cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The yeast retrotransposons Ty1 and Ty3 require the RNA Lariat debranching enzyme, Dbr1p, for efficient accumulation of reverse transcripts.

A mutant screen has been initiated to identify host genes important for the replication of retrotransposons in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two mutants were identified that undergo Ty1 and Ty3 transposition at 24 h).
Ascorbic acid spares α-tocopherol and decreases lipid peroxidation in neuronal cells

Ascorbic acid is considered an antioxidant in the central nervous system, but direct evidence that ascorbate protects neuronal cells from oxidant stress is lacking. Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells in culture took up ascorbic acid on the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter Type 2 and retained it much more effectively than dehydroascorbic acid. Intracellular ascorbate spared alpha-tocopherol, both in cells loaded with alpha-tocopherol in culture and in cells under oxidant stress due to extracellular ferricyanide. Sparing of alpha-tocopherol in response to ferricyanide was associated with protection against lipid peroxidation in cell membranes. These results show that neuronal cells concentrate ascorbate, and that intracellular ascorbate, either directly or through sparing of alpha-tocopherol, protects them against oxidant stress.
Conversion Of Antiparallel β-sheet To Parallel β-sheet In A Prion Peptide Aggregate

Residues 109-122 of the Syrian hamster prion peptide (Ac-MKHMAGAAAAGAVV-NH2) make up a conserved amyloidogenic portion of a protein associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. In previous studies using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and isotope-edited infrared spectroscopy, H1 has been determined to form antiparallel β-sheets in solution with three overhanging residues at the N-terminus and alignment of residues 117 in all strands (1, 2). Some amyloidogenic proteins form antiparallel β-sheet and others form parallel β-sheet, but the conditions for the preferential formation of one over the other are unknown. Distinct splitting patterns within the amide I’ band make FTIR a useful technique for distinguishing between antiparallel and parallel β-sheet (3). In this study, FTIR shows that H1 can also form parallel s-sheet; H1 is thermostable in both forms (4). The A117L mutant also forms both s-sheet organizations. Antiparallel A117L aggregates fully dissociate upon heating; the parallel configuration confers thermostability (4). The conversion from antiparallel to parallel s-sheet is seen only for samples of high peptide concentration and is thermodynamically irreversible. We have proposed a high-concentration-dependent mechanism for the formation of parallel β-sheet aggregates and a structural model of fibril organization that accounts for their thermostability.(1) Gasset, M. Baldwin, M.A. Lloyd, D.H. Gabriel, J.-M. Holtzman, D.M. Cohen, F.E. Fletterick, R. and Prusiner, S.B. (1992). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 10940.(2) Silva, R.A.G.D., W. Barber-Armstrong and Decatur, S.M. (2003) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125: 13674.(3) Surewicz, Witold K. Mantsch, Henry H. Chapman, Dennis. (1993) Biochemistry. 32, 389.(4) Petty, S.A., Adalsteinsson, T., and Decatur, S.M. (2005) Biochemistry 44: 4720.
Moving sources in a ghost condensate

Abstract Ghost condensation has been recently proposed as a mechanism inducing the spontaneous breaking of Lorentz symmetry. Corrections to the Newton potential generated by a static source have been computed: they yield a limit M≲10 MeV on the symmetry breaking scale, and—if the limit is saturated—they are maximal at a distance L∼1000 km from the source. However, these corrections propagate at a tiny velocity, vs∼10−12 m/s, many orders of magnitude smaller than the velocity of any plausible source. We compute the gravitational potential taking the motion of the source into account: the standard Newton law is recovered in this case, with negligible corrections for any distance from the source up to astrophysical scales. Still, the vacuum of the theory is unstable, and requiring stability over the lifetime of the Universe imposes a limit on M which is not too far from the one given above. In the absence of a direct coupling of the ghost to matter, signatures of this model will have to be searched in the form of exotic astrophysical events.
Retaining Homeless Veterans in Outpatient Care: A Pilot Study of Mobile Phone Text Message Appointment Reminders

