranteeing timing constraints. We study energy consumption for synchronous and asynchronous DVS switching on a PowerPC board. Energy, measured via data acquisition, is reduced up to 70p over naive DVS for our feedback scheme with 24p peak savings over previous algorithms. These results, albeit differing in quantity, confirm trends observed under simulation. They are the first of their kind on an embedded board.
Substrate Integrated Waveguide Loaded by Complementary Split-Ring Resonators for Miniaturized Diplexer Design

A novel high-performance planar diplexer is developed based on the substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) with complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs) etched on the waveguide surface. The proposed diplexer is operated below the characteristic cutoff frequency of the waveguide. The filtering response of the SIW-CSRR combined structure is investigated first. The diplexer is then implemented based on two cascaded two-pole bandpass filters. Equivalent circuit, simulated results and experimental verification are all provided. This diplexer shows advantages in terms of the compact size, low loss, high isolation, easy fabrication and integration with other circuits.
Friend or foe? Cooperation and learning in high-stakes games

Abstract Why do people frequently cooperate in defiance of their immediate incentives? One explanation is that individuals are conditionally cooperative. As an explanation of behavior in one-shot settings, such preferences require individuals to be able to discern their opponents' preferences. Using data from a television game show, we provide evidence about how individuals implement conditionally cooperative preferences. We show that contestants forgo large sums of money to be cooperative; they cooperate at heightened levels when their opponents are predictably cooperative; and they fare worse when their observable characteristics predict less cooperation because opponents avoid cooperating with them.
LKB1 inhibition of NF‐κB in B cells prevents T follicular helper cell differentiation and germinal center formation

Abstract T‐cell‐dependent antigenic stimulation drives the differentiation of B cells into antibody‐secreting plasma cells and memory B cells, but how B cells regulate this process is unclear. We show that LKB1 expression in B cells maintains B‐cell quiescence and prevents the premature formation of germinal centers (GCs). Lkb1‐ deficient B cells (BKO) undergo spontaneous B‐cell activation and secretion of multiple inflammatory cytokines, which leads to splenomegaly caused by an unexpected expansion of T cells. Within this cytokine response, increased IL‐6 production results from heightened activation of NF‐κB, which is suppressed by active LKB1. Secreted IL‐6 drives T‐cell activation and IL‐21 production, promoting T follicular helper (T FH ) cell differentiation and expansion to support a ~100‐fold increase in steady‐state GC B cells. Blockade of IL‐6 secretion by BKO B cells inhibits IL‐21 expression, a known inducer of T FH ‐cell differentiation and expansion. Together, these data reveal cell intrinsic and surprising cell extrinsic roles for LKB1 in B cells that control T FH ‐cell differentiation and GC formation, and place LKB1 as a central regulator of T‐cell‐dependent humoral immunity.
An Examination of the Statistics of Breakdown in a Pressurized, Flowing, Synthetic Oil Dielectric

An investigation of the statistical properties of dielectric breakdown in the synthetic oil dielectric poly-alpha olefin as a function of both oil pressure and inter-electrode gap separation has generated several important findings. Our results confirm previous investigators' findings relating a nonlinear relationship between the mean breakdown electric field strength and the operating pressure. We demonstrate a similar effect relating the standard deviation of the breakdown electric fields strength and pressure that depends upon the gap separation.
Voltage‐gated currents distinguish parvocellular from magnocellular neurones in the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

