cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface charge and cell volume of synchronized mouse lymphoblasts (L5178‐Y)

Cellular electrophoretic mobility, and therefore, surface charge/ unit area, was found to be constant throughout the cell cycle of synchronized L5178-Y mouse lymphoblasts, remaining at – 1.21 μ sec−1 V−1 cm. Measured cell volumes of these synchronized cells increased linearly over the cell cycle and at mitosis each cell divided into two cells, each cell having half of the parent volume. An hypothesis is presented which explains the presence of a mobility peak at mitosis in cells which normally are grown attaching to a glass surface on the basis of differential morphological changes during mitosis; cells such as the L5178-Ys, which do not attach to glass normally, do not undergo such morphological changes at mitosis and, therefore, would not demonstrate a mobility peak at that time.
Software development risks to project effectiveness

Abstract Controlling the risks to a software development project is a critical issue examined by information system researchers. Many of the studies and methods to date examine the risks from the broad aspect of system success but attempt to promote activities related to a narrow domain of risks. Our intent is to examine the impact of the spectrum of risks on different aspects of system development. We report the results of a survey of 86 project managers that indicate common aspects of project effectiveness are generally under control, but are most effected by lack of expertise on the project team. Significant relationships also show that lack of clear role definition and conflicts on the team are also elevated risks. Other items are not as critical or limited to a much smaller aspect of effectiveness than overall success. This focusing in on the more important risk aspects will allow for more effective management of the project and a narrowing of techniques to mitigate the significant risks.
Methylation of the p16INK4a promoter region in telomerase immortalized human keratinocytes co-cultured with feeder cells

Human keratinocytes grown in co-culture with fibroblast feeder cells have an extended in vitro lifespan and delayed accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein p16INK4a when compared to the same cells grown on tissue culture plastic alone. Previous studies have indicated that human keratinocytes can be immortalized by telomerase activity alone when grown in co-culture with feeder cells, suggesting that loss of the p16INK4a/Rb pathway is not required for immortalization. Using two independent human keratinocyte cell strains, we found that exogenous telomerase expression and co-culture with feeder cells results in efficient extension of lifespan without an apparent crisis. However, when these cells were transferred from the co-culture environment to plastic alone they experienced only a brief period of slowed growth before continuing to proliferate indefinitely. Examination of immortal cell lines demonstrated p16INK4a promoter methylation had occurred in both the absence and presence of feeder cells. Reintroduction of p16INK4a into immortal cell lines resulted in rapid growth arrest. Our results suggest that p16INK4a/Rb-induced telomere-independent senescence, although delayed in the presence of feeders, still provides a proliferation barrier to human keratinocytes in this culture system and that extended culture of telomerase-transduced keratinocytes on feeders can lead to the methylation of p16INK4a.
An unusual case of diaphragmatic stimulation following cardiac resynchronization therapy.

During a left ventricular (LV) lead revision for diaphragmatic stimulation in a BiV-ICD patient, the fluoroscopic image of coronary sinus (CS) venogram showed that the LV …
N1-benzenesulfonylgramine and N1-benzenesulfonylskatole: novel 5-HT6 receptor ligand templates.

Abstract 1-Benzenesulfonyl-5-methoxy- N , N -dimethyltryptamine ( 3 ; K i =2.3 nM) is a 5-HT 6 receptor antagonist; removal of the 5-methoxy group (i.e., 6 ; K i =4.1 nM) has little impact on receptor affinity. In the present study, it is shown that the aminomethyl portion of 6 can be shortened to gramine analogue 10a ( K i =3.1 nM); a related skatole derivative 11b ( K i =12 nM) also binds with high affinity indicating that the aminoethyl portion of the tryptamines is not required for binding. Compounds 10a and 11b represent members of novel classes of 5-HT 6 antagonists.
Zinc sulfate: An adjuvant to wound healing in patients undergoing radical vulvectomy

Abstract The average postoperative stay for 45 patients undergoing radical vulvectomy with femoral and inguinal lymphadenectomy was 37 days. Five patients were treated with oral zinc sulfate for at least 7 days prior to surgery. The incidence of wound infection was decreased, and the average postoperative stay was reduced to 18 days.
Tradeoff analysis of energy harvesting and noise emission for distributed wind turbines