Objectives. We examined the feasibility of using mobile phone text messaging with homeless veterans to increase their engagement in care and reduce appointment no-shows.Methods. We sent 2 text message reminders to participants (n = 20) before each of their outpatient appointments at an urban Veterans Affairs medical center. Evaluation included pre- and postsurvey questionnaires, open-ended questions, and review of medical records. We estimated costs and savings of large-scale implementation.Results. Participants were satisfied with the text-messaging intervention, had very few technical difficulties, and were interested in continuing. Patient-cancelled visits and no-shows trended downward from 53 to 37 and from 31 to 25, respectively. Participants also experienced a statistically significant reduction in emergency department visits, from 15 to 5 (difference of 10; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2, 17.8; P = .01), and a borderline significant reduction in hospitalizations, from 3 to 0 (difference of 3; ...
Market‐based “disaster relief”: Katrina and the casino industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect the rebuilding of the casino industry has had on the recovery efforts from Katrina.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses quarterly data from four states affected by Katrina, and a simple OLS model to test the effect the casino industry has had on personal income in the states.Findings – The paper finds that the casino industry has had a statistically significant positive impact on the economic recovery in casino states relative to non‐casino states.Research limitations/implications – The paper examines a relatively short term. Other research has suggested that the long‐run effects of casinos are less certain. As more data become available, the model could be re‐tested.Practical implications – These results support previous evidence on a short‐run economic stimulus effect from casinos.Originality/value – The paper extends previous work on the Katrina recovery by including more data, including a control sample of states without casinos, and...
Evaluation of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles as an Ingredient in Diets for Pond Culture of the Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were evaluated as an ingredient in practical diets for pond culture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Juvenile prawns averaging 0.66 ± 0.47 g were stocked into nine 0.02 ha ponds at 19,760/ha. Three isonitrogenous diets (29% crude protein) containing 0, 20, or 40% DDGS were fed to shrimp in triplicate ponds. Average yield, survival, individual weight, and feed conversion did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among treatments. When averaged over the three diets, results were: yield, 833 kg/ha; survival, 75%; individual weight, 57 B; and feed conversion, 3.1. It appears that DDGS is a suitable ingredient for use in practical diets for freshwater prawns at levels of up to 40% of the total formulation, when prawns are stocked at the densities used in this study.
Cephalic skin potentials in electroencephalography.

Abstract A surface-negative transepidermal steady potential of approximately 30 mV exists in all areas of cephalic skin. Positive deflections of up to 2.5 mV may be superimposed upon this resting potential following sensory stimulation and probably reflect sweat gland activity. These phasic potential shifts may contaminate the scalp-recorded electroencephalogram markedly. Electrodermal potentials may be eliminated by puncturing the skin at the electrode site.
Derivation of the fundamental equation of sound generated by moving aerodynamic surfaces

Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (1969) based their derivation of the fundamental equation of the sound generated by arbitrarily moving aerodynamic surfaces on the study of mass and momentum balance of a control volume imbedding a mathematical surface(s) exactly corresponding to real surface(s). These investigators also sketched an alternative method, employing generalized functions, for its derivation. This latter method, which was later developed by Farassat (1975), is purely mathematical and formal. Goldstein (1976) used the free-space Green function to produce an implicit derivation of the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings equation. In the study presented here, Lowson's (1965) concept of moving point singularities is generalized to moving surface singularities, and a new derivation is given of the fundamental equation. The derivation is based on topological considerations of the underlying space, the fluid medium, and the integral properties of the Dirac delta function.
"The devil is in the details": randomized trial of robotic versus open radical cystectomy.

‘‘The Devil Is in the Details’’—in 2011, this was the title of an insightful editorial about a paper on robotic radical prostatectomy [1]. In 2015, this title seems equally relevant for examining the prospective randomized trial of open versus robotic radical cystectomy (RC) by Bochner et al in this month’s issue of European Urology [2]. To start, we must recognize a basic fact about this randomized trial. It compared open and robotic cystectomy only in terms of the extirpative component (ie, RC and lymphadenectomy [LND]). The reconstructive component (urinary diversion [UD]) was done identically in each arm, with the same open surgery, by the same open surgeons, and with the same open technique. It is common knowledge that dominant driver of the overall perioperative complications and morbidity from this operation is not its extirpative component (RC) but rather its reconstructive component (UD). Because UDwas performed with open surgery in both arms of this study, it follows that this study cannot truly answer the primary question that the authors set out to evaluate: Does robotic RC have reduced complications comparedwithopenRC?Tobe fair, at the time this trial was initiated, robotic intracorporeal UD was somewhat in its early stages and thus may not have been a practical consideration for this team. We applaud the authors for conceiving and completing a surgical prospective randomized controlled trial [2]. This admirable, rare accomplishmentmoves the debate forward, and some important issues are addressed by this level 1 trial. In the setting of a potentially lethal cancer, robotic RC provides oncologic outcomes equivalent to those of open RC; positive surgical margin rates, lymph node yield, and
Multilevel, multifrequency laser pulse propagation☆

Abstract We give a nonperturbative method for calculating the complex index of refraction for each of several optical fields interacting with a multilevel system, and illustrate the method by calculating the gain and absorption on an optically pumped, nearly resonant Raman transition as functions of the laser frequencies and fields, including the effects of dephasing and incoherent pumping of populations.
Relations between isoprene and nitric oxide in exhaled breath and the potential influence of outdoor ozone: a pilot study.

