cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fall in portal vein insulin does not cause the alpha-cell response to mild, non-insulin-induced hypoglycemia in conscious dogs

The aim of the present study was to determine whether a decrease in the portal vein insulin level during non-insulin-induced hypoglycemia is sensed and is responsible for the normal increase in glucagon release from the alpha cell. To address this aim, a glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor was used to create mild, non-insulin-induced hypoglycemia in 2 groups of 18-hour fasted conscious dogs. Arterial insulin was clamped at a basal level in both groups, but in one group (PE) the portal vein insulin level was permitted to fall by approximately 65% while in the other group (POR) it was clamped at a basal level. In both groups glucose was infused at a variable rate to clamp the plasma glucose level at approximately 70 mg/dL. Plasma glucagon (pg/mL) rose to indistinguishable maxima in both groups (56 ± 3 in PE and 67 ± 9 in POR). Likewise, glucagon secretion (pg/kg/min) increased similarly (189 ± 32 to 455 ± 203 in PE and 192 ± 50 to 686 ± 237 in POR). Thus, the increase in glucagon release was not inhibited when the portal vein insulin level was prevented from decreasing (POR group). Clearly, a fall in the portal vein insulin level is not required for a normal alpha-cell response to mild, non-insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
Third Annual AGU Take Your Child to Work Day: Explorations in Earth and Space Science

The third annual Take Your Child to Work Day was held 25 April 2013 at AGU headquarters. Nearly 25 children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews of AGU staff members participated in the daylong activities.
Immobilization of glucose oxidase in a poly [vinyl alcohol] matrix on platinized graphite electrodes by gamma-irradiation

Abstract The strategy of immobilizing a biomolecule of analytical interest in a polymer matrix on an electrode surface by crosslinking with gamma radiation, was examined using the enzyme glucose oxidase (GO) and the polymer poly[vinyl alcohol] (PVAL), with and without the polyfunctional monomer, allyl methacrylate (AM). GO immobilized on platinized graphite surfaces enables glucose to be detected by oxidation of enzyme-generated H 2 O 2 at 300 mV vs Ag/AgCl. The GO/polymer modified electrode exhibits fast response (20 to 60 s), linearity range between 50 μM and 3 mM, good sensitivity (1·39 μA/m m ) and a detection limit of 50 μM. On non-platinized electrodes, the sensitivity is greater (1·53 μA/m m ), but a higher applied potential (1 200 mV) is required. Optimum response is obtained with a radiation dose of 3–5 Mrad. Repeated use of electrodes for over 60 days showed no significant change in these characteristics.
Theory of the electronic and transport properties of graphene under a periodic electric or magnetic field

Abstract We discuss the novel electronic properties of graphene under an external periodic scalar or vector potential, and the analytical and numerical methods used to investigate them. When graphene is subjected to a one-dimensional periodic scalar potential, owing to the linear dispersion and the chiral (pseudospin) nature of the electronic states, the group velocity of its carriers is renormalized highly anisotropically in such a manner that the velocity is invariant along the periodic direction but is reduced the most along the perpendicular direction. Under a periodic scalar potential, new massless Dirac fermions are generated at the supercell Brillouin zone boundaries. Also, we show that if the strength of the applied scalar potential is sufficiently strong, new zero-energy modes may be generated. With the periodic scalar potential satisfying some special conditions, the energy dispersion near the Dirac point becomes quasi one-dimensional. On the other hand, for graphene under a one-dimensional periodic vector potential (resulting in a periodic magnetic field perpendicular to the graphene plane), the group velocity is reduced isotropically and monotonically with the strength of the potential.
Composition of starch accumulated in the leaf lamineae of timothy, sorghum and lucerne.

The proportions of amylose to amylopectin in the starch of leaves of timothy and sorghum were similar to those of 20:80 found in the starch of seeds and tubers. In lucerne leaflets with increasing total non-structural carbohydrate content, the ratio of amylose to amylopectin increased from 2:98 to 21:79, the wavelength of maximum absorption of the complex solubilized in iodine-hot-water increased from 580 to 605 nm and the starch content increased from 6 to 37%
A high order cell-centered semi-Lagrangian scheme for multi-dimensional kinetic simulations of neutral gas flows