Abstract Wind energy is considered one of the most promising renewable energy sources. However, the advancement of wind power generation is impeded by major challenges such as the cost of wind power, environmental impacts, and effects on power grid stability. One of the major environmental challenges hindering public acceptance for new wind power installations is the noise emission from wind turbines. Unfortunately, reducing the noise emission could lead to decreased wind energy harvesting. As a result of these conflicting goals, a tradeoff between power generation and noise emission arises. An optimal control approach for wind turbines is presented in this paper. By controlling the electromagnetic torque of the generator and/or the blade pitch angle, an optimal operating condition that considers the tradeoff between wind turbine energy harvesting and noise emission can be obtained. Simulations were conducted to analyze the impact of the control design on power generation and noise emission in partial and full-load conditions. Additionally, a case study for a wind farm located near a residential area operating in two different wind classes is detailed.
Some approximations in multi‐item, multi‐echelon inventory systems for recoverable items

The optimization problem as formulated in the METRIC model takes the form of minimizing the expected number of total system backorders in a two-echelon inventory system subject to a budget constraint. The system contains recoverable items – items subject to repair when they fail. To solve this problem, one needs to find the optimal Lagrangian multiplier associated with the given budget constraint. For any large-scale inventory system, this task is computationally not trivial. Fox and Landi proposed one method that was a significant improvement over the original METRIC algorithm. In this report we first develop a method for estimating the value of the optimal Lagrangian multiplier used in the Fox-Landi algorithm, present alternative ways for determining stock levels, and compare these proposed approaches with the Fox-Landi algorithm, using two hypothetical inventory systems – one having 3 bases and 75 items, the other 5 bases and 125 items. The comparison shows that the computational time can be reduced by nearly 50 percent. Another factor that contributes to the higher requirement for computational time in obtaining the solution to two-echelon inventory systems is that it has to allocate stock optimally to the depot as well as to bases for a given total-system stock level. This essentially requires the evaluation of every possible combination of depot and base stock levels – a time-consuming process for many practical inventory problems with a sizable system stock level. This report also suggests a simple approximation method for estimating the optimal depot stock level. When this method was applied to the same two hypotetical inventory systems indicated above, it was found that the estimate of optimal depot stock is quite close to the optimal value in all cases. Furthermore, the increase in expected system backorders using the estimated depot stock levels rather than the optimal levels is generally small.
Emergency Planning in School-Based Athletics: A National Survey of Athletic Trainers

OBJECTIVES:: To use nationally published guidelines to examine the preparedness of schools in the United States to respond to emergencies associated with school-based athletics. METHODS:: A questionnaire, mailed to 1000 randomly selected members of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, included questions on the clinical background of the athletic trainer, the demographic features of their school, the preparedness of their school to manage life-threatening athletic emergencies, the presence of preventative measures to avoid potential sport-related emergencies, and the immediate availability of emergency equipment. RESULTS:: Of the 944 questionnaires delivered, 643 (68%) were returned; of these, 521 (81%) were eligible for analysis (55% usable response rate). Seventy percent (95% confidence interval [CI], 66-74) of schools have a Written Emergency Plan (WEP), although 36% (95% CI, 30-40) of schools with a WEP do not practice the plan. Thirty-four percent (95% CI, 30-38) of schools have an athletic trainer present during all athletic events. Sports previously noted to have higher rates of fatalities/injuries based on published literature, such as ice hockey and gymnastics, had, according to our data, less coverage by athletic trainers compared with other sports with lower rates of fatalities/injuries. Athletic trainers reported the immediate availability of the following during athletic events: cervical spine collar (62%, 95% CI, 58-66), automatic electronic defibrillator (61%, 95% CI, 57-65), epinephrine autoinjector (37%, 95% CI, 33-41), bronchodilator metered-dose inhaler (36%, 95% CI, 32-40). CONCLUSIONS:: Although schools are in compliance with many of the recommendations for school-based athletic emergency preparedness, specific areas for improvement include practicing the WEP several times a year, linking all areas of the school directly with emergency medical services, increasing the presence of athletic trainers at athletic events (especially sports with a higher rate of fatalities/injuries), regulating the care of and inspection of school facilities and fields, requiring the use of safety equipment (such as mouth guards and protective eye equipment), and increasing the availability of automatic electronic defibrillator in schools. Language: en
The behavioral neurogenetics of fragile X syndrome: Analyzing gene-brain-behavior relationships in child developmental psychopathologies