The role of endogenous isoprene in the human body, if any, is unclear because previous research is inconsistent and mechanistic evidence for the biologic function of isoprene is lacking. Given previous evidence that exhaled isoprene is elevated in systemic inflammatory states, we hypothesized that exhaled isoprene would be positively associated with a breath biomarker of airway inflammation, the fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO). We examined relationships of exhaled breath isoprene with FENO and with outdoor ozone given that ozone chemically reacts with isoprene and has been positively associated with FENO in past studies. Sixteen elderly subjects were followed with ≤12 weekly exhaled hydrocarbon and FENO collections at the subjects’ retirement community. Outdoor ozone concentrations were measured continuously on site. Mixed-effects regression analyses tested relations of FENO with isoprene, and FENO and isoprene with ozone, adjusted for temperature. We found FENO was inversely associated with isoprene, and this was not confounded by ozone. Isoprene was inversely related to ozone. FENO was positively related to ozone and this relation was not confounded by isoprene. In contrast to hypothesized relations, we conclude that exhaled isoprene is inversely associated with FENO as well as outdoor ozone, which suggests possible protective ozone-scavenging functions of endogenous isoprene. Findings may indicate chemical reactions of isoprene oxidation by ozone and by hydroxyl radicals in the presence of O2 that is dependent on NO concentration. These preliminary results need to be confirmed in additional studies of human subjects, particularly as they apply to FENO monitoring in asthma.
Inner-City Youth, the Police, the Juvenile Court, and Justice

In spite of the fact that black first-offender deliquents present less intensive antisocial attitudes and behavior patterns than white delinquents, they receive more severe dispositions from the police of Easton than white delinquents accused of the same offense. As the anti-social characteristics of black and white delinquents intensify, the differences in disposition between the races tend to disappear. The Juvenile Court, however, displays little or no discrimination toward black delinquents in adjudicating juvenile cases.
The Impact of Delaying the Delay Announcements

Many service providers use delay announcements to inform customers of anticipated delays. However, this information is usually not provided immediately but after a short period of time (spent either waiting or occupied by the system). The focus of this paper is on the impact of this postponement on the ability of the firm to influence customer behavior by communicating nonverifiable congestion information to its customers, as well as on the profits and utilities for the firm and the customers, respectively. We show that this postponement can actually help the firm create credibility and augment the resulting equilibrium. However, in other settings this delay can also detract from the resulting equilibrium. Furthermore, we show that whenever credibility is created it improves not only the profit for the firm but also the customers' overall utility under certain settings.
Lessons from Israel and Palestine

The Palestinians and Israelis are currently locked into a zero sum conflict. There is a desperate need for outside intervention, particularly on the part of the United States. Paul Lalor analyses the positions of the major parties to the conflict and argues that political violence is both a security and a political problem. Treating it solely as a security issue will exacerbate the problem rather than bring it to an end. Because of the crucial importance of the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict, this approach could ultimately lead to a “clash of civilizations” along the lines outlined by Samuel Huntington.
Influence of Dopants on the Thermal Conductance of GaN–Sapphire Interface

Transient thermoreflectance (TTR) was used to characterize the interface thermal conductance (h) between GaN and sapphire at room temperature. Undoped, n-type, and p-type GaN films are grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on (0001) sapphire substrate. An In film pressed onto the GaN surface is used as a transducer and to measure the TTR signal. The TTR signal is also used to characterize the attenuation of acoustic waves and the surface roughness of the sapphire wafer. Results are modeled using 1-D heat conduction, and the value of h is determined. Results indicate that the value of h of the In-GaN interface remains between 18 and 28 MWm-2K-1. The value of h for the interface between undoped or n-type GaN and sapphire is low at 8 MWm-2K-1, and that between p-type GaN and sapphire is lower at 3 MWm-2K-1. The absence of good atomic level contact between pressed In and GaN is considered responsible for the low value of h. High concentration of Mg dopant atoms in the p-type GaN films at the interface, sapphire wafer with rough surface, and high dislocation density are also considered responsible for the lower value of h. The results indicate poor thermal energy dissipation, higher device temperature, reduced transconductance, and related device performance.
The Definition, Determination, and Characterization of Acceleration Sets for Spatial Manipulators

In this article, the approach developed by the authors for sys tematically studying the acceleration capability and properties of the end effector of a planar manipulator is extended to the general, serial, spatial manipulator possessing three degrees of freedom. The acceleration of the end effector at a given config uration of the manipulator is a linear function of the actuator torques and a (nonlinear) quadratic function of the joint ve locities. By decomposing the functional relationships between the inputs (actuator torques and joint velocities) and the output (acceleration of the end effector) into two fundamental map pings—a linear mapping between the actuator torques and the acceleration space of the end effector and a quadratic (nonlin ear) mapping between the joint velocities and the acceleration space of the end effector—and by deriving the properties of these two mappings, it is possible to determine the properties of all acceleration sets that are the images of the appropri ate input sets und...
Multiresidue procedures for the determination of chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans in a variety of foods using capillary gas chromatography-electron-capture detection.