The term 'Convected Scheme' (CS) refers to a family of algorithms, most usually applied to the solution of Boltzmann's equation, which uses a method of characteristics in an integral form to project an initial cell forward to a group of final cells. As such the CS is a 'forward-trajectory' semi-Lagrangian scheme. For multi-dimensional simulations of neutral gas flows, the cell-centered version of this semi-Lagrangian (CCSL) scheme has advantages over other options due to its implementation simplicity, low memory requirements, and easier treatment of boundary conditions. The main drawback of the CCSL-CS to date has been its high numerical diffusion in physical space, because of the 2nd order remapping that takes place at the end of each time step. By means of a modified equation analysis, it is shown that a high order estimate of the remapping error can be obtained a priori, and a small correction to the final position of the cells can be applied upon remapping, in order to achieve full compensation of this error. The resulting scheme is 4th order accurate in space while retaining the desirable properties of the CS: it is conservative and positivity-preserving, and the overall algorithm complexity is not appreciably increased. Two monotone (i.e. non-oscillating) versions of the fourth order CCSL-CS are also presented: one uses a common flux-limiter approach; the other uses a non-polynomial reconstruction to evaluate the derivatives of the density function. The method is illustrated in simple one- and two-dimensional examples, and a fully 3D solution of the Boltzmann equation describing expansion of a gas into vacuum through a cylindrical tube.
Learning deficits in congenitally hydrocephalic rats and prevention by early shunt treatment

Shunt surgery is the usual treatment for infantile hydrocephalus; however, the extent to which it avoids subsequent neurological deficits is uncertain. The effect of early-onset hydrocephalus was tested in H-Tx rats using the Morris water maze. Spatial learning was assessed at 21 days after birth in control (n=18), hydrocephalic (n=18) and hydrocephalic rats shunt-treated at 4–5 (n=7) or at 10–12 days of life (n=13). The time taken to find a hidden platform was measured in five trials on 2 consecutive days and the data analyzed by one-and two-way ANOVA and t-tests. The latencies of the control rats decreased significantly between the first and second trial on the 1 st day, and learning was retained until the 2nd day. The hydrocephalic group had longer latencies than controls on both days, with no significant decrease between any trials. Performance was not significantly different between the two shunt groups. Overall, the shunted rats had latencies which were not significantly different from controls but were significantly lower than hydrocephalics. Despite this, the shunted rats did not perform as well as the controls. It is concluded that, although shunt treatment improved learning, some effects of early-onset hydrocephalus may not be reversible and/or a longer recovery time is required.
The challenge of commercial document retrieval, part I: major issues, and a framework based on search exhaustivity, determinacy of representation and document collection size

With the growing focus on what is collectively known as "knowledge management", a shift continues to take place in commercial information system development: a shift away from the well-understood data retrieval/database model, to the more complex and challenging development of commercial document/ information retrieval models. While document retrieval has had a long and rich legacy of research, its impact on commercial applications has been modest. At the enterprise level most large organizations have little understanding of, or commitment to, high quality document access and management. Part of the reason for this is that we still do not have a good framework for understanding the major factors which affect the performance of large-scale corporate document retrieval systems. The thesis of this discussion is that document retrieval - specifically, access to intellectual content - is a complex process which is most strongly influenced by three factors: the size of the document collection; the type of search (exhaustive, existence or sample); and, the determinacy of document representation. Collectively, these factors can be used to provide a useful framework for, or taxonomy of, document retrieval, and highlight some of the fundamental issues facing the design and development of commercial document retrieval systems. This is the first of a series of three articles. Part II (D.C. Blair, The challenge of commercial document retrieval. Part II. A strategy for document searching based on identifiable document partitions, Information Processing and Management, 2001b, this issue) will discuss the implications of this framework for search strategy, and Part III (D.C. Blair, Some thoughts on the reported results of Text REtrieval Conference (TREC), Information Processing and Management, 2002, forthcoming) will consider the importance of the TREC results for our understanding of operating information retrieval systems.
Criticality-driven superscalar design space exploration

It has become increasingly difficult to perform design space exploration (DSE) of computer systems with a short turnaround time because of exploding design spaces, increasing design complexity and long-running workloads. Researchers have used classical search/optimization techniques like simulated annealing, genetic algorithms, etc., to accelerate the DSE. While these techniques are better than an exhaustive search, a substantial amount of time must still be dedicated to DSE. This is a serious bottleneck in reducing research/development time. These techniques do not perform the DSE quickly enough, primarily because they do not leverage any insight as to how the different design parameters of a computer system interact to increase or degrade performance at a design point and treat the computer system as a "black-box".We propose using criticality analysis to guide the classical search/optimization techniques. We perform criticality analysis to find the design parameter which is most detrimental to the performance at a given design point. Criticality analysis at a given design point provides a localized view of the region around the design point without performing simulations at the neighboring points. On the other hand, a classical search/optimization technique has a global view of the design space and avoids getting stuck at a local maximum. We use this synergistic behavior between the criticality analysis (good locally) and the classical search/optimization techniques (good globally) to accelerate the DSE.For the DSE of superscalar processors on SPEC 2000 benchmarks, on average, criticality-driven walk achieves 3.8x speedup over random walk and criticality-driven simulated annealing achieves 2.3x speedup over simulated annealing.
Structural features and changes of lignocellulosic biomass during thermochemical pretreatments: A synchrotron X-ray scattering study on photoperiod-sensitive sorghum

