cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The rotation period of Uranus

On 24 January 1986 the spacecraft Voyager 2 transversed the innermost magnetosphere of the planet Uranus, coming as close as 4.2 Uranus radii to the planet. It is pointed out that the magnetic field data provide a direct measure of the rotation period of the planet's interior, where the field is generated. Two period determinations are reported. A combination of the obtained values provides a weighted mean value of P = 17.24 + or - 0.01 h. It is concluded that the 17.24-h rotation period has important consequences for studies of atmospheric dynamics and the internal structure and composition of Uranus. Thus, inferences regarding the internal structure can be drawn from the relationship between the observed planetary oblateness, rotation period, and gravitational moment.
Chemical Synthesis of Monodisperse Magnetic Nanoparticles for Sensitive Cancer Detection

This short tutorial review highlights the advance in high temperature solution phase chemical synthesis of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), especially iron oxide NPs, as contrast enhancement agents for cancer detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It introduces briefly the unique nanomagnetism of MNPs required for MRI. It then summarizes some typical methods used to prepare monodisperse Fe3O4 and ferrite MFe2O4 MNPs from high temperature organic phase reaction with controlled magnetic properties. It further outlines the chemistry used to make these MNPs biocompatible and target-specific. Finally it presents two examples to demonstrate the MNP control achieved from chemical synthesis for sensitive detection of cancer.
The HPLC analysis of thiamin and riboflavin in potatoes

Abstract A simple HPLC method for the analysis of thiamin (as thiochrome) and riboflavin in both raw and cooked potato is described. The potato extract, after a minimum clean up, is injected onto a C 18 reverse phase column and the vitamins are separated isocratically with water:methanol. The use of fluorescence detection, which is highly specific and sensitive, minimises the number of interfering peaks. Recoveries of both vitamins, when taken through the method or added to potato samples before extraction, are consistently better than 90%. The results for thiamin in the potato are slightly higher than those obtained by the AOAC (1980) chemical method, whereas the reverse is true for riboflavin. The method may have application to other food matrices and is more rapid than the AOAC (1980) chemical method.
Images of AFL under certain families of homomorphisms

An AFL is a family of sets of words closed under six basic operations. It is shown that a certain family of homomorphic images of sets in an AFL is an AFL. Then two families of sets related to tape-bounded nondeterministic Turing acceptors are shown to coincide and be an AFL.
The Stanford V regimen is effective in patients with good risk Hodgkin lymphoma but radiotherapy is a necessary component

One-hundred and thirteen patients between the ages of 15 and 88 years with biopsy proven, untreated Hodgkin lymphoma were treated by physicians in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group using the Stanford V regimen (bleomycin, doxorubicin, etoposide, mechlorethamine, prednisone, vinblastine and vincristine) between January 1997 and January 2006. With a median follow-up of all surviving patients of 63 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 84% and the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 74%. Age >60 years, other than nodular sclerosing histological subtype, Ann Arbor Stage III/IV, and the presence of B-symptoms significantly predicted treatment outcome. Patients with 0-2 of these factors had a 5-year PFS and OS of 80% and 89% vs. 20% and 40% for patients with 3 or 4 factors. Patients who received radiotherapy had a superior 5-year PFS (86% vs. 42%) and OS (96% vs. 53%). Patients with 0-2 adverse risk factors who received radiotherapy had an excellent treatment outcome with 5-year PFS of 88% and a 5-year OS of 97%. The Stanford V chemotherapy regimen has an excellent treatment outcome for good prognosis patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. The results are compromised when radiotherapy is not utilized.
Focus on bladder cancer

Supported by NIH Specialized Programs of Research Excellence Grant in Genitourinary Cancer CA91846, and National Cancer Institute Grants CA16672, CA066723, and CA85078.
Hotelling trace criterion as a figure of merit for the optimization of imaging systems

A scalar figure of merit is presented that characterizes how well two or more object classes are separated for classification purposes. This scalar, the Hotelling trace criterion (HTC), can also be used as a measure of the performance of an imaging system in maintaining object-class separability. As an example, the HTC is applied to finding the optimum placement of pinholes in a simple coded-aperture system. Such a system could be used for tomographic imaging in nuclear medicine.
Communication---On “Dynamic Programming for a Stochastic Markovian Process with an Application to the Mean Variance Models” by J. Goldwerger

Communication---On “Dynamic Programming for a Stochastic Markovian Process with an Application to the Mean Variance Models” by J. Goldwerger, Management Sci.23 6 612--620.
High Enrichment and Recovery of Dilute Hydrocarbons by Dual-Reflux Pressure-Swing Adsorption