Abstract Multiresidue digestion-extraction procedures for the determination of chlorinated dioxins and furans in a wide variety of products are presented. Procedure selection is dependent upon the residue(s) of interest, and on the fat content of the product. Additional cleanup is accomplished using column chromatography and a Florisil trap. The separation of residues is achieved by fraction collection off of two high-performance liquid chromatographic systems. Capillary gas chromatography employing electron-capture detecton is used for quantitation. The extracts are suitable for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or gas chromatography with Hall electrolytic conductivity detection. Results of analysis, recovery data, and interlaboratory comparisons are presented. Spike recoveries will typically average 90% ± 10%.
Inhibitory and Stimulatory Effects of Lactacystin on Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Type 2 in Brain Glial Cells: THE ROLE OF IκB-β

Expression of inflammatory nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) is mediated by transcription factor NFκB. By using the specific proteasome inhibitor lactacystin to examine IκB degradation, we observed a paradoxical increase in lipopolysaccharide- and cytokine-dependent NOS2 expression at low concentrations or when lactacystin was added subsequent to cytokines. Lactacystin reduced the initial accumulation of NOS2 mRNA but reduced its subsequent decrease. Lactacystin increased NOS2 promoter activation after 24 h, but not after 4 h, and similarly prevented initial NFκB activation and at later times caused NFκB reactivation. Lactacystin reduced initial degradation of IκB-α and IκB-β, however, at later times selectively increased IκB-β, which was predominantly non-phosphorylated. Expression of full-length rat IκB-β, but not a carboxyl-terminal truncated form, inhibited NOS2 induction and potentiation by lactacystin. Lactacystin increased IκB-β expression in the absence of NOS2 inducers, as well as expression of heat shock protein 70, and the heat shock response due to hyperthermia increased IκB-β expression. These results suggest that IκB-β contributes to persistent NFκB activation and NOS2 expression in glial cells, that IκB-β is a stress protein inducible by hyperthermia or proteasome inhibitors, and that delayed addition of proteasome inhibitors can have stimulatory rather than inhibitory actions.
Fast Monte Carlo algorithms for permutation groups

We introduce new, elementary Monte Carlo methods to speed up and greatly simplify the manipulation of permutation groups (given by a list of generators). The methods are of a combinatorial character, using only elementary group theory. The key idea is that under certain conditions, "random subproducts" of the generators successfully emulate truly random elements of a group. We achieve a nearly optimal O(n3 logcn) asymptotic running time for membership testing, where n is the size of the permutation domain. This is an improvement of two orders of magnitude compared to known elementary algorithms and one order of magnitude compared to algorithms which depend on heavy use of group theory. An even greater asymptotic speedup is achieved for normal closures, a key ingredient in group-theoretic computation, now constructible in Monte Carlo time O(n2 logcn), i.e., essentially linear time (as a function of the input length). Some of the new techniques are sufficiently general to allow polynomial-time implementations in the very general model of "black box groups" (group operations are performed by an oracle). In particular, the normal closure algorithm has a number of applications to matrix-group computation. It should be stressed that our randomized algorithms are not heuristic: the probability of error is guaranteed not to exceed a bound ? > 0, prescribed by the user. The cost of this requirement is a factor of |log ?| in the running time.
Flaxseed Mitigates Acute Oxidative Lung Damage in a Mouse Model of Repeated Radiation and Hyperoxia Exposure Associated with Space Exploration.

Background: Spaceflight missions may require crewmembers to conduct extravehicular activities (EVA). Prebreathe protocols in preparation for an EVA entail 100% hyperoxia exposure that may last for a few hours and be repeated 2-3 times weekly. Each EVA is associated with additional challenges such as low levels of total body cosmic/ galactic radiation exposure that may present a threat to crewmember health. We have developed a mouse model of total body radiation and hyperoxia exposure and identified acute damage of lung tissues. In the current study we evaluated the usefulness of dietary flaxseed (FS) as a countermeasure agent for such double-hit exposures. Methods: We evaluated lung tissue changes 2 weeks post-initiation of exposure challenges. Mouse cohorts (n=5/ group) were pre-fed diets containing either 0% FS or 10% FS for 3 weeks and exposed to: a) normoxia (Untreated); b) >95% O2 (O2); c) 0.25Gy single fraction gamma radiation (IR); or d) a combination of O2 and IR (O2+IR) 3 times per week for 2 consecutive weeks, where 8-hour hyperoxia treatments were spanned by normoxic intervals. Results: At 2 weeks post challenge, while control-diet fed mice developed significant lung injury and inflammation across all challenges, FS protected lung tissues by decreasing bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophils (p<0.003) and protein levels, oxidative tissue damage, as determined by levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.008) and nitrosative stress as determined by nitrite levels. Lung hydroxyproline levels, a measure of lung fibrosis, were significantly elevated in mice fed 0% FS (p<0.01) and exposed to hyperoxia/radiation or the combination treatment, but not in FS-fed mice. FS also decreased levels of a pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrogenic cytokine (TGF-s1) gene expression levels in lung. Conclusion: Flaxseed mitigated adverse effects in lung of repeat exposures to radiation/hyperoxia. This data will provide useful information in the design of countermeasures to early tissue oxidative damage associated with space exploration.
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners as a Usual Source of Care