Abstract Fundamental understanding of the structural changes during pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass could lead to improved processes and cost reductions for bioethanol production. Synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were used to study the structures of different parts of photoperiod-sensitive sorghum and structural changes during various pretreatments. WAXD study showed that the PS sorghum rind had oriented crystal peaks and the highest degree of crystallinity, whereas the crystalline structures of the inner pith and leaf were less ordered. Orientation distribution of cellulose changed during pretreatments. Crystalline cellulose was degraded partially by acid pretreatment and a smooth pore-boundary surface structure of cellulose was noted by SAXS. Alkali pretreatment transformed part of the cellulose to a more stable form and increased the crystal size of cellulose. The study provides information on a large length scale to understand how structure changes with different pretreatments.
The role of the liaison psychiatrist in a hemodialysis program: a case study.

The role of a liaison psychiatric consultant and the practical usefulness of psychiatric expertise in an ongoing hemodialysis program is illustrated by means of an individual patient study. Initially, the psychiatrist concentrated on establishing a diagnosis and defining the etiological significance of a variety of factors that were influencing the patient's behavior. Consequently, changes in the patient's medical program were suggested in an attempt to modify the patient's psychiatric status. The psychiatrist also needed to help the dialysis unit staff understand the patient and make a decision on feasibility of a kidney transplant.
Fully Bayesian spline smoothing and intrinsic autoregressive priors

SUMMARY There is a well-known Bayesian interpretation for function estimation by spline smoothing using a limit of proper normal priors. The limiting prior and the conditional and intrinsic autoregressive priors popular for spatial modelling have a common form, which we call partially informative normal. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the propriety of the posterior for this class of partially informative normal priors with noninformative priors on the variance components, a condition crucial for successful implementation of the Gibbs sampler. The results apply for fully Bayesian smoothing
Local sequence assembly reveals a high-resolution profile of somatic structural variations in 97 cancer genomes

Genomic structural variations (SVs) are pervasive in many types of cancers. Characterizing their underlying mechanisms and potential molecular consequences is crucial for understanding the basic biology of tumorigenesis. Here, we engineered a local assembly-based algorithm (laSV) that detects SVs with high accuracy from paired-end high-throughput genomic sequencing data and pinpoints their breakpoints at single base-pair resolution. By applying laSV to 97 tumor-normal paired genomic sequencing datasets across six cancer types produced by The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network, we discovered that non-allelic homologous recombination is the primary mechanism for generating somatic SVs in acute myeloid leukemia. This finding contrasts with results for the other five types of solid tumors, in which non-homologous end joining and microhomology end joining are the predominant mechanisms. We also found that the genes recursively mutated by single nucleotide alterations differed from the genes recursively mutated by SVs, suggesting that these two types of genetic alterations play different roles during cancer progression. We further characterized how the gene structures of the oncogene JAK1 and the tumor suppressors KDM6A and RB1 are affected by somatic SVs and discussed the potential functional implications of intergenic SVs.
14-3-3 proteins interact with the β-thymosin repeat protein Csp24

Conditioned stimulus pathway protein 24 (Csp24) is a β-thymosin-like protein that is homologous to other members of the family of β-thymosin repeat proteins that contain multiple actin binding domains. Actin co-precipitates with Csp24 and co-localizes with it in the cytosol of type-B photoreceptor cell bodies. Several signal transduction pathways have been shown to regulate the phosphorylation of Csp24 and contribute to cellular plasticity. Here, we report the identification of the adapter protein 14-3-3 in lysates of the Hermissenda circumesophageal nervous system and its interaction with Csp24. Immunoprecipitation experiments using an antibody that is broadly reactive with several isoforms of the 14-3-3 family of proteins showed that Csp24 co-precipitates with 14-3-3 protein, and nervous systems stimulated with 5-HT exhibited a significant increase in co-precipitated Csp24 probed with a phosphospecific antibody as compared with controls. These results indicate that post-translational modifications of Csp24 regulate its interaction with 14-3-3 protein, and suggest that this mechanism may contribute to the control of intrinsic enhanced excitability.
RAId_DbS: mass-spectrometry based peptide identification web server with knowledge integration

Background Existing scientific literature is a rich source of biological information such as disease markers. Integration of this information with data analysis may help researchers to identify possible controversies and to form useful hypotheses for further validations. In the context of proteomics studies, individualized proteomics era may be approached through consideration of amino acid substitutions/modifications as well as information from disease studies. Integration of such information with peptide searches facilitates speedy, dynamic information retrieval that may significantly benefit clinical laboratory studies.
Indoor propagation measurements using low profile and directional dual exponentially tapered slot antennas