Analyzing gene-brain-behavior linkages in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, a research approach called "behavioral neurogenetics," has provided new insights into understanding how both genetic and environmental factors contribute to complex variations in typical and atypical human development. Research into etiologically more homogeneous disorders, such as fragile X syndrome, in particular, allows the use of more precise metrics of genetic risk so that we can more fully understand the complex pathophysiology of childhood onset neurodevelopmental disorders. In this paper, we review our laboratory's behavioral neurogenetics research by examining gene-brain-behavior relationships in fragile X syndrome, a single-gene disorder that has become a well-characterized model for studying neurodevelopmental dysfunction in childhood. Specifically, we examine genetic influences, trajectories of cognition and behavior, variation in brain structure and function, and biological and environmental factors that influence developmental and cognitive outcomes of children with fragile X. The converging approaches across these multilevel scientific domains indicate that fragile X, which arises from disruption of a single gene leading to the loss of a specific protein, is associated with a cascade of aberrations in neurodevelopment, resulting in a central nervous system that is suboptimal with respect to structure and function. In turn, structural and functional brain alterations lead to early disruption in emotion, cognition, and behavior in the child with fragile X. The combination of molecular genetics, neuroimaging, and behavioral research have advanced our understanding of the linkages between genetic variables, neurobiological measures, IQ, and behavior. Our research and that of others demonstrates that neurobehavior and neurocognition, genetics, and neuroanatomy are all different views of the same intriguing biological puzzle, a puzzle that today is rapidly emerging into a more complete picture of the intricate linkages among gene, brain, and behavior in developing children. Understanding the complex multilevel scientific perspective involved in fragile X will also contribute to our understanding of normal development by highlighting developmental events throughout the life span, thereby helping us to delineate the boundaries of pathology.
Evidence-based versus tinkerable knowledge as strategic assets: A new perspective on the interplay between innovation and application

Organization success depends, at least in part, on a firm's ability to wisely manage what it knows in order to capitalize on technical achievements, develop new products and services, realize the benefits of innovation, achieve effective scale economies, and continuously advance and control its operations. This paper departs from familiar approaches to categorizing knowledge resources to distinguish between knowledge resources that are appropriate to replicate 'as is' (evidence-based knowledge resources) and those that are best suited to contribute to innovation and creative activity (tinkerable knowledge resources). A set of criteria for classifying different types of knowledge flow mechanisms is also introduced. We propose a framework for determining effective fit between knowledge resources and the mechanisms used to move and apply those resources. We discuss the benefits of achieving fit and the liabilities of misfit and illustrate these ideas with examples drawn from a variety of sources. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for future research.
Control of the coherence of light scattered from a one-dimensional randomly rough surface that acts as a Schell-model source

We present an approach to the design of a one-dimensional perfectly conducting randomly rough surface that when illuminated at normal incidence by a laser beam produces a partially coherent scattered beam with a Gaussian dependence of its mean intensity in the mean scattering surface and with a specified spectral degree of coherence in that surface that can have a nearly arbitrary form. The approach is validated by the results of computer simulations.
A computer program for automatic generation of stiffness and mass matrices in finite-element analysis

Abstract A computer program to generate automatically the stiffness and mass matrices in finite element analysis is introduced. By using programs like this, researchers only need to derive the expressions for the energies (strain or kinetic) and the expressions for the displacements or stresses and their derivatives in terms of nodal variables. Tedious calculations to obtain the matrices are avoided. Such programs would facilitate checking of existing matrices and would encourage researchers to try out new finite element models.
Further Reflections on the Nature of ‘A Work’: An Introduction

SUMMARY The purpose of this volume is to extend our understanding of the work entity and its role in information retrieval. Basic definitions are reviewed to provide a summary of current thought about works, their role in the catalog, and the potential for better accommodating them in future information retrieval environments. A discussion of entities for information retrieval and works as entities follows. Research in knowledge organization is summarized, indicating ways in which ontology, epistemology, and semiotics have lately been used as looking glasses through which to view the social informational roles of works.
Thermophysical Properties of α-Tungsten Carbide

Upper and lower bounds for the thermal expansion of polycrystalline tungsten carbide (α-WC) are predicted at ultrahigh temperatures from low-temperature experimental data. The lower bound is obtained from an α V K T V model, where α V is the volume thermal expansion, K T the isothermal bulk modulus for a randomly oriented polycrystalline sample, and V the molar volume. For many materials, the α V K T V product approaches a constant value that is similar to the specific heat at the highest temperatures. The upper bound uses Griineisen's rule with a constant Gruneisen parameter γ at temperatures >1.3θ D (where θ D is the Debye temperature) and experimental data below that temperature. Literature data for the thermophysical properties of α-WC have been reviewed and used in our α V K T V model to calculate a lower bound for the thermal expansion at temperatures >2θ D and to calculate the temperature dependence of the bulk modulus. The ultrahigh-pressure thermal expansion has been calculated from the lower bound. Model predictions of the thermophysical properties of WC are given for an extended temperature range.
Exercise-induced increase in the capacity of skeletal muscle to oxidize palmitate.