ABSTRACT: Purpose:To identify characteristics and outcomes of patients who use physician assistants and nurse practitioners (PA/NPs) as a usual source of care. Methods: Cross sectional analysis using the telephone and mail surveys of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), a prospective cohort study of Wisconsin high school graduates and selected siblings (n = 6,803). Findings: Individuals from metropolitan (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.29-0.54) and micropolitan (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.44-0.95) areas were less likely to utilize PA/NPs than participants from rural locations. Participants without insurance or with public insurance other than Medicare were more likely than those with private insurance to utilize PA/NPs (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.02-2.86). Patients of PA/NPs were more likely to be women (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.34-2.34), younger (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.98) and have lower extroversion scores (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68-0.96). Participants utilizing PA/NPs reported lower perceived access (β=−0.22, 95% CI =−0.35-0.09) than those utilizing doctors. PA/NP utilization was associated with an increased likelihood of chiropractor visits (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.15-2.15) and decreased likelihood of a complete health exams (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.55-0.99) or mammograms (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.45-0.93). There were no significant differences in self-rated health or difficulties/delays in receiving care. Conclusions: Populations served by PA/NPs and doctors differ demographically but not in complexity. Though perceived access to care was lower for patients of PA/NPs, there were few differences in utilization and no differences in difficulties/delays in care or outcomes. This suggests that PA/NPs are acting as primary care providers to underserved patients with a range of disease severity, findings which have important implications for policy, including clinician workforce and reimbursement issues.
Deregulations in the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-9-Related Pathway in Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery and Development

The CDK9-related pathway is an important regulator of mammalian cell biology and is also involved in the replication cycle of several viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus type 1. CDK9 is present in two isoforms termed CDK9-42 and CDK9-55 that bind noncovalently type T cyclins and cyclin K. This association forms a heterodimer, where CDK9 carries the enzymatic site and the cyclin partner functions as a regulatory subunit. This heterodimer is the main component of the positive transcription elongation factor b, which stabilizes RNA elongation via phosphorylation of the RNA pol II carboxyl terminal domain. Abnormal activities in the CDK9-related pathway were observed in human malignancies and cardiac hypertrophies. Thus, the elucidation of the CDK9 pathway deregulations may provide useful insights into the pathogenesis and progression of human malignancies, cardiac hypertrophy, AIDS and other viral-related maladies. These studies may lead to the improvement of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of the previously mentioned pathological conditions. This review describes the CDK9-related pathway deregulations in malignancies and the development of kinase inhibitors in cancer therapy, which can be classified into three categories: antagonists that block the ATP binding site of the catalytic domain, allosteric inhibitors, and small molecules that disrupt protein-protein interactions.
A household carbon footprint calculator for islands: Case study of the United States Virgin Islands

article i nfo Island regions are at a heightened level of vulnerability to climate change impacts and recently a great degree of political attention has been given to planning low-carbon economic strategies for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). To develop useful mitigation strategies, an understanding of greenhouse gas emissions currently attributable to various social sectors is necessary. We use consumption-based life cycle accounting techniques to assess the carbon footprint of typical households within the US Virgin Islands. We find the average carbon footprint in the territory to be 13 tCO2e per year per capita, roughly 35% less than the average US per capita footprint. Also, electricity and food are much larger contributors to total footprint than in the US. Results high- light scope for behavioral and technological changes that could significantly reduce the footprint. The model has been developed into an open access online tool for educational purposes.
Histopathology of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, exposed to diurnally fluctuating un-ionized ammonia levels in static-water ponds

. Rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, were reared intensively in nine aerated static-water ponds. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were maintained above 5 mg/l and un-ionized ammonia (NH3) levels were monitored in all ponds. Fish were removed periodically and gill, liver and trunk kidney samples were removed for histological examination. Average NH3 concentrations did not exceed a previously reported chronically toxic level, but average daily maximum concentrations exceeded this level in all but two ponds. Gills exhibited lesions characteristic of those attributed to ammonia exposure in all ponds and fish with the most damaged gills had livers demonstrating reduced glycogen vacuolation. No histological changes were noted in kidney tissue. Because gills were damaged even though average NH3 levels were quite low, it is recommended that research in static water carefully consider the cyclical nature of NH3 concentrations.
Plasmonic substrates for surface-enhanced spectroscopies