A twin-bed, dual (stripping and enriching)-reflux pressure-swing adsorption (DR-PSA) system utilizing an intermediate feed position in the columns was designed, constructed, and operated to study the separation and concentration of a dilute feed of ethane in nitrogen using WestVaco BAX-1500 activated carbon. Four runs were performed, changing only the stripping or enriching reflux ratios. In all the runs, the ethane was enriched between 50 and 90 times with a pressure ratio of only 8. In addition, high heavy-component recoveries were obtained, with the purity and recovery of nitrogen also being very high. The best case enriched a 0.75 vol % ethane feed to 68.4 vol % with an ethane recovery of 99.6%. The nitrogen purity was also very high containing only 30 ppm of ethane in the light product stream. This separation was markedly better than that achievable with a conventional stripping reflux PSA process, and it suggests that it should be entirely feasible to produce two very pure products from a dilute fee...
Trauma and thyroid-induced tachycardia

Excluding a source of hemorrhage after blunt trauma in a patient who presents with a sustained tachycardia can be challenging. This report is of two trauma patients presenting with undiagnosed thyrotoxicosis. Trauma-triggered thyrotoxicosis is rarely reported in the literature. The confusing presentation, the laboratory analysis, and the response to therapeutic intervention are reviewed.
Local heroes. The long-term effects of short-term prosperity : An example from the Canadian Arctic

Abstract In the Canadian Arctic, there are three groups of mammals that were commonly exploited by prehistoric peoples. These are the pinnipeds (seals and walrus), various whales including beluga and bowhead, and the terrestrial herd species, caribou and musk ox. The ringed seal is ubiquitous in the region and available for hunting year round. The other species are spatially and, in many instances, numerically and seasonally restricted. Archaeological data from all periods of human occupation (2500 bc to the recent past) indicate that the ringed seal was the long‐term staple for all coastal peoples, both Palaeoeskimo and Neoeskimo. We might therefore expect that ringed seal would have played a significant role in socio‐economic systems, particularly as these developed over the long term. However, recent archaeological data suggests that cultural institutions in the Canadian Arctic may have been most heavily influenced by shorter‐term, intensive, and regionally restricted patterns of alternative resource e...
Hepatic lipid profiling of deer mice fed ethanol using 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy: A dose-dependent subchronic study

Chronic alcohol abuse is a 2nd major cause of liver disease resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by a wide spectrum of pathologies starting from fat accumulation (steatosis) in early reversible stage to inflammation with or without fibrosis and cirrhosis in later irreversible stages. Previously, we reported significant steatosis in the livers of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-deficient (ADH⁻) vs. hepatic ADH-normal (ADH⁺) deer mice fed 4% ethanol daily for 2 months [Bhopale et al., 2006, Alcohol 39, 179-188]. However, ADH⁻ deer mice fed 4% ethanol also showed a significant mortality. Therefore, a dose-dependent study was conducted to understand the mechanism and identify lipid(s) involved in the development of ethanol-induced fatty liver. ADH⁻ and ADH⁺ deer mice fed 1, 2 or 3.5% ethanol daily for 2 months and fatty infiltration in the livers were evaluated by histology and by measuring dry weights of extracted lipids. Lipid metabolomic changes in extracted lipids were determined by proton (¹H) and ³¹phosphorus (³¹P) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The NMR data was analyzed by hierarchical clustering (HC) and principle component analysis (PCA) for pattern recognition. Extensive vacuolization by histology and significantly increased dry weights of total lipids found only in the livers of ADH⁻ deer mice fed 3.5% ethanol vs. pair-fed controls suggest a dose-dependent formation of fatty liver in ADH⁻ deer mouse model. Analysis of NMR data of ADH⁻ deer mice fed 3.5% ethanol vs. pair-fed controls shows increases for total cholesterol, esterified cholesterol, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), triacylglycerides and unsaturation, and decreases for free cholesterol, phospholipids and allylic and diallylic protons. Certain classes of neutral lipids (cholesterol esters, fatty acyl chain (-COCH₂-) and FAMEs) were also mildly increased in ADH⁻ deer mice fed 1 or 2% ethanol. Only small increases were observed for allylic and diallylic protons, FAMEs and unsaturations in ADH⁺ deer mice fed 3.5% ethanol vs. pair-fed controls. PCA of NMR data showed increased clustering by gradual separation of ethanol-fed ADH⁻ deer mice groups from their respective pair-fed control groups and corresponding ethanol-fed ADH⁺ deer mice groups. Our data indicate that dose of ethanol and hepatic ADH deficiency are two key factors involved in initiation and progression of alcoholic fatty liver disease. Further studies on characterization of individual lipid entities and associated metabolic pathways altered in our deer mouse model after different durations of ethanol feeding could be important to delineate mechanism(s) and identify potential biomarker candidate(s) of early stage ALD.
A wavelet transform approach to the design of complementary sequences for communications

In this paper periodic complementary sequences with symmetric and anti-symmetric extension are designed using a periodic wavelet transform approach. Explicit formulae for these sequences are derived. The non-periodic complementary sequences are members of both of these sets. A systematic approach for the generation of all Golay sequences of a given length is also described
SeaBeam depth changes associated with recent lava flows, Coaxial Segment, Juan De Fuca Ridge: Evidence for multiple eruptions between 1981–1993