This paper reports on the experimental set-up, results, and statistical characteristics of line-of-sight indoor wireless propagation channels using, a low-profile directional antenna on both transmit and receive. This paper compares the small-scale fading models at both microwave (5 GHz) and millimeter wave (30 GHz) frequencies. The measured results are used to determine the coefficients used in Rician and Nakagami distribution models. The results show that statistical parameters depend upon the frequency of operation and the antenna separation.
Health Related Surveillance Data on Violence Against Women State and Local Sources

This article identifies sources of health-related surveillance data on violence against women at both state and local levels. State and local health data have much potential to address the surveillance of violence against women. Some data sources, however, are limited by existing coding systems and poor documentation. Others, such as population-based health surveys, could provide population-based data on women's experience of violence but are underused. Examples of a variety of initiatives are discussed.
Third-generation amphiphilic conetworks. I. Synthesis and swelling behavior of poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)/polydimethylsiloxane conetworks

A strategy has been developed for the synthesis of novel amphiphilic conetworks (APCNs) of poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMAAm) and polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) segments crosslinked with polyhydrosiloxanes. The synthesis proceeds in three steps in one pot (see Figure 2 for reactions and abbreviations): (1) the preparation of a charge containing three components (an asymmetric–telechelic macromonomer, MA-PDMS-V, plus two symmetric–telechelic crosslinkers, MA-PDMS-MA and V-PDMS-V), (2) the free-radical terpolymerization of N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, MA-PDMS-V, and MA-PDMS-MA into a slightly crosslinked and soluble graft of a PDMAAm backbone carrying-PDMS-V branches, and (3) the crosslinking of PDMS branches with polyhydrosiloxanes. The effects of key experimental parameters (e.g., composition, molecular weights, and initiator and crosslinker concentrations) on synthesis details and swelling behavior have been studied. The water uptake/permeability of APCNs is significantly increased by the addition of homo-PDMAAm to graft charges, crosslinking of the graft, and, after the desirable morphology is stabilized, removing the homo-PDMAAm by water extraction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 295–307, 2007
Bootstrap Bayesian analysis with applications to gene-environment interaction

We propose a novel statistical model and inferential algorithm for gene environment interaction. Our methodology was motivated by and applied to identity by descent (IBD) sharing for sibling pairs affected by schizophrenia. Our analysis confirms some of the previous findings on the same data set, e.g. the estimated location of the disease gene and the existence of the interaction between the location of disease gene and environment. Our analysis also provides new insights by better accounting for overall variability in the data. We show that taking into account sampling variability may increase the length of posterior credible intervals for the true location of the disease gene by as much as 140%. Moreover, the posterior distribution is shown to be non-Gaussian, which more closely matches the data.
The Pediatrician in an Innovative Public School Health Program: One Future Focus for Pediatrics

A three-year experience with the pupil-personnel-medical team approach to health problems in a suburban elementary school has been viewed as successful by both the participating school district and the department of pediatrics, and may be one model for cooperative efforts between education and medicine.
Nonoffending Mothers of Sexually Abused Children A Case of Institutionalized Sexism

A recent national study found that females offended in 44% of all cases of child sexual abuse reported to child protective services, and that mothers offended in 53% of all cases of parental incest. These findings contradict other data suggesting that the percentage of females and mothers who commit sexual abuse is much lower. The purpose of this article is to explore the historical conceptualization of nonoffending mothers of sexually abused children and the development of child abuse and neglect policies and statutes for the purpose of providing insight into the overidentification of mothers in cases of identified sexual abuse.
The forgotten individual: diagrammatic reasoning in mathematics

Parallelism has been drawn between modes of representation and problem-sloving processes: Diagrams are more useful for brainstorming while symbolic representation is more welcomed in a formal proof. The paper gets to the root of this clear-cut dualistic picture and argues that the strength of diagrammatic reasoning in the brainstorming process does not have to be abandoned at the stage of proof, but instead should be appreciated and could be preserved in mathematical proofs.
Random forest methodology for model-based recursive partitioning: the mobForest package for R.

Recursive partitioning is a non-parametric modeling technique, widely used in regression and classification problems. Model-based recursive partitioning is used to identify groups of observations with similar values of parameters of the model of interest. The mob() function in the party package in R implements model-based recursive partitioning method. This method produces predictions based on single tree models. Predictions obtained through single tree models are very sensitive to small changes to the learning sample. We extend the model-based recursive partition method to produce predictions based on multiple tree models constructed on random samples achieved either through bootstrapping (random sampling with replacement) or subsampling (random sampling without replacement) on learning data. Here we present an R package called “mobForest” that implements bagging and random forests methodology for model-based recursive partitioning. The mobForest package constructs large number of model-based trees and the predictions are aggregated across these trees resulting in more stable predictions. The package also includes functions for computing predictive accuracy estimates and plots, residuals plot, and variable importance plot. The mobForest package implements a random forest type approach for model-based recursive partitioning. The R package along with it source code is available at http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=mobForest .
Effects of steer breed composition on feedlot performance and carcass traits1