Using the Plasmon Hybridization (PH) method and the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method, we investigate the plasmonic properties of finite metallic nanopartices interacting with extended metallic substrates such as thin films and wires. The results from the two computational methods are found to agree very well. We show that the plasmons of a metallic nanoparticle couple to the delocalized plasmons of extended substrates in the same manner as an electronic impurity level couples to an continuum of electronic states. The interaction can result in both localized plasmons and virtual states in the plasmonic continuum. The virtual states are composed of delocalized plasmons from the extended substrate and depend sensitively on the geometry of the system, the polarization of incident electromagnetic excitations as well as the background dielectric properties of the structures. We demonstrate that the virtual state can provide large electric field enhancements over a broad and tunable spectral regime. Our investigations show that plasmonic structures supporting virtual states are highly suitable as substrates for surface enhanced spectroscopic applications and may be useful in plasmonic waveguiding applications.
A dramatistic theory of apocalyptic rhetoric

This essay develops a theory of apocalyptic texts and movements by applying Kenneth Burke's conception of the tragic and comic frames of acceptance to the text of the Christian Apocalypse and to the history of its interpretation. Burke's “psychology of form” is used to explain the recurring patterns of apocalyptic argument as functions of rhetor/audience interaction. Viewing the Apocalypse as an epochal rhetoric that structures human experience of temporality through the rhythms of drama leads to insights on the possibilities and limitations of interpretive argument.
Visual Distortion Provoked by a Stimulus in Migraine Associated With Hyperneuronal Activity

Background.—Migraineurs with visual aura are highly susceptible to illusions and visual distortion and areparticularly sensitive to a pattern of regularly spaced parallel lines or stripes.Purpose.—To determine whether the high degree of susceptibility to illusions and visual distortion in mi-graineurs with aura is associated with hyperneurological activity of the occipital cortex.Methods.—In order to investigate any relationships among neuronal activity, spatial frequency of square-wave gratings, and self-described visual distortion, we investigated the neuronal and psychophysical responses tosquare-wave gratings in migraineurs with visual aura and in nonheadache controls.Results.—Square-wave gratings provoked various types of visual distortion and illusions and induced a hyper-neuronal response in the visual cortex of migraineurs with visual aura, a response that strongly depended upon thestimulus spatial frequency.Conclusion.—The hyperneuronal activity of the occipital cortex is consistent with general cortical hyperexcit-ability in migraine.Key words: migraine, visual distortion, visual activation, functional MRIAbbreviations: SF spatial frequency, NHCs nonheadache controls, MWA migraine with aura, cpd cycles perdegree, BOLD blood oxygenation level dependent
Polymorphism of a Protein of Sow's Whey

Abstract Polyacrylamide vertical gel electrophoresis was used to separate the whey proteins of sows' milk. Polymorphism was found in the fastest migrating region. The whey protein polymorphism consists of two bands which are controlled by two codominant alleles designated Wh 1 A and Wh 1 B . The subscript indicates the fastest migrating region. Homozygotes possess one band and heterozygotes possess both bands giving the following phenotypes: Wh 1 A, Wh 1 AB, and Wh 1 B. A chi-square test for goodness of fit of the observed phenotype to that expected by the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium formula and a segregation analysis of eight matings involving 18 female progeny conform to the hypothesis that the Wh 1 polymorphism is controlled by two codominant autosomal alleles. Further family studies will be necessary to confirm the genetic control of this whey protein polymorphism.
A note on comparison theorems for nonnegative matrices

In a recent paper, [4], Csordas and Varga have unified and extended earlier theorems, of Varga in [10] and Wo?nicki in [11], on the comparison of the asymptotic rates of convergence of two iteration matrices induced by two regular splittings. The main purpose of this note is to show a connection between the Csordas-Varga paper and a paper by Beauwens, [1], in which a comparison theorem is developed for the asymptotic rate of convergence of two nonnegative iteration matrices induced by two splittings which are not necessarily regular. Monotonic norms already used in [1] play an important role in our work here.
A three-dimensional simulation of the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation

A simulation of the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) has been obtained using a three-dimensional mechanistic model of the stratosphere. The model is a simplified form of the NCAR CCM (Community Climate Model) in which the troposphere has been replaced with a specified geopotential distribution near the tropical tropopause and most of the physical parameterizations have been removed. A Kelvin wave and a Rossby-gravity wave are forced at the bottom boundary as in previous one- and two-dimensional models. The model reproduces most of the principal features of the observed QBO, as do previous models with lower dimensionality. The principal difference between the present model and previous QBO models is that the wave propagation is explicitly represented, allowing wave-wave interactions to take place. It is found that these interactions significantly affect the simulated oscillation. The interaction of the Rossby-gravity waves with the Kelvin waves results in about twice as much easterly compared to westerly forcing being required in order to obtain a QBO.
Vibrationally Mediated Photodissociation of C2H4