SummaryRats were subjected to a 12-week program of treadmill running. Homogenates of gastrocnemius muscle from the exercised rats oxidized palmitate at a significantly greater rate than homogenates of muscles from sedentary controls. This finding indicates that the exercise-induced adaptations in skeletal muscle include an increase in the capacity to oxidize fatty acids. It is suggested that this adaptation plays a role in enabling physically trained individuals, as compared to sedentary, to obtain a greater proportion of the energy needed for submaximal exercise from fat.
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Forensic Applications and Considerations

This paper reviews the empirical literature on the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (RF; Ben-Porath and Tellegen 2008; Tellegen and Ben-Porath, 2008) scales for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and PTSD comorbidity and discusses the use of the instrument in forensic contexts. We focus on prior work that has examined the association between the RF scales and PTSD, PTSD comorbidity, and the utility of the RF validity scales for detecting feigned symptoms of PTSD. We conclude that though the MMPI-2 RF scales show expected patterns of association with PTSD, their most useful application in the forensic arena may be in the identification of comorbid personality-based psychopathology, and in detecting symptom overreporting. We recommend that the MMPI-2 RF be used in the context of a comprehensive assessment that includes an exhaustive record review, detailed history with an emphasis on past trauma, and structured diagnostic interviews.
Ceramic-fiber—Polymer composites for electronic substrates

Abstract Laminate composites of polymer resins reinforced by certain ceramic fibers exhibit a very favorable combination of properties for advanced microelectronic packaging applications. With proper design, these composites utilize the ease of processing and desirably low dielectric constants of polymers and the high thermal conductivity and dimensional stability of ceramics. Besides selecting appropriate material components, other key considerations in composite design include specifying (1) the directionality as well as magnitude for desired properties, and (2) the degree of component connectivity in various composite directions by controlling filler shape, orientation, loading, and processing. We report electrical and thermal properties of alumina-fiber—polyimide composites as a function of fiber loading, and show their agreement with predictions from theory. The inplane thermal conductivities and expansivities are dominated by the fiber whereas the out-of-plane dielectric constant is comparable with the polymer matrix. Faster, denser microelectronic devices are envisioned, combining the electrical performance of polymers with the thermal performance of ceramics.
Miocene salmon (Oncorhynchus) from Western North America: Gill Raker evolution correlated with plankton productivity in the Eastern Pacific

Abstract Miocene salmon were more specialized than modern salmon in their feeding apparatus. Computed tomography scans of two late Miocene Pacific salmon reveal unusually long, closely-spaced, and numerous gill rakers (plankton straining structures in the pharynx). Middle Miocene Oncorhynchus rastrosus also has more numerous and more finely spaced gill rakers than living species. The fossils described here, including one new species, appear to be related to modern Sockeye Salmon and Chum Salmon, differing most in the numbers and morphology of gill rakers. These structural adaptations to plankton feeding in a group of fish otherwise adapted to fish predation are concordant with oceanographic evidence for remarkably high plankton productivity in the North Pacific Ocean during the middle Miocene.
Reconciling Livability and Sustainability: Conceptual and Practical Implications for Planning

This article examines the complementarity of livability and sustainability at a theoretical level but recognizes that linkage in practice is complex. Connection between these concepts is examined t...
Cumulative deformation in the barnes ice cap and implications for the development of foliation

Abstract In recent years, it has become apparent that the development of foliation and crystallographic fabric in glacier ice is strongly dependent upon cumulative deformation. However, because glaciers lack suitable strain markers and past velocity fields are unknown, the nature of the cumulative deformation is not well understood. Part of the Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island N.W.T., Canada has undergone little overall change in position in the past 2000 years, so a long-term steady-state velocity field can be estimated from present-day measurements in a section in which flow is essentially two-dimensional. By means of a numerical model, particle paths, isochrons, strain rates, and cumulative strains are computed for this section. There is no correspondence between the principal directions of strain rate and cumulative strain in most of the ice, the greatest divergence of about 45° being near the base of the glacier where the maximum cumulative extension direction, X , is sub-horizontal. All ice particles initially undergo a restricted amount of pure shear, and then pass gradually into a long domain of nearly simple shear. They return to a second short stage of nearly pure shear near the margin. The effects of the early stage of pure shear are never eliminated, but the cumulative strain is increasingly dominated by simple shear down-glacier. Cumulative strain magnitude, magnitude of strain rate, and age of the ice all increase rapidly with depth, and change much more slowly with distance down-glacier. We argue that foliation is formed during flow by modification of primary inhomogeneities in ice. The three most important inhomogeneities are probably sedimentary layering, crevasse infillings, and irregularities such as ice glands or lenses. During deformation, the first will behave as isochrons, the second will rotate as material planes, initially perpendicular to the isochrons, and the third will be stretched parallel to the X -direction. The numerical model indicates that the isochrons, planes representing crevasse infillings, X -direction, and particle paths are within 1° of mutual parallelism in the most distal ice. Thus a single subhorizontal foliation, dipping slightly more steeply up-glacier than the flow lines, and curving upwards near the margin would be produced in this case. This corresponds with observations.
Homo Economicus and Consumer Activist Subjectivity: Anti-Capitalist Activism through Alternative Trade