Records of steers (n = 3,554) of known breed composition were used to assess the effect of breed composition on feedlot performance and carcass traits. Feedlot ADG was greater (P ≤ 0.01) for Angus and Red Angus than for Brangus and Polled Hereford steers. Longissimus muscle area ranged from 81.6 cm2 for Beefmaster carcasses to 85.7 cm2 for Red Angus carcasses and was affected by breed (P < 0.01). Marbling score was greatest (P = 0.03) in Angus carcasses and greater (P < 0.05) in Brangus than in Polled Hereford and Beefmaster carcasses. All following results are relative to a British base. Direct additive effects for backfat thickness in Continental (P < 0.01), American (P < 0.01), and Zebu (P < 0.05) breeds were − 0.6, − 0.2, and − 0.1 cm. Marbling score and USDA QG direct additive effects (P < 0.01) were large negative values for American, Continental, and Zebu. The Continental direct additive effect (P < 0.01) for LM area was 9.7 cm2 . Calculated YG direct additive effects (P < 0.01) were − 0.2 and − 1.0 for American and Continental breeds, respectively. Direct heterosis effects (P < 0.01) in British × American steers were present for ADG and marbling score, whereas Continental crosses tended to exhibit direct heterosis effects (P < 0.05) for LM area and backfat thickness. Steer breed composition influenced finishing performance and carcass traits. This information is important for breed selection, finishing, and marketing decisions.
Foreward on Insider Trading Regulation

Since the passage of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, federal securities law has proscribed the use of material nonpublic information in buying and selling securities. However, the term “insider trading” has not been defined in federal legislation. Rather, the nature of its proscription has been left to the ingenuity of the Securities and Exchange Commission, private litigants, and the courts. Proponents of insider trading regulation properly assert that an intuitive sense of fairness supports the prohibition. However, these traditionalists face serious problems with the jurisprudence that has evolved, providing a source of much humor to their adversaries, the free market theorists, at the sidelines. In favor of insider trading generally, the opponents argue that the opposing social consensus, if it exists at all, is wrong, that insider trading is utilitarian, with benefits accruing in the form of economic efficiencies for all of us. This essay briefly explores the critical issues involved in the insider trading debate.
Genetic and Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis for Bio-Oil Compounds after Fast Pyrolysis in Maize Cobs

Fast pyrolysis has been identified as one of the biorenewable conversion platforms that could be a part of an alternative energy future, but it has not yet received the same attention as cellulosic ethanol in the analysis of genetic inheritance within potential feedstocks such as maize. Ten bio-oil compounds were measured via pyrolysis/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py/GC-MS) in maize cobs. 184 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the intermated B73 x Mo17 (IBM) Syn4 population were analyzed in two environments, using 1339 markers, for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. QTL mapping was performed using composite interval mapping with significance thresholds established by 1000 permutations at α = 0.05. 50 QTL were found in total across those ten traits with R2 values ranging from 1.7 to 5.8%, indicating a complex quantitative inheritance of these traits.
Quasi phase matching of high harmonic generation in waveguides using counter-propagating beams

We present the first demonstration of high harmonic flux enhancement (over an order of magnitude) using quasi-phase-matching by a counterpropagating pulse train. This was enabled by a waveguide geometry. We also demonstrate quantum path control.
Hydrodynamic Pressures on Dams During Earthquakes

The intensity, distribution, and frequency characteristics of hydrodynamic pressures acting on dams during earthquakes are discussed. A short review of previous work on this subject is presented, with particular emphasis on evaluation of common simplifying assumptions. Including compressibility of water, an analysis is made of the pressures generated on a rigid dam with a vertical upstream face. These results are intended for gravity dams. General expressions for the complete time history of pressures during arbitrary horizontal and vertical ground motions are derived. It is concluded that the concept of an added mass, moving with the dam, to represent hydrodynamic effects is not valid for earthquake-type excitations. It is also shown that significant errors are introduced by ignoring compressibility of water. The standard design practice in considering additional water pressures on dams due to earthquakes is compared with the theoretical responses.
Short-term nonmigrating tide variability in the mesosphere, thermosphere, and ionosphere