After a swarm of earthquakes was detected on the CoAxial segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge in June-July 1993, the area was resurveyed with SeaBeam multibeam sonar to search for depth changes associated with a submarine volcanic eruption. Quantitative comparison of the 1993 SeaBeam survey with surveys in 1981/82 and 1991 shows one area of seafloor depth change (up to 29 m) between 1991–93 exactly where a pristine lava flow was discovered. In addition, two other depth anomalies (up to 37 m and 20 m) are identified between 1981–91, evidence that other recent eruptions have occurred along this spreading ridge segment.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE REFINEMENT AND MOSSBAUER SPECTROSCOPY OF AN ORDERED, TRICLINIC CLINOCHLORE

The crystal structure of a natural, ordered IIb-4 triclinic clinochlore has been refined in space group C1 from 4282 unique X-ray intensity measurements of which 3833 are greater than 3 times the statistical counting error (3σ). Unit cell parameters are a = 5.3262(6) A; b = 9.226(1) A; c = 14.334(3) A; α = 90.56(2)°; β = 97.47(2)°; and γ = 89.979(9)°, which represents the greatest deviation from mono-clinic symmetry yet recorded for a triclinic chlorite. The final weighted R is 0.059 for reflections with I > 3σ and 0.064 for all reflections. The chemical formula is (Mg0.966Fe0.034)MI(Mg0.962Fe0.038)M22(Si2.96Al1.04)O10 (OH)2(Mg0.996Fe0.004)M32(Al0.841FeIII0.102Cr0.004Ti0.004)M4(OH)6, which is consistent with electron microprobe (EMP), wet chemical analyses, Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray structure refinement. The high degree of ordering of the divalent versus trivalent octahedral cations in the interlayer is noteworthy, with FeIII and Al in M4 and virtually no Fe in M3. In the 2:1 layer, M1 and M2 each contain similar amounts of Fe. The 2 tetrahedral sites have nearly identical mean oxygen distances and volumes, and thus show no evidence of long-range cation ordering.
Role of Pathology and Immunohistochemistry in the New Era Of Molecular Therapy

The modern practice of pathology entails increasing involvement with management of cancer patients. Pathologists are often faced with clinical and research involvements that obligate them to search for prognostic and therapeutic markers on patients' tumor samples. A practical example would be the detection of HER2-neu in breast cancer which has revolutionized the use of prognostic-therapeutic immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the practical management of patients. Numerous other markers and proliferation pathways have recently been elucidated in many human cancers including pediatric cancers. Although most of these markers are being detected by conventional molecular techniques, IHC methods, routinely practiced in histopathologic laboratories, are being employed at an increasing pace. Since most of these proliferation markers are also the targets of new specific therapy, their positive identification often correlates with the appropriateness of that specific therapy and with other parameters that can gauge the patient's prognosis. A good example is the identification of epidermal growth factor receptor by IHC in the patient's lung tumor as an indicator of the tumor responsiveness to "Gefitinib". Such potential application of immunohistochemistry in patients' care necessitates adequate standardization of this technique to optimize patients' management, since erroneous results can lead to erroneous management of patients with cancer. These facts will initiate a new role for pathology laboratory departments to provide a stronger impact on patients' managements.
Heart Failure in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Future Research

With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has become a chronic disease with longer life expectancy.1 The HIV Outpatient Study showed that, with the addition of antiretroviral therapy (ART), mortality declined from 29.4 to 8.8 per 100 person-years.2 More recent data indicate that the proportions of patients expected to survive 5, 10, and 15 years after seroconversion in the HAART era are 99%, 93%, and 89%, respectively.3 With the increased life expectancy and decreased morbidity from opportunistic infections, the recognition and importance of chronic complications associated with HIV-1 infection are becoming more evident. Cardiac diseases are common complications found in these patients. The spectrum of heart diseases varies significantly between developed and developing countries and, in developed countries, between pre-HAART and post-HAART eras.4 Among them, HIV-associated cardiomyopathy, broadly defined as a decreased left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction or dilated LV by imaging studies, with or without symptoms of heart failure, is currently recognized as a major long-term complication of HIV-1 infection in developing countries; however, it is still prevalent in developed countries.4 Many questions regarding its pathogenesis and treatment remain unanswered. The epidemiology of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy has changed since the first report in 1986.5 The advent of HAART has significantly altered both the incidence and prevalence of this disease, and the definition of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy has also evolved from one of primarily systolic dysfunction to now reflect the growing recognition of diastolic dysfunction in these patients. The incidence of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy is difficult to ascertain because very few studies actually evaluated this measure. In the pre-ART era, HIV-associated cardiomyopathy was defined as symptomatic, systolic dysfunction with a dilated LV and was seen almost exclusively in patients with advanced HIV disease and AIDS. These older studies, …
Ubiquitin immunoreactivity in kuru plaques in Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease

Cerebellar kuru plaques in 2 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were studied immunohistochemically. Similar to cerebellar senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease, many kuru plaques contained ubiquitin-positive, tau-negative small granular elements, presumably representing dystrophic neurites. Our results suggest that similar mechanisms are involved in neuritic changes in cerebellar plaques in Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Alzheimer's diseases despite differences of amyloid proteins in the plaques.
Drawing insight from student perceptions of reflective design learning

While design and designing are core elements in computer science and software engineering, conventional curricular structures do not adequately support design learning. Current methods tend to isolate the study of design within specific subject matter and lack a strong emphasis on reflection. This paper reports on insights and lessons learned from a user study in the context of ongoing work on developing an educational intervention that better supports design learning with a particular emphasis on learner-driven reflection. Insights drawn from this study relate to general aspects of design learning, such as the importance of collaborative reflection and the impact of learner perceptions regarding their abilities, as well as to specific improvements to our approach.
Identification and characterization of performance limiting regions in poly-Si wafers for PV cells

As demand for silicon photovoltaic (PV) material increases, so does the need for cost-effective feedstock and production methods that will allow enhanced penetration of silicon PV into the total energy market. The focus on cost minimization for production of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) PV has led to relaxed feedstock purity requirements, which has also introduced undesirable characteristics into cast poly-Si PV wafers. To produce cells with the highest possible conversion efficiencies, it is crucial to understand how reduced purity requirements and defects that are introduced through the casting process can impair minority carrier properties in poly-Si PV cells. This is only possible by using multiple characterization techniques that give macro-scale information (such as the spatial distribution of performance-limiting regions), as well as micro and nano-scale information about the structural and chemical nature of such performance-limiting regions. This study demonstrates the usefulness of combining multiple techniques to analyze performance-limiting regions in the poly-Si wafers that are used for PV cells. This is done by first identifying performance-limiting regions using macro-scale techniques including photoluminescence (PL) imaging, microwave photoconductive decay (μPCD), and reflectometry), then using smaller-scale techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), cathodoluminescence (CL), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the nature of such regions. This analysis shows that structural defects as well as metallic impurities are present in performance-limiting regions, which together act to decrease conversion efficiencies in poly-Si PV cells.
Indigenous and Cultural Psychology: Understanding People in Context

There is growing recognition that psychological theories and principles developed in the West may not accurately reflect those found in other cultures. The newly published book entitled Indigenous and Cultural Psychology: Understanding People in Context has made an important contribution in expanding the scope of psychology. The contributing authors depicted their ultimate goal of developing a universal psychology. The purpose of this article is to review the book from a transpersonal psychology perspective with the hope of facilitating this process. Basing our thoughts on the theoretical framework of perennial psychology and positive psychology, we will suggest practical steps through which future psychologists may work collaboratively to bring about global moral transformation that is crucial to the survival of our planet.
Findings of a Naloxone Database and its Utilization to Improve Safety and Education in a Tertiary Care Medical Center

Introduction Analyzing hospital naloxone use may assist in identification of areas for quality and safety improvement. Our primary objective is to quantitate the incidence of hospital naloxone use and to assess certain patient populations at risk. Methods During the years 2008 to 2011, each clinical scenario where naloxone was administered on an in-patient care ward was reviewed. The events were assessed to separate situations where naloxone rescue was effective in reversing opioid-induced intoxication vs. others. Further analysis was conducted to stratify patient populations at greatest risk. Results Naloxone was administered for well-defined opioid-induced respiratory depression and oversedation 61% of the time, the remainder used for patient deterioration of other etiology. Surgical populations are at risk with an incidence of 3.8/1,000 hospitalized patients, and this is the greatest within 24 hours of surgery. General surgical patients represent the highest surgical patient risk at 5.5/1,000. Medical patients represent lower risk at 2.0/1,000. Patients with patient-controlled analgesia and epidural opioid infusion are high risk at 12.1 and 13.1/1,000 patients, respectively. Many quality and safety interventions were gradually implemented in response to this data and are summarized. These include nursing and provider education, electronic medical record modification, and more stringent patient monitoring practices. Conclusion Examination of naloxone use can assist in the identification and stratification of patients at risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression and oversedation and can serve as a driver for improvements in hospital patient safety. This information can also guide other institutions interested in similar improvements.
Intratropospheric range delay for two refractivity models

Closed form expressions for intratropospheric range delay are derived analytically using the dual-quartic refractivity model developed by H. Hopfield in 1969. Graphical results are presented as functions of source-to-target slant range and elevation angle for three typical refractivity profiles. Asymptotic, or transtropospheric values of range delay at 0° and 90° elevation angles, are compared for the dual-quartic and more conventional exponential refractivity models. Relating the parameters of the two models via this comparison leads to the demonstration that both models yield results within a few per cent of each other at all the target slant ranges and elevation angles which were investigated.
MOVEMENT AND MACROHABITAT SELECTION OF THE EASTERN MASSASAUGA IN A FEN HABITAT