We report the vibrationally mediated photodissociation dynamics of C 2 H 4 + excited through the B 2 Ag state. Vibrational state-selected ions were prepared by two-photon resonant, three-photon ionization of ethylene via (π, 3s) and (π, 3p) Rydberg intermediate states in the wavelength range 298-349 nm. Absorption of a fourth photon led to dissociation of the cation, and images of the product ions C 2 H 3 + and C 2 H 2 + were simultaneously recorded using reflectron multimass velocity map imaging. Analysis of the multimass images yielded, with high precision, both the total translational energy distributions for the two dissociation channels and the branching between them as a function of excitation energy. The dissociation of ions that were initially prepared with torsional excitation exceeding the barrier to planarity in the cation ground state consistently gave enhanced branching to the H elimination channel. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of the initial state preparation on the competition between the internal conversion to the ground state and to the first excited state.
Suppressor T-cell hybridomas that exhibit various capacities to negatively regulate PFC responses in a T-cell dependent mouse model.

Abstract Splenocytes which eluted second from nylon-wool columns (designated Pool 2) obtained from NFR/N mice that had been carrier primed with rabbit erythrocytes were fused with cells from the AKR T-cell lymphoma, BW5147. Several hybrid cell lines were obtained. Some of the cloned hybrids possess a marked capacity to negatively regulate (suppress) the T-cell-dependent hapten-specific plaque-forming cell responses of NFR/N nude mice that have been optimally complemented with littermate helper T cells or with a helper T-cell hybridoma cell line. The Pool 2 hybrids carry the Thy 1.2 marker of the immune parent. All of the Pool 2 hybrid lines tested to date express the Lyt2 surface marker. Interestingly, at least one of the cell lines expresses the Lyt1 surface marker concurrently. In addition, these hybridoma cells also express an Ig-V region determinant at their surfaces as detected by an anti-VH MOPC 315 antiserum as previously reported for cells of several Pool 1 T-cell hybridomas expressing helper phenotypes. Some of these hybridoma cell lines also express an Fc receptor for immunoglobulin.
Networking for Competitiveness

A policy innovation that has achieved widespread diffusion across national and sub-national governments in industrialized countries is the promotion of networks among small manufacturers as a means of promoting competitiveness. However, research and evaluations of formal networks formed in response to policy initiatives tend not account for the informal networks that small manufacturers routinely use in gathering information and business resources. This study examines the use of informal networks by 50 small manufacturing firms in rural and urban regions of northern Florida. The analysis is inductive and designed to provide a point of comparison to the growing literature on formal small manufacturing networks. Unlike formal networks, the links that comprise informal networks tend to be geographically and socially mixed. Small firms use informal networks to gather information on a mix of issues. Urban and rural firms have similar patterns of network use on issues affecting product development and competitiveness. But they have different patters of network usage for issues associated with exporting and labor problems. Informal networks draw upon local and non-local information resources that do not require significant amounts of interpersonal contact across actors. Proximity is not a factor in the effective use of informal networks for information purposes. Rather the emphasis is upon locating "tried-and-true" solutions that solve the business needs. There is little evidence suggesting that the informal networks that these small manufacturers use are gravitating towards or seeking the development of formal networks. Thus, policy prescriptions identifying barriers to networking among small manufacturers are borne out in this study.
Inverse Kinematics and Extended Kalman Filter Based Motion Tracking of Human Limb

This paper addresses the problem of motion tracking of human skeleton system using non-invasive vision based sensors. The proposed approach combines synergistic paradigms of image processing, kinematics of rigid bodies and Extended Kalman Filtering scheme to estimate the motion of a human limb system. This approach solely depends on the measurement obtained from the vision sensors without involving any wearable or inertial sensors to measure the motion parameters. In this paper we propose fusion of two filtering schemes — the optical flow equations applied to raw images obtained from the Microsoft Kinect and extended Kalman filter for human skeleton considered as a system of kinematic linkages. The strategy proposed in this paper yields near optimal results as is demonstrated with the help of experiments performed using the Microsoft Kinect sensor and compared using accurate tracks obtained from 24-Camera Optitrack motion capture system.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The Development of Distrust.