1. Magnocellular and parvocellular neurones of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) differentially regulate pituitary hormone secretion and autonomic output. Previous experiments have suggested that magnocellular, or type I neurones, and parvocellular, or type II neurones, of the PVN express different electrophysiological properties. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed in hypothalamic slices to identify the voltage-gated currents responsible for the electrophysiological differences between type I and type II PVN neurones. 2. Type I neurones, which display transient outward rectification and lack a low-threshold spike (LTS), generated a large A-type K+ current (IA) (mean +/- s.e. m.: 1127.5 +/- 126.4 pA; range: 250-3600 pA; voltage steps to -25 mV) but expressed little or no T-type Ca2+ current (IT). Type II neurones, which lack transient outward rectification but often display an LTS, expressed a smaller IA (360.1 +/- 56.3 pA; range: 40-1100 pA; voltage steps to -25 mV), and 75 % of the type II neurones generated an IT (-402.5 +/- 166.9 pA; range: -90 to -2200 pA; at peak). 3. The voltage dependence of IA was shifted to more negative values in type I neurones compared to type II neurones. Thus, the activation threshold (-53.5 +/- 0.9 and -46.1 +/- 2.6 mV), the half-activation potential (-25 +/- 1.9 and -17.9 +/- 2.0 mV), the half-inactivation potential (-80.4 +/- 9.3 and -67.2 +/- 3.0 mV), and the potential at which the current became fully inactivated (-57.4 +/- 2.1 and -49.8 +/- 1.5 mV) were more negative in type I neurones than in type II neurones, respectively. 4. IT in type II neurones activated at a threshold of -59.2 +/- 1.2 mV, peaked at -32. 6 +/- 1.7 mV, was half-inactivated at -66.9 +/- 2.2 mV, and was fully inactivated at -52.2 +/- 2.2 mV. 5. Both cell types expressed a delayed rectifier current with similar voltage dependence, although it was smaller in type I neurones (389.7 +/- 39.3 pA) than in type II neurones (586.4 +/- 76.0 pA). 6. In type I neurones IA was reduced by 41.1 +/- 7.0 % and the action potential delay caused by the transient outward rectification was reduced by 46.2 +/- 10.3 % in 5 mM 4-aminopyridine. In type II neurones IT was reduced by 66.8 +/- 10.9 % and the LTS was reduced by 76.7 +/- 7.8 % in 100 microM nickel chloride, but neither IT nor LTS was sensitive to 50 microM cadmium chloride. 7. Thus, differences in the electrophysiological properties between type I, putative magnocellular neurones and type II, putative parvocellular neurones of the PVN can be attributed to the differential expression of voltage-gated K+ and Ca2+ currents. This diversity of ion channel expression is likely to have profound effects on the response properties of these neurosecretory and non-neurosecretory neurones.
Surface plasmon enhanced emission from InGaN single-quantum-well light emitting diodes

Electrically injected surface plasmon LEDs have been demonstrated for InGaN light emitting diodes with emission at 460 nm. A seven times enhancement has been observed at high currents with larger enhancements observed at lower currents.
A note on the “electronic theory” of cancer

In Szent-Gyorgyi's theory of cancer development the transformed cell reverts to a more primitive state because oxidative processes break down. This breakdown is caused by a “conductive” protein reverting to a nonconductive state, thereby preventing electron flow in the respiratory chain. This novel theory suggests novel experimental approaches, some of which are outlined in the text. Finally it is shown that protein molecules, if they are conductors (have a partially filled band), interact much more strongly with each other than when they possess completely filled valence bands.
Smart DC micro-grid for efficient utilization of distributed renewable energy

A new, smart distributed DC micro-grid suitable for high-penetration and that efficiently utilizes energy available from distributed, renewable generators is described. It is shown that energy saving in excess of 10% is feasible using the proposed DC power distribution system when compared to the current approach where inverters are used. This conclusion is substantiated by first-order calculations of a 50 kW solar photovoltaics (PV) array delivering power to DC-compatible electrical loads typically present in a household and/or commercial building. Further energy saving may be achieved by replacing state-of-the-art silicon-based DC-DC power converters with more-efficient emerging Gallium Nitride (GaN) FET converters at a reduced cost. The proposed DC micro-grid architecture is hybrid in nature and is easily scalable to other power levels. It is ideally suited for residential and commercial applications as well as for powering sustainable communities.
Different Residues Mediate Recognition of 1-O-Oleyllysophosphatidic Acid and Rosiglitazone in the Ligand Binding Domain of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ

Here we showed that a naturally occurring ether analog of lysophosphatidic acid, 1-O-octadecenyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (AGP), is a high affinity partial agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Binding studies using the PPARgamma ligand binding domain showed that [32P]AGP and [3H]rosiglitazone (Rosi) both specifically bind to PPARgamma and compete with each other. [32P]AGP bound PPARgamma with an affinity (Kdapp 60 nm) similar to that of Rosi. However, AGP displaced approximately 40% of bound [3H]Rosi even when applied at a 2000-fold excess. Activation of PPARgamma reporter gene expression by AGP and Rosi showed similar potency, yet AGP-mediated activation was approximately 40% that of Rosi. A complex between AGP and PPARgamma was generated using molecular modeling based on a PPARgamma crystal structure. AGP-interacting residues were compared with Rosi-interacting residues identified within the Rosi-PPARgamma co-crystal complex. These comparisons showed that the two ligands occupy partially overlapping positions but make different hydrogen bonding and ion pairing interactions. Site-specific mutants of PPARgamma were prepared to examine individual ligand binding. H323A and H449A mutants showed reduced binding of Rosi but maintained binding of AGP. In contrast, the R288A showed reduced AGP binding but maintained Rosi binding. Finally, alanine replacement of Tyr-473 abolished binding and activation by Rosi and AGP. These observations indicate that the endogenous lipid mediator AGP is a high affinity ligand of PPARgamma but that it binds via interactions distinct from those involved in Rosi binding. These distinct interactions are likely responsible for the partial PPARgamma agonism of AGP.
ACL Injury and Rehabilitation