The eastern massasauga, Sistrurus c. catenatus, is a small rattlesnake threatened with extirpation throughout its range. Massasaugas occur in a variety of habitats and adequate knowledge of their natural history at local scales is essential for effective management. We used radiotelemetry to document patterns of movement and macrohabitat selection of massasaugas in a fen environment, an important, but understudied, habitat. Based on both 100% minimum convex polygons and 95% kernel density, seasonal home ranges of males were larger than those of nongravid females which, in turn, were larger than those of gravid females. Activity center estimations followed the same trend as the seasonal range estimations. Similarly, activity centers (50% kernel density) of males were larger than those of nongravid females which were larger than those of gravid females. Nongravid females and gravid females differed in their mean frequency of daily movement, distance moved per day and total distance moved in a season. Males also differed from gravid females in these three regards, but only differed from nongravid females in distance moved per day. Compositional analysis of both 100% MCPs and 95% kernel densities indicated a preference for emergent wetland vegetation by all individuals; however, wooded areas and meadows were used to a lesser extent.
Ethnic and Gender Differences in Farm Tasks and Safety Practices Among Rural California Farm Youth

Agricultural work is hazardous and is common among rural youth, especially those living on farms or ranches. Previous work has shown differences in farm work and injury patterns between boys and girls, but little data exist addressing ethnic differences. This study examined ethnic and gender differences in farm tasks, safety attitudes, and use of protective measures among rural California youth working on farms or ranches. The University of California, Davis Youth Agricultural Injury Study is a longitudinal study focusing on agricultural work experience among youth enrolled in an agricultural sciences curriculum in 10 public high schools in California's Central Valley during the 2001–2005 school years. Using cross-sectional data from the initial entrance survey, we studied 946 participants who reported farm work in the previous year. Median annual hours of farm work varied significantly between boys and girls (p < 0.001) and between ethnic groups (p < 0.05) (Hispanic boys: 624 hr; Hispanic girls: 189 hr; ...
Prediction of missed myocardial infarction among symptomatic outpatients without coronary heart disease

Abstract Background Missed diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the ambulatory setting can cause patient suffering and malpractice litigation. Multiple algorithms have been developed to detect the presence of coronary heart disease (CHD) or acute coronary ischemia. Methods We performed a case-control study of patients with no prior history of CHD presenting to outpatient practices with potential cardiac ischemia. Malpractice claims files were used to identify 18 cases of patients with missed AMIs. For each case, we identified 3 control patients who had office visits for chest pain during the same month and assessed the association of 4 different prediction tools with missed AMI. Results The 18 cases of missed AMI had a 39% 1-month mortality rate. Cases were more likely than controls to be men (67% vs 26%, P = .001), to be smokers (88% vs 39%, P P P = .01). A Framingham risk score predicting a 10-year risk of CHD ≥10% and a positive score using the Goldman risk predictor were associated with an increased risk of missed AMI (odds ratio 5.7, 95% CI 1.8–18.4 for Framingham risk score; odds ratio 7.2, 95% CI 1.4–36.8 for Goldman risk predictor). Conclusions Among ambulatory patients with possible cardiac ischemia and no prior CHD, multiple algorithms may be useful for improvement of risk stratification.
Experimental measurements of receiver design effect on sequence estimation performance

We investigate the effect of different receiver designs on the performance of equalized 10 Gb/s links relying on sequence estimation.
Performance comparison of bottom and top emitting LWIR (8 µm) LED devices

For similar GaSb substrate thickness, flip-chip mount bottom emitting LWIR LED device has higher light intensity than top emitting device. Enhanced emission is attributed to better cooling and reflection of light from anode metal surface of the device.
Soft computing for real-time control of musical processes

In this paper, we present soft computing tools and techniques aimed at realizing musical instruments that learn. Specifically we explore applications of neural network and fuzzy logic techniques to the design of instruments that form highly personalized relationships with their users through self-adaptation. We demonstrate techniques for adapting sensor arrays and techniques for realizing highly expressive real-time sound synthesis algorithms.
First-Principles Design and Analysis of an Efficient, Pb-Free Ferroelectric Photovoltaic Absorber Derived from ZnSnO3

Ferroelectric oxides, which exhibit a spontaneous and reversible electric polarization, have recently gained interest for photovoltaic applications, because this polarization can potentially facilitate exciton separation and carrier extraction while also generating open-circuit voltages orders-of-magnitude larger than the band gap. However, photovoltaic efficiencies in these materials are often limited by large band gaps and high hole effective masses. Developing a means to simultaneously reduce both without destroying the ferroelectric polarization could revolutionize photovoltaic technologies. In this work, we use first-principles computations to describe how chemical substitution of oxygen in the recently characterized ferroelectric ZnSnO3 with sulfur to form ZnSnS3 reduces the band gap to a near-optimal 1.3 eV while leaving the polarization virtually unchanged. Furthermore, we show that other key photovoltaic materials characteristics, such as hole effective mass, dielectric constant, and absorption c...
The role of catheter ablation in the management of ventricular tachycardia

The treatment strategy for ventricular tachycardia (VT) is guided by patient symptoms, the risk of sudden death estimated by VT mechanism and underlying cardiac structure, and the risk vs. benefit ratio of potential therapies. Over the last few decades, catheter ablation has emerged as the primary treatment of idiopathic VT and become an important management strategy in reducing VT burden in patients with structural heart disease. This article reviews the technique and outcomes of catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias as well as potential future directions for this procedure.
Nucleotide sequence and molecular variants of rat receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase-zeta/beta.