The intraseasonal variability of the eastward propagating nonmigrating diurnal tide with zonal wave number 3 (DE3) during 2007 in the mesosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere is investigated using a whole atmosphere model reanalysis and satellite observations. The atmospheric reanalysis is based on implementation of data assimilation in the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) using the Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) ensemble Kalman filter. The tidal variability in the WACCM+DART reanalysis is compared to the observed variability in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) based on the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics Dynamics satellite Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (TIMED/SABER) observations, in the ionosphere based on Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) observations, and in the upper thermosphere (∼475 km) based on Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) neutral density observations. To obtain the short-term DE3 variability in the MLT and upper thermosphere, we apply the method of tidal deconvolution to the TIMED/SABER observations and consider the difference in the ascending and descending longitudinal wave number 4 structure in the GRACE observations. The results reveal that tidal amplitude changes of 5–10 K regularly occur on short timescales (∼10–20 days) in the MLT. Similar variability occurs in the WACCM+DART reanalysis and TIMED/SABER observations, demonstrating that the short-term variability can be captured in whole atmosphere models that employ data assimilation and in observations by the technique of tidal deconvolution. The impact of the short-term DE3 variability in the MLT on the ionosphere and thermosphere is also clearly evident in the COSMIC and GRACE observations. Analysis of the troposphere forcing in WACCM+DART and simulations of the Global Scale Wave Model (GSWM) show that the short-term DE3 variability in the MLT is not related to a single source; rather, it is due to a combination of changes in troposphere forcing, zonal mean atmosphere, and wave-wave interactions.
Agriculture and the Theocratic State in Lowland Southeastern Mexico

Shifting cultivation, which is the technique commonly followed by tropical agriculturists, while wasteful of land use in requiring a long fallowing period, will support variable population densities depending upon crops grown, farming tools used, and soil fertility. Twenty persons per square kilometer is accepted as the density for the region around the Preclassic La Venta site which was begun about 800 B.C. and abandoned about 400 B.C. The occupation area of the La Venta culture group is believed to lie between the Coatzacoalcos and Tonala rivers and amounts to about 900 square kilometers, thus yielding a population figure of about 18,000, of which 3600 are family heads. The total man-days of labor required to build the La Venta site is estimated to be 1,100,000, and the four major rebuildings of the site features are suggested as having been done at completion of 52 and 104 year calendar rounds.
Quantifying In Vivo, Site-Specific Changes in Protein Methylation with SILAC

Interest in protein methylation has grown rapidly in recent years. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is ideally suited to characterize protein modifications, but the multiplicity of methylated residues and the lack of efficient methods to enrich methylated proteins have limited the proteomic identification of protein methylation sites. In this protocol, we compare two metabolic labeling approaches, stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and its variant heavy methyl SILAC, for studying protein methylation. Instead of heavy lysine and arginine in the typical SILAC experiment, heavy methyl SILAC uses (13)C, (2)H methionine as the labeling amino acid. As cells convert methionine to S-adenosylmethionine, heavy methyl SILAC encodes a 4 Da mass tag for each methyl group, distinguishing between degrees of methylation is possible from mass difference alone. We provide a protocol for SILAC-based analyses of protein methylation and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each method for targeted and proteomic analyses.
System efficiency for two-step metal oxide solar thermochemical hydrogen production – Part 2: Impact of gas heat recuperation and separation temperatures

Abstract The solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency is calculated for various operating conditions for a two-step metal oxide solar thermochemical hydrogen production cycle using cerium(IV) oxide. An inert sweep gas was considered as the O 2 removal method. Gas and solid heat recuperation effectiveness values were varied between 0 and 100% in order to determine the limits of the effect of these parameters. The temperature at which the inert gas is separated from oxygen for an open-loop and recycled system is varied. The hydrogen and water separation temperature was also varied and the effect on STH efficiency quantified. This study shows that gas heat recuperation is critical for high efficiency cycles, especially at conditions that require high steam and inert gas flowrates. A key area for future study is identified to be the development of ceramic heat exchangers for high temperature gas–gas heat exchange. Solid heat recuperation is more important at lower oxidation temperatures that favor temperature-swing redox processing, and the relative impact of this heat recuperation is muted if the heat can be used elsewhere in the system. A high separation temperature for the recycled inert gas has been shown to be beneficial, especially for cases of lower gas heat recuperation and increased inert gas flowrates. A higher water/hydrogen separation temperature is beneficial for most gas heat recuperation effectiveness values, though the overall impact on optimal system efficiency is relatively small for the values considered.
The Inframammary Approach to Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: The UCSF Experience

Nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed through a variety of incisions depending on patient, tumor, and treatment variables. Use of the inframammary fold approach is a safe and reliable approach that allows for good exposure and optimized esthetic outcomes in selected patients.
Molecular and genetic characterization of SPT4 , a gene important for transcription initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutations in the SPT4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated as suppressors of δ insertion mutations that interfere with adjacent gene transcription. Recent genetic evidence indicates that the SPT4 protein functions with two other proteins, SPT5 and SPT6, in some aspect of transcription initiation. In this work we have characterized the SPT4 gene and we demonstrate that spt4 mutations, like spt5 and spt6 mutations, cause changes in transcription. Using the cloned SPT4 gene, spt4 null mutations were constructed; in contrast to spt5 and spt6 null mutants, which are inviable, spt4 null mutants are viable and have an Spt− phenotype. The DNA sequence of the SPT4 gene predicts a protein product of 102 amino acids that contains four cysteine residues positioned similarly to those of zinc binding proteins. Mutational analysis suggests that at least some of these cysteines are essential for SPT4 function. Genetic mapping showed that SPT4 is a previously unidentified gene that maps to chromosome VII, between ADE6 and CLY8.
Quark: A Methodology to Transform People-Driven Processes to Chatbot Services