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a primary restraint to anterior tibial translation and a significant contributor to both static and dynamic knee stability, especially for sports and activities that require deceleration and aggressive cutting and pivoting movements. ACL injuries have a significant impact on individual function and on the health care economy, and continue to be prevalent and disproportionate, affecting more women than men. Factors have been identified which can help predict success in non-operative treatment, and surgical procedures have advanced to the point of ensuring a reliable outcome with respect to joint stability. Rehabilitation interventions focus on enhancing lower extremity strength, stability, and neuromuscular control. Both operative and non-operative treatment options, however, have been associated with an increased risk of later osteoarthritis. ACL prevention programs have attempted to correct flaws in movement patterns and neuromuscular control, but long-term data on the efficacy of these programs and of specific interventions are lacking.
Estimation of Information Theoretic Measures for Continuous Random Variables

We analyze the estimation of information theoretic measures of continuous random variables such as: differential entropy, mutual information or Kullback-Leibler divergence. The objective of this paper is two-fold. First, we prove that the information theoretic measure estimates using the k-nearest-neighbor density estimation with fixed k converge almost surely, even though the k-nearest-neighbor density estimation with fixed k does not converge to its true measure. Second, we show that the information theoretic measure estimates do not converge for k growing linearly with the number of samples. Nevertheless, these nonconvergent estimates can be used for solving the two-sample problem and assessing if two random variables are independent. We show that the two-sample and independence tests based on these nonconvergent estimates compare favorably with the maximum mean discrepancy test and the Hilbert Schmidt independence criterion.
Communication-aware target tracking using navigation functions - Centralized case

In this paper we consider a team of robots that are tasked with tracking a moving target cooperatively, while maintaining their connectivity to a base station and avoiding collision. We propose a novel extension of the classical navigation function framework in order to ensure task completion. More specifically, we modify the classical definition of the navigation functions to 1) incorporate measures of link qualities and 2) include the impact of a time-varying objective. Our proposed communication-aware navigation function framework is aimed at maintaining robot connectivity in realistic communication environments, while avoiding collision with both fixed and moving obstacles. We consider both packet-dropping and communicationnoise based receivers. We furthermore prove the convergence of the proposed framework under certain conditions. Finally, our simulation results show the performance of the proposed navigation framework.
Influence of Changing Water Sources and Mineral Chemistry on the Everglades Ecosystem

Human influences during the previous century increased mineral inputs to the Florida Everglades by changing the sources and chemistry of surface inflows. Biogeochemical responses to this enrichment include changes in the availability of key limiting nutrients such as P, the potential for increased turnover of nutrient pools due to accelerated plant decomposition, and increased rates of mercury methylation associated with sulfate enrichment. Mineral enrichment has also been linked to the loss of sensitive macrophyte species, although dominant Everglades species appear tolerant of a broad range of mineral chemistry. Shifts in periphyton community composition and function provide an especially sensitive indicator of mineral enrichment. Understanding the influence of mineral chemistry on Everglades processes and biota may improve predictions of ecosystem responses to ongoing hydrologic restoration efforts and provide guidelines for protecting remaining mineral-poor areas of this peatland.
Value pricing in presence of network effects

Value pricing requires a marketer to price his/her product according to the value the product brings to its user. A product with network effects makes it difficult to assess the value of the product to its customer, thus presenting a challenge to the value pricing principle. This paper reviews the relevant literatures in value pricing and network effects and provides an integrated model to price products with network effects. The value of a product with network effects is decomposed into two parts: autarky value and synchronization value. Linearly combining the two types of values, the model can price both stand‐alone products (with synchronization value equal to zero) and network products (with or without autarky value).
Quantitative computerized analysis of lower incisor changes: a longitudinal implant study in man.