We have previously described the cloning of phosphacan, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of nervous tissue which interacts with neurons, glia, neural cell adhesion molecules, and tenascin, and represents the extracellular domain of a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase. We now report the complete cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the rat transmembrane phosphatase, and demonstrate that the phosphatase and the extracellular proteoglycan have different 3′-untranslated regions. Northern analysis showed three probable splice variants, comprising the extracellular proteoglycan (phosphacan) and long and short forms of the transmembrane phosphatase. PCR studies of rat genomic DNA indicated that there are no introns at the putative 5′ and 3′ splice sites or in the 2.6 kb segment which is deleted in the short transmembrane protein. Using variant-specific riboprobes corresponding to sequences in the 3′-untranslated region of phosphacan and in the first or second phosphatase domains of the transmembra...
From Bayesian notation to pure racket via discrete measure-theoretic probability in λ ZFC

Bayesian practitioners build models of the world without regarding how difficult it will be to answer questions about them. When answering questions, they put off approximating as long as possible, and usually must write programs to compute converging approximations. Writing the programs is distracting, tedious and error-prone, and we wish to relieve them of it by providing languages and compilers. Their style constrains our work: the tools we provide cannot approximate early. Our approach to meeting this constraint is to 1) determine their notation's meaning in a suitable theoretical framework; 2) generalize our interpretation in an uncomputable, exact semantics; 3) approximate the exact semantics and prove convergence; and 4) implement the approximating semantics in Racket (formerly PLT Scheme). In this way, we define languages with at least as much exactness as Bayesian practitioners have in mind, and also put off approximating as long as possible. In this paper, we demonstrate the approach using our preliminary work on discrete (countably infinite) Bayesian models.
Molecular markers define progressing stages of phosphorus limitation in the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, Crocosphaera

Crocosphaera watsonii is a marine cyanobacterium that frequently inhabits low phosphate environments in oligotrophic oceans. While C. watsonii has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, its growth may be limited by availability of phosphorus. Biomarkers that indicate cellular phosphorus status give insight into how P-limitation can affect the distribution of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterial populations. However, adaptation to phosphorus stress is complex and one marker may not be sufficient to determine when an organism is P-limited. In this study, we characterized the transcription of key genes, activated during phosphorus stress in C. watsonii WH8501, to determine how transcription changed during the phosphorus stress response. Transcription of pstS, which encodes a high-affinity phosphate binding protein, was discovered to be quickly up-regulated in phosphorus-depleted cells as an immediate stress response; however, its transcription declined after a period of phosphorus starvation. In addition, diel regulation of pstS in C. watsonii WH8501 complicates the interpretation of this marker in field applications. Transcription of the gene coding for the arsenite efflux protein, arsB, was upregulated after pstS in phosphorus limited cells, but it remained upregulated at later stages of phosphorus limitation. These results demonstrate that a single molecular marker does not adequately represent the entire phosphorus stress response in C. watsonii WH8501. Using both markers, the variations in transcriptional response over a range of degrees of phosphorus limitation may be a better approach for defining cellular phosphorus status.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEBREL (TM) FINITE ELEMENT-BASED RELIABILITY COMPUTER PROGRAM

The computer program FEBREL (finite element-based reliability) is the result of a multiyear research project aimed at the development of a general-purpose, probabilistic, finite element computer program at Rockwell International Corporation’s Space Systems Division. The objective of this project is to develop probabilistic methods and algorithms that can be integrated with the finite element structural analysis technique to form a finite element based reliability analysis procedure for nondeterministic structural analysis and design. In this integrated package, the ANSYS general-purpose finite element computer program was used to provide the necessary computational framework for analyzing complex structures, while the FEBREL reliability computer program provides the basis for modeling, analysis of uncertainties, and compulation of probabilities.
COMPARISON OF BLIND AND SIGHTED SUBJECTS IN THE DISCRIMINATION OF TEXTURE.