Human is a key cost factor in today’s service- and business-oriented processes. To reduce labor, we propose an approach to convert people driven processes to a chatbot service. Current approaches to create a chatbot service are based on formal representations or dialog based methodologies. Formal representations provide techniques for soundness verification and exception handling, however, do not provide a software methodology that capture steps for developers to build a chatbot service. Dialog based methodologies provide different step-wise approaches to create a chatbot service, however, ignore the formal aspects. To bridge the gap, we propose a novel methodology, Quark, that guides developers in producing a model that is complete and sound. Specifically, Quark takes a business process flow as input and produces a Watson Conversation model. Quark employs the notions of goals and commitments which provide a formal means for completeness and soundness. We present Quark using a change management process scenario.
Sphingomonas paucimobilis presenting as acute phlebitis: A case report

Abstract Sphingomonas paucimobilis is a strictly aerobic, non-spore-forming Gram-negative bacillus, ubiquitous bacterium, thought to be an opportunistic pathogen and is rarely reported in clinical settings. Here in, is the first case report of Acute Sphingomonas phlebitis secondary to intravenous (IV) drug use. We present the case of a 39-year-old male who initially presented with pain in his right upper extremity, fevers and chills of three week duration. He admitted to regularly injecting heroin in his distal right upper extremity with visible erythema, tenderness and streaking along the path of vein along the injection site. Radiographic studies including X-ray of the right arm, ultrasound and a subsequent MRI of the right arm were not significant for any osteomyelitis, deep venous thrombus, abscess, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, or pyomyositis. Blood culture grew Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Patient was initially started on vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam and subsequently switched to levofloxacin to complete a 14 day course. Patient admitted to using toilet water to mix his heroin which we suspect may have been the source of his bacteremia. Since it was first reported in 1979, a wide variety of community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections have been attributed to this Sphingomonas. It is ubiquitous to natural environment. We believe that due to its widespread habitat and ability to survive in stress conditions it could be a potential future threat in the era of increasing antimicrobial resistance globally. More research needs to be done on early identification, pathogenesis, treatment and eradication of the organism.
Disulfur Decafluoride (S2F10): A Review of the Biological Properties and Our Experimental Studies of This Breakdown Product of SF6

The toxicity of S2F10 (disulfur decafluoride) to whole animals and to cells is discussed. The strong toxicity of S2F10, comparable to the toxicity of phosgene in some species, suggested the possible use of S2F10 as a warfare agent. Exposures to as little as 0.1 ppm for 18 h have produced lung irritation in rats. Cell culture studies in our laboratory have shown S2F10 to be by far the most toxic product we have so far identified in laboratory samples of electrically-decomposed SF6. The significance of these toxicological studies for electrical utility personnel depends on (1) the presence and amount of S2F10 found in actual applications and (2) the effectiveness of clean-up methods applied to faulted gas equipment.
COMPARISON OF PULMONARY ARTERY CATHETER USE IN CARDIOGENIC SHOCK VERSUS SEPTIC SHOCK

There is a controversy about the utility of pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) in the management of shock. We hypothesized that invasive hemodynamic monitoring with the use of PAC may be beneficial in the management of shock depending on the etiology (septic versus cardiogenic). Using weighted data
Abstract 13820: Diastolic Dysfunction is Not Associated With Increased Diastolic Calcium During Experimental Uremic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: The underlying mechanisms contributing to uremic cardiomyopathy during chronic kidney disease (CKD) are poorly understood, limiting treatment options. Hypothesis: We aimed to determine if altered calcium (Ca2+) handling in cardiomyocytes contributes to diastolic dysfunction in a mouse model of CKD. Methods: CKD was induced in male 129X1/SvJ mice through five-sixths nephrectomy in a two-stage surgery. Age-matched mice served as controls. Transthoracic echocardiography and speckle-tracking based strain analysis (Vevo2100, VisualSonics, Toronto, Canada) were performed at 8 weeks post-CKD (n=7-8) to assess heart structure and function. Cardiomyocytes isolated from mice with or without CKD (n=3 mice per group, 10-12 cells/mouse) were loaded with Fura 2-AM, paced by field stimulation (1 Hz), and imaged with a dual-excitation fluorescence photomultiplier system (IonOptix Inc, Milton, MA) to measure Ca2+ transients and sarcomere length. Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content was determined following rapid application of caffeine.[[Unable to Display Character: ]] Results: CKD mice displayed left ventricular hypertrophy (LVAW;d 1.46 ± 0.134 vs 1.04 ± 0.129 mm; p Conclusions: Mice with CKD have signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction on echocardiography. Cardiomyocytes isolated from mice with CKD have shorter diastolic sarcomere length implying impaired relaxation, yet paradoxically have decreased diastolic calcium. Thus Ca2+ accumulation during diastole does not appear to contribute to impaired relaxation in this model.
Structure refinement of membrane proteins via molecular dynamics simulations