Consumer activism as a means to advance an anti-capitalist agenda is filled with contradictions and contingencies. Most research to date examines the structures and representations involved with various consumer activist efforts, particularly those related to alternative trade such as the fair trade movement. This study problematises the subjectivity of the consumer activist who engages in alternative trade. Research on neoliberal subjectivity, and specifically the Foucauldian subjectivity of homo economicus, are drawn upon in addition to the work of Ulrich Beck and others addressing risks and uncertainty in late modernity. Findings from open-ended questionnaire responses are analysed for emergent themes. The analyses indicate consumer activists are influenced in part by a homo economicus subjectivity rather than a collectively oriented subjectivity. Findings also suggest consumer activists, operating as homo economicus, act self-reflexively to environmental risks stemming from late modernity and, in the ...
Congenital anomalies of the neural axis; surgical management based on embryologic considerations.

Abstract A review of relevent experimental embryology indicates that congenital anomalies of the neural axis are the result of disorders of neurulation. The surgical principles involved in the treatment of spina bifida, cranium bifidum and associated anomalies such as meningoceles, myelomeningoceles, encephalocles and the Arnold-Chiari malformation are discussed as well as teratomas and teratoid tumors arising along the neural axis. A correlation of embryologic and neurologic data is used in the selection of patients for surgery and the time for and type of operation to be performed on each individual case. The genetic basis of origin of congenital anomalies of the neural axis is considered as well as environmental factors that may cause disorders of neurulation. Hyperthermia in the mother occurring between the third and fifth week of gestation is suggested as a possible cause of such disorders. The surgery of congenital anomalies can be more intelligently carried out when consideration is given to the embryology of the system concerned.
On the spread of matrices and polynomials

Abstract The spread of a matrix (polynomial) is defined as the maximum distance between two of its eigenvalues (zeros). In this note upper bounds are found for the spread of matrices and polynomials.
Conjugation of nucleoside triphosphates to an amino linker

Abstract A number of nucleoside triphosphates have been linked to a para-aminophenethylamino moiety providing an improved method for the immobilization of nucleotides.
Steric Factors in the Chemistry of Polypeptides, Poly-α-Amino Acids and Proteins

An application of the rule of six for the estimation of steric hindrance in reactions of dipeptides and polypeptides, and conformational preferences of polypeptides and proteins, is described.
The perception of /r/ and /l/ in syllable-initial and syllable-final position

American English liquids /r/ and /l/ have been considered intermediate between stop consonants and vowels acoustically, articulatorily, phonologically, and perceptually. Cutting (1947a) found position-dependent ear advantages for liquids in a dichotic listening task: syllable-initial liquids produced significant right ear advantages, while syllable-final liquids produced no reliable ear advantages. The present study employed identification and discrimination tasks to determine whether /r/and /l/ are perceived differently depending on syllable position when perception is tested by a different method. Fifteen subjects listened to two synthetically produced speech series—/li/ to /ri/ and /il/ to /ir/—in which stepwise variations of the third formant cued the difference in consonant identity. The results indicated that: (1) perception did not differ between syllable positions (in contrast to the dichotic listening results), (2) liquids in both syllable positions were perceived categorically, and (3) discrimination of a nonspeech control series did not account for the perception of the speech sounds.
Double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of benfotiamine for severe alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence is associated with severe nutritional and vitamin deficiency. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency erodes neurological pathways that may influence the ability to drink in moderation. The present study examines tolerability of supplementation using the high-potency thiamine analog, benfotiamine (BF), and BF's effects on alcohol consumption in severely affected, self-identified, alcohol dependent subjects. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 120 non-treatment seeking, actively drinking, alcohol dependent men and women volunteers (mean age=47 years) from the Kansas City area who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for current alcohol dependence. Subjects were randomized to receive 600 mg benfotiamine or placebo (PL) once daily by mouth for 24 weeks with 6 follow-up assessments scheduled at 4 week intervals. Side effects and daily alcohol consumption were recorded. Seventy (58%) subjects completed 24 weeks of study (N=21 women; N=49 men) with overall completion rates of 55% (N=33) for PL and 63% (N=37) for BF groups. No significant adverse events were noted and alcohol consumption decreased significantly for both treatment groups. Alcohol consumption decreased from baseline levels for 9 of 10 BF treated women after 1 month of treatment compared with 2 of 11 on PL. Reductions in total alcohol consumption over 6 months were significantly greater for BF treated women (BF: N=10, -611 ± 380 standard drinks; PL: N=11, -159 ± 562 standard drinks, p-value=0.02). BF supplementation of actively drinking alcohol dependent men and women was well-tolerated and may discourage alcohol consumption among women. The results do support expanded studies of BF treatment in alcoholism.
Controlling patterns of geospatial phenomena