The ability of 50 blind and 50 sighted Ss to discriminate all combinations of pairs of 10 embossed textural patterns was compared. No group differences were found, and rank order of pattern discriminability showed high agreement.
Economic sanctions, military interventions, and civil conflict outcomes:

Sanctions are designed to reduce the amount of resources available to the targeted actor and have the potential to be an effective tool for bringing disputing sides in a civil conflict to the bargaining table by altering incentives for continued fighting. Thus, there is reason to believe that sanctions can shorten the duration of civil conflicts. However, once sides in a conflict have moved to the use of violence to settle their dispute, it is hard for sanctions, in isolation, to impose enough cost to convince warring factions that settling a conflict has greater value than what could be expected from continued fighting. In this article, we argue that sanctions, in isolation, are unlikely to affect the duration of civil conflicts. However, when sanctions are combined with military interventions they can contribute to conflict management strategies resulting in shorter civil conflicts. We test our expectations empirically using data on civil conflicts from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program Armed Conflict D...
Construction of high-resolution genetic maps of Zoysia matrella (L.) Merrill and applications to comparative genomic analysis and QTL mapping of resistance to fall armyworm

Zoysia matrella, widely used in lawns and sports fields, is of great economic and ecological value. Z. matrella is an allotetraploid species (2n = 4x = 40) in the genus zoysia under the subfamily Chloridoideae. Despite its ecological impacts and economic importance, the subfamily Chloridoideae has received little attention in genomics studies. As a result, limited genetic and genomic information are available for this subfamily, which have impeded progress in understanding evolutionary history of grasses in this important lineage. The lack of a high-resolution genetic map has hampered efforts to improve zoysiagrass using molecular genetic tools. We used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) approach and a segregating population developed from the cross between Z. matrella cultivars ‘Diamond’ and ‘Cavalier’ to construct high-resolution genetic maps of Z. matrella. The genetic map of Diamond consists of 2,375 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers mapped on 20 linkage groups (LGs) with a total length of 1754.48 cM and an average distance between adjacent markers at 0.74 cM. The genetic map of Cavalier contains 3,563 SNP markers on 20 LGs, covering 1824.92 cM, with an average distance between adjacent markers at 0.51 cM. A higher level of genome collinearity between Z. matrella and rice than that between Z. matrella and sorghum was revealed by comparative genomic analysis. Pairwise comparison revealed that two independent nested chromosome fusion events occurred after Z. matrella and sorghum split from a common ancestor. The high-resolution linkage maps were applied into mapping QTLs associated with fall armyworm (FAW) resistance and six loci located on LGs 8 and 20 were detected to be significantly associated with FAW resistance. The high-resolution linkage maps provide anchor points for comparative genomics analysis between Z. matrella and other grass species. Our comparative genomic analysis suggested that the chromosome number reduction from 12 to 10 had occurred independently via a single-step in the subfamilies Chloridoideae and Panicoideae. The high-resolution genetic maps provide an essential framework for mapping QTLs associated with economically and agronomically important traits. The major QTLs mapped on LG8 of the Cavalier map provide a starting point for cloning FAW resistance genes and further studies for a better understanding of FAW resistance in zoysiagrass.
Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase Pathways: A Complex Interplay in Cellular Signaling

The cellular reaction to external challenges is a tightly regulated process consisting of integrated processes mediated by a variety of signaling molecules, generated as a result of modulation of corresponding biosynthetic systems. Both, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) systems, consist of constitutive forms (NOS1, NOS3 and COX-1), which are mostly involved in housekeeping tasks, and inducible forms (NOS2 and COX-2), which shape the cellular response to stress and variety of bioactive agents. The complex interplay between NOS and COX pathways can be observed at least at three levels. Firstly, products of NOS and Cox systems can mediate the regulation and the expression of inducible forms (NOS2 and COX-2) in response of similar and dissimilar stimulus. Secondly, the reciprocal modulation of cyclooxygenase activity by nitric oxide and NOS activity by prostaglandins at the posttranslational level has been shown to occur. Mechanisms by which nitric oxide can modulate prostaglandin synthesis include direct S-nitrosylation of COX and inactivation of prostaglandin I synthase by peroxynitrite, product of superoxide reaction with nitric oxide. Prostaglandins, conversely, can promote an increased association of dynein light chain (DLC) (also known as protein inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase) with NOS1, thereby reducing its activity. The third level of interplay is provided by intracellular crosstalk of signaling pathways stimulated by products of NOS and COX which contributes significantly to the complexity of cellular signaling. Since modulation of COX and NOS pathways was shown to be principally involved in a variety of pathological conditions, the dissection of their complex relationship is needed for better understanding of possible therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on implications of interplay between NOS and COX for cellular function and signal integration.
Effect of nutrition education among pregnant women with low body mass index: a community based intervention -