A refinement protocol based on physics-based techniques established for water soluble proteins is tested for membrane protein structures. Initial structures were generated by homology modeling and sampled via molecular dynamics simulations in explicit lipid bilayer and aqueous solvent systems. Snapshots from the simulations were selected based on scoring with either knowledge-based or implicit membrane-based scoring functions and averaged to obtain refined models. The protocol resulted in consistent and significant refinement of the membrane protein structures similar to the performance of refinement methods for soluble proteins. Refinement success was similar between sampling in the presence of lipid bilayers and aqueous solvent but the presence of lipid bilayers may benefit the improvement of lipid-facing residues. Scoring with knowledge-based functions (DFIRE and RWplus) was found to be as good as scoring using implicit membrane-based scoring functions suggesting that differences in internal packing is more important than orientations relative to the membrane during the refinement of membrane protein homology models.
Data-driven resilience quantification of the US Air transportation network

This paper presents a data-driven approach for quantifying the resilience of an air transportation network using publicly available data. The methodology relies on a statistical measure, Mahalanobis distance, to detect atypical behavior in the network. This method is applied to parameters of interest from Bureau of Transportation Statistics flight data for the year 2012. The parameters are the total cancellations and average flight delay across all airports. The expected values for these parameters is first established for airports of interest on a given day of the week. The Mahalanobis distance for the network on a given day is then calculated based on these expected values and their variances. Periods with extreme distance values are deemed extreme events. We also separately estimate damages caused by various weather-related events using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to verify results of the distance metric. The distance metric was able to capture impacts of major events like Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Sandy, and the 2012 North American Blizzard. This method provides a quantitative approach for identifying events that significantly impact the air transportation network. The method can thus support decision-making in designing a more resilient network or air traffic control; for example, by evaluating alternative network topologies or producing training data for disruption impact prediction models.
Inorganic Photoinitiators for Photolithographic Applications

Photolithography is used extensively in the microelectronics industry to generate three-dimensional patterns in a solid substrate such as single crystal silicon (Willson 1983; Bowden 1984). Figure 1 illustrates the sequence of steps that comprise the typical photolithographic process. The substrate initially is coated with a thin layer of a photosensitive material, termed a resist, and then exposed to light through a mask containing transparent and opaque areas that define the desired pattern. The transparent areas transmit light which causes a photochemical reaction in the resist, thereby affording a means of differentiating the exposed and unexposed regions. Preferential dissolution of the unexposed resist in a suitable developing solvent, for example, creates a negative tone image of the mask on the substrate surface (a positive tone image results if the exposed resist dissolves preferentially in the developer). This image, in turn, can be transferred into the substrate via a chemical and/or physical etching process in which the areas not protected by the resist are attacked by the etchant. The final step involves stripping away the resist to yield a negative tone relief image in the substrate that replicates the pattern of the mask.
Fixed-target efficient search has logarithmic efficiency with and without eye movements.

Stage 1 processing in visual search (e.g., efficient search) has long been thought to be unaffected by factors such as set size or lure–distractor similarity (or at least to be only minimally affected). Recent research from Buetti, Cronin, Madison, Wang, and Lleras (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 145, 672–707, 2016) showed that in efficient visual search with a fixed target, reaction times increase logarithmically as a function of set size and, further, that the slope of these logarithmic functions is modulated by target–distractor similarity. This has led to the proposal that the cognitive architecture of Stage 1 processing is parallel, of unlimited capacity, and exhaustive in nature. Such an architecture produces reaction time functions that increase logarithmically with set size (as opposed to being unaffected by it). However, in the previous studies, eye movements were not monitored. It is thus possible that the logarithmicity of the reaction time functions emerged simply as an artifact of eye movements rather than as a reflection of the underlying cognitive architecture. Here we ruled out the possibility that eye movements resulted in the observed logarithmic functions, by asking participants to keep their eyes at fixation while completing fixed-target efficient visual search tasks. The logarithmic RT functions still emerged even when participants were not allowed to make eye movements, thus providing further support for our proposal. Additionally, we found that search efficiency is slightly improved when eye movements are restricted and lure–target similarity is relatively high.
EVEREST II Functional Mitral Regurgitation

This case example describes in a step-by-step fashion the evaluation and management of severe MR in a patient with functional MR due to an inferior-basal left ventricular aneurysm in the setting of prior inferior myocardial infarction.