Preschool-age children’s reasoning about the reliability of deceptive sources was investigated. Ninety 3- to 5-year-olds watched several trials in which an informant gave advice about the location of a hidden sticker. Informants were either helpers who were happy to give correct advice, or trickers who were happy to give incorrect advice. Three-year-olds tended to accept all advice from both helpers and trickers. Four-year-olds were more skeptical but showed no preference for advice from helpers over trickers, even though they differentiated between helpers and trickers on metacognitive measures. Five-year-olds systematically preferred advice from helpers. Selective trust was associated with children’s ability to make mental state inferences.
Mapping of Scapular Fractures with Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography

Background: Fractures of the scapula involve a unique and challenging set of considerations, which must be understood to provide optimal treatment. The primary goal of this study was to create a frequency map of a series of surgically treated scapular fractures that specifically involved the scapular body and/or neck. Methods: A prospective database was used in the collection of consecutive radiographic imaging studies of patients undergoing operative treatment of scapular fractures. Scanned three-dimensional computed tomography images were superimposed and oriented to fit a model scapular template. Size dimensions were normalized by aligning specific scapular landmarks. Fracture lines were identified and traced over the combined three-dimensional computed tomography model to create a scapular fracture map. Results: Of ninety fractures that met the criteria for inclusion, 68% involved the inferior aspect of the glenoid neck and 71% involved the superior vertebral border. Seventeen percent of the patterns included articular extension, and 22% of the fractures entered the spinoglenoid notch. Of fractures involving the inferior aspect of the glenoid neck at the lateral scapular border, 84% traversed medially to exit just inferior to the medial extent of the scapular spine, and 59% of these inferior neck fractures also had propagation to the inferior third of the vertebral border. Among the fractures involving the spinoglenoid notch, the most common pattern was demonstrated by coexisting fracture lines; 60% of the fractures of the spinoglenoid notch exited just inferior to the glenoid, 65% extended to the superior-medial vertebral border, and 45% extended to the inferior-medial vertebral border. In contrast, articular fractures did not follow predictable patterns; they demonstrated the greatest variability in trajectory, which was almost random, and there was a wide distribution of exit points along the vertebral border. Conclusions: Surgically treated scapular fractures display very common patterns. The most common pattern is the lateral border fracture immediately inferior to the glenoid, which extends to the superior vertebral border in more than two-thirds of cases. A smaller proportion of scapular fractures enter the spinoglenoid notch or the articular surface. There is great variation in the patterns of fractures involving the articular surface. Clinical Relevance: These study results can yield insight relevant to surgical approaches and reduction and fixation strategies, and they elucidate the most common fracture patterns encountered during surgery.
Amiodarone induces stress responses and calcium flux mediated by the cell wall in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We used a proteomic approach to study effects of amiodarone on cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Amiodarone has been shown to have antifungal activity in vitro and causes a massive incre...
Transform-domain sparsity regularization for inverse problems in geosciences

Wehavedevelopedanewregularizationapproachforestimatingunknownspatialfields,suchasfaciesdistributionsorporosity maps. The proposed approach is especially efficient for fields that have a sparse representation when transformed into a complementary function space e.g., a Fourier space. Sparse transform representations provide an accurate characterization of the originalfieldwitharelativelysmallnumberoftransformedvariables.We use a discrete cosine transformDCTto obtain sparse representations of fields with distinct geologic features, such as channels or geologic formations in vertical cross section. Lowfrequency DCT basis elements provide an effectively reduced subspace in which the sparse solution is searched. The low-dimensional subspace is not fixed, but rather adapts to the data. The DCT coefficients are estimated from spatial observations with a variant of compressed sensing. The estimation procedure minimizes an l2-norm measurement misfit term while maintainingDCTcoefficientsparsitywithanl1-normregularizationterm. When measurements are noise-dominated, the performance of this procedure might be improved by implementing it in two steps — one that identifies the sparse subset of important transform coefficients and one that adjusts the coefficients to give a best fit to measurements. We have proved the effectiveness of this approach for facies reconstruction from both scatteredpointmeasurementsandarealobservations,forcrosswelltraveltime tomography, and for porosity estimation in a typical multiunit oilfield.Where we have tested our sparsity regularization approach, it has performed better than traditional alternatives.
Hygroscopic Behavior of Woven Fabric Carbon-Epoxy Composites:

The hygroscopic behavior of a woven fabric carbon-epoxy composite and its effect on the viscoelastic properties and glass transition temperature was investigated. The mechanical and thermal properties of the material had been previously fully determined. An experimental study was conducted at full immersion in water and at a specific temperature condition. The moisture absorption process was found to be reversible with a low-saturation moisture uptake. The absorption through-the-thickness was determined to be lower than in the in-plane directions. The coefficients of moisture expansion or hygroelastic coefficients were determined and found to be similar in the warp and fill directions and much lower than through-the-thickness direction. The results were correlated to the behavior of a unidirectional composite with the same fiber and matrix. The viscoelastic properties were not affected during the process but the plasticization was very pronounced.