Abstract No Abstract Available. Read before the 23rd biennial meeting of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, October 1979, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Post Walrasian Macroeconomics: Not More So: Some Concepts Outside the DSGE Framework

The first part of this paper shows how policy advices based on the standard dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) framework were ineffective when significant degree of uncertainty surrounds consequences of alternative choices, and when, as the DSGE framework does, combinatorial aspects or effects of agents forming clusters of alternative choices, that is entropy effects, are ignored. In a shorter second section we mention a few other concepts outside the mainstream macroeconomics that are important to more realisitic modeling of macroeconomy, and yet missing in the DSGE models, such as random partitions of agents into clusters, distributions of sizes of clusters, ultrametrics to measure distances between clussters, and evolutionary aspects of dynamics, that is entries by new types of agents or goods.
Epicuticular Hydrocarbon Composition of Wild and Laboratory-reared Drosophila mojavensis Patterson and Crow (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Epicuticular hydrocarbons of Drosophila mojavensis (Patterson & Crow) were identified and quantified as a preliminary to an investigation into the involvement of epicuticular hydrocarbons in the behavioral and physiological ecology of catiphilic Drosophila Epicuticular hydrocarbons of D. mojavensis contain 23 to 39 carbon atoms, with >96% of the total hydrocarbon containing 29 to 37 carbons. Odd-chain lengths predominate. Alkanes consist almost entirely of C 29 , C 33 2-methyl-branched molecules. Alkenes are mostly C 31 to C 37 and are unusual in that a significant proportion consist of methyl-branched molecules. The n-alkenes are mostly (Z)-10- and (Z)-12-, but lesser amounts of (Z)-9-, 13-, 14-, 15-, and 16- also occur. The 2-methyl-branched alkenes are predominantly (Z)-8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-. The predominant alkadiene positional isomers (7,23- and 8,24-C 33.2 , 7,25- and 8,26- C 35.2 , 7,27- and 8,28-C 37.2 ) represent a symmetric arrangement of double bonds that has not heretofore been reported for insects. Ontogeny is accompanied by a doubling in total hydrocarbon per fly, primarily because of increases in the amount of alkadienes. Sexual dimorphism in epicuticular hydrocarbon profile was detected in the percentage abundance of many components and in the relative amounts of C 35.2 and C 37.2 . Ontogenic patterns for many individual hydrocarbon components also are sexually dimorphic. Flies in nature have significantly less total hydrocarbon than laboratory-reared flies and differ in the relative amounts of several olefinic components as well, leading to the suggestion that epicuticular hydrocarbon synthesis and deposition in wild flies may be affected by compounds in the rotting tissue of their host cacti. Finally, we suggest that insect chemosystematic studies using epicuticular hydrocarbon might take advantage of the diversity in olefin positional isomers that apparently exists in a number of insect groups
Empirical Minimum Bayes Risk Prediction

When building vision systems that predict structured objects such as image segmentations or human poses, a crucial concern is performance under task-specific evaluation measures (e.g., Jaccard Index or Average Precision). An ongoing research challenge is to optimize predictions so as to maximize performance on such complex measures. In this work, we present a simple meta-algorithm that is surprisingly effective – Empirical Min Bayes Risk . EMBR takes as input a pre-trained model that would normally be the final product and learns three additional parameters so as to optimize performance on the complex instance-level high-order task-specific measure. We demonstrate EMBR in several domains, taking existing state-of-the-art algorithms and improving performance up to 8 percent, simply by learning three extra parameters. Our code is publicly available and the results presented in this paper can be replicated from our code-release.
College Students Who are Parents Need Equitable Services for Retention

Growing populations which represent undergraduate students who are parents include females, non-traditional age students, and mothers who are single and living in poverty. Student-parent retention services appeared extremely disproportionate to the number of student-parents on campuses. Studentparents in this quantitative analysis showed significant differences in motivation, classroom experiences, and goal attainment influenced by the ages of their children, degree plan, and their own age. Parents with older children had higher levels of motivation and goal attainment when compared to parents with younger children. Parents earning 4-year degrees had lower levels of motivation and weaker classroom experiences compared to those earning 2-year degrees. Non-traditional age parents had higher levels of goal attainment. The traditional age student-parents with young children pursuing a 4-year degree showed the greatest impediments to persistence.
Ultrafast Band Engineering and Transient Spin Currents in Antiferromagnetic Oxides

We report a dynamic structure and band engineering strategy with experimental protocols to induce indirect-to-direct band gap transitions and coherently oscillating pure spin-currents in three-dimensional antiferromagnets (AFM) using selective phononic excitations. In the Mott insulator LaTiO3, we show that a photo-induced nonequilibrium phonon mode amplitude destroys the spin and orbitally degenerate ground state, reduces the band gap by 160 meV and renormalizes the carrier masses. The time scale of this process is a few hundreds of femtoseconds. Then in the hole-doped correlated metallic titanate, we show how pure spin-currents can be achieved to yield spin-polarizations exceeding those observed in classic semiconductors. Last, we demonstrate the generality of the approach by applying it to the non-orbitally degenerate AFM CaMnO3. These results advance our understanding of electron-lattice interactions in structures out-of-equilibrium and establish a rational framework for designing dynamic phases that may be exploited in ultrafast optoelectronic and optospintronic devices.