Modeling spatially distributed phenomena in terms of its controlling factors is a recurring problem in geoscience. Most efforts concentrate on predicting the value of response variable in terms of controlling variables either through a physical model or a regression model. However, many geospatial systems comprises complex, nonlinear, and spatially non-uniform relationships, making it difficult to even formulate a viable model. This paper focuses on spatial partitioning of controlling variables that are attributed to a particular range of a response variable. Thus, the presented method surveys spatially distributed relationships between predictors and response. The method is based on association analysis technique of identifying emerging patterns, which are extended in order to be applied more effectively to geospatial data sets. The outcome of the method is a list of spatial footprints, each characterized by a unique "controlling pattern"--a list of specific values of predictors that locally correlate with a specified value of response variable. Mapping the controlling footprints reveals geographic regionalization of relationship between predictors and response. The data mining underpinnings of the method are given and its application to a real world problem is demonstrated using an expository example focusing on determining variety of environmental associations of high vegetation density across the continental United States.
Coating Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Tin Oxide

Single-walled carbon nanotubes coated with crystalline tin oxide by a simple chemical-solution route are reported. The room-temperature chemical treatment results in a nominally complete and unifor...
ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS IN TWENTY NIST STANDARDS OF GEOCHEMICAL INTEREST

Data are presented for twenty standard reference materials currently available from the USA's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that are of use in geochemical analyses. Some of these standards have not been previously presented in the geochemical literature and many elements’concentrations are reported here for the first time. Instrumental neutron activation analysis, X-ray fluorescence, colorimetry, and coulometry were employed to obtain results on ten major and thirty-eight trace element concentrations as well as H2O+ and H2O-. Error bars for the analyses as well as consensus values from the literature are presented and generally good agreement are obtained for the available values.
Beyond the Head: The Practical Work of Curating Contemporary Art

In contemporary art, the curator plays an important role in the production of artistic meaning through exhibition-making. Although sociology has tended to see this work as the exercise of tacit or embodied knowledge, curatorial knowledge and plans may be elaborated and altered by the situated actions of exhibition installation. While curators know a successful installation “when they see it,” this depends on the indexical particularities of artworks and environments which cannot be predicted in advance. In demonstrating the practical ways in which culture is mobilized in situations of object (inter)action, this paper emphasizes the “making” in artistic meaning-making.
Semantic clustering of images using patterns of relevance feedback

User-supplied data such as browsing logs, click-through data, and relevance feedback judgements are an important source of knowledge during semantic indexing of documents such as images and video. Low-level indexing and abstraction methods are limited in the manner with which semantic data can be dealt. In this paper and in the context of this semantic data, we apply latent semantic analysis on two forms of user-supplied data, real-world and artificially generated relevance feedback judgements in order to examine the validity of using artificially generated interaction data for the study of semantic image clustering.
Characterizing the performance and energy attributes of scientific simulations

We characterize the performance and energy attributes of scientific applications based on nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). where the dominant cost is that of sparse linear system solution. We obtain performance and energy metrics using cycle-accurate emulations on a processor and memory system derived from the PowerPC RISC architecture with extensions to resemble the processor in the BlueGene/L. These results indicate that low-power modes of CPUs such as Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS) can indeed result in energy savings at the expense of performance degradation. We then consider the impact of certain memory subsystem optimizations to demonstrate that these optimizations in conjunction with DVS can provide faster execution time and lower energy consumption. For example, on the optimized architecture, if DVS is used to scale down the processor to 600MHz, execution times are faster by 45% with energy reductions of 75% compared to the original architecture at 1GHz. The insights gained from this study can help scientific applications better utilize the low-power modes of processors as well as guide the selection of hardware optimizations in future power-aware, high-performance computers.
Roles of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in cystic fibrosis.