Background: Indian women are chronically undernourished (36%) and anemic (55%) which has consequences on women during their adolescence, pregnancy, and lactation (NFHS-3). The main objectives were to assess the effect of nutrition education on dietary awareness and practice among undernourished pregnant women. Methods: Phase 1 included key informant interview capturing information on food frequency and dietary diversity (24 hour dietary recall). Based on the key informant interview and anecdotal evidences a hypothesis was generated and an experimental study was planned to test the hypotheses. Fifty pregnant women in their first trimester of pregnancy having body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5 were selected from 12 villages to be part of the intervention group. Non-intervention group comprised of age matched women in first trimester with low BMI selected from the neighbouring villages. Phase 2 effect of nutrition education was assessed on mean weight gain in third trimester of pregnancy practice of minimum meal frequency (3 meals a day), adoption of dietary diversity through 24 hour recall method, proportion of change evidenced in hand washing practice were measured. Results: Women enrolled in the intervention had a mean weight gain of 8.7 kg, with more than 3 ante natal care (ANC) visits having regular monthly attendance at ICDS center for awareness programs. Behavioral modification was evidenced by practicing a minimum of 3 meals or more during pregnancy, with consumption of vegetables, lentils and greens in their daily diet along with cereals. Regular hand washing before the meals and after using the toilet were self-reported by the women. Conclusions: Prospective weight gain among women in intervention had significance over those in the non- intervention group by 2.1kg. Women in the intervention group reflected behavioral change by practicing minimum meal of 3 or more, proper hand washing before meals and after toilet and adequate rest. However birth weight on other hand is weakly associated with maternal weight gain between the two arms of the study.
d-electron count, ion-pairing and diagonal twist angles in metallo-bis(dithiolene) complexes.

Electronic structure calculations for late transition metals coordinated by two dithiolene ligands are found to be consistent with existing structures and also predict the geometries of Ni(I) species for which no solid state structures have been reported. Of particular interest are the compounds [M(mnt)2 ]n- (M = Ni, Pd, and Pt with n = 1, 2, 3; M = Cu with n = 2). Calculations have been performed with and without ion-paring with M(diglyme)+ (M = Li, Na, K) and R4 N+ (R = Me, Bu). The diagonal twist angle between two NiS2 planes is found to depend on (i) the metal's d-electron count, spanning from 0° (planar d7 and d8 ), to 42° (d9 ), to 90° (pseudo-tetrahedral d10 ), and (ii) the identity of the ion-paired cations. Calculated ion-pairing energies are functions of the cation size and charge-density, being larger for alkali-metal coordinated diglyme and smaller for tetra-alkyl ammonium cations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systems Biology of Phenotypic Robustness and Plasticity

SYNOPSIS Gene regulatory networks, cellular biochemistry, tissue function, and whole body physiology are imbued with myriad overlapping and interacting homeostatic mechanisms that ensure that many phenotypes are robust to genetic and environmental variation. Animals also often have plastic responses to environmental variables, which means that many different phenotypes can correspond to a single genotype. Since natural selection acts on phenotypes, this raises the question of how selection can act on the genome if genotypes are decoupled from phenotypes by robustness and plasticity mechanisms. The answer can be found in the systems biology of the homeostatic mechanisms themselves. First, all such mechanisms operate over a limited range and outside that range the controlled variable changes rapidly allowing natural selection to act. Second, mutations and environmental stressors can disrupt homeostatic mechanisms, exposing cryptic genetic variation and allowing natural selection to act. We illustrate these ideas by examining the systems biology of four specific examples. We show how it is possible to analyze and visualize the roles of specific genes and specific polymorphisms in robustness in the context of large and realistic nonlinear systems. We also describe a new method, system population models, that allows one to connect causal dynamics to the variable outcomes that one sees in biological populations with large variation.
A craniofacial-specific monosynaptic circuit enables heightened affective pain

Humans often rank craniofacial pain as more severe than body pain. Evidence suggests that a stimulus of the same intensity induces stronger pain in the face than in the body. However, the underlying neural circuitry for the differential processing of facial versus bodily pain remains unknown. Interestingly, the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL), a critical node in the affective pain circuit, is activated more strongly by noxious stimulation of the face than of the hindpaw. Using a novel activity-dependent technology called CANE developed in our laboratory, we identified and selectively labeled noxious-stimulus-activated PBL neurons and performed comprehensive anatomical input–output mapping. Surprisingly, we uncovered a hitherto uncharacterized monosynaptic connection between cranial sensory neurons and the PBL-nociceptive neurons. Optogenetic activation of this monosynaptic craniofacial-to-PBL projection induced robust escape and avoidance behaviors and stress calls, whereas optogenetic silencing specifically reduced facial nociception. The monosynaptic circuit revealed here provides a neural substrate for heightened craniofacial affective pain. The authors show that unlike body sensory neurons, craniofacial nociceptive neurons directly synapse with noxious-stimulus-activated lateral parabrachial neurons (PBL), which in turn project to multiple limbic centers processing emotions and affects. This monosynaptic pathway is both sufficient and necessary for craniofacial-pain-activated aversive behaviors.
Poisson equations in irregular domains with Robin boundary conditions - Solver with second-order accurate gradients

Abstract We present a conservative method for solving the Poisson equation in irregular domains with Robin boundary conditions. Second-order accurate solutions and gradients in the L ∞ norm are obtained.
Transparency, Risk, and FDI:

A central theme in the foreign direct investment (FDI) literature is that political risk deters investment. The empirical record, however, is mixed. multinational corporations (MNCs) continue to in...