The roles of insulin deficiency and insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance in cystic fibrosis (CF) were evaluated in eight patients (aged 16.5 +/- 1.9 yr), four with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and four with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and in seven healthy control (CN) subjects. First and second phase insulin secretions were evaluated during a hyperglycemic clamp. Hepatic glucose production (HGP) and insulin-stimulated glucose disposal were measured using [6,6-2H2]glucose and a stepwise hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. First and second phase insulin levels were significantly lower in both groups of CF patients compared with control values. There was an inverse relationship between glycohemoglobin level and first phase insulin (r = -0.81; P = 0.015) and second phase insulin (r = -0.97; P < 0.001). During the hyperglycemic clamp, the insulin sensitivity index was lower in CF-IGT, but not CF-NGT, compared with control values (6.66 +/- 1.79, 12.82 +/- 1.61, and 13.02 +/- 1.78...
Material Recycling at Product End-of-Life

This work focuses on developing a compact representation of the material recycling potential for products at end-of-life. This representation is based on two measures: the value of the materials used in a product and the mixture of materials used in a product. These measures are similar to those used in constructing the Sherwood plot, which relates metal prices to the concentration of metals in a given ore grade. While the Sherwood plot provides insight into the relative attractiveness of mining different ores, the work here provides insight into the relative attractiveness of recycling different products. This information can in turn be used to help guide both product design and recycling policy
Multiresolution nonparametric intensity and density estimation

This paper introduces a new multiscale method for nonparametric piecewise polynomial intensity and density estimation of point processes. Fast, piecewise polynomial, maximum penalized likelihood methods for intensity and density estimation are developed. The recursive partitioning scheme underlying these methods is based on multiscale likelihood factorizations which, unlike conventional wavelet decompositions, are very well suited to applications with point process data. Experimental results demonstrate that multiscale methods can outperform wavelet and kernel based density estimation methods.
Laminar variation in neuronal viability and trophic dependence in neocortical slices.

Organotypic slices are used frequently in studies of central nervous system development and function because they provide excellent experimental access with significant preservation of cellular context and relationships. Within a slice, however, a variety of factors may cause individual classes of neurons to respond differently to the culture environment. Differences in deafferentation, cellular maturation, trophic dependence and ongoing naturally occurring cell death may produce changes in the neuronal population that are transparent to the experimenter but that could affect experimental results significantly. In this study, we examined the distribution and prevalence of cell death among neurons in each cortical layer in organotypic slices. In addition, we assessed the ability of several neurotrophic factors to ameliorate neuronal death in each cortical layer. Within the first 24 hr in culture, there was striking laminar variation in the extent of neuronal death in culture, which could not be accounted for by the pattern of programmed cell death in vivo. In addition, neurons in the six layers of the neocortex differed in the degree to which they could be rescued by neurotrophic factors. These data suggest that differential neuronal death and rescue are important considerations in studies utilizing organotypic slices and may represent particularly confounding variables in studies of effects of trophic factors in such preparations. J. Neurosci. Res. 65:455–462, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Individual Differences In Contributions And Crowding‐Out Of A Public Good

This paper reports experimental results that link other-regarding preferences, personality, and demographic characteristics to contributions to a public good and the responsiveness of contributions to tax-financed contributions. Contribution levels are higher among those with cooperative preferences, those with Myers–Briggs personality types of introversion and intuition, females, and upperclassmen. However, the response to a tax-financed contribution is uniform. All player types reduce their contribution by an amount equal to the tax, a result known as complete crowd-out.
Improved Tactile Shear Feedback: Tactor Design and an Aperture-Based Restraint

Tactile feedback could replace or augment visual and auditory communication in a range of important applications. This paper advances the field of tactile communication by presenting performance data on a variety of tactors and a finger restraint that is suitable for use in portable devices. Tactors, the contact elements between the device and the skin, and finger restraints were evaluated using a tangential skin displacement direction identification task. We tested tactors of three sizes and two different textures. Rough textured tactors improved communication accuracy compared to smooth tactors, but tactor size did not have a statistically significant effect. Aperture-based restraints of three sizes were evaluated on both the index finger and the thumb. The aperture-based restraint was effective when used on both the index finger and the thumb, with performances on par with our previously tested thimble-based restraint. Participants performed better with larger apertures than with smaller apertures, but there was no interaction between aperture size and finger size, meaning that the same aperture could be used with a range of finger sizes. Subjects' perceptual acuity varied with stimulus direction. We discuss the effects of contact force, finger size, and differences in perceptual acuity between the index finger and thumb.
MEDIA USE AND ELECTORAL CHOICES: SOME POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF INFORMATION EXPOSURE

Increasing partisan use of television has created not only a new campaign style but a new set of political forces potentially capable of effecting widespread change in electoral behavior. The question therefore arises what effect the use of mass media has had on electoral choices. Analysis of five sets of presidential election survey data from the Survey Research Center lends support to the traditional intra-election floating voter hypothesis as well as its more generalized inter-election version-that voters least exposed to current political information tend to change their vote preferences more readily within a single campaign as well as switch their vote from one party to another at two successive elections. The same body of data fails to support the "reformulated" intra-election version recently advanced by Converse-that the least exposed voters are highly stable in their voting preferences. The author is Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, University of Tulsa.
Forecasting the Effects of Coastal Protection and Restoration Projects on Wetland Morphology in Coastal Louisiana under Multiple Environmental Uncertainty Scenarios

ABSTRACT Couvillion, B.R.; Steyer, G.D.; Wang, H.; Beck, H.J., and Rybczyk, J.M., 2013. Forecasting the effects of coastal protection and restoration projects on wetland morphology in coastal Louisiana under multiple environmental uncertainty scenarios. Few landscape scale models have assessed the effects of coastal protection and restoration projects on wetland morphology while taking into account important uncertainties in environmental factors such as sea-level rise (SLR) and subsidence. In support of Louisiana's 2012 Coastal Master Plan, we developed a spatially explicit wetland morphology model and coupled it with other predictive models. The model is capable of predicting effects of protection and restoration projects on wetland area, landscape configuration, surface elevation, and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage under multiple environmental uncertainty scenarios. These uncertainty scenarios included variability in parameters such as eustatic SLR (ESLR), subsidence rate, and Mississippi River disc...
Visual Experience Regulates Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-Mediated Plasticity of AMPA Receptor Synaptic Transmission by Homer1a Induction

Brief metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation leads to plasticity of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) synaptic transmission. To test whether mGluR-mediated plasticity of AMPAR transmission is influenced by recent neuronal activity, we manipulated visual activity in Xenopus laevis tadpoles in vivo. We compared mGluR-mediated plasticity of AMPAR transmission in optic tectal cells of tadpoles with low levels of previous synaptic activity (overnight in the dark) to transmission in neurons from animals after 4 h of constant visual stimulation. mGluR-mediated plasticity of AMPA transmission was significantly decreased in neurons with recent activity. We tested the role of the activity-regulated mGluR scaffolding protein Homer1a in modulating mGluR-mediated changes in AMPAR transmission. We found that, by changing the ratios of Homer 1a to Homer 1b in vivo, by either induction of endogenous Homer1a by visual activity or ectopic expression of Homer1a or Homer1b, we could change the direction of mGluR-mediated plasticity. This is the first evidence that mGluR-mediated changes in AMPA transmission can be regulated by Homer proteins in response to physiologically relevant stimuli.
Experience, use, and performance measurement of the Hadoop File System in a typical nuclear physics analysis workflow

The quantity of information produced in Nuclear and Particle Physics (NPP) experiments necessitates the transmission and storage of data across diverse collections of computing resources. Robust solutions such as XRootD have been used in NPP, but as the usage of cloud resources grows, the difficulties in the dynamic configuration of these systems become a concern. Hadoop File System (HDFS) exists as a possible cloud storage solution with a proven track record in dynamic environments. Though currently not extensively used in NPP, HDFS is an attractive solution offering both elastic storage and rapid deployment. We will present the performance of HDFS in both canonical I/O tests and for a typical data analysis pattern within the RHIC/STAR experimental framework. These tests explore the scaling with different levels of redundancy and numbers of clients. Additionally, the performance of FUSE and NFS interfaces to HDFS were evaluated as a way to allow existing software to function without modification. Unfortunately, the complicated data structures in NPP are non-trivial to integrate with Hadoop and so many of the benefits of the MapReduce paradigm could not be directly realized. Despite this, our results indicate that using HDFS as a distributed filesystem offers reasonable performance and scalability and that it excels in its ease of configuration and deployment in a cloud environment.
Genetic evidence for differences in the pathways of druse and prismatic calcium oxalate crystal formation in Medicago truncatula

Current evidence supports a single pathway of oxalate biosynthesis utilising ascorbic acid as the precursor. In this study, we begin to address the possibility that more than one pathway of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation occurs in Medicago truncatula Gaertn. (cv. Jemalong genotype A17). Like the wild type, developing leaves of the calcium oxalate defective (cod) 4 mutant contain prismatic crystals along the vascular strand, but this mutant also hyper-accumulates druse crystals within the mesophyll cells. A second mutant, cod5, fails to accumulate prismatic crystals along the vascular strand, but is capable of wild type druse crystal accumulation in maturing leaves. To assess whether a single pathway of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation occurs in M. truncatula, we generated and characterised the cod4/cod5 double mutant. Microscopic examination of the cod4/cod5 revealed that the double mutant exhibits both cod4 and cod5 mutant crystal phenotypes simultaneously, suggesting there are differences in the pathways leading to the two crystal types. Measured ascorbic acid levels and ascorbate induction studies were consistent with the acid as precursor to oxalate in druse crystal formation but not necessarily prismatic crystal formation. On the basis of these findings, we propose a working model depicting possible pathways of oxalate biosynthesis and calcium oxalate formation.